“Qingqing, we can talk about this matter, but under no circumstances can outsiders know. Otherwise, it’ll be trouble. Do you understand?”
Qiao Qingqing glared at him without holding back. “Of course I understand. I’m not stupid. We’re in the same boat now; how could I blab?”
Lin Chaohai forced a smile. “Yeah, I trust you won’t.”
As they spoke, the two of them walked into a courtyard in an alley.
Qiao Qingqing wasn’t unfamiliar with the place. In her previous life, it was exactly after entering here that she had fallen into a wolf’s den.
Three families shared the courtyard, and some rooms had been rented out, making it very crowded. The spaces were small and poorly soundproofed; sometimes, even speaking loudly meant the neighbors could hear.
The Lin family rented two rooms on the west corner of the alley, with a half-meter-wide corridor, no main hall, and shared a kitchen with the landlord.
Lin Chaohai led Qiao Qingqing inside and introduced her to a short, thin middle-aged woman. Smiling, he said, “This is my mother. From now on, we’re all family.”
At this point, Li Xiulian wasn’t yet very old. She glanced at Qiao Qingqing and snorted coldly. “Family? We haven’t registered, no notarization, just empty hands, and you come in as a wife? What respectable girl’s family does this?”
“Mom, don’t say that. Qingqing had no choice but to rely on me because of her family situation. We should treat her well,” Lin Chaohai explained.
“Family situation? Isn’t it just a bunch of stinky intellectuals and remnants of capitalists? And you dare to get involved with them? Seeing a young girl with some looks makes you lose your mind, forgetting everything else. Do you want to make me furious?”
Just like in her past life, the two of them acted in tandem—a red face, a white face—giving Qiao Qingqing an immediate intimidation, gradually trying to manipulate her psychologically.
But this time, Qiao Qingqing wasn’t falling for it. Upon hearing this, she turned and walked away.
Lin Chaohai quickly stepped forward to stop her. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”
Qiao Qingqing’s face was full of indignation. “Your mother looks down on me. I’m not going to cling to you. If she won’t let me stay, I won’t stay.”
Lin Chaohai chased her, pulling her into the room and trying to coax her for a while.
“My mother is actually a good person. She’s just worried because I would do anything for you. Don’t be afraid; I’ll talk to her…”
But no matter what he said, Qiao Qingqing insisted on leaving. Lin Chaohai coaxed her for a long time, his mouth going dry, but it was useless.
Yet letting her leave was out of the question.
The gold bars had already been collected; the condition was that he marry this woman and ensure she wouldn’t be sent away together.
If she ran, and Chen Liping got wind of it, she might spill about the gold bars, leaving him in a life-or-death situation.
Now, they were literally grasshoppers tied to the same stalk; Lin Chaohai was well aware.
He didn’t expect this woman to be so difficult. She threw a fit over just a few words, so he knew he would have to train her properly.
Thinking this, Lin Chaohai patiently said every sweet thing he could think of, yet Qiao Qingqing remained unmoved, making his teeth itch in frustration.
“I don’t care. It’s my first day at your house, and your mother talks to me like that. Will life ever be easy here? If you think my family is lousy, then forget the marriage. I’m not unwanted by anyone anyway!” Qiao Qingqing stubbornly threw a tantrum.
Lin Chaohai had no choice but to scold his mother.
“Mom, don’t say those things anymore. Being with Qingqing isn’t about her dowry. It’s a happy event, yet you make a joke of it for the neighbors to see. If you’re bored, go accompany Dad at the hospital instead of causing trouble at home. I’ll take care of my own wife myself!”
Li Xiulian inwardly felt frustrated. She had planned to set rules for the new daughter-in-law together, but now her son suddenly defended the girl, leaving her embarrassed—utterly unreasonable.
“Fine, fine, I won’t interfere with your matters, alright?” Li Xiulian stomped her foot, feeling a strong sense of crisis.
This little enchantress was surprisingly capable. She knew her son well—few people could handle him—but now he was fawning over a young girl, losing all his masculinity.
She shot Qiao Qingqing a sharp glare and returned to her room.
Since her son had handed her the gold bars, she had left caring for her husband at the hospital to her younger daughter. Even grocery shopping was done by the younger daughter. Li Xiulian rarely left the house, mostly lying in bed, only occasionally stepping out at night.
She felt secure only when the gold bars were safely transferred and stored.
After Li Xiulian left, Lin Chaohai coaxed and joked with Qiao Qingqing for a while.
Qiao Qingqing continued to fuss: she refused cold water, demanded fresh towels, and complained about the smell of Lin Chaohai’s bed, prompting him to change the sheets immediately.
Technically, they weren’t married yet, so Qiao Qingqing should have slept with Li Xiulian. But Lin Chaohai had brought her into his room, and his intentions were clear.
Qiao Qingqing wasn’t afraid, feigning ignorance as she lay on the bed.
As long as she refused, no one could force her. Even if she couldn’t physically overpower him, she could retreat into her space.
The bed was mostly straw at this time, making noise when lying down. Just as Qiao Qingqing closed her eyes, she felt the other side of the bed sink—Lin Chaohai was climbing over.
These alleys lost power after 8 PM. The west side was pitch black, with no windows. Only faint light seeped through the roof tiles.
Qiao Qingqing had barely turned when Lin Chaohai’s enlarged face appeared before her, his hand reaching to pull her close.
Qiao Qingqing kicked him hard. “What are you doing?”
Unexpectedly, being kicked seemed to excite Lin Chaohai. His breathing grew rapid as he leaned closer. “Nothing… I just want to hold you and comfort you.”
Smelling the faint fragrance of the young girl, Lin Chaohai felt his whole body heat up.
In the dark room, only the soft moonlight illuminated Qiao Qingqing, highlighting her delicate features. Her lips looked like ripe berries, juicy at the slightest bite.
Lin Chaohai, an experienced man, knew well the pleasures of intimacy.
Imagining Qiao Qingqing lying beneath him, allowing him free rein—the slender waist, the shapely legs, her naturally delicate voice—sent a shiver up his spine that he could not resist.
He knew women: before intimacy, they resisted, afraid of violation. But after repeated encounters, they feared being abandoned or neglected, often clinging to their partner.
Every woman is the same—if one attempt doesn’t subdue her, try again, and again. The structure of male and female bodies made women destined to be pursued. Even the most stubborn woman will beg if the man is persistent.
The more Lin Chaohai thought, the drier his mouth became. He murmured repeatedly, “Let me hold you. Be good. Let me protect you.”
Qiao Qingqing, utterly annoyed, kicked his abdomen twice. “Don’t come closer! I want to sleep.”
Lin Chaohai hissed, clearly in pain, but the more she resisted, the more he wanted to conquer her.
“Be good. Stop fussing, alright?” He pressed closer. “I just don’t want to be far from you. I won’t do anything else. We’re getting married—why should we lie on the same bed and feel like we’re separated by a galaxy?”
His hot breath sprayed onto her face. Qiao Qingqing, at her limit, raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face, tilting his head to the side.
“Don’t come near!”
She was prepared for a full-on fight, but Lin Chaohai didn’t get angry. He touched his face, smacked his lips, and clicked his tongue.
“You’re my wife, I’m your man. I want to cherish you. Every woman goes through this. We’re one flesh as husband and wife—don’t be afraid.”
Qiao Qingqing glared at him, sprawled on the bed with half his shirt off, showing off his abs, acting like a child controlling her mind, making her nauseated.
She couldn’t tolerate it and slapped him hard on the face again.