The moon hung above the treetops, its cold light spilling through the window lattice and falling onto the floor.
After washing up, Su Wan carefully carried her washbasin back into the room.
The moment she stepped inside, she froze.
In the room, Lu Zhaoye had already taken off his shirt and was standing with his back to the door, wiping his body.
Under the dim yellow light, his broad back formed a perfect inverted triangle. His bronze skin still had a few un-wiped water droplets that slowly slid down along his spine.
It was a body forged from years of struggle outside every muscle clearly defined, firm, solid, and full of untamed wild strength.
Su Wan’s heart jolted. Her face immediately burned as if scorched by fire.
Hearing the sound at the door, Lu Zhaoye stopped and turned around.
Their eyes met.
The atmosphere turned inexplicably warm and tense. Su Wan quickly looked away, tightening her grip on the basin, and asked softly,
“Um… where are you sleeping tonight?”
Lu Zhaoye draped the towel over his shoulder, his dark eyes fixed on her.
“Where do you want me to sleep?”
Su Wan choked on her words, unsure how to respond.
Say sleep together? She was too embarrassed. Say sleep outside? That would be pushing him away.
Seeing her silence, the light in Lu Zhaoye’s eyes dimmed slightly. He assumed she was unwilling, so he didn’t press further.
“I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Without waiting for a reply, he walked to the cabinet, took out the spare bedding with practiced ease, and began laying it down beside the bed.
Su Wan hesitated, feeling a little guilty.
“Actually… now that we’ve moved here, there’s an empty room next door. If you think it’s too cramped…”
“A husband and wife don’t sleep separately.”
Lu Zhaoye didn’t even turn around. His movements paused slightly as he spoke in a low voice.
“If word gets out, people will laugh at us.”
Su Wan responded with an “oh” and didn’t say anything more. She obediently took off her shoes and got into bed.
In truth, she wasn’t completely unwilling to sleep with Lu Zhaoye.
It was just… she wasn’t ready yet.
She turned slightly on her side, her eyes unconsciously drifting toward the tall figure arranging the bedding.
His build was simply too massive like a small mountain.
Her thoughts began to wander uncontrollably.
With such a difference in size… what if that part of him was just as exaggerated as the rest of his body?
The thought alone made her scalp tingle.
In her past life, she had been single for decades. Even if she hadn’t seen a pig run, she had at least seen one being butchered. She knew it would hurt the first time.
And especially with a man like this…
The more she thought, the more nervous she became. Her gaze unconsciously landed on him again.
Even under the thin blanket, the outline of his body still looked… imposing.
At that moment, Lu Zhaoye suddenly turned his head.
Startled, Su Wan quickly looked away like she had been burned and closed her eyes tightly, pretending to sleep.
“The light cord is on your side. Turn it off.”
His deep, slightly hoarse voice came from the floor.
“Okay… alright.”
Su Wan swallowed nervously and fumbled to pull the cord.
The room instantly plunged into darkness.
She pulled her blanket tighter, her heartbeat thundering like a drum. She felt she really needed time to prepare herself mentally.
On the floor, Lu Zhaoye stared at the pitch-black ceiling, unable to fall asleep.
His mind kept replaying the moment earlier when he asked her where he should sleep and her hesitation.
She seemed conflicted… and unwilling.
He turned over, a faint bitterness rising in his chest.
He told himself she was just a young woman who had gone through too much recently. It was normal for her to need time.
More importantly, until he was sure she truly wanted to be with him, he shouldn’t touch her.
If she regretted it later… or had other intentions…
Lu Zhaoye closed his eyes, clenching his fists in the dark.
He had said harsh words before once she got on his ship, she couldn’t get off. But if he truly forced her, it wouldn’t taste sweet anyway.
If she really wanted to leave… he probably… would still let her go.
…
By the time they opened their eyes the next morning, it was already bright daylight.
Su Wan instinctively looked toward the floor. The bedding was neatly folded, and Lu Zhaoye was already gone.
She got up, dressed, washed up quickly, and stepped outside.
The moment she entered the courtyard, she paused.
Lu Zhaoye was standing beside the old bicycle, tying the return gifts onto the back seat.
Hearing the door open, he turned around.
At that instant, Su Wan felt her breath catch.
Today, Lu Zhaoye looked completely different.
Gone was his usual dull gray work clothes. Instead, he wore a properly tailored dark blue Zhongshan suit, buttoned neatly to the top.
His slightly messy stubble was gone, revealing a sharp, clean jawline.
Even the faint scar on his face usually a bit intimidating now carried a strange, wild charm under the formal attire.
Tall, cold, restrained… yet still carrying an untamed edge.
Su Wan suddenly thought of a modern phrase from her past life
“a man in a suit who looks like a beast underneath.”
That was exactly it. Deadly attractive.
Seeing her come out, Lu Zhaoye also paused mid-motion. A flash of amazement crossed his eyes.
Su Wan was wearing a red floral fitted dress with white patterns the best outfit from her dowry.
Her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail, revealing a smooth forehead and elegant neck. She looked festive, lively, and delicate like a begonia flower blooming in the morning breeze.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Something subtle seemed to be quietly shifting in the air.
Su Wan was the first to break the silence.
“Everything ready?”
Lu Zhaoye snapped back to attention. His throat bobbed as he looked away slightly unnaturally and nodded.
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
They didn’t eat at home. Pushing the bicycle, they walked straight out of the west courtyard.
As they passed the main hall, they ran into Xu Wenli carrying a basin of water.
Enemies meeting.
Yet Su Wan acted as if nothing was wrong. She smiled politely and greeted her openly.
“Mom, up so early? Zhaoye and I are heading back for the return visit.”
Seeing the two of them so polished and well-dressed especially the gifts tied to the bicycle Xu Wenli felt like a piece of her flesh had been cut away.
But with Lu Zhaoye present, she forced a smile that looked even worse than crying.
“Oh… go on then. Be careful on the road.”
Behind the curtain of the main room, Lu Qianqian was secretly watching.
Seeing their departing figures and especially the pile of gifts her eyes turned red with jealousy. She gritted her teeth and muttered,
“Two spendthrifts! Squandering family money on that bottomless pit… you’ll get what’s coming to you sooner or later!”
Just then, Lu Gang, who was about to enter for breakfast, happened to witness everything.
He looked at his elder brother and sister-in-law walking away, then at his younger sister’s twisted expression. His brows furrowed slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.