Morning sunlight streamed through the broken window lattice, dust motes dancing in the beams.
Su Wan had slept deeply. The moment she groggily opened her eyes before her body even moved half her soul nearly flew out in shock.
A pair of deep, abyss-like eyes was staring at her from extremely close range.
Lu Zhaoye had woken up at some point or perhaps he hadn’t slept much at all.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes. He sat squarely on a small stool by the bed, his long legs awkwardly bent, arms crossed, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on her face.
There was no usual ferocity in his eyes, nor the restrained madness from last night. Instead, there was an indescribable focus so deep it felt like it could pull a person in.
“Morning?”
Su Wan instinctively shrank back into the blanket, her voice soft and drowsy.
Lu Zhaoye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He didn’t move, still staring at her.
Su Wan blinked, then suddenly felt like teasing him. A lazy smile curved her lips.
“Do I look good?”
As if dazzled by her smile, Lu Zhaoye nodded instinctively. For a moment, he lost himself, his hoarse voice murmuring two words
“Very.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the air seemed to freeze.
Lu Zhaoye snapped back to his senses, realizing how foolish he must have looked. A faint flush quickly spread across his usually stern face.
He shot to his feet so abruptly that he knocked over the stool.
“Get… get dressed.”
Throwing out those stiff words, he didn’t dare look at her again and strode out of the room.
That retreating figure looked very much like he was fleeing.
Su Wan watched the door close and couldn’t help but laugh.
Who would’ve thought that the feared “living demon” could be so pure and awkward in private?
She sat up, only then noticing that a neatly folded stack of clean clothes had been placed by the bed.
Turning her head, she saw the familiar redwood chest in the corner.
That chest had originally been in her bridal room with Lu Ming it was part of her dowry.
So Lu Zhaoye had gotten up early just to go next door and bring all her belongings over?
Su Wan immediately pictured Lu Ming’s frustrated, helpless expression as he watched, unable to do anything, and her mood brightened.
She reached for the clothes, but her fingers paused the moment they touched the pile.
Beneath the red shirt, her undergarments were neatly folded.
The soft pink fabric had been squared perfectly, even the straps smoothed out, not a wrinkle in sight and they carried a faint scent of soap.
His scent.
Su Wan’s face flushed instantly.
She had packed that chest herself, always tucking those items deep in the bottom corner.
And this man had taken them out… and folded them so carefully.
She could almost picture it his large, calloused, scarred hands clumsily yet carefully handling those soft pieces of fabric.
The rough pads of his fingers brushing against the delicate cotton it felt as if that sensation traveled across time and touched her skin, making her heart race.
“Pervert…”
Su Wan muttered under her breath, blushing, though she couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips.
She quickly shook off the stray thoughts.
Ahem.
Broad daylight not appropriate.
She dressed quickly, tidied her hair in front of the mirror, then opened the door.
Outside, the sunlight was just right.
Lu Zhaoye was squatting under a tree, turned slightly away from the door, fiddling with a half-old “Forever” brand bicycle.
The sunlight fell fully on him. His faded black tank top clung to his back, damp with sweat, outlining the broad, powerful muscles shaped by years of hard labor and intense training.
Not an ounce of excess like a coiled steel plate ready to strike.
Hard, hot, radiating raw masculine energy.
The chain had gotten stuck in the gear. One hand held the handlebars steady, the other gripped a wrench, knuckles whitening as he focused on prying it loose.
Hearing the door, he didn’t turn around. His arm muscles tensed, the wrench pausing for a moment before
Click.
The chain snapped back into place.
He wiped the sweat from his brow, his fingers smudged with a bit of grease, adding a rough, wild edge to his already sharp features dangerously attractive.
Standing at the doorway, Su Wan swallowed unconsciously.
So wild.
So solid.
In her past life, she must have been blind and foolish to fall for Lu Ming.
Compared to Lu Zhaoye this walking embodiment of hormones Lu Ming was like bland, stale water
unpleasant and nauseating.
Sensing her gaze, Lu Zhaoye stopped and turned his head.
His deep eyes swept quickly over her.
The red shirt made her skin look even fairer, the fitted waist accentuating the full curves of her chest
curves he had just touched not long ago.
His gaze darkened briefly before he quickly looked away. He stood, tossed the wrench into a nearby toolbox, and wiped his hands with a blue-and-white checkered towel draped over the handlebars.
“Eating at home?”
His voice was low.
“That family talks too much. If you’re uncomfortable, we can eat outside.”
He knew what the Lu family was like and didn’t want her to be mistreated.
But Su Wan shook her head, raising an eyebrow with a sly smile.
“How could we? Today’s our second day as a married couple. The new bride should serve tea and eat with the family we can’t lose face.”
Since she was reborn, if she didn’t flip the Lu family’s table at this first meal, then she wouldn’t be Su Wan.
Lu Zhaoye looked at her expression like a little fox ready to bare its teeth and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.
A vengeful little fox.
More and more interesting.
“Wait here.”
Su Wan turned and hurried back inside, rummaging through the big chest, sorting and unpacking until she finally pulled out several beautifully wrapped red paper parcels.
“Let’s go. You’ll have to carry these.”
She stuffed them into Lu Zhaoye’s hands, smiling innocently.
“These are gifts for everyone. My mom said no one should be left out.”
Lu Zhaoye glanced down at the surprisingly heavy packages. Though he didn’t know what was inside, his instincts told him they weren’t exactly “ordinary” gifts.
He didn’t ask. He simply took them.
Ahead of him, Su Wan was already heading toward the main hall, cheerful and lively.
She had tied her hair into a high ponytail today. As she skipped along, it swayed behind her.
The red hem of her clothes fluttered like a blooming flower, making her look bright, delicate, and full of charm.
Following behind her, Lu Zhaoye watched her playful figure.
For once, the coldness in his eyes melted, and the faint smile on his lips refused to fade.
His woman.
Since she wanted to stir things up he’d go all the way with her.