When Lin Heng came out after bathing, he saw Qingqing sitting at the stone table in the courtyard. A steaming bowl of noodles and a pot of tea sat on the table.
The scene looked just like a wife waiting for her husband to come home for a meal.
He unconsciously slowed his steps as he walked toward the figure illuminated by the lamplight.
“Finished bathing? Hurry up and sit down to eat, or the noodles will get soggy.”
Qingqing got up and took a cotton towel from the clothesline. From behind him, she gently dried Lin Heng’s wet hair.
Lin Heng sat ramrod straight and lifted the bowl, eating the noodles in great mouthfuls.
“Slow down. No one’s going to fight you for them. You’re eating as if you haven’t eaten in days.”
“Lin Heng, you didn’t go these past few days without eating anything, did you?” Qingqing suddenly asked.
“Eat… roast… meat.” Lin Heng patiently spoke one word at a time.
“Oh. No matter where you are, don’t go hungry.”
“After you finish eating, go to sleep. You must not have slept well in the mountains. And you carried all that game such a long way. It must have been hard!”
“Not… hard…”
“From now on, you’re not allowed to stay out all night. Even if you’re going hunting, you have to get my permission first!”
“Mm!”
“All right, your hair is dry. Wash your bowl and go to sleep.”
Without waiting for his answer, Qingqing turned and went back into the room.
With all this commotion, it was already deep into the night.
She was so sleepy!
Qingqing lay back down in bed. Just as she was about to fall asleep, Lin Heng carried the oil lamp back into her room. He sat down beside the bed and looked at the sleeping woman. Unable to resist, he gently caressed her brows and eyes.
During the days he had been away, he had felt an indescribable longing.
Deep in the mountains, he would often quietly stare toward a certain place at the foot of the mountain, his thoughts drifting toward that captivating figure.
He had never missed anyone so deeply before—and that person was a woman, at that.
The details he had once thought insignificant now sent ripples through his heart.
Her smile, her voice, every movement she made—all of them seemed etched into his heart, impossible to erase.
He realized that he had probably truly fallen in love with her, this woman who haunted his thoughts and dreams.
Lin Heng quietly approached her bedside and gently brushed his lips against her forehead.
In that moment, he seemed able to feel her warm breath and faint fragrance, filling his heart with tenderness.
Yet just as he was immersed in that tenderness, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped tightly around his neck and pulled him into a familiar embrace.
He lowered his head in surprise, only to see Qingqing suddenly open her eyes, a sly glint shining in them.
“Rotten man. If you’ve delivered yourself right to my door, how could I possibly turn you away?” Qingqing teased, the corners of her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
She lifted her head and kissed the man above her, her passion and longing seeming almost enough to melt him.
In that sudden kiss, he felt a passion and happiness unlike anything he had ever known.
He held Qingqing tightly, as if he wanted to merge her into his very flesh and bones.
It was a long, long while before they finally parted.
Qingqing was breathing slightly heavily.
“Useless man. Even your seed isn’t any good. Wait another two days! My period still hasn’t ended.”
“Useless man…”
Lin Heng was furious. He gave the woman in his arms a hard thrust.
“Ow!”
She reached back with her hand. That would have been fine if she hadn’t grabbed him—but the moment she did, they both hissed in unison.
“You’re useful, you’re useful. Husband, don’t be angry. We didn’t have any experience last time, after all. Maybe we’ll get lucky next time. Right?” Qingqing coaxed him, planting a kiss on the man before her.
That was more like it.
But what did she mean?
She hadn’t gotten pregnant?
Hadn’t she said they already had a child?
Forget it. Children would come sooner or later.
For now, all he wanted was to stay by her side and live a good life with her.
He kissed the person in his arms and gestured for her to sleep. He was preparing to get up and return to the east room to sleep.
“Don’t go. Stay with me for a while, all right? Besides, I didn’t air out the bedding in the east room. Sleep in my room tonight!” Qingqing pleaded sweetly.
Lin Heng was utterly helpless against this side of her. Whenever she acted spoiled, he simply couldn’t resist.
This woman really knew how to ensnare a man…
Lin Heng thought to himself.
“From now on, you can’t run away again. If you do, I’ll break your legs. And this one too…”
Lin Heng was speechless.
I didn’t run away! You wicked woman, stop touching things at random…
Helplessly, he patted her back.
“Won’t… run…”
Hearing his hoarse voice, Qingqing’s brows drew together tightly.
“Let’s go to town tomorrow morning and have a doctor look at you. Why is your voice so hoarse?”
“All right…”
“Say ‘wife’ for me.”
“Won’t… say it.”
“Just say it once.” Qingqing coaxed him.
“Just once, husband… Husband… Mm.” Qingqing acted spoiled as she moved both hands up and down.
“Wife… don’t… tease me… sleep…”
As he spoke, he tightly restrained the woman squirming in his arms.
“All right, all right. I won’t tease you anymore. Let’s sleep.”
“Tomorrow we’ll go to town and buy the things we need for the wedding.”
“All right. I’ll listen to you.”
Qingqing found a comfortable position in his arms and quietly fell asleep.
Listening to the steady breathing coming from the person in his arms, Lin Heng found himself unable to sleep.
The heat in his body and the sweetness in his heart made him feel as if he were floating.
It felt a little unreal.
He raised a hand and pinched his own cheek.
“Ow!”
It hurt terribly.
It was real. He wasn’t dreaming.
Looking down at the sleeping person in his arms, Lin Heng smiled.
“Gu Qingqing, my wife… Thank you for giving me a new life. For the rest of our lives, I, Lin Heng, will never let you down.”
He gently pulled the quilt over her, held her in his arms, and drifted into a dream filled with happiness.
The next morning, Qingqing woke up and discovered the handsome man beside her. She couldn’t help staring at him in a daze.
This man was truly handsome. He had thick brows, large eyes, and fair skin—not like the dark complexions of the other guards in the manor.
“Lin Heng, I’m hungry.”
Qingqing lazily stretched and sweetly pleaded with the man before her.
Lin Heng opened his eyes and looked at the woman before him, her hair tousled and her eyes filled with a smile.
His heart suddenly began pounding wildly.
“Husband, I’m hungry.”
After saying this, she even gave him a quick peck on the lips.
Lin Heng’s face flushed. He turned his head away and hurriedly got out of bed, leaving the room and walking toward the well. Before long, the sounds of drawing water and washing could be heard.
Qingqing continued lying in bed and dozed off for a little longer.
Lin Heng went to the kitchen, lit the fire, and began cooking porridge, using nothing but white rice. Now that the family had money, there was no need to scrimp on food. He wanted Qingqing to live a good life.
From now on, he would work hard to earn money and fatten Qingqing up until she was fair and plump. She was far too thin now. Her slender waist looked as if it might snap with the slightest bend.
He went to the vegetable patch and picked some greens, then washed them clean and stir-fried them in lard.
There were no steamed buns left in the house, so he mixed flour and eggs with a little chopped green onion and made some pancakes.
He had learned all of this from Qingqing. After watching her do it often enough, he had naturally learned how.
Only after breakfast was ready did he go inside to wake the person sleeping in bed.
After dawdling for quite a while, she finally got up. Once they had washed and freshened up, the two of them sat down together to eat breakfast.
“Not bad! You’re getting more and more capable. These pancakes taste pretty good, too. You have a talent for this. Keep making them, and you’ll be ready to graduate from your apprenticeship soon.”
Qingqing teased him.
Lin Heng picked up some more vegetables and placed them in her bowl, gesturing for her to eat.
“After we finish eating, I’ll sort out the medicinal herbs, and you can go feed our horse. Then we’ll go to the pharmacy in town together.”
Lin Heng nodded and continued putting vegetables into her bowl.
“All right… that’s enough, that’s enough. You eat too. Don’t just keep putting food in my bowl!”