Under the lamplight, Qin Qing stared at the glistening wetness on the man’s cheek.
She wished she could vanish into thin air.
How… brazen she had been!
Now trapped between the chair and the desk by the man, she could only cowardly lower her head like an ostrich.
Zhou Yansheng watched as the girl’s neck flushed red, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, his gaze deepening.
He straightened up, his large hand ruffling the girl’s hair, his voice slightly hoarser than before. “Let’s eat first.”
With that, he turned and left the room first.
After the small awkwardness in the bedroom, the atmosphere between them grew subtly tense.
Throughout the meal, Zhou Yansheng tried his best to steer the conversation toward Qin Qing’s work.
Avoiding any mention of matters related to feelings.
Qin Qing soon relaxed and even told Zhou Yansheng about meeting her university senior at school.
“Hmm, as long as you can adjust, that’s good.” Zhou Yansheng didn’t pay it much mind.
After chatting a while longer, they finished their simple home-cooked dinner.
“I’ll clean up.” Qin Qing took the initiative to gather the dishes.
Zhou Yansheng initially wanted to refuse, but he reached out and then withdrew his hand.
He stood to the side.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally spoke:
“Rest early tonight. I’ll head back to the dormitory first.”
“Huh?” Qin Qing froze while gathering the dishes and looked up. “Why?”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Zhou Yansheng fell silent for a moment, as if weighing his words, before finally saying, “Qin Qing, I believe you truly came here to build a life with me.”
“But let’s take it slow, alright?”
His voice was soft and gentle.
But Qin Qing couldn’t accept it.
She felt he was gently rejecting her, pushing her away…
Years of habit made her almost explode and argue with him.
Deep down, she just wanted to call him a coward!
But the experience of having died once kept her calm.
She couldn’t rush things now, couldn’t confront him directly.
Her mind raced through several possible approaches.
In the end—
“You do the dishes! You can’t leave until they’re done!” She haughtily set down the half-gathered dishes.
Pretending to be fussy, she crossed her arms and stood to the side.
“Alright.” Zhou Yansheng smiled, his eyes crinkling, and he habitually ruffled the girl’s hair again. “Go work on your program proposal. I’ll handle this.”
“No! I’m supervising!” Qin Qing said this, but in truth, she just wanted to linger by his side a little longer.
She couldn’t bear to see him leave.
Zhou Yansheng didn’t call her out, letting the girl follow him around like a little tail.
Qin Qing watched as this young master washed pots and dishes in the small kitchen.
It felt so unreal.
This was… what building a life together felt like.
“Help me out.”
The man washing dishes with his back to her suddenly turned around, extending an arm toward her.
Qin Qing snapped back to reality and hurried over to help roll up his fallen sleeve.
The blue veins were visible against his pale skin.
His fingers were still flecked with soap suds.
Somehow… it felt sensual.
Who would have thought that these hands, which once carried guns on the battlefield, could also dance across black and white piano keys…
“Alright, thanks.” The man withdrew his hand and turned back to continue.
Qin Qing pulled her thoughts back, feeling utterly defeated inside.
How could she be daydreaming again…
Was it really because of her obsession with him in her final days of her past life?
Was she really that desperate?!
Qin Qing ran back to the bedroom in frustration, only grunting in response when Zhou Yansheng bid her farewell as he left.
Qin Qing didn’t expect Zhou Yansheng to return early the next morning.
“You… morning.” She mumbled around her toothbrush, watching the man who entered carrying breakfast, her eyes curving into crescents.
She immediately received another head pat from him.
She glared at him, “I’m not a puppy.”
Her words were slurred, but it didn’t hinder her protest.
The man chuckled, nudging her into the bathroom, “Talking while brushing your teeth can make you choke.”
After finishing her morning routine and coming out, seeing the breakfast already plated, Qin Qing felt a little happy.
She hadn’t expected him to come back this morning.
Thinking this, she asked:
“Why did you come?”
“You’re my wife, how could I just leave you alone?”
Zhou Yansheng said it casually, but Qin Qing’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
“Eat.” He placed a large steamed bun in her bowl.
“I bought you a bicycle, it’s outside. It’ll make commuting to work easier. They were out of stock yesterday, it was delivered early this morning.”
“Oh.” Qin Qing lowered her head and focused on eating.
Her heart felt warm; this kind of life really wasn’t bad.
The bicycle was pink, a women’s model without the top tube, no wonder it needed to be ordered.
After breakfast, Zhou Yansheng even took her out for a couple of test rides.
Just like when he taught her to ride a bicycle as a child, holding onto the back seat, following behind the bike.
Always afraid she might fall.
“I’m not a child anymore!” She laughed at him.
“You’re not that much older either.” Zhou Yansheng protected her while politely greeting passing acquaintances, not feeling embarrassed in the slightest.
It wasn’t until it was almost time for work that he left.
Qin Qing had no classes in the morning but still went to school early.
The initial concept for the musical she had brainstormed all night was already taking shape, and she was eager to try out the effects of blending several styles.
After Xiao Yang arrived at work and heard Qin Qing’s idea for a comedic musical, along with the general style she had combined, he immediately gave the green light.
The two of them got straight to work. In the afternoon classes, they began selecting promising students from various classes.
They were also busy collaborating on the script.
They became so absorbed that they lost track of time.
Until Zhou Yansheng came to pick her up after work.
In the entire comprehensive building, only the lights in the second-floor music classroom were still on.
Intermittent piano sounds drifted out.
Zhou Yansheng didn’t even need to ask for directions; he followed the sound of the piano upstairs.
In the spacious music classroom.
Two figures were huddled in the corner by the piano.
One sat on the piano bench pondering chords, while the other leaned over the lid, keeping time.
It was harmonious, yet also… jarring.
“No, no, this part should crescendo to build the atmosphere.”
“Senior, is this right?”
“The intensity is still a bit off, keep going, try again…”
From behind the slightly ajar door came the sound of their focused discussion.
So this was the man everyone had been subtly hinting about today, the one who had given his wife a ride home.
After all these years, she was still instinctively drawn to those who understood music.
Whether it was Lin Xiang before, or this senior now.
Or perhaps… himself, back in the day.
Zhou Yansheng smiled bitterly.
He should have realized it long ago.
This girl was never one to settle down.
He raised his hand and knocked twice on the doorframe.
Interrupting the two lost in their own world.
“Brother, what are you doing here!” Qin Qing looked up, instinctively calling him “brother,” but her eyes couldn’t hide her joy at seeing the man.
“It’s getting late, I’m here to pick you up after work.” Zhou Yansheng stepped inside.
His military boots made a distinct sound on the terrazzo floor.
“Your brother?” Xiao Yang also straightened up and looked at the newcomer.
Just as Qin Qing was about to explain, Zhou Yansheng had already approached.
He proactively extended his hand to shake Xiao Yang’s.
“Hello, Zhou Yansheng, Qin Qing’s husband.”
Polite and courteous.
Xiao Yang was momentarily taken aback by the overly formal demeanor, almost failing to react, and hastily reached out to shake Zhou Yansheng’s hand.
“Hello, I’m Xiao Yang. The school’s music teacher.”
Zhou Yansheng nodded.
“Yes, I’ve heard Qin Qing mention it. You’re also her senior. I’ll trouble you to look after her in the future.”
With that, he released his hand.
Graceful and poised.
“Of course.” Xiao Yang looked at the man before him, who seemed perfectly normal in every way, yet inexplicably sensed a hint of hostility.
It felt strange.