Сhаpter 20: Dо Yоu Наtе Me?
Cеn Wаn thought Lu Bеixun didn’t know аbоut thе аddеd ingrеdients in thе sоuр, but in fаct, he wаs fully aware.
Shе сouldn’t hеlр but wоrrу аbout Lu Веiхun’s health, wоndеring if he сould handle drinking sо much оf it.
After dinner, shе and Lu Вeiхun rеturned to thеir room. As thеу stооd up to lеаvе, Мother Lu аnd Fathеr Lu exсhanged а glancе, a hint of triumph flаshing in thеir еyеs.
Тheir bedroоm was оn thе third floor, whiсh was entirеly thеir рrivаte sрacе.
Cen Wаn bеgаn to feel increasingly uncоmfоrtable, her bodу grоwing hot and restlеss. Shе knew the ingredients in the soup were taking effect.
At first, it wasn’t too unbearable—just a slight warmth—so she didn’t pay it much mind. Lu Beixun told her to drink more water to help with her metabolism. Half an hour later, her body grew even hotter, the discomfort becoming almost intolerable.
She had drunk less of the soup, while Lu Beixun had consumed more. Her gaze fell on him, and she could see he was struggling to hold back. Cen Wan walked over, reaching out to touch his forehead and check if he was feverish, but he grabbed her wrist, his voice low and hoarse: “Don’t touch me.”
Feeling rejected, Cen Wan felt a pang of hurt. Only Lu Beixun knew it wasn’t rejection—he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself.
Lu Beixun released her wrist, suppressing the fire burning inside him, and said patiently, “Be good, go drink some more water.”
Cen Wan wasn’t suffering as much as Lu Beixun, but she wasn’t faring much better either. The torment was overwhelming: “I can’t drink anymore, I feel so awful…”
He stood up, ruffled her hair, and walked into the bathroom. After filling the bathtub with warm water, he led her inside: “Soak for a while, and you’ll feel better.”
She had already drunk plenty of water, and soaking in the warm water should help ease her discomfort.
Cen Wan looked at the filled bathtub, her brow furrowed. After a few seconds, her gaze returned to Lu Beixun’s face. Summoning her courage, she threw herself into his arms: “Lu Beixun, why? You’d rather suffer than touch me?”
Her voice trembled with tears from the discomfort: “Do you hate me?”
Their bodies pressed tightly together, which for Lu Beixun was like adding fuel to the fire. He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, a trace of clarity had returned to his dark pupils.
He pulled her hands away from his waist and gently patted her head: “I don’t hate you.”
“Then why…”
Before Cen Wan could finish, Lu Beixun interrupted her: “I’m afraid you’ll regret it.”
Hearing his words, she froze for a moment. While she was still processing them, Lu Beixun scooped her up and placed her in the bathtub. The lukewarm water enveloped her body.
By the time she came to her senses, the bathroom door had closed, and Lu Beixun had left.
She let out a deep sigh. The heat in her body subsided slightly, and the water felt soothing. Compared to her, Lu Beixun wasn’t faring as well.
Lu Beixun went to the adjacent guest room. Cold water poured over his head from the shower, but it couldn’t quell the heat burning inside him. The corners of his eyes flushed red, his brows furrowed as he struggled to endure.
Once his body felt slightly more comfortable, he turned off the shower, wrapped himself in a bathrobe, and returned to the bedroom. He couldn’t stop worrying about the person soaking in the bathtub.
After Cen Wan’s body felt somewhat better, drowsiness overtook her, and she fell asleep leaning against the bathtub. When Lu Beixun called her from outside the bathroom door, her body was slowly slipping underwater.
After calling twice with no response, Lu Beixun pushed the bathroom door open and entered. The sight before him made his brow tighten. He hurried over, wrapped a towel around her, and lifted her out of the water.
If he had been a moment later, the water would have submerged her.
He leaned down and gently bit her lip, as if punishing her: “You never let me rest easy.”After placing her on the bed, he struggled to restrain himself while wiping the water droplets from her body, changing her into dry pajamas, and finally blow-drying her hair.
Only Lu Beixun knew how agonizing this process was. The fire he had barely suppressed within him was reignited, while the person on the bed slept soundly.
Once he had settled her properly, Lu Beixun went straight into the bathroom and didn’t emerge until the early hours of the morning.
Standing by the bed, he looked down at the sleeping figure with a gentle gaze. “You little heartless thing,” he murmured.
He lifted the blanket and lay down beside her. Sensing the familiar presence, Cen Wan shifted closer to him. The corners of Lu Beixun’s lips curved upward as he wrapped his arms around her.
When she woke up the next day and looked at the person beside her, Cen Wan felt like crying. What kind of opportunity had she missed last night?
Her mother-in-law had practically served him to her on a platter, yet she hadn’t taken a bite. She never expected she would fall asleep in the bathroom. What a perfect chance, wasted just like that.
With a sigh of utter despair, the person beside her stirred awake. His voice was low and husky from sleep. “What’s wrong?”
Cen Wan lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling. “It’s nothing, really. Just a bit of a pity that I didn’t get to eat the meat that was served right to my lips.”
Her words carried a hidden meaning, and Lu Beixun understood.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in Lu Beixun’s eyes. “Then eat more meat tonight.”
Cen Wan’s eyes lit up, thinking Lu Beixun had finally come to his senses and was ready to engage in intimate activities with her. Little did she know that by evening, she would understand what Lu Beixun truly meant by “eat more meat.”
That night, both families went to the restaurant Mother Lu had booked for dinner. Throughout the meal, Lu Beixun kept serving her meat—all her favorite kinds.
It was at that moment she realized what Lu Beixun had meant that morning.
She shot him a resentful glare, but both sets of parents mistook it for playful flirtation. Throughout the dinner, the parents praised each other’s children.
Mother Cen was happy for her daughter, relieved to see she had such a wonderful mother-in-law. She had once worried about potential conflicts between them, but now it seemed her concerns were unnecessary—there was no sign of any mother-in-law and daughter-in-law strife.
Father Cen and Mother Cen had initially believed that the arranged marriage between the two families would sacrifice their precious daughter’s happiness. In the end, they were mistaken. After the wedding, whether it was Lu Beixun or Father and Mother Lu, everyone treated their beloved daughter exceptionally well.
After dinner, the two families said their goodbyes, and she and Lu Beixun returned to the Lu family’s old mansion.
Once home, they greeted Father and Mother Lu before heading upstairs. It was still early, so after taking a shower, Cen Wan lay in bed playing on her phone while Lu Beixun went to the study to handle some work matters.
An hour later, just as Lu Beixun finished his work and returned to the room, the bedroom door was knocked.
Lu Beixun opened the door to find Wang Ma, a servant of the Lu residence, standing outside holding a bowl of brownish soup.
Looking at the soup in the bowl, Lu Beixun’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Wang Ma spoke up, “Madam prepared this medicinal soup and asked me to bring it up.”
Lu Beixun took it, his expression cool and distant. Just as he was about to close the door, Wang Ma added, “Madam said she wants to see you drink it with her own eyes.”
Lu Beixun: “…”
Cen Wan walked over. She knew exactly what this medicinal soup was—its effects were even stronger than last night’s. She was well aware that Lu Beixun had no intention of touching her, so drinking this soup would be pointless anyway.
Clutching her stomach and frowning, she said, “Husband, could you make me a cup of brown sugar water?”Being a woman herself, Aunt Wang understood what was going on and didn’t ask further. She went downstairs to make a cup of brown sugar water and brought it upstairs. Cen Wan thanked her before closing the door.
Lu Beixun didn’t drink that bowl of medicinal soup either.