The man’s voice was calm and indifferent: “I got the key from the guesthouse.”
Lin Yuqiu wanted to ask him why he came so late.
But the words stuck in her throat.
Silence spread in the darkness. Suddenly, she remembered something, but hesitated to ask, her voice softening slightly, carrying a tentative tone she herself didn’t realize: “Are you leaving tonight?”
As soon as she finished speaking, her cheeks flushed instantly, and even her ears felt hot.
The darkness concealed her blush, but it couldn’t hide her rapid breathing.
The man stood up; his tall figure was not frightening in the darkness, but rather gave her a sense of security that she couldn’t quite explain.
“I’ll sit in this chair all night, you get some sleep, we’re going to get our marriage certificate tomorrow.”
His voice remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet carrying a gentleness that could not be refused.
This touch of tenderness, however, was like a hook, drawing out a trace of guilt from the depths of her heart.
Lin Yuqiu crawled back into bed and watched the man walk towards the chair.
Watching him sit down in the chair, his tall frame huddled in the small space, he looked somewhat cramped.
Her heart softened suddenly. She bit her lip and said in an almost inaudible voice, “Why don’t you come and sleep here?”
After she finished speaking, her cheeks burned even hotter.
She closed her eyes tightly, not daring to look at his reaction, her heart pounding again.
There was no movement for a long time in the darkness.
She even thought he hadn’t heard her.
Suddenly, the sound of a man getting up was heard again.
Then footsteps slowly approached the bedside.
The man did not take off his clothes or shoes, but lay down next to her fully clothed.
Lin Yuqiu heard steady breathing behind her, as if they were at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
From childhood to adulthood, I have rarely shared a bed with anyone. Even with my mother, I only slept with her until I was three years old.
Tonight, however, is the first time that a man has been allowed to lie on her bed.
There was clearly no inappropriate touching between the bedding, yet her cheeks were burning hot, as if they could melt snow, and her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat’s claws, filled with panic and confusion.
Behind him, he was as still as a mountain, yet his presence was extremely strong.
Each steady breath felt like it was landing on the back of her neck, making her afraid to move, let alone ignore his presence.
Suddenly, she whispered, “I just had a nightmare.”
The man simply hummed in response, offering no further questions, probing, or even a hint of anything else.
Lin Yuqiu couldn’t quite put her finger on whether she felt lost or something else, but she couldn’t help but think of that female doctor.
Perhaps the man also harbors feelings for his childhood sweetheart, and marrying her is merely to repay a debt of gratitude; he has no romantic feelings for her.
A sudden surge of emotion welled up in her nose, and her throat tightened slightly, making her realize that she had only known the man for a few days, yet she had developed such a strong dependence on him.
However, the tense nerves relaxed due to tired sleepiness, and he fell into a deep sleep.
In her sleep, she thought she was alone, mumbled something, turned over, and fell back into a sweet sleep.
The man beside him, however, felt a faint, sweet fragrance wafting into his nose in the darkness, making it difficult for him to fall asleep.
This sweet fragrance subtly stirred a tender flutter in the man’s heart.
It wasn’t a surging desire, but a more primal one a wanting to get closer, a wanting to possess.
The man’s breathing became slightly heavier as he quietly turned around, his dark eyes fixed on the woman sleeping soundly in the moonlight.
Her sleeping face was adorable, her cheek resting on the back of her hand, squeezing out a soft mound of flesh that rippled out an adorable curve, captivating any man’s gaze.
As if afraid that her beautiful face would disappear, she stared intently, unwilling to blink or look away.
The man barely slept all night. The next day, as soon as he opened his eyes, he rubbed his temples and looked up, he clearly saw a scene that shocked him.
In the snow-white morning light, the woman’s clear, jade-like skin seemed to be edged with a soft gold.
Her slender arms lay lazily outside the blanket, her wrist bones so delicate they seemed as if they would break at the slightest touch.
That slender, fair neck was tilted slightly upwards, outlining a graceful curve.
Below the neck, there were prominent undulations that the thin, light-colored fabric could not conceal.
The beauty was languid and soft, lying on her pillow amidst the rosy clouds, her beauty so stunning it shook one’s very soul.
The woman’s soft, sweet fragrance wafted from his side, penetrating to his very bones, and the man’s breathing instantly became heavier.
That desire surged back, no longer the hazy thrill of last night.
Instead, when his gaze was fixed on that clear and beautiful face, the impulse seemed to burn through his flesh and bones, carrying the most primal throbbing, almost devouring him.
The man sat up abruptly, got out of bed hastily, and strode out of the room.
Not long after, Lin Yuqiu woke up from her sleep. The moment her consciousness returned, she subconsciously turned around and saw that there was no one beside her.
The room was quiet, except for the loud broadcast coming from outside the window.
Suddenly, a flash of white appeared before her eyes, and she inadvertently glanced at her exposed arms and the white tank top she was wearing underneath.
Instantly, a surge of heat rushed from her neck to her cheeks, turning them as red as ripe cherries on a branch.
She hurriedly tidied her slightly disheveled hair, grabbed the blanket next to her, wrapped herself in it, and then reached out shakily to grab the clothes on the clothes rack next to her.
How was she sleeping last night?
Has she let any man see her looking so disheveled?
Last night, darkness concealed the truth, but this morning, with the bright light shining through, I realized just how embarrassing it was.
Lin Yuqiu’s heart was pounding like a rabbit’s.
Her gaze fell on the maroon dress, and she took it and put it on.
Lin Yuqiu put on the dress, but there was no mirror in the room, so she didn’t know what she looked like. She only felt that the dress fit her waist perfectly.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of a door opening behind me.
She didn’t notice the man’s gaze sharpen for a moment before he turned around and asked, “You’re back?”
The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his gaze lingered on her for a few seconds before he looked away, his voice slightly hoarse: “Yeah, I got breakfast. Come and eat after you’ve washed up.”
Lin Yuqiu nodded, then suddenly felt that the atmosphere was too familiar, like two people living together.
She was also very nervous about embarking on a new journey in life, and she gave a soft “hmm” in a voice barely audible.
After she finished washing up, she walked to the table and sat down.
After she finished washing up, the man came over to eat with her.
She suddenly looked up at the man and realized that his features were very handsome and strong, unlike Xie Qingwei’s gentlemanly demeanor. The man in front of her was the kind of person whose legs would go weak at the sight of him.
Zhou Runqing seemed to notice her gaze and looked up at her.
As their eyes met, Lin Yuqiu then realized that the man’s eyes were not gentle, but like a lion, a lone wolf, or an eagle, with an innate focus and control, calm to the point of cruelty, yet sharp enough to pierce through people’s hearts.
I’m afraid that whatever thoughts she has in the future will be exposed to men.
Her heart was pounding, and she quickly lowered her head to eat.
But looking at the sumptuous breakfast on the table, I was slightly surprised.
There were four lunchboxes and one bottle of fresh milk in total.
The lunchbox contained a box of plain porridge, a box of soy milk, and two other boxes containing the same two eggs, a steamed bun, and a mantou (steamed bread).
The man twisted open the cap of the milk and handed it to her, then handed her a carton of soy milk, a lunchbox containing a large meat bun, a large steamed bun, and two eggs.
This breakfast must cost at least several cents. The sanatorium supplies breakfast to the families of high-ranking officials, so the price is a bit higher.
Fresh milk costs three cents, boiled eggs cost four cents each, large meat buns cost four or five cents each, large steamed buns cost two cents each, and even soy milk and porridge, though cheaper, cost one cent.
Eating like this every month, breakfast can cost an average person a month’s wages.
Lin Yuqiu said nervously, “If we keep eating like this, how will we manage in the future?”
The man paused for a moment, then realized what he meant and said calmly, “I’m used to spending money lavishly. From now on, I’ll have the quartermaster pay your salary directly, and you can manage the household.”
After dinner, the two tidied up and went downstairs.
The guard, Xiao Liu, was already waiting downstairs. When he saw them come out, he immediately saluted and said, “Good morning, Commander and Sister-in-law!”
This was the first time Lin Yuqiu had heard Xiao Liu call her that, and she hadn’t gotten used to it yet. She blushed and stole a glance at the man.
After getting in the car, the jeep drove smoothly all the way to the police station.