Lin Wanxing squatted down in front of him. This position required her to tilt her head back slightly to see his face.
She reached out, gently covering the back of his hand that was tightly clutching his pocket.
Her fingers were slightly cool. When they touched his scalding, rough skin, both of them trembled faintly.
“Jianfeng,” her voice was as soft as the night breeze, “look up. Look at me.”
Gu Jianfeng hesitated for a moment, then finally, slowly and stiffly, raised his head.
Lin Wanxing looked directly into his eyes, speaking each word clearly and firmly: “You didn’t do anything wrong. Not at all. On the contrary, I want to thank you.”
Gu Jianfeng was stunned, looking at her blankly.
“Dabao and Xiaoya were indeed spoiled by my parents. They bullied me quite a bit before, thinking everything of mine naturally belonged to them.”
Lin Wanxing stated the facts calmly, without complaint, simply explaining the situation.
“What you said to them today was right. It lets them know they can’t just reach out and ask for everything, especially other people’s things. It’s good for their future. You were teaching them a principle.”
She paused, watching the light gradually brighten in Gu Jianfeng’s eyes, then continued: “Moreover, by doing that, you were protecting our own small family. You were telling me that our things need to be guarded together. How could I possibly think you’re unreasonable? I’m delighted.”
As she spoke, a sincere, warm smile appeared on her face, like a spring breeze sweeping over ice: “So, don’t feel sorry for me, and don’t be uneasy about this. In my heart, you did very well.”
Gu Jianfeng stared at her dazedly, at his own reflection in her clear eyes, listening to her gentle yet powerful words. The stifling, turbid air that had been trapped in his chest for so long seemed to clear away instantly. He felt lighter all over.
He didn’t dare to hold the hand Lin Wanxing had placed over his. He just stared fixedly.
That hand was small, soft, yet seemed to carry infinite strength.
“Wanxing…” he murmured her name, his voice hoarse, “you… you really think that?”
“Of course, it’s true.” Lin Wanxing nodded affirmatively, her smile radiant. “Lin Wanxing always means what she says.”
Looking at her brilliant smile, the last bit of gloom in Gu Jianfeng’s heart completely dispersed.
In its place surged a scalding, overwhelming tide of emotion.
Just then, Lin Wanxing’s gaze drifted downward, landing on the pocket he was still covering. Curiously, she asked: “But… what’s here? It’s so secretive.”
Only then did Gu Jianfeng remember his earlier action. The blush that had just receded from his face flared up again with a “whoosh.”
A bit embarrassed, he released the hand covering his pocket and, very carefully, pulled out two things from the bulging pocket.
One was a few pieces of fruit hard candy wrapped in pretty candy paper, seemingly high-quality goods from Shanghai.
The other was a small item, carefully wrapped in red paper, its contents unclear.
“This candy… is for Dabao and Xiaoya.” Gu Jianfeng offered the candy to Lin Wanxing, explaining somewhat sheepishly: “I… I thought about it later. They’re just kids. Scold them, yes, but can’t give them no sweetness at all. You can give them this candy tomorrow… or whenever there’s a chance, to sweeten their mouths. Consider it… a small token from their brother-in-law.”
Then, he picked up the small red paper packet, opening it even more carefully.
What appeared inside were actually two brand-new, patterned paper bills and several industrial coupons.
The denominations weren’t particularly large, but at the time, it was definitely a considerable amount of pocket money.
“This…” Gu Jianfeng’s voice grew even lower, “is part of my allowance for this month, just received, not handed over yet… I kept a portion. This is for you. You… buy whatever you want for yourself. Or, for your parents… that’s fine too. It’s up to you.”
Lin Wanxing looked at the few colorful fruit candies in her palm, then at the stack of paper money and industrial coupons still carrying his warmth.
Her eyes grew slightly moist.
After transmigrating into the book, she had strategized and plotted step by step, all for self-preservation, for a better life.
She had never dared to hope for any genuine feeling here.
But at this moment, Gu Jianfeng’s clumsy yet scalding sincerity was like a beam of light, piercing unexpectedly into the softest part of her heart.
She raised her head, sniffed slightly, forcing back the moisture in her eyes, and revealed a brilliant, somewhat mischievous smile again: “Alright, I’ll accept the money and coupons. As for this candy…”
She picked up one piece, unwrapping the pretty candy paper to reveal the translucent orange candy inside. But instead of eating it herself, she unexpectedly and quickly popped the candy into Gu Jianfeng’s mouth, which had opened slightly in surprise.
“The first piece of candy should sweeten my husband’s mouth first.”
She smiled, her eyes shimmering, carrying a coquettishness and intimacy she’d never shown before.
“Thank you, Jianfeng. Thank you… for thinking of me like this.”
Gu Jianfeng was caught off guard. His mouth was instantly filled with the clear, sweet taste of orange.
That sweetness didn’t seem to come from the candy, but rather seemed to spread from the depths of his heart, flowing instantly to every limb.
He looked at her face so close, smiling like a flower, at the clear reflection of himself in her eyes.
All the nervousness, unease, and apprehension vanished in this moment.
The red candlelight cast swaying shadows on the wall.
Lin Wanxing stood up and returned to sit by the edge of the kang.
As she took off the brand-new dark red outer jacket, she revealed the white cotton undershirt she wore close to her skin, which outlined her slender waist and full curves.
She patted the spot beside her covered with the large red mandarin duck quilt: “Alright, come up and rest now.”
But Gu Jianfeng seemed nailed to the spot.
He stood a few steps away from the kang, his tall frame tense as a fully drawn bow.
From the moment Lin Wanxing took off her jacket, his breathing had noticeably grown ragged, his chest heaving violently. His bronze face flushed almost blood-red, his eyes not daring to glance at her at all, instead darting around in panic before finally locking onto his own feet.
Hearing her words, not only did he not step forward, he subconsciously retreated half a step, his hands once again tightly, almost defensively, clutching the waistband of his military trousers.
“I… I’m not sleepy yet…”
His voice was hoarse and dry, seemingly squeezed from his throat. “You… you sleep first… I… I’ll sit a while longer…”
As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the pitiful little wooden stool again.
Lin Wanxing looked at him, standing there as if facing a formidable enemy, resolutely refusing to get on the bed, and felt a bit speechless.
He clearly treated her very well.
Why was he acting like she was going to eat him?
Could he have some unspeakable hidden ailment?
She asked calmly and gently: “Jianfeng, what’s really the matter? We’re husband and wife. Is there anything you can’t tell me?”
She paused, probing: “Is it… something about me you’re not satisfied with?”
“No! Absolutely not!” Gu Jianfeng snapped his head up, urgently denying, afraid she’d misunderstand. “You’re fine! Really good! It’s me… it’s my own problem!”
“Then what exactly is your problem?” Lin Wanxing pressed, her clear gaze fixed on him. “If you’re like this… how are we supposed to live together in the future?”
Gu Jianfeng was left speechless by her question, his face alternating between red and pale. Struggle and shame threatened to drown him.
He looked into Lin Wanxing’s eyes that seemed to see right through him, at her sitting on the big red wedding quilt, looking both fragile and determined.
As if steeling himself for death, with extreme shame and nervousness, he blurted out incoherently and rapidly: “I… I… I’m… different from normal men. I’m… I’m afraid… afraid I’ll hurt you! It’ll be very painful… very painful… I heard… I heard a woman’s first time… she can’t stand it… With me… like this… you won’t be able to bear it!”
After he finished, that hand clutched even more desperately at his trousers, as if they hid some ferocious beast.
Lin Wanxing: “……”
She was stunned. She blinked, then blinked again. It took her a full several seconds to digest his out-of-the-blue, information-packed yet extremely vague confession.
Different from normal men? Afraid of hurting her? Very painful?
These key phrases circled in her mind. Combined with his desperate clutching at his trousers, an absurd and somewhat laughable guess gradually surfaced.
Looking at this big man before her, who felt inferior and fearful—even afraid to consummate the marriage—because of his extraordinary endowment, she truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
What on earth is this all about!
Who on earth had he heard this from?
Or was it just his own wild imagination?
Barely suppressing the urge to smile, she cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound serious and earnest: “Jianfeng, you… look up at me.”
Gu Jianfeng stiffly, slowly raised his head, his eyes evasive.
Lin Wanxing looked directly into his eyes, asking word by word, clearly and calmly: “What do you mean by ‘different from normal men’? And who told you it would… be very painful?”
Gu Jianfeng’s face instantly flushed crimson, his neck and ears turning completely red.
His eyes darted about, utterly unable to meet hers. “It’s… it’s just… compared to… ordinary men… that… When I was a kid bathing in the river, I was… teased by the other boys… Later… later in the army bathhouse, some… some guys also peeked… I… I even secretly asked the medic… He… he was vague, just said… be gentle with your wife later, said… it might be a bit… difficult…”
His voice grew smaller and smaller as he spoke, until it was almost inaudible, leaving only the sound of his heavy breathing.