The morning sun over Beijing filtered gently through the thin curtains, filling the room with warm, soft light.
The bedroom still bore traces of the previous night’s passion. A sheer red robe and the man’s cotton pajamas lay tangled together on the floor beside the bed.
The sunlight made He Congnan slowly open his eyes.
Instinctively, he raised a hand to shield them from the brightness, but the movement disturbed the little woman sleeping snugly in his embrace.
Lu Jinhuan let out a sleepy murmur, shifted a few times, found a more comfortable position against him, and drifted back to sleep.
He Congnan smiled dotingly.
Thinking back to the previous night, he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.
He had told himself repeatedly that it was her first time and that he mustn’t frighten her.
Yet he simply hadn’t been able to restrain himself.
Even now, recalling how she’d tearfully begged him in her sweet voice and called him “Brother,” he felt an overwhelming tenderness that made him want to cherish her again and again.
At the thought, he had to suppress another surge of emotion.
Helplessly, he kissed the top of her soft hair and quietly traced her features with his eyes.
Her skin was as smooth and translucent as a baby’s, so delicate that the tiny hairs on her face caught the light.
Her long black hair spread softly across the pillow, making her seem gentle and fragile.
Her gracefully arched brows framed her peaceful expression, and her rosy lips were slightly pouted in sleep, making her unbearably adorable.
Unable to resist any longer, He Congnan lowered his head and kissed her.
“Mmm…”
Still sound asleep, Lu Jinhuan vaguely felt something warm and soft brushing against her lips.
She startled awake.
“Ah…”
The first thing she saw was He Congnan’s handsome, resolute face.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, it took her a moment to remember where she was.
In a drowsy, sweet voice, she asked,
“Brother Congnan… aren’t you sleepy?”
Looking at her adorable, half-awake expression, He Congnan felt his heart melt.
As he kissed her teasingly, he asked,
“Aren’t you angry that I woke you up?”
“A little…” she admitted softly, giggling as his kisses tickled her.
“Can I sleep a little longer?”
Seeing the moisture in her eyes and hearing her sleepy, gentle voice, He Congnan silently scolded himself.
Yet he couldn’t resist showering her with affection.
He leaned down again, leaving a trail of tender kisses along her collarbone and neck.
…
“Mmm… Brother Congnan… please don’t…”
After everything she’d been through the night before, Lu Jinhuan’s body still felt sore and exhausted.
She remembered just how passionate he had been.
If they continued now, she honestly didn’t think she could handle it.
She had assumed he only wanted to kiss her.
She hadn’t expected…
Feeling her instinctively retreating in his embrace, He Congnan reluctantly stopped.
He gently nuzzled the side of her face before coaxing softly,
“Just once, sweetheart… all right?”
Looking as though she might cry, Lu Jinhuan finally nodded.
“Then… don’t make it take too long, okay?”
“Okay.”
He stroked her cheek lovingly before kissing her again.
…
Time passed quietly.
About half an hour later, the room finally grew still again.
Completely exhausted, Lu Jinhuan lay limp in his arms, while He Congnan looked thoroughly content.
He carefully carried the weary little woman into the bathroom.
After helping her freshen up, he wrapped her snugly in a blanket and cradled her in one arm while efficiently changing the bedsheets with the other.
“Brother Congnan…”
She blinked in amazement.
“You’re incredible. You can work with just one hand?”
Smiling warmly, he replied,
“Of course.
“I can do much more than change bedsheets with one hand.
“Maybe I’ll show you sometime.”
Remembering how mischievous he could be, Lu Jinhuan’s cheeks immediately turned crimson.
“But… you’re still carrying me.
“Am I not heavy?”
“You?”
Looking at her sweet little face, he couldn’t help kissing her soft cheek.
“You’re lighter than the field packs we carry during training.”
Lu Jinhuan: “…”
He honestly couldn’t understand it.
She had such a slender waist, yet her figure was graceful and healthy in all the right places.
It made him reluctant to let her go.
Once the bed was made, He Congnan gently tucked her beneath the blankets, wrapping her up snugly before kissing her forehead.
“Go back to sleep.
“Sleep as long as you like.”
Looking slightly worried, Lu Jinhuan asked,
“It’s our first day as newlyweds.
“Isn’t it rude if I stay in bed like this?
“Won’t the elders be unhappy?”
She was truly exhausted.
Her legs still trembled faintly.
She had no desire to get out of bed or even eat.
All she wanted was to sleep.
Seeing through her concerns, He Congnan comforted her.
“It’s fine.
“We’re newly married. No one will fault you today.
“Dad has already gone to work, and Grandpa and Grandma usually go out after breakfast.
“No one will notice.”
He actually had three days of marriage leave.
Knowing he was home, his grandparents would most likely stay in the house.
But he wanted her to rest without worrying, so he stretched the truth.
“Okay~”
Completely reassured, Lu Jinhuan closed her eyes and fell asleep again within moments.
He Congnan stayed beside the bed for a while, quietly watching her sleep before getting dressed and leaving the room.
Downstairs.
He Qianlin had already left for work.
Grandpa He, Grandma He, Jiang Yun, and He Xiangbei and his wife were eating breakfast.
He Congnan sat down, and Aunt Zhou, the housekeeper, served him a bowl of porridge.
“Is Jinhuan still sleeping?” Jiang Yun asked.
“Mhm.”
He Congnan simply nodded.
Grandpa and Grandma He exchanged knowing smiles.
Their eldest grandson had lived such a disciplined, restrained life for so many years.
Now that he had finally married the woman he loved, it was only natural for the newlyweds to spend extra time together.
“Xiao Zhou,” Grandma He said with a smile, “go buy a chicken later and make some nourishing chicken soup for our eldest granddaughter-in-law.”
The girl was still young and so petite that Grandma He worried she might overexert herself.
Lu Jinyun lowered her eyes, swallowed her food, and spoke with feigned humility.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Huan’er is still young and doesn’t understand proper etiquette. I’ll apologize on her behalf. Once she wakes up, I’ll have a talk with her and explain the He family’s rules.”
Ever since marrying into the He family, neither her grandparents-in-law nor her parents-in-law had ever treated her kindly.
Why should Lu Jinhuan receive different treatment?
A chill settled over He Congnan’s refined, handsome face.
His voice was icy.
“And who exactly do you think you are?”
“Who gave you the right to apologize on behalf of my wife?”
“You still haven’t sorted out your own messes, yet you’re worrying about someone else. Just looking at you is exhausting.”
“Big Brother…”
Although He Xiangbei had long since grown disgusted with Lu Jinyun, they were still husband and wife.
For He Congnan to speak to her that way in front of everyone was no different from slapping him in the face.
“No matter what, Jinyun is still Sister-in-law’s older sister.
“She was only worried about her younger sister.
“Didn’t you go a little too far with those words, Big Brother?”