The moment Xiang Wanwan heard the commotion, she crept over and pressed herself against the wall to listen.
“Chen De, you dog of a man! Cheating behind my back, and now you even dare use my relationship with Wanwan to pull strings?”
“Do you really think I have no temper? I’ll beat you to death!”
What followed was a clatter of basins being thrown and bowls shattering.
Xiang Wanwan was a little surprised.
She hadn’t expected Sister-in-law Wang to be this fierce today—had she finally stood up for herself?
But that scumbag Chen De really had gone too far!
He truly deserved a good lesson!
Xiang Wanwan smiled happily, and Lu Jingnian, standing behind her, found the sight amusing.
He stepped forward, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and said in a low voice, “That’s enough. Let’s go home.”
Hearing the man’s voice behind her, she immediately let go of the wall, turned to look at Lu Jingnian, freed her clothes from his grip, and quickly ran back home.
Lu Jingnian looked at his now-empty hand, then at the small figure ahead of him, the corner of his lips lifting into a faint smile.
Short legs—yet she runs pretty fast.
Back home, Xiang Wanwan hurried to wash up. Power on the island would be cut at nine, and there was less than an hour left. She didn’t want to end up in the dark.
Since there’d been no firewood or hot water yesterday, she hadn’t bathed.
Now that there was hot water, she decided she definitely needed a bath.
She walked to the study, stared at Lu Jingnian—who was reading—and asked softly, “Can you help me light the fire? I want to take a bath.”
Lu Jingnian looked at her big eyes blinking at him, her pink lips lightly bitten, and froze for a moment.
Seeing that he didn’t respond, Xiang Wanwan asked again.
After a short pause, he finally put down his book, stood up, and went to the kitchen to boil water for her.
It wasn’t that Xiang Wanwan didn’t want to do it herself—it was just that she really couldn’t get the fire started. She’d tried several times in the afternoon, all unsuccessfully.
So in the end, she resigned herself to asking Lu Jingnian for help.
Before long, the water was ready. Lu Jingnian thoughtfully carried it to the bathroom for her.
After thanking him, Xiang Wanwan went into the bathroom on her own.
Back in the study, Lu Jingnian picked up his book again, but with the sound of water splashing from the bathroom, he couldn’t calm down at all.
Half an hour passed, yet the book in his hands was still open to the same page.
Then suddenly—everything went black. The power went out.
Immediately after, a scream came from the bathroom.
“Ah—!”
Lu Jingnian instantly put the book down and rushed to the bathroom door in a few quick strides, his voice slightly unsteady. “Are you okay?”
“I… the power suddenly went out. I slipped and twisted my ankle. I can’t move right now.”
Xiang Wanwan felt a piercing pain in her foot, cold sweat breaking out all over her.
She looked toward the door, but Lu Jingnian didn’t speak for a long moment.
“Lu Jingnian? Are you still there?”
“Can I come in?”
Lu Jingnian’s voice sounded again, and Xiang Wanwan suddenly felt at a loss.
What should she do?
She wasn’t wearing any clothes right now—but if she didn’t let him in, she couldn’t move at all!
Luckily, the power was out and it was pitch-black. He probably wouldn’t be able to see anything.
Xiang Wanwan closed her eyes and said, “Come in.”
Lu Jingnian placed his hand on the doorknob, took a deep breath, and slowly pushed the door open.
Although it was completely dark, he could still vaguely make out where the woman was.
Since the floor was wet, he moved carefully. When he was about to reach Xiang Wanwan, he suddenly stopped.
Seeing him come in, Xiang Wanwan’s heart started racing.
“My clothes are hanging on the wall beside you.”
Hearing this, Lu Jingnian took two steps toward the wall, pulled them down, and held them in his hand.
He stepped forward, suddenly squatted down, wrapped Xiang Wanwan up in the clothes, and then scooped her into his arms.
The sudden contact and the sensation of being lifted made Xiang Wanwan let out a soft cry.
“Ah!” She quickly covered her mouth, feeling a little embarrassed.
Then she heard Lu Jingnian’s deep voice above her head.
“Hold on to me.”
Hearing that, Xiang Wanwan immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, afraid that if he lost his balance, she’d fall again.
Feeling the woman in his arms pressed tightly against him, Lu Jingnian unconsciously tightened his hold. The warm, smooth touch made his ears heat up.
And she’d just finished bathing—her faint, clean fragrance lingered around his nose.
His throat tightened involuntarily.
He carried Xiang Wanwan into the master bedroom and gently set her down on the bed, then turned away.
“Put your clothes on first.”
“Ah—oh!” she answered instinctively.
Xiang Wanwan quickly got dressed. When she was pulling on her pants, she tugged at her ankle and couldn’t help sucking in a sharp breath.
“Hiss—!”
Lu Jingnian heard the sound, immediately turned around, and squatted down.
“Which foot did you twist?”
“My right foot.”
He gently picked up her right foot.
It was small and delicate—he could almost wrap it entirely with one hand. His hands kept moving, massaging it steadily.
The heat from his palms spread to Xiang Wanwan’s foot, and her face couldn’t help but turn red.
Good thing the power was out—Lu Jingnian couldn’t see her expression right now.
“It hurts—! Be gentle!”
“Bear with it.”
By now, Xiang Wanwan was sweating from the pain.
Instinctively, she tried to pull her foot back, but Lu Jingnian’s grip tightened, holding it firmly in place.
Just as Xiang Wanwan was about to get angry, Lu Jingnian suddenly applied force—
Crack.
“Ah—! Be gentle!”
Xiang Wanwan yanked her right foot back, clutching it with both hands, her face full of grievance in the darkness.
That damned man—why did he have to use so much force?
Lu Jingnian chuckled softly and slowly stood up.
“All done. Try moving it now—does it still hurt?”
Hearing his voice, Xiang Wanwan reacted and gently moved her foot.
Huh?
It didn’t hurt anymore!
A wave of surprise rose in her heart. Turns out this man really knew what he was doing.
She lifted her head toward the dark silhouette in front of her. “It’s fine now. Thank you.”
“Go to sleep first. I’ll go wash up.”
After saying that, Lu Jingnian left the bedroom.
Xiang Wanwan’s gaze followed his shadow. Once he was gone, her whole body finally relaxed.
Lying on the bed, the more she thought about it, the more something felt off. She suddenly sat up.
She was a living, breathing woman—she’d been completely naked in front of Lu Jingnian just now, yet he hadn’t reacted at all.
Sure, he was very much a gentleman.
But was that really a normal reaction for a man?
And she was his legal wife!
Yet he could remain so composed!
Could it be that… Lu Jingnian wasn’t capable?
The moment that thought surfaced, Xiang Wanwan felt her entire future turn bleak.
She was still young—she didn’t want to live as a widow in all but name!
Clutching the blanket, Xiang Wanwan’s mood grew heavy.
Meanwhile, outside the bedroom, Lu Jingnian was leaning against the door, his face flushed, heart pounding.
Only heaven knew how much willpower he’d used just now to suppress the surge of desire in his chest.
Suddenly, he let out a self-mocking laugh.
What was he doing?
Xiang Wanwan was his legal wife—his restraint just now seemed almost unnecessary.
After a while, he finally calmed down and went straight to the bathroom.
When the icy water poured over him, the earlier turmoil completely dissipated.
By the time Lu Jingnian finished and got into bed, Xiang Wanwan was already asleep.
Just like the previous night, the moment he lay down, the woman beside him instinctively tangled her arms and legs around him.
Moonlight streamed through the window, spilling onto the head of the bed and illuminating Xiang Wanwan’s face. When Lu Jingnian turned his head, he saw her peaceful sleeping expression.
A palm-sized face, fair skin, long eyelashes—at this moment, Xiang Wanwan looked like a porcelain doll, quiet and well-behaved.
Lu Jingnian found himself staring, then reached out and lightly brushed her eyelashes.
Disturbed from her sleep, the woman turned over, instantly putting some distance between them.
As if possessed, Lu Jingnian shifted a little closer to her.