Gu Zhixing stood rooted in place, unable to move. His fingers gripped the edge of his clothes so tightly that he couldn’t bring himself to loosen them.
Lin Wan blinked and added, “Then I’ll cover my eyes and won’t look.”
As she spoke, she raised both hands to cover her eyes. Through the gaps between her fingers, her clear, bright eyes blinked innocently—impossible to ignore.
They were already husband and wife. They had even kissed. A man shouldn’t be so petty—what was wrong with letting her look? They would be doing even more intimate things in the future anyway, so they might as well get used to it slowly.
Gu Zhixing: “…”
After a long moment, he let out a soft sigh. His grip on his clothes finally loosened, and he slowly removed his outer robe.
The faint sound of fabric rustling filled the room. Lin Wan widened the gap between her fingers a little more. Gu Zhixing had already turned his back to her, so she simply lowered her hands and watched openly without restraint.
He was hers anyway—she would see him sooner or later. Better to enjoy it early. The bold get to enjoy life first.
Gu Zhixing only removed his upper garments. He bent down, wet the cloth in the basin, and began wiping himself down. His lower trousers remained completely in place, with no intention of being removed at all.
Although husband and wife would eventually be intimate, they were not yet consummated. Even if they were, he still couldn’t bring himself to wash naked in front of her like this.
Lin Wan’s gaze fell on his back. She had already seen it during yesterday’s acupuncture, but it still looked pleasing to the eye. He was a little thin now, but there were still faint muscle lines—enough to imagine how good his physique must have been before.
She would have to work harder to restore his health and help him gain some weight so he would look even better to admire.
Seeing how stiff his movements were, Lin Wan watched for a moment before finally relenting.
“I’ll turn around and go to sleep. You can wash in peace.”
This time she actually did what she said. She kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed.
Gu Zhixing could hear rustling sounds behind him as she undressed. Although he couldn’t see her, his face grew increasingly warm.
After a while, the sounds behind him faded. Only then did he turn his head slightly—and saw Lin Wan lying on the inner side of the bed with her back to him.
Although she said she would sleep, now that she was actually lying down, she wasn’t sleepy at all. Especially with the occasional sound of water—it was enough to stir restless thoughts.
Once the work in the fields was finished, aside from making money, the most important thing would be to detoxify Gu Zhixing as soon as possible. Otherwise, being able to see but not “eat” was far too frustrating. And more importantly—right now, she wasn’t even allowed to look properly.
Listening to the occasional water sounds behind her, Lin Wan simply closed her eyes and counted sheep. Before long, she finally fell asleep.
After washing, Gu Zhixing changed into the clean undergarments Lin Wan had bought. He carried the basin outside, cleaned the floor, and only then returned to the bed and lay down at the very edge, carefully avoiding contact with her.
Summer nights were hot and humid. Even at night, the air was stifling.
Lin Wan, feeling a faint coolness, instinctively moved toward him.
Gu Zhixing’s body temperature was very low due to the poison, especially his hands and feet, which were ice-cold. In the summer heat, he felt like a natural cooling source.
Half-asleep, Lin Wan adjusted into a comfortable position and clung to him. The cool sensation eased the sweat on her body, and she nestled closer, falling into a deeper sleep.
Gu Zhixing froze completely, not daring to move.
Both of them were only wearing thin undergarments. In the heat of summer, the fabric was already light, and after she leaned in, it had shifted slightly. What was thin on him was thin on her as well.
He had only lowered his gaze briefly, but immediately saw a glimpse of fair, delicate skin—and quickly looked away.
Her arm wrapped around his waist, holding him tightly. Her strength was such that he couldn’t even move away. Every time he tried to shift back, she immediately followed and held him even tighter.
After several failed attempts, he was pressed all the way to the edge of the bed—one more movement and he would fall off.
So he stopped moving.
Looking down at her sleeping face, bathed in moonlight, he found her peacefully asleep.
It was the first time in his life he had ever been so close to a woman. He had thought he would struggle to sleep, but unexpectedly, as he watched her, he drifted off as well.
Ever since learning he was poisoned, he hadn’t slept this peacefully in a long time.
The quiet room was filled with their soft, steady breathing, their bodies nestled together in an unexpectedly warm scene.
The next morning, Lin Wan woke up feeling refreshed and stretched lazily. She looked around but didn’t see Gu Zhixing—he had already gotten up early.
Only then did she notice her undergarments had come undone. She wasn’t used to wearing them, especially in the heat, where she already felt suffocated by layers of clothing.
But if she didn’t wear them, Gu Zhixing definitely wouldn’t dare sleep on the bed, so she endured it.
After changing and stepping out, she smelled food from the kitchen. At the doorway, she saw a figure busy at the stove.
“Morning!” she greeted with a smile.
Gu Zhixing stiffened slightly but didn’t turn around. “Morning.”
She walked in. “What are you making? It smells so good.”
As she stood beside him, their arms lightly brushed—and his body stiffened even more.
“Porridge with greens… and egg pancakes…” His voice was dry. He kept his eyes fixed on the pot as if afraid that looking away even for a second would cause it to burn.
Lin Wan frowned slightly. Something felt off.
Sensing her gaze, his body grew even tighter. His lips pressed together, and he still didn’t dare look at her.
Thinking about what had happened when he woke up this morning, his face slowly turned red under her watchful eyes.