Si Nian leaned back on her hands, her body flushed with an unnatural red. With her eyes lowered, she revealed her slender neck.
Zhou Yueshen's Adam's apple bobbed. He forced his gaze away, but inevitably caught a glimpse of that alluring sight.
His scalp tingled, and he felt a rush of heat surging upwards.
"Hurry up and get rid of that centipede..." Si Nian urged softly. She was still thinking about the centipede in the bathroom, terrified that it might crawl into her bed while she slept if it wasn't removed.
Zhou Yueshen looked down at himself, then at Si Nian, who was still glancing toward the bathroom.
With a tight jaw, he turned around to deal with the culprit in the bathroom.
When he returned after washing his hands, Si Nian was clutching the blanket and squirming, her face flushed as if she were unwell.
Zhou Yueshen looked down at her. Seeing her awkward expression, he wondered if she was unwilling to let him touch her.
Having been stopped twice in a row, the man was also burning with frustration.
Although he had promised not to touch her before their wedding night.
However, looking at her every day without being able to have her was a kind of torture for him.
Zhou Yueshen didn't want to force her, nor did he want her to be afraid of him. After a moment of silence, he offered,
"If you aren't ready, I'll go sleep in Little Dong's room."
"Get some good rest."
Zhou Yueshen turned to leave after speaking, but Si Nian called out to stop him. Clutching the quilt with her head bowed and her face flushed with embarrassment, she whispered, "I... I feel a little uncomfortable."
Zhou Yueshen paused and looked back at her.
Sitting on the bed with her fragrant shoulders half-exposed, Si Nian's fair, tender arms and slender legs were bare, making it hard to look away.
Si Nian didn't dare meet his eyes, so she missed the complex emotions churning in Zhou Yueshen's gaze.
Zhou Yueshen withdrew his gaze and said in a deep voice, "I'll go get some medicine."
He had been worried about accidentally hurting Si Nian before, as girls were delicate.
He also didn't really know how to please her, so he had prepared in advance.
He just didn't expect the medicine to come in handy before he even started.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Zhou Yueshen quickly returned to the room with a small bottle of ointment in his hand. "I bought this ointment in the city. It should work."
Si Nian nodded repeatedly and reached out to take it.
But Zhou Yueshen refused. He pulled his hand back and said with dark eyes, "Let me help you."
Si Nian froze, her face turning red again.
They were married, so it should be fine, right?
It wasn't that she disliked being intimate with a man, but she was a little afraid of him when he was fierce.
Zhou Yueshen twisted off the cap while staring at her.
Si Nian was wearing a thin nightgown. Although it was relatively conservative, the sheer fabric clung to her body, highlighting her exquisite curves and making it even harder to look away.
Under the man's intense gaze, Si Nian dawdled as she took off her clothes.
Zhou Yueshen glanced down and quickly looked away. His Adam's apple bobbed heavily as he said in a low voice, "It will be over soon."
Si Nian nodded, blushing.
Zhou Yueshen could almost hear his own heart pounding wildly, as if it were going to burst out of his chest. It hammered against his heart beat by beat, making him dizzy.
"Does it still hurt?" Zhou Yueshen asked when it was over.
Si Nian shook her head.
"If it's not uncomfortable, does that mean it feels good?" A smile played at the corners of Zhou Yueshen's mouth.
Si Nian glared at him.
Seeing her like this, Zhou Yueshen felt a tingling softness in his heart. He wanted to tease her more, but swallowed the words and simply said, "We are husband and wife. It's no big deal."
Si Nian felt too ashamed to face anyone after his words and kicked him.
Unexpectedly, the man was faster. He grabbed her leg, pulled, and smoothly pressed her down.
...
This feast lasted until a white glow appeared on the horizon.
Si Nian was very good at enduring silently, knowing that the house wasn't soundproof and there were many people sleeping inside.
Seeing that the man was endless, she finally cried out "No" with a sob. She hit his chest with her hands, which finally made him stop.
She was exhausted and limp; both of them looked as if they had just stepped out of a sauna.
Zhou Yueshen scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the washroom.
There was a vanity mirror in the room, holding quite a few delicate little things—her shampoos, body washes, lotions, and hair oils.
A variety of fragrances filled the air, but they weren't unpleasant.
In the middle was a bathtub, not very large.
Si Nian usually used it to bathe herself and Yaoyao.
The stove in the kitchen was still emitting wisps of heat.
The hot water in the large pot was ready.
With the splashing sound of hot water, Si Nian was gently lowered into the tub.
In an instant, the soothing relief washed away her soreness.
Even though she couldn't open her eyes, she let out a comfortable sigh.
The man watched in amusement as the drowsy woman enjoyed his service.
His rough fingers lifted her chin, and he planted a soft kiss on her lips.
An unknown amount of time passed before the door opened.
Steam and the scent of bath soap flooded into the bedroom.
Si Nian was wrapped in clothes by the man, her small face buried in his chest. Her cheeks were flushed, her full red lips slightly parted, and her breathing was steady.
Her long, fair legs dangled naturally. After the bath, her skin was smooth and silky, and even her nail beds bore a rosy tint.
Zhou Yueshen placed her on the bed. The quilt, specially made for their wedding, was soft and skin-friendly.
The young woman sank into it, the red bedding accentuating her snow-white skin.
His eyes fell on Si Nian.
Her lips were slightly parted, and her body trembled faintly.
Zhou Yueshen pulled the quilt over her to keep her warm.
He casually wiped the moisture from his own body, pulled back the covers, and moved close to her.
The bed was too soft; he wasn't used to sleeping on it.
He pulled her tightly into his arms.
At a casual touch, his hands met smooth, silky skin.
His throat tightened, and his body grew tense.
Si Nian sleepily opened her eyes. Seeming to sense his movements, she looked at him pitifully with misty eyes.
Zhou Yueshen sighed softly, gathered her into his embrace, and gently rubbed her back with his fingertips. He soothed her in a tender voice, "Don't be afraid. I just want to hold you."
That night, however, he did not sleep peacefully. Whether it was because he was holding such a soft, fragrant beauty without being able to touch her further, or for some other reason, he had a very strange dream.
In the dream, Si Nian was always hysterical, looking at him with disgust and hatred.
She even deeply despised the children she currently loved so dearly.
It felt so real that Zhou Yueshen almost believed the current beauty was just a dream of his.
Yet it was clear that just last night, they had been so loving with each other.
Waking up from the nightmare and looking at the woman in his arms, Zhou Yueshen felt a sudden palpitation in his chest.
Startled by him suddenly holding her tighter, Si Nian rubbed her eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Hearing her soft and gentle voice, Zhou Yueshen found it ridiculous. How could he have such a dream and imagine her to be so awful?
Had his prejudice against her been too deep in the past?
Apologetically, he lowered his head to press a kiss to her forehead and asked, "Si Nian, you'll always be like this, right?"
Si Nian froze for a moment. "Why would you ask that?"
"It just feels like you are someone else entirely."
Even though she was right in his arms, he always felt she was very far away.
Si Nian's heart skipped a beat.
Her eyes flickered as she said, "Nonsense, I am just me."
However, Zhou Yueshen didn't miss the flash in her eyes. He lowered his gaze and replied, "Of course you are you." The one he liked was her, not the woman in his dream.
Zhou Yueshen was absolutely certain.
If this were a dream, he would rather never wake up for the rest of his life.