A Mei was entirely absorbed in the embarrassment of whether someone might have overheard her last night.
She didn’t notice the emotion and trembling in An Sheng’s eyes at that moment.
Suddenly, An Sheng smiled.
The corners of his mouth lifted, his narrow eyes curved slightly, a shallow, faint smile that softened his entire face.
A Mei finally looked up, meeting those deep eyes filled with tenderness, ease, and affection, and for a moment, she was stunned.
She blinked, pouted her little lips, and said in a coquettish voice, “Oh well, let them hear if they did. We’re a proper husband and wife, deeply in love—let them envy us!”
An Sheng’s smile deepened, his eyes brightened, and his whole face took on a rare, lively expression.
A Mei laughed along with him, unconsciously reaching out to touch the corner of his mouth, then his eye.
Then she let out a little hum, raised a finger, and poked An Sheng’s cheek. “Husband, have you gone silly? Why are you just smiling and not saying anything?”
“Wife, I’m smiling because my heart is so happy I don’t even know what to say,” An Sheng replied softly, his brows and eyes still holding that unwavering smile.
A Mei let out a pleased “oh,” staring at An Sheng with glittering, twinkling eyes.
“Husband, you look so handsome when you smile. You should smile more often in daily life. You can keep that cold face for outsiders, but Xiao Zhengzi and Wu Da are your trusted men—don’t always be so icy.”
An Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone indulgent. “I’ll try my best.”
At this moment, A Mei was held sideways in An Sheng’s arms. She tried to turn over, but as soon as she moved, her brow furrowed.
An Sheng, who had been watching her closely, twitched his brows, a flash of tension in his eyes. He asked softly, “What’s wrong? Is your body feeling unwell somewhere?”
A Mei pouted, shooting An Sheng a feigned glare, mixing complaint with a playful whine. “Oh, my whole body aches—tired, weak, and sore, without a shred of strength. Hmph, how could you torment me like that last night, husband? I feel like you’ve drained me dry.”
An Sheng: ...
After an awkward silence, a hint of green tinged An Sheng’s forehead, and he finally spoke with a faint, helpless air:
“Drained dry?”
“Mm-hmm,” A Mei replied, nodding along. “Isn’t that right? I really have no desire left for marital intimacy with you, husband. That must be what ‘drained dry’ means.”
An Sheng’s eye twitched slightly, torn between exasperation and amusement. “Where did you learn that phrase, wife?”
A Mei blinked her lively, sparkling eyes and then gave a sly smile. “I just know it. Anyway, I know a lot more now.”
With that, A Mei frowned slightly, struggling to turn over and lie on her stomach. Without her saying a word, An Sheng’s hands instantly found her body, gently kneading and massaging her.
As he worked, he curled his lips, his face carrying a look of indulgence. “Who would have thought my wife has become so knowledgeable these days? You truly impress me.”
A Mei, lying face down, let out a comfortable sigh first, then raised her brows with self-satisfaction, her tone carrying an unmistakable note of smug pride.
“Of course—I’ve really been studying hard in my daily life.”
That cheerful tone, even without seeing her, allowed An Sheng to imagine her adorable expression.
He raised an eyebrow, keeping his composure, his hands moving even more gently and tenderly, while a slow, dangerous smile crept onto his lips. “And what books have you been reading lately, wife?”
“All sorts. I’ve mostly been reading storybooks recently, ones I had Xiao Zhengzi gather from the bookshop outside the estate a while back.”
“I see.”
“Mm-hmm. Husband, could you rub my lower back too?”
An Sheng’s hand slowly moved downward. “Here?”
“Yes, right there.”
“Is this pressure all right?”
“Mm, feels good. My thighs are sore too.”
“Alright, I’ll gently rub them for you.”
“Hey, husband, you don’t need to rub there. I meant my legs.”
“Be good, it’s better to rub everything. This way you’ll relax more.”
A Mei: ...
“Ahh—ah-choo!”
Xiao Zhengzi shivered violently, hugging his arms and rubbing them against Wu Da’s shoulder.
“Hey, Wu Da, why do I suddenly feel so chilly?”
Wu Da shot Xiao Zhengzi a disgusted glance. “Are you sick? Sitting right next to a fire and still feeling cold? I think you’ve been possessed!”
Xiao Zhengzi scratched his head, frowning as he muttered, “That’s really strange.”
...
