His voice carried a uniquely deep and magnetic tone, now laced with an extra layer of tenderness. It was so delicate it made one's heart tremble. Si Nian felt a sweet warmth spread through her chest as she lightly pressed her lips together, gazing at him before nodding softly with a quiet, obedient hum.
Zhou Yueshen's sharp, intense eyes softened slightly as his large hand slipped beneath the covers, wrapping around her waist and pulling her into his embrace. She was so small, easily enveloped in his arms, and he waited patiently as she drifted into a deep slumber.
After a while, he rose, opened a closed drawer, and retrieved an unopened envelope before stepping out of the room. A flicker of flame briefly illuminated the darkness before fading away.
Just as Zhou Yueshen reentered the house, he suddenly noticed something and paused. Standing on the second floor, he lit a cigarette, his gaze fixed on the entrance. Smoke curled around him as his eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on a white sedan parked silently and eerily outside the Zhou residence.
It was already late at night.
And yet, the car remained there, motionless.
Time passed until the cigarette burned down to its filter. With a press of his fingers, he extinguished the ember.
Zhou Yueshen withdrew his gaze, his expression cool and detached, before turning back to the bedroom.
Looking at Si Nian, still deep in sleep, the coldness around him dissipated. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead before sliding under the covers and pulling her close.
Some time later, the faint sound of an engine hummed outside, so quiet it was almost imperceptible.
Then, it vanished completely into the night...
The next day, the sky was overcast.
When Si Nian awoke, a fierce wind howled outside.
She could faintly hear urgent voices shouting in the distance.
Frowning, she opened her eyes, unsure of the time. As she tried to sit up, a sharp ache shot through her body.
Her legs, in particular, felt as though she had done a hundred frog jumps and then slept on them all night.
She let out a soft hiss.
Just as she furrowed her brows, the door swung open.
Lifting her gaze, she met the eyes of the very culprit responsible for her current state.
Memories of the previous night flooded her mind, and her face instantly flushed crimson.
She hurriedly tugged the covers over herself.
Though she felt clean—vaguely recalling him bathing her—she had been too exhausted at the time to care.
Now, fully awake, embarrassment overwhelmed her.
Zhou Yueshen noticed her reaction and let out a low chuckle, the sound rumbling in his chest.
The laughter only made her face burn hotter.
"Hurry and turn around," she urged. "I need to get dressed."
Though they had been intimate, the broad daylight made her too self-conscious to change in front of him.
Zhou Yueshen didn’t mind her bashfulness and obligingly turned away.
Si Nian quickly pulled on her sleepwear before finally pushing the covers aside.
Glancing at his broad back, she murmured, "I'm done."
Zhou Yueshen turned back, holding a steaming bowl of porridge.
He wasn’t an expert cook, but he could manage simple dishes.
Normally, he would have already left for the pig farm by now.
But today was different—it was the morning after their wedding.
No matter how busy he was, he wouldn’t leave at such a crucial moment.
Zhou Yueshen had barely slept the night before, yet he looked unnervingly refreshed. The effects of sleep deprivation were nowhere to be seen—no dark circles, no fatigue.
In contrast, Si Nian felt utterly drained, her limbs weak and her eyes dull.
She looked like a scholar who’d had his vitality sucked dry by a fox spirit.
She shot him a resentful glare.
As the saying went, a moderate love life enriched one’s days, but excess only led to exhaustion.
Modern wisdom had not lied to her.
Noticing her lingering shyness, Zhou Yueshen approached and spoke first. "Why didn’t you sleep longer?"
His tone was casual, as if nothing had changed between them.
But Si Nian felt differently. Their relationship had undeniably shifted.
Before, they had been in that ambiguous stage of dating, where a single glance could spark electricity between them.
Now, married, that veil of mystery had been lifted.
She opened her mouth, her throat dry and sore. "What time is it? Has Yaoyao eaten yet?"
Zhou Yueshen set the porridge on the bedside table, his deep voice steady. "It’s already noon. Yaoyao had lunch and went back to sleep. Little Dong and Little Han are at school and haven’t returned."
After a pause, he added, "Everyone else has gone home."
The unspoken reassurance: there were no outsiders around, so she didn’t need to feel embarrassed.
Si Nian had indeed been worried about guests lingering—after the wedding, many had stayed overnight, too drunk to leave.
After last night, she couldn’t bear facing knowing looks from others.
Hearing that they were alone, she relaxed.
But she was even more surprised to realize she’d slept until noon.
Since arriving in this world, she had never slept in so late.
"Drink something to soothe your throat," Zhou Yueshen said, noticing her dry lips as he brought the porridge closer.
Si Nian was parched. After last night’s exertion, the aroma of the porridge made her stomach growl fiercely.
She parted her lips, letting him feed her.
The porridge was warm, clearly having been prepared earlier.
It melted on her tongue, instantly easing the dryness.
Unable to resist, she glanced up at him.
He was watching her intently, his usually stern gaze softened with focus—as if he were caring for a child.
She stared a moment longer than she meant to.
"What is it?" Zhou Yueshen’s voice dropped lower, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.
She likely had no idea how tempting she looked right now—her lips slightly swollen, her hair disheveled.
Pale skin peeked from beneath the thin fabric of her sleepwear, the marks on her neck only adding to the allure, making her seem fragile, easy to overpower.
As if the slightest touch could send her tumbling back into the sheets.
When he suddenly stopped feeding her, Si Nian tilted her head in confusion.
With her mouth still full, she mumbled, "What’s wrong?"
The next second, his fingers lifted her chin, and he leaned in, capturing her lips.
Si Nian let out a muffled sound of surprise.
"Stop—" she protested, pushing him away gently.
She didn’t understand how feeding her had turned into this.
Zhou Yueshen pulled back almost immediately, ruffling her hair before resuming his task.
But Si Nian refused another bite. After a moment of hesitation, she said slowly, "I’ll eat it myself," her eyes wary.
Clearly, she was worried he’d start kissing her again mid-meal.
Her body still ached too much to endure another round.
She had once thought Zhou Yueshen needed tonics to boost his stamina.
Now, seeing him in his prime—hungry as a wolf—she realized she was the one who needed fortifying.
Zhou Yueshen paused, then chuckled, handing her the bowl.
Si Nian took it, her slender fingers gripping the spoon. Only then did she notice how weak her arms were—they trembled slightly, barely able to hold the bowl steady.
She peeked at Zhou Yueshen, only to find him watching her, and instantly flushed with embarrassment.
