On July 20th, the Emperor of the Great Zhou revised the laws and proclaimed to the world, explicitly abolishing the old system. The rule that any woman who kills her husband, regardless of the reason, shall be sentenced to death was changed to state that if a woman kills her husband, local officials must first thoroughly investigate the entire matter, clarify the reasons, and then determine the punishment based on the severity of the circumstances.
In addition to this law, the emperor directly amended a large number of other regulations, adding new rules related to official administration and the people's livelihood.
It was said that anyone who opposed him was beaten to death with sticks right in the grand hall.
Liaochen's case was already very clear. She had been subjected to long-term severe abuse by her husband and caused his death through self-defense. On the second day after the imperial decree was issued to all provinces, she was declared innocent and released.
The sun grew increasingly fierce, and the summer wind carried a stifling heat, turning the world into a steamer.
Su Zhenzhen and Xiaoyuan stood waiting at the entrance of the Yangzhou City prison.
They stood leaning against the wall. This was the shaded side, so it wasn't as hot, but the dresses on both of them were still half-drenched by the hot wind.
A cool breeze blew in their faces, dispersing a bit of the sweltering heat.
Finally, Liaochen was led out from inside by a jailer.
The shackles on her body had been removed. Her figure was noticeably thinner, breaking her own lie that she gained weight even from drinking water.
It seems the first thing Master should cure is her own lying mouth, rather than saying your weight-loss prescription is useless.
Su Zhenzhen deeply agreed.
She asked Xiaoyuan to go fetch the carriage, and then held up an umbrella to receive Liaochen herself.
Thank you for taking the trouble to pick me up. Liaochen held onto Su Zhenzhen's arm with one hand and looked up at the sky.
The sunlight was scorching, shining fiercely on her body.
Liaochen took a deep breath of the summer air. She turned to look at Su Zhenzhen, Only after basking in the sun do I feel like I've come back to life.
People really should get more sun; it's good for the mood. Su Zhenzhen nodded, holding Liaochen's hand and walking to the carriage.
Liaochen looked Xiaoyuan up and down, Are you alright?
Xiaoyuan shook her head.
She had only been tied up for a few days.
Liaochen reached out, touched Xiaoyuan's face, and then pulled her into her arms.
Su Zhenzhen stood to the side, suddenly felt her body tilt, and was also embraced by Liaochen.
She couldn't help but smile. The three of them hugged each other tightly for quite a while before getting into the carriage.
Inside the carriage, tea and pastries were prepared, along with a bowl of chilled mung bean soup.
Served in a porcelain bowl, the soup was clear as jade. Every single mung bean was boiled until soft, glutinous, and peeled, with fine crushed ice floating inside.
Just seeing it, Liaochen felt a refreshing coolness wash over her face, somewhat similar to quenching one's thirst by looking at plums.
She picked up the spoon beside it, scooped up a spoonful, and put it into her mouth.
The crushed ice melted with a gentle bite. The soft and glutinous mung beans, wrapped in the sweet and clear soup, slid down her throat. The coolness instantly spread to her limbs and bones, dispelling the summer heat.
There is also this bag of crabapple cakes. Xiaoyuan specially lined up this morning to buy them for you. Su Zhenzhen took out a package of crabapple cakes from the food box.
Xiaoyuan poked Su Zhenzhen shyly, telling her not to mention it.
Liaochen's taste leaned towards staple foods; she liked high-carbohydrate foods like various pastries. If they were deep-fried, that was her absolute favorite.
However, such high carbs and high oil indeed made it easy to gain weight.
Liaochen was getting older and should start paying attention to various aspects of her health, but the most important thing was still to maintain a good mood.
The crabapple cakes had not been out of the oven for long and were still hot.
After finishing the mung bean soup, Liaochen smilingly reached for the crabapple cakes.
Crabapple cakes were made of flour. Small white dough balls were pressed into oiled molds, dotted with some sesame seeds on top, and slowly baked until the outer shell turned into a dark red sugar coating.
Liaochen took a light bite. The crispy, sweet sugar shell broke open, revealing the slightly hot red bean paste inside. The dense, flowing bean paste surged out, mixed with the moisture of a few diced lard pieces, sweet but not cloying.
Liaochen ate five crabapple cakes in one breath, and then sat there drinking tea to cleanse her palate.
The carriage was filled with the sweet scent of mung beans and the burnt aroma of crabapple cakes. Su Zhenzhen picked up the barley tea in front of her and took a sip, Master, what are your plans for the future?
I plan to return to Gusu first.
Su Zhenzhen nodded, Then remember to take the prescription I wrote for you. Take it properly for three months to nurse your body back to health.
Liaochen nodded. The carriage fell silent for a moment, followed by her slightly low voice, Thank you all for your hard work.
Su Zhenzhen smiled and shook her head, Everyone is waiting for Master in the courtyard.
For Liaochen's release from prison, it was Jiang Yunshu who suggested a small gathering, and the location was set in Su Zhenzhen's small courtyard.
Summer is the most suitable time for a barbecue.
However, in ancient times, it wasn't called barbecue, but Zhi.
Square pieces of meat were skewered with bramble branches or bamboo strips and roasted over a charcoal fire.
In fact, it wasn't much different from modern barbecues.
Jiang Yunshu brought a piece of fresh venison. That was very expensive; only wealthy families could afford to eat it.
Her courtyard was also benefiting from this association.
Su Zhenzhen asked Little Persimmon to buy some vegetables, and then brewed a pot of sour plum juice to cut the grease.
She had Little Persimmon close the shop early, and the few of them stood in the courtyard barbecuing.
The table was full of prepared skewers, and several stoves were set up next to it, the charcoal fire burning vigorously.
Little Persimmon stood there grilling, while Xiaoyuan stood beside her fanning the fire.
Su Zhenzhen and Jiang Yunshu were there skewering the food.
Liaochen sat there enjoying the leisure.
Su Zhenzhen finished skewering a piece of venison, her gaze involuntarily glancing towards the side courtyard wall.
Ever since she found out that Lu Hexu's residence was not far next door, Su Zhenzhen's gaze would always involuntarily look in that direction.
Whether coming out of the house and passing through the courtyard, or opening the windows to ventilate the room, as long as her line of sight allowed, she would always subconsciously take a look.
It was as if seeing a little bit of light would make her feel more at ease.
Lu Hexu's residence was very large, with many pavilions inside.
The layout of Yangzhou Prefecture was very similar to Gusu, mostly flat courtyards without too many high pavilions. Therefore, Su Zhenzhen could see many pavilions in that residence just by turning her head.
Most of the pavilions had no lanterns hung up, probably because no one lived there.
It was too dark; nothing could be seen clearly.
Su Zhenzhen lowered her head and continued skewering.
Hey. Jiang Yunshu nudged Su Zhenzhen with her elbow.
Hmm? Su Zhenzhen was rubbing salt onto the venison skewers. Sushan beside her smelled the meat and could hardly wait.
Su Zhenzhen quickly threw a piece of venison to Xiaoyuan, asking her to grill a plain piece without seasoning for Sushan first.
Sushan chased after the venison and rubbed against Xiaoyuan's feet.
I heard outside that your husband is back?
Jiang Yunshu didn't know her situation as well as Liaochen and Xiaoyuan did.
Su Zhenzhen gave a vague sound, Mhm...
Where is he? I heard he's a general? Jiang Yunshu looked around the courtyard but didn't see anyone. Is he not here?
Yes, he's not here. Su Zhenzhen nodded.
Although Jiang Yunshu was curious—there were too many rumors about Su Zhenzhen in town—seeing that Su Zhenzhen wasn't in high spirits to talk, she tactfully didn't ask further.
Su Zhenzhen suddenly remembered something. Wei Heng also hadn't come today to pick her up to deliver medicine to Lu Hexu.
In the small kitchen, the medicinal broth she had brewed for Lu Hexu was still warm.
After everyone bustled about and finished eating the barbecue, they helped clean up the place and then went back to sleep.
Jiang Yunshu's courtyard was large, so she took Xiaoyuan and Liaochen over to stay for the night.
The courtyard suddenly fell quiet. Su Zhenzhen smelled heavily of barbecue, so she went inside to bathe and changed into fresh clothes.
Wearing a light summer nightgown, Su Zhenzhen pushed open the window, rested her chin in her hands, and gazed at the pavilion not far ahead.
It was so dark; she still couldn't see anything.
Su Zhenzhen closed the window and turned to look at the black cloak draped over the wooden clothes rack.
She had already untied the knots at the bottom and carefully ironed it until it was perfectly smooth.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Su Zhenzhen could reach out and touch the cloak.
It was pure black, without any patterns.
Su Zhenzhen tilted her head, her fingertips brushing against the fabric of the cloak.
It was so smooth; it had to be made of excellent material.
After feeling the cloak, Su Zhenzhen stood up and sat at the vanity to wipe her face.
Sushan slipped in from outside and stretched out a paw to bat at the cloak.
By the time Su Zhenzhen noticed, one of its claws was hooked onto the fabric, and it was using its other three paws to pull hard to the side, trying to free the snagged claw.
Su Zhenzhen immediately got up, unhooked Sushan's paw, and pretended to smack it a few times.
"Meow..." The little cat even acted wronged.
Normally, isn't it fine when I scratch your clothes?
Su Zhenzhen scooped Sushan up and placed it outside the room.
She closed the door, returned to the room, and squatted down to inspect the cloak Sushan had scratched. The bottom hem had loose threads, and there were tiny holes hooked out by its claws.
What should she do? She still had to return it to him.
However, as the Emperor, he probably didn't care about this cloak at all.
Su Zhenzhen turned to look at the food container resting on the table in the room, then glanced at the water clock.
It was already midnight.
Su Zhenzhen thought for a moment, changed her clothes, took the food container, and headed out.
She gently pulled the courtyard gate shut to avoid waking Little Persimmon.
The security in Yangzhou City was very good. Not far away was the night market, bustling with activity.
Following her memory, Su Zhenzhen arrived at the entrance of Lu Hexu's residence. She first stood on her tiptoes and peered inside but saw nothing. Then, she walked over to the side door and knocked gently.
There were Imperial Guards guarding the entrance in plain clothes. Seeing Su Zhenzhen appear at the door in the middle of the night, they frowned slightly.
"I am here to deliver medicine to your master."
The guard replied, "My master is not here."
Not here? Did he go out? Or has he not returned?
Su Zhenzhen carried the food container and went back.
Lying in bed and hugging her bamboo sleeping bolster, she thought of the imperial edict from yesterday.
Lu Hexu had arrested Liaochen in order to use Liaochen as a breakthrough point to shatter the shackles of ancestral teachings and revise the laws that had been gathering dust in the Great Zhou Dynasty for decades—laws that no one in the court or the public dared to rashly discuss changing.
She had thought... he came specifically to find her.
Su Zhenzhen closed her eyes, then opened them again.
She couldn't sleep.
She tossed and turned in bed.
Now that the laws had been revised, he wasn't going to kill her anymore. Had he already returned to Jinling?
This was clearly a good thing.
Su Zhenzhen felt she should be rejoicing; after all, she had kept her life.
But why... couldn't she fall asleep?
Su Zhenzhen stayed awake all night, only managing to fall asleep when the first light of dawn appeared.
She slept straight through to a quarter past one in the afternoon.
Su Zhenzhen got up yawning, completely lacking energy.
Staying up late was truly ill-advised.
She decided she had better brew herself a bowl of soothing soup tonight.
Su Zhenzhen glanced at the water clock; there were only four hours left until evening.
She could start brewing it right now.
Su Zhenzhen went to the shop to gather the medicinal herbs.
Little Persimmon had opened the doors early and had already made several sales.
Little Persimmon was smart. Su Zhenzhen had only taught him the basics of traditional medicine, yet he could learn the rest himself by reading books.
However, because he could not speak, and most commoners were illiterate, he was unsuited for the job of a consulting physician most of the time.
Su Zhenzhen looked over today's ledger; sales were quite good.
The herbs in her apothecary were the best on this street, so naturally, the prices were a bit higher.
The day passed quickly. In the evening, Su Zhenzhen brewed medicine for Lu Hexu again. Looking at the finished decoction, she couldn't help but sigh.
The man was gone, so why was she still brewing medicine?
Su Zhenzhen then proceeded to brew her own soothing soup.
The weather was too hot, so she left the soothing soup in the small kitchen to cool while she lay in the courtyard to enjoy the breeze.
The bamboo rocking chair swayed back and forth, making creaking sounds. Su Zhenzhen reclined on it, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward the courtyard gate.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded at the door. Su Zhenzhen instinctively got up to open it.
Little Persimmon returned from outside carrying dried persimmons. Seeing Su Zhenzhen coming over to open the door for him, he looked a bit confused.
Su Zhenzhen stepped aside to let him in, took a dried persimmon from his hand, and went back to lie down.
Were there dried persimmons available already?
Su Zhenzhen bit into the sweet, rich persimmon, tasting the soft sugar frost on its surface.
The soothing soup in the small kitchen had grown completely cold, and the gate to the small courtyard remained unknocked.
Su Zhenzhen got up, drank her soothing soup, and went back to her room to sleep.
The soothing soup worked quite well; Su Zhenzhen slept soundly until dawn.
Sushan was already squatting on the floor waiting for her.
Su Zhenzhen got up, picked the cat up to pet it, wiped off the dust it had picked up from who-knows-where, and fed it some dried fish.
Little Persimmon had already gone to open the apothecary. Since Su Zhenzhen had slept well the night before, she felt quite energetic today.
The weather was excellent. She washed all the bedsheets and blankets in her room, then hung them up on a hemp rope.
The courtyard was filled with thin sheets and clothes hanging to dry. Su Zhenzhen walked into the room, saw the black cloak hanging on the wooden rack, thought for a moment, and eventually tucked it away into the deepest part of her wardrobe.
The room looked much cleaner after being tidied up.
However, she had so many things that no matter how she organized them, it always felt a bit cluttered.
But Su Zhenzhen didn't mind. In fact, she quite liked this sense of disarray; it gave her an inexplicable feeling of security.
The plum rain season was at its tail end. The rainy weather from the previous period had caused more than half of her stored herbs to mold.
Su Zhenzhen sorted out and threw away the molded herbs. With all this busywork, the day was almost over.
As night fell and the light dimmed, Su Zhenzhen heard the sound of thunder outside.
It seemed it was going to rain again.
Fortunately, the sun had been strong during the day, and the sheets and clothes she had washed and hung out were dry. By now, she had bundled them up and stuffed them into her wardrobe.
Su Zhenzhen had previously intended to fold them neatly, but apart from the clothes that were hung up, these folded sheets and blankets would always be turned into a mess by Sushan.
After this happened several times, Su Zhenzhen grew lazy about it.
It started to rain outside, and Sushan slipped in through a crack in the window.
It shook its fur, sending droplets flying around the room.
Su Zhenzhen quickly got up, used a dry towel to wipe it down, cleaned its paws, and only then carried it onto the bed.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door outside, muffled by the sound of the rain and not very clear.
Su Zhenzhen put Sushan down, grabbed an umbrella, and walked across the courtyard.
She didn't open the door right away but instead asked, "Who is it?"
There was no response from outside. Su Zhenzhen fastened the modern-style anti-theft chain she had installed herself on the back of the door and opened it just a half-palm's width.
The rain outside was heavy. Su Zhenzhen saw Lu Hexu standing at the courtyard gate, wearing a black cloak.
He was drenched from head to toe. Through the crack in the door, he saw Su Zhenzhen standing there.
The man's pupils shifted slightly.
Su Zhenzhen immediately opened the door. "It's pouring out there, come in quickly."
The man stepped into the courtyard. He wasn't holding an umbrella, only wearing a hood.
The black hood covered half of his face, and his clothes were soaked through. The rainwater gathered at his jawline, continuously dripping down.
Su Zhenzhen led the man straight into her room to take shelter from the rain. "Are you here for your medicine? I'll go brew it for you." After saying that, she remembered something and fetched a clean towel. "Dry yourself off first."
Lu Hexu stood in Su Zhenzhen's room. His tall, imposing figure loomed there like a small mountain.
He didn't speak, only lowering his eyes to look at her.
A bamboo-framed lamp was lit in the room. The light wasn't very bright, but Su Zhenzhen noticed something was wrong.
She lifted the lamp and carefully shone it on Lu Hexu's face.
The man lowered his gaze to look at her, his dark, gloomy eyes lacking their usual luster.
"Lu Hexu?" Su Zhenzhen called out to him softly.
The man had no reaction.
"Do you know who I am?"
The man still didn't speak. He just stood there, looking down at Sushan, who had come over to rub against him.
"Alright, alright, he's all wet, don't rub against him."
Su Zhenzhen picked Sushan up and moved him away, then turned back to look at Lu Hexu.
She tentatively reached out to check Lu Hexu's pulse and examine his condition.
It seemed his wandering soul syndrome had acted up.
Reason told Su Zhenzhen that she should go knock on the door of the mansion over there and return Lu Hexu.
Su Zhenzhen closed the room door, blocking out the slanting rain.
She glanced down at Lu Hexu's mud-covered boots and told him to take them off himself.
Hearing Su Zhenzhen's words, Lu Hexu finally moved.
He sat down and began to take off his shoes.
So obedient.
Su Zhenzhen took off his cloak for him and then used the dry towel to wipe his face.
The man sat on the round stool, tilting his head up to let her wipe it.
Through the thin gauze towel, the sensation against Su Zhenzhen's fingertips was distinct.
She could trace the sharp, clean-cut contours of the man's facial features.
Su Zhenzhen rubbed slowly, from his brows and eyes to the tip of his nose, and finally to his lips. Then, following his jawline downwards, her fingertips touched his exposed neck.
That black mole rolled along with his Adam's apple.
Su Zhenzhen caressed it carefully until the man opened his eyes and looked up at her.
His pupils were very dark, which usually made him look quite intimidating. But as Su Zhenzhen looked down from this angle, she could see the lamplight reflected in his eyes, sparkling brightly.
Su Zhenzhen instinctively blushed and withdrew her hand.
Thank goodness.
She remembered when Mu Dan's wandering soul syndrome acted up five years ago, he completely forgot what had happened during the days they spent together.
It should be the same this time, right?
"Are you hungry?"
Su Zhenzhen asked him.
The man tilted his head to look at her but didn't answer.
Su Zhenzhen told him to wait here obediently while she went to the small kitchen to get him something to eat.
Su Zhenzhen pushed the door open and went out. Afraid that Little Persimmon would panic upon seeing the man, she closed the door behind her.
The rain outside showed no signs of stopping. Su Zhenzhen went to the small kitchen and started brewing the medicine first. Then she looked around. Because the weather was too hot and there were no refrigerators in ancient times, there was basically no leftover food from the previous night in the kitchen.
Su Zhenzhen grabbed an umbrella and went out again.
The night market up ahead was bustling. She took a food box and bought some late-night snacks for Lu Hexu to take back.
Sweet, salty, spicy, and sour.
After buying everything, Su Zhenzhen realized she had bought too much and could barely carry it.
Holding the umbrella in one hand and the food box in the other, she turned back and passed by a ready-to-wear clothing shop.
Thinking of Lu Hexu's drenched state, Su Zhenzhen carried the heavy food box into the clothing shop.
The shop owner enthusiastically came forward to greet her.
Su Zhenzhen placed the food box on the table, and her gaze was instantly drawn to a red robe.
It's so beautiful.
Lu Hexu would probably look even better in it, wouldn't he?
Su Zhenzhen had just carried the food box to the courtyard gate when she saw, through the crack in the door, the man standing there wearing only silk socks on his feet. He had no umbrella, and the face she had just wiped clean was drenched again. Seeing her return, he raised his hand and opened the courtyard gate.
He used so much force that he directly snapped the iron chain behind the door.
Su Zhenzhen: ...That's going to cost money to fix.
"I'm back, hurry and go inside."
Su Zhenzhen carried the food box inside, bolted the courtyard gate, and led the man back into the room.
At the door of the room, she took off her embroidered shoes, wearing only plain socks. Then, glancing at Lu Hexu's dirty silk socks, she told him to take them off.
It took the man some time to understand what Su Zhenzhen was saying.
He bent down and slowly took off his socks.
The two of them entered the room.
Su Zhenzhen took the food out of the box and filled the entire table.
The man sat beside her, looking at the food on the table.
Su Zhenzhen asked, "Which one do you want to eat?"
Lu Hexu slowly raised his hand and picked up a piece of honey-glazed lotus root.
As expected, he still had a sweet tooth.
Su Zhenzhen scooped a bowl of mung bean soup for herself.
She wasn't hungry, but watching Lu Hexu eat made her crave something too.
Su Zhenzhen had specifically asked the vendor to add two extra spoonfuls of sugar to the mung bean soup, so it was sweeter than what she usually drank.
Su Zhenzhen took a few bites and set it down, quietly watching Lu Hexu eat.
The man finished all the sweets on the table. For the ones where he couldn't tell if they were sweet or savory, he would just take a bite, and if it wasn't the flavor he wanted, he would spit it out.
So picky.
No wonder he doesn't gain weight.
Su Zhenzhen looked down and noticed Lu Hexu's waist.
She tentatively reached out and measured it.
So narrow.
Not the fragile kind of narrow that would snap in half, but a lean build full of strength.
A waist and abdomen that tapered into a tight V-shape.
After feeling it, Su Zhenzhen looked up.
The man was looking at her with a begonia cake in his hand, seemingly not understanding what she was doing.
Su Zhenzhen coughed lightly and withdrew her hand. "Eat, just keep eating."
She had finished touching.
After eating, Su Zhenzhen made Lu Hexu drink his medicine, and then she boiled some ginger soup.
One bowl for herself, and one for him.
Su Zhenzhen didn't add anything to her own ginger soup, and its spiciness burned her throat.
Lu Hexu's ginger soup had brown sugar in it. It tasted sweet when first swallowed, and the spicy kick could only be felt once it reached the throat.
Realizing he had been tricked, the man frowned and wanted to spit it out, but he had already swallowed it.
Feeling the man's accusing gaze, Su Zhenzhen pretended not to notice.
She proceeded to take Lu Hexu to wash up.
His clothes were completely wet, so Su Zhenzhen took out the ready-made clothes she had just bought outside.
Although the fabric wasn't exceptionally good, it was already of a quality she wouldn't normally buy for herself. Moreover, the color was a rare, pure shade, and the style was quite nice.
"Your inner clothes aren't wet, are they?"
Su Zhenzhen's gaze couldn't help but slide downwards.
The man didn't understand her words.
Su Zhenzhen thought to herself, forget it, if they're wet, they're wet.
"Dry yourself off and change your clothes."
Su Zhenzhen went out of the room to wait.
After a short while, the room door was opened. The man had changed his clothes, and his gaze stuck tightly to her, as if he was afraid she would disappear.
Su Zhenzhen stood up, took a brand-new toothbrush from the cabinet in the room, sprinkled some tooth powder on it for Lu Hexu, and then told him to copy her to brush his teeth.
The two of them stood under the eaves, brushing their teeth.
Both were barefoot. Fine raindrops drifted in from outside, lightly clinging to their bodies.
With the rain, the weather was no longer so stiflingly hot.
After brushing their teeth, the two went back inside.
Su Zhenzhen sat at the vanity to apply face cream.
The man stood right behind her.
Using a small bamboo scoop, Su Zhenzhen dug out a spoonful of moisturizing cream and shared half of it with him.
Lu Hexu looked at the cream in his hand, then his gaze fell upon the woman's face.
Su Zhenzhen was in the middle of moisturizing her own face when she suddenly felt a warmth on her cheeks. Two large palms had cupped her face and began rubbing vigorously.
"Alright, alright, don't rub it on me. Apply it to yourself."
The woman's face had been rubbed bright red.
Su Zhenzhen finally managed to break free from Lu Hexu's grasp.
She scooped a bit more cream, dabbed it onto the man's cheeks, and used her palms to gently rub it in for him.
So well-behaved, she thought to herself.
The man tilted his head, opened his mouth, and repeated, "So well-behaved."
Su Zhenzhen froze.
Five years ago, it took Mu Dan several days by her side before he could speak.
Yet this time, it had only taken a few short hours for him to utter a word.
Perhaps he would be fully recovered by tomorrow.
A sudden, inexplicable sense of melancholy swelled in Su Zhenzhen's heart.
"Go to the mansion and bring me the box of silver needles you left by the head of the bed."
The man tilted his head at her, seemingly unable to understand what she meant.
Fine, forget it.
Even without this box of silver needles, there would be others.
What would it matter even if she stole this box?
Would she really be spared from swallowing other silver needles?
"I don't want to swallow silver needles." Su Zhenzhen reached out to touch Lu Hexu's brow and eyes.
The man couldn't understand and continued to stare at her with a tilted head.
Su Zhenzhen sighed, turned around to open the window, and then used her foot to press a towel against the floor, wiping away the water stains.
When Su Zhenzhen first rented this room, the floor was made of green bricks. Whenever she walked, mud would get everywhere.
She had spent some silver to lay down a layer of pine wood over it, and paid to have it painted and polished.
This way, it wouldn't give her splinters, and it was comfortable to walk on.
The green bricks underneath were kept to prevent dampness.
Even now, the pine wood remained in good condition.
Su Zhenzhen wiped the floor clean to prevent them from slipping later.
The weather was hot, so walking barefoot was not a problem at all.
With the floor wiped clean and not many places to sit in the room, Su Zhenzhen sat on the couch by the window.
The very next moment, the man followed her.
He had changed into the red robe Su Zhenzhen bought for him. Because the fabric was smooth and slippery, the front lapels were left untied, revealing the fair lines of his collarbones and chest, plunging all the way down to his waist.
Compared to his physique as a youth, every inch of Lu Hexu's contours now exuded the compelling tension of a mature man.
"Ahem." Su Zhenzhen coughed lightly. "You sleep on the bed. I'll sleep here."
The window couch was too small and narrow; the man wouldn't fit.
After saying this, Su Zhenzhen lay down.
The man, however, did not leave. He leaned down slightly over her.
Su Zhenzhen instinctively fluttered her eyelashes. In her breaths, she caught the scent of the exact same rose cream on him as on herself.
Nervously, she reached out and pressed against the man's shoulders.
The man shifted his movements, seemingly displeased.
Subconsciously, he felt that they should be much closer.
He grabbed her wrists, pinning both of them above her head with just one of his large hands.
The man's dark hair was still half-damp, clinging softly to her skin and bringing a tingling, numbing itch.
Lu Hexu bent his head low, his tall, straight nose brushing past her neck, tracing a path downward before burying into the folds of her dress.
