Chapter 49 You can steal a kiss from me even after we've made up, so why can't you do it behind my back...?

Qingduo heard Zeng Zhengqing's soft laughter. She suddenly turned her face, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, baring her teeth and claws, and said, "What, you don't believe me?"

"I believe you!" Zeng Zhengqing immediately stopped smiling, but the smile in his eyes couldn't be hidden. Qingduo glared at him defiantly, then turned and headed towards Liushuang Pavilion, with Zeng Zhengqing quickly following behind.

Upon reaching the pavilion, Qingduo picked up the food box, took out several dishes, and placed the wine pot and cups on the table. Seeing that Zeng Zhengqing still hadn't come over, she turned around and saw him just staring at her with a smile. Her face flushed, and she scolded, "Hurry up and come over! What are you looking at!"

As Zeng Zhengqing walked over, he joked, "Madam looks radiant today, as beautiful as spring flowers, so dazzling that I can't help but look at her."

"Of course, I'm always radiant!" Qingduo felt a surge of pride, but after Zeng Zhengqing sat down, she looked at the dishes on the table: the pastries and candied fruits were bought from the shop, the smoked meat and crispy fish were ready-made in the kitchen, and she had made very little herself, and by now, they were all cold. Her pride vanished.

She stammered, "I... I hadn't originally planned to celebrate your birthday, but then I changed my mind and it was too late. The only good thing is that I made this stir-fried crab and mung bean and lily bulb soup..."

"From now on, I'll make sure to celebrate every birthday of yours properly, even if I get angry. I promise!" She raised her right hand and swore.

Seeing the sincerity on her face, Zeng Zhengqing couldn't help but laugh. He rolled up his sleeves and poured her some wine, saying, "Madam, why do you say that? I have attended countless banquets, with fine wines and delicacies, but none of them can compare to even a tenth of what I feel today."

"Having you by my side makes this birthday celebration truly wonderful." He raised his glass and gazed at her.

Qingduo smiled sweetly, her stern face breaking free. She exclaimed, "Where did you go to eat so much honey? Your mouth is so sweet!"

She raised her glass and said earnestly, "Qingqing, may you be safe and sound every year, and live a life of joy and peace." She thought for a moment, then quickly added, "May you make a fortune every day!"

Zeng Zhengqing couldn't help but chuckle to himself; among the three blessings, it was quite obvious which was more important. He joked, "I, your husband, will surely live to be a hundred years old, so that my wife can enjoy a life of wealth and honor."

Qingduo drank her wine to the last drop with satisfaction and then began to eat. With her left hand holding a milk-flavored rice cake, she took a big bite, but before she could even finish it, her right hand was already busy picking up some smoked meat. She was clearly starving. Zeng Zhengqing washed his hands with a damp cloth, peeled a crab, and placed the crab meat in her bowl.

"You eat too, you eat too," she mumbled, but her chopsticks honestly stuffed crab meat into her own mouth.

Zeng Zhengqing had eaten on the cruise ship and wasn't hungry, but Qingduo's ravenous eating resembled an appetizer of hawthorn cake, so he couldn't help but eat a few more bites.

After finishing the meal in a flash, Qingduo rubbed her stomach and said regretfully, "Sigh, if the stir-fried crab had been eaten fresh out of the pan, it would have been a hundred times fresher than when it was cold!"

"What a pity, what a pity, this crab died for nothing today!" she sighed, shaking her head.

“It’s my fault, I came back late. I’ll make you a basket of Taihu hairy crabs tomorrow,” Zeng Zhengqing said, looking ashamed. “I thought you were angry with me and wouldn’t celebrate my birthday, but I didn’t expect you to be so magnanimous and still waiting for me.”

"Don't say you didn't expect it, I didn't expect it either," Qingduo said bluntly. "I only found out today that you've been having people secretly protect me all this time."

The guards he arranged would only protect her covertly; he wouldn't show himself unless Qingduo was in danger. Zeng Zhengqing straightened up and asked urgently, "Are you in danger?"

Qingduo shook her head and recounted Wu Yan's story, then said, "We heard that her younger brother, Wu Jiang, was being beaten. I was going to rush over, but that guy suddenly appeared out of nowhere and told me to hand him over to him. There were a few 'clangs' and he came back carrying Wu Jiang on his back. Not bad kung fu!"

"Later, when he revealed his identity to me, I realized it was your arrangement. Only then did I truly understand your worries and feel your good intentions." Qingduo sighed.

"Qingqing, I know I'm a reckless person. From childhood to adulthood, I've always done things on a whim. It was the same when I was begging for money for everyone. I just got carried away and wanted to stand up for them. Because of my recklessness, I almost got Sister Lu Nong into trouble."

"But now I know very well that I'm going to get involved in this, and I'm going to do it. This is not just a momentary impulse, but because, if I don't help them, who else can they turn to?"

"Even if I want to put down this burden, someone has to take it over before I can leave in peace!"

“I know my own limitations, and I know that I am not as thoughtful as you, but what does it matter? I still have everyone! You make up for my shortcomings, and I will make up for theirs, then we will be invincible! As for me, I will do whatever I can.”

Qingduo met Zeng Zhengqing's eyes and said firmly, "Even if all I can do is make a faint sound, I will shout with all my might!"

She clenched her fists, her eyes shining with an astonishing light: "I want everyone to hear this: wrong is wrong!"

Zeng Zhengqing's eyes were filled with deep worry. He said in a low voice, "What if you get hurt? What will you do? Have you thought about your family? Have you thought about... me?"

"If you're afraid of everything, you can't do anything." Qingduo said frankly. "Of course, I'll protect myself. As long as the green hills remain, there's always firewood to burn!"

"What if you fail? Then all of your efforts will have been in vain."

"fail?"

Qingduo smiled nonchalantly: "What I wanted to do but didn't do, that's what 'failure' is."

Zeng Zhengqing had to face her squarely. He had always thought of her as just a cheerful, playful, and mischievous little girl, whose world was pure and untouched by the world. He was willing to use all his strength to build a barrier for her, to shield her from all the disturbances of the world, and to protect her little world.

When he realized she was about to break through his protective barrier, Zeng Zhengqing thought it was still just a farce. When the playful antics crossed the line, he instinctively wanted to pull her back, back into the safe haven he had created for her. Only in this way could he ensure that he had the ability to protect her.

Zeng Zhengqing didn't expect that this wasn't an impulsive act; he had forgotten something else entirely.

That was the safe zone he had designated, not Qingduo's true world.

In the years since the Tang family's downfall, she went from a pampered young lady to an ordinary woman struggling to make a living in the city. He could hardly imagine the hardships she endured. Yet, Qingduo possessed a certain spirit that allowed her to spend each day happily.

Questions that were previously incomprehensible now have answers.

She possesses unwavering courage.

And this power burned ever brighter. It enabled her not only to stand up for herself and save herself from dire straits, but also to stand up and become someone else's support.

He couldn't control her.

He was unwilling.

Zeng Zhengqing smiled with relief: "Then go ahead and do it!"

Qingduo couldn't believe her ears: "Huh? You agreed so quickly? What about all our arguments before?"

She muttered, "If I had known that a bottle of wine and a plate of stir-fried crab would have solved the problem, I would have given you two bottles of wine and two plates of stir-fried crab long ago!"

Zeng Zhengqing was amused by her again: "Of course it's not because of the wine and fried crab."

“I didn’t know you were so determined, Madam. I underestimated you. Since that’s the case, of course I will give my full support. I can’t be a burden to you.”

Qingduo suddenly stood up, ran around the table, and jumped into his arms, exclaiming joyfully, "Great! We're finally united again!"

Zeng Zhengqing reached out and put his arm around her waist, gently pulling her onto his lap. He listened as she murmured, "When you stopped me before, I was so heartbroken! Although we came together because of an engagement, you understand me and are willing to empathize with me. I was so sad those days; the understanding you was gone..."

"Luckily you haven't changed." She hugged me tighter, then suddenly lowered her voice and said, "Qingqing, I shouldn't have called you a coward if you didn't want to continue this together. You have your difficulties and your considerations. You respect my thoughts, and I should put myself in your shoes and respect your decision."

Zeng Zhengqing was both surprised and delighted. He released Qingduo and sighed, "I am truly blessed to have married such an understanding wife."

Qingduo said playfully, "Of course you are lucky. 'A lucky person does not enter the door of an unlucky person.' Anyway, I am the lucky one, and your family is lucky too!"

Zeng Zhengqing chuckled a few times, gently pinched Qingduo's nose, then pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head: "I knew you would eventually understand me, but I was too angry at the time to think things through calmly."

Suddenly, Qingduo had an idea and said excitedly, "I have a solution! Next time we have a fight and get caught up in our emotions, and we both feel that we are right, we will use a secret signal. At this time, both of us have to stand in the other's shoes and speak up for the other. In this way, we will gradually be able to understand each other's feelings!"

“Interesting, but what’s a better word?” Zeng Zhengqing pondered, his gaze suddenly falling on the remaining crab shells on the table, and he blurted out, “Stir-fried crab?”

"Stir-fried crab?" Qingduo was taken aback, then chuckled and said, "So, this little plate of stir-fried crab today has become the hero of our reconciliation as husband and wife. Crab, oh crab, you have done such a great deed!"

Qingduo stood up, filled both glasses with wine, handed them to Zeng Zhengqing, and said with a smile, "A toast to the stir-fried crab!"

"To you who bring me good fortune." Zeng Zhengqing gazed at her.

The moonlight melted into the sky, blurring the night. Below, lovers whispered sweet nothings, their hearts shining brightly.

*

Fang Qing stared in disbelief as Zeng Zhengqing carried Qingduo into the courtyard: "Young Master, the Young Madam..."

Zeng Zhengqing gestured for silence and said softly, "It's alright, she's drunk."

Just as Wu Song defeated a tiger with three bowls of wine in ancient times, so too does a lady pass out after just three cups of wine.

Fortunately, she was only dazed and unable to walk today, unlike last time when she ran around the entire mansion. Back then, she had already embarrassed herself in front of the servants by shouting that she "didn't want to sleep with him." Later, after she moved to the study, rumors began to circulate that "the young master couldn't satisfy the young mistress, so he was rejected and moved to the study." It was only after the steward, Uncle He, sternly disciplined a few gossipy people that the rumors were finally quelled.

As soon as they entered the house, Qingduo complained that it was hot and tried to get down and walk by herself. Zeng Zhengqing had no choice but to put her down and help her stand up before opening the window to let in some fresh air. Just as he finished setting up the window, he heard a "thump" behind him. He thought Qingduo had fallen and hurriedly turned around to look, but there was no one in the house.

Had he run away again? Zeng Zhengqing broke out in a cold sweat. Upright and incorruptible, he didn't want to fall in the same place again and get involved in new rumors!

He hurriedly took a few steps outside, but his foot was tripped by something. He looked down and picked it up to take a closer look. It was the pomegranate skirt that Qingduo had just put on!

Yes, last time she drank alcohol, she also complained that she was "hot" and wanted to take off her clothes. This time, he was only focused on preventing her from running around the yard and forgot about that! Now, he's done nothing!

The thought of Qingduo running around outside naked made Zeng Zhengqing feel a chill run down his spine.

This is outrageous!

He threw off the skirt and was about to chase after her when he suddenly heard someone humming a few times on the bed. Looking up, he saw Qingduo lying on the bed with her arms spread out in a starfish shape, as flat as a silver pomfret.

Zeng Zhengqing let out a long sigh, shook his head, and chuckled to himself for being so nervous. He walked to the bedside and reached out to turn Qingduo over, only to notice that she was wearing only a strapless top, revealing her smooth back, and he abruptly withdrew his hand.

He just wanted her to sleep comfortably, not to do anything else! Zeng Zhengqing withdrew his gaze from the straps of her bra, composed himself, and reached out to hold her shoulders...

"Huh?" A sudden burning sensation on her shoulder startled Qingduo awake. She looked sleepily at the hand on her shoulder, then glanced at the somewhat uneasy Zeng Zhengqing. Just as she was about to close her eyes again, she was startled awake once more. She shook off his hand, scrambled up, grabbed the blanket to cover her upper body, and exclaimed, "Zeng Zhengqing! What are you trying to do!"

Zeng Zhengqing closed his eyes, hoping that the disdainful look in Qingduo's eyes, as if she were looking at a lecher, was just his imagination. He opened his eyes and explained weakly, "I wanted to help you turn over so you could sleep on your back..."

The lady narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him from head to toe, her suspicion undiminished. Zeng Zhengqing sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed: "I've said it before, this matter must be done willingly by you. I will not force you in the slightest. A man of his word is a man of his word; how could I do such a thing behind your back!"

"Hmph! If you can steal a kiss from me, why wouldn't you do something like this behind my back!" Qingduo said without thinking.

"I didn't..." Zeng Zhengqing was about to retort when he suddenly realized something and looked at her in surprise.

Qingduo's head buzzed; she sobered up completely. She'd pretended to be asleep when he kissed her; now, saying it aloud meant she'd been faking it? She shook her head frantically, offering a rambling explanation:

"No, no, no, I didn't mean it actually happened. I just... gave an example, yes, an example, just one, um, um..." The more anxious she was, the slower her mind went. Suddenly, an idea flashed through her head, and she blurted out, "It's... it's an example of you stealing a kiss from me while I was sleeping!"

Zeng Zhengqing's laughter rang out, and then it was Qingduo's turn to collapse helplessly.

Oh my god! Bodhisattva! What absolute truths she's speaking!

Zeng Zhengqing kissed her forehead and gazed at her tenderly: "So you accepted me a long time ago. Why didn't you tell me you knew?"

"So what!" Qingduo retorted defiantly. "What can you do even if you know?"

"If I had known you wouldn't resist, I would have kissed you more."

"Hmph, I knew it! That's why I, that's why..."

She couldn't continue. They were so close that she could see her own reflection in his eyes.

Their breathing quickened. Like a gust of wind before a rainstorm, everyone knew what was coming.

Qingduo understood that her heart was pounding like thunder.

She slowly closed her eyes.

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Author's Note: Qingduo: I'm a little scared...