Li Qingming watched as Xia Xiaoli fell asleep in her dress, a happy smile on his lips, as the curtains by the window fluttered in the breeze.

To prevent the sunlight from shining on Xia Xiaoli, Li Qingming went and drew the curtains.

Since there was still plenty of time before dinner, Li Qingming also lay down on the bed for a nap.

As before, he kept his distance from Xia Xiaoli when sleeping. His mother had said that he shouldn't force his wife if she didn't want to, and that he should see if Xia Xiaoli was willing.

Given that their marriage was out of necessity, it's understandable that Xia Xiaoli harbors resentment towards him.

He didn't sleep at all on the train, taking a hard seat to Beijing to save a lot of money.

The sun sets early, and by four o'clock only the golden sunset remains. Xia Xiaoli has been very tired lately, studying intensely every day, because she is thinking that this training program will end soon, and once it ends, she will be officially assigned to a large hospital for an internship. The internship will last for a month, and she will earn five yuan a month.

After the internship, I'll gradually become a full-time employee, earning over twenty yuan a month. I heard it will gradually increase. After mastering the basics of nursing, I'll take the medical licensing exam.

When she woke up, Li Qingming was no longer by her bedside. He was already dressed and reading a book, looking at Xia Xiaoli's notes.

He had opened it unintentionally, and since he was bored here with nothing to do, he happened to see Xia Xiaoli's notes and decided to take a look to pass the time.

Xia Xiaoli got out of bed, the bed frame creaking.

"You're awake?" Li Qingming poured Xia Xiaoli a glass of warm water and handed it to her as if he were in the family compound.

Xia Xiaoli felt much more energetic after drinking it.

"How did I fall asleep? I've made all the wrinkles out of this dress!" Xia Xiaoli originally wanted to show Li Qingming how good she looked in the dress.

I was so tired that I fell asleep.

"It's okay, then change into other clothes. Take them off and I'll wash them and hang them on the balcony to dry."

Li Qingming didn't understand Xia Xiaoli's meaning, and just wanted her to change and wash herself.

Xia Xiaoli knew that he was a grown man and wouldn't understand what she meant.

I just wanted to ask her if it looked good on her.

Li Qingming got up to rummage through his clothes. Looking at Li Qingming's back, he seemed very busy.

"Actually... I just wanted to ask you if I look good in a dress?" Xia Xiaoli mustered up her courage to ask Li Qingming.

Li Qingming then realized that this was what she meant.

He put down the clothes he was holding and turned to stare at Xia Xiaoli.

She stood up shyly, not daring to look Li Qingming in the eye.

Li Qingming looked at Xia Xiaoli's dress and nodded, saying, "It looks good."

"Really?" Xia Xiaoli looked up at Li Qingming happily to confirm.

Li Qingming nodded, both reserved and excited.

"It really is beautiful." Li Qingming was genuinely excited, but he had to control his emotions to avoid losing his composure.

Xia Xiaoli felt a secret joy.

"Then find my skirt, it's in that bag. This one's a bit wrinkled. Would I look better in that other skirt?" Xia Xiaoli asked again.

"Yes, it looks good." Li Qingming squatted down to look for clothes.

Hearing Li Qingming's answer, Xia Xiaoli was a little disappointed. How could he think it was beautiful when he had never even seen it?

"You've never seen me wear it, how could you think it looks good? You're lying to me!" Xia Xiaoli clenched her hands, her tone tinged with displeasure.

“I’ve seen it, it’s really beautiful. Didn’t you ask Aunt Qiaoyue to give me the photos last time? So Mom had another dress made for you. If you like wearing dresses, we can go to that mall and buy a few more.”

Li Qingming also realized that he shouldn't have restricted Xia Xiaoli like that. Men love to dress as they please, and girls feel good when they wear skirts. He shouldn't have restricted Xia Xiaoli.

"You said you don't like me wearing skirts, so why did you make me wear one?" Xia Xiaoli asked, puzzled.

Li Qingming had found the dress, took it out, stood up, and faced Xia Xiaoli.

"I told you, you won't be angry, okay?" Li Qingming said.

"Yes, I'm not angry." Xia Xiaoli nodded seriously; she was sure she wouldn't be angry.

Li Qingming had the words on the tip of his tongue, but he still didn't dare to say them.

“Because you were wearing a skirt that day, it would be dangerous to wear a skirt if someone had ill intentions towards you,” Li Qingming explained earnestly.

He stared nervously at Xia Xiaoli.

Upon hearing this, Xia Xiaoli's smile vanished instantly, and she stared blankly at Li Qingming.

"So...you think I'm seducing you, that wearing a skirt will seduce others?" Xia Xiaoli questioned Li Qingming.

"No, it's... because I'm a man, and I understand men better. It's not about seducing you because you're dressed nicely, but because someone with impure intentions will take advantage of you regardless of whether you're wearing a skirt or not. These days, I've also realized that I shouldn't have such thoughts."

Li Qingming lowered his head guiltily and continued to explain, "It's because you're pretty. You would look even better in a dress, and many people would like you. So I didn't want you to wear a dress. I know I was wrong and shouldn't have restricted you, so I should apologize to you."

“That time it was because I couldn’t control myself, it had nothing to do with you. You were the most innocent person, but I still wanted to marry you. Xiaoli, do you feel wronged?” Every time Li Qingming thought about it, Gao Su felt guilty and remorseful. If he had just held back and hadn’t treated Xiaoli like Miaomiao, none of this would have happened.

After listening to what Li Qingming said, Xia Xiaoli lowered her head and thought for a while before sitting down to calm herself down.

"Li Qingming, do you regret marrying me?" Xia Xiaoli's feelings for Li Qingming are also strange. She has realized that because of their marital relationship, she has accepted Li Qingming, but there is always someone between them.

“I have no regrets. I just want to be good to you, but I’m afraid you’ll think it’s to make up for what I did wrong.” Li Qingming thought for a moment and looked at Xia Xiaoli. “When we first got married, it was because of my sense of responsibility and guilt, but now it seems that’s not the case. I can’t really explain it.”

After hearing this, Xia Xiaoli realized that both of them had changed.

"Then let's start dating?" Xia Xiaoli stood up and made this request to Li Qingming.

"Dating?" Li Qingming was taken aback. They were already husband and wife, why would they date?

“In the past, your heart belonged to the person you loved. Since you said you would try to make your heart accept me, then let’s date like a couple who are not married. When we truly fall in love, we will stay together forever. If we still don’t fall in love with each other, we will find a reason and agree on a time to get a divorce and set each other free.”

Li Qingming wanted to say no.

Xia Xiaoli reached out and covered Li Qingming's lips, meeting his gaze.

"Say nothing more. If you really can't accept me, I can't accept you either. Being together is torture! Let's not dwell on the past anymore, and just get along well in the future."