Xie Yun finished a busy day and slowly stepped into the courtyard, where he saw Zheng Wanqing lying comfortably on a recliner, holding a newly acquired street novel in her hands. She had already turned most of the pages, sometimes covering her mouth with her hands to chuckle, sometimes frowning and sighing, completely immersed in the world of the story.

"This book is really stupid. He can't even understand the girl's feelings." She whispered to herself, lightly tapping the line of words on the page with her fingertips.

Zheng Wanqing adjusted her posture, and her light green skirt embroidered with lotus flowers fell on the edge of the recliner, swaying gently as she moved her toes. She didn't notice that a tall figure had been standing quietly beside her for a long time.

Zheng Wanqing suddenly felt as if there was a pair of gentle eyes staring at her. She raised her head subconsciously and instantly met Xie Yun's affectionate and gentle eyes.

"I'm back." He bent down, and his warm breath brushed past Zheng Wanqing's ears.

"You've worked hard." Zheng Wanqing put the book aside, stood up and brushed the dust off Xie Yun's shoulders, and said with a hint of anger: "Why didn't you tell me you came back? You just stood here quietly like this."

Xie Yun watched her busying around with a smile, and reached out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear: "I saw you were so engrossed in reading that I couldn't bear to disturb you." His eyes fell on the book that had been hastily put down, with the pages still open.

Zheng Wanqing followed his line of sight and suddenly remembered the bold plot descriptions in the book. Her cheeks flushed. She reached out to take it, but Xie Yun got there first.

"Dream of Spring in Jade Tower?" Xie Yun raised his eyebrows and read the title, flipping through a few pages, a hint of mischief flashed in his eyes, "The lady's dress is half-undressed, revealing her shoulders..."

"Don't read it!" Zheng Wanqing stamped her feet anxiously and reached out to grab it, but Xie Yun dodged it easily. Her ears turned red with shame, and her voice became smaller and smaller, "I... I don't just read these, I just do it for fun..."

Xie Yun closed the book with a meaningful smile in his eyes: "Madam is well-read, I know it myself." He leaned close to her ear and lowered his voice, "You can read all the books in my study. If you like this kind of thing, I will ask someone to bring you some books, which are much more exciting than this."

Zheng Wanqing felt even more ashamed when she heard this, and she snatched the book back and hid it behind her. She took Xie Yun's arm and changed the subject, saying, "Let's eat first. I've asked the kitchen to prepare it."

*

In the dining room, six dishes and a soup were already laid out on the simple and heavy mahogany round table. The dishes were attractive in color, steaming hot, and the steaming water vapor was filled with tempting aroma.

Xie Yun changed into a casual navy blue Hangzhou silk gown with his sleeves slightly rolled up. He was carefully placing a piece of shad belly meat, bones removed, into Zheng Wanqing's bowl.

"I heard from the kitchen that this is a new batch of river shad from Chengnan Fish Market yesterday." He tapped the table with his fingertips. "Try it and see if it tastes good?"

Zheng Wanqing picked up the chopsticks, opened her red lips, and tasted the snow-white fish meat. Her eyes relaxed immediately: "It's really delicious, and the meat is very tender." After that, she looked up at Xie Yun, her eyes full of concern, "Did you go to the military camp smoothly today?"

Xie Yun raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a soothing smile, and responded gently: "It's just a routine inspection. What do you do at home every day?"

"I made some spices this morning and wanted to bring them to my mother," Zheng Wanqing said softly. She paused for a moment, a trace of nostalgia flashing in her eyes. "I want to go home tomorrow. It's been a while since I last visited my parents."

Xie Yun raised his head when he heard that: "Are you homesick?" His voice softened unconsciously.

Zheng Wanqing nodded gently, "A little bit."

"I'll go back with you tomorrow morning." Xie Yun said without hesitation, and then added, "But there are some urgent matters at the office, so I'm afraid I can't stay for long."

Zheng Wanqing said quickly: "It's important to do something, I can go back by myself..."

"There's always time to send you there." He interrupted her, and suddenly remembered the few semi-finished sachets he had seen on the stone table in the courtyard. A smile flashed in his eyes, "Those sachets...are there any for me?"

Zheng Wanqing paused for a moment, looking up at him in surprise. In her impression, he didn't seem to be fond of such scented items, so she said hesitantly, "I think you don't like scented things when you are young..."

"As long as you make it yourself," he said in a low voice, "I like it."

A blush crept up to Zheng Wanqing's ears: "Then I'll... give you a calming massage. I see you've been sleeping lightly lately..."

"Thank you, Madam." His smile deepened, and he put a few more pieces of bamboo shoots into her bowl, "Eat more. If you are so light, tomorrow my father-in-law will blame me for not taking good care of you." After saying that, he seemed to remember something, "By the way, I didn't hear you say what to do this afternoon."

"In the afternoon..." Zheng Wanqing's mind suddenly flashed with the novel that Xie Yun had caught on camera. Her face slightly heated up, and her voice unconsciously lowered, "I just... read a book for a while."

Xie Yun smiled and picked up another piece of green vegetables for her with his chopsticks: "By the way, has Bai Xiao come here?"

Zheng Wanqing paused slightly for the chopsticks in her hand.