Xie Yuancheng pulled me closer, lit the lantern, and made me look at the wick. I leaned on his lap to look at the wick, and the people in front of us were laughing. Then, many ripples appeared on the water's surface.

"I suspect a water ghost will suddenly appear from below, and everyone will be scared, including you." I looked at the lantern, which had the names of my family members engraved inside, as well as many other people whose faces I couldn't make out. The handwriting was Xie Yuancheng's.

"Yeah, after scaring me, you made Ying'er carry you back. You'll be exhausted." He's even getting on my nerves with his words now. I leaned against his leg and reached out to pinch his cheek. Xie Yuancheng looks so handsome when he smiles under the light. He's so good-looking that I can't bear to look away from him.

"The water ghost has emerged! Everyone, light the lanterns!" The voice was truly heroic. I looked up and saw that the lanterns were indeed emerging from the water. They could even be lit. Once lit, they floated up completely, turning into a lantern more than a meter wide.

"It really is a water lantern! It's so beautiful." I tried to sit up, but Xie Yuancheng told me to put the lantern down first and we could look at it slowly.

We each reached out a hand to release the lantern. "This is the first time I've released a lantern with you. I'm so happy I'll wake up laughing in my dreams tonight."

"Ying'er, you've said what I wanted to say, so what am I supposed to say?" After the lantern was placed on the water, I reached out and clasped his hands. "That's right, Ying'er can say what's on my mind."

"You're the best talker. Let's look around by the water and then go back to the manor later."

I took his hand and put his arm around me. The water lanterns were already very bright. I saw an arrow fly to the middle to light a lantern. With a 'boom,' a new water lantern appeared. Supporting the lanterns on top, the people on the side continued to light them.

"How did you do that?" I looked at him, and Xie Yuancheng explained to me that it had been hidden long ago. When he got up, he removed the burlap, making it look like he came out of the water, but in reality, he came out of a wooden bag. There was no need to worry about getting wet.

"They really know how to think. No wonder it's called the Water Ghost. How many layers are there in total? Could it be that they made fifteen layers to celebrate the Lantern Festival?"

"There aren't that many layers. It's just two. An even number is for good luck, so that everyone has something to look forward to this year, whether it's good or bad. Having something to look forward to is better than living a muddled life."

Xie Yuancheng pulled me closer, and I almost bumped into his chin. "Be careful, or I'll faint from heartache if I bump into your perfect chin."

"You little rascal, all you do is say nice things to me, but you don't actually do them."

"What can't I do? I've done so many things for you, it's just that I sometimes do silly things that you remember."

I held Xie Yuancheng's fingers and rested them on my stomach. Xie Yuancheng rested his chin on my shoulder and spoke to me. The wind was still cold tonight. When I saw them light the water lanterns, I wanted to go back.

"It's cold so quickly. Ying'er is such a lazybones, that's what Yu'er said. If you want to blame someone, blame him." I've even learned to shift the blame now. I held his hand tightly. "Let's go back. If you get cold, you won't warm my hands."

"Good to know. This water lantern is really well-made and shows a lot of creativity. Did you come up with it?"

"Of course not, it's Lu Fengjun. He just likes to play with little gadgets and doesn't do his job properly or get married properly."

"You! If the teacher finds out, he might make you stand in the icy river as punishment." I can't let the teacher hear this. Xie Yuancheng smiled and tried to bite my ear. There weren't many people around, so if I saw anyone watching, I would push him away.

I wanted to take a carriage, and Xie Yuancheng immediately had a horse brought out. We went back to the mansion through a less crowded alley. I was cold sitting in the front, so I pulled my coat tighter before pulling the saddle.

"Just bear with it for a bit. I've found a new route that will shorten the journey, so we can soak in the hot springs when we get back. Actually, Ying'er just likes to come out and feel the cold wind. Otherwise, we would have been resting in the boudoir long ago, and I could have even massaged your back."

"Shut up! You talk the most!" I pinched his hand until a red mark appeared, then smiled at him, "See? I can use torture too."

"Wow, he's really amazing. Go back and keep torturing me. I'm thick-skinned and not afraid." I was completely defeated. You really can't deal with him using ordinary thinking. Otherwise, you'll just fall into his trap.

Once inside the mansion, I was already feeling sleepy. Xie Yuancheng dismounted and asked me to carry him, saying, "Come and hug me, your Ying'er is so tired."

Xie Yuancheng didn't even reach out, so I turned around and got off from the other side, and he hugged me. "Look at you, you can't even refuse a hug, and you actually turned on me."

"Hmph!" I ignored him and closed my eyes to rest. Maybe I'll fall asleep soon. "Ying'er, if you don't like it, I won't coax you next time. Don't ignore me."

I ignored him and struggled to get up to kiss him. I was really scared last time. I should pay for the sins I committed.

"No, I'm so sleepy." Xie Yuancheng came to hug me as soon as we were in the hot spring. I'm so sleepy, let's talk about it tomorrow.

"Ying'er really dislikes me now, she won't be affectionate with me anymore." That voice is so heartbreaking, I should be able to go along with her even if I just want to sleep.

"No~ I love Xiao Chengcheng." I took off my thin clothes to show him. My eyelids were almost closed, and I still had to coax my husband to be happy. I really brought this on myself.

I was half asleep when I heard Yu'er and the others' voices in the yard. I quickly opened my eyes. My hand reached out and touched Xie Yuancheng; he was there.

"Yuancheng~" I hugged him like a king, "It's so late, and you're still sleeping with me. You're such a good husband~"

“You were exhausted last night. If I don’t stay with you, and Ying’er gets angry when she wakes up in the morning, I’ll lose her favor.”

"Hehe~" I pinched his ear, and the voices outside were even happier, "Why did Yu'er and the others come to the yard without you telling me?"

“It’s not noon yet, they’re probably urging you to go eat. I told them to play in the yard and not to go to the swings in the small courtyard, that’s already giving them space.”

"Their voices are so cheerful, let's get up quickly so we can go out and play with them." I was about to kick off the covers, but Xie Yuancheng wouldn't let me get up. "Yuancheng~ let me go out and play."

Yu'er and the others are having a great time, while we, their parents, are sleeping soundly in the house. How can that be right?

"You were exhausted last night, I need to give Ying'er a massage, otherwise you'll feel like you're floating when you walk." Xie Yuancheng told me to lie down, and he crawled out of the quilt naked. I stared at him, my eyes wide. "You little pervert, the children are still outside. Lie down, I'll give you an acupuncture."

I lay down with a smile, my eyes fixed on him. "He's really my man, he's so attractive to me."

"Yes, they're all yours. If Ying'er dares to lose them, I'll lock you in the room for life." When Xie Yuancheng is serious, I can't get enough of looking at him; I'm practically glued to his face.