Li Hua's eyes followed Gan Qiongying the whole time, from the moment she went outside to wait for the medicine packet, and then back to her.

The two were now face to face, and he kept looking at Gan Qiongying, his eyes overflowing with affection.

Neither of them spoke while the hot compress was being applied, but the atmosphere was not awkward at all. Gan Qiongying pressed the medicine pack on Li Hua's knee, increasing the contact area between the skin and the pack, while Li Hua placed his hand on Gan Qiongying's hand and gently rubbed it.

Gan Qiongying felt waves of warmth coming from their clasped hands. She was still a little confused. How could Li Hua like her?

They kissed, does that mean they're together?

How could Li Hua like her?

Gan Qiongying couldn't help but think that Princess Duanrong had been ruthless towards Li Hua, like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. Although she had changed her attitude towards Li Hua after time travel, she couldn't erase those past events.

Under these circumstances, Li Hua actually liked her... Gan Qiongying thought of a rather unpleasant medical condition called Stockholm syndrome.

Could it be that Li Hua is... sick?

He does seem to have a tendency towards self-harm and self-destruction...

While Gan Qiongying was lost in thought, she had already finished applying the medicine to Li Hua, and the maid had taken away the medicine basin. Li Hua grabbed Gan Qiongying's hand and asked her, "What are you thinking about so absentmindedly?"

"I miss you," Gan Qiongying answered instinctively.

Then, Li Hua paused for a moment, then hugged Gan Qiongying and pushed her down onto the bed again.

The quilt was much softer than the carriage seat cushion, and Gan Qiongying was completely enveloped in it, enduring Li Hua's domineering yet tender kisses.

Gan Qiongying raised her hands and hooked them around Li Hua's neck, indulging in their intimacy.

It's so exciting! Gan Qiongying, who has never experienced the sweetness of love before, felt waves of electricity sweeping through her body as she hugged Li Hua. Her mind was completely blank. Oh well... I'll stop thinking about it for now.

After the two finally separated, Gan Qiongying remembered something, quickly put on her shoes, got out of bed, and ran to the outer room. She ran back a short while later, carrying a long box.

"Quick, quick! I checked the water clock, it's not past midnight yet, just a little bit more!"

"This is also a birthday gift for you, open it and take a look!"

Li Hua looked at the box, then looked up at Gan Qiongying.

"Hurry up and open it! I actually prepared two gifts," Gan Qiongying said proudly as she moved closer to the bed and sat down next to Li Hua. "If you don't like those shoes, there's this one as a substitute. This one is also quite nice, take a look!"

"I've been choosing for a long time." Gan Qiongying handed over the box, indicating that Li Hua should open it himself.

Li Hua was clearly surprised to receive a second gift. He slowly reached out and took the box, holding it in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure.

His movements were extremely light, as if a little force would break the wooden box. The stinging in his eyes had just subsided, and now they were starting to feel hot again.

“I really like it,” Li Hua said, looking at the calligraphy brush in the box without even checking its material, nodding repeatedly. “I really like it…”

In reality, he couldn't see what was inside the box at all, because his vision was so blurry that he couldn't see anything clearly.

But he kept saying, "I really like it..." Whatever Gan Qiongying gave him, Li Hua liked it very, very much.

Li Hua was afraid that he would lose control of his emotions and cry again. It would be too embarrassing to cry several times in one night. The two of them were already in that kind of relationship. Li Hua especially wanted to show some manliness in front of Gan Qiongying. He absolutely could not cry!

Gan Qiongying could tell that he was very agitated, that he was looking down and avoiding her gaze, and she could even hear the tremor in his voice, so she guessed that he might cry again.

The God of Wealth is a crybaby.

His emotions were truly abundant, making Gan Qiongying, who didn't have much of a romantic or sensitive nature, feel a little ashamed.

Although Gan Qiongying thought Li Hua's crying was quite exciting, Li Hua had already cried a lot today. If she cried any more, she would have to attend the palace banquet tomorrow with swollen eyes, and who knows, someone might spread rumors that the couple was not getting along.

I immediately suggested we try writing again tomorrow morning, and then changed the subject.

“Let me tell you,” Gan Qiongying reached out and gently squeezed Li Hua’s hand, “I’ve been so flustered these past two days that I even temporarily became a student.”

“I just tied the straps for you,” Gan Qiongying said with a hint of pride, “wasn’t it skillful? You solved such a complicated tying method in just a few seconds.”

"That old shopkeeper is one of the Regent's men, and he's very difficult to deal with. I had to threaten and intimidate him, so I ended up playing the villain."

Gan Qiongying's eyes lit up. "I've already told him that he should choose one of your subordinates to learn. Remember to choose someone clever, because if the straps aren't tied properly, they can easily get stuck."

Just by listening, Li Hua could imagine how easily the Regent's men would help Princess Duanrong.

Li Hua was deeply moved. She tightly grasped Gan Qiongying's hand, lowered her head and kissed the back of her hand. Then, tears unexpectedly fell and landed on Gan Qiongying's hand.

Li Hua quickly turned her head away, pursed her lips, and looked ashamed. Gan Qiongying felt a warmth on the back of her hand and then couldn't help but laugh.

She even burst out laughing; it wasn't that she was deliberately trying to embarrass Li Hua, it was just so funny.

Is Li Hua also prone to incontinence?

"Let me see, let me see," Gan Qiongying said, reaching her hand to Li Hua's chin. "Come, let me catch some gold beans. I can use them to reward the palace servants when I go to the palace tomorrow."

When Gan Qiongying teased her like that, Li Hua immediately stopped crying and started laughing. She looked up, took a deep breath, sighed, and glared at Gan Qiongying with red eyes.

It was getting late. The two talked for a while, and their eyelids began to feel heavy. When they lay down on the bed, they still couldn't help but smile.

They are now face to face, holding hands and talking without feeling awkward. Li Hua is even bolder tonight, as if he is a completely different person. Once he gets it, he can't stop. He kisses Gan Qiongying every now and then.

Newlywed couples are usually so clingy they practically want to devour each other whole. She was very cooperative; she would close her eyes and feel it, since it was their first real intimate encounter, and she enjoyed it.

Moreover, there's something that makes Gan Qiongying laugh out loud whenever she thinks about it: the fact that she and Li Hua have developed this kind of relationship means that the God of Wealth has gone from being raised at home to being privately owned.

Gan Qiongying had an inflated sense of self-importance, as if she were floating in the sky, so high that even a large rock couldn't bring her down.

That night, before Gan Qiongying could even snuggle into Li Hua's arms, Li Hua reached out and pulled her close.

For the first time, Li Hua embraced the person in his arms with a sense of righteous indignation, his heart feeling as if it were soaking in a honey pot.

They fell asleep face to face, embracing each other. Soon their breathing became steady. After an unknown amount of time, Gan Qiongying vaguely felt the warm touch on her forehead again.

She kept her eyes closed, enjoying the warmth that swept across her forehead and cheeks, and the delicate kisses that Li Hua showered upon her.