Strict wife control and strict husband control

On a deep winter night, the chill seeped in through the cracks in the window, and even though the room was well-heated, some corners were still cold. Only a dim night light was on in the bedroom, and Qi Shuo sat against the headboard, looking at a work report by that light.

He had finished washing up and was wearing comfortable dark pajamas, with the blanket pulled up to his waist. The warm yellow light outlined his calm profile.

Tan Huaiyu emerged from the bathroom, carrying with him a damp body and the fresh scent of shower gel. His hair, casually dried with a towel, was still damp, with a few unruly strands clinging to his smooth forehead. He quickly slipped into bed, a cool breeze enveloping him.

Qi Shuo looked up from the briefing, glanced at him, and frowned slightly: "Your hair isn't dry?"

"It's a bit cold, let's hide under the covers first." Tan Huaiyu mumbled a reply, curling himself up into a ball, his hands folded in front of his chest, as if trying to quickly absorb the warmth from the blankets.

His cheeks had a healthy pink hue from the hot bath, but his lips were a lighter color than usual, and the tip of his nose was slightly red.

Qi Shuo put down his tablet, reached out, and his fingertips touched Tan Huaiyu's still damp hair. His brows furrowed even more: "Sleeping with wet hair, what will you do if you have a headache tomorrow?"

As she spoke, she got up to get the hair dryer.

"No, no," Tan Huaiyu quickly grabbed his arm and snuggled closer to him, her voice slightly nasal and pitiful, "It'll dry in a bit, the blankets are warm... and I'm so sleepy."

Qi Shuo looked at his tired eyes and gave in, but still dried his hair a few more times with a dry towel before leaning back and picking up his tablet, but he couldn't concentrate on reading.

Yu Guangli saw Tan Huaiyu in the quilt next to him, like a little animal afraid of the cold, occasionally moving slightly, trying to wrap himself up more tightly.

After a while, Qi Shuo felt that the person next to him seemed to have fallen asleep, and their breathing became even and long. He gently put down the tablet, turned off the sleep light, and prepared to lie down as well. Just as he adjusted his position and closed his eyes, he felt a rustling sound beside him.

A hand, noticeably cool, tentatively and cautiously reached out from the side and touched his arm.

Qi Shuo didn't move.

The hand paused, touched it again, and then, as if confirming the reliability of the "heat source," pressed its entire icy palm against his warm arm skin. The icy touch made Qi Shuo's muscles tense slightly involuntarily, but he did not pull away.

Immediately afterwards, a foot that was also cold moved over from the side and gently touched his calf.

Qi Shuo: "..."

He silently felt the temperature difference between the hot and cold surfaces, and helplessly opened his eyes in the darkness.

However, the person beside him wasn't finished. Seemingly feeling that just having his hands and feet pressed together wasn't warm enough, Tan Huaiyu's entire body began to slowly, like a clumsy caterpillar, move towards him, the source of warmth.

First his shoulder, then his body, and finally, he almost turned sideways and shoved himself entirely into Qi Shuo's arms, his back pressed tightly against Qi Shuo's warm chest, his head rubbing contentedly against his shoulder, finding the most comfortable position and remaining still.

Qi Shuo felt a mix of amusement and helplessness at his actions.

He turned slightly to the side, adjusting his posture so that the person in his arms could lean against him more comfortably. Then, he stretched out his arm and naturally wrapped it around Tan Huaiyu's waist, pulling him closer to his embrace and using his body heat to warm the slightly cool body in his arms.

"Mmm..." The person in his arms let out a muffled, satisfied murmur, snuggling closer to him. His hands groped and grasped Qi Shuo's hand that was wrapped around his waist, their fingers interlocked, drawing warmth from his palm.

Qi Shuo felt the rising body temperature of another person emanating from his chest and back, and the soft strands of hair tickling his neck. He sighed silently in the darkness, his tone helpless yet full of tenderness, and whispered:

"Are you treating me like a hand warmer, Attorney Tan?"

The voice was not loud, with a slight hoarseness from just falling asleep, and it was especially clear in the quiet night.

The person in his arms seemed to have heard him, but was still half asleep and not fully awake. Enveloped in drowsiness and warmth, he reacted instinctively, thinking that Qi Shuo was calling him.

Then, his muffled voice, thick with nasal tone and sleepiness, rose from Qi Shuo's chest, soft and sticky, like it was dipped in honey:

"...Hmm? Baby?"

He paused, seemingly savoring the title, then snuggled closer to Qi Shuo, muttering in a more certain, even slightly smug tone:

"Yes, it's me..."

After saying that, as if to confirm, she snuggled deeper into Qi Shuo's warm embrace, completely satisfied and still, her breathing becoming long and steady again.

Qi Shuo: "..."

He froze completely.

Her arms were still wrapped around Tan Huaiyu's waist, and her fingertips could feel the warmth of his skin beneath his pajamas. In her arms was her lover's soft body, in her ear was his even breathing, and in his sleepy, natural, and incredibly soft response.

Qi Shuo felt as if his heart had been lightly scratched by a furry little paw.

It didn't hurt, but it instantly made half of my body numb, and an indescribable warm current, carrying a sweet taste, surged from my heart to every part of my body.

What is all this nonsense?

But ironically, the little guy in his arms, who was half asleep, with cold hands and feet, snuggled into his arms and called himself "baby" with such self-righteousness, was incredibly adorable to him.

He silently curled the corners of his lips in the darkness, tightened his arms, and held the baby in his arms even closer, using his own body heat to gradually dispel the chill from his body. He gently rubbed his chin against the baby's soft hair, which was almost dry and carried a refreshing shampoo scent.

"Mmm," Qi Shuo responded softly from the top of his head, his voice barely audible to himself, filled with a smile and doting affection, "It's you."

The person in his arms seemed to hear him, yet also seemed not to. In his sleep, he unconsciously rubbed his cheek against Qi Shuo's chest, like a young animal that had found the warmest and most comfortable nest, letting out a very soft and satisfied sigh.

The cold wind outside the window still seemed to be howling.

But inside the warm blankets, with steady heartbeats, the two of them, embracing each other, drifted into a dreamless and peaceful sleep.

He warmed his entire winter.

He is also a unique baby who can be cute and spoiled.

On Saturday night, Qi Shuo received a call from Xiao Jue, who said that a nice craft beer bar had just opened, with a quiet environment and good beer, and asked if he wanted to go "to relax".

Qi Shuo felt a bit stifled lately due to the busy work at the factory. He thought he'd go out for some fresh air and have a couple of drinks, and come back later if he was fine.

After reporting to Tan Huaiyu, who was overwhelmed by the case files, Tan Huaiyu waved his hand and said, "Go on, go on, don't drink too much, be home before eleven o'clock," and then buried his head in the pile of documents again.

Qi Shuo felt like he'd been granted a pardon, changed into casual clothes, and went out. When he arrived at the bar, Xiao Jue was already there. The two tall, imposing men with rugged airs sat at the bar, drawing considerable attention. They didn't ask for a private room, but found a quiet spot in a corner of the bar, ordered two pitchers of their signature craft beer and some snacks.

"How have you been lately? Is the factory busy?" Xiao Jue poured Qi Shuo a drink and asked casually.

"It's alright, same as always. How about you?" Qi Shuo picked up his cup and took a sip. The cool, slightly bitter liquid slid down his throat, taking away some of the dryness.

"Yeah, just solved a case, can finally catch my breath." Xiao Jue also took a big gulp, sighed, "You have no idea, I'm almost bald..."

The two men got together, and the conversation quickly shifted from work to life, and then from life to the woman in charge of their respective households.

“You wouldn’t believe it,” Xiao Jue said after a few drinks, his words flowing freely, a mix of boasting and helplessness in his tone, “That brat Lin Ye looks all respectable, all dressed up in a suit and tie at the bank, all high and mighty, but at home he’s a total clingy jerk. If I’m ten minutes late, he’ll call me eight times. If I don’t contact him for a day, he’ll give me a hard time for a week. Your lawyer Tan, he shouldn’t be that… well, right?”

Qi Shuo recalled Tan Huaiyu's usual calm and composed demeanor, and her professionalism. Although she would sometimes act spoiled and unreasonable at home, she was generally reasonable. So he shook his head reservedly and said, "Huaiyu is alright. She's very well-behaved. She's busy with work and doesn't pay much attention to me."

Xiao Jue looked at him suspiciously, clearly not believing him: "Really? I've heard that Attorney Tan is known for... well, for his principles. You've probably been scolded quite a bit, haven't you?"

Qi Shuo remained unfazed: "That's called communication. He's being reasonable."

"Come on," Xiao Jue scoffed, filling their cups again. "I know you too well. You're all talk and no action now, but you'll be a real henpecked husband at home!"

Qi Shuo was taken aback by the words "henpecked," but upon reflection, he realized that he might actually be a little bit like that.

But he absolutely couldn't admit it: "Don't talk nonsense, our family is very democratic. It's you who's completely controlled by Lin Ye, aren't you? A strict husband?"

Xiao Jue, caught off guard, wasn't annoyed. Instead, he chuckled, a hint of smugness in his eyes: "That's different. My Lin Ye is just concerned about me, and I'm happy to be managed by him. Besides,"

He leaned closer to Qi Shuo, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of unspoken understanding between men, "He's all talk and no action, but he's actually very soft-hearted. A few words of coaxing at home will make him fine. And... being strict has its advantages."

The two teased and joked with each other, clinking glasses and finishing two pitchers of beer before they knew it, then started another round. The conversation became more relaxed, and the laughter grew louder.

Qi Shuo glanced at his watch; it was almost eleven o'clock.

"Another round?" Xiao Jue suggested, clearly quite drunk.

Qi Shuo hesitated for a moment, but the alcohol and the rare relaxation made him nod: "Okay, last round."

However, this "final round" was indefinitely extended due to a technical issue concerning motorcycle modifications that was added to the discussion at the last minute.

When Qi Shuo checked the time again, it was almost 1 a.m.

His heart skipped a beat. Oh no, it's so late, Tan Huaiyu must be asleep, but he didn't say hello… He quickly took out his phone, wanting to send Tan Huaiyu a message, but found that his phone had run out of battery and shut down automatically.

"Xiao Jue, can I borrow your phone for a moment? I need to call Huai Yu." Qi Shuo was getting a little anxious.

Xiao Jue was also a bit tipsy. He took out his phone and handed it to him, then checked the time himself. His expression changed: "Damn it! It's one o'clock! We're doomed, Lin Ye is definitely angry!"

He quickly called Lin Ye as well, but no one answered.

"Maybe he's taking a shower or sleeping?" Xiao Jue tried to reassure himself, but he was clearly not confident.

Qi Shuo used Xiao Jue's phone to dial Tan Huaiyu's number. It rang a few times before being hung up.

If I call again, it just shuts down.

Qi Shuo: "..."

Oh no, she's really angry.

The two men exchanged a glance, both seeing in each other's eyes the familiar panic of "going home is the end of me." But the alcohol and their male pride made them try to resist.

"How about... we sit a little longer and wait for the effects of the alcohol to wear off before going back?" Xiao Jue suggested, trying to delay his sentence.

Qi Shuo thought about it and agreed. Going back now, reeking of alcohol, would only make things worse.

So, the two lingered for another half hour before finally paying the bill and leaving. Stepping out of the bar, the night breeze sobered them up considerably, but their unease only intensified.

"Um... Brother Shuo, take care." At the crossroads where they were parting ways, Xiao Jue patted Qi Shuo on the shoulder, his eyes filled with a poignant sense of shared suffering.

"You too." Qi Shuo nodded heavily, turned and walked towards his home, his steps unsteady, whether from the alcohol or from panic.

Reaching his front door, Qi Shuo took several deep breaths before carefully taking out his keys and unlocking the door. The house was pitch black and quiet, with only a small nightlight left on in the entryway. Tan Huaiyu must already be asleep.

Qi Shuo breathed a sigh of relief, quietly changed his shoes, and planned to take a shower in the guest room first to get rid of the smell of alcohol, and then...

"Smack."

The living room lights suddenly turned on without warning.

The blinding white light made Qi Shuo squint instinctively. When his eyes adjusted to the light and he could see the scene on the living room sofa, he froze on the spot, completely sober.

Tan Huaiyu didn't sleep.

He was dressed in casual clothes, sitting upright in the center of the sofa, with an open, thick law book in front of him and a pen in his hand, writing something on it at a leisurely pace. He looked calm and didn't even look up at Qi Shuo, but the oppressive aura emanating from him made Qi Shuo's scalp tingle.

The most crucial thing was that on the coffee table in front of Tan Huaiyu, there was something placed neatly and squarely—

keyboard.

A black, brand-new mechanical keyboard that gleams coldly under the lights.

Qi Shuo's knees had begun to ache slightly.

"You're back?" Tan Huaiyu finally raised her head and looked at him. Her amber eyes were clear and calm under the light, revealing no emotion. But the more she looked like this, the more uneasy Qi Shuo felt.

"...Yeah, I'm back." Qi Shuo replied dryly, trying to explain, "Um, my phone died, Xiao Jue, he..."

"Did you have fun?" Tan Huaiyu interrupted him, her voice gentle, even with a hint of amusement, but Qi Shuo sensed a chill in it.

"...It's alright," Qi Shuo said, forcing a smile.

"Oh." Tan Huaiyu nodded, closed the book in his hand, and put down his pen. Then, he pointed to the keyboard on the coffee table, his tone still calm and gentle:

"Speak while kneeling."

Qi Shuo: "..."

He knew it...

You can dodge the first day of the month, but you can't dodge the fifteenth; the keyboard may be late, but it will arrive eventually.

He looked at the keyboard, then at Tan Huaiyu's expressionless face. The guilt he felt for returning home late and losing contact, along with the fear of the "keyboard torture," intertwined in his heart.

He wanted to explain, to beg for mercy, but seeing Tan Huaiyu's "this isn't over tonight" attitude, he knew that saying anything would be futile.

He sighed resignedly, slowly walked over, stood in front of the keyboard, and then, with a look of grim determination, bent his knees.

He knelt on the cold, hard mechanical keyboard, and under Tan Huaiyu's calm "interrogation," honestly recounted the entire incident of the evening. After listening, Tan Huaiyu said nothing, picked up the law book, and continued reading, as if Qi Shuo didn't exist.

Qi Shuo's knees ached from kneeling, and his heart was pounding with anxiety. He didn't know how long this "sentence" would last, nor did he know whether Tan Huaiyu had calmed down.

Time passed by, and the living room became so quiet that only the sound of turning pages and the ticking of the wall clock could be heard.

Finally, just when Qi Shuo felt his knees were about to give way, Tan Huaiyu closed his book, stood up, and walked over to him.

"Do you know you were wrong?" Tan Huaiyu looked down at him.

"I understand," Qi Shuo replied immediately, his attitude serious. "I shouldn't have drunk so late, I shouldn't have failed to tell you beforehand, and I shouldn't have lost contact because my phone was dead. I promise it won't happen again."

Tan Huaiyu looked at him quietly for a few seconds, then sighed softly, bent down, and reached out her hand to him.

"Get up."

Qi Shuo felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly grabbed Tan Huaiyu's hand and used it to stand up. His knees were sore and numb, and he almost lost his balance. Tan Huaiyu helped him up.

"Go take a shower, you reek of alcohol." Tan Huaiyu's tone remained indifferent, but he released his hand and turned to walk towards the bedroom.

Qi Shuo knew he had passed this hurdle. Although his knees were aching, at least he wouldn't have to sleep on the sofa. He quickly limped off to take a shower.

When he finished showering and quietly climbed into bed, Tan Huaiyu was facing away from him, seemingly already asleep.

Qi Shuo carefully lay down, gently hugged him from behind, buried his face in the nape of his neck which smelled fresh, and whispered an apology: "Huaiyu, I'm sorry, I made you worry."

Tan Huaiyu didn't move or speak, but his body relaxed almost imperceptibly.

Qi Shuo knew he wasn't angry anymore, and felt relieved. He tightened his arms, holding the man even closer, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, at noon.

Qi Shuo and Xiao Jue were unusually seen having lunch at the same time at a small restaurant near the factory. Both of them looked noticeably tired, but the reasons seemed to be different.

Qi Shuo walked slowly and somewhat unnaturally, and carefully adjusted his posture when he sat down.

Xiao Jue looked completely drained, with faint dark circles under his eyes, but his spirit was strangely high, and there were several fresh hickeys on his neck that he couldn't cover up.

The two looked at each other and saw the same exhaustion and a sense of relief at surviving a disaster in each other's eyes.

"Are you... alright?" Xiao Jue asked in a low voice, noticing Qi Shuo's unnatural posture. "Was Attorney Tan really that ruthless?"

He thought Qi Shuo had been beaten.

Qi Shuo gave a wry smile and rubbed his still throbbing knees: "I knelt on the keyboard for half the night."

Xiao Jue: "..."

He patted Qi Shuo on the shoulder sympathetically, then felt a little relieved that his own partner didn't have to suffer such punishment.

"And you?" Qi Shuo raised an eyebrow, looking at the marks on Xiao Jue's neck and his excessive indulgence. "Looks like Xiao Ye punished him quite well?"

Xiao Jue blushed, but a satisfied smile flashed in his eyes. He mumbled, "It's...it's alright...it's just a bit hard on my back..."

The two ate a few bites of rice in silence.

Then, almost simultaneously, they looked up at each other and exclaimed in unison:

"Sigh, I'm henpecked..."

"Sigh, my husband is so henpecked..."

After saying that, the two of them were stunned for a moment, and then, without prior arrangement, they shook their heads and laughed.

never mind.

Who cares about being "strict"?

You made the choice, so you have to bear the consequences.