Chapter 10: The man she married was Xiao Xu.
Yun Sheng woke up without warning. When she opened her eyes and saw Xiao Xu's face, her already drowsy thoughts became even more chaotic. In a daze, she thought she was dreaming and mumbled, "Why are you here?"
Xiao Xu's eyes were dark, but he smiled lightly as he curved his lips.
Yun Sheng then realized what nonsense she had said and quickly softened her voice to correct herself: "You're back."
When Xiao Xu was young, his mother was not around. During his most innocent and ignorant years, he never saw his parents being affectionate. Later, when his mother returned home, he had already passed the age where he would yearn for anything he saw or heard.
Therefore, he had never imagined what his married life would be like, and the same was true for Yun Sheng.
However, at this moment, the concrete reality surpassed his imagination and came straight to his eyes.
A strange and unfamiliar feeling arose in his heart. He didn't know what it was, but he didn't dislike it.
He gave a soft "hmm," and then said, "You just said where I came from."
"Are you dreaming?"
"No, that's not it!" Yun Sheng retorted in a panic, then sat up, suppressing her guilt. "I was just half asleep. What time is it now?"
It's almost 5 PM.
"It's so late, how come I've slept for so long and no one has woken me up? Where is Cuizhu?"
Xiao Xu said, "I didn't see her when I entered the courtyard just now."
Yun Sheng remembered the instructions she had given to Cui Zhu, and stopped talking for a moment.
But as soon as she turned her gaze, her eyes widened in surprise.
After her expression suddenly changed, Xiao Xu turned his head and saw the wooden box on the table and a book placed outside the box.
His attention was completely focused on Yun Sheng, and he didn't notice anything else.
Judging from her expression, Xiao Xu hadn't yet guessed what was going on.
"Did you read anything in the house today? Which book were you reading?"
Xiao Xu calmly reached out to the books on the table.
Just as his fingertips were about to touch the book, Yun Sheng suddenly stood up and hurriedly stretched out her hands to stop him.
With a loud bang—
Caught off guard, Xiao Xu was struck by the force of the arm pressing down, causing the wide sleeve to overturn the wooden box beside him.
The wooden box overturned with a thud, and the books inside scattered out, one of which lay open right at his feet.
On the yellowed Xuan paper, ink lines outline a scene of a man and woman entwined in love.
Yun Sheng's face paled, then flushed red.
"Don't look!"
Xiao Xu was only slightly taken aback, and his gaze did not linger on the open pages of the book.
Compared to those images, the nearly ripe red apples in front of him attracted his attention more.
Xiao Xu looked over with interest: "Did you learn anything?"
"I..." Yun Sheng subconsciously wanted to deny that she had read it, but when she caught a glimpse of the scattered books, she no longer had a chance to deny it.
Denying it outright would only make her lose face, so she withdrew her hand from Xiao Xu's arm and answered in a steady voice, "It was a booklet that Mother sent yesterday. I just flipped through it casually and didn't learn anything."
"Is that so?" Xiao Xu said slowly, his gaze unwavering, but he bent down to pick up a book.
"A harmonious relationship between husband and wife is especially important. Since Mother has put so much thought into this, we can work together..."
"Don't pick it up!" Yun Sheng glared at him and interrupted him before he could finish speaking, grabbing at it again with her hand that she had just pulled back.
This time, she bypassed Xiao Xu's arm and directly grasped his hand.
The man's hands were large, and it took Yun Sheng's two hands to barely envelop them. Her soft fingers unconsciously tightened, and when she came to her senses, she realized that her fingertips had slipped between his fingers, intertwining with his ten fingers.
Yun Sheng tried to pull her hand away, but he grabbed it from behind.
Xiao Xu asked, "Aren't you going to learn?"
Yun Sheng could feel her cheeks burning red. Xiao Xu was right in front of her, so he could see everything, yet he still said such things, which sounded like he was doing it on purpose.
The warmth from his palm washed over me, leaving a lingering heat that was hard to dispel.
Yun Sheng gave up, letting her face turn red, and snorted, "I've already learned it, so there's no need for me to look at it anymore. If you want to learn, then learn it yourself."
Xiao Xu looked at her, his intertwined fingers feeling faintly warm, and he wanted to stroke the blush on her cheek.
But he remained calm and composed: "Didn't you just say you didn't learn anything?"
Why does he keep bringing this up?
Yun Sheng pouted and whispered, "Granny Wenxin came to my room yesterday to teach me. I've learned it, so I won't let you bully me."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xu suddenly loosened his grip.
Yun Sheng relaxed her hand, thinking he was about to ask her to take it back.
Before Yun Sheng could move, Xiao Xu opened his five fingers and then closed them, enveloping her fair little hand in his palm.
The package wasn't tightly secured, but I couldn't take it back.
His fingertips gently caressed her fingertips, pinching her fingers from the last joint forward with just the right amount of pressure.
Each time you pinch it, the tender flesh swells up around your fingers, creating a ring of white and pink skin that looks strangely delicious.
Xiao Xu swallowed hard, averted his gaze, and continued to work slowly but steadily.
"What did I do to you?"
He quickly added, "I haven't learned it, and I don't know how to do it."
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng's shyness dissipated considerably, and she had no intention of recalling the similar words Xiao Xu had said to her when he was drawing her eyebrows that morning.
She was so surprised that he, at his age, actually didn't know how.
Then she realized that she already had a marriage agreement, and her family had taught her these things a long time ago, but Xiao Xu had no intention of getting married before yesterday. He was just starting out, so there was no time for him to learn.
So, when it comes to consummating the marriage, does she still need to guide the process?
Yun Sheng's back tensed instantly, and the hand in Xiao Xu's palm clenched into a fist: "Then, then you should pick it up and learn it yourself, otherwise..."
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she uttered words that made her feel ashamed, her mind in turmoil.
The words were phrased indirectly: "However, you were forced into marriage anyway. If you're unwilling, it's okay if you don't want to learn or do it."
As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Xiao Xu did not answer. He pressed his fingers against the creases she had made in her palm, slowly prying her fingers open and letting her palm relax again.
But the atmosphere remained frozen, so quiet that even breathing could be clearly heard.
Yun Sheng belatedly realized that what she had said was inappropriate.
Her words were full of her own selfish motives, and were even less appropriate to say to Xiao Xu, who had always taken this marriage seriously.
He had just returned from a long journey to ensure the ceremony was conducted properly.
Thinking of this, Yun Sheng couldn't help but look up, but saw that Xiao Xu's face seemed to show no signs of anger.
He simply looked at her quietly, his expression unreadable, not angry, yet it only made the stagnant silence more oppressive.
Yun Sheng curled her fingers, intending to clench her fist again out of guilt, but unexpectedly, Xiao Xu's fingers were in the way, and she hooked them instead.
She glanced down, thought for a moment, and didn't take it back. Instead, she mimicked his earlier action and lightly scratched his fingertips twice.
After being touched so casually for a while, Xiao Xu slowly spoke up: "Sheng Sheng, that's not what I meant when I told you last night."
Yun Sheng pursed her lips, feeling for no reason as if she had returned to her maiden school, where she was being instructed on her studies by a female teacher in a deep voice.
She answered softly, "I know."
"Sheng Sheng," Xiao Xu asked softly, "Do you hate it?"
"...What do you hate?"
"Me, and our marriage."
Why did he ask that?
Yun Sheng recalled that Xiao Xu had used the same words when he had a serious conversation with her yesterday.
It was as if he had decided from the beginning to link himself to this marriage, without any surprises, changes, or anyone else.
The man she married was Xiao Xu.
Yun Sheng lowered her eyelashes and looked at their intertwined fingers.
She wasn't very familiar with Xiao Xu, and this marriage was simply the best solution out of necessity, so how could she say whether she disliked him or not?
If she could, she would hope that her life would continue to go smoothly without any surprises.
But it was inconvenient to say these words aloud, so Yun Sheng could only murmur, "No, I don't dislike it."
"I don't have any either."
Yun Sheng's heart skipped a beat.
"I misspoke, I understand what you mean."
Knowing she was in the wrong, she added, "Don't worry, I'll get used to it as soon as possible and I won't make any excuses."
Xiao Xu pondered for a moment, then asked in a calm voice, "How do I get used to it?"
Yun Sheng was stumped by the question; she hadn't thought about it before.
But Xiao Xu seemed determined to hear an answer, and seeing her stunned, he continued to stare straight at her.
Yun Sheng pondered for a moment, then clenched her fist in his palm, gripping his fingers tightly. She then propped herself up and quickly kissed Xiao Xu on the cheek.
A rich, soft fragrance wafted out from very close to the breath, and the awkward kiss was fleeting.
Xiao Xu hadn't expected her to suddenly lean in. His pulse, hidden beneath his sleeve, pounded violently for a moment, and his mind went blank.
His gaze moved inch by inch from her eyes to her rosy lips, watching them purse and relax, glistening with the wetness that his cheeks hadn't touched.
Her lips parted slightly, and she said in a captivating voice, "Just... get used to it gradually like this."
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Xiao Xu is really useless; it was Sheng Sheng who initiated the first kiss (pointing and gesturing.jpg).
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