Chapter 18 allows for cooperation in fulfilling marital obligations.
Back in front of the guesthouse courtyard.
Huo Nanchen stopped and said to Lin Xili, "Then I'll go back first."
"Wait, Dr. Huo." Lin Xili clenched her fist and finally asked the question that had been on her mind:
"That ambergris perfume you're wearing must be quite expensive, right?"
She really didn't want him to ruin his career and bring shame to Grandma Huo because of this kind of pressure.
Huo Nanchen frowned slightly, not understanding why she suddenly asked this.
"I don't have the habit of wearing perfume!"
"ah……"
Lin Xili was taken aback. Had he asked too abruptly? Indeed, it was wrong to convict someone without evidence.
Questioning is permissible during the stage of suspicion.
She bit her lower lip and said bluntly, "That's right, I think a monthly salary of four thousand is indeed quite stressful in real life."
“After I get back to work, my salary will be 15,000 a month. I can use my salary to support my family. Please stop doing that. It has a bad influence.”
Huo Nanchen was completely confused and asked, "That?"
Lin Xili lowered her eyes and did not reply. She really couldn't bring herself to say the word "red envelope," since it was just her guess and she had no evidence.
Huo Nanchen suddenly chuckled and said calmly, "Miss Lin, are you concluding that I accepted bribes from patients based on the scent of ambergris on me and my low income?"
He was well aware that some patients would secretly offer red envelopes, hoping to reassure him that he would do his best.
"I……"
"Don't worry, I'm not so poor that I have to rely on receiving red envelopes from patients to make a living."
Lin Xili suddenly looked up and stared directly at him, her throat dry: "Really?"
Looking at her serious expression, he unconsciously curled the corners of his mouth: "Yes, a natural fragrance that she's had since birth."
Lin Xili nodded awkwardly, realizing she had misunderstood him.
Speaking of red envelopes, Huo Nanchen and his wife's marriage certificate was obtained by his grandmother giving red envelopes to the staff of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
"Ms. Lin, are you sure you really want to get a marriage certificate with me?"
Lin Xili thought of the warmth that Grandma Huo had given her, and how Huo Nanchen had brought the owner non-iodized salt at the restaurant earlier.
A marriage without love, where there's no need to expect love, might actually allow her to experience warmth in life.
"I don't regret it. Like you said, marriage is just about living together."
"Okay, then we'll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow morning to complete the signing procedures."
"Um!"
Huo Nanchen nodded slightly to her, then turned and walked towards the two-story building.
The two of them volunteered to complete the formalities, which made Grandma Huo extremely happy. She then took over Lin Xili's three meals a day, preparing a variety of light and nutritious dishes every day.
"Xi Li, eat more of this, it's good for your health!"
"I simmered this soup for three hours; it's incredibly nourishing. You haven't looked well lately!"
"Come and try this! It's Grandma's specialty, I guarantee you'll love it!"
Every time Lin Xili faced the old man's meticulous care, she was filled with gratitude, but also with intense unease and guilt.
From childhood to adulthood, when had she ever enjoyed such treatment in the Lin family?
Her parents' attention was always on her older brother and younger sister, while they mostly made demands on her, their second daughter, and neglected her.
Today, an elderly man with no blood relation to her is showering her with so much care simply because she is legally her granddaughter-in-law.
This flattered her, but also put her under immense pressure.
She wanted to offer to come herself or pay for living expenses several times, but each time she swallowed the words back.
She could tell that Grandma Huo was genuinely happy and treated her like family.
Moreover, she had to admit a harsh truth—she couldn't cook.
When they were in Hong Kong, they either ate at the cafeteria or ordered takeout, and the Lin family also had a housekeeper to prepare meals.
She devoted all her time and energy to studying and working, and her life skills were almost non-existent. She couldn't avoid eating out because of the iodine content.
Her dire financial situation forced her to swallow her pride and accept Grandma Huo's feeding.
Living in a guesthouse, bearing the title of granddaughter-in-law, yet separated from Huo Nanchen by two different houses, is not a long-term solution.
Not only was Grandma Huo worried, but the rumors that were gradually spreading in the town also made her uncomfortable.
A week after they got their marriage certificate, Lin Xili took the initiative to suggest to Grandma Huo that she could move into Huo Nanchen's place.
"Good, good, it should have been done a long time ago!"
Grandma Huo was overjoyed and immediately began to help Lin Xili pack his luggage.
Huo Nanchen didn't say anything about it, as if whether or not he moved was none of his business.
But when Lin Xili stood in front of his two-story building with her suitcase, he silently took the suitcase from her and carried it upstairs.
White walls, tiles, natural wood furniture, without any unnecessary decorations.
The living room on the first floor contains only the necessary sofa, coffee table, and television, as well as a memorial tablet; there is nothing else.
The most eye-catching feature is the second-floor living room, which is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with books.
Huo Nanchen pointed to a bedroom on the second floor, towards the back, and said, "You'll stay in this room."
He then pointed to the opposite side, "I live in that room."
Lin Xili was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.
The so-called "living together" simply means living under the same roof, not necessarily sharing a bed.
This realization instantly relaxed her tense nerves, while also making her feel a little embarrassed for her overthinking.
She quietly carried her luggage into the designated room.
The room was also simple, with a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. The sheets and duvet covers were all newly changed and smelled of sunshine.
The town was exceptionally quiet at night, with only the occasional bark of a dog and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
After washing up, Lin Xili lay on the unfamiliar bed, unable to fall asleep.
Hyperthyroidism made her heartbeat sound exceptionally clear and strong in the silence, thumping like a drumbeat.
She tossed and turned, her mind a jumbled mess.
Living in separate rooms, and sharing a house with an adult male, a man who is legally her husband, feels very strange.
She thought of those celebrity couples in Hong Kong, most of whom were sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams, but they always made sure to put on a good show.
She recalled Grandma Huo's family rule: "There is only widowhood, not divorce..."
She didn't ask Huo Nanchen if the family rules were true or not; it was probably something her grandmother said on purpose to prevent her from acting impulsively.
But if this marriage is to continue, are certain obligations between husband and wife unavoidable?
Huo Nanchen may seem indifferent to worldly desires, but he is also a normal man.
Will he have a need for it?
What should she do if he makes a request?
The marriage began with her exploitation of him and his compromise; she had no grounds to completely refuse.
Various thoughts clashed in her mind, making her, who was already prone to irritability due to hyperthyroidism, even more restless.
Her forensic profession, which instilled in her the habit of confronting problems head-on, caused her to suddenly sit up in bed.
She took a deep breath, walked out of the room, and came to the door of Huo Nanchen's bedroom across the street.
Light was still shining through the crack in the door; he hadn't gone to sleep yet.
She raised her hand, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally knocked gently on the door.
"Come in," came Huo Nanchen's deep voice from inside.
Lin Xili pushed open the door and went in.
Huo Nanchen was leaning against the headboard reading a book, wearing frameless glasses on his nose and a gray silk nightgown with the neckline slightly open, revealing his prominent collarbone.
He closed the book in his hand and asked in surprise, "Is something wrong?"
Lin Xili stood a few steps away from the bed, her hands unconsciously clenching together.
Under the light, her cheeks were slightly flushed, whether from nervousness or hyperthyroidism, it was hard to tell.
She avoided his gaze, staring at the ground, and with all her might, uttered the words that had been swirling in her mind for so long:
"Dr. Huo, about... about our relationship."
She paused, feeling her throat go dry. "If it's about fulfilling marital obligations... I, I mean, if you have... physical needs, I... can accommodate you."
After saying the last word, she could almost hear her heart pounding, and her cheeks were burning hot.
She dared not look up at him, like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.
The room fell into a deathly silence.
All she could hear was the faint sound of the wind outside the window and her own overly clear heartbeat.
Huo Nanchen was clearly completely taken aback that she would knock on his door so late at night just to say this.
His fingers holding the book froze. Through his glasses, his dark eyes stared in disbelief at the woman who was bowing her head, her body slightly tense, yet uttering such shocking words.
He didn't say anything for several seconds.
Lin Xili waited for a long time without getting a response, and couldn't help but secretly raise her eyes, only to meet his embarrassed expression.
His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Finally, he reopened the book and said calmly, "It's getting late, go back and rest."
Lin Xili stood there, realizing just how rash and foolish her actions had been.
"I'm... I'm sorry to bother you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and rushed back to her room as if fleeing. She slammed the door shut, quickly lay down on the bed, and buried her burning face in the pillow.
Good heavens, what did she do?
Huo Nanchen, in the next room, stared at the pages of the book in front of him, unable to concentrate on a single word.
He took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and the phrase kept echoing in his mind—"I can cooperate!"
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