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Lu Guangbai was not a rigid or inflexible person, but because he loved Zheng Nanle, he was willing to confine himself to worldly etiquette.
Lovers who love each other deeply will naturally become inseparable, but Lu Guangbai has always restrained himself, and has never even reached into Zheng Nanle's clothes.
The most outrageous thing he had ever done was to repeatedly kiss and caress Zheng Nanle's cheek with his palms and lips, using the skin of her cheeks to relieve his desire for intimacy.
He didn't want Zheng Nanle to be caught up in any worldly gossip or rumors, nor did he want her to be the subject of gossip.
Of course, all of this happened before Zheng Nanle came to the capital.
After she arrived in the capital, everything went off track.
Thinking of last night, Lu Guangbai wanted to cover his face and sob, not from sadness, but from excitement.
He had fantasized countless times about his first intimate physical and emotional encounter with Zheng Nanle, but none of his fantasies ever matched reality.
He never imagined that their first time together would be forced by his beloved.
It was so exciting; he'll never forget it.
However, what happened last night was just the beginning. Whether it was her forceful intertwining of their fingers at Grandpa Zhang's house, her caressing his waist from behind, or now, her sketching his image with her eyes, everything brought him a strong sense of excitement.
His gaze deepened, instantly darkening, like a surging, intense tsunami, violently erupting forth only to be forcefully suppressed by an invisible hand, hidden deep beneath the surface of the sea.
Lu Guangbai gave Zheng Nanle a deep look, then turned around and calmly continued cooking.
If you didn't see him flipping the spatula and ladle like a butterfly, you would think he was really calm and unaffected by temptation.
Zheng Nanle found it both funny and amusing.
Hearing the laughter from the courtyard, Lu Guangbai pressed his tongue against his teeth in displeasure.
The aroma of food wafted through the air as Grandpa Lu strolled back. He glanced at Zheng Nanle and Lu Guangbai, then went to wash his hands, asking as he did so, "Didn't Old Zhang invite you two to stay for dinner? I saw smoke coming from the house and thought I was seeing things."
"I left it, but Nanle and I had things to do, so we didn't eat it."
"What's up?"
After washing his hands, Grandpa Zhang sat at the table in the main room, picked up his chopsticks, and first took a piece of chicken, a satisfied look on his face.
After Old Master Lu picked up his chopsticks, Zheng Nanle and Lu Guangbai also began to eat.
“Buy Nanle a train ticket.” Lu Guangbai didn’t hide it from Old Master Lu. “Whenever anyone asked you if Nanle was still there, you said she was gone.”
"What's wrong? What trouble have you gotten yourself into?" Old Master Lu paused, his chopsticks still holding the food, and looked at the two of them. "This person has too much influence; even your Grandpa Zhang can't handle it?"
Seeing that the two did not answer, Old Master Lu continued eating, saying, "Alas, the world is cold and heartless. Old Zhang has been gone for seven or eight years. His connections from back then have all scattered. He can't even protect one person. Who did he offend? Let me see if I can find some connections to settle things for you."
Zheng Nan laughed, feeling a warmth in his heart, and said with a smile, "I didn't offend anyone, I'm just avoiding them, it'll be fine."
"Are you really alright?"
"I'm really fine," Zheng Nanle nodded.
She hesitated for a moment, then added, "If anyone asks about me, just act like you don't know me well, the more distant the better."
If someone picks on her and goes to Old Master Lu's side, they're either crazy or they're certain she's behind crucial evidence. In that case, the more distant you are, the safer you'll be.
Old Master Lu hissed.
He was reminded of the War of Resistance against Japan.
The bandits were rampant, and the National Salvation Party was hiding in all directions. The more we wanted to help them, the more we had to distance ourselves from them on the surface.
Old Master Lu stopped asking.
In the afternoon, Grandpa Lu, carrying an enamel mug, strolled out of the house again, true to his usual style, not returning until mealtime.
Zheng Nanle stared at Lu Guangbai's retreating figure as he packed his things, licking his lips.
Lu Guangbai felt the intense gaze and knew what was about to happen.
Once something starts, it's only natural that there will be a second, a third, and so on.
His cheeks were flushed, and he didn't dare to turn around.
After he finished cleaning up the dishes, he went to the pharmacy to get the medicine and started decocting it.
Zheng Nanle waited in Lu Guangbai's room and casually picked up a copy of "Compendium of Materia Medica" to look at. There were many papers tucked inside the "Compendium of Materia Medica" with many annotations, prescriptions, and illustrations.
Lu Guangbai's painting skills are quite good; with just a few strokes, the medicinal herbs seem to leap off the paper.
Through this book, one can almost see how Lu Guangbai studied and reviewed the "Compendium of Materia Medica" again and again, how he deepened his understanding, and how he wrote down his own annotations.
Through this thick book, one can almost glimpse a corner of Lu Guangbai's past life.
Zheng Nanle's interest in this idea only lasted a moment. After all, she wasn't really interested in ancient medicine. At first, she could still read the contents, such as the rain on the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring), the couple drinking a cup of it each, and having sex to get pregnant, and the strange little folk remedies like "water from a vase can kill if drunk, especially from winter plum blossoms." These strange little folk remedies made her very interested, but soon, she could still read the words, but the content couldn't enter her mind. It was as if the knowledge had gone through a circle in her mind, shaken its head, and left.
Zheng Nanle closed the book in his hand and thought to himself, "Little Doctor Lu is really amazing. He can remember the contents of such a boring and thick book perfectly."
She rummaged through the bookshelf but couldn't find any novels, so she simply picked up a book of poems by great figures to read.
As she read, Zheng Nanle felt that a lot of time had passed. Why hadn't Doctor Lu arrived yet? She put down her poems, got up, and went out to look for him.
She didn't need to search much; as soon as she stepped outside, she smelled a medicinal aroma. Following the scent, she saw Doctor Lu sitting on a small stool with his long legs bent, fanning the stove fire with a fan.
On the small stove in front of him, the medicine pot was bubbling and steaming, and the paper covering it was dampened by the medicinal vapor, forming a round shape.
"Dr. Lu, what are you brewing?" Zheng Nanle walked over.
Lu Guangbai said, "It's a contraceptive decoction."
Zheng Nanle's expression wasn't good. "Who's drinking?"
“I’ll drink it.” Lu Guangbai looked at Zheng Nanle. “If you can’t resist, I can’t refuse either, but getting pregnant before marriage will really have a bad impact on you.”
Zheng Nanle didn't mention that she had mental power that could prevent pregnancy. If Dr. Lu wanted to drink it, then let him drink it. It would prevent her from constantly thinking about it and being less involved.
Is it harmful to your health?
“There’s no harm in it,” Lu Guangbai said. “It’s just that if you want to get pregnant, you should wait a year, or preferably two years, before having a child.”
“However,” Dr. Lu laughed, quite shyly, “when it comes to having children, it’s still a bit ahead of its time. We’re both still young, so there’s no rush to have children, and this isn’t a big deal.”
Zheng Nanle said "Oh" and teased him, "Dr. Lu is really thinking ahead, he even considered the child."
Dr. Lu tilted his head and said seriously, "If we're going to be together for a long time, we still need to consider things."
Zheng Nanle's smile faded again. "What if I don't want to have children?"
Lu Guangbai thought for a moment, "Then I'll tell Grandpa that I lost my health on the farm and can't have any more children."
"Truth or lie?" Zheng Nanle asked in surprise, his attitude becoming more serious.
“Of course it’s the truth.” In Lu Guangbai’s mind, priorities were always clearly distinguished.
How can a child whose future is still uncertain compare to the person who will stay in his arms for a lifetime?
Children are just a gift from my wife; it's nice to have them, but it's okay if we don't.
Perhaps as he gets older, he might envy other people's children, but when his beloved is by his side, this regret will be soothed by his overflowing love.
Zheng Nanle remained silent.
Compared to Dr. Lu, she seems less mature about this relationship?
She never thought that far ahead; she only wanted to keep Dr. Lu by her side until she got tired of him.
Zheng Nanle felt ashamed for a moment, but then became self-righteous again.
Love isn't just interpreted in one way. Who says that her forced love isn't a form of love?
She never grew tired of Dr. Lu, and they grew old together, their love unwavering—a happy ending in the conventional sense.
"Dr. Lu, how can you be so kind?" Zheng Nanle moved a small stool over and sat down next to him, resting her face against his shoulder, and said in a sweet, affectionate tone.
Dr. Lu precisely caught Zheng Nanle's hand as it slipped inside his clothes, holding it tightly, and muttered, "You little pervert."
Zheng Nanle grinned, "Since you like it, I have to satisfy you."
Dr. Lu blushed again.
He stammered and couldn't speak.
He really does like it.
He liked it when Zheng Nanle touched him and their skin touched; it made him feel Zheng Nanle's genuine affection for him.
After the medicine cooled slightly, Lu Guangbai gulped it down. Zheng Nanle waited for him to put down the bowl before eagerly leading him into the room.
Dr. Lu was pushed into the inner room and hurriedly said, "The window is still open."
"What does it matter? There's a screen between us." Zheng Nanle pushed him down onto the bed and pressed down on him.
After a long while, Zheng Nanle lay back on the bed. "I'm tired."
Dr. Lu gritted his teeth.
How could she be so awful, just leaving him like this?
"I'll do it." Doctor Lu turned over.
...
As the sun sets in the west, the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms fills the air.
When Grandpa Lu returned home, he found the house deserted and the lights off. He paused for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "Did they go out? They didn't even tell me."
While complaining, she went to the kitchen to prepare a plate of steamed dumplings.
Just then, the door next to the main room opened, and Lu Guangbai hurriedly came out. "Grandpa, let me do it. Let's have stew for dinner."
Old Master Lu looked Lu Guangbai up and down. He had changed his clothes and his face was flushed. He paused immediately.
He had been through his youth himself and knew what this meant. He went in, lowered his voice, and earnestly advised, "Guangbai, don't be greedy for momentary pleasure. Do what is proper."
"These rules, sometimes, if you make a mistake, can cost you your life."
"Grandpa, I know what I'm doing." Doctor Lu was shy and embarrassed that his elders had seen through him.
"You think you know anything? I don't think you do." Old Master Lu's face darkened. "You're not even married yet, and you're already bullying girls. How can you be so shameless?"
Dr. Lu didn't dare say that Zheng Nanle had bullied him first; he just lowered his head and accepted the scolding without uttering a sound.
Seeing Lu Guangbai listening intently to the lecture and showing no remorse, Old Master Lu sighed and said, "Oh well, it's understandable that young people can't help themselves."
When he was young, didn't he want to stick to his grandmother all the time?
"You mustn't cause any deaths. I'll brew you some medicine."
"I cooked it and ate it."
Lu Guangbai poured the rinsed rice into the pot, added the right amount of water, and placed it on the small stove for boiling medicine. "Grandpa, could you light the fire?"
Grandpa Lu sat down. "You've shown some responsibility. Once we get back, get the marriage certificate as soon as possible."
The attitude is that the banquet can be held at a slower pace, but the certificates can be obtained quickly.
"hold head high."
Lu Guangbai didn't plan to make any fancy dishes for dinner. He simply put carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, and other vegetables into a big stew with the pork ribs.
After finishing cooking, Lu Guangbai went into the room and called Zheng Nanle to get up and eat.
Zheng Nanle was just resting with her eyes closed, not actually asleep. When Lu Guangbai called her, she didn't hesitate and got up to put on her clothes.
Even though Lu Guangbai had been open and honest with Zheng Nanle many times, he still felt shy. He lowered his head and went to get clothes for Zheng Nanle.
Zheng Nanle hugged him from behind, her hands expertly slipping inside, playing the piano on his abs. "Dr. Lu, you're not a pure, innocent guy anymore, yet you're still so shy."
Dr. Lu blushed, his ears turned red, and his neck turned even redder, the redness extending all the way down to his chest hidden by his clothes. He couldn't bear to push him away. "It's time to eat. Don't bother me."
"Hey, I'll confess. What are you going to do with me, Dr. Lu?"
Dr. Lu couldn't do anything with her. He always gave in when he encountered her. He sighed and said, "It's still a bit chilly at night. Put on some clothes so you don't catch a cold."
He lowered his voice as he spoke, "Grandpa is still waiting outside."
He refused to believe that Zheng Nanle could be so shameless in front of his elders.
Okay, Zheng Nanle's eyelids are indeed not that thick.
She pinched Dr. Lu's belly, withdrew her hand, and quickly put on her shirt and trousers.
As he felt the heat behind him leave, Dr. Lu felt a little regretful.
He tilted his head. The light was dim, and the figure was hazy, as if a black veil had been draped over Zheng Nanle, adding a touch of lingering charm. Lu Guangbai's Adam's apple bobbed, and he lowered his head in shame.
He's a real beast. He spent the whole afternoon with Nanle and then got the wicked idea again.
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