Chapter 322 The Tenderness of Knees
Time flies, and before we knew it, it was December.
Su Wantang's pregnancy has steadily progressed into its fifth month.
Her belly swelled up like an inflated balloon, heavy and making her back ache.
The hardest part is my legs. They're okay during the day, but at night they feel like they're filled with lead, swollen, sore, and numb, and I can't seem to find the right position.
That night, she leaned against the headboard and read a book, but after reading only two pages, she became impatient and threw the book aside.
It felt like a million ants were crawling inside her calves, making them ache and swell. She couldn't help but reach out and pound them, but too little force wouldn't relieve the itch, and too much force might hurt her.
Lu Jingyan had just finished washing up and came in from outside when he saw her frowning and tossing and turning in bed, looking uncomfortable.
He strode over, sat down on the edge of the bed, and grabbed her ankle without saying a word.
"Feeling unwell again?" he asked in a low voice, his brows furrowed tightly.
Su Wantang hummed in agreement, sounding a little aggrieved: "It feels bloated."
The man's large hand rested on her swollen calf, and she could clearly feel the taut flesh beneath her skin. His palm was warm, and just having it there provided a sense of comfort.
Lu Jingyan didn't say anything, but stared at her calves for a few seconds before getting up and walking out.
"Where are you going?" Su Wantang asked.
"You wait."
He uttered two words and then left the bedroom.
About fifteen minutes later, he returned, still damp with sweat.
"Come on, let me carry you somewhere." Lu Jingyan bent down, his arms already under her knees and back.
“I can walk by myself.” Su Wantang subconsciously pushed him, as she was heavily pregnant and didn’t want him to be too tired.
Lu Jingyan did not allow her to resist; he pulled her up in his arms and scooped her up in his arms.
His movements were steady, his steps were steady, and he held the more than 100 pounds in his arms as if he were holding a ball of cotton.
Su Wantang couldn't resist him, so she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his firm chest, her nose surrounded by the refreshing scent of soap pods emanating from him.
The bathroom was filled with steam.
A wooden tub about half a person's height was filled with hot water, with a few slices of ginger floating on the surface.
He gently placed Su Wantang on a small stool on the edge of the bathtub. She was stunned for a moment before she realized what he wanted to do.
"you……"
"Put your feet in," Lu Jingyan commanded, but his tone was not harsh at all.
Su Wantang obediently did as she was told, and when her swollen feet were immersed in the perfectly warm water, she sighed with pleasure.
The aching sensation that emanated from between my bones was instantly smoothed out by hot water, making me feel completely comfortable.
She was enjoying herself when the light in front of her suddenly dimmed.
Lu Jingyan had knelt down on one knee in front of her without her noticing.
He knelt on the cold floor tiles, rolled up the sleeves of his military green shirt, revealing two well-defined forearms. His bronze skin, with its prominent veins, exuded an explosive sense of power.
Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat.
This man, a ruthless and decisive king on the battlefield, and a respected brigade commander in the military region, was now kneeling before her with an almost pious devotion.
Before she could speak, a pair of large hands had already grasped her calves, which were soaking in the water.
His palms were burning hot, calloused from years of holding guns, and as they touched her delicate skin, they sent a shiver down her spine.
However, the force was controlled extremely well.
He didn't use force right away, but instead used his warm palms to gently massage from the ankle upwards, inch by inch.
The rising steam blurred the man's features, but it only intensified the strong hormonal aura emanating from him within the small space.
Su Wantang squinted comfortably, her voice sounding especially charming in the steam: "Mmm..."
Lu Jingyan's breathing instantly became heavier.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down involuntarily.
His gaze slid from her delicate ankles, pinkened by the hot water, down her beautifully curved, jade-white calves, and finally settled on her figure, which was made even more voluptuous by her pregnancy.
Even that oversized nightgown couldn't hide her breathtaking curves.
The darkness in his eyes was like spilled ink, surging and turbulent, almost swallowing a person whole.
But his hand movements remained gentle, full of utmost care and restraint.
His fingers were strong, and he accurately found the most sore acupoint on her calf, pressing down slowly with increasing pressure.
"Ah..." Su Wantang couldn't help but let out another soft moan.
It was painful, but also incredibly pleasurable.
The tingling and numbness that had been building up all day seemed to find an outlet, and with his pressure, it gradually dissipated.
"Here?" His voice was hoarse, with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible.
"Hmm...that's it..."
Once he received her confirmation, he focused on that spot and patiently drew circles with his fingertips.
Su Wantang completely relaxed, letting him do as he pleased. Leaning against the wall behind her, she looked up at the light on the ceiling, blurred by the moisture, feeling as if she were walking on clouds.
This man always manages to soften her heart completely in the most clumsy yet direct way.
While the night in Beijing was quiet and gentle, a thousand miles away in Shanghai, a completely different scene unfolded in the presidential suite on the top floor of the Peace Hotel.
Du Kangnian stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, a cigarette between his fingers, but he didn't light it.
He had just finished reading the secret letter sent from Beijing.
The letter was written by the young lady herself; the handwriting was delicate, but the content was as simple as it could be.
"Feng Jianguo, pharmaceutical raw materials, check."
Just six words, and a name.
Du Kangnian held the letter to the flame of the lighter, watching it slowly turn to ash, and then casually tossed it into the ashtray.
He vaguely recognized the name Feng Jianguo. He was from the health department, a relative of the Ye family, and the young lady had crossed paths with him in Beijing before.
It now seems that it needs to be uprooted completely.
Pharmaceutical raw materials...
Du Kangnian picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number.
The call was answered quickly.
"Old Li, it's me." Du Kangnian's voice was very calm. "Help me investigate the backgrounds of several medicinal herb suppliers, especially those that have a grudge against Derentang and are close to the Logistics Department of the Health Bureau."
"Yes, dig it all up. Whatever it is, I want it."
After hanging up the phone, Du Kangnian poured himself a glass of red wine, walked to the window, and looked down at the brightly lit Shanghai night view.
The young lady's chess game is getting bigger and bigger.
And he was willing to be the sharpest pawn in her hand.
...
Beijing, Courtyard No. 1.
After the massage, Lu Jingyan carefully dried Su Wantang's feet with a clean, thick towel, even taking care of the spaces between her toes.
His movements were so meticulous, as if he were handling a rare treasure.
Su Wantang's legs were no longer sore at all, and she felt lazy and just wanted to sleep.
Lu Jingyan picked her up again and strode towards the bedroom.
He gently placed her on the soft bed and pulled the blanket over her.
Su Wantang looked at him groggily and mumbled indistinctly, "You should go to sleep too..."
Lu Jingyan didn't move, but simply leaned down, his tall figure completely enveloping her.
He didn't kiss her, but instead brought his lips to her ear, his hot breath spraying all over her sensitive earlobe.
Su Wantang shrank her neck because of the itch.
All she heard was him speaking in a hoarse, deeply suppressed voice, each word distinct and deliberate, in her ear:
"Wantang, wait until the baby is born..."
"I'll show you how long I've been holding back."
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