Chapter 19 How can secretly glancing at her husband's body be considered "stealing"?...
"You don't know! Dad's boat sank! He fell into the water and was unconscious. I, I was so scared," Qingduo sobbed, her tears smearing onto Zeng Zhengqing's clothes. "I took care of him for a long time before he woke up. And, and my painting skills have deteriorated again. I can't sell them. Dad laughed loudly. He made fun of me! He doesn't want to be my dad. He wants to be the fish's dad. I had to change my surname. From now on, I can only be called Qin Qingduo. Waaah—" Qingduo burst into tears.
Her words were incoherent, but fortunately, when she returned, Zeng Zhengqing learned about Tang Li from Fang Qing, and he understood the gist of it.
The dampness seeped into her skin through her clothes, and her cries were like drumsticks pounding against his heart. He wrapped his arms around her body, rested his chin on her trembling head, and stroked her back, slowly smoothing out the wrinkles of her emotions.
Qingduo sobbed softly as Zeng Zhengqing's warm palm stroked her hair. Suddenly, she heard him ask in a low voice, "How did you take care of your father-in-law when he was unconscious?"
"Me?" Although she didn't understand why he asked, Qingduo's mind went blank from crying so hard. She didn't have time to think and subconsciously answered, "He later had a fever, so I changed his handkerchiefs and used moxibustion to help him get rid of the cold. I also decocted medicine and fed him medicine. Gradually, his fever subsided."
“It’s all thanks to your filial piety that your father-in-law woke up, isn’t that right, Madam?” As he breathed, the fragrance of orchids from her hair wafted into his nostrils, and he couldn’t help but nuzzle her head with his chin.
The sobbing stopped for a moment, and Qingduo sniffed, nodding in his arms, "Yes, I am a filial daughter."
Zeng Zhengqing couldn't help but chuckle. He then asked, "Why is Madam selling her paintings? Is it because you don't have enough money?"
"No, I want to see how much my paintings are worth now," Qingduo said softly. Thinking of the many times she was rejected and her father's laughter, she said sadly, "Husband, my paintings are worthless!"
Zeng Zhengqing clearly felt that the person in his arms was about to start shaking violently again, so he quickly said, "But I think that Madam's paintings are lively and natural, and have their own unique style."
The trembling stopped instantly, and the urgent breathing revealed a desire to hear more. Zeng Zhengqing said, "Madam, that day in your boudoir, I saw that painting. I was waiting in front of your house, and the rain scene behind me was not a dull blue, but a blend of spring green. I couldn't take my eyes off it at first sight, as if I had returned to that day and could smell that dampness."
There was something else he didn't say: he was waiting at the door, feeling uneasy. She also used color to depict this emotion, so delicately that it seemed as if it came from his own pen.
Upon hearing this, Qingduo looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes: "You mean, I'm very good at using color?"
“Yes,” Zeng Zhengqing affirmed.
Qingduo burst into laughter through her tears, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she squeezed out the tears that had been welling up in her eyes. Zeng Zhengqing lifted his sleeve to wipe away her tears and then advised, "Madam, there's no need to belittle yourself. Everyone has their strengths, and besides, you're still young. How could you possibly reach your father-in-law's level all at once? Instead, you should study hard and think deeply. With your intelligence, you're sure to make great progress."
Qingduo's eyes shone brightly: "Yes, I'm going to learn to paint with my dad!" But the light gradually dimmed: "But I had a fight with my dad, and I said a lot of nasty things, which made him cough. I even said that I wouldn't be his daughter anymore and that I would change my name to Qin Qingduo..." Her voice gradually lowered.
He hadn't understood why she said her surname was Qin before, but when he thought of the name engraved on the tombstone when he visited his mother-in-law's grave, he suddenly realized that this little girl had caused trouble herself. When she complained, she made it sound like her father-in-law didn't want her. Zeng Zhengqing couldn't help but find it funny and said with a forced smile, "Your father-in-law is broad-minded and has always loved you. If you say a few nice words, this matter will be over."
Qingduo said awkwardly, "But, but I can't save face!"
Zeng Zhengqing smiled and said, "Then I will put in a good word for you."
"Okay, okay!" Qingduo responded repeatedly, her face beaming. "No wonder I only wanted to tell you about this; it's because you can help me!"
"Qingqing, it's so good to marry you!" she exclaimed sincerely.
Zeng Zhengqing felt a surge of warmth in his heart, wanting nothing more than to hold her in his arms again and kiss her tightly. But looking at her pure face, he was afraid of frightening her, so he restrained himself and turned away, saying, "Madam, it is against ethics for a wife to address her husband as 'Qing'."
“But your name is Zeng Zhengqing!” Qingduo blinked and suggested, “How about I call you Zhengzheng?”
"...Fine, do as you please!"
"You don't like it?" Qingduo pressed. "If you don't like it, then I'll..."
“I like it,” he said, looking directly into Qingduo’s bright eyes. “I like it.”
*
Zeng Zhengqing returned home late at night and found Qingduo asleep on the table. He realized that she had prepared a meal and waited for him all day. So he carried her to bed to rest. In order not to disappoint her, he asked Fangqing to reheat the food. After eating only a few bites, Qingduo came looking for him.
With all her worries resolved and Zeng Zhengqing returning, Qingduo felt a great sense of relief. Feeling hungry, she asked for more rice and ate with Zeng Zhengqing.
Just now, Qingduo was snotting and tears all over him, and Zeng Zhengqing really couldn't eat in that outfit. He said, "I'll go change my clothes first."
Qingduo's attention was entirely on the braised pork. She casually agreed, picked up a piece of meat, and put it in her mouth. It was soft, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth, making her quite pleased with herself. However, it was made a little salty just to cater to Zeng Zhengqing's taste. She shoveled a large chunk of rice into her mouth to neutralize the saltiness of the meat.
While her mouth was chewing vigorously, her mind was racing. Right, what did her husband say he went to do? Hmm, I remember now, he went to change his clothes.
Changing clothes...
She realized something, suddenly widened her eyes, and stopped chewing.
Change your clothes!
The first step in "changing" is to "take off" one's clothes. Doesn't that mean that if one were to secretly see it, one would know how to draw a man's body?
No, no, Qin Qingduo, how could you do such a thing? Having such thoughts is shameless and despicable. She shook her head like a rattle-drum, forcing herself to suppress the eagerness in her heart.
But... looking at other men is indeed inappropriate, but this person is my husband. How can looking at his body be called stealing?
This is a benefit the wedding brings her; she might as well take a look!
Qingduo jumped to her feet, lifting her skirt, and swiftly approached her prey like a meerkat. Zeng Zhengqing was behind the screen, the candlelight casting his shadow on it. He had just taken off a garment and casually draped it over the top of the screen.
Qingduo was overjoyed: she had come at the perfect time! She tiptoed closer, held onto the screen, and peered inside with her eyes darting around. Seeing that Zeng Zhengqing had his back to her, she boldly peeked out and greedily admired him.
Zeng Zhengqing loosened his belt, and his white undergarment slowly slipped down, revealing his muscular arms and a back as straight and strong as a mountain, rising and falling with his movements. Qingduo's gaze followed the concave spine downwards, the smooth, powerful waistline peeking through the half-fallen hem of his garment before disappearing into his outer trousers, its alluring curve seemingly beckoning her to explore further…
Qingduo swallowed hard, her gaze lingering on him without restraint. She hadn't expected her seemingly frail husband to actually have such a well-proportioned and strong physique, and quite handsome at that. This kind of body, painted in her erotic paintings, was far more captivating than the slender, willow-waisted men she had painted before.
Ah! I have to memorize this carefully! Qingduo focused her attention, her eyes seemingly transforming into invisible pens, slowly tracing Zeng Zhengqing's body. As she drew in her mind, she exclaimed: She is truly a lucky person to be able to collect such top-notch material!
When a new garment was draped over his body, Qingduo suddenly realized that if she didn't leave soon, she would be caught on the spot! She turned around to run, but forgot to lift her skirt. She stepped on it and stumbled forward a few steps before regaining her balance. She was so frightened that she almost threw up her heart. She quickly lifted her skirt and ran wildly until she sat down at the table and looked back. When she saw that Zeng Zhengqing hadn't come out, she felt relieved and patted her chest to breathe steadily.
Zeng Zhengqing heard running sounds outside and turned around behind the screen in confusion. He saw no one else and thought he had misheard. He lowered his head to adjust his clothes, but then he seemed to catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye and looked up again.
A lone embroidered shoe lay on the ground.
He bent down to pick up the shoes, and recalling the footsteps from earlier, he quickly figured it out. A smile spread across his face. It turned out that his wife had become more perceptive while he was away.
Zeng Zhengqing placed the shoes by the bedside. Considering his wife's shyness, he intended to pretend he hadn't seen them. Suddenly, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. He picked them up, straightened up, put his hands behind his back, hid the shoes behind his back, and slowly walked out.
Qingduo, holding her rice bowl, acted as if nothing had happened. She said, "Why did it take so long to change? Come and eat!"
“No rush,” Zeng Zhengqing said hesitantly. “Madam, I just found a strange object in the room. I can’t figure out why, so I’ll have to trouble you for help.”
Qingduo's heart jumped. Not long after she sat down, she realized that her right shoe was missing. It must have fallen off when she almost tripped. She wanted to go back to get it, but then she heard Zeng Zhengqing's footsteps. Anxious, she suddenly had a plan.
Sure enough, what Zeng Zhengqing pulled out from behind her back was the shoe she had lost while running away. Her voice trembled slightly: "Oh, it? I was just thinking about it. I was in such a hurry when I got out of bed that I realized I was only wearing one shoe. It was in the room..."
“In the center of the inner room,” Zeng Zhengqing added, then pursed his lips. Looking at Qingduo’s forced composure, he was about to burst out laughing.
"Hmm..." Qingduo's mind raced. "That's because I accidentally kicked it while I was walking, kicked that spot."
“However,” Zeng Zhengqing said, pressing his right fist to his lips as if deep in thought, “it seems I didn’t see this shoe on my way to change.”
He looked directly into Qingduo's terrified eyes, his smile becoming impossible to hide. "It's as if it appeared while I was changing clothes."
He said meaningfully, "Madam, what do you think?"
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