Chapter 153 Like a Dream "Wife, I know a useful aid..."
The scent of soap emanating from the man wafted into her nostrils, making Zhu Liushuang panic. She rushed into the bathroom as fast as she could. Closing the door, she leaned against it, breathing heavily. When her gaze fell upon the pink panties clutched in her hand, her face visibly flushed.
She was nothing but a bluffing "paper tiger," her skin as thin as window paper, easily torn by his gentle touch.
The bathroom was filled with steam. She suppressed her inner turmoil and awkwardly stepped into the shower.
Zhu Liushuang thought that taking a shower might calm her down, but things didn't go as planned. As the warm water flowed over her body, the blush-inducing image in her mind not only didn't dissipate, but became even clearer—the warm yellow light poured down from above, outlining every firm muscle on the man's body.
A long neck, a broad chest, a smooth waistline... and a shadow hidden beneath a dark blue bath towel that evokes all sorts of fantasies.
I can't think about it anymore!
She shuddered, trying to shake off the image etched on her mind, but to little avail.
The temperature on my cheeks rose rapidly, even hotter than the hot water that was being poured over them.
With a flushed face, she hurriedly rinsed off the soap suds, then absentmindedly turned off the shower. The bathroom fell silent. "Plop, plop, plop..." Water droplets dripped down her legs, mirroring her pounding heart.
"Honey, can I come in and get a hairdryer?" the man called out to her through the door.
Her eyelashes trembled, and she replied haltingly, "Wait...wait a minute, I'll get dressed."
Her mind was in turmoil, and her hands followed suit. She hastily put on her nightgown and turned the handle haphazardly.
He Ming was already waiting by the door. Hearing the noise, his eyelids suddenly lifted: "Was the bathroom too stuffy? It's all my fault. I forgot to turn on the ventilation for you when I came out."
He asked that question, naturally because of her flushed cheeks from the warmth of the heater.
"It's alright," Zhu Liushuang said, touching her earlobe. "It's a bit hot... Go inside and dry your hair."
The man blocking her way didn't go in immediately. Instead, he raised his arms and cupped her warm face in them: "Wife, why are you still so shy? You don't even dare to look at me?"
She knew that her shyness was too obvious to hide at all.
She just didn't expect him to expose her on the spot.
Her face was held in his hands, and Zhu Liushuang's neck was unable to move. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she glared at him angrily, but refused to answer him.
"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore." He Ming pinched her delicate cheek and tugged at the neckline of her nightgown, saying, "The buttons are on the wrong way."
Zhu Liushuang stiffened her neck and let him do as he pleased.
Even when attention is diverted elsewhere, someone's presence cannot be ignored. He lowered his head and patiently helped her unbutton her clothes one button at a time, then slowly and meticulously buttoned them back up, as if he were doing something incredibly delicate.
A faint touch came from in front of her, like a butterfly fluttering its wings, lingering on her skin.
"Okay, go lie down and rest." After buttoning the last button, he stepped aside to make way for someone. "I'll be right back after I finish blowing it."
Zhu Liushuang nodded, slipped on her slippers and walked to the bedside. She looked left and right, and finally chose a spot near the desk to lie down.
A plain-colored thin quilt was laid on the large double bed. She habitually pulled the quilt up and covered her head.
She looked around the dark bed and realized it was really hot. She had to pull the blanket down to cover only her calves.
The room was filled with He Ming's unique scent: the sheets, blankets, pillows... even she herself smelled of the same shower gel as him.
Zhu Liushuang couldn't help but roll over, burying her head in the soft pillow, rubbing her cheeks against the pillowcase like a kitten that had stolen some fish.
The buzzing of the hairdryer echoed in her ears, but she felt incredibly at ease.
From falling in love with him one-sidedly in her first year of high school to now occupying his room and sleeping with him, she has spent more than three thousand days and nights.
A secret joy welled up in her heart, slowly spreading through her chest. That excitement climbed to her fingertips, touched her eyebrows, and finally transformed into a sweet smile that she couldn't suppress at the corners of her lips.
"What are you thinking about, making you so happy?"
Still basking in her smugness and not yet recovered, Zhu Liushuang vehemently denied it: "There's nothing to be happy about."
“Oh, I see…” He Ming paused, then lifted the blanket and moved closer to her. “But I’m very happy, my wife.”
"Hmm?" Zhu Liushuang changed her lying position, lying on her back.
“I’m so happy you can move into this house.” He Ming took her hand and played with it.
Zhu Liushuang said "Oh," then asked, "Quickly, tell me, did you deliberately bring Mom here?"
The man next to her didn't respond, but the smile lines at the corners of his eyes immediately betrayed him.
"Hmph—a scheming man..." she muttered under her breath.
"What did you say?" He Ming sat up and leaned over her head to ask.
As the shadows fell, Zhu Liushuang said urgently, "It's nothing..."
The person who asked the question had already heard her clearly. He knew when to stop teasing her and instead began to complain quietly, "I'm really thinking about Mom. It's more convenient for her to go out here, and her foot will heal faster. Besides... who gets married and still sleeps in separate rooms? If people find out, they'll probably think we don't get along and question my sexual performance..."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Liushuang burst out laughing: "Men's thought processes are really strange. Who would be so bored as to talk about such a private matter?"
No, she had a secret chat with Tian Xingyu not long ago!
Ayu did ask her with concern if He Ming had problems in that area...
Thinking of this, Zhu Liushuang guiltily avoided his gaze.
"Go to sleep, I have to go to work tomorrow..." she shouted, trying to hide her embarrassment as she went to turn off the light.
The man stretched out his long arm and pressed the switch before she could: "It's 11:30, time to sleep. Honey, come closer..."
In the darkness, the man put his arm around her shoulder.
Zhu Liushuang turned around and buried her face in his chest.
Perhaps it was because she had changed beds, or perhaps she was too excited, but she couldn't fall asleep even after trying to stay awake with her eyes closed for a long time.
As the image of the 781st sheep floated through her mind, Zhu Liushuang opened her almond-shaped eyes in annoyance: "So annoying, I can't sleep!"
She tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and naturally, the man holding her was also unable to fall asleep.
"Honey, I know a great way to help you sleep. Would you like to try it?"
The clear, gentle male voice captivated her senses, and Zhu Liushuang asked, "What method? Does it work?"
"You'll know once you try..."
"Okay!" As if possessed, she agreed without even asking what the method was.
————
In the darkness, the man rolled over and straddled her.
His kisses fell like dense raindrops on her forehead, the tip of her nose, her cheeks, and on the corners of her slightly trembling mouth.
Only after the last breath from his mouth was completely taken away did Zhu Liushuang belatedly realize what the sleep aid he was talking about was.
...
The line of sight converges into dappled spots of light.
Everything around us spiraled out of control and became disorderly.
Zhu Liushuang closed her eyes, lost in a dreamlike state.
There is a clear pond filled with lotus blossoms.
Fish swim by, rippling the pond; boats glide by, creating concentric circles of ripples.
The fine rain falls, seeping into the holes and crevices in the center of the lotus seedpod; the gentle evening breeze blows, bringing the soft whispers of summer.
Suddenly, the wind stopped and the rain ceased.
A towering ridge rises from the depths of the lake.
Scalding hot like lava, the entire lake boiled instantly.
...
"Wait a minute." The bedside lamp turned on, and Zhu Liushuang subconsciously opened her eyes.
In the dim light, the man opened the drawer and pulled out a bright gold cardboard box.
There was a rustling sound above her head, and she couldn't help but peek over, only vaguely making out the letters "XL" on the box.
When was this purchased?
Before the Lunar New Year, the supermarket had a discount promotion. He wanted to grab a few boxes at the checkout to reach the minimum purchase amount, but after examining the boxes for a long time, he only said "It's not suitable" and left. At the time, she subtly asked him what was wrong with it.
He Ming didn't say anything that day, but tonight, she figured it out herself: it turned out that... the size was wrong.
Zhu Liushuang was somewhat impressed with herself. Despite being extremely exhausted both physically and mentally, she still had the energy to think about random things.
When I regained consciousness, the scorching mountain ridge had silently disappeared into the warm heart of the lake.
The thrill of that moment was indescribable, like spring thunder piercing the sky, like the rising sun rushing across the wilderness.
There was no excruciating pain as I had imagined; only the overwhelming surge of emotion born from overflowing love.
The lake water continued to surge, and she was like a sail billowing in the wind, riding the waves under his helm...
Deeply moved, Zhu Liushuang embraced his damp, slender waist with a mixture of nervousness and tenderness, calling his name in a hoarse voice.
Just then, the heat wave that had been engulfing her reached its peak, then subsided after a tremor.
Is this... the end?
Zhu Liushuang opened her eyes in bewilderment, a faint sense of dissatisfaction and regret rising in her heart.
It's like a movie that just reached its climax and then abruptly ended.
She wanted to ask but couldn't bring herself to say it, and quietly closed her eyes again.
After a moment of silence, the weight covering the body finally moved.
The man, sweating slightly, coughed and said stiffly, "I'll go get a basin of warm water."
Zhu Liushuang gave a soft "hmm" and was too embarrassed to open her eyes.
Soon, He Ming brought hot water and carefully finished the remaining tasks for her.
The atmosphere was somewhat subdued. She lazily opened her eyes and asked him, "Honey, why aren't you saying anything?"
The only response she received was the sound of a towel being wrung out.
"Husband—" Zhu Liushuang continued to call him softly.
The man remained silent, his handsome face as solemn as iron, his lips taut and straight.
Could he be... sulking to himself?
Zhu Liushuang was both amused and exasperated. Are men really that proud in this matter?
She desperately wanted to grab her phone and post a request for help on Zhihu (a Chinese Q&A website): "How should I comfort my husband when he didn't perform well the first time? I need help urgently!"
But her phone was charging, and she didn't have the strength to reach for it.
"Honey... don't be upset!" Zhu Liushuang racked her brains to comfort him. "I heard that men finish their first time in seconds. Compared to them, you've already done very well..."
These words only made the man sitting on the edge of the bed look even more depressed.
He picked up the basin, got up, and went into the bathroom. After pouring out the water, he quickly returned to the bedside, turned off the light, pulled back the covers, and lay straight down on the bed.
For the first time, He Ming did not take the initiative to hold her as they fell asleep in the same bed.
He was probably still upset about what had just happened, so he turned his back to her dejectedly.
Zhu Liushuang, fighting off her sleepiness, quietly moved behind a certain "fragile" man, took the initiative to wrap her arms around his waist, and said softly, "Goodnight, husband."
After a long time, so long that her consciousness was fading, He Ming awkwardly placed his hand over hers and said, "Goodnight."
-----------------------
Author's note: There are a few more chapters before the main story ends.
I've been writing this book for a long time, and the word count is much higher than originally planned. Coupled with work pressure, I became more and more tired as I wrote.
But regardless, I'm still very grateful to the few readers who followed along [three-flower cat emoji].
Enjoy reading and Happy National Day!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
