Chapter 31 Sharing a Bed
Upon hearing that it was the last room, the two fell silent.
The waiter looked at the two of them with suspicion: "What are you two hesitating about? I'm telling you, the end of the year is approaching, and all the inns are doing good business. In addition, there was a sudden heavy snow today, and many merchants from other places are stranded in our town. If you two keep picking and choosing, you won't be able to find a place to stay!"
They asked around and found nothing they didn't understand about the shortage of guest rooms, but... that seemed a bit inappropriate.
A hint of confusion appeared between Xiao Liulang's brows.
As for Gu Jiao... she wasn't bothered at all. They were a legally married couple, so what was wrong with taking a nap? Besides, it wasn't like she was eager to sleep with him; there were no other rooms available, right?
However, she still cooperated perfectly by showing the same conflicted expression as him, which made her seem even more obedient.
Xiao Liulang was usually someone who responded better to gentleness than force. Her bowed head resembled that of a harmless little rabbit, subtly revealing a hint of submission.
At this point, it would be a bit unreasonable to drag her frail little body out into the snow to find an inn.
Xiao Liulang composed himself and said, "Then let's stay here."
The waiter led the two to a side room on the second floor.
There was a reason why it was the last remaining room; the room was small and very cold. However, considering the heavy snow, the inn provided them with a pot of charcoal for free.
The house price is two hundred coins.
It usually costs one hundred coins, but the price went up during the Lunar New Year.
After the waiter put down the charcoal fire, he left, telling them that they could have dinner in the lobby or have it delivered directly to their room.
Hmm, they even offer room service, Gu Jiao was quite surprised.
But Gu Jiao didn't eat at the inn. She opened the window, leaned her small body on the windowsill, and drooled over a small stall selling osmanthus cakes at the entrance of the alley across the street.
She discovered that she had changed somewhat from her previous life. For example, she didn't like sweets or spicy food in her previous life, but here she had developed a great fondness for osmanthus cake and pickles.
"Want some osmanthus cake?" Xiao Liulang, standing beside her, noticed her drooling face.
Gu Jiao nodded: "Mm."
In truth, Gu Jiao wasn't that greedy, at least not as greedy as Xiao Liulang perceived. But spending time together these past few days had made Gu Jiao realize one thing: he seemed to find it hard to resist her being obedient.
Xiao Liulang led Gu Jiao out of the inn.
The snow outside was falling heavier, but the wind had stopped, and the snowflakes were falling quietly, creating a serene beauty.
Xiao Liulang looked even more handsome in the snowy scenery, and passersby couldn't take their eyes off him.
Gu Jiao reminded Xiao Liulang to bring an extra robe in the morning, but she forgot when she went out. Besides, this small body of hers was indeed more sensitive to the cold than her body in her previous life, so her shivering was not an act.
Xiao Liulang walked ahead, glanced back at her, paused, and then took off his outer robe and handed it to her.
She opened her eyes wide and looked at him innocently, as if she didn't understand what he meant: "Huh?"
Xiao Liulang opened his mouth, frowned slightly, but seemed somewhat helpless as he draped his outer robe over her shoulders.
His body heat and a faint, pleasant fragrance lingered on his outer robe.
Gu Jiao blinked her watery eyes: "Thank you."
Her voice was also soft and sweet.
I was startled.
Xiao Liulang didn't speak, but Gu Jiao noticed that he slowed down.
Oh, so you actually know to wait for her?
The two walked across the street to the stall and discovered that it not only sold osmanthus cake, but also steaming hot glutinous rice balls.
Gu Jiao's eyes didn't lie; they were practically glowing.
Xiao Liulang ordered two bowls of rice wine with glutinous rice balls and sat down with Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao asked the shop owner to make her a poached egg.
The shopkeeper thought she wanted to eat it, so he put it in her bowl. But when the glutinous rice balls were served, Gu Jiao used a spoon to scoop out the poached egg and put it in Xiao Liulang's bowl.
Coming from a poor family, they rarely ate out. When they saw Gu Jiao give him the only fried egg, a complex look flashed across Xiao Liulang's eyes.
"Boss, another fried egg, please."
His voice was low and warm, and it sounded even more cold and aloof in the wind and snow.
The shop owner was so touched by the young couple's affection that he specially cooked the poached egg to be big and beautiful.
Gu Jiao silently poked the bright orange fried egg with her spoon.
Well, she really just hates fried eggs...
After finishing their glutinous rice balls and poached eggs, the two returned to the inn, with Gu Jiao carrying the box of osmanthus cakes in her arms.
I originally went there for the osmanthus cake, but after eating a bowl of glutinous rice balls and a poached egg, I was so full I couldn't be fuller.
There was a charcoal brazier in the room, so it wasn't too cold. Gu Jiao took off her outer robe and called the waiter to bring her a pot of hot tea.
The waiter asked the two if they wanted hot water.
Gu Jiao asked for some.
After washing up, the two prepared to rest.
There was only one bed, and it was freezing cold, so sleeping on the floor was out of the question—someone would freeze to death. Fortunately, there were two quilts, and Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang each used one.
Once the blanket was on, Gu Jiao understood why two blankets had been prepared. It wasn't because there were two of them, but because one blanket was too cold.
Gu Jiao was so cold that she couldn't sleep; her hands and feet were ice-cold.
She listened to Xiao Liulang's breathing and knew he wasn't asleep either.
"Well..." Gu Jiao wanted to call him, but realized that she had never formally addressed him before, and of course, he had never addressed her either, as if neither of them knew what their relationship was.
Husband and wife? No.
Friend? Not really.
Cannon... No, that's definitely not it!
In the end, Gu Jiao decided to reluctantly call him "husband".
"My lord."
It was my first time shouting, so I wasn't very skilled and my voice was all hoarse.
Xiao Liulang didn't react for a long time, probably because he was startled by the word "husband".
After a long pause, he asked in a low voice, "What is it?"
"Are you cold?" Gu Jiao asked.
"Are you cold?" Xiao Liulang asked back.
"Mmm." Gu Jiao's voice sounded soft in the night, with a slight nasal tone from the cold.
Xiao Liulang hesitated for a moment, then took half of his quilt and covered her quilt with it.
Following the principle of "you share with me, I'll share with you," Gu Jiao covered him with her own quilt, and then they completely shared the quilt.
The boy's body was burning hot, like a small furnace.
Gu Jiao instantly felt much warmer.
Xiao Liulang was somewhat stunned, seemingly hesitant about whether to kick this uninvited guest out of his quilt.
"My love, I'm not cold anymore."
The girl's voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of naivety and satisfaction.
Xiao Liulang... couldn't kick anymore.
Good morning! (^O^)
(End of this chapter)
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