Cheng Qingyan washed her hands and helped them make a soft, temporary nest next to the woodpile in the kitchen.
Looks like I'll have to start preparing little houses for the kittens and puppies tomorrow.
Winter has arrived, and it gets dark early. It's already dark before 5 PM.
On their way home, Cheng Qingyan and Ye Lingyu talked about their plans for tomorrow.
"Wife, we need to make steamed buns tomorrow morning, and then some snacks. You can knead the dough in the morning, and I'll build a hut for the little ones, how about that?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingyu stopped, carrying her lantern: "That's fine, but do you know how to build a shack?"
Cheng Qingyan stroked the puppy in his arms and said confidently, "You underestimate me, don't you? Building a shelter is a piece of cake."
Although I have no experience making them myself, I have at least taken craft classes before and watched many detailed explanations from online bloggers.
She wouldn't dare boast about anything else, but this little doghouse was a piece of cake for her.
"Then I'll get up early tomorrow morning and come help out." Meng Chuying turned around in the lantern light.
"Children should eat more, sleep more, and play happily to grow tall. As for chores, we adults can handle them."
“I’m not a child, and I’m even taller than Xiao Baozi and the others!” Meng Chuying retorted to Cheng Qingyan’s comment that she was a child, and gave examples to illustrate her point.
Sure enough, whether they are ten or twenty years old, they don't like being called children.
"Okay, Meng Chuying, you little adult~ It's too cold, so you can sleep in this morning if you don't have anything to do~"
"Hmph, I don't like sleeping in~" Under the cover of night, Meng Chuying cleverly concealed her flushed cheeks.
After the weather gets cold, not to mention children, even adults need courage to get out of bed.
After delivering the person to Meng Chuying's doorstep, Cheng Qingyan handed the puppy she had been holding to Meng Chuying.
"From now on, let it stay with you and keep you company. Remember to bring it over every day so it can reunite with its brother."
Meng Chuying was excited, happy, and somewhat incredulous.
So you bought two puppies because you were planning to keep one for yourself?
"Can...can I?" Can she really accept this puppy?
Cheng Qingyan placed the puppy in her arms: "If you don't want to move in with us, my wife won't feel at ease if you go there by yourself every day."
"Now I just hope the little one grows up quickly so he can keep you company and you won't be too lonely."
Meng Chuying's eyes welled up with tears. Was she lonely? Yes, she was lonely when she was alone before.
Now that she has Ye Lingyu and Cheng Qingyan, as well as her friends, life is becoming more and more hopeful, and the feeling of loneliness has not appeared for a long time.
The puppy nestled in her arms; it was light, yet through her clothes, it made her heart burn.
Ye Lingyu reached out and patted Meng Chuying's back: "It's cold, go inside early. If you need to light a charcoal fire when you go to sleep, remember to open the window first, but don't close it too tightly, leave a crack."
"Yes! Sister Ye, Brother Cheng, you should go back early too~"
Ever since Ye Lingyu delivered some charcoal to Meng Chuying, she has been reminding her almost every day, afraid that Meng Chuying might forget about it if she's not careful.
It was just like when her mother was alive, always giving her earnest advice every day. When her mother was still alive, she would come over at night to check if she was properly covered with the blanket.
From this night onward, she will no longer be alone in this house. She has a little companion to keep her company, a puppy.
On their way back, Cheng Qingyan remarked on how cold winter was and then asked Ye Lingyu if she was cold.
Ye Lingyu opened her palms and touched the cold wind: "I'm fine. My clothes are warm this winter, and my bed is warm too."
"If you're cold, let's hurry back and light the charcoal stove to keep warm."
Cheng Qingyan reached out and took her hand, which was outstretched in the cold wind, and held it tightly: "Wife, next time I ask you if you're cold, just say you are. That way, I can help you warm up."
This logic was so absurd that it left her both amused and exasperated.
"Then ask again~"
"My wife, are you cold?"
"Cold~"
The low laughter faded into the night until the darkness returned to silence.
Although the season is cold, the people around me are very warm.
A seed called love was quietly planted in their hearts sometime during the night. When it sprouted, it broke through the hard shell within their hearts as well.
Piercing through flesh and blood, letting warm blood flow freely within the body.
I have deeply experienced the coldness between blood relatives, and I have also felt the kindness from strangers.
Now, even if it's just to hold onto this last bit of warmth, Ye Lingyu thought, none of the past matters anymore. She had unknowingly become unwilling to let go of Cheng Qingyan.
The moment she was pushed out, regardless of whether they cared about her life or death, she had nothing left.
She didn't protect what her mother left behind, and just because she was saved by a stranger, she was forced to marry her savior. And the one who made this decision was her own father, her own flesh and blood!
Is it simply because she is born out of wedlock that she cannot be expected to be loved or have family affection?
When her mother was alive, that man had doted on her. Not long after her mother passed away, she was forced into a humiliating marriage.
Fortunately, neither the Cheng Qingyan of the past nor the Cheng Qingyan of the present can be considered a bad person.
This person has even made her wounded and cold heart beat again, and warm blood flow from it.
In the desolate depths of her heart, a flower named Cheng Qingyan bloomed.
You were given a chance to escape, and you gave yourself a chance too. But in the end, you couldn't escape either; perhaps that's just fate.
When they parted at the door, Cheng Qingyan lingered and refused to go inside.
Hearing Ye Lingyu push open the door, Cheng Qingyan couldn't resist and turned around to chase after her: "Wife, I want a kiss, I want a goodnight kiss~"
Cheng Qingyan hugged her from behind, and Ye Lingyu's hand that had been pushing the door fell limp.
What an idiot!
Ye Lingyu didn't answer, and Cheng Qingyan didn't move either. The two of them just stood there embracing in front of Ye Lingyu's door.
Finally, Ye Lingyu struggled and easily broke free from Cheng Qingyan's embrace.
Under the lamplight, a hint of disappointment appeared on Cheng Qingyan's face.
Ye Lingyu stroked her neck gently, then pulled her closer.
She sighed softly, her breath tickling Cheng Qingyan's lips.
"Silly boy, didn't you want a kiss? Why are you just hugging me?"
Cheng Qingyan was so aroused that she swallowed hard, her heart pounded, and her mouth went dry.
He replied blankly, "I thought you didn't want to, so—"
Cheng Qingyan was stunned when Ye Lingyu's lips touched his.
Where did I remember closing my eyes? Where did I remember deepening the kiss? My eyes were wide open as I met Ye Lingyu's gaze, and I was so shocked that I seemed to pause my breathing for a moment.
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