"Hello, Uncle Liu!" Xu Ruantang dutifully played the role of a good wife, flashing a standard eight-tooth smile.
Before the old man could say anything more, Chen Ji spoke up again: "Uncle Liu, let's go back first."
With that, he grabbed Xu Ruantang's arm and quickly left.
Before Xu Ruantang turned around, she saw the old man's disappointed expression, and his face darkened.
She glanced at Chen Ji secretly; his expression had also turned cold.
Over the course of their time together, Xu Ruantang discovered that although Chen Ji usually appeared expressionless, one could actually discern his joys and sorrows upon closer inspection.
It's just that it's not as obvious as what most people show.
For some reason, Xu Ruantang could tell at a glance whether he was happy or unhappy.
Was that old man not a good person? Is that why Chen Jicai didn't like him?
Xu Ruantang shook her head. If she couldn't figure it out, she wouldn't think about it anymore; it wasn't her business anyway.
The two went home one after the other, and Chen Ji went to Aunt Liu's house to return the bicycle.
Wow, godmother, dinner is so lavish tonight!
Xu Ruantang glanced at the dishes on the table; there was meat, vegetables, and even fish soup.
"These were all delivered by the neighbors. We didn't cook dinner tonight, and everyone brought them over because they heard Chen Ji was back!"
Xu Ruantang went into the bathroom to wash her hands, and when she came out, Chen Ji was already sitting at the dining table.
Xu Ruantang gestured for her godmother to sit down, "It's alright, I'll make some side dishes tomorrow and deliver them to each household as a return gift!"
After she finished speaking, she turned to Chen Ji and asked, "Is this okay?"
"Aren't you tired from doing so much?"
Chen Ji did not agree directly, but asked while serving the soup.
Xu Ruantang: "Not tired at all, it's just something I did easily."
After she finished speaking, Chen Jisheng handed a bowl of soup to his godmother and then ladled another bowl in front of Xu Ruantang, saying, "Drink more soup. You were exhausted last night, so make sure you have some nourishment."
Xu Ruantang: "..."
That old man holds a grudge!
Xu Ruantang changed the subject, "Where's Xiaobao?"
"She's asleep now. During the day, I held her and played with the kids in the yard. She seemed so happy watching their dogs!" her godmother explained.
After dinner, Xu Ruantang first went to her godmother's room to check on Xiaobao, then came out to teach her godmother how to use the stroller before going upstairs to get her clothes and take a shower.
Chen Ji went to the study, and it's unclear what he was busy with.
When he returned to his room, Xu Ruantang had already made up a makeshift bed on the floor and was lying on it taking notes, so engrossed that he didn't even notice her when he came in.
She had washed her hair, and the air was filled with the fragrance of the young woman. Strands of her hair were still dripping wet, disappearing onto her military green short-sleeved shirt.
Chen Ji's eyes darkened. He stood there for a while before going inside, taking out a change of clothes from the wardrobe, and going downstairs.
Xu Ruantang didn't look up the whole time; she was keeping accounts and had no time to pay attention to him.
Chen Ji finished washing upstairs and found her still writing something. "What are you doing?"
A deep, husky, and magnetic voice rang out, and Xu Ruantang turned around in response, her jaw nearly dropping to the ground.
Chen Ji was actually... shirtless!!!
It must be said that he has an excellent physique, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and firm, smooth abdominal muscles.
He had just taken a shower, and water droplets, not yet dried, slid down his handsome, well-defined face and landed on his strong, muscular chest.
Xu Ruantang covered her nose with the back of her hand. The soup at night was too nourishing, and it made her blood too hot!
"No... I didn't do anything, just doodled."
She hurriedly looked away, silently repeating "Don't look at what you shouldn't see!" three times in her mind.
Chen Ji remained relaxed, waiting for Xu Ruantang to turn around before walking to the wardrobe to find clothes.
Xu Ruantang quietly looked up. The man was tall and had his back to her as he rummaged through the cabinet. His lean and muscular waist was so close that she couldn't resist the urge to touch him.
After a long while, he took out a military green short-sleeved shirt, the same style as the one Xu Ruantang was wearing. He casually lifted it up with his strong arms and put the shirt on.
"I put the bankbook in the drawer in my study. Could you please keep it?"
As Chen Ji turned around, Xu Ruantang casually remarked, her face slightly flushed, and she awkwardly raised her hand to fan herself.
The weather isn't even that hot yet, she must be too weak!
Chen Ji looked down at her, his voice tinged with amusement: "No, you keep it for yourself. Giving it to you is for you to spend."
Xu Ruantang didn't have the mind to think about it carefully and nodded haphazardly, "Okay."
"That's right!"
"Oh, right."
The two spoke in unison for the third time, and Xu Ruantang wished she could bury her head in the blankets. "I'll say it first, didn't I sleep on the floor last night? How come I got up on the bed this morning?"
She looked up at Chen Ji, her shimmering eyes appearing even more clear and beautiful under the light.
Chen Ji remained calm, his thin lips pressed tightly together. "You're sleepwalking."
Xu Ruantang: "Huh?"
"I don't know either. I woke up this morning and you were already lying next to me. Based on my judgment, you must have been sleepwalking."
Chen Ji's expression was aloof, and the corners of his lips slowly and naturally curved into a slight smile.
Xu Ruantang was stunned.
She doesn't sleepwalk! Could it be a problem with this body?
"I'm sorry," she apologized without looking up, her face slightly flushed.
"It's alright. I'm going away on business for two days tomorrow. Please take care of the family these next few days."
Chen Ji changed the subject.
Xu Ruantang nodded vigorously, "Okay, don't worry, I will take good care of Xiaobao."
"Take care of yourself. If anything happens, wait for me to come back and I'll handle it."
Chen Ji wanted to say something more, but after thinking about it, he decided to give up.
To prevent herself from actually sleepwalking into bed in the middle of the night as Chen Ji had said, Xu Ruantang didn't dare to sleep after the lights were turned off. In the darkness, she tried her best to keep her eyes wide open and distract herself by letting her mind wander.
She had been out all day, and in theory she should have fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, but she was barely managing to stay awake.
Xu Ruantang silently made plans. Tomorrow, in addition to making the pastries to sell, she would also need to make another batch to distribute to the military wives who delivered the food today. Oh, and also to the radishes she gave her and the military wives who taught her "skills".
Just now, in front of Chen Jijin's room, she was actually drawing design sketches.
Today, Xu Ruantang bought some fabric at the Xifo Temple Market and drew several drafts based on the styles favored by middle-aged and elderly people in later generations.
Lost in thought, Xu Ruantang drifted off to sleep.
Once the woman on the floor was fast asleep, the man on the bed, who had been keeping his eyes closed, slowly opened them and sat up.
In the darkness, Chen Ji sighed, threw off the covers, and got out of bed.
Chen Ji gently lifted the woman and placed her on the bed, then covered her with a blanket before lying down on the floor himself.
Unable to sleep, he lay on his side by the moonlight, his deep, cold gaze fixed on the graceful figure on the bed.
When I first met her, she was a thin, pale-skinned girl. How long has it been? Everything seems to have changed.
The only thing that remained unchanged was her eyes, which seemed to be the purest spring water in the world.
Who exactly are you?
Chen Ji's voice was low and deep, with an ambiguous emotion in it.
After a long while, he reached out, picked up Xu Ruantang's arm that was hanging by the bedside, and gently put it back under the covers.
By the moonlight, Chen Ji stretched out his long arm and held up the letter on the pillow with his slender fingers, looking at it again and again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
