Chapter 43: Not so hard!

"Sis, if you keep saying things like that, I... I won't talk to you anymore."

Lin Wanqiu stomped her foot, feeling both flustered and shy.

Lin Wanqing chuckled, "Alright, alright, look at how worked up you're getting. I didn't even say anything."

Knowing how thin-skinned her younger sister was, she figured continuing would probably reduce her to tears.

"Still, Wanqiu, it's not like I'm lecturing you, but you two have been married for ages—why are you still sleeping in separate beds?"

Lin Wanqing frowned, unable to wrap her head around it.

"I... I..."

Twisting the hem of her shirt, Lin Wanqiu buried her head deep against her chest, utterly speechless.

Wrapping an arm around her sister's waist, Lin Wanqing said, "Wanqiu, Chen Jianghai is actually a pretty decent guy. Besides, I can tell he cares deeply about you and truly loves you. Don't let something like this create misunderstandings between you two."

Seeing that Lin Wanqiu still kept her head down in silence, Lin Wanqing knew that saying more on the matter was useless. She patted her arm and said, "Fine, think about it yourself! I've been riding buses all day and I'm exhausted, I'm going to bed."

With that, Lin Wanqing retreated to her room.

After lingering outside in hesitation for a long time, Lin Wanqiu finally shuffled into the bedroom to find Chen Jianghai still sitting on the bed, wide awake.

"Why... why aren't you asleep yet?"

Lin Wanqiu asked, her pretty face tinged with red.

Chen Jianghai answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "I was waiting for you!"

Hearing him say that, Lin Wanqiu's face instantly burned, and she didn't even dare meet his eyes.

Dropping her head once more, she murmured, "Why wait for me? You should have just gone to sleep if you were tired."

"Is there an extra quilt in the house?" Chen Jianghai asked in return.

Startled for a moment, Lin Wanqiu looked up at him in confusion and asked, "What do you need a quilt for?"

"We've always slept in separate beds at home. I was afraid you wouldn't be used to it, so I thought I'd just sleep on a pallet on the floor tonight!"

Chen Jianghai pointed toward the floor as he spoke.

Hearing this filled Lin Wanqiu's heart with an overwhelming sense of warmth and emotion.

This man was thinking of her comfort every single moment now.

"No need, l... let's sleep together tonight!" Lin Wanqiu said, mustering her courage.

Through the past half-month of living together, Lin Wanqiu felt that Chen Jianghai had truly changed; he was now a man worthy of entrusting her entire life to.

No matter how irresponsible and disappointing he used to be, he had thoroughly turned over a new leaf and reformed himself.

A prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold.

As long as he was willing to live a proper, honest life with her, Lin Wanqiu was more than willing to walk by his side through poverty and wealth alike.

Chen Jianghai was momentarily stunned, but upon noticing Lin Wanqiu's posture and expression, he immediately understood.

She was truly completely unprepared!

However, as a man, he certainly wasn't going to let this opportunity slip away.

Excitedly, he strode forward, pulled Lin Wanqiu into his embrace, and said with infinite tenderness, "Darling, I will love you for the rest of my life!"

"Be... be gentle!"

Lin Wanqiu lowered her head and let out a soft, bashful murmur.

The next morning, a refreshed Chen Jianghai stretched luxuriously and instinctively pulled the flushed Lin Wanqiu beside him into his arms.

Sensing the faint fragrance lingering in her hair, Chen Jianghai suddenly felt reluctant to get out of bed at all.

He finally understood the old saying: the spring night is too short, the sun rises high, and the ruler henceforth neglects his early morning court.

Blushing fiercely, Lin Wanqiu tried to sit up, only to let out a muffled groan of discomfort.

Chen Jianghai hurriedly supported her, saying, "Wanqiu, you should sleep a little longer!"

"Your hand... take your hand away."

Lin Wanqiu whispered.

Only then did Chen Jianghai realize where his hand was resting.

"Haha! A pure accident, a pure accident."

Chuckling, Chen Jianghai gently helped Lin Wanqiu lie back down.

"You two still aren't up yet? Mom has already made breakfast, come on out and eat."

From outside the door came the voice of her older sister, Lin Wanqing.

"Coming right up!" Chen Jianghai hastily called back.

Lin Wanqiu pulled the blanket up over her head, feeling far too mortified to face anyone.

Once he got up, Chen Jianghai asked, "Wanqiu, should I tell them you're feeling unwell so you can rest a bit longer and we can head straight home later?"

"No way!"

Lin Wanqiu panicked. "Wait for me, we'll go out together."

If she stayed in bed all morning complaining of feeling unwell, her family would definitely put two and.

The thin-skinned Lin Wanqiu could never endure that kind of teasing.

Looking at her with concern, Chen Jianghai asked, "Wanqiu, do you feel a bit better now? Do you need me to help you get dressed?"

"No, no, I can do it myself!" Seeing Chen Jianghai reach for her undergarments, Lin Wanqiu scrambled up to snatch them away, inadvertently revealing another flash of breathtaking scenery.

Without pressing her further, Chen Jianghai nodded and said, "Alright then, take your time. I'll wait for you."

"You... go wait outside." Lin Wanqiu gritted her teeth and pointed toward the door.

"Oh, alright!"

Seeing the fiery blush and shy panic on his wife's face, Chen Jianghai chuckled and stepped outside.

After waiting a short while, Lin Wanqiu finally emerged from the room, though her awkward gait made it obvious she was still unaccustomed to her new reality.

Seeing this, Chen Jianghai hurried over to support her, whispering, "Careful."

"I don't need help, I can walk." Fearing that her family might notice something amiss, Lin Wanqiu gave him a gentle nudge and whispered back.

Unable to resist a teasing smile, Chen Jianghai murmured, "With the way you're walking right now, do you really think you can fool your mother?"

"Is it that obvious?" Lin Wanqiu bit her lip anxiously.

Stroking her lovely hair, Chen Jianghai reassured her, "Relax, we're a legally wedded couple, what could they possibly say?"

Soothed by his comforting words, Lin Wanqiu's mental burden lifted just a fraction.

At the breakfast table, Chen Jianghai greeted everyone politely before sitting down in silence.

Xue Chunli didn't say much either, keeping her head down as she ate.

The sisters, Lin Wanqing and Lin Wanqiu, on the other hand, chattered animatedly back and forth, lending the breakfast table a lively and relaxed atmosphere.

Chen Jianghai found this state of domestic life quite cozy and pleasant, especially as he watched the smiling face of Lin Wanqiu, feeling a wave of inexplicable contentment wash over him.

As long as Lin Wanqiu felt happy and fulfilled, completely free of worries and sorrow, that was more than enough for him.

Early Monday morning, Chen Jianghai stood at the bus stop carrying his bag, while Lin Wanqiu stood nearby exchanging parting words with Lin Wanqing.

"Sis, how many more days are you staying at home?" Lin Wanqiu asked, holding her sister's hand.

Even as sisters who had grown up together, once married, they had to face the reality of parting ways.

Especially in an era when travel was slow and arduous, and with Lin Wanqing building her career in a distant metropolis, goodness knows when they would meet again.

Lin Wanqing replied, "I'm not entirely sure of the exact number of days yet. Since it's so rare for me to come home, I want to spend as much time as possible with Mom and Dad."

"Sis, let me know before you head back." Unconquerable reluctance filled Lin Wanqiu's eyes.

Lin Wanqing smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, I will! Make sure you come home to visit Mom and Dad often when you have time, they care about you a lot."

"I know, Sis. I don't know when I'll get to see you again after this, I really hate to watch you leave." Lin Wanqiu's sentimental side was showing.

"Silly sister."

Lin Wanqing stroked her cheek with a smile. "If you really miss me, you can always come stay with me for a while."

"Sis, traveling to your place costs a lot of money!" Lin Wanqiu shook her head.

Teasing her, Lin Wanqing said, "Didn't you say your husband is good at making money now? How much could a trip cost?"

"Sis..." Lin Wanqiu whined playfully.

Dropping the subject, Lin Wanqing smiled and reminded her, "Alright, the bus is here, you should get going."

"Sis, I'm heading back then." Lin Wanqiu waved goodbye with lingering reluctance.

Lin Wanqing waved back with a smile. "Alright, have a safe trip back! And brother-in-law, take good care of my sister—don't forget what you promised!"

Turning his head, Chen Jianghai flashed a brilliant smile and replied, "Sis, don't you worry! What Chen Jianghai says, he will always deliver!"