Chapter 83: A Family of Three Sleeping Together

Since it was time for bed, a small issue came up.

Chu Yue hadn’t expected Lu Zhanlin to return tonight, so she had let Lu Yuanbao sleep with her in the big bedroom.

The little child was now fast asleep, warm all over, his cheeks flushed red like a little furnace.

If she were to pick up this toasty Lu Yuanbao from his cozy bed and carry him back to the cold, chilly small room, that would just be too cruel.

Chu Yue felt sorry for Yuanbao, but she also wasn’t sure how Lu Zhanlin would feel about it.

She looked up at him, her clear, bright eyes blinking softly, and decided to be direct.

“Yuanbao’s already asleep. If we move him now, it’s too cold—he might catch a cold. Let him sleep with us tonight.”

Lu Zhanlin’s gaze lingered on Chu Yue’s face for a moment before he finally nodded and agreed,

“Alright. Whatever you say.”

Then came the sound of Lu Zhanlin in the bathroom, washing up.

Chu Yue took this time to carefully put away the bankbook and money, tucking them securely—they were, after all, the family’s entire savings.

Next, she shifted Lu Yuanbao’s position on the bed.

The bed was big, but still just a standard double. With a child added to the mix, space would be a bit tight.

And from that arose a new problem—

Should Yuanbao sleep on the outer edge, or should he sleep in the middle?

If he slept in the middle, then Chu Yue and Lu Zhanlin would naturally be separated by the child.
If Yuanbao slept on the outer edge, then Chu Yue and Lu Zhanlin would be sleeping right next to each other.

Chu Yue hesitated for a moment. Her face inexplicably started to feel warm, and her gaze began to flicker nervously.

Eventually, she made a decision—

Forget it, just leave it as it is!

Soon after, Lu Zhanlin returned to the bedroom. With a quiet click, he turned off the light. The room went dark. He quickly adjusted to the dimness, his excellent night vision—honed by training—allowing him to see everything clearly.

Lu Zhanlin got into bed. As his weight sank into the mattress, the bed dipped slightly on his side, and the soft body beside him naturally leaned against his shoulder.

Lying close together, Lu Zhanlin could not only feel Chu Yue’s body warmth, but also catch a whiff of her light, fresh, sweet scent, which drifted into his chest with each breath, sending gentle ripples through him.

Still newlyweds, the two of them slipped into light slumber in quiet silence.

Lu Zhanlin suddenly thought—

Letting Yuanbao sleep with them wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Because it meant he and Chu Yue were lying even closer, unlike before when she would only inch toward him after falling asleep.

Lu Zhanlin let out a soft, silent chuckle and closed his eyes.

---

Late at night.

Lu Yuanbao had drunk some water before bed. Now, in the middle of the night, his belly felt bloated—he needed to pee.

He groggily woke up and sat up from the warm covers. Feeling the cold air in the room, he couldn’t help but let out a little gasp.

“Hisss… it’s so cold.”

Even that slight sound made Lu Zhanlin’s eyes snap open. In the dim light, his dark pupils immediately found Lu Yuanbao. He asked in a low voice,

“Yuanbao, you’re awake?”

Yuanbao froze, blinking in confusion. For a moment, he thought he was imagining things—
but then that deep, steady voice came again:

“Do you need to pee?”

“…Mm.”
Yuanbao slowly nodded.

Lu Zhanlin got up gently, pressing down the covers to keep the cold air from sneaking in and chilling Chu Yue.

Then he picked up his military coat and wrapped it around Yuanbao’s small body, lifting him off the bed and walking him to the bathroom.

When the light in the bathroom turned on, Yuanbao looked up and clearly saw Lu Zhanlin’s face—and it finally hit him:

It really is Daddy!

Lu Zhanlin spoke in a low voice,

“Don’t space out—go quickly. If you catch a cold, she’ll be worried.”

Both of them knew that the “she” being referred to was Chu Yue.

Lu Yuanbao looked at Lu Zhanlin several times. Only after confirming he was really there did he hurry to take care of his urgent business, comfortably relieving himself.

Afterward, Lu Zhanlin carried him back to bed — Lu Yuanbao’s feet didn’t even touch the ground once.

Even in the dark, Lu Yuanbao’s eyes were sparkling, watching Lu Zhanlin as if he had something to say.

Lu Zhanlin gently patted his head, then covered his eyes and whispered,
“Go to sleep now.”

Lu Yuanbao obediently shrank his neck, lay down on Chu Yue’s side, and cozily drifted off in the warm bed.

He could feel it — it was real!

His dad, his mom, and him, the three of them were sleeping together in the same bed!

So nice!

---

On the other side, after tucking Lu Yuanbao in, Lu Zhanlin bent down to lie down himself. Just as he was about to settle in, a soft, warm little hand reached over and started gently feeling around his body.

Up and down, hovering near his abdomen.

Finally, as if she’d found her favorite, most comfortable spot, she rested her hand there and didn’t move again.

It was right on Lu Zhanlin’s firm, toned abs.

Chu Yue (mentally): My personal heater — so comfy.

---

The next morning.

From waking up, eating breakfast, then helping with chores afterward, Chu Yue noticed that Lu Yuanbao was in an unusually good mood — a slight smile on his face the whole time, like he’d eaten candy.

She asked curiously,
“Yuanbao, why are you so happy today?”

Lu Yuanbao pursed his lips, his bright black eyes twinkling. This normally mature-for-his-age boy suddenly looked a little shy.

At first, Chu Yue thought he didn’t want to say. She didn’t mind — every child needed a bit of space and privacy.

She lowered her head and continued with her tasks.

But unexpectedly, a few minutes later, Lu Yuanbao softly spoke.

He said quietly,
“Dad came home last night. We… we all slept together, the three of us.”

After speaking, Lu Yuanbao couldn’t help but smile again.

When Chu Yue looked up, she just happened to catch the smile on his face. She hadn’t expected that just sleeping together would make him this happy.

His wish was so small, so simple — yet something he had never gotten before.

Chu Yue’s eyes softened.
“Your dad also said that before the New Year, he’ll be home again. Then you can see each other every day, and we’ll celebrate the New Year together.”

Lu Yuanbao clenched his small fists and nodded hard.
“Mm! We’ll celebrate the New Year together!”

---

Talking about the New Year naturally led to thoughts of New Year’s goods, and of course, pork.

Last night, Chen Fengying had tossed and turned in bed. She couldn’t stop thinking about how, in front of the supply store, Chu Yue had given her the last three jin of pork, even though Chu Yue herself didn’t get even half a jin, and had only bought some smelly pig offal.

Feeling more and more uneasy, Chen Fengying got up early that morning, took out the three jin of pork, cut it in half with a knife, and insisted on giving half of it to Chu Yue.

“Sister Chu! I’m coming in!”

Hearing sounds in Chu Yue’s courtyard, Chen Fengying knocked briefly, then walked right in.

As soon as she pushed open the door, she was once again hit by that familiar strong stench.

Turns out Chu Yue was in the courtyard cleaning pig offal — a scene that most people wouldn’t be able to handle. But…