Chapter 21

The night tide dripped onto the calm water surface.

Youyi shifted her position, moving closer to Fu Cheng.

The scent from him gave off a feeling of “safety.”

Fu Cheng half-lay down on the edge of the bed, extending his arm to pull her into his embrace.

Youyi turned to her side, reaching out to find something to hold onto. Her fingertips moved slightly, and Fu Cheng’s arm tightened, his expression suddenly changing.

“Youyi.” Fu Cheng closed his eyes, leaned down, and asked in a hushed voice, “Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

He gently inquired, “Where does it hurt?”

Youyi felt uncomfortable, as if it made her appear like a person driven by desires due to her special time of the month, which she had studied before.

It was indeed uncomfortable.

But she still couldn’t say anything.

“It’s okay,” Fu Cheng said, “You can tell me anything. Whatever you like or want, just let me know.”

“I will give you whatever I can.”

His voice was steady but tinged with restrained emotion. Even with his strong self-control, there were times when—

He felt defeated.

After a moment of silence, Fu Cheng asked again.

“What do you want?”

She remained silent.

Fu Cheng was being somewhat unreasonable. He knew what was wrong but still insisted on asking her.

He wanted her to respond voluntarily.

“If you don’t say, how will I know?”

Youyi, feeling a bit wronged, curled up her legs and whispered, “Just a kiss.”

“Okay.” Fu Cheng agreed in a hushed voice.

Fu Cheng’s right hand had heavy calluses on his index and middle fingers from handling firearms for years. His palm was broad and strong, the rough calluses like natural sandpaper.

When he massaged, he applied precise control over the pressure.

Youyi actually liked it very much.

She liked everything about him.

As Youyi fell asleep in his arms, Fu Cheng still couldn’t sleep.

Thinking about her distressed appearance made him feel like it was his fault, even though he didn’t fully understand what had happened.

Youyi woke up at six in the morning.

She felt like Fu Cheng had visited her last night and wasn’t dreaming, but he was no longer beside her.

She sniffed and could still smell his scent.

Youyi got out of bed, put on her slippers, adjusted her wrinkled nightgown, and walked out gently.

The bathroom door was ajar, with light filtering through the blinds.

Youyi rubbed her temples, feeling confused, and reached out to push the door.

The door swung open, and she saw Fu Cheng inside.

Then, her gaze moved downwards.

The sight was so straightforward and clear in front of her.

Youyi instantly woke up.

“You—why didn’t you close the door?”

She stammered, unable to decide whether to advance or retreat, and couldn’t even reach the doorknob.

Fu Cheng remained calm, as if what just happened wasn’t his concern.

“I’ve been holding it in for a long time,” Fu Cheng said softly.

From the moment she fell asleep last night until now.

It had truly been a long time.

Youyi took a step back, her face paling.

“You—you continue.”

She fled, leaving the door open behind her.

As she turned, the sound of water started in the bathroom, and Fu Cheng came out moments later.

His eyes carried a shadow, clearly showing he had stopped after being interrupted by her.

Fu Cheng poured her a glass of hot water with a bit of honey. Seeing that her complexion was better today, it seemed she was alright.

Youyi’s previous coldness, combined with the awkwardness from last night, made her feel a bit embarrassed.

She took the hot water, holding it with both hands, and sipped it slowly.

After finishing the glass, she put it down and looked at Fu Cheng, who continued to watch her.

“Come here and let me hold you,” he extended his hand towards her.

After the intensity of the past few days had passed, Youyi looked at the gift he had given her. After a moment, she realized she might have been a bit unreasonable.

So, she obediently settled into his embrace.

“Can you tell me why you’re unhappy?” Fu Cheng asked as he held her, “Can you talk about it now?”

“That day someone delivered something to you, and she said she was your friend.”

This made her seem unreasonable. Youyi hesitated, then added, “It’s not just because of that.”

She would think of more reasons.

Combined with her inexplicable emotional downturn.

She ended up venting her frustration on him without verifying things first.

Someone sent him something?

Fu Cheng recalled that she had asked about the bag hanging on the door that day.

“It was indeed a friend of mine.” Fu Cheng, who likely knew who it was, spoke in a calm and indifferent manner.

“That’s the coat I left at the company.”

It was left at the office, not somewhere else.

He knew that she didn’t trust him completely yet, so even if he thought it unnecessary, he was willing to explain.

“We don’t have any relationship. If she said something, it was her unilateral action.”

Fu Cheng paused and emphasized, “I didn’t.”

Someone like Fu Cheng is so cold and scary that few people dare to approach him in person.

Youyi had only recently started to not be afraid of him.

“I’m sorry,” Youyi said, lowering her head in shame and taking the initiative to say, “I’ve been in a bad mood the past couple of days.”

Fu Cheng didn’t say anything.

He took her hand and placed it on his waist before speaking, “I know.”

Because she was in a bad mood, he had been accommodating her.

Fu Cheng: “So, is there an apology gift?”

Since she had already said “sorry.”

Youyi was sitting on his lap and actually felt comfortable. She knew Fu Cheng liked to hold her this way, as if she were completely nestled in his embrace.

Her gaze drifted to his lips.

Youyi tilted her head to kiss him, first lightly brushing her lips against his.

She had been kissed by him many times before, but this was the first time she took the initiative. She was inexperienced and awkward.

After trying, she leaned forward a bit, holding his arm, and tried to deepen the kiss.

Her lips were as delicate as a rose that could crumble at a touch, a beautiful light pink, full and dewy. Her kisses were clumsy, making her feel embarrassed.

“Is it okay?” she asked softly, averting her gaze.

Fu Cheng: “What if it’s not okay? What do you want me to do?”

Youyi’s cheeks flushed deeply, and she turned her face to look out the window.

“I like it very much.” Fu Cheng’s lips moved, and his words were encouraging.

The apology gift was very nice.

He really liked it.

However, Fu Cheng, since being interrupted earlier, felt even more uncomfortable now.

He leaned closer to her ear and whispered hoarsely, “I miss… you.”

Youyi felt her body go weak and nearly couldn’t sit up straight, but Fu Cheng held her steady.

Her period lasts for a week, a whole week.

Fu Cheng was looking at her very intently.

Youyi avoided his gaze and listened as his voice came from her ear.

“So, in the future…”

Fu Cheng paused.

“Can you trust me a bit more?”

Trust wasn’t something that could be built overnight. He wasn’t asking for much, just hoping that she could gradually build up her trust in him, like a tower growing higher.

Youyi’s eyes met his, and the emotions in his eyes made her pause for a few seconds.

Then she obediently nodded, “Okay.”

Fu Cheng patted her head.

The heat under her bottom was intensely uncomfortable, and Youyi moved back, gripping his arm, and suggested, “You should… go to the bathroom…”

Fu Cheng stared at her.

“I’ll make you breakfast first,” he said.

*

After a brief argument, they made up simply.

During Youyi’s period, Fu Cheng took great care of her, attending to what she ate and drank, washing her dirty underwear, and soothing her stomach to help her fall asleep when she couldn’t.

She truly realized how wonderful it was to be married and have a “spouse” who cared for her so meticulously and tolerated her moods.

She wondered if everyone was this good, or if it was just Fu Cheng.

On Friday afternoon, Youyi finished class at three.

When she came in, Fu Cheng was on the phone in the living room.

In recent days, it felt like he was living here as well.

Youyi didn’t disturb him.

Fu Cheng was speaking on the phone with someone, his expression somewhat grim. He sat on the sofa, legs spread, and said coldly, “Tell him to stop holding grudges against me. I’m a useless son, and apart from making him angry, I’m good for nothing.”

He pressed his finger on one side of the phone, his brows furrowed with anger. Youyi peeked out and was about to speak, but her words were caught back.

You were looking for something.

She couldn’t remember where she put it and searched around without finding it.

Fu Cheng glanced at her, his gaze lingering for a couple of seconds, probably figuring out what she was looking for.

He got up, still holding the phone to his ear, walked to the cloakroom, opened the third drawer of the lower wardrobe, and took out a pair of light yellow lace-trimmed pants from the lower left corner.

He knew it was here because he had collected it.

Fu Cheng handed it to her.

On the other end of the line, the person was asking something, and Fu Cheng replied coldly, “Of course, to accompany my wife.”

Youyi’s hand slipped.

She panicked, turning to leave, almost bumping into the wardrobe. With a “thud” that didn’t come, Fu Cheng’s hand blocked her forehead.

He pulled her back and lifted her up with one arm. Youyi gasped, and before she could make a sound, she realized Fu Cheng was still on the phone.

So she quickly covered her mouth.

All sounds were muffled again.

Fu Cheng could easily lift her with one arm, his arm pressing against her waist as he walked into the bedroom, pushing her against the wall.

The force was so heavy it was almost suffocating, and Youyi’s pale forehead was pressed tightly, unable to move.

Fu Cheng’s chest was trembling, and he whispered again, “Yes, my wife.”

Hearing the word “wife” made her heart burn with heat.

Why was the call still not ending?

Youyi’s face turned crimson from his overpowering and aggressive behavior, and she dared not make a sound, her eyes moist and glistening, cautiously trying to pull his hand away, hoping he would let her go.

Youyi heard the person on the other end asking if he heard, and Fu Cheng replied with an “hm.” After another two minutes, he finally ended the call.

As soon as he hung up, Youyi reached out and weakly pushed him.

“It hurts…”

Fu Cheng didn’t move, one arm pressing on her waist, squeezing the soft flesh out, the stark contrast between her white skin and the tanned skin. She heard him ask hoarsely, “Don’t you like it?”

The intense pressure was overwhelming, making it impossible for her to resist, like being held in the claws of a fierce wolf, forcing her to accept everything he brought.

She was clearly aware of it.

And she really liked it.

The hidden feelings were exposed. Youyi’s breath caught, and her voice, barely audible, escaped from her throat: “I like it.”

Fu Cheng grasped her wrist with his tiger-like grip. Seeing her flushed face and bold confession, he wondered how such a beautiful and adorable girl could exist.

His chest heaved, and the dimly lit room was filled with low breaths.

“It’s been a long time…”

“Touch it.”

**

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