Chapter 28: Night Talk Between Husband and Wife

Jiang Ning’s composure lasted for ten minutes.

Lu Dingquan took an unusually long time showering tonight. When he pushed the door open and came back, he carried a cool, refreshing air with him.

His wet, black short hair was swept back, revealing a smooth forehead. His facial features were sharper, and the layer of blue stubble on his chin was shaved clean.

Perhaps because he had been living outside for too long, he hadn’t brought any change of clothes back. After showering, he only wore a semi-new, loose-fitting tank top and home pants, revealing a pair of strong shoulders and arms.

Jiang Ning sat on the couch fiddling with the radio, not raising her head when she heard him come back. She planned to go and heat some water later.

Lu Dingquan carried the thermos back to the small bathroom. When he came out, he asked, “Finished eating?”

Only then did Jiang Ning raise her eyes, her face calm. “Finished, it was pretty good. Did you buy it outside?”

Lu Dingquan replied, and when his eyes met hers, his lips twitched slightly. He didn’t have any expression, but the man who had just showered suddenly made Jiang Ning feel like he was a shade whiter than when she had met him on the street.

He smelled good.

Did he use a lot of soap?

Lu Dingquan went to the window to hang up his clothes. As he passed the small sofa, Jiang Ning stood up and lowered her eyelashes, passing him by in time.

She went to the small bathroom and lifted the thermos, discovering that both were heavy, already filled with hot water.

Jiang Ning glanced into the room. The man’s back was still at the window hanging clothes.

He helped fill the thermos, but if she were to take a shower in here now, and he was in the room…

The bathroom door was just a thin board, obviously not soundproof.

Jiang Ning pursed her lips and went to gather her change of clothes.

She didn’t hesitate. It was just a shower. If she went to the public bathroom in the hallway, the sanitary conditions would be even worse. She didn’t want to go.

Taking her pajamas, she casually placed her underwear under them, then tied up her hair, which she had washed just yesterday. She calmly entered the bathroom.

When she closed the door, she even asked generously, “Do you need to use the toilet?”

Lu Dingquan shook the towel in his hand, turned his head, and his side profile, still wet with water droplets, looked hard and cold in the night light outside the window. He said faintly, “No.”

Jiang Ning quickly closed the door.

While showering, she deliberately kept the sound low, but unfortunately, the sound of the water flowing was still loud.

She showered slowly. When she came out of the bathroom to hang up her clothes and towel, she noticed in the mirror that her face was flushed from the steam.

Lu Dingquan was already sitting in his usual spot by the window, looking at his things, seemingly still studying the blueprints, not intending to sleep for now.

Jiang Ning glanced at him and went around to the left window.

As soon as the window was opened, a cold breeze with a few raindrops rushed in, making her realize that the temperature had indeed turned colder tonight.

Earlier, when Lu Dingquan drove them back, there were only a few light raindrops. Now, they were hanging on the window like thin lines of water.

The clothes had to be hung inside. There was a rope at the foot of the bed, but it was quite high. It wouldn’t be easy to hang them even if she stood on the bed.

Jiang Ning climbed onto the bed and stood on tiptoe. Just as she made a little noise, a man’s voice suddenly came from behind the curtain:

“Going to sleep?”

“No, I’m hanging clothes.”

She couldn’t explain why, but she was afraid that he would suddenly come over. She quickly stood on the bed and finished hanging the clothes.

After finishing, she was truly a bit tired and wanted to lie down, but Lu Dingquan was still sitting by the window looking at his things.

The atmosphere in the room was too quiet. She could only go back to the sofa and fiddle with the radio, keeping the volume very low.

After a while, Jiang Ning yawned silently. As she raised her eyes, she met the man’s gaze at the window.

He looked at her, “Sleepy?”

Jiang Ning pursed her lips and heard his calm voice again, “Go to bed first, I’ll turn off the lights later.”

“?”

Seeing that she didn’t move, Lu Dingquan suggested lightly, “It’s raining tonight, the temperature is very low. You can go to bed if you don’t want to catch a cold.”

Only then did Jiang Ning understand. He didn’t mean to be kind and give her the bed, but rather… to sleep in the bed together?

She subconsciously wanted to decline, but the window on his side was left ajar, and a cold wind blew in. Jiang Ning immediately shivered.

She thought, it should be okay.

Two blankets, each sleeping on their own side, that’s good.

Jiang Ning was very sensible. She pretended to be very sleepy, “…Then I’ll go to sleep.”

She hugged her small blanket and threw it to the inside of the bed, then moved his blanket to the outside, each taking up half, not interfering with each other.

The room was still chilly, and the half-window on his side wasn’t closed tightly.

Jiang Ning looked out from the gap in the curtain. He was only wearing a tank top, both arms exposed, and he didn’t seem cold at all.

Perhaps he was too focused on flipping through those professional documents. She didn’t dare to interrupt him. She slowly got out of bed and went to close the window.

The window of the tube building was the old-fashioned kind that pushed outwards. This one, she didn’t know if it was stuck or something, but Jiang Ning reached out to pull it inwards, but it wouldn’t budge.

She strained and pulled again, still not moving. The figure by the table suddenly stood up, reaching behind her. A large hand grasped the window frame and said, “Let go.”

Jiang Ning quickly let go.

The man simply pulled it lightly, and the window closed.

The space by the window where the small table was placed was very cramped. He stood behind her, almost trapping her in the corner.

Jiang Ning wasn’t short, but she seemed too thin and petite in front of him.

The scent of soap on Lu Dingquan finally faded. Standing in front of her, his solid chest was just ten centimeters away from her nose. Jiang Ning was about to say thank you when the man silently reached over her shoulder, untied the curtain by the window frame, and pulled it up with a “whoosh.”

Jiang Ning’s eyelashes trembled.

Only then did he look down at her, his expression calm. “Not cold anymore?”

Jiang Ning’s gaze fell on his shoulders, his Adam’s apple, but she didn’t look at his eyes.

She replied softly, “Yeah, not cold anymore… I’ll go to sleep then.”

Lu Dingquan sat back down at the table, and she also returned to the space behind the curtain.

Her tied-up hair had fallen loose, a few strands loosely covering her slightly hot ears.

The man’s gaze followed silently until she went inside, then abruptly retracted.

Jiang Ning felt that tonight was too quiet.

Well, it must be because it was too quiet, making her feel inexplicably uneasy.

She honestly slept on the inside of the bed, curled up in the blanket, almost touching the wall.

She had been out all day today, and she was actually quite sleepy now, but her mind was filled with random thoughts that wouldn’t stop.

She hoped he would turn off the lights soon, but then she didn’t want him to.

She hoped he would wait until she fell asleep before turning off the lights and getting into bed.

However, before she could let her thoughts run wild, she heard a click, and her vision instantly plunged into darkness.

The lights were off.

Jiang Ning quickly closed her eyes and lay down, not daring to move her limbs, pretending to be asleep.

But after waiting for a long time, there was still no sound of him getting into bed.

What was he doing?

It seemed like three minutes had passed, or maybe thirty seconds, she couldn’t help but want to turn her head to look. Finally, she heard very light footsteps coming towards her.

Then, the bed sank slightly.

The rustling sound of the blanket and clothes rubbing against each other was very noticeable in the darkness.

The bed sank down heavily. Jiang Ning knew the man next to her had lain down.

She moved a little closer to the wall without making a sound, her face also facing the wall.

Outside, the wind was howling softly. The room became even quieter after the lights were turned off.

Just when she thought she could finally sleep peacefully, a man’s voice suddenly rang in her ear:

“Didn’t you have something to say?”

It was the kind of thing that could only be said at night.

Jiang Ning felt like she had been awakened in the quiet, her head jolted, and the voice she heard in her ear was low and casual, “You can say it now.”

Her ears twitched.

Only now did she remember, yes, she had originally planned to have a good talk with him tonight, but she completely forgot.

So now, should she continue to pretend to be asleep, or should she speak to him?

He still remembered this, why didn’t he ask her before turning off the lights, why did he have to say it when he was already in bed…

After a while, she remained silent. Perhaps Lu Dingquan saw that she didn’t speak for a long time and didn’t continue to ask.

However, his voice sounded again.

“I won’t be home for a few days. When did you become someone’s sister?”

The man’s tone was calm, but it didn’t sound like he was truly praising her.

Jiang Ning couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“……It was just a small favor. They gave me a few plates of dumplings to thank me and treated me to dinner. Besides, I’m actually a bit capable.”

Hearing her muffled voice, the man beside her paused, puzzled, “You’re not asleep?”

Jiang Ning closed her eyes and chuckled. Did he really think she was asleep? Who was she talking to? Was there a ghost in this room?

Lu Dingquan remained motionless, continuing to agree with her previous words, “Yeah, you’re quite capable.”

Since she had spoken, she couldn’t pretend to be asleep anymore. She corrected him, facing the wall, “I am, a little bit.”

She couldn’t reveal all her abilities. She still had to be humble and low-key in front of the big boss. For now, she still depended on him for living expenses.

Just after she finished speaking, the man beside her suddenly turned over, his weight causing the whole bed to move.

Jiang Ning immediately tensed her ears.

She was sleeping facing the wall, so she didn’t know which way he turned, but she felt like there were two eyeballs staring at the back of her head. In the pitch-black night, she felt a little uneasy.

“What was it you wanted to say to me before.”

The voice behind her ear suddenly rang out, sounding deep and husky in the night, as if it was very close, slightly pressing on her auditory nerves.

Jiang Ning’s head buried in the pillow froze.

Lu Dingquan didn’t speak, as if patiently waiting for her to answer.

She held her breath, trying to speak calmly, but the wind outside howled even louder. Her eyes, which had adapted to the darkness of the room, saw the faint dust stains on the wall, and there seemed to be a dead mosquito, while the faint gaze behind her made her even more nervous…

Jiang Ning suddenly turned over.

Lu Dingquan was lying flat on his back, he wasn’t staring at her.

Was it just an illusion caused by her fear of the dark?

“What’s wrong?” He saw her sudden movement and turned his face to look at her.

The bed was only 1.6 meters wide, not small, but not large either.

The two pillows were placed side by side. She turned over, and her small blanket was pressed tightly against his.

Jiang Ning, “No… nothing.”

He asked, “Cold?”

His gaze moved down. She was covered with a thin blanket, only her head was exposed, curled up inside like a very obedient silkworm.

Jiang Ning, “Not cold.”

She regretted turning over just now. She really wanted to turn back, but that would make her seem guilty.

Why was she guilty?

Who wouldn’t feel guilty when facing a man who was like a mountain lying in front of them?

When she was standing, she hadn’t noticed, and she hadn’t felt it when they were in the car together, but… when this man lay close to her eyes, she realized that he was really… so thick!

Sleeping on the inside of the bed felt like sleeping in a fence, it gave her a sense of security, she didn’t have to worry about falling off.

Of course, there was also a feeling of being firmly blocked and unable to get out.

The curtains were drawn, and tonight seemed exceptionally dark, with almost no light coming in. But despite this, she could still see his half-covered body, his strong shoulders in the tank top exposed, his muscular physique, completely different from a woman’s slender figure, even in a static state, seemed full of strength.

Jiang Ning held her breath and looked at him for a few more seconds, quickly lowering her gaze when he blinked slowly.

It was so strange. She couldn’t sleep at all.

She took a breath and softly brought up, “It’s nothing… I just wanted to find an opportunity to talk to you properly about the divorce before.”

Lu Dingquan’s dark eyes opened, staring at the ceiling.

The woman continued softly, “I was the one who brought up the divorce that time. Although you didn’t object, but… but I’ve thought about it carefully during this time, and actually, divorce wouldn’t be the best option for either of us.”

Jiang Ning secretly glanced at his side profile, “What do you think?”

In the quiet room, the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Yeah.” His voice was low, it was impossible to tell if he was happy or not.

Jiang Ning continued, “So I’ve reflected a lot. Everything before was my fault. And I shouldn’t have delayed your work outside, I shouldn’t have gone to your factory to cause a scene and make people laugh. Of course, men should focus on their careers. I understand now, so I promise I won’t cause trouble for you again, wasting your time.”

These words sounded like a caring little wife.

The man remained silent.

Jiang Ning paused, finally saying what was on her mind, “I can guarantee you, I will never break my promise. If you think you can forgive me for all that before, then let’s continue to live together, not interfering with each other, and we can still help each other out if anything happens. I also guarantee that I won’t… cough, I won’t do that stuff behind your back.”

She thought she had said these words sincerely and clearly.

Lu Dingquan was silent for a while.

Jiang Ning didn’t know what he was thinking. As soon as she raised her gaze, she met the man’s prominent Adam’s apple and sharp jawline.

She withdrew her gaze absentmindedly. She slowly wriggled like a clumsy hamster, lying straight on her back.

Whew, finally she didn’t have to face this human wall.

The next moment, the man’s breath was calm as he asked, “Not interfering with each other?”

Jiang Ning’s eyelashes fluttered, “Yeah, I mean, I’ll try not to hold you back and not interfere with you in the future.”

He still didn’t respond, and she didn’t know if she had said something wrong.

Suddenly, she heard his voice, slightly deep, as if with a hint of sarcasm, “Didn’t you always want to get a divorce and go find that guy surnamed Meng?”

“Lost interest now?”

Jiang Ning’s head jolted, she was confused.

He brought up that Meng Wenbin matter again, it seemed like he still harbored resentment.

She silently furrowed her brow, trying to explain, “What happened before was completely my fault, but you should have seen my attitude towards him at the department store that day. I’ve lost any inappropriate feelings for him long ago. Now, he’s just a stranger to me.”

“And after impulsively bringing up the divorce last time, I’ve thought it over. The most basic thing in marriage is mutual loyalty between the two parties. Whether there’s any affection between the two, loyalty and not betraying each other is a necessary condition, it’s the foundation of a life together.”

“If I have any inappropriate thoughts in the future, don’t even think about it, I’ll get a divorce immediately, I won’t stay and waste your time.”

She finished saying these words in one breath, but her heart felt heavy.

Perhaps it was because he had been very nice to her recently, even one could say, he treated her very well. Suddenly being questioned by him in this tone, she felt a little uncomfortable.