Chapter 47 Let’s see who can’t help it first.

“… …” Jiang Wan felt her face heat up under the intensity of his burning body temperature. Combined with the overly blunt and rugged words he used… “hurt you”? How could she not start imagining things??

Right now, her mind was filled with scenes that were definitely not safe for public broadcast. All of them would need to be censored—heavily censored.

“Anyway.” Fu Jingchuan pressed his lips together. That delicate hand under his palm was just too soft—he didn’t dare hold on even a second longer. He abruptly let go and turned his eyes away.
“I’ve got no complaints about you. I’m just… afraid of hurting you.”
“Jiang Wan, let’s take it slow, alright?”

Oh? Take it slow?

So her officer husband wasn’t in any rush at all?

In the darkness, Jiang Wan smiled with her eyes, her voice soft and sweet:
“Okay. I get it. I won’t misunderstand anymore.”

There were no more misunderstandings. But the seduction had only just begun.

The more she interacted with this rugged man, the more she found his inner contrast fascinating. He had such a tall, strong build, and he was in the prime of his youth—yet because he was afraid of “breaking” her, he said they should take it slow.

Alright. Let’s see who gives in first.

Jiang Wan’s long lashes fluttered slightly, a sense of mischief rising in her chest. She was beginning to find this whole thing quite fun. She really wanted to see what this man would look like once he finally broke down and couldn’t hold back anymore.

“I’m going to bed now,” Jiang Wan said, pretending to stand up, though a sly glint flashed through her eyes.

Just as Fu Jingchuan was preparing to lie down again, she suddenly leaned in and planted a kiss on the side of his firm, chiseled face.

Soft and sweet—barely a brush.

The body he had just managed to relax instantly tensed up again.

But Jiang Wan had already stepped away, lips curled in satisfaction as she walked back to the bedroom, clearly savoring the lingering warmth on her lips from his cheek.
With a deliberately sweet voice, she said,
“Good night.”

Then she closed the bedroom door behind her—with intention.

Yes, that’s exactly how it had to be. Tease him a little, then retreat. Only by doing that could she drive him so crazy he couldn’t control himself.

She really had underestimated how dangerous a modern-day, internet-savvy office worker like her could be.

With all the books she’d read and the stories she knew, Jiang Wan had a good grasp of the push and pull between men and women.

That light little kiss was more than enough to leave Fu Jingchuan sleepless the entire night.

After lying back down on the narrow sofa, he found he couldn’t calm down at all.

Late into the night, the rising temperature in the northern city was unbearable. The dry wind outside, carrying bits of dust as it slipped through the door cracks, did nothing to cool the sweat on his forehead.

Fu Jingchuan could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. A certain part of his body stayed… energetic… the entire night.

Finally, as the sounds of roosters and dogs echoed outside, he couldn’t take it anymore.

Holding his breath, he silently pushed open the door.

He marched straight to the well outside and used a gourd ladle to pour lukewarm water over himself again. Only then did the fire burning inside him calm down a little.

Fu Jingchuan pressed his tongue to his upper palate and stared silently at the main house, his dark eyes deep and unreadable.

A trace of regret rose in him—Why hadn’t he just… taken the chance last night?

No.
Fu Jingchuan clicked his tongue and furrowed his brows with a low sigh.
No.
He still thought she was too young.

What if she really did get hurt?

He hadn’t “eaten pork,” but he’d “seen pigs run.” Even so, Fu Jingchuan was well aware of his own strength and lack of finesse.

Back in the army’s annual physical competition, his comrades always joked—usually cursing under their breath:

“Captain Fu, seriously, what the hell are you made of?”
“Do you ever get tired?”
“Look at your muscles! Damn, they’re harder than rocks! Seriously, what kind of unfair deal did you make with the gods? We eat the same rice and train just as hard—how come we don’t look like you?!”

Fu Jingchuan tugged at his face, feeling helpless.

This was the first time in his life he wished he wasn’t so physically built. Or at least that his strength could be a little more… manageable.

He also remembered the conversation he overheard between a few middle-aged women outside the bathhouse while waiting for Jiang Wan.
Even those married aunties were saying: “That Jiang girl won’t be able to handle him.”

Fu Jingchuan looked up at the sky. He didn’t want to go back inside.

The main house was filled with that sweet, soft scent that clung to Jiang Wan. A little floral, like snow cream. If he went back in there now, it’d only be more torture.

But Fu Jingchuan still wanted to wait for Fu Chen to wake up. He needed to make sure the kid was truly okay.

So he pressed his thin lips into a line and stood there silently for a while.

Then he dropped to the ground and started doing one-arm push-ups.

By the time dawn broke and sweat was dripping down from his temples to his jaw, forming dark wet patches on the ground—

—the door to the woodshed creaked open.

Fu Chen pushed it open with a sleepy yawn, his dark eyes blinking wide.

He ran over in a few steps and squatted in front of Fu Jingchuan, frowning.
“Dad, why are you up so early?”
“… Mm.”

“Dad, did you sleep with Auntie Jiang last night?”

“… Mm.” Fu Jingchuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he stood up, bracing against the ground. Then he walked over to the water bucket and poured another ladle of water over his head.

“Hehe~ Good. That’s good.” Fu Chen nodded with satisfaction, then happily ran off to the side room on his little legs.

“Xiaoyan~~ time to get up~~ are you awake yet??”

Fu Jingchuan frowned slightly as he looked at Fu Chen’s excited expression.
He couldn’t help thinking, Do kids really make up this fast after a fight?
Last night they were so angry, and now, after just one sleep, everything’s fine?

Jiang Wan had slept incredibly well.
Maybe it was the hot bath she took the night before—her body felt fresh and clean.
So this time, she slept deeper than the past few nights, and when she woke up, her whole body felt light and refreshed.
Her eyes were even brighter than usual.

Facing the mirror, she suddenly felt like dressing up a bit.
She carefully braided her long black hair into a fishtail braid, put on a pale yellow dress, and stepped into her white leather shoes before walking out into the courtyard.

But the moment she opened the door, the blinding sun hit her in the eyes—
And she saw Zhao Yulan sitting on a low stool, bent over picking vegetables!

The moment she spotted Jiang Wan awake, she quickly walked over with a handful of greens and said,
“Aiyo, little missy, you’re finally awake!”

“The women’s association people came by a few times! Said you needed to hurry to the village committee!”

“Didn’t you already promise Director Zhao that you’d go rehearse the performance?”

Zhao Yulan had brought her own son and daughter along, and now they were playing with Fu Chen and Fu Xiaoyan at the gate with the dog.

Jiang Wan suddenly realized—Yulan-jie had probably been helping her watch the two kids.
She couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Yulan-jie, sorry to trouble you.”
“I must’ve been a little tired yesterday and overslept.”

“What’s the big deal?” Zhao Yulan laughed as she shook the leaves clean.
“I’ve got nothing much going on at home anyway—I’m bored to death most days!
Actually, it was my two who were begging to come play with your kids this morning!”

“Jiang-meizi, don’t worry at all! I’ll have them over for lunch too.
If the leaders really do take a liking to you later…
Just bring back some snacks for my two little gluttons—that’s more than enough!”