The beep of the room card unlocking the door pulled Cheng Jin out of his thoughts. Lu Tao walked in first, then stood by the door, looking at him. “Come in.”

Cheng Jin, hesitant but unable to defy Lu Tao, took a moment before stepping inside. He had considered suggesting, “Let’s book another room,” but the words never made it out of his mouth.

The room wasn’t very spacious, and through the half-drawn curtains, you could see the snow falling outside. Cheng Jin was used to this kind of climate and even thought the snow here was lighter compared to that of the geothermal planets, where it seemed like the snow could drown the world. There was only one large bed, and the decor had the distinct icy elegance typical of Bing Jing Planet, with beautiful touches and thoughtful details everywhere. Cheng Jin didn’t dare sit close to the bed. He wasn’t really worried that Lu Tao would suddenly “lose control,” especially since Lu Tao had never shown any strong desires in front of him.

It was almost as if the “second Lu Tao” didn’t even exist in the same body.

Lu Tao, on the other hand, seemed much more at ease. After entering the room, he took off his coat, revealing the military uniform underneath. He glanced at Cheng Jin. “Do you need anything? I can ask them to bring it.”

Cheng Jin quickly shook his head. “No, nothing at all.”

Lu Tao stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly said, “Take off your coat.”

“Huh?” Cheng Jin’s eyes widened in alarm. His reaction clearly displeased Lu Tao, whose face grew more serious. “You’re sweating. If you keep it on, you’ll catch a cold.”

“I-I’m fine…” Cheng Jin stammered. He didn’t want to take off his coat, afraid Lu Tao might notice something. Although his belly wasn’t very obvious yet, Lu Tao’s keen observation skills were frightening. So, to be safe, he wanted to avoid taking the risk.

Lu Tao frowned and took a step toward him. His strides were long, and with the room being small, he reached Cheng Jin in just a few steps. Startled, Cheng Jin instinctively backed away until his back hit the wall, leaving him nowhere to go. The powerful aura radiating from Lu Tao made Cheng Jin avert his gaze. But then, Lu Tao asked, “Are you that afraid of me?” As he spoke, he reached for Cheng Jin’s chest. Cheng Jin tried to block him, but as soon as he raised his hand, Lu Tao grabbed his wrist, his other hand pulling down the zipper of Cheng Jin’s coat.

With a soft zip, the coat opened, revealing the sweater beneath. Cheng Jin quickly realized what Lu Tao intended and hurriedly said, “I-I can do it myself…” He really was drenched in sweat. His hair was damp, and he felt sticky and uncomfortable.

“Afraid of me?”

That question lingered in Cheng Jin’s mind. He shook his head frantically. Pulling his wrist free, he quickly shrugged off his coat, clutching it to his chest. “I’m sweating too much. I-I’ll go take a shower.”

The hotel had provided bathrobes, so Cheng Jin grabbed one from the closet. Just as he was about to head to the bathroom, he caught Lu Tao watching him. Feeling awkward, he said, “I really just need a shower because I’m sweating. Don’t get the wrong idea.” Without waiting for a reply, he quickly entered the bathroom and locked the door behind him.

Lu Tao gritted his teeth.

Taking a hot shower in a warm room was one of the most comforting things, and Cheng Jin hadn’t enjoyed such luxury in a long time. Soaking in hot springs was nice, but it was outdoors, and the process of undressing and dressing afterward was always a bit uncomfortable. Here, being fully naked didn’t feel cold at all. The only thing that bothered him was the sight of his slightly swollen belly.

He couldn’t understand why Lu Tao hadn’t come to bring him back for a divorce. Was he just being petty? Or could it be that Lu Tao… liked him? But how could that be? If Lu Tao truly liked him, why had he treated him so coldly?

Cheng Jin couldn’t sense any love from him.

It was half an hour before Cheng Jin finished his shower. He dried himself slowly, put on his old underwear and the bathrobe, then layered his coat over it. Slipping into his slippers, he opened the bathroom door cautiously. He cracked it open, peeking at what Lu Tao was doing, but their eyes met instantly, making Cheng Jin feel a bit awkward. He fully opened the door and stepped out.

Lu Tao was busy with something, his holographic screen no longer in hidden mode, hovering in front of him. He had taken off his military coat, revealing a green military shirt underneath. His sleeves were rolled up, and two buttons were undone, giving him a rugged, handsome look.

Cheng Jin’s heart skipped a beat against his will. He quickly looked away and walked over to the bed. Hesitating, he asked, “Do you want to rest? Would it be better if I got another room?”

Lu Tao froze. His eyes turned cold, and his voice grew sharper. “Why would we get another room?”

Cheng Jin clutched his coat, confused. “Didn’t you not want to share a room with me?” He felt a little hurt. “You used to insist on sleeping in separate rooms. I have money now, I can book a room myself.”

“There’s no need,” Lu Tao said, his tone clipped.

Cheng Jin shrank back, too scared to speak again. Slowly, he climbed onto the bed. After pulling the blanket over himself, he finally took off his coat. From where he sat, Lu Tao was in his line of sight. He tried to steal a glance, but Lu Tao caught him looking.

Cheng Jin shivered. Lu Tao’s gaze was… furious.

Had he said something wrong?

Cheng Jin fidgeted nervously, unsure of what to do. In a small voice, he asked, “Could you… close the curtains? I’m feeling a bit tired.”

Ever since getting pregnant, Cheng Jin had been getting tired easily. A daily nap was necessary, or he’d feel sluggish all day.

After what seemed like forever, the towering man stopped glaring at him and walked over to the window. With a swift motion, he pulled the blackout curtains closed.

“Thanks,” Cheng Jin murmured, stifling a yawn. The room now darker, his eyelids grew heavy, and all the questions he had fell away. All he wanted was sleep.

He should’ve felt uncomfortable sharing a room with his estranged husband, yet somehow, Cheng Jin slept exceptionally well. He didn’t even dream. When he woke up, his mind was still a bit fuzzy, but he felt refreshed. Seeing Lu Tao, he sleepily mumbled, “Hubby,” and in a playful tone, added, “I want some water…”

For a moment, the air froze. Ten seconds passed before Cheng Jin realized what he had said. He panicked, sitting up in bed, ready to apologize. But before he could, Lu Tao stood up and handed him a glass of water.

“I…” Cheng Jin awkwardly ruffled his messy hair, unsure whether to take the glass. “I was half-asleep, sorry. I didn’t mean to call you that. I thought…”

He remembered calling Lu Tao that way in the past, only to be met with dislike, so he had stopped.

Lu Tao’s hand tightened around the glass, as though trying not to break it. “You thought what? That I was someone else?”

Cheng Jin muttered guiltily, “Sorry…”

“I am your husband.”

Cheng Jin blinked in surprise but quickly understood. “Legally, yes.”

But this answer seemed to displease Lu Tao. He pushed the cup toward Cheng Jin, forcing him to take it. After Cheng Jin finished the water, Lu Tao, still standing in front of him, asked, “Why did you want to marry Ma Yuan?”

Cheng Jin froze. “How do you know his name…” He glanced at the time on his wrist—it had been three hours since he’d fallen asleep, more than enough time for Lu Tao to gather information. Still, Cheng Jin tried to explain. “Did you investigate him? I wanted to marry him because I thought he was a good person, and I needed a fresh start.”

“A good person?” Lu Tao’s tone was laced with skepticism.

Cheng Jin bit his lip. “He’s eighteen, only a year younger than I was when I married you.”

“But you’ve only met him twice, and the first time was yesterday.”

Cheng Jin was startled. “How do you know that?”

“There were witnesses. Don’t tell me it’s love at first sight,” Lu Tao said dryly.

Feeling frustrated, Cheng Jin pressed his hand against his belly under the blanket. “Why not? Can’t it be love at first sight?”

Lu Tao’s face darkened further. “I doubt he would agree to marriage so impulsively.”

Cheng Jin’s voice grew defensive. “His family is poor. He has a mother and sister to care for. I told him I needed to get married, offered him money, and asked him to register with me. Does that reason satisfy you?” His tone turned bitter. “This is just the kind of person I am. I once fell in love with you at first sight, so I desperately wanted to marry you. Back then, my family had power to pressure you, but now they’re bankrupt, and all I can do is lie! I don’t understand why my divorce application hasn’t gone through! Lu Tao, don’t you want to divorce me? Why hasn’t it happened?”

Lu Tao was surprised by his outburst but maintained his composure. “I told you, I never thought about divorcing you.”

Cheng Jin felt on the verge of breaking down. He shouted, “Then tell me! Where were you planning to take me before you came back?” Tears streamed down his face, filled with endless grievance. “You weren’t going to some fancy event, were you? You’ve never wanted to be seen with me in public!”

Lu Tao watched him in silence for a few seconds before finally responding. “I was taking you to open a joint account. It’s a process that requires both spouses to be present for it to take effect.”

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Translator Note:

I’ll try to finish the update by today~
It’s just that moving from Doc to the site got me crossed eyes @@