Chapter 8

Zhao Wuzhu spoke a few words to Gu Qinghan before hurriedly taking the child and locking the room door behind her.

In the past, she would sleep with the door wide open, so it was clear how anxious she was for them to “share a room.”

Indeed, Zhao Wuzhu had always preferred sons over daughters.

After giving birth to this granddaughter, she had often expressed her dissatisfaction and frequently urged her to try again for a son.

Gu Qinghan was about to set off for the Northern Military District, and Zhao Wuzhu had no idea whether she planned to accompany the military. After Gu Qinghan arrived in the Northern Military District, her chances of returning home would be even less than if she had stayed in the province, which surely made Zhao Wuzhu anxious.

She could hardly wait for them to spend one night together, hoping it would result in giving birth to a son.

Wen Nuan stood in place, feeling a bit awkward. She glanced sideways at Gu Qinghan and noticed his expression was not much better, yet he remained silent.

When they got married, it was “Wen Nuan” who took the initiative to do that.

At that time, “Wen Nuan” wanted to get pregnant as soon as possible. She believed that if she became pregnant, she wouldn’t have to go out to work; instead, she could stay home to care for the child and receive a monthly allowance sent by Gu Qinghan.

The two of them stood in silence for a short while.

Wen Nuan waited for the child to start crying, so she could boldly go into Zhao Wuzhu’s room to bring the child out.

However, the child seemed quite energetic now, perhaps having taken a short nap in the early evening, as they could hear her laughing joyfully through the door while Zhao Wuzhu played with her.

Normally, the child was not shy at all. As long as it was not a stranger, she was willing to be held by anyone.

Wen Nuan vaguely hoped that Gu Qinghan would say something at that moment, prompting her to knock on the door to bring the child out.

Unfortunately, things did not go as she wished. Gu Qinghan said nothing, gave her a glance, and then went directly into the room to find some clothes before walking into the bathroom.

It was already past nine o’clock, and in this era, there were not many forms of entertainment; many people had gone to bed early.

Wen Nuan heard the sound of water splashing from the bathroom, and inappropriate images suddenly flashed through her mind, causing her face to heat up instantly.

From Gu Qinghan’s demeanor, it seemed like she intended to go to bed early, too.

Otherwise, she could have just told Gu Qinghan that she wanted to accompany the military, and the matter of sharing a room could wait; there was no need to rush.

The more Wen Nuan thought about it, the more confused she became. She prayed for the child to start crying soon while also hoping that Gu Qinghan would not come out and share the bed with her.

Just as she returned to her room and lay down on the bed, she heard the creaking sound of the old bathroom door opening.

Wen Nuan turned onto her side, shifting further into the bed and leaving her back facing outward.

Usually, the child would sleep inside, and she would sleep outside. This time, however, she was in the inner position, and it felt a bit strange.

Lost in her thoughts, the man had already finished showering and returned to the room.

She could hear the soft rustling sounds as he moved, indicating he was trying to be quiet. However, the shadow he cast on the wall made Wen Nuan feel a sense of pressure.

Just as Wen Nuan was about to speak, the wooden bed let out a loud “creak,” making her feel as if the bed was about to lift up.

She tightened her grip on the small blanket that usually covered the child, curling her body slightly and shifting inward.

However, Gu Qinghan did not make any further movements. For a moment, the air was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Wen Nuan didn’t even dare to breathe too heavily.

Yet, she felt that Gu Qinghan was not the type of person who would act irrationally. As long as she explained herself clearly, he wouldn’t force her into anything.

Moreover, he was an upright military man, and Wen Nuan believed he would not go against a woman’s wishes.

After thinking it over, Wen Nuan organized her thoughts in her mind several times before speaking gently, “The child has always slept with me; I’m afraid she will cry if I’m not with her.”

This was the truth. Since the child was born, she had been the one taking care of everything—feeding, changing, and all other needs.

Even during the month of confinement, Zhao Wuzhu had only helped out for a few days.

Moreover, the child had not yet weaned.

Occasionally, she would wake up at night looking for milk, and Wen Nuan really did not feel comfortable letting the child sleep with Zhao Wuzhu.

When Wen Nuan did not hear the man respond, she thought he might not have understood her meaning.

Just as she was about to speak again, the sound of the child crying and Zhao Wuzhu’s lamenting voice came from the next room.

Wen Nuan felt a surge of energy and abruptly jumped out of bed, exclaiming, “I’ll go check on the child!”

With that, she deliberately avoided the tall figure by the bed and cautiously got off.

Gu Qinghan watched the figure darting out, his dark eyes growing heavy.

Just as Wen Nuan stepped out of the room, Zhao Wuzhu’s door swung open. She stood there, brushing off the mess on her clothes while cursing, “What on earth did that little girl eat tonight? She threw up all over me! Oh dear, this stench is terrible; it almost made me sick.”

“Goodness, my bed is ruined! How am I supposed to sleep tonight?”

Wen Nuan quickly took the child from her and said, “Mom, you should go wash up first. I’ll help clean the baby.”

In no time, the house was in chaos again. Zhao Wuzhu was busy washing the sheets and bedcovers, while Gu Qinghan went to boil water.

Wen Nuan didn’t have a moment to rest either; since the child had vomited, she was covered in it and needed a bath as well.

Before long, over half an hour had passed, and Wen Nuan was drenched in sweat from all the activity.

After the child vomited, she slowly began to feel sleepy.

Wen Nuan didn’t even have time to take a bath; she simply changed into a fresh outfit and started to lull the child to sleep.

Zhao Wuzhu had no place to sleep and was unwilling to use the makeshift bed in the living room, which was usually where Gu Qingsong slept. She had fallen off that bed while taking a nap before.

So, Zhao Wuzhu said to Wen Nuan, “I’ll just squeeze in with you and the baby tonight.”

“After all, once Qingsong gets married, I’ll have to vacate the room and stay in the same one with you anyway.”

Wen Nuan had no choice but to agree.

However, after listening to Zhao Wuzhu’s thunderous snoring all night, Wen Nuan thought that perhaps sleeping with Gu Qinghan wouldn’t be so difficult to accept after all.

Thinking about how Zhao Wuzhu had mentioned last night that once Gu Qingsong got married, she would have to share a room with her, Wen Nuan felt her desire to accompany Gu Qinghan at the military stirring even more.

Having not slept well the entire night, Wen Nuan woke up early.

Zhao Wuzhu and the child were still fast asleep. She quietly got out of bed, planning to wash the dirty clothes the child had worn the night before.

As soon as she stepped out of the room, Wen Nuan caught a whiff of the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen, making her stomach grumble with hunger.

Given that it was just the four of them at home, it had to be Gu Qinghan who was cooking breakfast in the kitchen.

However, when she peeked into the kitchen, she found it empty, with only a large pot on the stove emitting steam.

Wen Nuan guessed that the man had probably gone out for a morning run, as his years in the army had instilled in him a unique routine.

Wen Nuan first went to the bathroom to get her toiletries. After a quick wash, she felt a bit more refreshed.

However, she had not slept well the previous night, and she could not help but yawn twice.

Just when Wen Nuan planned to wash the child’s clothes, she noticed that the enamel basin she had left in the bathroom was missing.

She had clearly soaked the clothes in the basin after giving the child a bath last night, so where could it have gone?

Wen Nuan stepped out of the bathroom and began to search around. Eventually, she even looked outside the house.

As soon as Wen Nuan stepped outside, she spotted a tall figure crouched by the communal well in the courtyard. In front of him was a familiar enamel basin, which contained the child and her clothes. She could recognize at a glance that it was the basin specifically meant for the child.

Wen Nuan usually did not use that basin; it was reserved solely for the child.

The infant, only a few months old, had a weak immune system, so she made it a point to prepare a separate set of items just for the child. She did not even have a washbasin for herself and would not use the child’s basin.

However, Zhao Wuzhu and Gu Qingsong were not so particular; they typically used the same basin for washing their feet, face, and bottom.

Gu Qinghan did not notice her; his tall figure was turned away from her. He wore a short-sleeved military uniform that revealed his lean, muscular arms and healthy, tanned skin.

His broad, strong shoulders showcased subtle muscle definition, exuding a robust and aesthetically pleasing strength, likely a result of years of training. The healthy, masculine aura he radiated was particularly intense.

Living in a modern age, Wen Nuan had seen her fair share of “Male Gods” online and had encountered even more exaggerated scenes while vacationing at the beach.

However, this was different!

Gu Qinghan possessed an impact that compelled her to glance at him repeatedly.

Wen Nuan stood there, staring blankly—her heart suddenly raced uncontrollably for a moment.

She had to admit that Gu Qinghan was truly everything she found appealing.

He was good-looking, well-built, capable of doing housework, and even helped wash the child’s clothes. In this era of male chauvinism, such men were truly rare.

After observing the neighborhood for a month, she had not encountered anyone like him.

Gu Qinghan was the first she had seen.

Wen Nuan’s determination to follow the military grew stronger.

After watching for a short while, Wen Nuan felt a bit out of sorts.

Just as she was about to turn back toward the house, Gu Qinghan suddenly turned his face, revealing a handsome profile as he looked at her.

On that November morning, the light was dim, but his eyes sparkled with a subtle brilliance.

In his hands, he held the clothes she had changed out of the previous night, still damp and covered in soap bubbles.

Gu Qinghan spoke in an ambiguous tone, “Breakfast is on the stove. Since the child hasn’t woken up yet, you should eat first.”

After saying this, he returned to scrubbing the clothes in the basin.

When the child was still very young, mealtime was indeed quite a hassle. Wen Nuan would always try to finish her meals as quickly as possible, fearing that the child would cry and fuss, making it difficult to eat in peace.

Wen Nuan responded with an “mm,” intending to go back inside to eat, but then she thought about how she would be living with this man in the future. There would be many things to handle together, and she sensed that he was a responsible man.

Wen Nuan turned around, standing at the doorway, and smiled gently at his back. “Um, the child needs to get vaccinated today. You should come along too.”

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T/N: This chapter is a bonus chapter! Chapter 7 was unlocked on Monday instead of Saturday. To make it up to you, here’s a bonus update! Thank you~ (❁´◡`❁)

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