Chapter 18

Orderly Xiao Zhang carried the things straight into the guest room before Mu Wanwan could stop him.

Old Master Wen followed inside as well. The traces of someone living there, along with Mu Wanwan’s clothes hanging in the wardrobe, made him realize at once that the young couple were still sleeping in separate rooms.

He sighed inwardly. That grandson of his really was a block of ice. It seemed he would have to intervene.

Turning toward Mu Wanwan, Old Master Wen said, “Wanwan, I’ll stay in the guest room for the next few days. Wen Lin is still injured, so it will be easier for you to look after him if you share a room.

You two are husband and wife, the closest of people. I’m about to undergo surgery, so please, don’t make me worry anymore.”

Since he had already put things this bluntly, Mu Wanwan could only agree. Otherwise, if their situation truly affected the old man’s health, she would feel terribly guilty.

Only then did Old Master Wen nod in satisfaction.

Under his watchful gaze, Mu Wanwan moved her clothes from the guest room into the master bedroom.

Wen Lin had also heard his grandfather’s words clearly just now. He naturally understood the intention behind them, and inwardly felt helpless.

Originally Mu Wanwan had planned to bring Old Master Wen a meal, but since he had come directly to the house, there was no need to make another trip.

After lunch, Mu Wanwan thought about taking a nap. But now that she could no longer use the guest room, if she wanted to rest she would have to go into Wen Lin’s room. She decided not to sleep and went to busy herself in the kitchen instead.

She had promised Ju Bairan that she would prepare a thank-you gift for him tomorrow. She could not offer anything too costly, so she planned to make some pastries for him to try.

Her pastries were excellent, especially mung bean cakes and red-date walnut cakes. She had originally learned to make them to suit Wen Lin’s tastes.

Old Master Wen had once told her that, despite Wen Lin’s cold demeanor, he actually loved sweets.

In her past life she had put in a great deal of effort in this area, until making pastries became her strongest skill. Yet Wen Lin had never once eaten them.

Her hands moved deftly now. With all the necessary ingredients on hand, she quickly finished both the mung bean cakes and the red-date walnut cakes, and packed them carefully in a box.

Hearing the continuous clatter from the kitchen, and noticing that Mu Wanwan was not in the bedroom, Old Master Wen sighed again.

He went to Wen Lin’s bedside, and without asking about his injuries, his first words were an accusation.

“Did you upset Wanwan again? She’s a good girl. Don’t be blind to your own blessings, boy, or you’ll regret it later!”

“Grandfather, please stop worrying about these things.”

Wen Lin disliked nothing more than his grandfather’s meddling in his personal affairs.

If Old Master Wen had not forced him, he would never have married Mu Wanwan in the first place.

“Stop worrying? If I didn’t worry, you’d never have a wife at all! Look at Old Wu’s grandson—he’s about your age and already has two children!”

The old man felt his grandson was truly disappointing.

“Grandfather, I don’t even like Mu Wanwan. You forced us to marry. What now—you want to force us to have children too?”

Wen Lin hated nothing more than being controlled.

Old Master Wen’s temper flared. He glared and barked, “Everything I do is for your own good! Feelings can be cultivated. Wanwan is so beautiful—if you don’t want her, plenty of fine young men would.

But that girl has given her whole heart to you. Let me tell you, once a heart grows cold, it’s hard to warm again. Don’t leave yourself with regrets!”

Regrets? He and Mu Wanwan were soon to divorce. Divorce would free him from all this trouble.

That was what he thought, though he did not say it aloud. Fearing his grandfather would go on, he quickly buried himself in his book, signaling he did not wish to talk.

Seeing his attitude, Old Master Wen nearly raised his hand in anger, but remembering Wen Lin’s injuries, he restrained himself.

In the afternoon, Huzi came again, this time bringing pork offal. Mu Wanwan prepared to make braised delicacies.

Only then did Old Master Wen learn that Mu Wanwan had been supporting herself by selling braised goods.

His first reaction was anger—what sort of man was Wen Lin, letting his wife earn money like this? Useless! Then came heartache at the thought of how much work it must be.

Mu Wanwan hurried to explain that she only wanted to earn a little of her own money, and that it was not tiring, since she had little else to do.

After her persuasion, Old Master Wen finally calmed down. Still, the aroma of the braised food made him crave it.

Of course, she could not give him any. Such rich and heavy food was not suitable for him; his diet had to remain light.

This left the old man depressed. To smell such delicious food yet be forbidden from tasting it—what torment! That braised meat looked like the perfect dish with a glass of liquor.

To ease his craving, Mu Wanwan specially made pork-intestine noodles that evening. Even she ate a full bowl with relish.

At first Wen Lin resisted the dish, regarding pig intestines as unclean.

But the smell was irresistible. Listening from his room as Old Master Wen and Mu Wanwan enjoyed their noodles in the living room, he eventually gave in, tried a bite—and then could not stop.

After they had all eaten their fill, Old Master Wen retired early. Mu Wanwan translated two pages of English materials in the living room, then showered and entered Wen Lin’s room.

From the bottom of the wardrobe she pulled out a thin quilt, spread it on the floor, and prepared to sleep there for the time being.

Wen Lin was still injured, so she could not let him take the floor.

“I’ll sleep down there. You take the bed,” Wen Lin said, trying to rise.

Mu Wanwan quickly pressed him back down. “No need. It’s hot anyway. Sleeping on the floor is fine for me.”

“The damp from the floor is bad for you. A young woman shouldn’t sleep there,” Wen Lin said with a frown. Then, hesitating, he added, “Why don’t you sleep on the bed instead? It’s large enough—you can stay on your side.”

If he let her lie on the floor while he kept the bed, he would feel less than a man. And later in the night the ground would turn cold. With such a big bed, there was no real issue.

Since Wen Lin had said so, Mu Wanwan did not refuse. Given the choice, no one would prefer the floor.

She climbed onto the bed with her quilt and lay down on the far side.

Even with the distance, Wen Lin could smell the faint fragrance that lingered around her.

Having someone lying beside him left him restless, unable to fall asleep.

But Mu Wanwan soon drifted off, breathing deeply in slumber.

The light was off. In the dark, Wen Lin lay awake, until drowsiness finally began to take hold—when suddenly, a smooth, soft leg stretched over and touched his calf.