Chapter 49: Do You Regret Marrying Me?

As his hand touched her fair skin, Song Yuzhou’s face turned red.

Even though they had long been intimate as husband and wife, every time he touched her, his heart would still race.

Wherever his hand, slick with body lotion, passed, it left a trail of softness and moisture.

Seeing his evasive gaze, Jiang Zhi Ning teased, “Are you shy?”

Song Yuzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice low and hoarse: “I’m still a man.”

“So?” she said, clearly amused.

Realizing she was teasing him on purpose, Song Yuzhou gave her a playful squeeze with his large hand in retaliation.

Jiang Zhi Ning flinched slightly. “Ouch.”

“Don’t seduce me,” Song Yuzhou swallowed hard.

“They say massages help with breast enhancement. Want to give it a try?” Jiang Zhi Ning blinked her big, watery eyes at him.

She had heard of such methods before but never had the chance to try.

Song Yuzhou’s face turned even redder as he looked at her creamy skin.

In the end, he couldn’t resist—he lowered his head.

Jiang Zhi Ning let out a surprised cry and hugged his head.

He buried his face against her and gently bit down.

The hand slick with lotion slid down her stomach and landed on her hips.

He hesitated, unsure whether to continue.

After nibbling for a while, Song Yuzhou’s eyes gleamed. “Can I?”

Seeing the desire in his eyes, Jiang Zhi Ning teased again with a smirk: “If I wasn’t sure you couldn’t resist, would I dare make a move?”

His palm gripped tighter, and in a husky voice, he said, “Of course you dare.”

Then his hands no longer hesitated and moved downward.

His palms, slick with lotion, caressed every inch of her skin like spring water, softening everything they touched.

Jiang Zhi Ning’s cheeks were flushed, and her breathy, uneven moans escaped from her nose.

As the passion grew deeper, Song Yuzhou called her name over and over again.

By dawn, Jiang Zhi Ning lay softly in his arms, utterly exhausted.

She hadn’t slept all night and was completely drained.

The lotion on her body had left a slight coolness that made her shiver.

Seeing this, Song Yuzhou instinctively pulled her into a tighter embrace.

“Zhi Ning… do you regret marrying me?” he finally asked the question that had been on his mind.

Jiang Zhi Ning opened her sleepy eyes and looked at him. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you’re a stepmother, you’ve had to endure a lot of judgment. And Song Chen, that boy… he’s quite hostile toward you,” Song Yuzhou answered honestly.

She pulled away slightly and looked at him. “It’s true—being a stepmother is harder than I imagined. Especially with a big kid like Song Chen, it’s much more difficult than I expected.”

“They’re my big brother’s children, and I promised to take care of them,” Song Yuzhou said, lowering his eyes.

“That’s why… I once thought about divorce.”

Song Yuzhou’s pupils widened.

“I’m not afraid of divorce. If I feel I’m not receiving enough respect or love in this marriage, I will walk away.”

As soon as her words fell, Song Yuzhou wrapped her tightly in his arms.

He held her so firmly, as if afraid she might disappear at any moment. “I don’t agree.”

“If I want a divorce, your agreement wouldn’t matter,” Jiang Zhi Ning smiled gently. “Luckily, your trust convinced me to stay in this marriage.”

The calm in her eyes just now had terrified him, as if she could leave him at any time.

“I’ll trust you. I don’t want our marriage to be strained because of the children,” Song Yuzhou said earnestly.

Feeling his heartbeat racing, Jiang Zhi Ning gave a soft smile. “Alright, let’s just call this our marriage adjustment period.”

“Thank you,” Song Yuzhou said sincerely.

His delicate little wife also needed to be cherished. Holding her tightly, Song Yuzhou breathed in her scent deeply, as if grounding himself in her presence.

---

Early in the morning, Song Yuzhou got up to take care of the kids. After heating up the breakfast he’d prepared for Jiang Zhi Ning and leaving it in the pot, he left for the military camp.

Just as Jiang Zhi Ning was half-asleep, something soft wriggled its way into the bed.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw a pair of chubby little hands wrapping around her.

“What is it?” she asked gently.

“Mommy, hug,” Xi Xi murmured, snuggling into her arms.

Xi Xi had been taken into the Song household by Song Yuzhou when she was just a few months old. To her, Jiang Zhi Ning was “Mommy”—and she was especially clingy.

Jiang Zhi Ning chuckled softly, affectionately replying, “Alright, Mommy will hug you to sleep.”

“Mommy smells nice,” Xi Xi said cheerfully, rubbing her head against Jiang Zhi Ning.

“Xi Xi is soft too,” she replied dotingly.

The two of them snuggled up and fell back asleep.

When they finally woke up again, it was already 1 p.m.

While Jiang Zhi Ning and Xi Xi were eating the breakfast Song Yuzhou had made, Liu Zhi Lan came rushing in from outside.

“Zhi Ning, you’re up!”

“Sister Zhi Lan, what’s the matter?” Jiang Zhi Ning asked curiously.

“It’s like this… that spicy hot pot you made the other day—how did you make it? Your brother-in-law loved it and said he wanted to eat it again last night. So I thought I’d ask you.”

Liu Zhi Lan looked a little embarrassed as she said this.

She had eaten that dish too, and it was so delicious that there hadn’t been enough rice to go around that night.

Jiang Zhi Ning smiled and said, “The key to that spicy hot pot is the base sauce. I still have some left. Why don’t I just give it to you?”

“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly…”

“No need to be polite—we’re family, after all.” Then Jiang Zhi Ning added, “Actually, Sister Zhi Lan, I’ve been thinking about starting a business selling these sauce bases. What do you think?”

“A sauce business?”

“Yes. Like base sauces for spicy hot pot, regular hot pot, tomato sauce, and other condiments.”

Seeing Liu Zhi Lan’s puzzled look, Jiang Zhi Ning explained further, “I’d make the sauce bases, package them, and sell them. That way, customers can just buy the base and make delicious meals at home.”

Liu Zhi Lan’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that makes sense! With your cooking skills—just that spicy hot pot alone—you could do really well!”

Jiang Zhi Ning’s eyes sparkled. “Sister Zhi Lan, I want to start with a small workshop. I’ll probably need a few people to help make the sauces. Would you be willing to help? Don’t worry—there’ll be wages.”

“Of course! No problem at all,” Liu Zhi Lan readily agreed. “I can even help you find a few trustworthy military wives who have time.”

“Thank you so much, Sister-in-law. Then I’ll put together a proposal.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a business plan—how the business will operate,” Jiang Zhi Ning said with a smile.

Liu Zhi Lan looked at her admiringly. “You’re so smart—just like a city girl.”

Jiang Zhi Ning beamed. Well, I am from the 22nd century, after all.

—

After sending Liu Zhi Lan off, Jiang Zhi Ning played in the yard with Xi Xi.

“Mommy, look! A flower!” Xi Xi spotted a small yellow wildflower and happily picked it before running over.

“Mommy, squat down,” Xi Xi said sweetly, smiling at her.

Jiang Zhi Ning smiled and crouched down. Xi Xi giggled, then gently placed the little flower on her head.

Clapping her hands in delight, Xi Xi cheered, “Mommy is so pretty! Xi Xi loves you!”

Then she threw her arms around Jiang Zhi Ning’s neck and planted a warm kiss on her cheek.

Jiang Zhi Ning was absolutely melted by Xi Xi’s cuteness.

Just then, the Song brothers—who had just arrived home—caught sight of the scene.

Song Chen’s eyes widened in astonishment.