Chapter 19: Accidentally Walking in on Her Husband Changing

Zhou Ruiyuan was wearing a thin, white inner garment. The front of his robe was loosely open, revealing his well-defined chest.

This was the first time Du Wanchun had ever seen a man in such a state. She immediately turned around and stammered, “H-husband… you’re changing…”

Her cheeks flushed red, and her heart pounded wildly.

Zhou Ruiyuan quickly fastened his robe and said, “I’m done. You can come in.”

Hearing this, Du Wanchun turned back around with her eyes slightly closed and carefully walked toward the bed.

Perhaps she was too flustered, but in her nervousness, she accidentally tripped over the small stool by the bed and fell forward.

She landed directly in Zhou Ruiyuan’s arms.

Sitting on his lap, her cheek was pressed against his chest through the thin fabric of his inner garment. The warmth of his body radiated through the cloth, sending a wave of heat through her.

She couldn’t help but recall the sight of his strong, sculpted chest from moments ago.

The impact made Zhou Ruiyuan feel a slight ache in his bones. He looked down at her and asked, “Are you alright?”

Realizing how improper her position was, Du Wanchun quickly tried to get up.

However, before she could, Zhou Ruiyuan suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist.

His hands were large and broad, and just one hand was enough to encircle her waist completely.

“H-husband, you…” Du Wanchun gasped, startled. She had already mentally prepared herself to share a room with Zhou Ruiyuan, but his legs were still injured—could he even…?

Yet, to her surprise, Zhou Ruiyuan didn’t do anything improper. Instead, he simply lifted her up, his strong hands supporting her waist with ease.

Out of instinct, Du Wanchun tensed up and clung to his neck.

Zhou Ruiyuan slightly turned his body and gently placed her on the bed.

At that moment, as she lay there, she suddenly understood—it wasn’t that her husband was incapable. It was that he simply didn’t want to.

Pushing his wheelchair slightly, Zhou Ruiyuan turned his back to her and said, “Get some rest. I’ll be outside reading for a while.”

With that, he picked up a gray-blue robe, draped it over his shoulders, and wheeled himself out of the room.

Du Wanchun watched his retreating figure. For a moment, she had the urge to call him back. But after thinking it over, she realized that since he respected her, she should respect him too.

If he wasn’t willing, then he must have his own reasons.

She quietly changed out of her outer robe, slipped under the covers, and closed her eyes to sleep.

Meanwhile, outside, Zhou Ruiyuan sat in the courtyard, reading under the moonlight.

Or rather than reading, it was more like trying to cool down.

The cold night breeze brushed against his flushed face and—more importantly—against the heat simmering beneath his waistline. Slowly, his body began to cool down.

He leaned against the chair, gazing at the bright moon hanging in the sky. As he touched his motionless legs, his expression gradually calmed.

That night was destined to be another sleepless one.

The Next Day

Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan hitched their cart and brought a full load of radishes into Cheng’an County.

Although Cheng’an County was located in a remote area, it was still a bustling and prosperous place. Vendors lined the streets, and countless shops filled the alleys. Everywhere one looked, shop banners fluttered in the wind, while carriages and pedestrians moved endlessly through the streets.

It had been a long time since Du Wanchun last visited the county. Seeing the lively crowd, she couldn’t help but smile.

They guided the cart to the back entrance of the Li family estate.

Du Wanchun asked Zhou Ruiyuan to stay in the cart and watch over the radishes while she went alone to knock on the back door.

A young man dressed in gray opened the door and asked, “Are you here to deliver vegetables?”

Du Wanchun replied, “Could Aunt He come out to receive them?”

She knew that the people who usually delivered produce to the county magistrate’s family always handed it over to Aunt He. So she deliberately followed this method to have her come out.

“Alright, I’ll go call her,” the young man said before turning back into the courtyard.

Not long after, Aunt He appeared. The moment she saw Du Wanchun, she froze for a second. “Are you Wanchun?”

Du Wanchun nodded. “Yes, Aunt.”

Aunt He was overwhelmed with excitement and grabbed her hands. “Ever since your mother passed away, I’ve hardly seen you. How have you been?”

Du Wanchun’s eyes curved into a smile as she replied, “I’m married now, Aunt.”

Upon hearing that she was married, Aunt He suddenly thought of something. Holding Du Wanchun’s hand, she asked, “I heard that your stepsister married our eldest young master.”

Du Wanchun nodded. “Yes, how is she doing now?”

Aunt He raised an eyebrow and lowered her voice. “I don’t even know if it’s good or bad. On the day she married in, the master and madam had a huge argument. Neither of them seems to like her, and as for our eldest young master… well, he’s always been a womanizer…”

She trailed off, stopping herself from saying more.

Du Wanchun wasn’t surprised by this. Back when she and her mother used to deliver vegetables to the county, she had overheard people talking about how some young masters in town were nothing more than spoiled playboys.

Now, hearing that the Li family’s eldest son was the same, she wasn’t the least bit shocked.

“Well, whether it turns out good or bad, it was her own choice,” Du Wanchun said with a calm smile before steering the conversation back to business. “Aunt, does your household still need radishes? Our radishes are delicious.”

“Radishes?” Aunt He was momentarily stunned before exclaiming, “What a coincidence! Our master has been craving radishes lately. Are yours sweet?”

As she spoke, she glanced at the cart behind Du Wanchun.

Zhou Ruiyuan peeked out from the cart and handed her a freshly peeled radish.

Aunt He was about to take it, but then her eyes landed on Zhou Ruiyuan’s face. She froze in shock, staring at him for a long time without saying a word.