Chapter 11 Fun

Aunt Liao, however, didn’t seem surprised. She looked at Lian Nanshu and said, “Your husband—I’ve seen him several times!”

“Huh?” Lian Nanshu looked at her in shock.

“Not long after you moved here, he showed up. He brought a lot of things, ration coupons, and money to look for you. But he stood at the door and never came in. Later, he gave everything to me and asked me to look after you. He said you weren’t very good at taking care of yourself.”

Lian Nanshu had never known any of this.

“At first, I thought he was just one of your admirers! I was going to turn him down, but he spoke so sincerely. I accepted the things he brought and returned them to you over several visits. I didn’t dare tell you the truth because I was afraid you’d think they were gifts from a suitor and wouldn’t accept them. I didn’t take the money, but I did keep the ration coupons. So all these years I’ve cooked for you—that was because of those coupons he left behind.”

Aunt Liao had her own reasons, too. Nanshu had once said her husband didn’t like her. But he had kept coming by over the years, even if he never came inside. Surely, he must have had his reasons. Aunt Liao felt it was finally time to explain.

Lian Nanshu was completely stunned.

Aunt Liao continued, “So, today when you said he was your husband, once it clicked, I figured maybe he had his own hardships. But he really does care about you. Even those clothes I made for you—he bought the fabric and asked me to give it to you. He knew you wouldn’t accept it directly, so I turned it into clothes. I told you they were scraps the factory didn’t want, so you’d take them.”

When she reached the door of the house, Lian Nanshu stopped and stared at the light glowing from inside. She hesitated for a long while before finally going in.

“You’re back?” In the living room, Lan Xubai was reading a book intently. It looked like he’d already taken a shower—he wore a plain white tank top and a pair of mid-length pants. Seeing Lian Nanshu come in, he put down his book and said, “I already brought hot water to the washroom for you.”

“Okay, thank you.” Lian Nanshu replied cautiously, watching his expression closely, then turned to the bedroom to get her clothes.

“Uh, wait a sec?” Lan Xubai clutched the sides of his pants. “I’ll sleep on the sofa. You’re a girl—it’s not proper for you to sleep there.”

Hearing him say that, she glanced at the blanket on the sofa. It wasn’t the one she had taken out earlier, but a new one—with a fresh pillow—clearly prepared for her. Her mind drifted back to Aunt Liao’s words, and she was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. In every detail, she owed him too much—whether it was the original host or her now. Even when he wasn’t physically present, he had quietly ensured her life was taken care of.

When she transmigrated, she had used her parents’ compensation money to attend university. The first year after he left, he had sent back 500 yuan. Whether then or now, that was a significant amount.

Lian Nanshu felt like she had altered his path—and perhaps even the original heroine’s fate.

“Lan Xubai, Aunt Liao told me everything. Thank you.” She looked up, her eyes soft like peach blossoms. “I’ve really owed you too much.”

Lan Xubai was momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered.

“All these years… did you ever hate me?” he asked.

Lian Nanshu hadn’t expected that question.

Lan Xubai had noticed how she always avoided his gaze, and how her attitude toward him alternated between cold and warm. He knew that her parents’ deaths had been tied to his departure. She hadn’t been able to accept it and tried to drown herself. But there was a storm that day, and the dam burst, sweeping her parents away. With no one to look after them, her younger siblings were left at home and also drowned when the house flooded.

“What’s the point in hate? It won’t bring my family back.” In her heart, she added silently, It was the original host’s own recklessness—and the author simply didn’t want her to live.

Lan Xubai asked, “I’m sorry?”

Lian Nanshu’s expression remained calm. She walked over, picked up the blanket and pillow from the sofa, and stood at the bedroom door.

“You’ve had a long day. Go ahead and sleep in the bed. Neither of us needs to sleep on the sofa,” she said, turning to face him.

Maybe she simply meant to sleep, but in Lan Xubai’s heart, the meaning was different. He couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

As he bent down to grab his book, he noticed a cloth bundle on the table. Curious, he unwrapped it—it was a piece of red fabric. He wanted to take a closer look.

Just then, Lian Nanshu came out of the room and saw what he had picked up—the dudou (traditional undershirt) she had gotten back from Aunt Liao. She rushed over, trying to snatch it back.

At that moment, Lan Xubai sensed someone approaching behind him. He instinctively picked up the cloth and turned around—just in time for Lian Nanshu to crash into his arms.

His left arm wrapped around her waist. Then he realized what he was holding.

Lian Nanshu quickly grabbed it and hid it behind her back, stepping away. When she looked up and saw the flush on his cheeks, her heart thudded rapidly. Did he actually see it?!

“You… you…!” she stammered, flustered.

Lan Xubai snapped back to reality and let out a few awkward coughs. The fact that she had something like that made his heart race uncontrollably.

He rubbed the back of his neck, his face burning red. “I’ll go shower,” he mumbled.

Lian Nanshu, too embarrassed to look at him, quickly turned around to grab her clothes. When she came out again, he was still standing in the same spot, staring at her. She rushed off to the bathhouse.

Lan Xubai’s smile could no longer be held back. He let out a deep breath and went back to his room.

He read for about half an hour, glancing toward the door every now and then, but she never came in.

The longer he waited, the faster his heart pounded. But then again—he reminded himself—girls always take longer showers than guys, right?

After coming out of the washroom, Lian Nanshu was flustered for quite a while. Because she was nervous, she had grabbed the coolest nightdress she owned—a thin silk one-piece. If the tie around the waist came loose, it would reveal everything.

She had made this nightdress herself, using fabric she bought, because the ones sold outside were uncomfortable. Back when she lived alone, it didn’t matter—once the door was closed, no one could see her. But now, if she wore it in front of Lan Xubai, it would be like sending a clear signal. So, she mentally prepared herself before going back inside.

Sure enough.

When Lan Xubai saw her in that nightdress—her figure faintly visible, those long legs—a strange ripple of emotion passed through him.

Fresh from her bath, Lian Nanshu stood under the warm lighting, her fair skin almost glowing temptingly.

“You… you haven’t gone to bed yet?” Their eyes met, and Lian Nanshu instantly felt a bit panicked. The way he looked at her—it was the gaze of a predator locking onto its prey.

“I was waiting for you,” Lan Xubai said without thinking. The words slipped out before his brain could stop them, and he quickly looked down, awkward and embarrassed.

Lian Nanshu didn’t know how to respond. She walked to the table, looked into the mirror, and began applying snow cream to her face. She rarely went out, so her skin was untouched by the sun. In this era, there weren’t many chemical products, and with good sun protection, her skin remained fair and rosy.

After finishing, she was about to go to bed when she noticed the blanket she had brought in earlier was gone.

Lan Xubai was now using her blanket.

She didn’t even have to think—he must have interpreted her actions as a signal. Even she realized that, intentionally or not, her behavior had implied she was okay with sharing a bed.

Lan Xubai instinctively made room for her.

With a red face and some internal struggle, Lian Nanshu lay down, thinking, As long as I don’t make a move, he probably won’t do anything.

After she lay down, Lan Xubai turned off the bedside lamp. The two of them lay there in silence.

Lan Xubai caught the subtle, fresh scent coming from her body—it was so clean, so soft—and it made his throat dry with discomfort.

Meanwhile, Lian Nanshu was so nervous she started sweating. In two lifetimes, this was her first time sharing a bed with a man. Even her breathing was restrained; she didn’t dare make a sound.

After a while, Lan Xubai turned over.

Oh no, oh no!

She was already on the verge of a meltdown.

“Nanshu~ are you asleep?”

“No~” she responded instinctively—and immediately regretted it. Why did I answer him?!

Lan Xubai, hearing her voice, scooted closer.

He slid his hand under the blanket, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace.

Lian Nanshu didn’t even have time to react—she was already in his arms.

“Xubai~” she tried to protest, but her voice trembled, hoarse and unsure.