“You don’t need to return the money. Keep it. Since I gave it to you, it’s yours now. Spend it however you like. I’m a man; providing for my family is what I’m supposed to do,” Bai Yichen said flatly. Without waiting for An Xin to respond, he turned his back to her, pulled the blanket over himself tightly, and shut her out completely. He clearly had no intention of engaging further.

He berated himself internally—he should never have expected too much from this woman. His momentary hope and budding feelings had been doused like a flame extinguished by the cold splash of 200 yuan. From now on, there would be clear boundaries between them.

An Xin: “…”

Had she done something wrong? They’d agreed this was a loan, and now that she was paying him back, he seemed upset.

Fine, whatever. If he didn’t want it, she wasn’t going to force him. Money was precious, especially for someone going through tough times like her. She’d just save it for when she really needed it.

With that, An Xin cheerfully pocketed the money and tucked herself into bed. Soon, she was fast asleep. Her exhaustion from driving the truck far outweighed the fatigue she used to feel driving a cab. Rest was crucial—she needed all her energy for tomorrow’s grind.

Her goal? To earn a small fortune. If not a fortune, then at least enough to buy a van so she wouldn’t have to rely on rented vehicles anymore.

As the woman beside him drifted off into steady, rhythmic breathing, Bai Yichen lowered the blanket he’d been clutching over his head. Propping himself up slightly, he gazed at the peacefully sleeping woman next to him. His eyes reflected emotions that were difficult to decipher.

This woman… she truly left him at a loss for words.

That night, despite his conflicted feelings, Bai Yichen slept soundly. However, he was jolted awake in the middle of the night only to discover that An Xin had, once again, latched onto him like an octopus.

Yes, it was An Xin hugging him tightly. Bai Yichen’s good mood and restful sleep vanished in an instant. With a mix of helplessness and resignation, he sighed as he stared at the woman clinging to him.

Meanwhile, in her dreams, An Xin had returned to the 21st century. She felt particularly relaxed, clutching a plush bear in her sleep.

That bear, a prize she’d won during a trip, wasn’t something she originally wanted. But its goofy and adorable expression had tugged at her heartstrings, and she’d eventually brought it home, using it as a body pillow. During colder nights, she often hugged it to sleep. Over time, it had become a comforting habit.

Tonight, however, her “bear” seemed unusually large and far less soft than she remembered. Instead of the cozy fur she was used to, it felt firm and unyielding, making it difficult to cuddle.

Still dreaming, she sighed inwardly, resolving to put her plushie out on the balcony to sun-dry the next day—it seemed like it had lost its comfort.

The Next Morning

An Xin woke early. To her shock, the first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was an enlarged face inches away from her own.

Startled, she almost let out a scream but quickly regained her composure. Remembering that the man lying beside her was her newlywed husband in this era, she stifled her voice.

But why was he so close? Looking down, she froze in embarrassment. It turned out that she was the one holding him.

Yes, she had been the one hugging him.

Realizing this, An Xin felt like she’d been struck by lightning. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out when she’d dragged him into her arms. And not just that—she’d hugged him tightly all night.

Fortunately, she didn’t stay frozen for long. The man rolled over in his sleep, finally freeing himself from her grasp.

The moment Bai Yichen left her embrace, An Xin let out a long sigh of relief. The tightness in her chest eased as she mentally scolded herself.

“Whew!”

It seemed she needed to be more careful while sleeping. Hugging someone like this could lead to all sorts of misunderstandings. And what if she had gotten handsy with him in her sleep? The thought alone made her bolt upright.

Not wanting to risk waking him, she quietly slipped out of bed and began preparing breakfast.

As soon as An Xin left, Bai Yichen opened his eyes. He stretched his stiff limbs, finally free to move after being held immobile all night.

“Whew!”

He too let out a breath of relief. The previous night, An Xin’s bear hug had rendered him unable to shift or even breathe properly. He had endured the awkwardness until she woke up on her own.

Thank goodness he had managed to roll away just in time. Otherwise, waking up tangled together would have been embarassing.

In the Kitchen

After taking stock of the ingredients at home, An Xin got to work. She lit the stove and set some corn porridge to simmer. Then she took out flour and started kneading dough.

She planned to make soup dumplings and bring some to her younger siblings when she went into town. The twins had often mentioned how much they craved meat-filled buns, and since she had the time today, she figured she’d treat them.

By the time the dumplings were steaming, Sister Chen from next door had started preparing her own breakfast. Standing at her door, rolling out dough for noodles, Chen noticed An Xin steaming her dumplings.

“Hey, An Xin! What are you cooking so early in the morning?”

Over the past few days, Chen had observed that Bai’s new wife seemed to have a knack for making delicious meals. The smell of her cooking often wafted through the courtyard, and her dishes were far from ordinary.

The other night, when An Xin made braised pork, the aroma had permeated the entire compound. Everyone had been left salivating, wishing they could get a taste.

That memory alone had Chen’s mouth watering again.

If nothing else, An Xin’s ability to whip up incredible meals was undeniable.