Chapter 13 – Speaking with Righteous Confidence

Huo Tingting was an introverted girl. She usually didn’t go out unless accompanied by family. Even when sitting with them, she rarely spoke up, instead quietly holding a cup of water and listening to their conversations.

Only when she heard her mother’s words did she shift her gaze to her second brother and his wife.

Although her second brother was only a few years older than her, to her he was far scarier than any elder. She had once seen with her own eyes how he knocked out someone’s teeth. Back then he was only twelve, but ever since, no one dared to bully the Huo siblings. The village kids would scatter the moment they saw him.

When the other child’s parents came to the house to stir up trouble, her second brother’s sharp retorts left them speechless. From then on, she had been somewhat afraid of him.

Now, watching her second sister-in-law scold him so freely without any restraint, Tingting felt nervous on her behalf. To her surprise, her second brother didn’t get angry at all. Instead, he smiled and coaxed his wife with pastries.

She gaped at them in astonishment.

Ye Tao noticed her gaze. She could tell it carried no malice, so she smiled warmly at Tingting.

Embarrassed, Tingting lowered her head. Getting caught peeking made her feel awkward.

Still, she thought her second sister-in-law looked much prettier than before.

“Tingting, try this hawthorn cake. It’s sweet and tangy—really tasty.”

Sitting there quietly like a porcelain doll, Tingting immediately gave Ye Tao a good impression. She reached out in kindness.

Startled but delighted, Tingting hurried to take it and whispered, “Thank you, Second Sister-in-law.”

Ye Tao’s eyes curved in a smile. “You’re welcome. If there’s anything else you like, just help yourself. Today, your second brother is treating.”

Huo Tingwu looked at her with indulgence.

“Your second sister-in-law is right. Eat as much as you like. If it’s not enough, I’ll get more. We’ve got plenty at home.”

To make sure Ye Tao would drink her medicine with peace of mind, the two of them had stopped by the supply and marketing cooperative on the way back and bought a little of every kind of pastry.

Zhao Dongmei said, “Taotao, when Tingting has nothing to do at home, could she come over to play with you? You’re both young girls, you’ll have plenty to talk about.”

Ye Tao had just been thinking the same thing. As much as she wanted to relax, life without a phone was boring. Everyone in the Huo family was busy with their own work. Having Tingting to keep her company would be wonderful.

“Of course, Auntie. I get bored at home anyway,” Ye Tao answered.

“Tingting, come visit me whenever you have time. I don’t have much to do at home.”

Her mother-in-law had already said her main task was to take care of her health. The house had plenty of helping hands, so she wasn’t needed for chores.

Liu Wenxiu also had her own hopes. A healthy body meant Ye Tao could bear children. Others the same age as her second son already had three kids. Seeing that made her anxious. Now that her daughter-in-law was married in, she and her husband couldn’t let trivial chores become an obstacle.

Tingting’s dimples deepened as she smiled sweetly. “Okay. Thank you, Second Sister-in-law.”

Her daughter was too introverted. With Ye Tao’s company, she felt much more at ease. She didn’t expect Tingting to change her personality—everyone had their own unique traits. As long as her daughter was happy, Zhao Dongmei was content. Looking at her girl’s smiling face, she felt deeply satisfied.

After brushing her teeth, Ye Tao smacked her lips. The bitter taste in her mouth had finally faded.

When she finished washing her face and returned to the room, she found Huo Tingwu already lying on the bed waiting for her.

“Why aren’t you wearing clothes?!”

He was half-naked, propped up on the bed in just a pair of shorts.

His physique was strong and well-built, his back broad, with defined abs rippling across his stomach.

Seeing her walk in, he raised an eyebrow slowly and said, “This is our room. There’s no one else here.”

No sooner had the words left his lips than a towel landed squarely on his face.

Hmm. Smelled nice.

He inhaled deeply, savoring the scent that was uniquely his wife’s.

“You shameless rogue! Let’s see how I deal with you.”

Ye Tao suddenly straddled him, stretching out her mischievous little hands to tickle his sensitive spots. Let’s see if he could laugh this off—this trick of hers had never failed.

“Hehe, scared yet?”

She had to admit—his body was really something. Those abs made her brain go fuzzy. Secretly, she swallowed hard. She really wanted to touch them.

After scratching for a while, Ye Tao stopped. Huh? Why hadn’t she heard him laugh?

She lifted the towel away. His eyes were burning red, fixed on her. His voice came out low and hoarse: “Taotao.”

There was a pleading note in it. Ye Tao suddenly realized what was going on. In a panic, she scrambled off him, wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, and dared not stir again.

Maybe she had gone too far… Wuwuwu ┭┮﹏┭┮.

Eh? He seemed to be getting out of bed.

Soon, she felt his presence again by her side.

“Taotao, won’t you come out?”

Huo Tingwu had wanted to tease her, but somehow ended up the one being teased.

“Want to touch my abs? I heard you swallow just now.”

His voice was like some wicked enchantment, slipping through the quilt and whispering into her ears.

Her brain grew fuzzy under his spell. Half-dazed, she mumbled, “Really? I can touch them?”

Huo Tingwu’s lips curved in a victorious smile. Like a fisherman casting bait, he waited patiently for his catch.

From beneath the quilt, a pale hand stretched out. “Here, let me touch,” she said with righteous confidence.

A ready-made male model body—of course she was going to touch it! Why waste the chance? The earlier the better!

Her fingers pressed against his abdomen, tracing each inch of muscle, mischievously poking here and there.

She didn’t realize the heat in his eyes was about to overflow. “Taotao, there’s an even better place. Want to touch that too?”

“Yes!” Not touching would be foolish.

Without giving her a chance, he seized her hand and guided it elsewhere.

By the time Ye Tao realized what was happening, it was too late. Huo Tingwu flipped back the quilt, capturing the lips he had long yearned for. Her soft moans became the catalyst that consumed the last of his restraint.

When it was finally over, Ye Tao’s nose was red from crying. “This is all your fault.”

Her face flushed crimson, her soft voice tinged with indignation.

Knowing he was at fault, Huo Tingwu fetched hot water, carefully cleaned her up, applied snow cream, and massaged her hands.

The shop assistant had said soaking in hot water and applying cream daily would gradually soften the calluses.

His massage was skilled and gentle. Soon, Ye Tao relaxed, stopped scolding him, and, exhausted from the long day, fell asleep.

Tenderly, Huo Tingwu drew her into his arms. Seeing she didn’t wake, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and fell asleep with her in his embrace.

When Ye Tao woke the next morning, the bed beside her was empty. She assumed Huo Tingwu had gone out for his morning exercise and didn’t think much of it.

But strangely, the house was silent. No one was home, and the front door was locked from the inside.

“How odd… where did everyone go?”

After searching around and finding no one, she sat down to comb her hair. That was when she discovered a note tucked under the mirror. It was from Huo Tingwu.

It turned out today was the start of the autumn harvest. Everyone had gone to the fields. The food was cooked and waiting in the pot—she only needed to warm it up.

Worried she’d be bored alone, he even suggested she go find Tingting to play with.

She tucked the note away. After all, this was their first written exchange—she wanted to keep it for herself.

She tied her hair into a fishtail braid, checked her reflection, and found nothing amiss.

With the original owner’s memories, she was still fairly adept at using the household’s wood-fired stove.