Chapter 7: At This Moment, Their Distance Was Intimately Close

She had eaten more than half a bowl of rice, her stomach already feeling full. Looking at the rice still left in her bowl, she felt troubled. This was precious, gleaming white rice—throwing it away would be such a waste.

In this era, white rice and flour were luxuries. Most households lived on coarse grains. Even for a relatively well-off family like the Huo’s, white rice was only eaten during New Year’s, festivals, or when the children were home.

If outsiders knew she had thrown away white rice, they’d probably write big-character posters to criticize her.

“Are you full?”

Huo Tingwu glanced at her bowl, hardly touched, then let his gaze fall to her waist. Eating so little, no wonder her waist was so slender.

“Mm.” She nodded. She had been starving just before, but when she finally sat down to eat, she couldn’t manage much. Probably because, over the years, she had gotten used to alternating between hunger and fullness.

Huo Tingwu took her bowl and poured the remaining rice into his own.

“Hey, I already ate from it.”

He looked up at her. “So?”

A flush crept across Ye Tao’s face. “It… it has my saliva on it.”

The corner of his lips curved into a smile. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t mind you.”

Ye Tao huffed angrily, “Of course you can’t mind! We’re husband and wife now—if you dare mind, I’ll kick you off the bed and make you sleep on the floor.”

Liu Wenxiu, watching the young couple’s interaction, couldn’t help but smile knowingly.

She had worried at first that Ye Tao wouldn’t get along with Huo Tingwu after marrying in. But now, it seemed those worries were unnecessary. Look at them—so close already. Even when it came to leftovers, her second son didn’t mind at all.

“Are you my auntie?” little Miaomiao asked innocently.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time Ye Tao had met her. During the wedding ceremony, she had been covered with a red bridal veil. Later in the afternoon, the children weren’t home, so they hadn’t crossed paths.

“That’s right. And you must be Miaomiao. Just as your parents said—you’re really adorable.”

Miaomiao loved being praised the most. Covering her little face shyly, she asked, “Really? Miaomiao also thinks she’s cute.”

“You little vain girl,” someone teased, “how can you praise yourself like that and not feel embarrassed?”

Huo Tingjie burst into laughter. Kids were just too funny.

Pouting, Miaomiao muttered, “I don’t like Third Uncle anymore.”

Huo Tingjie pinched her nose playfully. “Weren’t you just saying Third Uncle was your favorite? Changing your mind already?”

Her cheeks puffed up. “That’s because Third Uncle was making fun of me.” For someone so small, she already understood a lot.

“Alright, alright. Third Uncle apologizes. Miaomiao is the cutest little girl in the whole wide world.”

Satisfied, she nodded. “Thank you, Third Uncle.” Then she picked up a piece of meat and dropped it into his bowl.

Huo Tingjie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. What a clever little rascal.

“Auntie, you eat too.” She made sure to be fair, giving a piece of meat to everyone at the table.

Such heartfelt kindness—whether full or not, Ye Tao accepted it graciously, chewing slowly. “Thank you, Miaomiao.”

“You’re welcome,” the child answered sweetly.

After dinner, Huo Xiaolin returned from the brigade office. Liu Wenxiu quickly brought him food and urged him to eat and rest, reminding him that the eldest would wash the dishes later.

“You have such a good family atmosphere,” Ye Tao remarked as she sat in the courtyard, enjoying the cool air with Huo Tingwu.

Everyone had their share of responsibilities. No one was expected to give endlessly while others only enjoyed.

One cooked, another washed the dishes, someone else swept the floor. Everyone worked together, striving for a better life.

Later that night, Ye Tao and Huo Tingwu stood facing each other before the bed, both wide-eyed. On the bed, there was only one quilt. How were they supposed to sleep like this?

It had started a little while ago.

Liu Wenxiu, believing that as a mother she should give her son a helping hand, thought she should strike while the iron was hot—after all, the sooner grandchildren came, the better.

So, under the excuse of tidying, she took away all the other quilts, leaving just a single thin one—barely enough for two to squeeze under.

She slipped in and out so quickly that the newlyweds didn’t even have time to protest.

“What do we do now?” Ye Tao’s nerves spiked. Could it be that tonight… she would lose her innocence?

No, no, no! She was only bluffing earlier. If it really came down to it, she wasn’t ready at all.

Sensing her panic, Huo Tingwu climbed onto the bed first, pulling the quilt over himself. With a perfectly straight face, he said matter-of-factly, “Whoever grabs it first, keeps it.”

“Oh? If that’s how you want to play, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Spurred by his words, Ye Tao kicked off her shoes and leapt onto the bed, determined to snatch the quilt from him and put him in his place.

They tussled back and forth, neither yielding an inch.

Neither noticed that, in the process, their distance had grown dangerously close.

Huo Tingwu was in the prime of his youth, his body naturally responsive. As they struggled, friction kindled something within him. Yet Ye Tao remained blissfully unaware. Taking advantage of his brief distraction, she wrapped the quilt tightly around herself.

Looking down at him triumphantly, she laughed. “Haha, I win!”

Her eyes sparkled with victory as she paraded on the bed wrapped in the quilt, basking in her triumph.

But suddenly, she stepped on the edge of the quilt, stumbled, and—

“Ah!”

Once again, Huo Tingwu became her unwilling cushion, pain shooting through his chest. He was starting to feel like he’d taken too many hits today.

“Why are you holding me? Let go, you shameless rogue!”

Ye Tao realized his arms were firmly wrapped around her waist.

“Typical—biting the hand that protects you. I was only holding you so you wouldn’t fall and hurt yourself.”

Realizing she had misunderstood him, she softened a little. “Then… can you let go now?”

“No. If I let go whenever you say so, what happens to my dignity?”

Fine then—if he wouldn’t let go, let’s see if he could keep holding her all night. Her eyes narrowed mischievously. Like a little worm, she began wriggling and squirming, making it impossible for him to rest.

For Huo Tingwu, already struggling with restraint, this was like pouring oil onto fire.

His breathing grew heavier, his dark eyes stormy, his voice hoarse. “Taotao… if you don’t stop now, don’t regret it later.”

She, oblivious, thought he was just bluffing. “Hmph! I won’t stop.”

His gaze locked onto her, openly revealing his rising desire. “You said it yourself.”

With that, he flipped them over, their positions reversing in an instant.

Ye Tao froze, stunned to find herself beneath him. “You…”

Then came the onslaught—hot, overwhelming, like a storm. Huo Tingwu devoured every breath she took, his tongue exploring relentlessly. At some point, the quilt slipped away. His burning palms trailed down her waist, making her senses blur.

It felt as if she were adrift at sea, waves crashing over her again and again. Afraid of being overheard, she bit down hard on her lip, stifling the sounds that threatened to escape.

“Be good. Open your mouth.”

His husky voice sent shivers through her. Obediently, she parted her lips, and just as a moan escaped, he captured it with his kiss.

No one knew how much time passed before the storm finally subsided.

She lay weak and boneless on the bed, her body sticky and uncomfortable.

Her eyes burned, tears slipping silently into the quilt. She kicked at the man beside her. “Go boil some water. I need to wash up—I’m drenched in sweat.”

In the moonlight, Huo Tingwu’s gaze lingered on her pale shoulder peeking out from the quilt. Unconsciously, he swallowed hard.