Chapter 8 Condemning the Culprit

Ye Tao sensed danger and dragged her exhausted body toward the corner of the wall. That shameless man had no pity for her at all—she was already in such a state, yet he still wanted to do that.

When his figure leaned closer, Ye Tao thought he was going to continue. She clutched the quilt tightly, ready to kick him crippled if he dared come again.

Three-legged toads were hard to find, but two-legged men were everywhere.

But instead, Huo Tingwu leaned down and planted a quick kiss at the corner of her lips, then swiftly got out of bed to boil water for his wife.

Ye Tao’s lips curved faintly—at least he was sensible. She was so, so tired.

Huo Tingwu lit the oil lamp and quietly went into the kitchen to boil water.

By the time he came back carrying the hot water, Ye Tao had already fallen asleep waiting.

He carefully scooped her up, held her in his arms, and gently cleaned her body.

In her dreams, Ye Tao suddenly lifted an arm and slapped him across the face with a crisp smack. “Dog of a man.”

If she hadn’t been clearly asleep, Huo Tingwu might have really thought she did it on purpose.

But even if she had, he wouldn’t mind. After all, this was his wife—he only wanted to pamper and love her, never let his little spoiled treasure suffer the least grievance.

When the warm water washed over her, Ye Tao groggily stirred awake, but seeing him beside her, she drifted back into slumber again. Perhaps even she didn’t realize how much she now trusted him.

Knowing she loved cleanliness, Huo Tingwu had even dug out soap from the depths of the wardrobe to wash her.

The room filled with a faint fragrance, like a spring breeze brushing the heart, gently stirring its softest corner.

Satisfied, he lay down holding his wife and fell asleep.

With the first ray of morning sunlight shining on the bed, she slowly awoke, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Blinking at the unfamiliar wall, it took her a moment to gather her thoughts.

When she tried to get up, she realized she was still nestled in Huo Tingwu’s arms. Every part of her body ached in indescribable ways, but she was fresh and clean, even the bedsheets had been changed. She felt a little pleased.

Since he was still asleep, Ye Tao quietly studied him. The Huo family really did have good looks.

Huo Tingfeng’s crew cut revealed smooth facial lines, thick brows, and a high nose bridge. Sleeping, he looked much less sharp, even somewhat boyish.

“You’re peeking at me so early in the morning. Feeling better already?”

His sudden open eyes caught her gaze head-on, his smile twinkling.

Her mind immediately flashed back to last night. She quickly turned away, ears burning red. “Shameless rogue.”

Huo Tingwu’s long arms pulled her back into his embrace.

Ye Tao clutched the quilt nervously and stared at him. “What are you doing?”

Her panic was obvious. He raised a hand in earnest oath: “Wife, don’t be afraid. I just want to hold you, nothing else. Absolutely nothing improper.”

His expression was so sincere that she reluctantly believed him. Still, she issued a warning: if he tried anything, she would snip-snip him.

Deliberately, she made a scissor gesture at his thigh.

Huo Tingwu sucked in a sharp breath. “Rest assured, I’ll behave. Let’s sleep a little longer.”

But Ye Tao shook her head—once she was awake, she never liked going back to sleep. “What time is it now?”

He reached for his watch. “Just eight o’clock.”

Ye Tao sat bolt upright. “What!”

A new bride sleeping in on her second day? If word got out, people would scold her to death.

But she was truly exhausted. After a moment’s hesitation, she lay back down. Forget it—let them scold. It wouldn’t cost her a piece of flesh.

Huo Tingwu hugged her gently. “Don’t worry. Mom said last night you should rest well, no need to wake up early and cook. We don’t keep that tradition in our family. Even when our eldest sister-in-law married in, it was the same.”

Her heart eased immediately.

“Wait—when did Mom say that? Why didn’t I hear?”

Huo Tingwu rubbed his nose awkwardly. “When I went out to boil water last night.”

“What!”

Last night, when he sneaked into the kitchen with the water, just as he lit the fire, his Mom Liu Wenxiu appeared, slippers dragging, clutching a laundry stick.

She had gotten up at night, heard noises in the kitchen, and thought a thief had broken in. To avoid scaring the thief off, she grabbed the nearest stick to strike.

At that moment, the firelight revealed her second son.

“Second, what on earth are you doing here in the middle of the night?”

She nearly smacked him with the stick.

Caught off guard, Huo Tingwu stammered, “It’s too hot… Taotao couldn’t sleep. I boiled some water to wipe her down.”

Having been a bride herself, Liu Wenxiu immediately understood. She urged her son to hurry, the sooner they washed up, the sooner they could rest.

Ye Tao wanted to dig a hole and bury herself. Did everyone already know?

The more she thought, the more mortified she felt. She shoved her head under the quilt.

“Taotao, you’ll suffocate like that.”

Her muffled voice came out, “None of your business.”

“Of course it is. What if I lose my wife to suffocation? Come on, Taotao, be good, come out.”

Ye Tao slowly lowered the quilt, her little face red, glaring accusingly at the culprit.

Huo Tingwu propped his face on one hand, half lying down as he admired his wife. The more he looked, the more he liked what he saw—her delicate little face, smaller than his palm, her rosy lips begging to be bitten, and those bright almond eyes shining with light. Every strand of her hair seemed to tease him.

Ye Tao eyed him warily. “What are you plotting now?”

He had been staring at her with that lustful gaze—did he think she couldn’t tell?

Huo Tingwu quickly raised both hands in innocence. “I just want to give you a massage, relax your muscles.”

Her body was aching; her waist hardly felt like her own. “Fine—but no funny business.”

He promised solemnly: only massage, nothing else.

But with both of them still bare, Ye Tao kicked him. “Turn your head.”

“Wife, we’ve already seen each other through and through. No need to be shy. Look at me—so open and straightforward.”

Ye Tao’s forehead twitched. Open and straightforward? More like shameless.

When he finally turned, his muscular back came into view, leaving her stunned. “What… what’s this?!”

His back was covered with suspicious scratch marks.

Following her gaze, Huo Tingwu glanced over his shoulder, lips curling into a smile. “Left by a certain naughty little cat.”

When the meaning sank in, her cheeks flamed. She pushed him hard to turn back around, changing the subject quickly. “Hurry up and turn around—I need to change clothes.”

But her own body was no better, dotted with traces of their wildness last night.

Huo Tingwu’s years of training had made his hands strong and calloused, rough yet firm. When he pressed against her skin, it made her itch inside and out.

Yet after the massage, her body did feel much better. Like a contented kitten, she sprawled lazily on the bed.

The man’s large hands kneaded every inch of her smooth, delicate skin, tender as a peeled egg.

His gaze darkened as he stared, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.