◎ Are you imagining something, Tao Xiaoxi? ◎

Tao Xiaoxi immediately tossed the apron back at him. Despite all her earlier bravado, when it was time to step up, she retreated instead.

“I don’t feel like peeling garlic tonight. I already took a shower.” She didn’t want to admit she chickened out, so she used this as an excuse. Besides, she hadn’t even paid him yet, so why was he in such a rush? He even went out of his way to find the apron and claimed she liked white. When had she ever said she liked white? “I don’t like white at all. I actually prefer black.” She had another excuse now, knowing full well there wasn’t a black apron at home—the one in the kitchen was blue.

Chen Fang seriously considered her spur-of-the-moment ‘problem’. “That’s easy. I can use my black shirt as an apron. All my shirts are black. How about that?”

Tao Xiaoxi pictured the scene and tilted her head back to look at the chandelier on the ceiling. She was afraid that if she wasn’t careful, she might get a nosebleed. If that happened, she’d have to crawl back into her mother’s womb and reincarnate to save face.

Chen Fang stepped forward, leaning down to block her view of the chandelier. “Are you imagining something, Tao Xiaoxi?”

…

What could she possibly be imagining?! Did she even need to imagine anything? The real deal was standing right in front of her. If she wanted to see, all she had to do was look. Why waste the effort to imagine it?

However, as soon as his face entered her line of sight, the image in her mind became even clearer—so vivid that the blood vessels in her nose were about to burst.

She quickly jumped up, intending to flee, but stopped herself. She steadied her steps and her voice, looking up at him with her sparkling eyes, which carried a hint of mischief. “Go take a shower. I’ll help you pick which shirt to use.”

Chen Fang could guess this was just one of her little tricks to send him away, but he wasn’t entirely sure. After all, her boldness could skyrocket in one moment, daring to say or do anything, only to shrink back the next. He couldn’t quite figure out whether her words were true or not.

Tao Xiaoxi placed her hand on his chest, her fingers tracing the buttons on his shirt, one by one. “How about the one you wore at the wedding?”

Chen Fang’s hand suddenly tightened, crumpling the white apron into a ball. Without another word, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pushed her back into the hanging chair. He might let her lead him around by the nose once or twice, but to fall into her traps every time? No way. He shouldn’t have wasted words playing along with her games. A straightforward, forceful approach worked best.

The hanging chair swayed back and forth with their movements, making Tao Xiaoxi anxious. This wasn’t how she’d planned things. Her original plan was to sneak into the bedroom and pretend to be asleep while he showered. Instead, not only did her nose not bleed, but all the blood seemed to rush to her brain, making her head hot. In a moment of recklessness, she went too far with her teasing.

Finally finding a chance to catch her breath, she hurriedly said, “The hanging chair might break!” The suspended iron frame, no matter how sturdy, couldn’t handle the weight of two people. Glancing at the man above her with a hint of desperation, she weakly reminded him, “It cost a lot of money. It’s expensive. Get off, please.”

Chen Fang let out a low, rough laugh. He got up from her but didn’t forget to lift her off the chair as well. “Fine. Then let’s go to the bathroom.”

Tao Xiaoxi kicked her slender legs, pouting. “I’ve already showered. You should go by yourself.”

Chen Fang didn’t stop walking.

Now genuinely panicked, Tao Xiaoxi grabbed the doorframe, refusing to let him go any further. “I just dried my hair. If it gets wet again, I’ll have to dry it for half the night.”

Her strength couldn’t stop him. Even if she hugged a steel post, he could easily move her. But in the end, he stopped. Pressing her against the doorframe, he kissed her hard and deep. “Tao Xiaoxi, you’re so much trouble.”

Tao Xiaoxi’s eyes turned red at the corners from the kiss. She threaded her fingers through his short hair, half-pouting and half-coquettish. “Girls are naturally troublesome. If you can’t handle it, then don’t get married. Stay single. That’ll save you a lot of trouble.”

Chen Fang originally planned to let her go, but he quickly changed his mind. He turned back to the bedroom, tossed her onto the bed, and walked away. Taking advantage of the moment, Tao Xiaoxi tried to crawl further into the bed with all her limbs. However, after just a couple of moves, she was caught by the ankle and dragged back to where she started.

Seeing that there was no escape, she resigned herself to her fate. With trembling hands, she made one final request—could he turn off the lights? Chen Fang, in a rare act of kindness, obliged. Determined to subdue her completely tonight, his every move in the darkness was both precise and forceful. Tao Xiaoxi was no match for him. Within minutes, she wanted to beg for mercy but bit her lip, thinking it was too quick to surrender. She held on for a few more minutes before eventually breaking down into muffled sobs.

Chen Fang’s heart softened a little, and his movements slowed. He reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, but there wasn’t a single drop. Realizing he had been tricked yet again, he felt both angry and amused. Frustrated, he resumed with renewed intensity.

When the storm finally passed, Tao Xiaoxi lay motionless, barely clinging to life. Her body, drenched in sweat, felt as though it had been pulled out of water. Chen Fang eventually carried her to the bathroom, washed her thoroughly, and even rinsed her sweat-drenched hair again.

Leaning lazily against him, Tao Xiaoxi nearly fell asleep amidst the hum of the hairdryer. When it stopped, she barely opened her eyes and turned in his arms to meet his gaze.

Chen Fang ruffled her fluffy hair, then gently pinched her flushed cheeks, asking softly, “Did I hurt you?”

Tao Xiaoxi bashfully bumped her head against his chest, stopping him from saying any more.

Chen Fang wrapped her in his arms and laughed heartily. Startled, Tao Xiaoxi quickly reached up to cover his mouth, whispering, “Are you crazy? You’ll wake Grandma.”

“Don’t worry. The house has excellent soundproofing,” he muttered against her palm, planting a soft kiss in its center. His eyes then landed on the crumpled white fabric at the foot of the bed. “It’s such a pity about that apron.”

Tao Xiaoxi panicked, switching between playing tough and pleading in a soft, coquettish voice, “Can you stop talking about it?”

That poor apron had been passed back and forth between the two of them, eventually kicked to the foot of the bed. Its fate had been most unfortunate.

Chen Fang kissed from her palm to her fingertips and finally relented. “Alright, I won’t bring it up again. But Tao Xiaoxi, I was your model, so I’m expecting your painting in return.”

Tao Xiaoxi withdrew her hand and tucked it behind her back. She looked into his eyes briefly before lowering her gaze.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. Her expression didn’t seem like she was shy but rather as if she had something to say but couldn’t.

Tao Xiaoxi shook her head, slipped out of his embrace, and lay back on the bed. “Nothing, I’m just tired.”

Chen Fang turned off the lights and lay down beside her. He tucked the blanket snugly around her and gently patted her back. “Go to sleep.”

After a while, Tao Xiaoxi shifted closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. In a muffled voice, she asked, “Are you and Sister Yingying very close?”

Chen Fang paused, taking a moment to realize she was referring to Zhou Ying.

“Zhou Ying? We’re alright. She tutored me for a while, and she played a big part in helping me get into college.”

“Oh.”

Before Chen Fang could say more, the person resting on his shoulder was already breathing steadily. He called her name softly but got no response. Smiling, he brushed her hair aside and pulled her closer, eventually falling asleep to the rhythm of her breathing.

…..

Married life wasn’t quite what Tao Xiaoxi had imagined.

Before the wedding, she had mentally prepared herself. Marriage was, after all, two people living together—or more accurately, two families coming together. She knew she couldn’t live as freely as she had before. She would need to shoulder responsibilities and adapt to the changes.

In reality, though, her post-marriage life was even lazier than before. When she lived at home, Meng Qing would never let her sleep in. She had to get up at a set time, even on weekends.

Now, although she set an alarm every day, thinking she’d get up early once or twice a week to make breakfast for Chen Fang, she always found the other side of the bed empty when she woke up. Her alarm was turned off, and breakfast was already prepared on the table.

For lunch and dinner, if she was home, she ate with Grandma. The old lady’s cooking was so good that an entire week went by without a single repeat dish. If it weren’t for her firm insistence, Grandma wouldn’t even let her do the dishes. And if Chen Fang was home, the dishwashing wasn’t her responsibility either.

Jiang Youlin once joked that her days were so idyllic they were practically begging for divine punishment. While divine retribution seemed unlikely, Tao Xiaoxi did gain four pounds. Given that she used to have a fast metabolism and could eat without gaining weight, even the heavens seemed to be intervening now.

When Meng Qing saw Tao Xiaoxi again, she sized her up and down a few times. “You’re being raised like a pig,” she remarked. It had only been a few days, and her face had visibly rounded.

Well, that didn’t sound like something a loving mother would say.

Tao Xiaoxi touched her face. “Is it that noticeable?”

Tao Wenyong handed her a freshly peeled apple. “You’re not fat at all. Look at your skinny arms—they’re as thin as bamboo sticks. They’d snap in a light breeze. You should eat more.”

Now that sounded like a proper father.

It was Saturday. Chen Fang had originally planned to visit with Tao Xiaoxi but had to leave after dropping her off due to an urgent matter. He promised to return later in the evening.

Meng Qing, aware that Tao Xiaoxi had already rented a storefront, was unhappy. She snapped beans with a vengeance. “You’re married now, and you’re making big decisions like this without consulting us? That location isn’t even good. If you’re really set on opening a store, the family can chip in to help you get a better spot. Even if you don’t do much, you could still collect rent as income.”

She asked Tao Xiaoxi, “What did Chen Fang say about you renting such a lousy place? Are you two managing your money separately now?”

Tao Xiaoxi swallowed her bite of apple. “What’s so bad about it? If you saw it, you’d know—the view is amazing. These days, the location isn’t everything for a store. I insisted on that spot, so what could he say?”

Meng Qing got annoyed seeing her only focused on eating. What could he even say? It’s not like he had any say in the matter. Since he wasn’t the one footing the bill, of course, she could decide on whatever she liked.

Tao Xiaoxi understood what her mother meant. “He gave me a card, but I didn’t use it. The money I have is enough. Why should I rely on his?”

Meng Qing was about to say something, but Tao Xiaoxi cut her off. “If I didn’t use that money, he was even more upset than you. He gave me a whole lecture on it. You don’t need to lecture me too.”

Meng Qing’s expression softened a bit. “At least he knows what’s important. I’m not asking him to pay for everything. If you want to, we can help. The money your father and I saved, aside from what we’ll need for our retirement, will all be yours in the future. What I want is his attitude.”

Tao Xiaoxi reassured her mother. “Don’t worry, he’s told me about his finances. On our wedding night, he explained everything—his savings, company earnings, property details—he was clear and honest about it.”

“Really?” Meng Qing was worried that Tao Xiaoxi was lying to her.

“If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself when he gets back.”

Meng Qing threw a bean at her. “Get lost! Is there a mother-in-law like me digging into someone else’s family background? People would think I’m after something.”

Tao Xiaoxi obediently put the bean back on the table. “He’s really good to me. Otherwise, how could I have gained so much weight? The old lady treats me even better, like I’m a child. Also, you can spend whatever money you’ve saved. You don’t need to leave any for me. I have my own hands and feet… and now I have Chen Fang. I don’t need your money.”

Meng Qing gave her a stern look. “Anyway, you two are married now. You have to work together and build a good life. Don’t start calculating things separately. If you do, it’ll fall apart sooner or later. The old lady treats you well, so you should treat her well too. People need to put themselves in each other’s shoes. You need to have some common sense. If there’s something you can help with, do it. It’s unreasonable to expect an elder to take care of a younger one all the time. It’s fine for a few days, but if it goes on too long, conflicts are bound to arise.”

Tao Xiaoxi nodded seriously. “I understand, Mom.”

“Also, don’t keep things to yourself if you’re upset. You tend to brush off small matters, but you hide big ones. If he’s really making you suffer, we’re not without resources. If it really doesn’t work out, you can divorce. Divorce isn’t something new these days. It’s better than living a life of misery, holding it all in.”

Lately, Meng Qing had been sleeping poorly. She had been thinking that her daughter’s marriage was rushed. She was afraid that she had pressured her too much. Tao Xiaoxi hadn’t fully considered marriage herself and had just grabbed the first man who came along. Now, Meng Qing regretted not giving her daughter more advice before the marriage. Young people tend to be carefree and overlook many small details, but those details often cause the biggest problems.

So, today when Tao Xiaoxi came home and Chen Fang wasn’t there, Meng Qing finally had the chance to vent all her thoughts.

Tao Wenyong peeled an apple and handed it to Meng Qing. “You’re worrying too much. I think Chen Fang is fine. How can you push for a divorce right after they got married. If he heard you say that, he’d surely have thoughts about you as a mother-in-law.”

Meng Qing slapped his hand away. “Eat, eat, eat. That’s all you do. I only said this because because he’s not here. If you don’t say anything and Tao Xiaoxi doesn’t say anything, how would he ever hear? I’m not trying to push her to divorce. I’m just worried she’s suffering.”

Seeing Meng Qing getting worked up, Tao Xiaoxi quickly intervened. “What’s that burning smell? Mom, what’s cooking in the kitchen?”

Meng Qing dropped the beans and ran into the kitchen. Tao Wenyong followed closely behind. Tao Xiaoxi sat on the couch, continuing to eat her apple.

When Chen Fang arrived, half of the meal was already on the table. He was carrying a large bag of ribs in one hand and a box of fruit in the other. Tao Xiaoxi had just sneaked a bite of fried meatballs, so her hands were greasy and she couldn’t take the items from him. Tao Wenyong hurried to help.

“Why did you bring so much again? There are just the two of us. It’ll go bad if we don’t finish it. You can take it back later.”

In the morning, when Chen Fang dropped Tao Xiaoxi off, he had already brought a lot of things with him.

“It’s fine, Dad. The fruit won’t spoil. These ribs are from our local farm pigs. They’re better than what you get in the market. I heard you and Mom like ribs, so I brought extra. You can store them in the fridge, and you’ll finish them in no time.”

Chen Fang didn’t hand it over to Tao Wenyong. He glanced at Tao Xiaoxi and went straight to the kitchen to talk to Meng Qing.

Tao Xiaoxi chewed on her meatballs. Did she ever tell him her parents liked ribs? She seemed to have vaguely mentioned it before.

Meng Qing came out holding a fish and saw Tao Xiaoxi shoving the meatballs into her Meng Qing came out carrying a plate of fish and caught Tao Xiaoxi stuffing a meatball into her mouth. She immediately tapped her hand with a pair of chopsticks and said, “Will you starve if you eat a little later? Chen Fang just arrived and went straight into the kitchen to help me. Tell me, what can I even count on you for?”

Tao Xiaoxi quickly pulled her hand back. So, this is what it’s like to have a mother-in-law. Just a moment ago, she was closer to her daughter, and now, in no time, the son-in-law is the star while the daughter becomes the unwanted cabbage stalk.

She went to wash her hands, then ran into the kitchen. Her son-in-law was eager to please her mother, so as a daughter, she should show some effort too, but she didn’t know what to do to help.

Chen Fang pointed at two garlic bulbs on the table. “Just peel the garlic.”

Well, it looked like her job in the kitchen was to peel garlic.

“My mom really likes you. She says her own daughter isn’t as reliable as you, her son-in-law. Sigh, it’s true what they say—once the son-in-law enters the house, the daughter gets pushed aside.” Tao Xiaoxi squatted by the trash can at his feet, quietly gossiping about her mom to him.

Chen Fang looked at the small ball near his feet and smiled.

He couldn’t say that his mother-in-law liked him much. He understood the heart of a mother. Considering the people Tao Xiaoxi could have chosen at the time, he definitely wasn’t the one who qualified. But her mother couldn’t go against her daughter’s choice, so she reluctantly agreed. Their early meetings had been polite, and her gaze always carried scrutiny and doubt.

What was interesting about Tao Xiaoxi was that after every meeting, she would always tell him how her mom praised him, how her mom said he was so great. Those words surely didn’t come from Meng Qing. However, he liked how she spoke in between, talking about the good things her mother said about him and the good things she said about him in front of her mom. It was clear, but it was also kind of heartwarming.

Chen Fang’s phone rang, and since both of his hands were occupied, he asked Tao Xiaoxi to answer it and hold it to his ear. The caller urgently requested a file.

After hanging up, Chen Fang asked Tao Xiaoxi to send the file to the person.

Holding his phone, Tao Xiaoxi seemed deep in thought. “Does this mean I’ll have to know your phone password?”

Chen Fang glanced at her. “So what if you know the password? My phone password is just one digit away from my bank card password. You just change the last digit to six.”

Tao Xiaoxi thought, Oh, well, that’s a lazy and confusing password choice.

“So what’s the password?” Tao Xiaoxi asked.

Chen Fang shot her another glance. “Didn’t you remember the bank card password?”

Uh, no.

Chen Fang held his breath. “Figure it out yourself.”

Tao Xiaoxi couldn’t quite recall. “I think it’s six digits.”

…

Actually, marrying an old classmate had its downsides—every now and then, they’d bring up the past.

Tao Xiaoxi entered the password and unlocked his phone, lazily teasing, “Getting older, huh? Your memory’s clearly slipping. You’re doomed now, Chen Fang. I know your phone password—you’ve got no secrets from me anymore.”

Meng Qing, who was on the balcony listening to their banter, quietly retreated to the living room.

Tao Wenyong noticed the smile on his wife’s face and found it odd. How could closing a window on the balcony make her so happy?

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Meng Qing adjusted her expression and said, “Nothing.”

When Tao Wenyong tried to head to the kitchen, Meng Qing grabbed his arm. “Let the two of them handle it. We’ll just wait for the food.”

Tao Wenyong found his wife’s behavior even more peculiar.

Meanwhile, the bickering pair in the kitchen was unaware of what was happening in the living room.

Tao Xiaoxi followed Chen Fang’s instructions to send the file and was about to lock the phone when her eyes landed on the pinned WeChat contact at the top.

She gritted her teeth. “Really, Chen Fang? You don’t even know which characters make up my name?”

Tao Xiaoxi(陶小溪)^[1]Real Name (Tao Xiaoxi): Pinyin: Táo Xiǎoxī (陶晓皙) Explanation: The real name likely uses characters that are elegant or meaningful, such as “晓” (dawn) and … Continue reading—what kind of nonsense was that?

Chen Fang paused for a moment before continuing to cook as if nothing had happened. “I just think these characters suit you better.”

Tao Xiaoxi was baffled.

Chen Fang gestured for her to lean in closer.

Tao Xiaoxi leaned in.

Chen Fang cupped his hand over her ear and whispered something softly.

At first, Tao Xiaoxi didn’t quite get it. But seeing the slight smirk at the corner of his lips, she suddenly remembered the embarrassing words she’d heard while being pinned beneath him, lost in the hazy rhythm of their passion. Her face instantly flushed crimson, like a fiery sunset.

She staggered back a few steps, pointing at him with trembling fingers, her voice shaking as she tried (and failed) to keep it down.

“Chen Fang!!!!”

A wolf-like howl erupted from the Tao family’s kitchen, startling the neighbors and causing a child next door to drop the noodles they were slurping into their mouth.

The gentle, soft-spoken Miss Tao, ever since getting married, seemed to have suddenly turned into a fierce tigress.