"Do you remember what you said that night?"
"What?" Shen Xuan tried to recall, but couldn't. It had all seemed like such ordinary conversation.
Seeing the slow-witted, silly boy, Lu Yu smiled helplessly and replied, "That night you said you were very grateful to me, so I thought you only felt gratitude towards me, and then..."
Before Lu Yu could finish, Shen Xuan interrupted, "So you thought I didn't like you?"
Feeling Lu Yu's silence, Shen Xuan grew anxious, and his true feelings spilled out.
"No! Wife, I am grateful to you for these things, but it's definitely not that I mistook gratitude for liking. I truly like you, I can tell the difference!"
He then realized what he had said, and his face instantly turned bright red.
"I like you too. Oh, wait." Lu Yu deliberately paused.
Shen Xuan's body stiffened, and he held his breath, unsure of what Lu Yu was going to say.
Sensing the change in the person in her arms, Lu Yu chuckled softly, "I love you."
The atmosphere around them was quiet and intimate. Shen Xuan's lips curved into a shy, satisfied, joyful smile. He closed his eyes, completely relaxed his body, and leaned against Lu Yu.
After a long moment, Shen Xuan, his face flushed, whispered, "Wife, I love you too."
They stood there, embracing each other. The sunlight outside the window, filtering through the thin clouds, filled the entire room and their hearts.
"Alright," Lu Yu cupped Shen Xuan's face, wiping away the lingering tear stains. "Little crybaby, why do you cry so much?"
"I cry when I'm worried, I cry when I'm scared, I cry when I'm wronged, and I cry when I'm touched."
"No," Shen Xuan said, feeling a little embarrassed. He lowered his slightly red face and whispered, "I can't control it either. I'll change."
"You don't need to change. I like you no matter what. Don't change yourself for me, just be yourself."
Lu Yu cupped his face again. This time, she didn't give him a chance to lower his head. Her gaze was as gentle as flowing water, her eyes filled with deep affection.
"Okay, go wash your face quickly. You look like a little kitten. If they see you like this at your maternal grandfather's house, they'll think I've bullied you."
Hearing her words, Shen Xuan opened his teary eyes and looked at Lu Yu, his nose tip red, appearing utterly pitiful.
He had intended to express his defiance, but in Lu Yu's eyes, he just looked pathetic.
Seeing Shen Xuan like this, Lu Yu couldn't resist her mischievous thoughts. She reached out and pinched the flesh of his cheek. As Shen Xuan winced, she suddenly furrowed her brow, her nostrils flaring, clearly showing he was feeling wronged again.
Lu Yu was not deterred; instead, she wanted to go further, to make him cry, but the circumstances didn't allow it right now.
They were about to visit her maternal grandfather's house. If anyone noticed, she wouldn't be able to explain it even with eight mouths.
Alas, there would be plenty of time in the future. One day, hmph...
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Go quickly, good boy."
The last word was spoken with a magnetic, gentle tone that sent shivers down Shen Xuan's spine. In his flustered state, he lowered his head and fumbled away, almost tripping over his own feet.
Lu Yu stood there, savoring the sensation in her hand – soft, smooth, and elastic.
Shen Xuan was sixteen, in the prime of his youth. The baby fat had not completely faded. Normally, it wasn't noticeable, but when he was wronged or angry, his little face would puff out, making the baby fat very apparent.
As they were leaving, Afu saw the two of them as intimate as ever and was puzzled. He stepped closer, only to notice Shen Xuan's red-rimmed eyes, clearly having cried recently.
Afu's expression immediately changed. He quickly pulled Shen Xuan behind him, his face tense and his eyes glaring angrily at Lu Yu, as if he would fight her to the death if she dared to approach.
Lu Yu chuckled, her gaze passing over Afu. She raised an eyebrow at Shen Xuan.
Afu, shorter than the two of them, saw Lu Yu still provocatively teasing his young master. He quickly stood on tiptoe, tilting his chin up, trying to block Lu Yu's line of sight.
"Ask your young master if I bullied him. We've taken our relationship a step further, you blind servant." Lu Yu shook her head, feigning a helpless expression.
Shen Xuan, thinking of their recent interaction, his face slightly flushed, pulled Afu closer. "Afu, I'm fine. Don't worry." He said, gently patting Afu's hand.
His mood relaxed, Shen Xuan suddenly remembered that he still owed Madam Li for the handkerchiefs Afu had sold. He quickly took the money and knocked on the door next door.
Madam Li opened the door. Sister Li was still working in the fields.
Seeing that Shen Xuan had come to deliver money, Madam Li politely refused.
"I won't take this money. Miss Lu has leased your land to us, and our family has already benefited greatly. I absolutely cannot accept the money for the handkerchiefs."
"One matter is one matter. Renting the land to Sister Li is based on the friendship between my wife and Sister Li. We embroidered these handkerchiefs together, so you must take the money. If you don't, I won't embroider handkerchiefs with you anymore."
Shen Xuan's words were sincere and left no room for refusal.
Madam Li had no choice but to accept. She opened the door and invited Shen Xuan in for a cup of water.
Shen Xuan smiled and refused, "My wife is taking me to my maternal grandfather's house today and we're leaving soon. I'll come back tomorrow."
Seeing Shen Xuan's beaming smile, unable to hide his happiness, Madam Li leaned closer and asked with a smile, "You look completely different today compared to yesterday. Did you and your wife clear things up?"
She then winked at Shen Xuan, her expression teasing.
"Yes," Shen Xuan said, feeling a bit embarrassed. He lowered his head, his face red.
"It's good that you cleared things up. Couples quarrel and make up. Your expression yesterday really scared me," Madam Li patted her chest and let out a long sigh.
Shen Xuan had never heard such a common saying, but with Madam Li's expression, he understood its meaning. She must have misunderstood.
Shen Xuan lowered his head, the blush spreading to his ears. Having grown up in a secluded mansion, Shen Xuan's ears were delicate and couldn't stand such talk. He was so ashamed he kept looking for a hole in the ground to bury himself in.
Upon arriving at the Li residence, Shen Xuan's red and swollen eyes inevitably led to a round of questioning from the elders.
However, it wasn't said in front of Lu Yu. While Lu Yu wasn't paying attention, Madam Li quietly asked Shen Xuan for the reason. Shen Xuan stammered, unable to explain anything, his face turning red with frustration.
"Grandfather, please don't trouble him. He's just jealous."
Although Lu Yu wasn't nearby, her hearing was sharp, and she was paying attention to the commotion.
Shen Xuan, hearing Lu Yu babbling nonsense in front of the elders, turned beet red, unsure of what to do. He could only glare at Lu Yu, but then he felt that what she said wasn't entirely wrong. He became both angry and ashamed, too embarrassed to look up, gritting his teeth, his face flushed, and remained silent.