Upon entering, Shen Xuan's attention was immediately captivated by the plain carpet in her arms.
Seeing that her husband had not acknowledged her, Lu Yu felt inexplicably jealous. She quickly stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Shen Xuan's waist, and said, "What? My wife is back, and you don't greet me. Are you tired of me?"
As she spoke, her tone shifted. Her primary intention was still to tease Shen Xuan.
Being embraced in front of Afu made Shen Xuan a little shy. He tried to break free gently but found he couldn't. Annoyed, he buried his head in Lu Yu's embrace, acting like a quail.
"Afu, if you're still here, your young master is about to steam himself to death in my arms."
Hearing this, Shen Xuan was both angry and embarrassed. He reached for Lu Yu's waist and pinched her hard.
"Ouch! Ouch! Stop pinching, it hurts so much!" Lu Yu deliberately exaggerated her voice.
Afu chuckled, covered his mouth, and ran off.
"Alright, everyone's gone," Lu Yu said, gently shaking her arms. "Still shy? Hmm?"
Feeling Lu Yu's arms loosen, Shen Xuan pulled himself out of her embrace, stomped his foot, and quickly walked into the room.
When Lu Yu entered, Shen Xuan's face was still flushed. He glared at her.
Through their days together, Shen Xuan had become much more relaxed than when he first married Lu Yu. He would often throw small tantrums and act spoiled, making them seem like a couple who had been together for a long time.
"Look, you've almost bruised me. It hurts so much," Lu Yu winced, her eyes constantly glancing at Shen Xuan.
"How could I have bruised you? I didn't use any strength," Lu Yu feigned grievance, but Shen Xuan felt even more wronged.
Sitting on a stool, he fiddled with the hem of his clothes, his lips slightly pouting, matching the red on his face.
Shen Xuan knew that Lu Yu was likely faking, but he couldn't help but worry if he had actually hurt her. Yet, he hadn't used much strength.
Thinking this, Shen Xuan felt even more aggrieved. His eyes welled up slightly, and he looked up at Lu Yu, as if she had bullied him terribly.
Seeing this, Lu Yu dared not tease him any further. She quickly moved a stool to sit beside Shen Xuan and gently embraced him.
"My darling, I was kidding. Why did you believe me?" Lu Yu coaxed him, her voice so gentle it seemed to ooze sweetness.
The term "darling," spoken so softly and seductively, made his legs weak. Shen Xuan's face immediately turned bright red, like a cooked shrimp. He arched his body, wanting to burrow into Lu Yu's embrace.
"Afu was still here," Shen Xuan blinked, his voice soft.
"So what? We are husband and wife, what is there to fear?" Lu Yu's voice always carried a special magnetism, sounding incredibly pleasant. Every time Lu Yu spoke to him in this tone, he felt his whole body go soft.
Shen Xuan remained silent, listening to his increasingly rapid heartbeat. He reached out and hugged her waist tightly.
Feeling Shen Xuan's closeness, Lu Yu put her arm around him. They were pressed tightly together, with Shen Xuan leaning on Lu Yu's shoulder.
"Why are you so clingy today?"
"Wife, thank you." The warm breath on Lu Yu's neck tickled her, making her heart flutter.
Just as Lu Yu was wondering, Shen Xuan spoke again, "Thank you for staying up late to buy firecrackers the day before our wedding, thank you for treating my maternal grandfather, thank you for the white jade hairpin that only a formal husband can wear, thank you for protecting me, thank you for giving me a stable life, thank you for buying me a blanket when it was cold." And thank you for letting me taste what it's like to like someone.
With each word Shen Xuan spoke, Lu Yu's heart grew colder. So, his recent intimacy was just out of gratitude? Not a shred of affection?
Gazing at the crown of Shen Xuan's head, a wave of desolation washed over Lu Yu. So, he was merely grateful. Hah, she had truly been self-indulgent.
Though they were indoors, she felt a chill in her body and an even colder heart. Even her blood and breath felt like they were about to freeze.
She slowly lowered her arms. Seeing Shen Xuan look up in confusion as if about to speak, she quickly stood up. "You rest first, I'm going to bathe."
With that, she turned decisively and left without a moment's hesitation, striding away.
In truth, she wasn't so much leaving as fleeing. She didn't know what else to say, and perhaps there was nothing left to say.
Shen Xuan didn't understand why Lu Yu had that expression when she left. He stared blankly at the spot where Lu Yu had just been.
When Lu Yu returned, Shen Xuan was laying the carpet she had just bought on the floor. Hearing the sound, he knew Lu Yu was back and turned to smile at her.
On any other day, Lu Yu would have been delighted, but now it only seemed glaring. She hastily lowered her eyes, not wanting Shen Xuan to see the emotions in her gaze.
Shen Xuan lay on the bed, waiting for Lu Yu to lie down. He was accustomed to facing her when he slept.
But Lu Yu was uncharacteristically turning her back to him today. Just as he was about to speak, Lu Yu cut him off with a single sentence.
"Go to sleep quickly, I'm tired today."
"Oh." So she was tired. She must be tired. She was fine just now.
Lu Yu didn't know how long she had been lying there. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. In the silent night, Shen Xuan's steady breathing became even more pronounced.
It was she herself who had been too greedy.
The next morning, when Shen Xuan woke up, Lu Yu was already gone. This time, Shen Xuan hadn't overslept; rather, Lu Yu had woken up early.
Even Afu hadn't seen when Lu Yu had left.
Did she... not even eat breakfast?
"Why are you here so early today?" Gu Yitong was eating breakfast at the medical clinic when she casually looked up and saw Lu Yu walk in, looking dejected.
"What's wrong? So down? Did someone owe you money?"
After three questions, Lu Yu didn't answer any of them. She sat quietly in the chair where she usually saw patients, watching the people coming and going on the street, feeling a sense of loneliness for the first time.
Before she transmigrated, she had been alone too.
Humans are such creatures. Once they have hope, once they get used to something, they can no longer bear their former lives.
"Did you quarrel with your wife?" Before she knew it, Gu Yitong had finished her breakfast and sat beside Lu Yu with a stool.
Lu Yu remained silent.
Seeing Lu Yu like this, Gu Yitong confirmed her guess. "No way, I actually guessed right?"
"You know, you were showing off to me yesterday, and today you're already like this? I think being single is better. At least you don't have to go through this."
"We didn't quarrel."
"Oh! And you call this not quarreling? Such a proud woman." Gu Yitong sighed deeply and walked away, fanning herself.
"Don't talk nonsense. We really didn't quarrel, it's my own problem."
Hearing this, Gu Yitong became interested. She strode back to Lu Yu's side. "Your own problem? Could it be related to 'that' aspect? Can't you treat yourself?"
Lu Yu rolled her eyes. "I don't want to talk to a fool."
"The Mid-Autumn Festival is the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow night, Yuman Tang has a performance. Come with me to enjoy it and relax. Don't bottle this up, it's not worth it."
This is the good thing about having friends. When you are sad and lost, they will try their best to distract you.
Just as she was about to refuse, Gu Yitong preempted her. "Don't hesitate, just go. It's settled. I'll book a table later. There will be a lot of people there, and if we go late, we won't get good seats."
Gu Yitong chattered on beside her, already looking forward to it.