When Zhao Changdu came to his senses from the nightmare and realized it was all a misunderstanding, he pulled Gu Ying into his arms again in a moment of post-panic.
"You troublemaker Gu Ying!"
"Do you know how heartbroken I was when I learned you'd bought those abortion pills?"
Gu Ying gave a helpless smile, her little hands hugging the man's sturdy waist. "It's such a huge matter, I didn't expect Master Zhao to misunderstand... But Master Zhao can also think about it - no matter how vicious I may be, it's impossible for me to lay hands on my own child. My anticipation for this child is no less than yours by a tiny bit."
Zhao Changdu glared at her sullenly, the chills all over his body now completely gone. He could only hold her tightly in his arms, as if only this would keep her by his side forever.
"I'm sorry, Lady Gu. I didn't think it through just now."
When he heard the news that she'd bought abortion pills, a unprecedented fear welled up from the bottom of his heart.
He wished he could fly to her side immediately to tie her up, not allowing her to harm the child.
Gu Ying was almost suffocated by his embrace. "Mm...Master Zhao, you're squeezing me..."
Hearing the young lady's whimpers, Zhao Changdu finally reacted. The turbulent darkness in his eyes receded, and he slowly released the woman in his arms. After settling down for quite a while, his complexion finally regained its usual calm.
Gu Ying looked at him with wide, misty eyes that didn't blink at all.
The two of them had grown cold with each other for a period of time. Now that they'd fought and made up, even his cold, proud brows and eyes had regained warmth.
Gu Ying curved her eyes into a smile and reached out a finger to poke his straight nose.
The corner of the man's mouth hinted a faint smile, though his sword-like brows knitted lightly. "Don't make trouble. Did you sleep well last night?"
Gu Ying grinned. "With Lady Zhao accompanying me, I slept very well."
Zhao Changdu didn't tell her about his late night visit. He murmured in agreement, then picked her up horizontally. Whenever he was around, he never liked his wife and child's mother to walk much.
There was a short couch in the partitioned bathing room where one could rest.
In a swift motion, Gu Ying was lifted lightly with her whole body wrapped in the unique scent belonging to the man. Soon he brought her to the couch.
He sat there properly like a gentleman.
Gu Ying, however, leaned against him coquettishly like a sprite, her shoulder slightly bared, smooth and fair, defying frost and outshining snow - even whiter than her white robes, which made her red lips and beautiful brows and eyes even more striking.
The man's gaze was very concentrated. Holding her soft, boneless little hand absently, his unfathomable dark eyes looked her way faintly, making her heart skip a beat.
At such a close distance with such a strong aura, anyone would feel nervous and unable to tell lies.
Fortunately, Gu Ying had been his wife for a few months now and was quite composed around him. "Master Zhao, what are you looking at?"
The man remained entirely undistracted by her beauty. "You're hiding something from me."
Gu Ying was very guilty. She had indeed overreacted earlier. "I..."
Zhao Changdu lowered his eyes to look at her. "What we just talked about were two separate matters, but Lady Gu's reaction makes me think deeper."
He seldom interacted with women. Gu Ying was his first woman.
He loved her more than his own life.
After a misunderstanding tonight, he noticed even more oddities.
His little wife must be hiding something from him.
Gu Ying smiled awkwardly, gripping his hand tighter. Her mind raced swiftly as she rapidly found a reasonable explanation. "I thought Master Zhao had come because of my meeting with Jiang Yin today... Actually I didn't intend to hide this from you either, I just wanted to find a chance to mention it later..."
Zhao Changdu: "For Jiang Yin, you were willing to say those hurtful words about separating from me?"
Gu Ying hurriedly argued: "I... I was just afraid Master Zhao would stop wanting me because Jiang Yin didn't want me anymore, so I thought I'd make the first move to hurt less if that happened."
Zhao Changdu's expression was indiscernible, his gaze profound and deep. "So why did Lady Gu secretly meet with him?"
Gu Ying faltered, fingers clenching tighter. Her mind raced swiftly as she racked her brains for an excuse. "I was looking for him because there's something very important that's with him... I have to get it back no matter what, or I'll never be at ease."
"Oh?" Zhao Changdu's tone was very mild. "What is this object?"
Gu Ying bit her lip. She had no choice but to shamelessly say, "A sachet."
Today, she saw it at Jiang Yin's waist - a bamboo sachet she had personally embroidered.
Back then when she liked Jiang Yin, she had looked forward to him liking her every day. Urged by Lady Gu, she gave Jiang Yin many gifts.
At that time her embroidery skills were poor and her teacher hadn't taught her to make these things. In order to win Jiang Yin's affection, she resorted to self-learning through many sleepless nights, and finally somehow managed to embroider an ugly bamboo pattern onto a sachet.
Jiang Yin had never worn it in their past life. Perhaps to deliberately provoke her, he specifically wore it out today.
Zhao Changdu didn't speak, his obscure eyes flickering in the candlelight.
Gu Ying's palms grew sweaty as nervousness and guilt overcame her.
In just a short while, Zhao Changdu said, "I want a pomegranate seed one."
Gu Ying looked up. "What?"
Zhao Changdu's brows knitted together in displeasure. He crooked his forefinger and lightly tapped her forehead. "Embroidered by your hands. I want it in a few days."
Only then did Gu Ying realize he wanted a sachet.
Her jealous husband's manner...was truly adorable.
"Master Zhao," her heart softened. She took the initiative to hug his slender neck and tiptoed to peck his thin lips. "I was wrong about this matter. I apologize to you. I swear I have no feelings whatsoever for Jiang Yin. Today's meeting was purely to take back the sachet..."
"For such trivial matters, just leave them to your husband."
The man pressed his forehead to hers, murmuring gently, "I'm not worried Lady Gu will betray me. I just don't like Lady Gu keeping worries in her heart that she's unwilling to share with me. That will make me feel incompetent as a husband."
"I..." Gu Ying sighed softly. "I just felt I could handle it myself..."
"Does Lady Gu distrust me this much? And you're pregnant on top of that. What if something happens to you—"
"No." Gu Ying earnestly lifted her eyes. "I believe in Master Zhao. I'll always believe in Master Zhao."
Zhao Changdu sighed softly, so softly it was nearly inaudible. "Then hand all matters related to Jiang Yin over to me in the future, alright?"
The man's big hand slid downward to rest on her lower back, transmitting scorching heat.
Gu Ying paused briefly, her long eyelashes fluttering lightly as she murmured a soft "Mm."
Zhao Changdu raised a brow, a swathe of dark moisture arising in his eyes - deep and shallow, stealing souls with infatuation.
Gu Ying felt her whole body grow hot under his intense stare.
But the person before her could only be seen, not tasted.
She whimpered softly and curled back into his embrace, quietly listening to the strong, powerful beats of his heart against his chest.
If only time could forever stay frozen here.
When Zhao Changdu came to his senses from the nightmare and realized it was all a misunderstanding, he pulled Gu Ying into his arms again in a moment of post-panic.
"You troublemaker Gu Ying!"
"Do you know how heartbroken I was when I learned you'd bought those abortion pills?"
Gu Ying gave a helpless smile, her little hands hugging the man's sturdy waist. "It's such a huge matter, I didn't expect Master Zhao to misunderstand... But Master Zhao can also think about it - no matter how vicious I may be, it's impossible for me to lay hands on my own child. My anticipation for this child is no less than yours by a tiny bit."
Zhao Changdu glared at her sullenly, the chills all over his body now completely gone. He could only hold her tightly in his arms, as if only this would keep her by his side forever.
"I'm sorry, Lady Gu. I didn't think it through just now."
When he heard the news that she'd bought abortion pills, a unprecedented fear welled up from the bottom of his heart.
He wished he could fly to her side immediately to tie her up, not allowing her to harm the child.
Gu Ying was almost suffocated by his embrace. "Mm...Master Zhao, you're squeezing me..."
Hearing the young lady's whimpers, Zhao Changdu finally reacted. The turbulent darkness in his eyes receded, and he slowly released the woman in his arms. After settling down for quite a while, his complexion finally regained its usual calm.
Gu Ying looked at him with wide, misty eyes that didn't blink at all.
The two of them had grown cold with each other for a period of time. Now that they'd fought and made up, even his cold, proud brows and eyes had regained warmth.
Gu Ying curved her eyes into a smile and reached out a finger to poke his straight nose.
The corner of the man's mouth hinted a faint smile, though his sword-like brows knitted lightly. "Don't make trouble. Did you sleep well last night?"
Gu Ying grinned. "With Lady Zhao accompanying me, I slept very well."
Zhao Changdu didn't tell her about his late night visit. He murmured in agreement, then picked her up horizontally. Whenever he was around, he never liked his wife and child's mother to walk much.
There was a short couch in the partitioned bathing room where one could rest.
In a swift motion, Gu Ying was lifted lightly with her whole body wrapped in the unique scent belonging to the man. Soon he brought her to the couch.
He sat there properly like a gentleman.
Gu Ying, however, leaned against him coquettishly like a sprite, her shoulder slightly bared, smooth and fair, defying frost and outshining snow - even whiter than her white robes, which made her red lips and beautiful brows and eyes even more striking.
The man's gaze was very concentrated. Holding her soft, boneless little hand absently, his unfathomable dark eyes looked her way faintly, making her heart skip a beat.
At such a close distance with such a strong aura, anyone would feel nervous and unable to tell lies.
Fortunately, Gu Ying had been his wife for a few months now and was quite composed around him. "Master Zhao, what are you looking at?"
The man remained entirely undistracted by her beauty. "You're hiding something from me."
Gu Ying was very guilty. She had indeed overreacted earlier. "I..."
Zhao Changdu lowered his eyes to look at her. "What we just talked about were two separate matters, but Lady Gu's reaction makes me think deeper."
He seldom interacted with women. Gu Ying was his first woman.
He loved her more than his own life.
After a misunderstanding tonight, he noticed even more oddities.
His little wife must be hiding something from him.
Gu Ying smiled awkwardly, gripping his hand tighter. Her mind raced swiftly as she rapidly found a reasonable explanation. "I thought Master Zhao had come because of my meeting with Jiang Yin today... Actually I didn't intend to hide this from you either, I just wanted to find a chance to mention it later..."
Zhao Changdu: "For Jiang Yin, you were willing to say those hurtful words about separating from me?"
Gu Ying hurriedly argued: "I... I was just afraid Master Zhao would stop wanting me because Jiang Yin didn't want me anymore, so I thought I'd make the first move to hurt less if that happened."
Zhao Changdu's expression was indiscernible, his gaze profound and deep. "So why did Lady Gu secretly meet with him?"
Gu Ying faltered, fingers clenching tighter. Her mind raced swiftly as she racked her brains for an excuse. "I was looking for him because there's something very important that's with him... I have to get it back no matter what, or I'll never be at ease."
"Oh?" Zhao Changdu's tone was very mild. "What is this object?"
Gu Ying bit her lip. She had no choice but to shamelessly say, "A sachet."
Today, she saw it at Jiang Yin's waist - a bamboo sachet she had personally embroidered.
Back then when she liked Jiang Yin, she had looked forward to him liking her every day. Urged by Lady Gu, she gave Jiang Yin many gifts.
At that time her embroidery skills were poor and her teacher hadn't taught her to make these things. In order to win Jiang Yin's affection, she resorted to self-learning through many sleepless nights, and finally somehow managed to embroider an ugly bamboo pattern onto a sachet.
Jiang Yin had never worn it in their past life. Perhaps to deliberately provoke her, he specifically wore it out today.
Zhao Changdu didn't speak, his obscure eyes flickering in the candlelight.
Gu Ying's palms grew sweaty as nervousness and guilt overcame her.
In just a short while, Zhao Changdu said, "I want a pomegranate seed one."
Gu Ying looked up. "What?"
Zhao Changdu's brows knitted together in displeasure. He crooked his forefinger and lightly tapped her forehead. "Embroidered by your hands. I want it in a few days."
Only then did Gu Ying realize he wanted a sachet.
Her jealous husband's manner...was truly adorable.
"Master Zhao," her heart softened. She took the initiative to hug his slender neck and tiptoed to peck his thin lips. "I was wrong about this matter. I apologize to you. I swear I have no feelings whatsoever for Jiang Yin. Today's meeting was purely to take back the sachet..."
"For such trivial matters, just leave them to your husband."
The man pressed his forehead to hers, murmuring gently, "I'm not worried Lady Gu will betray me. I just don't like Lady Gu keeping worries in her heart that she's unwilling to share with me. That will make me feel incompetent as a husband."
"I..." Gu Ying sighed softly. "I just felt I could handle it myself..."
"Does Lady Gu distrust me this much? And you're pregnant on top of that. What if something happens to you—"
"No." Gu Ying earnestly lifted her eyes. "I believe in Master Zhao. I'll always believe in Master Zhao."
Zhao Changdu sighed softly, so softly it was nearly inaudible. "Then hand all matters related to Jiang Yin over to me in the future, alright?"
The man's big hand slid downward to rest on her lower back, transmitting scorching heat.
Gu Ying paused briefly, her long eyelashes fluttering lightly as she murmured a soft "Mm."
Zhao Changdu raised a brow, a swathe of dark moisture arising in his eyes - deep and shallow, stealing souls with infatuation.
Gu Ying felt her whole body grow hot under his intense stare.
But the person before her could only be seen, not tasted.
She whimpered softly and curled back into his embrace, quietly listening to the strong, powerful beats of his heart against his chest.
If only time could forever stay frozen here.
