Chapter 116: Don't Act Recklessly

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Shen Qingyi’s eyes widened in surprise as she tried to struggle, but the back of her head was firmly held by his large palm. His kiss was gentle yet utterly commanding—cautiously probing, yet allowing no resistance. Only when he felt complete submission in her embrace did he begin a gradual and relentless conquest, intensifying with a wild urgency. Shen Qingyi’s body went limp, breathless, utterly at his mercy.

“Respond to me!” His heated breath carried an undeniable dominance as he whispered low into her ear, before his kisses resumed with fervent intensity. Shen Qingyi’s heart was a tumultuous storm; she pushed him away slightly. “Lu Yan, don’t be reckless!”

“You are my wife, and you don’t dislike me. How is this being reckless?” Lu Yan suppressed the madness in his heart, calming his breath. His deep eyes were like an impending storm.

“I… we’ve been apart for four years. If it weren’t for An An, I might have almost forgotten you during that time. Now… I’m not ready yet,” Shen Qingyi lied. She knew very well that whatever Lu Yan intended, he had prepared meticulously and flawlessly. She could not remain indifferent—she was afraid of falling little by little again. How long would her father’s case be delayed? Would her mother change her mind?

Her mother was the key witness. No matter how capable Lu Yan became later, if her mother refused to cooperate, time would be wasted, and would there be a better solution? She did not want to gamble on this matter.

“Heh!” Lu Yan seemed doused with cold water. “Is there something else on your mind?”

Shen Qingyi was momentarily stunned. Did Lu Yan sense something? “What do you mean?”

Lu Yan’s heart ached painfully. After a pause, he said, “Nothing.”

If he revealed his feelings now, and she refused to look back, who knew if she would leave tomorrow, wasting the two months they had. It turned out that even a healthy heart could ache so deeply!

He suppressed his emotions, lifting his gaze to her, changing the subject. “You said you had something to tell me. What is it?”

Shen Qingyi said, “That day I forgot to bring my underwear. It wasn’t that I forgot; maybe someone took it, because when I went to collect laundry today, there was one piece missing.”

“Someone stole your underwear?” Lu Yan found it unbelievable. This was a single dorm room, and the nearest neighbors were men who had no use for underwear. But his wife wouldn’t lie about this. “I will investigate. Do you have any spare underwear? If not, I’ll take you to the city tomorrow to buy a couple.”

Seeing his mood was low yet he still seriously considered her needs, Shen Qingyi spoke softly, “I have two left. Is there a bus to the city from here? If so, I’ll ask Sister Feng to accompany me.”

Lu Yan didn’t agree. “I’ll drive. It’ll be faster. I’ll take you at noon.”

His tone left no room for negotiation. Shen Qingyi thought about how she had just refused him earlier. If she refused again now, would it affect his mood at work?

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Before his project deadline, Shen Qingyi didn’t want to distract him since his work required intense mental and physical effort.

“All right!”

The next day at noon, Shen Qingyi hung the freshly washed clothes out to dry as usual, except the missing piece of underwear, which she hung on the window of the back balcony.

After taking her medicine under Shen Qingyi’s supervision, Lu Yan went to drive. The three of them sat in the car; whenever An An fell silent, the car was enveloped in quiet.

Lu Yan glanced in the rearview mirror at his wife. Her expression was pale and distant, her eyes gazing out the window, burdened with thoughts. His heart suddenly tightened—was she hesitating?

That day when he held her, she didn’t resist at all and behaved obediently. He knew then she didn’t dislike his touch.

“Qingyi, do you want to have dinner in town before heading back tonight?”

Shen Qingyi was snapped back to reality by his voice. “Okay!”

“What do you want to eat?”

“I don’t have any particular craving. Just order whatever you like.” Shen Qingyi really had little appetite.

Should she find a reason to leave early? She was afraid she might change her mind after some time. Yesterday, she almost…

“Then let’s get the pancakes you had the other day.”

“Okay!” Shen Qingyi replied.

At the department store, Shen Qingyi bought two pieces of underwear. Passing by the glass case selling baby formula on the first floor, she suddenly remembered Chun Ni’s words: “When Mom has the baby brother, Dad will buy you milk powder.”

She walked over to the counter and bought three packs of formula.

Lu Yan was curious. “Is there someone at home who needs milk powder?”

Shen Qingyi smiled. “No. I asked Sister Feng to make me over a dozen pairs of insoles to sell in Kyoto. This milk powder is a gift for her in return.”

An An quickly added, “Mom also asked her to make you two pairs because Grandpa used to have some.”

Lu Yan didn’t think much of it but when he heard his wife made two pairs for him too, the corners of his lips lifted slightly. “Hmm.”

After buying the formula, Lu Yan drove to get the pancakes. Just like last time, he bought four. Shen Qingyi and An An each ate one in the car, leaving two for home.

Back home, it was dinner time. Since they had eaten pancakes, neither An An nor Shen Qingyi needed to eat more.

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“I’ll deliver the milk powder.”

An An recalled the chocolate from yesterday. “I want to go too.”

Only Lu Yan remained at home to have dinner alone.

When Shen Qingyi and An An arrived at Sister Feng’s door, a man’s coarse voice shouted angrily, “Everyone’s healthy, so why eat eggs? Got no money to spend, huh? Feng Erqiu, do you know any woman who handles the household like you? You don’t even budget properly. It’s not a festival, yet you boil five eggs at once. That’s at least a yuan!”

Feng Erqiu’s face showed no reaction. No matter how furious Liu Yong was, she calmly peeled the eggs in her hand, handing a peeled one to Chun Ni.

After peeling another, she broke it up and fed it to Er Ya.

Liu Yong was so angry it felt like a heart attack. “Did you hear me?”

Feng Erqiu’s voice was calm. “I heard. If you don’t want it, leave it for Er Ya.”

Liu Yong felt as if he had punched cotton. Who decided not to hit women? Look! Look! She treated his words as if they were the wind in her ears.

No matter how furious Liu Yong was, he could only rage in frustration because Feng Erqiu simply didn’t care.

Chun Ni, calm thanks to her mother’s steady demeanor, ate her egg without worry.

Only Liu Yong sighed, glancing around helplessly.

“Sister Feng!”

Hearing Shen Qingyi’s voice, Feng Erqiu’s face softened. She put down the half-fed egg and went to greet her. “Comrade Xiao Shen, why are you here at this hour? Have you eaten?”

Shen Qingyi glanced at Liu Yong, whose face was flushed from anger.

He was burly and rough. Judging by his earlier outburst, if he acted violently, Feng Erqiu and her children would hardly escape without injury.

“I’ve eaten. Today I went to the city with my husband. While shopping at the department store, we passed the baby formula counter and brought some with us,” Shen Qingyi said, adapting to local custom by calling Lu Yan “my husband” and handing the bag to Feng Erqiu.

Liu Yong heard this and felt as if struck by thunder—what? Bringing baby formula from the city? How much would that cost?