In her past life, the relationship between her and Li Guangyuan was more about benefits and scheming; she didn’t love Li Guangyuan, nor did he love her.
Even in those early years when he professed his love with sweet nothings, his eyes were filled with nothing but calculations.
Calculating how much she could contribute to the Li Family, squeezing out whatever else he could get from her.
Qin Yang, on the other hand, never thought about what he could gain from her. Instead, he always felt that what he gave her was never enough, wishing he could lay the whole world at her feet.
In her past life, she never knew the indifference and heartlessness that Lin Jiayi spoke of; she only saw a man who sincerely cared for her, holding her dear to his heart.
Lin Chuxia felt warmth in her eyes. What merit or virtue did she possess to, after being reborn with a mind full of schemes, encounter this man who was so genuinely and passionately emotional?
“Qin Yang…”
“Hmm?”
Qin Yang, worried he hadn’t covered her snugly enough, was fixing the clothes over her feet. Hearing her voice, he looked up, “What’s wrong?”
Lin Chuxia had subconsciously wanted to call out to him, and in the instant he looked back, she regained her composure to hide the emotion in the depths of her eyes.
Her gaze fell on his suspended arm, “What exactly happened? You’re someone who wields a pen; how did you injure your right hand?”
Qin Yang knew he had to explain things clearly, as Lin Chuxia was not someone to be easily fooled.
“The situation was a bit urgent at that time. The project was proceeding according to our design, and that particular node was a technical challenge. Our department’s staff were all on-site to offer guidance. We didn’t expect an accident to happen…”
Qin Yang spoke calmly, but Lin Chuxia heard the harrowing fright of that moment.
By his lone efforts, he saved the entire project and the lives of two workers, a feat nearly impossible, yet he accomplished it.
A slight miscalculation and it wouldn’t have been just the loss of his arm; he would have likely lost his life there as well.
“You promised me you wouldn’t put yourself in danger; you broke your promise,” thinking she had almost lost this man, Lin Chuxia’s heart felt terribly heavy.
Seeing her eyes redden, Qin Yang became flustered, “At that time, I didn’t think much. It was almost a reflex. I’m sorry. I did have some confidence that nothing major would happen. Believe me…”
Seeing Lin Chuxia ignoring him, just looking at him with tearful eyes, Qin Yang’s explanations became disjointed.
Finally, at a loss for words, he leaned down and kissed her.
The kiss was delicate and lingering, eventually prying open her lips to weave a passionate intertwinement.
The long days of longing and worry spilled out in this instant as they expressed each other’s concerns.
Not just Qin Yang, but Lin Chuxia as well.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally ended the intimate kiss. Qin Yang rested his forehead against Lin Chuxia’s, his voice a bit hoarse.
“Wife, I was wrong. Forgive me this time, alright? I will be more careful next time. It really was just an accident.”
Lin Chuxia did not speak but reached out to embrace his neck, holding him tight.
Resting her chin on his shoulder, inhaling his unique scent, she eventually let out a faint tone through her nose, “Hmm.”
Joy erupted across Qin Yang’s face. He was really worried that his wife would come from a thousand miles away to berate him. He didn’t want her to worry, nor did he want her to feel that her words didn’t weigh on him.
His wife had forgiven him, she could understand him.
“Lin Chuxia…”
He joyfully looked over at her delicate face, which he had been too timid to look at squarely since her arrival.
Just as he remembered, even when angry, his wife was still so beautiful.
He couldn’t resist and leaned down to kiss her again.
Ever since he learned to kiss the last time, he became somewhat addicted to it.
His wife’s lips were soft and tender, smooth and sweet…
I never understood the act of kissing before, the gnawing at each other, exchanging saliva—it was revolting to think about.
Even when the brothers spoke crudely about the topic, he was disdainful.
Marriage and consummation were for procreation, a part of fulfilling one’s duty as a human being.
So, was kissing just for the sake of disgusting each other?
It wasn’t until after marrying Lin Chuxia that he understood; marriage and consummation weren’t just about procreation, and kissing was also an outpouring of emotion.
He wanted to mark every part of her with his seal, just to prove… she was his.
Lin Chuxia also noticed this man’s overly eager affection for kissing until her mouth felt almost sore.
Finally getting a chance to talk, she reminded him, “Qin Yang, I’m hungry.”
After sitting on a bus for nearly three hours, and walking that far, her stomach was growling.
Qin Yang looked down at her, emotions trickling from the depth of his eyes as he murmured hoarsely, “I’m hungry too…”
His idle hand also began to wander.
Lin Chuxia: “…”
Why not just hang both hands up?
She pinned the mischievous hand down, her little face stern, “I mean I’m hungry, you should behave, you need to heal properly before doing anything out of order.”
Qin Yang froze in shock, as if struck by lightning.
How did it become something “out of order”?
They had been apart for over a month.
He had never thought about needing a woman by his side, but after marrying her, he couldn’t just look without indulging.
“Wife, my injury is almost healed, rest assured, even with one hand, I can satisfy you.”
“I won’t be satisfied, that’s your punishment,” Lin Chuxia smiled like a little devil.
Her feet were already warm, and seizing the moment while Qin Yang was still stunned, she slipped her feet out and randomly grabbed a pair of shoes that Qin Yang had under his bed to search through her suitcase for clean socks.
It took Qin Yang a good while to come to his senses before he begged, “This punishment is too much… Wife, let’s change it, how about I wash your feet instead?”
“No way, you’re injured, so I should be the one washing for you. Qin Yang, rest assured, I’ll take good care of you for the next few days, you won’t have to lift a finger.”
Lin Chuxia looked up at him with a meaningful smile.
Qin Yang felt a shiver down his spine, feeling wronged, “Wife, since you want to take care of me, why not take care of every aspect…”
“Pfft, keep dreaming!”
……
All said and done, meals still need to be eaten.
Lin Chuxia took out a pair of leather boots from her suitcase, lined within with soft lambswool, they looked so cozy.
She bought them at the department store, but before she had a chance to wear them, Mrs. Qin had already made her a thick pair of cotton shoes, so she casually threw the leather boots into her space.
It wasn’t that the cotton shoes were warmer than the leather boots, she valued more the affection Mrs. Qin showed her.
Her own mother had never made her a pair of new cotton shoes; every winter she wore the hand-me-downs from her older sister.
Speaking of which, it was somewhat sad—the pair made by Mrs. Qin was the first pair of new cotton shoes she had ever received in her two lifetimes, handmade just for her.
The cotton shoes were thick and looked clumsy, but she adored them inexplicably, wearing them consistently that she even forgot to change into waterproof ones when she got off the train and saw the snow.
However, seeing Qin Yang’s concerned demeanor made the wet cotton shoes worth wearing.