Chapter 54: Part One

“Study hard; you must get into university,” Lin Xuexia urged.

She calmed her restless second sister, arranged things for everyone, and, exhausted, followed Fu Wei back. Moving didn’t require bringing much—she simply packed her clothes lightly.

After days of travel and a busy day handling paperwork, she finally relaxed. Once they got into the van, Lin Xuexia’s eyelids grew heavy; leaning against Fu Wei, she fell asleep.

Fu Wei was equally worn out, but thinking of the marriage certificate and the brand-new household registration they had just obtained made him feel electrified, brimming with inexhaustible energy and a peculiar excitement shining in his eyes.

They had disembarked from the train without time to bathe, spent the entire day busy, and frankly, they both smelled less than pleasant. Yet, even so, he held the woman in his arms like a precious treasure, unwilling to let go.

A mischievous smile curled at Fu Wei’s lips, as if under a spell.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhong Xiangdong, who had come along for the spectacle, glanced back at Fu Wei’s enchanted smile and felt uneasy. Growing up, he had witnessed countless fights and fierce moments from his brother-in-arms but had never seen Fu Wei look so foolish—like a child in winter eating candy, silly and nose running, grinning as he savored the sweetness.

Even Fu Wei’s own mother wouldn’t recognize him like this.

Thinking this, Zhong Xiangdong felt a pang of sourness in his stomach, as if he had eaten spoiled pickles. This guy had gotten married, registered the marriage, and was planning a grand wedding, inviting Zhong to be his best man.

Xue Xiaoshan had volunteered to drive the wedding car.

He was also the one driving the van today. Sitting in the back with a couple, Xue Xiaoshan felt grateful. Fu Wei, his former company commander, had never abandoned him after retiring, helping arrange his livelihood. And now, Fu Wei’s future wife, Lin Xuexia, was caring for his sister. His sister, Xue Lingjun, was lively and always smiling, eager to cooperate with treatment and surgery...

Whenever he thought of this, tears welled in Xue Xiaoshan’s eyes.

At first, he had disliked Fu Wei—the commander was temperamental, fierce, unreasonable, arrogant, and overbearing. They even called him the “King of Hell” behind his back.

Lost in memories, Xue Xiaoshan glanced back to see the “King of Hell” wearing that mischievous smile. His throat tightened, and he couldn’t continue his recollections.

Their commander was fiercely loyal and protective. With his wife by his side, she was sure to live well.

The four arrived at the building’s foot, the van stopped, and Lin Xuexia woke. Meeting Fu Wei’s mischievous grin, she was momentarily stunned. This guy still hadn’t calmed down? Since getting the marriage certificate, he had become this silly. Standing at nearly six feet two, was he walking or floating?

“Honey, dear, we’re home. Rest upstairs if you’re tired,” Fu Wei said with a gentle smile so soft it was almost tender. Zhong Xiangdong’s scalp tingled; he felt like he could rub chicken skin off to make soup and quickly fled upstairs.

He wasn’t going to witness this newlywed sweetness any longer—it was downright creepy.

Fu Wei, worried she might be hungry, bought two small bowls of wonton soup nearby. They went up to the third floor, skipping dinner to eat the wontons first. Entering, Fu Wei hung the wontons by the shoe cabinet, then carried Lin Xuexia into the living room, seating her in a chair. He personally helped her take off her shoes and put on a new pair of slippers.

White slippers adorned with little rabbit patterns.

Looking down at the slippers, Lin Xuexia couldn’t have guessed her young husband harbored such a girlish heart.

Lin Xuexia’s move was a sudden decision. Fu Wei had hurriedly prepared some feminine essentials during the day, full of sweet anticipation.

“Honey, do you like them? Are you happy?” he asked.

“They’re fine,” she replied.

Even after their years of teasing and bickering, Lin Xuexia found his attentiveness a bit overwhelming.

Settling her comfortably, Fu Wei served the steaming wontons in a bowl, handed her chopsticks and a porcelain spoon, and urged her to eat first while he rolled up his sleeves to wash fruit in the kitchen.

“Wife, what fruit do you want?” he called from the kitchen.

“Anything’s fine,” Lin Xuexia said between bites.

Fu Wei returned with a basin of washed fruit—he peeled an apple, clipped off grapes one by one into a small bowl, sliced oranges, peeled tangerines, and arranged everything before her, awaiting her approval.

Lin Xuexia nibbled a few bites of apple and urged, “Don’t make so much; I can’t finish it all.”

“Eat more, don’t starve, wife,” Fu Wei said tenderly, gazing at her affectionately.

Before, when he visited her place, Lin Xuexia was always busy in the kitchen. He might help a little but mostly watched her present plate after plate of delicious food.

Now, though lacking culinary skills, peeling and washing fruit for his wife was his duty.

He was eager to nurture and care for her.

“I can’t eat anymore,” Lin Xuexia said after a few grapes, staring at the mountain of fruit with some distress.

“You’ve barely eaten anything,” Fu Wei teased.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed his chin, and gently soothed, “Fu Wei, I really can’t eat more. I’ll peel some for you.”

Fu Wei tilted his head in resignation. Lin Xuexia peeled grapes with a smile and fed him the green fruit. He ate them, resting his chin on his hand, waiting for more.

This was the typical newlywed fussiness.

They peeled grapes for each other while eating, a stark contrast to eating grapes alone—just squeezing and popping them in like it was nothing.

As they shared the fruit, Lin Xuexia surveyed the apartment. Located on the third floor, the previous owner had clearly taken care when decorating; it was much more refined than the second floor.

The living room had floral tiles, elegant wooden wainscoting adorned the walls, and the rooms had wooden flooring. The windows were beautifully crafted, giving off a warm wooden glow. The balcony was larger than downstairs, fitted with security bars and topped with a vintage orange light.

No matter how much Fu Wei tried to bring a sweet, youthful energy, he couldn’t fill the entire apartment. When he lived alone, the layout and furnishings were sparse and orderly—almost no clutter or signs of life—too clean and neat, like a model room, uninhabited.

Previously, Fu Wei had only used this place as a temporary dormitory. Now that Lin Xuexia had moved in, it was no longer just a temporary residence.

Lin Xuexia peeked into the kitchen. It was spotless, no trace of grease, and utterly empty—no cabbage or anything else, just a large bag of fruit sitting lonely on the pristine countertop.

The stove and water heater were installed. She lit the gas stove; the flame appeared, but there was no pot in sight. Then she found a small brown clay pot in the lower cabinet and couldn’t help but chuckle.

The bowls they’d just used must have been bought by Fu Wei.

She checked the bathroom. It was just as empty. On the washbasin were only two rinsing cups and a toothbrush with toothpaste. Below the mirror were Fu Wei’s razor and aftershave. Two towels hung on the wall—one old, one pink—obviously added for her.

Lin Xuexia’s clothes and luggage were all placed in Fu Wei’s room, the master bedroom, which contained only a bed and a wardrobe, impeccably clean and tidy. Fu Wei’s bedding was military green; the quilt and pillows matched, neatly made as if no one had ever slept there.

The second bedroom had no bed but featured a bookshelf and desk. The brown bookshelf was packed with books—foreign languages, architecture, math and physics, self-study guides, and martial arts novels—a diverse collection.

Lin Xuexia’s heart pounded. Seeing the bookshelf stirred her deeply. She had always dreamed of having a large study with wall-to-wall shelves filled with books.

But it had only been a dream—never realized, fearing ridicule.

“Honey, come hang your clothes,” Fu Wei called.

Lin Xuexia went to the adjacent room. The bed held many new hangers. Fu Wei opened the wardrobe, cleared space by moving his clothes aside, and hung Lin Xuexia’s garments.

He hung a few dresses and coats, then reached inside a cloth bag and pulled out some of her underwear, recoiling as if electrocuted.

Lin Xuexia quietly placed the clothes inside the wardrobe, then changed into a set of home pajamas, gathered her wash and bath supplies, and went to wash her hair and bathe.

Fu Wei stared at the pile of clothes not belonging to him and felt inexplicably stirred and flushed, as if burning on a fiery furnace, his body tingling, desperate for release.

He instinctively went to the bathroom and heard water running inside. Only then did he realize the lone bathroom was occupied by his wife.

Fu Wei wandered restlessly on the balcony, pacing repeatedly and glancing at his watch. After forty-five minutes, almost an hour, Lin Xuexia emerged wearing dry home clothes, her hair still damp and wrapped in a towel.

Fu Wei waited outside like a “longing husband statue.”

He was stunned.

A whole hour had passed—everyone else had finished bathing, yet his wife was still inside.

If not for the noises, he would have feared she’d fainted in there.

Does bathing really take that long? He rarely stayed in the bathroom that long unless... Could it be women did other things in the bathroom?

“Go ahead and shower. I’ll dry my hair first,” Lin Xuexia urged.

Fu Wei nodded and entered the bathroom.

Lin Xuexia, towel around her shoulders, found it strange that Fu Wei hadn’t brought a change of clothes. Then she thought, men didn’t really need to prepare much.

Turning on the hairdryer, she began drying her hair, when suddenly she heard Fu Wei calling from inside.

“Honey, I forgot to bring clothes. Help me get something,” he said, holding the bathroom door handle, eyes closed in bliss.

Previously, living alone, it didn’t matter if he took clothes or not. Towels wrapped around, he could walk out anywhere, no big deal.

Now, with someone else, he couldn’t be so carefree.

“Wait a moment,” Lin Xuexia stifled a laugh and went to get clothes. She guessed Fu Wei hadn’t simply forgotten but had no concept of needing clothes; he must have gotten shy when it was time to come out.

Knocking on the bathroom door, Lin Xuexia saw Fu Wei slowly extend a hand from behind it.

With a playful smile, she tickled his palm and teased, “You have to beg me to give them to you.”

“Have you heard the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl?” he asked.

As Lin Xuexia held his clothes, she was suddenly pulled inside the bathroom.

Fu Wei pressed her against the corner. The steam hung thick around them. His short hair was damp, water droplets glistening on his defined eight-pack abs, his sun-kissed skin glowing with health.

In that confined space, Lin Xuexia had nowhere to hide. Surrounded by his masculine presence, she was enveloped thoroughly.

Her heart raced. The steam warmed her flushed cheeks.

Fu Wei leaned on the doorframe, tilting his head, eyes sharp and fierce. “Don’t give me any chances. Next time I bring you clothes—” His voice carried both warning and threat.

He was frustrated yet helpless. Around her sisters, Lin Xuexia was the gentle, understanding elder sister. Alone with him, she was like a child, always finding ways to tease him, and he could do nothing about it.

Right now, she showed no fear at all, pushing his chest and muttering, “I just became your wife, and now you’re threatening me?”

Fu Wei deflated. “You’re my wife, my little empress.”

Dressed, he carried her out and continued drying her hair with the blow dryer. “You sleep in the master bedroom tonight; I’ll take the floor next door.”

Lin Xuexia looked at him in surprise.

“We agreed no intimacy before the wedding night. The marriage certificate doesn’t count. Our tradition says the ceremony and wedding night are the start.”

She stepped forward and hugged him, thinking she hadn’t planned on letting him touch her yet, silly man.

Fu Wei, embraced, looked at her oddly, seemingly astonished. “Are you... not wearing that...?”

Lin Xuexia was speechless. “You don’t have to wear it to sleep.”

“R-Really?” Fu Wei almost bit his tongue.

He took her to the master bedroom, seating her on the large bed where he usually slept. Lin Xuexia wore white floral pajamas with buttons down the front. Fu Wei couldn’t resist but, like peeling grapes earlier, sampled her sweetness. Regretful yet reluctant, he went to the study room next door to sleep on the floor.

The wooden floor was cold but tolerable. Fu Wei simply laid down a thin layer and tossed and turned all night, eventually getting up to take a cold shower.

Lin Xuexia slept soundly until morning. The recent travels had been exhausting. She planned to rest for a day before returning to her stall. She had come back earlier than expected, so a day or two’s rest wouldn’t hurt.

Now with her mother, Zhang Yuqin, watching the stall, Lin Xuexia moved in with Fu Wei, no longer rising early to tend the stall. She and Xue Lingjun would shop for groceries and prepare meat in the mornings, keeping their days flexible and avoiding overexertion.

She woke around seven or eight, noticing Fu Wei hadn’t come to find her. Had he left early? His work hours at the construction site were irregular. Lin Xuexia knew he often came to her place for dinner, then hurried to inspect the site, sometimes staying there overnight instead of coming home.

She opened the door to the second bedroom and found Fu Wei still sleeping on the floor. She thought him lazy for sleeping in.

Smiling, she approached, intending to pinch his nose playfully, but saw his unusually flushed face. She touched his forehead—burning hot.

Fu Wei had a fever.