Chapter 9
Nan Qin placed the cake box on his lap, carefully protecting it in this manner, and returned to the courtyard just before midnight
A good banquet, a stone fell to the ground, and the future suddenly became bright. Holding her hand tighter, the spirit that had been languid for a year seemed to be invigorated all at once, that kind of spiritedness radiated from every pore, and the joy was a bit intoxicating.
He turned over and over, and Nan Qin smiled helplessly, not attempting to stop him. Finally, he found a way that was neither the method of an adult holding a child's hand nor the interlocking of fingers. He enveloped her entirely, completely controlling her within the range he could supervise, as if this was the only way that made him feel at ease
She caressed the back of his neck, his newly shaved head, the stubble short and prickly against her palm. His lips slowly moved to her jawline, and she lifted her head, her neck stretching into a beautiful arc. He buried his face into the slightly open collar of her qipao, pecking at her bit by bit, then picked her up horizontally and placed her into the fluffy bedding.
The bed is in a Western style, with a headboard adorned with a pattern made of twisted metal tubes. The shiny gold plating reflects countless small doors when it catches the light. Nanqin is not accustomed to this and covers his eyes while pointing outside, saying, "One must always keep the doors closed, right?"
The banquet is now in complete disarray, and he cannot recall anything. Desire is like a dormant volcano; it can be managed as long as it remains untouched, but once it erupts, it becomes unstoppable. The woman he loves has not allowed him to get close for ten months, and he has crawled forward like a ascetic. Now that she is in his arms, all that occupies his mind is the need for her
Liang Yan turned her head to look at Nan Qin, "Nuan Nuan..."
He awkwardly glanced at Nan Qin, and before he could speak, she already knew, "Did you forget to bring money?" She was attending a dinner party, and her handbag contained only a powder case and lipstick. It was truly the first time in her life that the two of them were troubled over money. They stared at each other, feeling quite embarrassed.
Having charged the bill, both individuals experienced a sense of humble joy. Liang Yan, dressed in a white shirt, held two cake boxes in his hands, resembling a waiter delivering food in a Cantonese restaurant. Nan Qin smiled, stepped forward to take one, and they each carried a box. With their freed hands having nowhere to rest, they naturally intertwined their fingers.
He stood in front of her with his hands on his hips, his expression difficult to read. After a brief pause, he said: "You go in, I will watch you."
She feels a bit embarrassed: "Actually, I'm not very hungry."
He propped his chin on his hand, turned his gaze away, and raised one eyebrow, "Aren't you going to eat anymore?"
Nan Qin felt at ease; whether they met or not was not important. If she had any fondness for Yin Chu in the past, it was merely due to her youth and naivety. After all these years, apart from occasional feelings of melancholy, she no longer harbored any other thoughts. Thus, when he said this, she quickly nodded in agreement, "I don't go out often, so I probably won't have the chance to meet him." After saying this, she added softly, "If you are unhappy, I simply won't meet him."
Unfortunately, it is too late. If it were earlier in the day, he would have driven her to the seaside. The noisy wedding banquet today made her restless. He knew she was tired, so he had to suppress that little romantic fantasy. Let her rest well, and when she has had enough rest, choosing a sunny and pleasant morning to take her to see the sunrise over the sea would not be a bad way to please her
The shop assistant carefully packaged the pastries and respectfully presented them with both hands, wearing a sincere smile: "Sir, everything you requested is ready, just the right amount."
"Is it alright if I sleep here tonight?" He gasped as he sought her lips, his fingers sliding down her waist, pulling her tightly against himself. "Tomorrow let them clean the big room; that wedding room has been empty for too long. My mother asked about it last time, and I managed to brush it off. If this continues, it will eventually be exposed, and it would not be good for her to know that we have grown distant."
Liang Yan hesitated a bit, pondering for a while before cautiously suggesting to her, "Could you please not meet Yin Chu anymore? I mean no harm, after all, Nan Jia has divorced him, and he is no longer your brother-in-law. Getting too close might invite gossip."
Liang Yan's expression suddenly became strange; he instinctively reached into his pocket, only to find it empty. It was only when he was about to pay the bill that he remembered his pockets were always devoid of money, and he hadn't brought Yu Rao Liang along with him. Now, he was completely broke.
In a marital relationship, as long as one person is willing to yield, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Nan Qin can be quite stubborn at times, but for the most part, she is gentle and amiable. Born into a family of officials, with a father who is a scholar, her upbringing has been particularly strict. Although she received two years of Western education abroad, it did not change much; deep down, she remains a traditional Eastern woman, which is quite different from her sister Nan Jia.
Fortunately, the reputation of Feng Liangyan is worth more than the current value of the dollar. He presented his identification to the clerk, clearly feeling awkward, yet he still tried to appear generous and composed. Clearing his throat, he calmly stated: "I will take the cake today, and I will send someone to deliver the payment tomorrow"
Nan Qin could not refuse any longer and turned around to open the door. Just as he twisted the doorknob, he suddenly grabbed her arm and pressed her against the door frame
The mist enveloped them, and they became calm and sluggish within it. It was nearly midnight, and the streets had grown desolate, with only the occasional sound of bells ringing, emanating from the Chinese horn on the rickshaw's handle. Their vehicle was not far from the pastry shop; in fact, if they walked earnestly, it would only take about ten steps to reach it. However, the two of them walked with utmost seriousness, dividing each step into two, thus creating an abundance of time out of thin air
Nan Qin was at ease, knowing that he did not like overly sweet things. She disposed of the cream, and he came to eat the base of the cake, working together in harmony. It is not as if they were from a poor family, so there was no need to be so frugal, yet it seemed that only in this way could the warmth of home be expressed. In the South, leftover food is referred to as 'jaw food.' 'Jaw food' is not something that can be casually eaten unless the relationship is close enough; it is only permissible among the closest of people. Before marriage, it is with parents, and after marriage, it is with one's partner. There are no such taboos between husband and wife; he was too lazy to unwrap the oil paper around the cake and simply ate hers, which she found perfectly acceptable. Just like some wives reminding their hurried husbands that their zippers are not done up, couples can face many subtle matters directly, of course, in the absence of any barriers.
He silently pulled the plate in front of her closer, slowly finishing it spoonful by spoonful
Liang Yan held that delicate hand, warmth rising in her heart. No matter how she held it, it felt inadequate; even in the bed, gently testing was limited to hooking her little finger. Now, as she lay awake, gently leaning beside him, he felt a desire to roll her up and flatten her, after all, she was his.
The servants at home, however, were perplexed; they were accustomed to watching the disputes and confrontations between them. Today, they entered side by side, with a hint of a smile in their eyes and brows. The gentleman attentively arranged the tableware, a stark contrast to his usual boisterous demeanor. Everyone stood with their hands tucked away, exchanging uncertain smiles, speculating that perhaps after the rain, the skies had cleared, and they could live peacefully and smoothly from now on
The couple exchanged glances, feeling a mix of anxiety and confusion, a sentiment that few would believe if spoken aloud. Yet, it truly was the case, reminiscent of the time before they discussed marriage, when a furtive glance was laden with tension and apprehension. Their courtship, to be precise, was not long, often interrupted by an unfulfilled intensity. Today, however, felt like a continuation of that interrupted journey, an indescribable thrill of sweetness, for even after marriage, they remained two independent individuals, still brimming with attraction.
Nan Qin struggled for a moment, but ultimately yielded. She did not wish to continue arguing with him; reaching a reconciliation was inevitable. He kissed her, and the fragrance of pastries lingered between their lips. She heard him call her "Nuan Nuan" softly, and the softest part of her heart was conquered by him. Regardless of his illustrious background or high military rank, he was domineering and immature in matters of affection. This cruel immaturity often harmed both others and himself. Regardless of his illustrious background or high military rank, he was domineering and immature in matters of affection. This cruel immaturity often harmed both others and himself.
No arguments, coexisting peacefully, Nan Qin has forgotten how long it has been since she felt this relaxed. She yawned as she went upstairs, and he followed behind her. Walking down the corridor, she felt a bit embarrassed. They had been living apart for ten months, and last night it was her forgetfulness in locking the door that allowed him to come in. What should she do today? Should she still let him stay overnight? Logically speaking, there is nothing wrong with sharing a bed with her husband, but his unclear situation outside made her feel a bit uncomfortable. She recalled those thoughts and found them somewhat jarring, making it hard for her to accept. She stopped in front of the door, leaning her back against it, and softly said: "After a whole day of busyness, it’s getting late, let’s rest early!" Logically speaking, there is nothing wrong with sharing a bed with her husband, but his unclear situation outside made her feel a bit uncomfortable. She recalled those thoughts and found them somewhat jarring, making it hard for her to accept. She stopped in front of the door, leaning her back against it, and softly said: "After a whole day of busyness, it’s getting late, let’s rest early!"
Upon learning his identity, they were so frightened that they nearly died of shock. Rubbing their hands together, they repeatedly said, "It’s all right, you can just take it. There’s no need for you to send someone; it would be fine for the servant to come to the residence to collect it tomorrow."
Nan Qin originally had a nickname, but he preferred to call her this way. This is a unique term of endearment used by Su Bai Li, where the words are soft and glutinous, lightly touching the front teeth as they are spoken. In Nan Qin's understanding, only children are addressed in such a manner. If adults are treated like children, then it is boundless indulgence
She made a sound of acknowledgment and leaned a little closer to him
The pleasant gathering was somewhat dampened; she had always been conventional, and asking her to let loose would likely be a matter of life and death for her. After all, she was in the palm of his hand, and he was not afraid of her running off to the heavens. He turned on the desk lamp and closed the door, filling the room with a soft yellow light. She sat beneath the halo, tilting her head to remove the pearl hairpin from her temple. He leaned over, took the pin from her hand, and threw it far towards the dressing table. In one corner of the dressing table lay his sidearm; the metal pieces clashed with the barrel, producing a crisp sound, and then it fell to the ground, falling silent. He leaned over, took the pin from her hand, and threw it far towards the dressing table. In one corner of the dressing table lay his sidearm; the metal pieces clashed with the barrel, producing a crisp sound, and then it fell to the ground, falling silent.
The room was unlit, the door ajar, allowing the light from the corridor to spill in, illuminating the intricate patterns of the carpet. Such a lively weaving extended into the darkness, dispersing at the foot of the brass bed, each thread going its separate way
The banquet had sent everyone away, and a piece of cake was taken out from the box and placed in front of her. No wonder women mostly enjoy sweets; sometimes it is not just the taste they like, but more so the endless imagination that the surface of the cake evokes. The clusters of patterns made of cream resemble rolling clouds and waves, and even if only a blueberry or a cherry is sprinkled in the middle, it still appears exquisitely charming. He watched her dig out a corner of the cake, then sweep the spoon across to scrape off the whipped cream cleanly. The remaining cake sat in the center of the plate, bare and somewhat shabby, and even the jam in the middle could not save it from its discarded fate
Because it was fought for with great effort from the beginning, even if it is now on the verge of collapse, one must find a way to maintain a seemingly glamorous appearance. Nan Qin was momentarily distracted; he entangled himself with her, and she avoided him, saying no. However, he was unwilling to give up, seizing both of her hands and twisting them behind her back.