When the wake-up call sounded the next day, Lin Xiaoguai tried several times to open her eyes but couldn’t get up. It took a good while before she opened her eyes and met Shen Chi’s smiling gaze.
"Still want to sleep?" He kissed her eyes, his tone carrying a hint of pride.
Lin Xiaoguai glared at him, tried to get up but had no strength, and Shen Chi reached out to hold her, his voice soft, "Shall I help you get dressed?"
Although it was a question, he had already picked up a light blue lace bra. Lin Xiaoguai, her face flushed with red, reached out to snatch it but failed.
Shen Chi had never done this before, fumbled around her waist to put the bra on her, and intermittently kissed her earlobe, licked her neck, stirring Lin Xiaoguai until her body went soft, and she said, annoyed, "Shen Chi, can’t you behave?"
Shen Chi leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth, lazily replying, "How am I not behaving?"
Lin Xiaoguai tried to push him angrily, but Shen Chi wouldn’t let her, instead holding her tighter, embedding her in his embrace, contentedly murmured with his eyes closed, "Would be good if it could always be ."
Hearing the depth of his feelings in his words, Lin Xiaoguai paused, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in her heart.
Sometimes she wondered, if Shen Chi’s feelings for her weren’t so deep, could she be more at ease, without any burdens?
Her heart wasn’t tough enough; she couldn’t single-handedly and with peace of mind accept Shen Chi’s love for her. But she was also afraid of truly falling in love with Shen Chi, the scenes of his emotional outbursts from their past life frightened her even now.
For a feeling like love that could impact one’s self, Lin Xiaoguai really didn’t want to delve too deep.
On one hand was the pressure of emotions, on the other was subconscious resistance, Lin Xiaoguai truly didn’t know how to handle the marital relationship with Shen Chi until he left for Myanmar and she saw the empty house.
Why think about these things?
For matters of the heart, isn’t it better to just let things take their natural course? Not everyone’s love is as passionate and unrestrained as Shen Chi’s, and if one could control their own feelings, there wouldn’t be so much to worry about.
At most... she wouldn’t consciously suppress the growth of her feelings.
Yes, Lin Xiaoguai could feel it, she had already begun to fall for Shen Chi, with every little interaction, his tenderness and indulgence slowly occupying her heart, just unsure when it would reach the extent of love.
These days, Lin Xiaoguai had cultivated a patch in the yard, planting cabbage, chinese cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, celery, green vegetables, as well as onions, ginger, and garlic, and even a grapevine, setting up a trellis for it. When the grapevine covered it, she planned to place stone tables and benches underneath for a charming spot to cool off in the summer.
From the eaves to the front gate, Lin Xiaoguai also planned to lay out a small path with cobblestones. If it wasn’t for the lack of running water in the Military District, she would have dug a pond for lotuses and fish. Now she had to forget about it, as she didn’t want the yard to stink.
As for the flowers she grew, Lin Xiaoguai planned to place them by the porch, both beautiful and able to enjoy nature’s gifts.
In the backyard, Lin Xiaoguai planned to pave it with cobblestones and plant a couple of fruit trees. If possible, she also wanted to make a swing and a seesaw, which would serve as Little Niangao’s playground in the future.
Since it was an old-style courtyard house, although it was well-maintained, it looked somewhat dilapidated. Lin Xiaoguai bought some powerful cleaning agents from the exchange store and cleaned the inside and outside thoroughly. While it wasn’t like new, it looked different from before and gave off an elegant charm after decoration.
These past two days, Little Niangao found two friends in the Military District, and Lin Xiaoguai didn’t confine him. As long as he didn’t run out of the District, she let him go play.
This child likely took after Shen Chi, easily mingling and even becoming the leader among the kids. Lin Xiaoguai never had such capabilities as a child.
When Han Shouzhen came over that day, she seemed in a particularly good mood. Seeing the greatly changed courtyard, she laughed, "Wanwan, is there anything you can’t do? With your capabilities, I’m almost made to look dull by comparison."
Knowing she joked, Lin Xiaoguai smiled, "Sister, how do you have time to come over?" She remembered Han Shouzhen saying she wouldn’t be coming these days.
"Originally, with the erratic weather these days, I was worried Ping’an might catch a cold, so I didn’t go out. Who knew he would be fine these past few days? Now I’ve managed to get some free time," Han Shouzhen couldn’t stop smiling.