Chapter 36

 They arrived home just as the stars began to twinkle.

Ah Huang had been waiting anxiously in the courtyard. With its keen ears, it heard the carriage from afar. Rushing over, it clawed at the fence gate and barked wildly until Bao Ning lifted the curtain and called out to quiet it.

It was Sister San's husband, Zhang Heyu, who had brought them back, accompanied by soldiers under Qiu Mingshan's command. Perhaps under orders, these soldiers dared not approach too closely, keeping a safe distance to ensure their security.

"Whoa—" Zhang Heyu shouted, and the carriage came to a steady stop.

Pei Yuan woke up, rubbing his forehead against the soft fabric near Bao Ning's abdomen, and asked softly, "Are we here?"

He was indeed very weak. Throughout the journey, he had kept his eyes closed. At first, he managed to lean against the chairback, but later he couldn't bear it and lay on his side, resting his head on Bao Ning's thigh, sleeping in a daze all the way.

Worried he might fall, Bao Ning supported the back of his head with one hand and his shoulder with the other. She gently asked, "Are you hungry?"

Pei Yuan frowned, "I don't want to eat lotus seed paste. It chokes me."

Earlier on the road, Bao Ning had given him some water and a half-piece of pastry. Pei Yuan barely swallowed them, almost vomiting due to the bumps.

Bao Ning lovingly rubbed his brow, "I'm here. I won't give you those anymore. What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."

Pei Yuan said, "I want braised pork ribs."

Bao Ning shook her head, "You're sick. You can't eat something so greasy."

Pei Yuan lifted his upper body slightly, meeting her eyes with some displeasure, "You said it yourself, whatever I want to eat, you'll make for me."

Bao Ning chuckled, finding this side of Pei Yuan unexpectedly cute, like a child throwing a tantrum.

She coaxed him, "Be good. Let's have something light tonight. Tomorrow, you can have whatever you want, and I'll make it for you."

Pei Yuan fell silent.

Bao Ning understood this as his agreement and gently scratched his chin, "Alright, we're home now. Sit up. Let's get off the carriage."

Bao Ning pursed her lips and then took off his undershirt, revealing his wheat-colored chest.

"Is this better now?" she asked.

Pei Yuan grunted in response, glanced at her, and suddenly smiled.

Seeing his expression, Bao Ning felt like she was looking at a child about to get a candy, and though she had been somewhat angry before, it dissipated somewhat. She pinched his earlobe lightly, "What's the matter with you? Before throwing a tantrum, can you consider your age? If this gets out, it'll be embarrassing for you."

Suddenly, Pei Yuan grabbed her wrist, pulled her closer, and firmly held her fingertips, using his lips and tongue to suck on them while looking up at her.

Feeling the wet sensation on her finger, Bao Ning's heart skipped a beat, feeling a tingling sensation running up her spine, exploding like fireworks.

Pei Yuan murmured vaguely, "Don't tell anyone."

"You're so annoying..." Bao Ning pulled her hand back, placing it behind her back, her face gradually turning red.

She wiped her finger on Pei Yuan's arm and turned away, saying, "I'm going to cook."

Pei Yuan's gaze followed her figure as she washed vegetables, cooked rice, and even went outside to feed the chickens with rice bran, until her skirt flashed and disappeared from his sight. Only then did Pei Yuan close his eyes.

Actually, earlier in the courtyard, when he said those words to Zhang Heyu, he felt Bao Ning was angry. He regretted and panicked a bit, but his rationality succumbed to his emotions, continuing to speak without restraint.

He felt he hadn't received enough attention from Bao Ning. Perhaps he had received a lot already, but it still wasn't enough. If Bao Ning had a hundred pieces of candy, gave him ninety-nine, and gave one to someone else, he would feel it wasn't sufficient.

In other words, if Bao Ning had candy, she should give him all of it, without exception.

Pei Yuan knew he was paranoid, but he couldn't control it. He might behave well otherwise, but when it came to Bao Ning, he couldn't help wanting all of her attention.

Pei Yuan understood that he was forcing this transaction.

He could give everything to Bao Ning, like a wolf always on guard, but willingly exposing his softest, most vulnerable parts to her. He gave Bao Ning all his trust and hoped for equal treatment in return. He was sensitive and selfish; if he sensed her kindness towards others, he would feel jealous to the point of madness.

But he also had his pride and didn't say it aloud, hoping she would understand and empathize.

...

Dinner consisted of braised lion's head meatballs and winter melon soup with sliced vermicelli. Bao Ning remained silent throughout the meal.

Pei Yuan secretly glanced at her a few times but couldn't set aside his pride to speak first. He hastily finished two bowls of rice and concluded the meal.

After dinner, feeling somewhat restored, Pei Yuan's complexion looked much better. Bao Ning prepared water in a tub, brought clean clothes, gave instructions, and then left.

Pei Yuan looked at the steaming hot tub with some disappointment, pressing his forehead lightly. He had thought Bao Ning would join him, even if begrudgingly, to help scrub his back.

But she just left like that.

Bao Ning sat outside with Ah Huang in her arms, looking up at the stars. She wanted to show Pei Yuan a bit of attitude. He had been too much earlier.

Bao Ning didn't dare to ask for too much. Perhaps it was her deep-seated inferiority complex that had always made her appear weaker in front of Pei Yuan. This might be related to her upbringing; her aunt was also in a weaker position in front of her father, influencing her to become like this.

Even now, it was clear he was in the wrong, but she still had to express her dissatisfaction cautiously, trying not to leave any traces.

Pei Yuan had said to her that day that he wanted to be a normal couple with her. Bao Ning thought, in a normal marriage, when there's a misunderstanding, shouldn't the husband come and comfort the wife?

But he didn't. He didn't even say a soft word.

Bao Ning just wanted Pei Yuan to comfort her a little.

The sound of water in the room stopped. Bao Ning gathered her thoughts, brushed off the dirt on her skirt, turned, and went into the house. Pei Yuan was already lying down, facing away from her.

The blanket covered him up to his elbows, revealing a section of his shoulder blades with strong, smooth lines. Bao Ning stared at it for a while. Perhaps Pei Yuan felt her gaze, but he didn't react.

Bao Ning quickly tidied up the room, washed up, and lay down beside him.

The night passed quietly.

Early the next morning, Bao Ning got up early to check on the leeches in the jar. Before leaving, she had put a lot of snails in the jar and wasn't worried about them being hungry. She had glanced at them before bed last night and saw that their bellies were already swollen to a certain extent, as if they were about to burst. She had been worried and wanted to check as soon as she woke up.

Opening the lid, Bao Ning was pleasantly surprised to receive the first good news in such a long time.

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