Chapter 37

 On the mud were several egg cases the size of fingernail caps, covered with light brown fuzz. The mother leech was nowhere to be seen, hidden deep in the soil, seemingly resting.

This was Bao Ning's first time seeing leech eggs. She had always thought they would be like fish or frog eggs, densely packed together. It was only after Aunt Ming explained that she realized they were egg cases.

Even though she was mentally prepared, she still found it fascinating.

There were a total of five egg cases, each with a strange shape resembling small peanuts. Bao Ning carefully picked them up with her hands and placed them in her palm. She dared not use chopsticks for fear of damaging the delicate young inside.

Throughout, she worried that the mother leech, protective of her eggs, might emerge and bite her, but there was no movement at all.

Bao Ning breathed a sigh of relief and placed the cool egg cases into the porcelain jar she had prepared the night before.

Pei Yuan had already gotten up at some point and leaned against the wall, watching her.

Bao Ning was oblivious to this. All she could see now was the egg case. The porcelain jar was larger than the one holding the mother leech, already lined with a layer of moist, soft soil.

Perhaps due to good care, the egg cases produced this time were all of excellent quality. Bao Ning carefully examined each one, placing the end with small ventilation holes facing upwards in the soil. She then covered them with a layer of moist fine soil and finally topped them with damp cotton cloth.

Each egg case could hatch over a dozen, up to twenty-five baby leeches. If she was lucky, in half a month, there would be over a hundred.

Bao Ning thought that by then, she would need a larger porcelain jar.

"And here you are, up and busy with these things without even saying a word to me."

Lost in thought, a low, hoarse voice suddenly came from behind. It was close enough that Bao Ning could feel his breath brushing against her ear. Startled, Bao Ning was about to turn around when she felt a firm grip around her waist.

She looked down and saw Pei Yuan's arm around her lower abdomen, muscular.

Without waiting for an answer, he asked again, "You didn't talk to me all night. What were you thinking about?"

The sudden intimacy left Bao Ning at a loss. His unique scent enveloped her, overwhelming and distinct.

Bao Ning took a deep breath and placed her hand lightly on Pei Yuan's forearm, whispering, "I thought you were still asleep."

"No, I didn't sleep all night," Pei Yuan said, slightly bending down and lowering his head, his lips brushing against her ear in a flirtatious posture.

He sighed softly, "I was waiting for you to talk to me, but you wouldn't."

Bao Ning shivered inwardly. She had been immersed in joy all morning, deliberately forgetting the unpleasantness of last night. Pei Yuan's mention of it brought back the almost dissipated sense of grievance.

Her throat tightened, feeling melodramatic, but unable to hold back the tears welling in her eyes, her voice now tinged with a hint of coquetry, "Why should I have to wait for you? You always expect me to warm up to your cold butt first. That's not fair."

Bao Ning stared at the small porcelain jar on the table, struggling to hold back her tears. The atmosphere turned silent. She regretted her earlier words and felt embarrassed, pretending to be busy by randomly poking at the soil with a small stick.

"Go back to sleep a bit longer. Dinner isn't made yet. I'll call you when it's ready..." Her voice trailed off at the end, barely audible.

Pei Yuan sensed her emotional state wasn't right. He gently turned her shoulder around and indeed saw her teary eyes.

He took a deep breath, furrowing his brows, and used the back of his hand to wipe away her tears. "It's okay to cry."

Bao Ning pursed her lips, avoiding his gaze. "I'm not."

She muttered, "I'm not that melodramatic."

"No one said you were bad," Pei Yuan said, holding her head gently with his forehead against hers. They locked eyes for a while before he spoke again, his voice softened, "Are you feeling upset?"

Bao Ning's lips trembled like a duck's, her eyes filling with more tears.

The feeling of grievance spread like a disaster, her emotional defenses crumbling. Bao Ning sniffled twice, finally crying out, "You just don't understand me."

"Don't make that face, it's ugly as hell," Pei Yuan felt uncomfortable, deliberately trying to make her laugh. His voice softened, "Let's talk it out. Crying like this, you sound just like a woman."

"I am one!" Bao Ning retorted.

Pei Yuan stared at her in silence.

"I've endured you for so long..." Bao Ning's height was not particularly tall, standing straight there, not even reaching his ear. Speaking while looking down was too tiring. Pei Yuan lifted her by the waist and sat her down on the table.

Looking down from above, Bao Ning exuded a stronger aura, her accusing voice louder, mixed with tears, "You only care about yourself. You never care about me."

Pei Yuan reached to touch her eyes. "How can you say that I don't care? You're all I think about."

Rarely speaking so affectionately, Pei Yuan couldn't perceive her anger and continued, "I care about you, and you're in my heart."

He sighed, "It's my fault. I didn't think about these things."

Bao Ning cried, wiping tears and snot on his shoulder. "You're always angry at me... but you never apologize. I'm sad too, but I'm afraid to tell you."

Pei Yuan asked, "Why are you afraid?"

Emotionally out of control, Bao Ning vented all the words she had kept hidden in her heart, scolding him fiercely, "How dare you ask that? Can't you have a little self-awareness?"

"Um, my bad." Pei Yuan rubbed her back. "I'll change, give me some time, okay?"

"When I cleaned your room that day, I found the farewell letter you wrote to me," Bao Ning said stubbornly. "If you mistreat me again, I'll leave. Even if you beg, I won't come back. Let's part ways amicably!"

At first, Pei Yuan thought he misheard, but when he realized, his face instantly darkened. He gripped Bao Ning's shoulders and pulled her away, gritting his teeth, "Say that again?"

"I hurt..." Bao Ning pounded his arm, sobbing, "I knew you were a liar. Everything you say is fake. You never really intended to change."

Only then did Pei Yuan regain his senses from his rough handling. He quickly let go, gently massaging her shoulders to relax her, still frowning, "Don't say such things again next time."

After the altercation, Bao Ning felt much calmer. Remembering what she had just said, she felt some regret and a strange satisfaction, her heart in turmoil. She lowered her eyes and didn't answer.

Pei Yuan sternly warned her, "You were formally married to me. According to our ancestors' rules, while alive, you're mine; dead, you're still mine. You'll be buried in my tomb, and even in death, you won't escape."

Bao Ning looked up at him, her fingers picking at the edge of the table. "You're educated. How can you say such gangster-like things?"

Pei Yuan smirked, leaning close to her ear and blowing gently into it, "I can do even more gangster-like things. Want to experience it?"

"Stop being so improper..." Bao Ning tried to dodge him, turning her head away, but Pei Yuan held her back.

"I have a leg injury, and I spat blood yesterday. If you want me dead sooner, keep angering me," Pei Yuan said.

"Can you stop talking about death all the time?" Bao Ning widened her eyes at him. "It's not auspicious."

"Okay," Pei Yuan paused, his gaze darkening as he stared at her pink lips. He lowered his head slightly closer, murmuring, "Let me kiss you."

"Don't..." Bao Ning blushed, instinctively tilting back, her waistband loosened, and her outer garment slipped down, revealing her delicate collarbone. Pei Yuan seized the opportunity, one hand on her back, his lips trailing over, fiercely sucking on the pink mole on her collarbone.

Bao Ning trembled, afraid to move.

Pei Yuan hugged her back, rubbing against her for a long time before finally lifting his head. Bao Ning's fingertips tingled and softened as she listened to Pei Yuan whispering softly in her ear, "Ning Ning, you have to remember, I'm your man."

"You're young. I won't touch you. Let's wait another two years."

"And I'll treat you well. If anything displeases you, just tell me, and I'll learn slowly."

Pei Yuan pecked her eyelid. "What I fear most is losing you."

..................................................................................................................

Previous                                                                                         Next