Gu Jiaojiao first dropped Second Brother Fu off at his home. Fu Guoguo said, "Jiaojiao, I’m going to go home, shower, and change before I come over to your place."

"Okay. Second Brother Fu can also come over for a visit." After saying that, Gu Jiaojiao started the car and headed home.

Sheng Shijing had just opened the passenger-side door when he saw Su Shuochi standing at the entrance, watching them.

But he knew Su Shuochi wasn’t looking at him, because his eyes were fixed on the car as if he were completely mesmerized.

"Shuo Ci, you’re home?" he asked in surprise.

Su Shuochi didn’t say a word, his gaze fixed on the beautiful figure in the driver’s seat.

Sheng Shijing followed his gaze and saw Gu Jiaojiao, in the driver’s seat, also staring dazedly at Su Shuochi.

Sparks could have flown between their gazes, even through the car window, leaving Sheng Shijing so awkward he didn’t know whether to get in or back away.

Gu Jiaojiao froze when she saw Su Shuochi, and it took her a long moment to snap out of it.

A faint smile touched her lips. A reunion after a long separation was an indescribable feeling.

In that instant, a flood of thoughts rushed through her mind, making her feel incredibly thrilled and excited.

It was as if she were in a dream, filling her with immense happiness and contentment.

The moment Su Shuochi saw his wife, all his fatigue and worries vanished into thin air, leaving only endless warmth and affection.

He only had eyes for her. How could he possibly notice Sheng Shijing?

He walked past Sheng Shijing to the side of the car. "Jiaojiao, have you eaten yet? I just got home and was about to call your father when I heard the car pull up."

"I’ve already eaten. This is my big brother. Let’s go inside first," Gu Jiaojiao said, all her excitement dissolving into a single, calm sentence.

"Eldest Brother Sheng? What are you doing here?" Su Shuochi finally noticed Sheng Shijing when he followed his wife’s line of sight.

"..."

Sheng Shijing was at a loss for words. He was over six feet tall; he couldn’t believe the man hadn’t seen him.

"Eldest Brother Sheng, hurry inside! It’s cold out here, we can’t let Jiaojiao get cold." Su Shuochi’s urgent invitation left Sheng Shijing speechless.

Seeing Sheng Shijing still standing there, Su Shuochi pulled Gu Jiaojiao’s hand to his lips and blew on it to warm it up. "Look, your hands are ice-cold."

"Mmm, I’m so cold. Let’s hurry inside," Gu Jiaojiao said delicately.

Sheng Shijing: "..."

’A moment ago, she was a fearless warrior who bowed to no one. How did she turn into a delicate flower who can’t even take care of herself in the blink of an eye?’

His adoptive sister was still chattering on. "Look at you, all scruffy and unshaven, and your clothes are filthy. Don’t you know how to take care of yourself?"

"Heh heh. Without my wife around, who would I be shaving for? I’d rather use that time for other things."

"So you come back and don’t even bother to clean yourself up? Aren’t you afraid I’ll be disgusted by you?"

"Of course I’m afraid! I just haven’t had a chance to clean up yet. As soon as I got back, all I wanted to know was where you went."

Sheng Shijing watched as the tall, strapping man fawned over his adoptive sister like a little puppy.

He found it a bit cringey. As he watched the couple chatter away while heading inside, he could only trail slowly behind them.

If it wasn’t so cold outside, he would have been tempted to stay in the yard a while longer.

But it wasn’t as if they were whispering sweet nothings that would make him blush. They were just making the most ordinary small talk.

The three of them walked into the living room, where Su Shuochi deftly boiled water for tea and put some snacks on the table.

"Eldest Brother Sheng, please watch some TV, have some tea, and eat some snacks. I’m going to head upstairs and clean myself up, so Jiaojiao won’t be disgusted with me."

Su Shuochi methodically handed Sheng Shijing a cup of tea, turned on the television, and then pulled Gu Jiaojiao upstairs with him.

As soon as the couple returned to their bedroom, Su Shuochi locked the door from the inside. Gu Jiaojiao then tossed him into her space, intending for him to soak in the Spiritual Spring.

But Su Shuochi grabbed her hand and didn’t let go, pulling her into the space along with him.

Seeing the dependent look on his face, Gu Jiaojiao stopped struggling. She was tired too, so soaking in the Spiritual Spring with him for a while sounded nice.

The two enjoyed the wonderful sensation of the spring water nourishing their bodies, kissing until they were both breathless.

Su Shuochi remained silent, instead pulling her into his embrace and wrapping his arms tightly around her slender waist.

"Jiaojiao, did you miss me?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"What?" Gu Jiaojiao was taken aback by the sudden question. "My big brother is still in the living room."

"What does him being in the living room have to do with whether or not you missed me, hmm?" Su Shuochi’s tone was a mix of coaxing and seduction.

It was enough to leave Gu Jiaojiao mesmerized. A man like him held an immense attraction for any woman. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Especially when that man was her own husband. Still, Gu Jiaojiao had some shred of reason left.

Then they were kissing again, lost in the passion that comes from a reunion said to be sweeter than a honeymoon.

The thought that Eldest Brother Sheng was still in the living room instantly sobered Gu Jiaojiao, whose cheeks were already flushed from their earlier encounter.

"We should get out of here, lest Big Brother be left waiting alone in the living room and let his imagination run wild," Gu Jiaojiao said.

"Alright. You go down first. I’ll change and be down in a minute," Su Shuochi said tenderly.

Gu Jiaojiao was still in her original clothes, but her whole aura had changed dramatically.

Thankfully, Fu Guoguo had already arrived, which saved her from some of the awkwardness.

Sheng Shijing had spent a fair amount of time with Gu Jiaojiao today, and they had already said pretty much everything that needed to be said.

Seeing Su Shuochi and Gu Jiaojiao go upstairs together, he had settled down on the sofa to watch television without a worry.

He was completely engrossed in the show when Fu Guoguo burst in. "Where’s Jiaojiao?"

"Upstairs."

"Then... I... I’ll go upstairs and see Jiaojiao," Fu Guoguo stammered.

"They’re a married couple, upstairs. What are you going up there for?" Sheng Shijing retorted, looking at the stammering girl.

"What? Brother Su is back? I thought he wasn’t coming back until after the New Year?" Upon hearing that Su Shuochi was back, Fu Guoguo forgot to stammer.

"So you don’t have a stutter?"

"..."

’I don’t have a stutter!’ Fu Guoguo thought. ’You’re the one with a stutter! Your whole family has a stutter!’

But she didn’t dare say it out loud. "I have never had a stutter! What is wrong with you...?"

"Guoguo, you’re here! What were you and my big brother talking about? Your face is all red," Gu Jiaojiao teased, feeling a little guilty as she came downstairs.

"Jiaojiao, your big brother said I have a stutter!" Fu Guoguo tattled on Sheng Shijing right in front of him.

"Jiaojiao, I was just stating a fact. She was clearly stammering just now," Sheng Shijing argued, trying to reason with her.

"Brother, if you keep talking like that, you’re never going to find a wife," Gu Jiaojiao said, palming her forehead.

"You can’t get a wife by telling the truth these days?"

"You... You make me so mad!" Fu Guoguo stomped her foot, looking like she was about to cry.

"Guoguo, don’t be angry. My big brother is just clueless. Don’t stoop to his level."

"Hmph. Fine. For Jiaojiao’s sake, I won’t bicker with you. Did he say Brother Su is back?"

"Yeah, he just got back. I’m going to make him a bowl of noodles. Brother, do you want any?"