Chen Wanqing finally rose, turning her back to Jing to get dressed at the side of the canopy bed.

Her hands moved quickly, but a closer look revealed a hint of panic. She blinked a few times, finally managing to calm her racing heart.

’Are young men really this impulsive?’

’And especially so in the morning?’

Later that morning, Zhao Jing sat in the sunlight with an oilcloth draped over his chest, waiting for Chen Wanqing to shave his face.

He was an exceptionally neat and tidy young man. But he was so brimming with youthful vitality that the stubble on his chin grew back as relentlessly as freshly cut chives, one crop after another.

Previously, Chen Wanqing had rarely noticed such things. Zhao Jing always appeared before her looking his absolute best, making her wonder if he ever had an unkempt moment in his life. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

That question remained an unsolved mystery, but Chen Wanqing had no time to dwell on it now.

She gently caressed Zhao Jing’s cheek, guiding him to turn his head slightly and rest it against her.

"Don’t turn too far... good, right there is perfect. I’m going to start now. Close your eyes if you’re scared."

Zhao Jing wasn’t scared; he just wanted to laugh. He didn’t close his eyes. Instead, he raised his gaze to study her even more intently.

The clear daylight, the puffs of white clouds, the red plum blossoms at the corner of the house blooming against the cold, their fragrance carried on the gentle breeze—none of it could compare to the rosy lips and shimmering, soulful eyes of the young woman before him.

Her hand roamed across his face, the soft pads of her fingers pressing against his cool cheeks. A sudden, fierce restlessness seized him. He wanted to throw caution to the wind and grab hold of her soft hand.

But in the end, he didn’t.

He was like a hunter, afraid of startling a beautiful deer in the woods. He waited with intense focus, patiently savoring the process of his prey falling, little by little, into his trap.

A comfortable silence settled between them, filled with a gently flowing affection. The atmosphere was so tender and romantic that a single glance at the pair would make an onlooker’s cheeks flush and their heart race.

Mrs. Zhao had stepped out of her room, intending to do something, but now she had completely forgotten what it was.

The sight made her eyes well with warmth, and she quickly retreated into her room.

Xiang’er was admiring herself in the mirror.

Today she wore the pink beaded flower her sister-in-law had given her on the day of the tea ceremony.

The pink beaded flower made her chubby, round face look exceptionally cute and sweet, and it added a festive air. The more she looked, the prettier she felt.

Just as she was getting lost in admiration of her own beauty, Xiang’er saw her mother come back in.

"Mom, didn’t you say you were going to soak the wood ear mushrooms for a cold salad tonight? Are they already done?"

How could Mrs. Zhao tell her daughter she had seen Qing’er and Jing nestled close together, like a pair of lovebirds? The sight had so moved her that she’d quickly retreated, afraid of disturbing them.

She couldn’t say that, so Mrs. Zhao came up with an excuse.

"I just remembered that we already have enough dishes for tonight. We have ten, which is a perfect number. Adding another would make it eleven, and that’s not as auspicious."

Xiang’er replied listlessly, "Oh."

With that, she got up, intending to ask her sister-in-law if the beaded flower looked pretty on her.

But Mrs. Zhao grabbed her by the hand. "Where are you off to?"

Xiang’er was bewildered. "Mom, it’s broad daylight. It’s not like I’m going to get lost. What do you think I’m doing? I’m going to see my sister-in-law."

"What do you need to see your sister-in-law for? It’s the New Year. Let her have some peace and quiet. Don’t go bothering her."

"I’m not going to bother her! I just want to say a couple of things. Mom, if you need me for something, just wait a minute. I’ll be right back."

But Mrs. Zhao couldn’t hold her back. Like a slippery little fish, Xiang’er wriggled out of her grasp and was gone.

However, the "little fish" returned just as quickly, her face bright red.

Xiang’er tugged at her mother’s sleeve, her face flushed as she said, "Mom, Sister-in-law and Big Brother seem to really like each other."

Mrs. Zhao smiled at her words. "Yes, they do."

She added cheerfully, "They’re so loving. Perhaps your sister-in-law will get pregnant soon."

Xiang’er grew excited. "Does that mean I’m going to have a nephew or a niece soon? I’m going to be an aunt?!"

Mrs. Zhao seemed to picture it too—a little boy and girl who looked just like Jing and Qing’er—and she couldn’t help but laugh aloud. "Yes. Soon you’ll be one of the grown-ups. Starting today, you can’t be so mischievous anymore."