Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Xu Qi firmly held Ye Lan, forcibly placing him in front of the bed. Her hands traced his legs, and she grabbed his feet.

Ye Lan struggled, but Xu Qi suddenly stopped insisting and just placed his feet, which were as delicate as jade, into the basin, then stood up. “You’ve sweated all over, forget it, wash yourself.”

Her tone made Ye Lan mistakenly think it was a sign of displeasure, and he froze, his eyes showing a hint of innocent confusion.

Xu Qi chuckled, sat next to him, and reached out to hug his waist.

Before meeting him, if someone had told her she would have such intense affection for a man, she would have thought they were joking. But now…

Xu Qi lightly touched Ye Lan’s eyebrows, feeling him gradually relax in her embrace. “Don’t be nervous, I won’t treat you poorly.”

Ye Lan lowered his head and whispered, “Mmm.”

He knew the woman in front of him wouldn’t treat him poorly. He knew.

There was still a faint smell of sweat on her body, but he didn’t find it unpleasant. Instead, he had to try hard to restrain himself from burrowing into her warm embrace.

After he finished washing, Xu Qi carried the wooden basin out and took a quick bath herself before returning to the room.

The person lying on the bed seemed surprised, but more confused.

Xu Qi stood by the bed, seeing only the fingertips gripping the quilt tightly, almost turning white.

“Are you… sleepy?”

Ye Lan shook his head in bed.

Xu Qi took another step closer and sat directly on the edge of the bed. “Shall we rest?”

She directly ignored his gesture of not being sleepy.

He had slept for most of the day, so naturally, he wasn’t sleepy now, but she was different. She had been busy for him all afternoon and was very tired.

Ye Lan hesitated, but he also knew he couldn’t make the decision on his own. After a while, he chose to move aside, leaving a large space on the bed for Xu Qi to sleep.

Xu Qi got into bed.

The bed wasn’t small, it was the one her parents had slept on before.

But the space Ye Lan left for himself was really small; his back was almost against the wall.

After lying down, Xu Qi wondered how to pull him over. Should she be more shameless?

With the person lying beside her, she could barely fit his head into her chest. Xu Qi looked at him and felt the urge to move her hand, but guessed that he wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping like this. However, lying flat might press on his wounds.

Xu Qi turned onto her side, facing Ye Lan. He seemed even more uncomfortable, the quilt almost covering his eyes.

In the end, Xu Qi took action and lifted the quilt covering half of Ye Lan’s face. “Breathe.”

She leaned closer to him.

Although he had experienced so much, Ye Lan still couldn’t help but blush slightly at Xu Qi’s close proximity.

“Mistress, mistress…”

He called softly, pursing his lips, worried about what his mistress might do.

In the past, when the adults wanted to do something, they would inevitably show him a bit of tenderness, but when they actually did it, they were still rough.

But he forgot, since he came here today, Xu Qi had always been so gentle with him.

“Yes?”

Xu Qi responded softly, feeling her heart pounding like a drum, but her face remained calm as she wrapped her arm around Ye Lan’s waist, avoiding his wounds, and gently held onto his delicate and tender skin.

Then she reached her other hand and slipped it under Ye Lan’s neck, finally pulling his head into her embrace. “Is this more comfortable?”

No, it’s not very comfortable. Her arm is too hard, her breath is too strong, and she’s too hot. Ye Lan blushed and nestled in her arms, feeling her chest vibrate slightly when she spoke, but he dared not argue and could only follow Xu Qi’s words. “Yes, it’s a bit more comfortable, thank you for your kindness, mistress.”

Xu Qi felt goosebumps all over her body.

Fortunately, the candles in the room had already been extinguished, otherwise Ye Lan would surely see the tiny bumps on her exposed skin.

“In the future, you don’t need to say such things.”

Xu Qi couldn’t help but say, feeling a bit embarrassed herself.

Ye Lan lifted his head. “What does the mistress mean?”

“Just… like thank you, I don’t need you to thank me. If you’re willing to be my husband, then we are family, so there’s no need for thanks.”

Of course, if you’re unwilling, we’re still a family.

Xu Qi tightened her grip on his waist, thinking so.

“Mistress is so good to me, I have nothing to repay.”

He could only say thank you a few more times.

In the past, adults emphasized rules, and these habits were instilled in him through discipline.

“No need to repay, just stay here and be my husband.”

Ye Lan blinked, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn’t help but be moved.

But the kindness he received in one day far exceeded what he had received in half of his life.

Ye Lan suddenly threw himself into Xu Qi’s arms, like a young teenager, feeling aggrieved in the arms of someone who treated him kindly.

Xu Qi’s hands were frozen on his waist, until the thin undershirt in her arms, which was cold and wet, pressed against her chest, making her feel irritable.

“What… what’s wrong with you?”

“Ye, Ye Lan?”

For the first time, Xu Qi called his name, still a little stuttering.

“Yes, mistress, I’m here.”

The voice was slightly nasal, obviously having cried.

“Why are you suddenly crying? Did I say something too heavy? If you… if you don’t want to stay here as my husband…”

Xu Qi fell silent, unable to say the words to let him go.

This was clearly something she had bought with her own money, she had taken care of him and treated his injuries, all for her own husband. If he didn’t want to be her husband…

Xu Qi couldn’t help but feel a bit of a waste of effort.

She wasn’t a purely good person.

After hearing this, Ye Lan suddenly raised his head, even bumping into Xu Qi’s chin, but he didn’t care.

“I… I’m not unwilling.”

His eyes, red with tears, met Xu Qi’s, who was rubbing her chin. His ears turned slightly red.

“Mistress is so good to me, how could I be unwilling?”

Xu Qi put down her hand rubbing her chin and looked into Ye Lan’s eyes. “Then why are you crying?”@@novelbin@@

Those tears have stained my clothes, and the cold wind is chilling.

She couldn’t help but shiver.

Ye Lan’s watery eyes looked at Xu Qi. “It’s just that I thought of the past, and I felt a little sad for a moment, it has nothing to do with the mistress.”

Xu Qi frowned displeasedly. “If you’re willing to stay as my husband, then don’t think about the past anymore. Now, I am your mistress.”

She thought he was thinking about the past mistress, so she felt extremely unhappy, with a sourness spreading in her heart.

Although Ye Lan was timid, he really didn’t like the past mistress.

Now, in order to make the current mistress happy, he naturally agreed to anything.

“Yes, this slave will listen to you, mistress.”

Xu Qi was still not happy. “You don’t need to call yourself a slave all the time. We are not Mistress and slave, but a very equal husband and mistress relationship. Understand?”

Xu Qi’s voice was gentle, and Ye Lan gradually indulged in it, unconsciously nodding in agreement with her.