"Go to sleep, you must be very tired today."
"Goodnight." Chu Yi blinked, closed her eyes completely, and then said softly. Qiao Anchen replied in the same way.
"Good night."
I slept very well that night, probably because I was too tired. I didn't dream at all. When I woke up on the first day of the lunar month, the sun was high in the sky and the living room was filled with sunlight.
Qiao Anchen was making breakfast in the kitchen. His tall and straight back was slender, and the cuffs of his white shirt were rolled up to his elbows. His profile was calm and refined.
He made it very simple: freshly fried eggs and ham, toast, two cups of hot milk, and vegetables and fruit.
It has a refreshing taste, which suits the taste of a first-year student very well, especially since they don't usually like to eat much in the morning. The portion size is just right.
The two sat facing each other, and after finishing their meal and cleaning up, they suddenly found themselves in a situation where they didn't know what to do next.
Chu Yi felt a little uncomfortable being in an unfamiliar environment with someone who had just become her husband, while Qiao Anchen, on the other hand, had a rare two-day holiday with nothing to do and was at a loss for what to do first.
After a moment of eye contact, Chu Yi spoke first.
"Should we...go outside for a walk? Or see a movie or something..."
It was July, and the sun was blazing. Qiao Anchen looked up at the blazing sun outside and pondered.
"It's not impossible, but staying at home would probably be more comfortable."
"Ah, then let's not go out." After he said that, Chu Yi immediately changed her mind. Qiao Anchen looked at her, nodded, and then said.
"I'm going to read a book for a while, what about you?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Yi paused for a few seconds, then immediately realized what was happening.
"You go ahead, I can stay here by myself."
Qiao Anchen went into the study. Chu Yi wandered around the house aimlessly, and finally returned to the bedroom, where she threw herself onto the bed.
Marriage... seems to be a little different from what she imagined.
Chu Yi stared blankly at the wall, then quickly shook his head to banish the distracting thoughts.
The two of them spent their time in this way. When it was noon, Qiao Anchen went to the kitchen first. He knew that Chu Yi couldn't cook, and since he had time, he simply decided to cook for himself.
Qiao Anchen studied abroad for two years. He didn't adapt well to the foreign food, so he always bought groceries from the supermarket and cooked for himself. He learns everything very quickly, and cooking is no exception.
After rinsing the rice and plugging in the power, Qiao Anchen peeled two potatoes. There was also beef in the refrigerator. He worked quickly and efficiently, preparing all the ingredients and getting ready to heat the oil and cook them.
Chu Yi belatedly heard noises from the kitchen. She glanced at the time and realized it was already lunchtime. She quickly threw down her iPad, got out of bed, and slipped on her slippers.
The living room was filled with the aroma of food. Qiao Anchen stood in front of the kitchen counter, holding a spatula and carefully controlling the heat. Chu Yi walked over a little embarrassed.
"Do you need my help?" she whispered. Qiao Anchen turned to look at her without hesitation.
"No need, it'll be enough for two people quickly."
Chu Yi stood hesitantly to the side, not moving. Seeing this, Qiao Anchen reached out and patted her on the head.
"Come on, let's go play in the living room for a while. I'll be ready soon."
"Thank you for your hard work." She said weakly. Qiao Anchen saw the guilty look on her face and smiled.
"I often cook for myself too, so don't feel guilty."
"Oh." Chu Yi opened her eyes and glanced at him, then responded sullenly, drooping her head as she turned and walked out.
"Hey, watch out—" The kitchen and living room are separated by a transparent glass door. Seeing that Chu Yi was about to run into it, Qiao Anchen immediately reached out and covered her forehead.
With a dull thud, Chu Yi's head bumped into a broad palm. She looked up at Qiao Anchen in a daze, her face slowly turning red.
"I'm sorry... I wasn't paying attention..." How embarrassing!
"Be careful, does it hurt?" Qiao Anchen found it amusing and casually rubbed her forehead with his palm. Chu Yi avoided his gaze, her eyes flickering, and her face became even hotter.
"It's nothing..." Her voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz. She lowered her head, removed Qiao Anchen's hand, and jumped out of the kitchen as if fleeing, hiding in the living room.
Qiao Anchen watched her figure disappear quickly from sight, shook his head, and couldn't help but laugh.
When all the food was served, Chu Yi returned to normal. She despised her previous lack of composure and therefore acted exceptionally steady and composed, but she broke down when she took the first bite of the food.
"Wow, this is delicious!" she exclaimed in surprise, unable to resist giving Qiao Anchen a thumbs up.
The two had discussed this topic before, but only briefly. Chu Yi thought his skill level was just average, but she didn't expect the taste to be in no way inferior to that of private chefs in restaurants.
Her eyes lit up, and she suddenly felt as if the person opposite her had a built-in soft-focus effect.
"I also found a recipe online and made it myself." Qiao Anchen was amused by her exaggerated reaction. He felt that he was in a good mood all day. It seemed that he was always relaxed and happy whenever he was with her.
"You're so amazing, waaaaah..." Chu Yi kept saying while shoveling rice into her mouth. Qiao Anchen's gaze drifted to the side, and he coughed lightly.
"Alright, eat properly." He couldn't help but tap the rim of Chu Yi's bowl with his chopsticks, his face seeming a little hot.
Qiao Anchen was very busy with work, and even for his wedding, he only had three days off. His honeymoon was postponed indefinitely. Fortunately, Chu Yi wasn't someone who liked to go out, so although he was a little disappointed, he could understand.
The air temperature dropped in the evening, and a cool breeze brought a refreshing summer feeling. Qiao Anchen took her for a walk around the neighborhood to familiarize her with the surroundings.
There were many people out at night, the streets were bustling, and neon lights were flashing. Qiao Anchen naturally took her hand.
The two strolled along the roadside, brushing past strangers. Occasionally, he would turn around and whisper a few words of explanation. In comparison, Chu Yi talked much more.
It seems like it's always the same: Qiao Anchen is quiet and composed, while Chu Yi is full of energy, like a jubilant lark with a crisp, sweet, and lively voice.
Qiao Anchen listened and occasionally chimed in agreement. The two walked along the nearby area for a long time, and Chu Yi felt a little tired, so she slowed down her pace.
"Are you tired?" Qiao Anchen noticed and asked. She nodded.
"Then let's go back."
"Do we have to walk back?" Chu Yi blinked at him. Qiao Anchen was stunned for a moment, then looked around.
"Wait a minute." As soon as he finished speaking, he ran forward. Chu Yi followed his movements and disappeared at the intersection not far away.
A few minutes later, his figure reappeared in front of her. Chu Yi looked over expectantly and saw Qiao Anchen pushing a shared bicycle.
It's yellow, quite small, and has some paint chips on the body.
"...So, are we going to ride back?" She paused for a moment, then asked. Qiao Anchen immediately shook his head and spoke seriously.
"You ride back, I'll get some exercise, I'll just run back."
"..."
"But I can't find the way..." Chu Yi softened her voice, trying to coax him into changing his mind.
Qiao Anchen frowned and thought for a few seconds, then looked enlightened and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"It's okay, I have a mobile phone for navigation."
"..."
Chu Yi held his breath and pedaled furiously, arriving home in just over ten minutes. Once home, he locked the shared bike and left it at the entrance of the complex before sinking into the sofa.
When they first started dating, Chu Yi thought Qiao Anchen was mature and reliable. Although he was a bit boring, he didn't have any major flaws. But after living together for only one day, Chu Yi felt she couldn't stand it anymore.
She was frustrated for a few seconds, then immediately blamed herself.
This may happen at first, but it will get better after a while.
After all, it's everyone's first time getting married, so they need time to adjust and get used to each other.
Feeling dejected, Chu Yi went into the bathroom, intending to take a shower to wash away his troubles.
Hot water poured over her head and onto her body, and she felt much better. With her eyes slightly closed, she realized she was being too dramatic.
After thinking it through, I felt much lighter.
Chu Yi dried herself with a bath towel; her skin was flushed pink from the steam. She was about to reach for her pajamas.
The movement suddenly stopped.
An alarm bell rang in Chu Yi's mind, her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat.
It seems... he didn't bring his pajamas in just now...
Having gotten used to living alone, Chu Yi preferred to just wrap herself in a bath towel when going out. It wasn't until last night, after moving in, that she remembered to bring her pajamas. But now—
She swallowed hard, praying that no one was outside.
4. Chapter 4
Looking through the mirror, the person inside was completely covered up. Chu Yi tucked the towel under his arm again and tiptoed to open the door.
She first peeked out, surveyed the area, and only after confirming that it was quiet and deserted did Chu Yi cautiously step out, clutching her chest tightly to block out a few glimpses of her skin.
Even though the bath towel was large, it could only cover from the collarbone down to the legs, revealing a large expanse of fair skin.
Chu Yi, with her body bent low, rushed from the door to the bedroom, opened the wardrobe, and pulled out her pajamas.
Her nerves were on edge, and she moved quickly and frantically, like a thief. Just as she grabbed her clothes and was about to change, she suddenly remembered that the door was not locked.
Chu Yi felt another wave of fear and immediately put down the clothes in her hand and ran over.
In the blink of an eye, just as she was about to reach the door, the small lock in her sight was gently turned, and with a click, the door was pushed open from the outside.
Chu Yi clutched his chest, his eyes wide as he met Qiao Anchen's gaze. A few seconds of silence passed before a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face. He immediately and politely stepped back, closing the door behind him, accompanied by a soft "—"
"Feel sorry."
The room became empty and quiet again. Chu Yi stared at the closed door for a few seconds, then walked over expressionlessly and locked it.
The sound of the door being locked came clearly from inside. Qiao Anchen stood outside, the scene from just now uncontrollably flashing through his mind.
He was breathing heavily, his forehead, damp with sweat from the exercise, felt increasingly sticky, and his body temperature seemed to be rising continuously.
Qiao Anchen wiped his face, went to the kitchen, and poured himself a glass of ice water.
When they went back in, the bedroom was quiet. There was a small mound in the middle of the bed, and the outline of a body could be vaguely seen. Chu Yi's face was almost completely buried in the quilt, with messy hair showing.
He paused for a moment, then said, "I'm back."
There was no movement under the covers, then a barely audible response came from beneath.
"Um…"
Qiao Anchen stood there for a while, and after making sure she wouldn't speak again, he went to the wardrobe, took out his pajamas, and just as he was about to step into the bathroom, he couldn't help but say something.
"Don't cover your whole face with the blanket, it's easy to lack oxygen."