"What's wrong? You seem unhappy?" Chu Yi's voice came from the darkness. Qiao Anchen paused before answering.
"No."
"Then why did you suddenly stop talking?"
"I just..."
"I just suddenly had nothing to say."
"Um?"
"You're amazing," Qiao Anchen praised, ruffling her hair.
He never expected that his young wife, who always seemed to never grow up, would be so outstanding in other areas that it was hard to look directly at her.
Although, this is a very magical world.
Some people work themselves to the bone every day, but it's still not as good as some people who just eat and sleep at home all day.
For the first time ever, Qiao Anchen experienced a rare feeling of heartache.
Chu Yi's birthday is in April. After experiencing the harrowing ordeal last year, Qiao Anchen dared not forget this time.
It happened to be a Saturday and Sunday, and the two had planned in advance to go to a nearby resort to soak in hot springs.
Lancheng has four distinct seasons. In April, when the weather is just starting to warm up, there seems to be a lingering chill from winter in the body. Soaking in a steaming hot spring would be the perfect way to cool off.
Qiao Anchen doesn't have many holidays, so there are very few times when they can go out and play together. Chu Yi cherishes this opportunity very much and dragged Cheng Li to the mall to buy swimsuits a long time ago.
Chu Yi tried on several outfits, all of which were youthful, fresh, and sweet, but also slightly conservative.
Cheng Li looked at her skirt and chest, which were completely covered up, and suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, baby, where are those clothes I gave you? Have you used them? Why haven't I heard any feedback from customer service?"
"What clothes?" Chu Yi was taken aback, and it took her a while to remember, her face turning red.
"No! What are you thinking about all day long!" she said coquettishly, recalling the few wads of fabric that she had stuffed into the corner of the closet since the first Qixi Festival.
If Cheng Li hadn't suddenly brought it up, she would have completely forgotten about it.
"We're an old married couple, what's there to be embarrassed about?" Cheng Li couldn't help but roll his eyes at her innocent, naive look.
"Sometimes men just like excitement, you know? Especially for couples like you who have been married for years and whose lives have become stagnant, they need to add a little spice occasionally!"
Even after returning from shopping, Chu Yi's mind was still replaying Cheng Li's words. She didn't know why, but she inexplicably started rummaging through the wardrobe.
She actually managed to find it.
Those few strips of cloth, as thin as cicada wings, lay in the corner, crumpled up in a pitiful state, untouched for so long.
Chu Yi stared intently for a few seconds, swallowed hard, and then hesitantly reached out his hand.
The weather was perfect on the day we set off for the hot spring resort. The clouds were a bit thick, and it was a cool, overcast day—slightly chilly yet comfortable.
Qiao Anchen drove, and the two of them carried a small suitcase containing daily necessities and a change of clothes.
Chu Yi watched as Qiao Anchen carried the suitcase out and put it in the trunk, and a wave of guilt washed over her.
The hot spring resort is located outside the city, about a two-hour drive away. Part of the road is a winding mountain road. The further you go, the more lush green trees there are, and the fresher the air becomes.
After spending too much time in the city, surrounded by traffic and concrete jungles, the sudden return to the mountains and forests brings a sense of tranquility and peace.
Chu Yi leaned against the car window, gazing at the scenery outside and feeling the gentle breeze on his face, squinting contentedly.
Qiao Anchen glanced sideways, distracted. Chu Yi looked to be in a good mood, like a bird just released from its cage. He couldn't help but smile.
Do you like it here?
"Mmm!" Chu Yi nodded, stretched out her hand, and felt the wind brushing past her fingertips, as if even her soul was free.
“Then we’ll come again next time we have time.” After Qiao Anchen finished speaking, Chu Yi gave him a resentful look.
"You said the same thing when you went to Bali last time."
As a result, we never had the chance to travel together again.
Qiao Anchen also remembered, and a hint of embarrassment and shame flashed across his face. He coughed lightly.
"Anyway, it's not far from here, we can come anytime."
"We'll see," Chu Yi replied listlessly, leaning back down. Qiao Anchen remained silent, focusing on driving.
We arrived at our destination close to noon. This hot spring resort is surrounded by mountains on three sides and is covered by a large number of trees. The lush, layered greenery, in varying shades, exudes a sense of tranquility, like a secluded paradise.
Stepping into the building from the bluestone steps, you see that most of the buildings inside are made of wood, with light yellow solid wood, retro brick walls, and many flowers planted in the corners. The roses are blooming luxuriantly and brightly, and a faint fragrance wafts in when the wind blows.
The two-person room had been booked in advance. As soon as they entered, Chu Yi rushed to unpack her luggage. Qiao Anchen was a little surprised, but still went to open the doors and windows first to check the surrounding environment.
Outside the balcony is a vast expanse of green forest, a truly beautiful sight. The surroundings are so quiet that there isn't a sound of human voices, except for the occasional clear chirping of birds.
There is also a back door in the room, which leads to a Chinese courtyard planted with flowers, trees and plants. In the middle is a large hot spring pool emitting heat, surrounded by pebbles.
The actual product far exceeded expectations, much more than the pictures showed. Qiao Anchen nodded in satisfaction. As he returned to his room and was about to call Chu Yi to take a look, he saw her hurriedly hiding something in her suitcase, her cheeks flushed.
Author's Note: Expected to be completed next week.
There will be children, but they won't be in the main story; I'll try to write more of them in the side stories.
66. Chapter 66
"Chu Yi?" Qiao Anchen asked in confusion. The person who had just been flustered immediately turned terrified, raised his head, and stared at him with wide eyes.
Qiao Anchen followed her hand movements and noticed an unidentified object in the corner of the suitcase. He took a step forward to examine it more closely.
"You, you, you, don't come any closer!" Chu Yi stammered, his cheeks burning with shame and embarrassment. His mind was a complete mess, and the fabric he was clutching tightly in his hands felt sweaty.
She stared at Qiao Anchen's approaching figure, feeling utterly dejected. Her body reflexively sprang to her feet, then clutched what she was holding tightly and rushed into the bathroom.
"Aaaaaaah!"
With a scream of despair, Qiao Anchen found himself alone. Then, with a loud bang, the bathroom door slammed shut, and Chu Yi was still trying to cover up her warning to him.
"Don't come in! I need to use the restroom!"
Qiao Anchen: "..."
Chu Yi had never felt so ashamed. She stared at the delicate lingerie in her hand, wishing she could rush over and beat Cheng Li up.
Is she crazy? Why would she listen to what she says?
Chu Yi held her head and spun around in the cramped bathroom. Finally, her gaze fell on the trash can. She immediately stretched out a finger and threw the few small pieces of cloth that were lying next to it into the can, as if throwing away something unclean. Then, not feeling reassured, she tore up some tissues to cover it up, making sure that not a trace would be left.
After finishing all this, she breathed a sigh of relief, turned on the tap at the sink, applied hand sanitizer and carefully rubbed her hands together. She then tidied her expression in front of the mirror, patted her cheeks where the flush had faded considerably, and mustered her courage to push open the door and go out.
Qiao Anchen was still standing there waiting for her. In the meantime, he took the opportunity to reorganize the suitcase that Chu Yi had messed up, hung their clothes in the closet, and took out their daily necessities and put them back in their place.
Chu Yi's newly calmed-down mood immediately crumbled upon seeing him; her face flushed, and she kept her head down tightly.
"Finished cleaning up?" Qiao Anchen asked considerately, without mentioning Chu Yi's unusual behavior just now.
"Mmm..." Her voice was barely audible, barely audible.
"I'll take you to see the hot springs outside, the scenery is quite nice." Qiao Anchen pushed her shoulder and walked outside. Chu Yi was forced to take two steps, and after passing through the back door, she saw the courtyard and the hot springs.
"Wow—" In an instant, all the nonsense disappeared, leaving only amazed admiration for the scene before them.
"Soaking in a hot spring here would be wonderful!" Chu Yi couldn't help but turn around and say to Qiao Anchen. The courtyard in front of them was open-air, surrounded by trees, with large roses blooming in the corner, their red and pink hues dotting the deep green leaves.
The delicate fragrance of flowers accompanies the gentle breeze, creating a refreshing and natural atmosphere. While enjoying the hot springs, you can also admire the surrounding scenery.
Lunch was also provided by the resort. According to the staff, the ingredients were all grown and delivered by nearby farmers. Upon hearing this, Chu Yi found the ordinary vegetables in her mouth to be exceptionally delicious.
After lunch, we took a short tour of the resort and strolled around to digest. Chu Yi couldn't wait to drag Qiao Anchen back to soak in the hot springs. Around three or four in the afternoon, with the thin sunlight coming out, Chu Yi was completely immersed in the hot water, feeling extremely comfortable.
Qiao Anchen sat there, watching Chu Yi treat the hot spring pool like a swimming pool. After splashing around awkwardly for a couple of rounds, she returned to his side, panting, and collapsed by the pool.
"I'm so tired." She let out a long sigh, and Qiao Anchen shook his head silently.
"Hot springs are for soaking, not for swimming."
“I know… isn’t it just that I couldn’t hold back?” Chu Yi glanced at him and said quietly, “You don’t understand the instinct of swimming enthusiasts towards water.”
Qiao Anchen recalled her doggy paddle and remained skeptical of this "swimming enthusiast".
Soaking in the hot spring pool was truly comfortable. With my hand resting on the shore, the pebbles were cool and refreshing, and there were drinks and fruits on the plate.
Chu Yi looked up and saw a flock of birds flying across the vast sky, their figures fluttering a few times before disappearing into the mountains and forests.
"Qiao Anchen, look, there are birds here!"
"Yes, I heard there are rabbits in the mountains."
"Really?" Chu Yi, who had lived in the city all his life, was very excited and asked expectantly, "Can we go and catch them!"
“No.” Qiao Anchen turned to look at her and said.
Chuyi: "..."
The two soaked for a while until they started to feel a little dizzy, and then they couldn't take it anymore and left. Before wrapping themselves in towels, Chu Yi was still a little reluctant to leave.
"I wish I could stay inside forever..."
"...We can come and soak tonight, tomorrow, or for as long as we want."
Qiao Anchen calmly broke her sentimental mood, and Chu Yi's lingering gaze immediately turned into a big eye roll.
After soaking in the water for a while, we felt sleepy. Plus, we had driven all morning and hadn't taken a nap. After changing into our pajamas, we both lay down on the bed without thinking. We each entertained ourselves for a while before snuggling together and falling asleep peacefully.
I didn't set an alarm. When I woke up, it was dark outside. Looking out the window, all I could see was a hazy gray-black. The clouds emitted a faint light, enveloping the forest trees, leaving only their general outlines. The room became even darker.
She could feel soft, warm breaths on her face, and her back was warm. Her chest rose and fell steadily. Qiao Anchen was holding her from behind, and she seemed to be still asleep. Chu Yi closed her eyes and didn't move.
Half-asleep, she slept for a while longer, not knowing how much time had passed. The person next to her seemed to wake up and move around. Qiao Anchen loosened his arm slightly and then slipped back into her clothes and moved upwards.
Chu Yi still couldn't open her eyes, her consciousness fluctuating between clarity and confusion. She received soft, wet kisses on her neck and cheeks, tilting her head slightly to make it easier for him to kiss her, and a soft moan escaped her nose.
She started to fidgeting under the covers, and Chu Yi's sleepiness gradually disappeared. She grasped Qiao Anchen's hand that was wrapped around her waist and clasped it inside.
Chu Yi buried most of her face in the pillow, bit her lip lightly, closed her eyes, and her mind was filled with pure desire.
The noise in the room stopped, and it was completely dark outside the window. After catching his breath, Qiao Anchen got up and turned on the bedside lamp. Chu Yi was lying there, her whole body weak and limp, and her exposed skin was pale pink.
"Want to take a shower?" Qiao Anchen asked her after getting dressed. Chu Yi took off the back of her hand that was covering her eyes, her voice still carrying the lingering sound of crying, and she spoke as if she were being coquettish.
"I want to go to a hot spring."