[The principle behind treating colds by drinking warm water: Warm water can stimulate sweating, thereby accelerating metabolism, increasing the hemoglobin content in the blood, and also increasing the frequency of urination, thus removing inflammatory substances from the body through urine. In addition, regularly drinking warm water helps prevent colds, pharyngitis, cerebral hemorrhage, myocardial infarction, and certain skin diseases.] This was clearly something found on Baidu. Chu Yi felt a lump in her throat, unable to swallow it. Then, Qiao Anchen added a sentence.
[So drinking more hot water is scientifically based. Of course, if it doesn't get better soon, you'll have to see a doctor and take medicine.] [But since it's your first day, I suggest you drink more hot water first.] The wording was extremely serious, as if he were discussing some academic issue. Chu Yi could almost picture his upright and serious face on the other end.
She was like a balloon that had been inflated to its limit; a gentle prick with a needle completely deflated her.
Chu Yi threw away his phone, lay back on the bed, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
...Someone please save her.
5. Chapter 5
When Qiao Anchen came home in the evening, Chu Yi had just finished showering and was curled up in bed playing on her phone. He walked in and asked her a question.
Are you feeling better?
Chu Yi listlessly looked up without lifting his head, and hummed in response.
"Have you taken their temperature?"
"No... I don't think I have a fever." Chu Yi was in low spirits and lacked her usual energy. Qiao Anchen thought she was not feeling well and didn't want to talk, so he prepared to go wash up.
"Oh, right." He suddenly remembered something and stopped to look at her.
Did you drink some hot water?
Chuyi: "..."
"I drank it." She hesitated for a moment, but still tried to answer calmly. Qiao Anchen didn't notice anything amiss, nodded, and went into the bathroom.
After starting work, Qiao Anchen became extremely busy, leaving early and returning late every day.
Chu Yi sulked for two days without Chu Yi noticing. He continued to do what he was supposed to do as usual. If Chu Yi's attitude was lukewarm, Chu Yi would stay silent. In this way, after a few days, Chu Yi's sulking was resolved on his own.
Perhaps time is a wonderful thing; even the greatest dissatisfaction is gradually processed and broken down until it disappears completely.
Their relationship returned to normal. On his first weekend back at work, Qiao Anchen only had half a day off. He took a nap in his room and woke up at dusk.
Chu Yi has recently been learning to cook online. Qiao Anchen is too busy with work. Although she usually eats in the cafeteria, there are always one or two days when she doesn't work overtime. She feels embarrassed to ask him to cook for himself or order takeout.
Ultimately, it all comes down to heartache.
When Qiao Anchen came out, he found that there were already two dishes and a soup on the table. They were very simple home-style dishes: braised chicken wings, minced meat and eggplant, and preserved egg, ham and bean sprout soup.
The dishes were served on plates, their vibrant colors and appealing presentation making them very appetizing. Qiao Anchen looked at Chu Yi with a sense of novelty and curiosity.
When did you learn to cook?
"Just in the last two days." Chu Yi put down the bowl and chopsticks on the table, pretending to be casual.
"Cooking isn't difficult."
Qiao Anchen smiled, nodded, and hummed in agreement. "It's not difficult, but it's very rare."
"You should try it quickly." Chu Yi was a little impatient and handed him a bowl and chopsticks. Qiao Anchen agreed.
"good."
People who cook well usually don't think that other people's cooking skills are that good, but Qiao Anchen still thought it was incredibly delicious at this moment, and he nodded at Chu Yi.
"It's delicious."
Chu Yi smiled and put some food on his plate, saying, "Then you should eat more."
Another work week has begun.
Chu Yi's meetings with Qiao Anchen were limited to the evenings. She considered whether she should get up early, but she rejected the terrible thought after only a second.
There seemed to be no difference between before and after marriage; life went on as usual, and she spent most of her time alone at home anyway.
The biggest difference is probably that it transformed her from someone who had never had a sex life into someone who did...
On Friday, Chu Yi and Cheng Li arranged to meet at the dessert shop.
This soufflé is her favorite; seeing Cheng Li is secondary, eating is the real priority.
Chu Yi leisurely finished a strawberry-filled soft soufflé when Cheng Li finally arrived. The woman pushed open the door, revealing a head of beautiful, glossy long curly hair, a tight-fitting dress, high heels, and a handbag.
She sat down opposite Chu Yi, and the two looked like an older sister and a younger sister who was still a minor.
However, the undeniable truth is that Cheng Li and she are the same age and best friends who shared a dormitory in the same university.
"Sister, how's your married life lately?" Cheng Li tossed her hair, her delicate and beautiful red lips curving into a smile, but her eyes were full of teasing.
"It's alright," Chu Yi nodded and said.
"You can rest assured. I have personally verified that Qiao Anchen did not commit marriage fraud, and I did not tragically become a wife of a gay man."
Chu Yi had just met Qiao Anchen and couldn't wait to share it with Cheng Li. She was overjoyed and excited, but Cheng Li poured cold water on her feelings.
"No... calm down first..." Cheng Li struggled to find the right words, finally managing to utter only one sentence.
"The odds of such an outstanding man needing to go on blind dates and you just happened to run into him are incredibly slim!"
"Son! You should find out more about him first. What if he's gay and trying to scam you into marriage? That would be terrible!"
Chu Yi froze instantly. Although she scolded her severely on the spot, she immediately made an appointment with Qiao Anchen after the conversation ended.
Actually, it was she who took the initiative when they first held hands and kissed.
The reason is that I want to know whether Qiao Anchen's sexual orientation is normal or not...
"Oh, looks pretty good~" Cheng Li leaned over and teased her by lifting her chin after hearing her finish speaking, but Chu Yi took her hand away.
"But marriage isn't as good as I imagined." Chu Yi said sullenly, poking at the remaining cream on the plate with her spoon.
"What's wrong? Did he bully you?" Cheng Li sat up straight immediately upon hearing this, her face serious.
"No, it's not that..." Chu Yi hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, finding it difficult to say.
"Well... you know, he's very busy with work, and I sleep in late every day, so we only see each other once a day when he gets off work, and sometimes we don't even get to say more than a few words."
"Moreover, I don't understand anything about his work, and there are many confidential things about him. We don't have many things in common."
Chu Yi lowered his head, listless and powerless.
After listening, Cheng Li rested her chin on her hand and thought for a moment before finally looking at her seriously.
“Son, Qiao Anchen was like this when you were still dating, so you should have been mentally prepared before you married him. Besides, marriage is different from dating.”
"Dating is about novelty and excitement, while marriage is mostly about life, enjoying life with your partner."
"This life may be peaceful, boring, and tedious."
“Of course—” Cheng Li changed the subject, looking at her with a sly smile.
"If you don't like it, then let's end it here. Hurry up and come back to our single elite camp. I have a whole bunch of handsome young men in my hands to make you happy every day and party every night!"
"...Thank you."
On the bus ride back, Chu Yi's mind was filled with Cheng Li's words. She understood the reasoning behind them, but reality was always too far removed from her ideals.
For example, she received another message from Qiao Anchen that he wouldn't be home for dinner.
It was like a routine business report, without any extra expressions or words. Admittedly, Qiao Anchen didn't seem like someone who knew how to use expressions, so it must have been quite rare for him to find time to send her a message amidst his busy work schedule.
However, there is some good news: Qiao Anchen finally has a holiday this week.
Before going to bed, Chu Yi discussed tomorrow's plans with him with great anticipation.
"The recent movies have been getting great reviews, do you want to go check them out?"
"Or we could go hiking. How about Xiaonanshan? There's a cable car, and the view from the top is great and it's very cool."
"Oh, how about we go shopping? I see you don't have many clothes in your closet, let's buy some new outfits?"
Chu Yi opened his eyes, waiting patiently for Qiao Anchen's reply.
"Chu Yi, we'll probably have to go home tomorrow." For some reason, under her gaze, Qiao Anchen found it difficult to speak.
"We haven't visited our parents for half a month."
"Oh, right." Chu Yi's mood immediately dropped, but she quickly recovered without any dissatisfaction.
"We should go back and see our parents. I didn't think things through; I was only thinking about having fun."
"We'll go out again when I have my next holiday." Qiao Anchen ruffled her hair soothingly, and Chu Yi's slight gloom instantly vanished. She looked at him with smiling eyes.
This was the first time the couple had visited Qiao Anchen's parents' home since their marriage. Both elders were very well-preserved. Qiao Anchen's appearance was a combination of the best features of both of them, inheriting his mother's delicate and beautiful features and his father's dignified demeanor.
Tian Wan is a very gentle person, with the tolerance and wisdom unique to older people. Her personality is completely different from Ms. Wen Fang's. She likes Chu Yi very much.
Speaking of which, Chu Yi seems to have always been well-liked by elders since childhood. She has a cute and well-behaved appearance, a lively and cheerful personality, and a gentle and mild temperament.
The four sat together, with Chu Yi and the two elders mostly talking, creating a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere. In contrast, Qiao Anchen seemed like an outsider, sitting alone to the side, unable to get a word in edgewise.
He wasn't interested in participating in the conversation, but his attention was occasionally drawn to Chu Yi as he listened to their chatter.
“Little one, next time Qiao Anchen has a holiday, I’ll have him bring you over again. Mom will make you sea cucumber soup. Tell me in advance what you want to eat, and I’ll make it for you.”
Before parting, they saw the two off at the door. Tian Wan held Chu Yi's hand, as if she were reluctant to part with her own daughter.
Even the way they address each other is clearly distinct.
Chu Yi was so moved that his eyes welled up with tears. He held Tian Wan's hand and kept rubbing his head against her shoulder.
"Thank you, Mom!"
The two parted reluctantly for a long time. Qiao Anchen stood to the side, somewhat impatient. His father noticed this and snorted softly.
"What, are you jealous?"
Qiao Anchen frowned, somewhat puzzled. "What am I jealous of?"
Mr. Qiao snorted again, "Jealous that Chu Yi is more likable than you, brat? You've been like this since you were a child. Luckily, Chu Yi doesn't mind and is still willing to marry you."
Qiao Anchen: "..."
Plans never keep up with changes. Next week, Chu Yi didn't get to eat Tian Wan's lovingly prepared sea cucumber soup because Qiao Anchen went to the countryside to visit the parties involved.
He's been working very hard lately, apparently dealing with a very difficult case. He's always working late into the night, looks exhausted, and has even become much quieter.
Chu Yi tried her best not to bother him, and time passed day by day. Before they knew it, it had been a month since their marriage.