A hint of helplessness flashed across Qiao Anchen's face. He seemed not to understand why she was so obsessed with that hot spring, but he still bent down and lifted her out of the quilt, pulling a bath towel over her.
"Okay, I'll carry you there now."
Her body was once again immersed in the warm spring water. Chu Yi closed her eyes slightly and let out a satisfied sigh. As soon as she opened them, she saw Qiao Anchen preparing to leave. She immediately reached out and grabbed his trouser leg.
Where are you going? Aren't you going to soak with me?
"I'm hungry, I'll go order some food," Qiao Anchen replied. Chu Yi nodded and reluctantly let go of his hand.
"Then you should come back soon."
"Um."
"I'll miss you," she said wistfully. Qiao Anchen paused, then knelt down by the pool, reached out and grasped her chin, bending down to touch her.
A passionate and deep kiss ensued. Just as Chu Yi felt like she was about to suffocate and become dizzy, Qiao Anchen released her, stared at her intently for two seconds, and then leaned in to touch her lips again.
"Alright, stay here obediently."
He said in a deep voice that Chu Yi was so dizzy from the kiss that she just stared at him blankly. Qiao Anchen looked her over a few times and then suddenly smiled.
"Silly." He reached out and patted her head, then got up and left.
Chuyi: "..."
What's going on? Do men experience a surge in hormones after eating meat?
She sat there clutching her chest, her heart pounding violently.
Chu Yi took a deep breath, feeling that Qiao Anchen had gone too far in flirting with her just now.
That's absolutely outrageous!
The courtyard at night offers a completely different view than during the day. Small square palace lanterns hang from the trees in the corners, the night breeze carries the fragrance of flowers, and there seems to be the croaking of frogs. Looking up, the sky is full of stars.
However, no matter how beautiful the scenery is, it's not quite the same when you're alone. Chu Yi hadn't been soaking for long when he heard noises coming from the room outside, so he prepared to get up.
As soon as the door opened, the scene in the room came into view. Chu Yi stopped in her tracks and stared at the scene before her.
The room was filled with dim yellow light. Not far from the balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows, a table was set with food, a large bouquet of fresh roses, and lit candles. Against the backdrop of the mountain scenery, it was incredibly beautiful.
Qiao Anchen stood there, holding the cake in both hands.
Happy first birthday, Chu Yi.
He spoke softly, his gaze towards her carrying an inexplicable tenderness and affection in the lamplight. Chu Yi, her hand on the door frame, had her eyes redden in an instant.
Over the past year, Chu Yi hadn't cried when faced with the grand and romantic surprises Qiao Anchen had created. But at this moment, just one simple sentence from him brought tears to Chu Yi's eyes.
The long-standing regret seems to have been fulfilled at this moment.
Chu Yi always said that he didn't care anymore, that the past was the past, but the hopeless waiting and disappointment of that night always became a gap, which was gradually covered and buried in his heart by time.
But now, it has finally disappeared.
"Qiao Anchen, thank you." She said, trying to suppress her sobs, and went over to hug him tightly.
"Alright, alright." He patted her back with one hand, his voice gentle yet tinged with helplessness.
"Go change your clothes, you've gotten me all wet."
"I don't care, sob sob sob."
"I was holding the cake in one hand and it was about to fall."
"Ah!" Upon hearing this, Chu Yi immediately let go of him and jumped out of his arms, staring at the small cake in his right hand, covering her face with a towel with worry.
"It's okay if your clothes get wet, but the cake absolutely cannot be damaged!"
"...Alright, go quickly."
The dinner was as delicious as ever. Outside, there was a mountain view, and the night breeze created a serene and tranquil atmosphere, unlike the hustle and bustle of the city. It was so quiet that it felt as if the whole world consisted of just the two of them.
After finishing their meal and cutting the cake, Chu Yi clasped her hands together and made a wish. As Qiao Anchen softly sang her a birthday song, she opened her eyes, puffed out her cheeks, and suddenly blew out the candles.
—If wishes could truly come true, then I hope that Chu Yi and Qiao Anchen can stay together forever and ever, never to be separated.
When we're both old, with gray hair and unable to walk, we'll sit together in front of the house basking in the sun, support each other as we stroll in the park, and play with our children and grandchildren.
My wish might be a bit long. If it's not heard this time, that's okay. I'll make it again next year.
That day will come eventually.
Author's Note: I'm reluctant to end this. [Looking up at the sky]
67. Chapter 67
After returning from the hot spring resort, Chu Yi felt like she was clinging to Qiao Anchen even more. Whenever the two of them were together, she wanted to snuggle up to him.
They used to be busy with their own things before going to bed, but now Chu Yi looks at her phone and then tries to snuggle into Qiao Anchen's arms and cuddle with him before finally coming out.
He looked helpless and could only rub her head.
Chu Yi's hair has grown a lot longer, almost reaching her shoulders. It has given her a more youthful and elegant look, and she has lost her childishness. When they go out together, people don't stare at them with strange looks.
Summer has arrived before we know it, and Qiao Anchen has been coming home late more often lately. Chu Yi can't help but call or text him to ask when he'll be back.
He would reply to her when he had a spare moment, but the replies were very brief, as if he was taking time out of his busy schedule to deal with this small matter.
At the same time, his holidays have decreased. He used to occasionally have two days off a week, but now even one day off a week is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
Qiao Anchen's reason was that the procuratorate had recently accumulated a large number of cases, and this process had a time limit, which had to be completed within a certain period of time.
The decision will be made on whether to appeal or return the case for further investigation if the evidence is insufficient.
Chu Yi could understand; after all, as a party involved in the case, he must be even more anxious and restless on the other side.
Qiao Anchen was in relatively comfortable circumstances for a while, probably because things were peaceful and there weren't many cases. Now he's back to hell mode.
The two had very little time together. Qiao Anchen would go straight to sleep when he got home every night, and even their twice-weekly marital intimacy was forced to be canceled.
The burning passion of the first-year junior high school student gradually calmed down and returned to normal.
Yes, that's life.
All of the previous events were just occasional little moments of romance in life.
Don't expect it to happen every day.
The first-year students are now very well-prepared psychologically.
However, there is an obvious benefit to Qiao Anchen working overtime: she no longer has to cook every day, nor does she have to buy groceries. She can stay at home for days without leaving the house, immersing herself in the world of anime and manga.
He only chats briefly with me when he comes home in the evening.
As the seasons change, so do the clothes in my wardrobe. Many of last summer's clothes are no longer wearable, not because they're damaged or torn, but because they don't suit me this year.
On Saturday, Chu Yi and Cheng Li went shopping together. The two of them tried on some items in the mall and were very relaxed. Chu Yi saw that a men's clothing brand had discounted T-shirts. The cotton fabric felt comfortable to the touch, and the style was simple and elegant.
She picked and chose inside, picking out two white pieces for Qiao Anchen. Cheng Li teased her from the side.
"Oh my, she wears the latest styles herself, but buys discounted t-shirts for others. What a devoted wife..."
"If I don't buy it for him, he'll have to wear ripped clothes every day." Chu Yi's expression remained unchanged as she picked up the two pieces of clothing and prepared to pay.
It's been hot lately, and she hasn't been out for a long time. Qiao Anchen's t-shirts, which he often wears at home, have become thinner and thinner from washing. A while ago, a small tear appeared, but he didn't say anything. It was only discovered when Chu Yi was hanging up the laundry.
This person has nothing but work on their mind.
When they first got married, Chu Yi noticed that he would buy three or four of the same clothes, and he would restock his wardrobe about once a quarter, completely ignoring these minor details.
Normally, if something stops working, we just leave it as is and deal with it when we have more free time.
This menswear brand is pretty good. I often buy things for Qiao Anchen here. They have a lot of new styles on display, and they are all novel and attractive.
She casually flipped through the items, thinking that since she was already there, she might as well buy a few more.
"By the way, has your partner been busy lately?" Cheng Li had also looked at the rows of shirts hanging on the rack and asked her casually. Chu Yi answered as if it were a common occurrence.
"He's always busy. He's just been a bit busier lately."
"No wonder, I haven't seen you posting any more lovey-dovey stuff on social media." Cheng Li chuckled. "You're back to your stagnant married life, aren't you?"
"This is called slow and steady wins the race, don't you understand?" Chu Yi glanced at her sideways, his contempt undisguised.
"Single, dog".
"Tsk." Cheng Li stopped what he was doing and looked at her meaningfully.
"Comrade Chu Yi, I've noticed that you're quite enlightened now."
"It's alright, after all, we've been married for a long time." Chu Yi sighed slightly, feeling a pang of emotion.
"Now that I think about it, it would be quite hard to get used to if we really broke up someday. Even if I'm busy, I can only see him at night. But if I were to go out alone for a few days, I probably wouldn't be able to get used to it either."
"What? You can only fall asleep while holding your man at night?" Cheng Li wanted to roll her eyes, but held back. She really couldn't stand the way this married woman looked at her husband with such longing.
What? Does someone like her, without a husband, not have a chance to survive?
"I guess so," Chu Yi replied after a moment's thought, adding fuel to the fire.
"If you're used to sleeping with someone, you'll definitely have trouble sleeping if you suddenly find yourself alone."
"..." Cheng Li felt as if she had been shot in the chest.
"I'm sorry." She paused for a moment, then spoke expressionlessly and in a flat tone: "I've never experienced what it's like to sleep with your husband every night, so I can't understand how you feel."
Chu Yi couldn't help but chuckle, then noticed the gray shirt she was carrying out of the corner of her eye and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"What? You want to buy it?"
"Is that not okay?" Cheng Li still looked extremely hurt and answered in a less than friendly manner. Chu Yi asked curiously.
"Who are you buying this for? Your dad? This style doesn't seem to suit your uncle very well."
Cheng Li: "...Chu Yi! Don't push your luck!"
"What's wrong with me?" Chu Yi blinked innocently, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Didn't you and that university professor cut off all ties?"
A while ago, Cheng Li called her early one morning crying, saying that he had insulted someone while drunk and that he was too ashamed to face anyone again. He said he was going abroad to hide for a few days to calm down.
And now it has been exactly two weeks since she returned to China.
"..." Cheng Li selectively skipped this topic, watching Chu Yi carry a bunch of men's clothes to pay the bill. Not to be outdone, she glanced at the shirt in her hand and inexplicably felt that it suited someone very well.