Why was he reluctant to part? Qin Ke was not some clueless blockhead, and even if he hadn't personally experienced it before, with how developed the online world had been in his previous life, how could he fail to notice his own changes?
At the beginning, he truly had only felt pity for her and wanted to make amends on behalf of the original owner of the body. But as time passed, with them together day after day, he cared for her, and she, in turn, did everything she could to look after him.
He hadn't even noticed that his clothes were torn, yet she had seen it, sitting by the bed with her head lowered as she mended his clothes for him.
Qin Ke would never forget the sight that greeted him when he pushed the door open and saw that scene. A warm current surged through his chest, his eyes grew hot, and his nose stung. He lifted his head and blinked, forcing the heat back down.
He had grown accustomed to early independence and had never had a good relationship with his family. After starting work, he had armored himself completely. Whatever he needed, he fought for it himself or bought it himself. But now, there was someone who would mend his clothes, someone who waited at home for him every day.
He showed a childlike side in front of her and even acted coquettish toward her, simply because she indulged him in everything he asked. In a way, it was she who had spoiled him into being like this.
Every time she said "alright" with an expression that seemed helpless yet indulgent, his heart brimmed with joy and satisfaction.
To the point that he couldn't imagine what he would do if one day she were to leave his life.
No—he couldn't let her leave him.
He would treat her well, so well that she wouldn't be able to leave him. He believed that in this world, no one could do better than he could.
But was she truly unmoved by him? Qin Ke stared at Lu Youqing's beautiful, expressive eyes. Her features were delicate, her eyes brimming with emotion. Every time she looked at him, they seemed as deep as though she were gazing at a lover.
Qin Ke touched his chest, feeling his heart pounding violently. No wonder he had fallen—who could remain unmoved when looked at so deeply by such a pair of eyes?
"Um… go to bed early. Don't stay up copying books at night—it's bad for your eyes," Qin Ke said, averting his gaze. Otherwise, he was afraid he'd be too nervous to speak.
"I know. You say it every day. I won't forget," Lu Youqing replied with a gentle smile.
Since she had taken on the book-copying work, this exchange happened almost every day. Qin Ke reminded her tirelessly, as if afraid she might exhaust herself. How could she be tired? Compared to what they did, she was only writing characters.
Yet she didn't find it annoying at all. Instead, it felt warm.
With nothing more to say, Qin Ke scratched his head reluctantly and said, "Then go to bed early. Good night."
"…Good night." Lu Youqing didn't understand why he said "good night" to her every evening before sleeping, but over time, she gradually got used to it.
Yes—this was their first night in the new house. Lu Youqing had chosen the innermost bedroom. Qin Ke stood at her door for a moment, dazed, before returning to his own room.
Lying on the bed, feeling how unbearably empty it was, Qin Ke turned over irritably. He had slept alone for more than ten years before—how was it that after just a few months, he was no longer used to it?
He wondered whether Lu Youqing felt the same way.
He tossed and turned for half the night before finally falling asleep. As a result, when he woke up, Li Nanqiao had already finished all the household chores. Seeing the neatly stacked pile of chopped firewood by the wall, Qin Ke realized that at this hour, Lu Youqing still hadn't gotten up.
After a quick wash, he knocked on her door softly. "Wife? Are you awake?"
After a long while, her voice came from inside. "I'm not feeling well today. You should go about your work first."
Her voice sounded weak. How could Qin Ke feel at ease? He knocked again at once. "What's wrong? Do you need to see a doctor? I'm coming in."
Before Lu Youqing could stop him, Qin Ke had already pushed the door open.
He hurried over and saw her lying on her side on the bed, one hand pressed to her lower abdomen. Her face was pale, with a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead.
Qin Ke was all too familiar with this posture. He crouched by her bed and asked gently, "Is it your period?"
Lu Youqing let out a soft "mm." Though she was surprised that he knew about such things, the pain in her abdomen left her no energy to think further.
Thinking back, Qin Ke realized this wasn't the first time she'd had her period since they'd been together. But in the past months, he had either been busy building the house or occupied with spring plowing, leaving early and returning late every day. By the time he got home, he was so exhausted that he collapsed into bed. He hadn't paid attention to her cycles at all.
Secretly blaming himself for his carelessness, he took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Noticing how icy her hands were, he guessed her condition of cold womb wasn't something that had developed overnight.
"You should go out," Lu Youqing said weakly, yet stubbornly trying to send him away.
A woman's menstrual period was an extremely private matter. Even between husband and wife, it was treated with taboo. In her memory, whenever her mother was indisposed, her father wouldn't even step into her courtyard, instead going to a concubine's quarters.
Qin Ke thought for a moment, then got up and went out to find Li Nanqiao. Li Nanqiao was watering the flowers in the courtyard. When she heard Qin Ke's question, her face flushed red, and she looked at him with a strange expression.
Well—he was a man now. A grown man asking an unmarried girl about menstrual supplies really wasn't much different from acting indecent.
It was only because Li Nanqiao knew him well and understood he wasn't that kind of person. Otherwise, anyone else would've already hit him.
"It's like this—my wife is uncomfortable because of her period. Could you help go in and see what she needs?" Qin Ke hurriedly explained.
Li Nanqiao let out an understanding "oh." That made sense. She silently marveled at how much he cared for Madam Qin and once again thought how well-matched the two of them were. Setting down her tools, she went inside.
Qin Ke turned and went to the kitchen, found a piece of old ginger, sliced it on the cutting board, and boiled brown sugar ginger tea. Thinking that she hadn't eaten breakfast yet, he also cooked some millet porridge.
He kept the porridge warm on the stove, then carried the freshly boiled ginger tea into the room for Lu Youqing.
When Qin Ke entered, he noticed that Lu Youqing had already changed her clothes, and even the bedding had been replaced. The soiled clothes were tossed into a corner of the room.
He pulled over a stool and sat by her bed, helping her lean back slightly as he said, "I made some brown sugar ginger tea. It probably doesn't taste very good, but it should help a little."
He ladled out a spoonful with a porcelain spoon, blew on it, and once he judged it cool enough not to burn her mouth, brought it to her lips. "Drink slowly."
Seeing how tender and intimate they looked together, Li Nanqiao tactfully picked up the dirty clothes and left to wash them.
With only the two of them left in the room, Lu Youqing felt a little more at ease. She pressed her lips together and drank the tea as he guided her.
Neither of them spoke. The room was filled only with the soft sounds of the spoon touching the bowl. One fed, the other obediently drank, until before long, the entire bowl of brown sugar tea was finished.
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Currently at chapter 130 for advance chapters
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