"Go home?"
Lu Cheng looked at Shen Nian. When he realized that "going home" meant going back to the Lu Family's house, a wave of ecstasy washed over him.
'So, in her heart, she already thinks of that place as home?'
Lu Cheng wasn't without his doubts. After all, Shen Nian had never been particularly friendly toward him before. She had always made it very clear that she didn't want to marry him.
But now, her attitude toward him seemed to have changed drastically all of a sudden. It was impossible not to be suspicious.
But Lu Cheng didn't want to doubt Shen Nian.
Receiving this kind of treatment from Shen Nian was something he had only ever dreamed of. Even if it was all a lie, he was willing to lose himself in the illusion.
"That's right. I've been back at my parents' home for a few days, so it's time to head back. Or... you don't want to come with me?"
Shen Nian said, a hint of feigned grievance on her face.
Shen Nian had never acted so coy, not even in front of Yin Yang in her past life. But now, in front of Lu Cheng, it came out so naturally.
Even Shen Nian herself was taken aback.
"Of course not! I'll go with you wherever you want to go!"
"That's more like it. Let's go then!"
Shen Nian's aggrieved expression vanished, replaced by a smile, and she started walking ahead.
The look of shock on Lu Cheng's face hadn't faded yet. He only hurried to catch up after Shen Nian had taken a few steps.
"You carry this. It's killing me."
Shen Nian unceremoniously shoved all her luggage at Lu Cheng, her expression showing she thought it was perfectly natural. Once you act coy the first time, it gets easier and easier.
"Okay."
Lu Cheng shouldered the luggage Shen Nian had thrown to him without a word of complaint. His gaze remained greedily fixed on her, as if he wanted to burn her image into his very soul.
"Why... why do you keep staring at me like that?"
Even though Lu Cheng was behind her, Shen Nian could still feel his gaze, proof of just how scorching it was.
Hearing her question, Lu Cheng quickly looked away. Only after confirming that she wasn't angry did he look back at her.
"You're... beautiful."
'My wife is beautiful, of course. From the first moment I saw her, I couldn't look away.'
Shen Nian knew she was pretty, but her beauty had belonged to her youth. In her past life, after so much suffering, she had looked at least ten years older than her peers.
A word like "beautiful" no longer belonged to her.
Yet now, Lu Cheng's single word, "beautiful," made her heart feel both sweet and bitter.
Sweet, because of Lu Cheng's praise and the way he cherished her like a precious treasure. Bitter, because she had been so blind in her past life.
"Beautiful?"
"Mhm, the most beautiful!"
"Then... do you want to keep looking at me forever?"
"..."
Lu Cheng's eyes widened as he stared at Shen Nian, his expression one of utter disbelief.
He had only ever seen this side of Shen Nian in his dreams. He never imagined that the Shen Nian who had always rejected him would say something like this to him!
At this point, Lu Cheng could no longer deceive himself into thinking there was nothing strange about her.
"What, you don't want to?"
When Lu Cheng didn't answer, Shen Nian felt a pang of disappointment. She had thought that with how much he liked her, he would have eagerly answered yes.
"Shen Nian."
"Hm?"
Shen Nian looked up at Lu Cheng. 'This feels like the first time I've ever heard him say my name!'
'Then again, I can only blame my past self. I don't think I ever gave Lu Cheng a chance to speak to me properly!'
"Do you... really hate me?"
Lu Cheng hesitated for a long time before asking. The moment the words left his lips, his heart ached. He had always told himself that if he just treated Shen Nian well, he would eventually win her over.
But what if Shen Nian didn't care at all about how well he treated her? What could he possibly do to move her then?