If I don’t act like a beast, this girl probably will never look back.
At least now, she is willing to lie in his arms.
But having been scolded, Lu Ziyuan obediently withdrew his hands and did not continue to tease.
He tightened the girl in his arms and smiled: "Sleep, Wanwan, when you wake up, you can see your parents."
This was not a lie.
The next day, Xie Wanqing opened her eyes, the space beside her was already empty.
After a night of hard work, the person who exerted the most effort had already gotten up at some point, leaving only her lying there, feeling as if she’d been run over, aching and weak.
Xie Wanqing was secretly annoyed, thinking about seeing her parents, she couldn’t continue to lie down no matter what, so she supported herself on the bed and tried to get up.
Just as she sat up, the door was pushed open from the outside.
Someone entered, looking energetic, smiled at the girl on the bed, "Awake?"
"Go," Xie Wanqing pouted, "Call someone in to assist."
Lu Ziyuan closed the door and smiled, "Why call someone when I can help you myself."
He had long wanted to help his wife get dressed.
Xie Wanqing didn’t refuse, slowly slipped off her night clothes, leaving on just a lotus-colored undergarment, stretched her hand out to him.
On her delicate collarbone were traces he left from last night.
Finger marks adorned her exposed waist.
And on her back...
Lu Ziyuan’s eyes darkened slightly, and he chuckled, "You’ve grown bolder."
Before, this girl wouldn’t have dared to stand in front of him like this.
Xie Wanqing glanced at him, "Hurry up."
"...Okay." Lu Ziyuan lowered his head, pecked her cheek, and began to dress her piece by piece.
Her legs were still sore; Xie Wanqing rested her forehead against his chest for support and asked, "When will my dad and mom enter the palace?"
While buttoning her clothes, Lu Ziyuan worried she would feel stifled, and occasionally tilted her chin, "They’ve already arrived."
Stunned, Xie Wanqing asked, "When did they get here, why didn’t you wake me?"
After not seeing them for years, her parents came while she was asleep; what an improper display.
"What’s the rush," seeing her rushing out, Lu Ziyuan held her shoulder, pulling her back, continued dressing her, "They’re happily holding their grandson, it’s okay if you go later."
"...Ran’er came over?"
"Yeah," finishing the last button, Lu Ziyuan smiled, "At least let you have a good night’s sleep."
Apart from the daughter they hadn’t seen for years, only the grandson they’d never met could truly bring joy to the Xie family’s old couple.
They had known their daughter had a child early on, always wondering about this grandson ever since.
Lu Ziyuan brought the child over early in the morning.
Now seeing each other, the grandparents and grandson are immensely joyful.
Xie Wanqing contemplated this, hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t help saying, "Don’t resent my parents and brother for helping me hide the truth from you... They were only listening to me..."
"Understood," Lu Ziyuan glanced at her, breezily said: "You’ve made such a big sacrifice; what is there for me to resent?"
Xie Wanqing: "..."
Thinking of last night, her face flushed slightly, awkwardly said, "It’s not really a sacrifice."
...
The sleeping chamber fell silent for a moment.
Realizing what she meant, Lu Ziyuan’s eyes narrowed, a faint smile on his lips.
Look, she’s grown sensible indeed...
He gently embraced her, whispered in her ear, "Don’t tease me, Wanwan, if you intend to go out."