Warm and Inviting
Yang Chen watched as Lin Ruoxi hesitated then assumed that she was just embarrassed. He laughed a little at her inner struggle. âThereâs no need to think so hard. Itâs just a simple yes-or-no answer. I donât blame your decision.â
Lin Ruoxi was at a stalemate. She didnât want Yang Chen to feel like she was avoiding him during this critical time, but she was too shy for any sort of PDA.
Finally, Lin Ruoxi gritted her teeth, then silently bent over to place the fruit tray near the flowers. She turned to face Yang Chen, her face turning red.
Yang Chen grew concerned.?
A willing person wouldnât look like this. Whatâs really going on?
Suddenly, Lin Ruoxiâs eyes welled up with tears.
She was like a flower, so sensitive, but so beautiful.
She looked so vulnerable. Lin Ruoxi gently swayed her shoulders and slender hips, her purple skirt fluttering to the rhythm. She looked every bit like the perfect rich lady she was.
Lin Ruoxi pouted her pink lips, and with a girly tone, she coaxed, âMmmm⊠Hubby⊠I donât think we should do this outside.â
Her beautiful voice pierced deep through Yang Chenâs mental fog, waking him up!
Yang Chenâs eyes widened, then he rubbed his face to make sure he wasnât dreaming.
God! What did he just witness?!
Did Lin Ruoxi just do that?!
As for Lin Ruoxi, she wanted nothing more than for the ground to open up and swallow her whole.
What was she thinking? Did she just whine like a schoolgirl in a Korean drama?!
Her face turned as red as an apple as she watched Yang Chenâs expression grow more confused by the second.
âPfft⊠Hahahahaha!!!â
Yang Chen puffed up his cheeks in an attempt to hold back his laughter, but he ultimately failed!
He laughed so hard that tears started to fall from his eyes. He rocked back and forth, slapping his leg.
âAhahahaha! Babe, yoâyouâre too funny! Hahahaha even your voice⊠Ouch! AhahahahaâŠâ
Yang Chen laughed so hard he almost fell from his chair. Lin Ruoxiâs embarrassment turned into rage. She stomped her foot, but couldnât muster a courageous face. With a crack in her voice, she protested, âYou⊠No laughing! You donât get to laugh! Yang Chen! Do you hear me?!â
Yang Chen could barely breathe. He forced himself to stop laughing, then crossed his arms. He cocked an eyebrow, asking, âWhere did you learn this move? Was it from the Korean dramas? You shouldâve called me âoppaâ instead. Wouldnât that have worked out a little better?â
Lin Ruoxi regretted everything she did, but what was done, was done. She huffed. âFine, laugh all you want. Take it as compensation for your troubles, there wonât be a second time.
âNow that wonât work.â Yang Chen shook his head, grabbing Lin Ruoxiâs wrist.
Lin Ruoxi felt Yang Chenâs warm, rough hand grab her wrist. A shiver ran down her spine.
Yang Chen stopped smiling to say, with utmost sincerity, âIâm sorry, I shouldnât have laughed. You only did it so I wouldnât get upset. Then again, you were absolutely adorable.â
A warm breeze blew across Lin Ruoxiâs cheeks. Her heart lurched at her manâs words.
Lin Ruoxi pursed her lips, her head lowered so she didnât have to look into his eyes.
Her bashful smile resembled a shy water lotus about to bloomâŠ
The two of them fell silent for a moment. Yang Chen then said, âLet me hug you. If anyone walks past, I will know. I will never put you in an awkward situation, alright?â
Lin Ruoxi didnât hesitate, only nodding placidly.
Yang Chen pulled her body closer with joy, into his solid embrace.
Since the lounge chair was longer than it was wide, Lin Ruoxi had to lie on his chest. It was perfect.
Lin Ruoxi was a little stiff. She dared not move a single muscle. Although theyâve been intimate many times before, a situation like this was a first. She could smell the sun and her man. Bliss.
Yang Chen placed one hand at the nape of her neck and the other on her hip. He didnât move them, only gently placing them there.
Under the warm sunlight, both of them looked very much at peace.
Lin Ruoxi expected Yang Chen to do something embarrassing which she had mentally prepared herself for. But after a while, Yang Chen hadnât moved an inch.
She wasnât sure if she felt disappointed or relieved. It was an odd feeling for her. She didnât understand this man.
Lin Ruoxi slowly lifted her head to look at his face, which was so close they almost touched. She realized Yang Chen had fallen asleep.
As she stared at him in silence, the corner of his lips curled upwards. His eyes were still closed as he whispered, âAre you too stunned at your husbandâs beauty?â
She rolled her eyes, still not speaking.
Yang Chenâs hand patted her back as if comforting a loved one. His lips still spoke gently, âRuoxi, Iâd always felt married life was pure. Two people who occasionally go shopping, buy groceries, some oil or salt. Sometimes even watching a movie together, or a concert, and it didnât matter if someone fell asleep halfway through. During holidays, they would roam the world, climbing mountains, go fishing, tour cities. Holding hands, they would visit all the places they had never been.
âThe feelings between a husband and wife should be warm and inviting. It could be cool and breezy too, as long as theyâre comfortable.
âJust like right now. Itâs a sunny day, and thereâs the summer breeze. To be able to take a nap with someone I love in my arms, under the sun. We donât need to do anything intimate. What we have is enough. This is enough.â
His gentle words floated past Lin Ruoxiâs ears. She blinked, then asked uncertainly, âThatâs so simple, are you sure it is enough?â
âMm,â he added. âTo me, itâs not about me needing you to do things for me. Do you think I am that obsessed with your body? Of course, Iâm not a teenager whoâd just hit puberty, nor am I a virgin who has never touched a woman. But do you really think I crave women that much?
âSince the beginning, Iâve hoped that you would change. Not change the way you treat me, but the way you treat yourself.
âDonât always work yourself to the bone, and donât keep all your worries to yourself. Donât think that itâs alright to sacrifice yourself.
âTo me, it doesnât matter if youâre not passionate like that now, or in the future. I didnât marry you for your body.
âIt matters more to me that when I wake up, I wake up to your smile and a âgood morningâ. Not the cold routine of just going to work after devouring breakfast. That you would watch TV with my mother after dinner, not hide away in your study. That you would give yourself a vacation with some friends, not working day and night for the entire year.
âI want to know that my wife has a good life after marrying me. Then, as a husband, I wouldnât have any regrets.â
Lin Ruoxi listened in surprise. She didnât notice herself tearing up.
Yang Chen caressed her long hair, took a deep breath, then continued, âTherefore, although Iâm happy you want me to be happy, donât force yourself to do anything you donât want to. Iâm not hard to please.â
Lin Ruoxiâs heart swelled with love. She pressed her cheek against his chest, muttering, âOh you are. If not why would you have so many womenâŠâ
Yang Chen was already pretending to be deaf. He looked up, then pretended to fall asleep.
Lin Ruoxi didnât expose him either. She closed her beautiful eyes and slept in her manâs warm embrace.
All their worries dissolved into emptiness.