Xue Dongting coughed lightly, causing Song Yuming to open his eyes and look at her. She really wanted to change out of her damp clothes, but she was bashful to speak up. She dithered and dithered, but it was really annoying to be in damp clothes. Blushing, she said, âI want⌠to change.â
Song Yuming looked at her. âYouâll catch cold.â
âThen⌠Then I can change under the coversâŚâ
He smiled. He was helpless against this stubborn little wife. âWhere are your clothes? Iâll get them for you.â
Xue Dongting thought for a moment. Her clothes were in the trunk, but she was embarrassed to have a man rummage around in her underwear. âIâll get them myself,â she said quickly.
Song Yuming frowned. âNo, you must be careful about catching cold!â He saw her eyes flit to the red trunk at the end of the bed so he threw off the covers, slipped on shoes and lit the lamp and went to the red trunk.
Xue Dongtingâs whole face was flushed. She watched him rummage around for a bit, then he brought her something and asked if this was what she was after.
She saw it was her undergarments, but her unmentionables were wrapped in a little bundle, so he probably didnât see them. And she couldnât very well deny that these were it, so she went âMmâ and reached out to take them.
Song Yuming put them under the quilt. âGet under the covers, itâs cold.â
Whether from her fever or from embarrassment, Xue Dongtingâs face was flushed crimson. Her pretty, watery eyes were captivating.
Not to mention the fact they were in a coastal border town far from the capital. Out here, Xue Dongting was a consummate beauty.
A beauty like her coyly stretched out in Song Yumingâs bed was bound to give a fisherman some enchanting ideas, but he remembered his little wife was still weak so he had to smother that kindling fire within. Oh it was not easy!
Xue Dongting noticed the mysterious way he looked at her and she got nervous. âBlow out the lampâ she said softly. âDonât waste oilâŚâ
Song Yuming shook his head, his eyes faintly smiling. âIt doesnât use regular oil, itâs burning whale oil. It will burn a long time.â
Having failed that attempt, Xue Dongting had to think of another way to distract him. While she was thinking, the fisherman reminded her, âHurry up and change.â
Her brows furrowed slightly, somewhat embarrassed. She grumbled to herself, this fisherman looks good-natured, but he really isnât at all.
While she was lost in thought, Song Yuming climbed in under the covers and looked down at her.
She flinched. âI⌠Go on out for a minute.â
Song Yuming looked blankly toward the door. âGo where?â
Xue Dongtingâs whole face was red. âI havenât changed yet.â
He nodded. âI know,â he said warmly.
She frowned. I know? He was doing this on purpose.
She didnât know what to do, but she heard the fishermanâs voice gentle in her ear, âRelax, I know youâre sick. Iâm not going to do anything.â
She stopped short. She had already married this fisherman, what was she so on guard for? For the rest of her life she was destined to be his. No matter how he treated her, thatâs how it was.
She went âMmâ and undid her buttons and grabbed the clothes already warmed under the covers and didnât even wear the little undershirt, but just quickly put on her gown. She did it quickly, but it felt like it took forever.
Song Yuming gulped. Looking at his bashful little wife, he reached out and pulled her to him, letting her rest against his chest.
Xue Dongting didnât object, she obediently lay there like a meek kitten.
Song Yuming whispered, âDongting, I know youâre scared of that intimate man-woman stuff, and thatâs made you all uneasy. That kind of thing must come willingly, so I wonât force youâŚâ
Her lips curled up into a smile at that. She gently closed her eyes, feeling more at peace than ever. That night she slept soundly.