Slow to mature after marriage

Chapter 40 is pretty good.

Mu Siwan didn't pay any attention and turned back to continue packing her luggage.

Bo Yan sat by the window, the magazine in her hand still on one page, not turning it for a long time. Sunlight fell on her back, making that patch of skin dazzlingly white, and the small shadows in the dimples of her waist appeared and disappeared with her movements.

He shifted his gaze back to the magazine and frowned again.

He spoke slowly and deliberately after she finished tidying up.

"Are there no other styles?"

Mu Siwan turned to look at him.

"This is my favorite."

Bo Yan nodded and said nothing more.

She got up, ready to go out.

The man stood up, took the white bathrobe from the shelf, and handed it to her.

"Wear it."

Mu Siwan looked down at the bathrobe, then looked up at him.

"Now?"

"Yeah, it's cold outside."

The entire estate has underfloor heating.

She didn't call out the excuse.

She took it and draped it over herself, the light blue ribbon completely covering her, leaving only a section of her collarbone exposed.

Bo Yan glanced at it.

"Let's go."

Mu Siwan, wrapped in a bathrobe, walked toward the women's bath.

Pushing open the door, a wave of heat hit me. The hot spring pool wasn't large, with a few rose petals floating on the surface, and fruit platters and chilled drinks on a shelf beside it.

Bo Ning was already soaking in the pool when she saw her come in, and her eyes lit up.

"Sister-in-law, come quick! The water feels so good!"

Zhou Na leaned against the poolside, eyes closed, face mask on. Lin Qing sat in the shallow end, sipping her drink.

Mu Siwan walked to the edge of the pool and untied her bathrobe.

Zhou Na just opened her eyes and her gaze fell on her.

The face mask almost fell off.

"Oh my god..."

Bo Ning followed her gaze and smiled meaningfully.

"How is it? Isn't my sister-in-law's figure great?"

Zhou Na straightened the face mask and stared at Mu Siwan for several seconds.

"No wonder Brother Bo Yan married you so soon after rejecting my confession." She sighed softly. "I have no reason to lose."

Mu Siwan stepped into the water, the warm water washing over her shoulders. Even after hearing someone confess their feelings to Bo Yan, her expression remained calm and composed.

Bo Ning, however, sat up straight like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"You confessed your feelings to my brother? When?"

Zhou Na peeled off the face mask and tossed it aside.

"Just three years ago," she said, leaning against the poolside, her tone wistful. "Wasn't your family trying to find a wife for Brother Bo Yan? I've liked him for so many years, of course I have to take the initiative."

Bo Ning's eyes widened.

"and then?"

Zhou Na rolled her eyes.

"Then I made a heartfelt confession, and he said—"

She paused, then mimicked Bo Yan's lazy tone in a high-pitched voice.

"I'm sorry, but I hope my future wife will treat me with respect and courtesy, and ideally, we won't develop feelings for each other."

The pool was quiet for two seconds.

Bo Ning burst out laughing.

"Did he really say that?"

Zhou Na looked at her resentfully.

Why would I lie to you?

Lin Qing whispered from the side, "What does 'treating each other with the utmost respect' mean?"

Zhou Na glanced at her, lowered her voice, and continued to imitate Bo Yan.

"Let's all live our own lives, and don't bother me unless it's absolutely necessary."

Bo Ning laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

After laughing for a while, Zhou Na suddenly turned her head and looked at Mu Siwan.

"Sister-in-law, are you still treating each other with respect now?"

The pool was quiet for a moment.

Mu Siwan leaned against the edge of the pool, the water reaching her collarbone. She looked at the rose petals floating on the water's surface, but didn't answer immediately.

A month earlier, she could have said yes without hesitation.

Married for three years, they've barely seen each other, each living their own lives and not interfering with one another—perfectly fitting the definition of "treating each other with respect."

but now……

A hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes.

I'm starting to have some uncertainty.

Do couples who treat each other with the utmost respect really get along like this?

Bo Ning spoke first.

"How could that be?" She swam over, looking completely at ease. "My brother and sister-in-law have a very good relationship."

Zhou Na raised an eyebrow and looked at Mu Siwan.

"Yeah?"

Mu Siwan met Zhou Na's gaze, her face still expressionless.

No.

She answered in her heart.

Those were just pretenses in front of others.

Married for three years, they had barely seen each other. During his month-long trip back to China, she began fulfilling her duties as a wife, and he fulfilled his duties as a husband. They discussed things together and cooperated seamlessly.

But feelings?

That is outside the scope of the agreement.

Zhou Na was still looking at her, as if waiting for an answer.

Mu Siwan picked up the drink next to her, took a sip, and smiled.

"Bo Yan and I are doing fine."

Although no feelings developed.

But we get along quite well.

Bo Yan leaned against the edge of the pool, the water reaching his chest. Steam rose, and sunlight slanted in through the French windows, shattering into fragments on the water's surface.

Several people were soaking in the water, no one was talking, and occasionally there was the sound of splashing water.

Xu Qishan leaned against the pool wall and suddenly spoke.

"I didn't expect that, Brother Yan, you've been keeping it well hidden."

Bo Yan turned her head to look at him.

Xu Qishan clicked his tongue.

"Your sister-in-law is so beautiful, why didn't you introduce her to the brothers sooner? You've kept her hidden for three years."

Zhou Qishen nodded in agreement.

"That's right, it's been three years, and I'm only seeing him in person today."

Bo Yan didn't reply, and lazily leaned back against the pond.

His gaze fell on the water's surface, following the drifting mist for a moment before he slowly spoke.

"Who wasn't three years too late?"

It was three years late in his discovery that Mu Siwan was such an interesting person.

Xu Qishan and Zhou Qishen exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

My phone vibrated; a message popped up in the group chat.

Zhou Na posted a selfie with the caption: We're done soaking here!

Bo Ning replied instantly: Where are you guys? Have you come out yet?

Xu Qishan glanced at his phone and stood up.

"Let's go pick them up."

The group left the men's bath, walked through the corridor, and headed towards the agreed-upon location.

As I turned the corner, I ran into that group of girls.

Bo Yan paused in his steps.

Mu Siwan walked at the very edge, her cheeks flushed a faint pink after soaking in the hot spring, as if steamed from the water. Her hair was casually tied up, with stray strands falling around her ears, still slightly damp.

Bo Ning whispered something in her ear.

She turned her head to the side, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile.

It wasn't the usual distant, polite smile, but a genuine laugh. Her eyebrows curved slightly, a glimmer of light shone in her eyes, and her whole demeanor softened.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and fell upon her.

She looked up and met his gaze.

She hadn't completely wiped the smile off her face as she looked at him.

Bo Yan paused for a moment.

Warm light fell on the corner of her eyes, making the lingering smile seem to be edged with a layer of light, softer and brighter than usual.

He didn't speak, he just looked at her intently.

So that's how she can laugh.

"Brother, brother."

Bo Ning leaned closer, grinning mischievously.

You're completely stunned.

Bo Yan withdrew his gaze and glanced at her indifferently.

"What? You don't want your living expenses next month?"