A whirlwind marriage with a high-ranking official: Lights out, don't force me to take the initi

When she got home, Ye Wenxi felt completely drained. She sat on the edge of the bed and didn't move for a long time.

Lu Weidong didn't disturb her; he quickly turned on the water and started boiling it.

"Go take a bath and relax." He tested the water temperature.

Ye Wenxi nodded, stood up, her legs a little weak. She leaned against the wall and walked into the bathroom, took off her clothes, and slowly sat down in the wooden tub.

The water surface rippled gently, occasionally swaying, hitting the side of the bucket and then receding, making a very soft sound.

The hot water washed over her chest, warm and gentle, turning her skin a pale pink. Leaning against the tub, she closed her eyes and tried to seal the contents back in.

Her parents' voices, smiles, conversations, and images clung to her like seaweed, rising higher and higher the more she tried to suppress them.

She took a deep breath, tilted her head back, and rested it on the edge of the bucket.

The moisture grew thicker and thicker, creating a hazy fog. She stared at the fog as if trying to see through it to a place very, very far away.

Ye Wenxi lifted his hand out of the water, and water droplets trickled down his fingertips, dripping back into the bucket with a soft sound, one drop after another.

I don't know how much time passed, but the water started to cool down.

Lu Weidong pushed open the door, holding a glass of warm water, and handed it to him: "Have some water."

She took it and took a sip.

Lu Weidong squatted down, his palm touching Ye Wenxi's hair, his thumb stroking her forehead repeatedly, while his other hand took her hand, holding it in his palm and rubbing the back of her hand with his fingertips.

Lu Weidong reached out and tested the water temperature: "It's getting cold, let me carry you out."

Ye Wenxi nodded, let out a long breath, and stood up from the water.

Lu Weidong wrapped a bath towel around her, picked her up horizontally, but instead of heading to the bedroom, he turned around and sat on the sofa.

Ye Wenxi curled up in his arms, her legs bent, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck, her whole body curled up like a crumpled piece of paper being carefully held.

Lu Weidong put one arm around her waist and the other around her shoulder, holding her tightly as if afraid she would slip out of his arms.

Ye Wenxi buried her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his faint scent.

The tearing pain from before was gradually covered by Lu Weidong's body heat.

Lu Weidong didn't speak. He picked up a towel and dried her hair slowly, as if afraid of startling her.

The two of them stayed huddled on the sofa until Ye Wenxi's body was completely dry.

"I made braised ribbonfish. Would you like some?" Lu Weidong said softly, looking down.

Ye Wenxi finally lifted her head from his shoulder and slowly said, "Okay."

With the arrival of summer, more green vegetables are becoming available in Northeast China, giving us more options for side dishes when cooking.

Ye Wenxi noticed that Lu Weidong had a little habit when cooking fish: he would sprinkle a small handful of cilantro on top before taking it out of the pot.

She loves this dish, and her mother often makes it too.

When she was little, she complained to her mother about this several times: "Mom, you didn't put in any cilantro. Without cilantro, it's not half as flavorful. It's what brings out the aroma."

"Okay, I'll put it down next time." That's what Mom always says.

She only learned when she grew up that her mother didn't like cilantro.

Ye Wenxi has a habit when eating ribbonfish: when she's halfway through eating rice, she'll scoop a spoonful of fish broth into her bowl.

Every time, Mom would say, "Soaking in the hot springs again? It's so salty!"

"It's not salty, I like it this way."

At this time, Mom would usually pick out all the fish meat, without a single bone, and put it into her bowl, one piece at a time.

"That's enough, Mom, that's enough."

"I ate it all; the fish wasn't salty."

Even after Ye Wenxi became an adult and started working, her mother would always pick out the same things for her when she returned home for the Lunar New Year.

But after picking it up, she would add, "Mom's eyesight isn't very good these days, so she might not have seen some of the thorns. Please eat slowly."

Ye Wenxi's thoughts began to drift downwards again. She looked down and saw that the bowl contained many ribbonfish that had already been deboned.

Lu Weidong lowered his head, his expression focused, his long eyelashes drooping, and a soft light enveloped his handsome and rugged face, as if he were doing something extremely solemn.

Looking at his profile, Ye Wenxi felt the turmoil in her heart slowly subside.

She slowly reached out and stroked his face.

"Hmm?" Lu Weidong turned his head, met her gaze, and put down his chopsticks.

Seeing that Ye Wenxi didn't say anything, but just stared at him.

Lu Weidong put down his chopsticks and extended his hand: "Come, sit here."

Ye Wenxi walked over and sat in his lap. Lu Weidong hugged her and held her close.

She sat on his strong lap, leaning on his shoulder, feeling like a carefully stored object, never having to go anywhere.

Lu Weidong scooped up some rice with a spoon, placed some fish on top, and brought it to her lips: "Have a bite."

Ye Wenxi opened her mouth and ate.

Lu Weidong watched her eat, a slight smile curved his lips, and then scooped up another spoonful.

This spoonful contains a little broth, half a spoonful of rice, and half a spoonful of fish.

He knew she liked to eat like this. Ye Wenxi nestled in his arms, eating bite by bite, like a child being cared for, or like a secret thought being carefully kept.

"Wei Dong".

"Yes, I'm here," Lu Weidong replied in a deep voice.

He didn't ask "What's wrong?" or "What happened?"

His reply was just two words: "Yes, I'm here," he responded to her call.

Ye Wenxi slowly raised the corners of her mouth because of their tacit understanding.

"Dad, Mom, I'm doing very well now."

I met someone, a lover with whom my soul resonates.

In the dimly lit bed, Ye Wenxi nestled in Lu Weidong's arms, the two lying close together. Ye Wenxi leaned against his chest, her fingers unconsciously tapping the area below his collarbone, one tap at a time, as if counting his heartbeats.

"Wei Dong".

"Yes, I'm here."

"When you were nitpicking at me today, you were just like my mom." Ye Wenxi's lips curved slightly, and she drew a circle on his chest with her fingertip.

"Really?" Lu Weidong smiled and looked down at her.

"I loved eating ribbonfish rice when I was little. Once, my dad was picking out bones for me, and he missed one. I wasn't paying attention, and it got stuck in my throat. I had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night to have it pulled out. My mom gave my dad a good beating that day." Ye Wenxi said, a smile slowly spreading across her face.

"Later, every time we ate ribbonfish with rice, my dad would get nervous. He would check it again after my mom had peeled it."

"Actually, you had a very happy childhood, didn't you?" Lu Weidong lowered his head and pressed his lips against her forehead.

"Yes, I'm very happy. I'm an only child, and they've given me all their love. They're tolerant, respectful, and caring towards me," Ye Wenxi said, her fingers clenching his collar.

"So that's why you've become so outstanding and strong?" Lu Weidong said, patting her back gently with his palm.

"Actually, I'm not as outstanding as you say. Where I'm from, I'm just an ordinary person." She looked up at him, then leaned back. "On the contrary, you..."

"Me? What happened to me?" Lu Weidong asked in confusion.

"Someone like you is practically a non-existent perfect lover in our land," Ye Wenxi said slowly, touching the tip of his nose with a smile.

Lu Weidong chuckled, his face flushing slightly, feeling a little embarrassed by the compliment.

"No? What's so perfect about me? You always criticize me, don't you?" Lu Weidong turned his face away, his smile widening.

Ye Wenxi cupped his face, turned his head, and looked into his eyes:

"So perfect... even if we met a thousand times, I would still fall in love with you again."

These words struck Lu Weidong's heart with a heavy blow. Being confessed to by the person he deeply loved, their souls collided and intertwined at that moment.

Lu Weidong bent down, placed Ye Wenxi on the pillow, and supported himself on his arms on either side of her as he looked at her.

He reached out and brushed aside the stray hairs that brushed against her face.

No matter how many times we meet again, I will always fall in love with you.

"Because I know your soul."

He lowered his head and kissed her, and Ye Wenxi reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Their lips met, their breaths mingled. In the dim light, their shadows overlapped.