NOVEL NEXT Chapter 113: You're Not Allowed to Peek
Xu Xiuxiu and Song Yuanhuan traveled back home in silence, occasionally stealing glances at each other. Xiuxiu attempted to read Yuanhuan's thoughts about her borrowing money from his face or actions, but he didn't give anything away. His considerate demeanor remained unchanged, his indulgent attitude undiminished, and even when they arrived home, Xiuxiu was still unable to discern Yuanhuan's true feelings.
Mrs. Song had stewed a pot of carp soup to encourage lactation early in the morning for Xiuxiu. After finishing the soup and setting the empty bowl aside in her room, Xiuxiu looked up to see Yuanhuan standing by the wooden bed, staring intently at the sleeping boy and girl twins. Hesitant, she finally asked, "Song Yuanhuan, what do you think about me borrowing money?" As Xiuxiu spoke, her voice carried a tone of unease and guilt.
After all, she had promised not to help Xu Fangfang, yet in the end, she still lent the money out. Moreover, Xiuxiu had recently been so capricious, not taking her confinement after childbirth seriously, neglecting her son Song Chengguang to an egregious degree, and not overly concerning herself with the twins, who were meant to be nursed by her. Although Xiuxiu did miss her children dearly while she was away, she ultimately wasn't fulfilling her duties sufficiently. And yet, Mrs. Song continued to treat her very well without showing much dissatisfaction, taking excellent care of the children in her absence.
As Xiuxiu pondered, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt when questioning Yuanhuan, afraid that her misbehavior might lead to his disappointment.
This was a sensation Xiuxiu hadn't experienced in a long while, nowadays having become thoroughly spoiled by Yuanhuan. She had grown fonder of him than she had ever imagined, which was why she felt this strange fear of losing him.
"It's borrowed, and that's that," Yuanhuan replied indifferently to her question, "I had already guessed that you would lend it." Xu Fangfang may have made plenty of mistakes and wasn't a good person, but Xiuxiu and she were sisters. Now that Fangfang was truly cornered by her debts, she had received her fair share of lessons. Xiuxiu, having the capability—and perhaps also because of her obligations toward Mr. and Mrs. Xu—ultimately couldn't help but lend Fangfang a hand in the end. This was the crucial point that Xiuxiu hadn't fully considered.
"So you're not angry? The money I lent out was the personal allowance you gave to me!" Xiuxiu approached Yuanhuan and gently wrapped her hands around his sturdy waist from behind.
Even though the man was dressed warmly for winter, as she wrapped her hands around his waist, she could still clearly feel the muscles underneath. Xiuxiu's thoughts were all abuzz as she asked him.
"Not angry," Yuanhuan said as he turned around and opened his arms to embrace her. "Once given to you, it belongs to you. Whatever you do with it, I won't have any objections."
"Mr. Song, you really are wonderful," Xiuxiu said with a flattering smile as she looked up at Yuanhuan.
"Now that you know I'm good, stop being so willful and neglecting your health!" Yuanhuan took the opportunity to chide her for her capricious behavior and then added, "Did you finish all the soup?" With his thin lips slightly upturned, he glanced at her before his gaze shifted to the empty soup bowl on the small table.
"Yes, I finished it," Xiuxiu nodded. Mrs. Song said drinking more carp soup is beneficial for lactation, ensuring there is enough breast milk for the twins. After all, breastfed children are generally healthier, and supplementing with formula occasionally will ensure they grow up well.
"I'll take the empty bowl out and then bring in a basin of hot water so you can clean your body a little," Yuanhuan offered, knowing that Xiuxiu liked to be clean and, even though she couldn't take a bath right now, a quick wipe with a hot towel was still permissible.
"Alright!" Now forced to rely on just a warm towel to wipe herself, Xu Xiuxiu had to admit that this meager comfort was a rare luxury. If it weren't for the overly enthusiastic look in her eyes after watching him bathe last night, Song Yuanhuan wouldn't even have let her wipe herself at all.
Soon, Song Yuanhuan brought in hot water for Xu Xiuxiu and attended to her by her side, only handing her the towel after wringing it out.
"You go out! I can do it myself," Xu Xiuxiu really didn't have the courage to wipe herself in front of Song Yuanhuan.
"..." Song Yuanhuan didn't make a sound, nor did he move, but obviously, the gentleman had no intention of giving Xu Xiuxiu any privacy.
"You're not allowed to peek." Xu Xiuxiu, out of options, huffed with embarrassment, took the towel, and began to unfurl her clothes to wipe herself with her back to Song Yuanhuan.
"Mm. I won't look." Song Yuanhuan replied, and true to his word—he wasn't that impatient, shameless man. While Xu Xiuxiu turned away from him to wipe herself, he had no objections and continued to replace the towels for her. When she was done and handed them back, he would wet, wring them out, and hand them to her again.
After Xu Xiuxiu was almost done wiping herself, Song Yuanhuan finally took the basin and hot water out of the room, his attentiveness and patience nearly off the charts.
Taking advantage of Song Yuanhuan stepping out, Xu Xiuxiu quickly changed into a set of clothes. However, despite being out and about these past days, she had started breastfeeding the twins, and her breasts were painfully engorged with milk that wasn't being relieved, with plenty already soaking through her undergarments. She had planned on breastfeeding the boy and girl twins when she got home, but Mrs. Song, not knowing when Xu Xiuxiu and her husband would return and worried about the twins being hungry, had just fed them formula before the couple arrived. The twins were now contently sleeping after their meal! So Xu Xiuxiu's plans were thwarted, and she could not help but twist her fine brows in pain from her engorged breasts.
"What's wrong?" When Song Yuanhuan returned after putting things away, he found Xu Xiuxiu sitting on the edge of the bed, a pained and irritable look on her face, her delicate hands tidying up the twins' covers and occasionally tickling the already fair cheeks of the two children.
"Nothing!" Xu Xiuxiu hesitated before shaking her head and dismissing Song Yuanhuan's concern. With her breasts painfully swollen with milk, how could she bring herself to talk about it with Song Yuanhuan? Her face wasn't thick enough, and she dared not confront Song Yuanhuan directly.
"Xiuxiu, tell me the truth, what's wrong?" How could Song Yuanhuan not notice Xu Xiuxiu's evasive attitude? Unwilling to see Xu Xiuxiu frown, he reached out authoritatively and pulled her slender waist towards him, her slender back now pressed against his chest.
"I said it's nothing! Why do you have to pry! Can't I have my own little thoughts?" Xu Xiuxiu retorted, lifting her hand to slap away Song Yuanhuan's arm around her waist in protest. The occasional overbearing nature of this man truly annoyed her.
Song Yuanhuan was unfazed by Xu Xiuxiu's force and, without loosening his grip on her slender waist, asked persistently, "Is there another issue with your family?" Song Yuanhuan's stubborn line of questioning continued.