"Hmmm… brother, you are so good at cooking. The fish smells so nice," Fu Fei said.
She made sure her voice was loud enough for Fu Li to hear, hoping she would finally put her pride aside and come apologize.
"Fu Fei, we both know Fu Li is very stubborn. Your words won't bring her back at all," Fu Teng laughed as Fu Jia only sighed.
Madam Fu had just returned with the boys.
She had gone to give them a quick cleaning at the stream since they were starting to stink.
Even I myself was beginning to smell.
"Fu Tong, Fu Teng… you both can take over from here. I'll be right back," Fu Sheng said, handing over the wok to his two brothers, who nodded in agreement.
He stood up and dusted his hands, then turned to face his mother, who was drying little Jin and little Jun with a small cloth.
"Ma… I'll be back," he said simply.
Then he cast a brief glance at me, immediately turned his face away, and started walking off.
I pouted.
My handsome husband was leaving, where to, if I may ask?
No, I had to find out what he was up to. Hehe.
Standing up, I excused myself and slowly, quietly followed Fu Sheng, sneaking after him to wherever he was going.
Fu Sheng walked for a while before stopping at a different stream.
This one was more enclosed, hidden by trees and tall bushes.
It was quiet and private.
He must have discovered it earlier when he went to look for firewood with Fu Tong after the last pile had dried out.
I quickly hid behind a thick bush, holding my breath as I watched him.
Fu Sheng looked around once, making sure no one else was there.
Then he slowly removed his outer clothes and placed them neatly on a flat rock.
Only his simple white inner garment remained.
Without any rush, he removed that as well, leaving on only his white underpants.
He folded the clothes carefully, as if it was a habit, then turned toward the stream.
He stepped into the water gently.
The cool water rippled around his legs as he walked deeper, stopping when it reached his waist.
Fu Sheng let out a quiet breath, lowering his shoulders as if the tension he had been holding all day was finally easing.
He bent down and scooped water with his hands, splashing it lightly over himself.
Hidden in the bushes, I watched silently, my heart beating a little faster.
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, Fu Sheng suddenly spoke.
"How long are you going to keep watching me?"
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
I froze for a second, then laughed awkwardly as I stepped out from the bushes.
"E-eh… you saw me?" I asked, scratching my head.
He scoffed lightly.
"I saw you the moment you started following me. You aren't as sneaky as you think you are."
He turned slightly, water rippling around him, his expression calm but sharp.
"So," he asked coolly, "what do you want?"
I avoided his eyes and kicked a small stone with my foot.
"Well… you left without saying where you were going," I muttered. "I was just curious."
Fu Sheng stared at me for a moment, then looked away.
"I came to clean up," he said flatly. "That's all."
"Oh," I replied softly.
Then, after a short pause, I added, "You didn't have to come alone, i was also craving a bathe as well"
He didn't answer immediately.
The sound of flowing water filled the silence between us.
"Some things are better done alone," he finally said.
I raised my brows slowly, then a mischievous smile spread across my face.
"Alone?" I repeated. "What do you mean, alone?"
I tilted my head. "We're already married. Why would you bathe alone?"
Fu Sheng frowned slightly, clearly not expecting that response.
"Su Long—"
But I didn't let him finish.
I began loosening my outer clothes casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, all the while watching his reaction.
Fu Sheng froze.
The moment he realized what I was doing, his eyes widened.
He immediately turned his face away, his ears turning red.
"What do you think you are doing?" he said stiffly, facing the opposite direction.
I burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! You're shy?" I teased. "You can be shy too?"
I stepped closer, still laughing.
"Aww… my husband is so shy."
Before he could say another word, I stepped into the stream with a loud splash, sending water everywhere.
The cold water wrapped around me as I laughed even harder.
"Su Long!" Fu Sheng snapped, finally turning back just as water splashed onto his chest.
I scooped water with both hands and splashed him again.
"Hahaha! You should have seen your face!"
He wiped the water from his eyes, staring at me in disbelief.
"You're impossible."
But immediately those words left his mouth. His entire body stiffened as his eyes were fixed on me, but not on my face. I slowly followed where his eyes were glued to. As I looked down at my naked self, I found my breasts all clear for him to see.
I looked back at him, but he had already turned away from me. His ears, although already red, were so red it was very obvious even at night.
I wanted to laugh at this point, but I was holding myself back. If this was going to be a typical romance scene, I wasn't going to ruin it with my annoying laughs.
The original host had never allowed Fu Sheng to have his way with her. On their wedding night, she feigned illness to avoid consummating the marriage.
Fu Sheng tried many times to approach her, but she always found one excuse or another to refuse him.
Over time, he stopped making advances. That was when he allowed her to move out and have her own quarters, so she would stop pretending to be sick every night he returned home.
It went on like that for three whole years.
The young general had never once touched his wife.
Sigh, I wondered what kind of emotions were erupting inside him at this very moment.
I smiled and slowly swam towards him, wrapping my hands around his back as I leaned towards him, my skin touching his, and I immediately felt him stiffen as well.
He let out a hoarse voice as he asked her, "What do you want?"
He asked for the third time already as i pouted and jokingly replied, "What I want, huh? Maybe a hug. So much has happened in less than 24 hours. I've found myself in a whole new place, a reality I used to read about mainly in books. I'm so exhausted."
I said, my usual cheerful self was now a little swollen.
Fu Sheng was quiet for a moment, i could hear his steady heartbeat from resting my head on his back, it was so comforting but then he suddenly turned around and pulled me in for a hug.
He held my soft back gently as my nipples pressed against his chest, yet he didn't let go and hugged me firmly. His hands gently stroked my wet hair as he whispered to my hear,
"I'm sorry for failing you."