bookrebus Chapter 146 Let's stay together tonight
Chapter 146 Let's stay together tonight
Su Wanwan was stunned for a moment when she heard Bai Rongbei's words.
There were only the two of them in the room. The flickering light of the kerosene lamp illuminated half of his face, while the other half remained hidden in the shadows.
His eyes were bright as he looked at her, waiting for her answer.
Su Wanwan understood what he meant.
They've been married for a while now.
When they first got married, Bai Rongbei was in poor health, and the two were strangers to each other. They lived in separate rooms, and neither of them bothered the other, which seemed quite natural.
Later, he applied medicine and massaged her, listened to her tell him the things that were weighing on her heart, and they cried in each other's arms on the roof. Then... she fell ill, and he stayed up all night to keep her company.
Some things change without you even realizing it.
The way Bai Rongbei looked at her was different from before.
It used to be peaceful, even somewhat distant.
Now it's heavy, focused, with something burning inside, hot and scalding, making her afraid to look closely, yet she can't help but want to look.
She knew what it was.
It is a man's desire for a woman.
What about her?
Su Wanwan lowered her head, her fingers pinching the edge of the bed sheet, pulling out a small roll.
She... also developed feelings for him.
It wasn't the resigned "I'll just make do" attitude I had when I first transmigrated, nor was it simply heartache and gratitude.
It's something warmer, fuller, and more unsettling.
Seeing him brings me peace of mind; not seeing him makes me miss him. When he gets close, my heart races.
I think it's because I like it.
It's the kind of liking where you want to live a good life with him.
Bai Rongbei was still looking at her, not urging her, just watching.
Su Wanwan raised her eyes, met his gaze, and nodded gently.
"Mmm," she said.
The sound wasn't loud, but the room was quiet, making the word exceptionally clear.
Bai Rongbei's eyes flickered, as if something within them was melting away.
He didn't smile, not even a slight curve to his lips, but his whole demeanor relaxed for a moment, and the tension he had been holding in dissipated.
"Okay," he said, his voice a little low.
Then he stood up, his movement a little hasty, causing the chair to move back half a step with a screeching sound. He ignored it and turned to walk out.
"I'm going to chop some firewood," he said. He had already reached the door, opened it, then stopped, glanced back at her, and said, "You lie down a little longer."
The door closed.
Su Wanwan sat on the bed, listening to the sound of chopping wood coming from outside.
Dull, heavy, heavy, one beat after another, very forceful.
She couldn't stay in bed any longer, so she threw off the covers, got out of bed, walked to the window, opened it a crack, and looked outside.
In the courtyard, Bai Rongbei had already taken off his military jacket and thrown it on a wooden stump next to him.
He was wearing only a faded military green shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
He had his back to her, clutching a long-handled axe, and was standing a thick log upright.
He had broad shoulders, and his back muscles, visible beneath his shirt, would tighten and relax with each movement, their lines clearly defined.
He swung the axe, raised it above his head, and then brought it down with a vengeance.
"Knock!"
The wood split in two and fell to either side.
He bent down, picked it up, arranged it neatly, and then raised the axe again.
The movements were crisp and clean, without any unnecessary frills.
That's what it looks like when someone is working.
As Su Wanwan watched, her face grew a little hot.
She had never really watched him work closely before.
Looking at it now, I realize that the muscles in his arms are bulging... quite muscular.
The shirt was slightly damp with sweat and clung to my back, revealing the outline of my spine.
He chopped a few more times, then, probably because he was hot, he reached up and unbuttoned two buttons on his collar, then rolled up his sleeves a bit more, revealing most of his forearm.
Then he stopped swinging the axe, turned around, and went to get another piece of wood next to him.
Turning around, I saw Su Wanwan behind the window.
The two locked eyes through the window.
Bai Rongbei stopped moving, still holding the axe in his hand.
His forehead and neck were covered in sweat, which glistened in the moonlight.
The shirt collar was open, revealing a muscular chest and faint lines extending downwards.
Su Wanwan's face flushed instantly. She tried to look away, but her eyes seemed glued to her.
Bai Rongbei looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing.
He walked over with his axe, went to the window, and looked at her through the window frame.
"What are you looking at?" he asked, his voice hoarse from finishing his work.
"No... I wasn't looking at anything," Su Wanwan said softly, but her eyes were still glancing at his open collar.
Bai Rongbei followed her gaze and looked down at his chest, then looked up at her again.
He didn't say anything, but suddenly leaned the axe in his hand against the ground, braced his hands on the windowsill, leaned his upper body in, and got close to her.
Su Wanwan was startled and shrank back, pressing her back against the wall.
Bai Rongbei's face was very close to hers, his breath hot against her face, carrying the smell of sweat and his unique clean scent.
"Is it pretty?" he asked, his eyes fixed on her.
Su Wanwan's face turned even redder, her lips moved but she couldn't say anything.
Bai Rongbei looked at her for a few seconds, then suddenly straightened up and left.
He bent down to pick up the axe, stopped chopping wood, and walked to her window. He leaned the axe against the wall, then reached out and took her wrist.
"Come out," he said, not to discuss it.
He grabbed Su Wanwan's wrist, and she walked out of the house and stood in the yard without her noticing.
A gust of night wind blew, and she shivered.
Bai Rongbei released her wrist, but took a step forward, blocking her between the window and his body.
He was tall, and he completely enveloped her in his shadow.
Su Wanwan had to tilt her head back to see him.
"You nodded just now, did you mean you were willing?" he asked again, his voice low, as if confirming something.
"Mm." Su Wanwan nodded.
"Well..." Bai Rongbei took a breath, then slowly exhaled, as if he were suppressing something, "Can we move in tonight?"
As he said this, he stared at her intently, his eyes as deep as a well, churning with something she could understand yet dared not comprehend.
Su Wanwan's heart was pounding, and her fingers curled up. She watched as a bead of sweat slid down his forehead, ran down his cheek, onto his chin, and then dripped down.
"Okay," she said.
Bai Rongbei stared at her for a few more seconds, then suddenly lowered his head and kissed her.
This kiss was different from any other.
It wasn't a soothing, nor a test; it was urgent, heavy, carrying the salty smell of sweat and an uncontrollable heat.
He held the back of her head with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist, pressing her tightly against him.
Su Wanwan was breathless from his kisses, her hand pressed against his chest, touching a patch of sweaty, burning skin. His heart was pounding wildly against her palm.
After a long while, Bai Rongbei finally released her, his forehead pressed against hers, panting heavily.
"Cook first," he said, his voice hoarse, "and send it to those two at the hospital."
Su Wanwan was also panting, her face burning hot, and she nodded haphazardly.
Bai Rongbei straightened up, glanced at her again, and then turned to the well to fetch water to wash his hands and face.
He buttoned up his shirt again, rolled down his sleeves, and transformed back into the stern-faced battalion commander, only his ears were still a little red.
The two of them cooked dinner together. They made millet porridge, stir-fried cabbage and glass noodles, and boiled four eggs.
Bai Rongbei packed the food in a lunchbox, carried it, and walked to the hospital with Su Wanwan.
We didn't talk much on the way.
As Su Wanwan walked beside him, she could still feel a tingling sensation on her lips. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, one moment of him chopping wood, the next of that burning kiss.