The bath was something I never could have imagined.
The almighty, usually unyielding Dong Jingye had drawn the water himself. He infused the steaming warmth with calming, soothing essential oils, filling the room with a rich, relaxing scent.
Returning to the bedroom, he found Yin waiting, swallowed up in a plush robe. Without a word, he scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing, gently carrying her into the candlelit bathroom. He paused, his gaze softening, before slowly sliding the robe from her shoulders and lowering her into the warm, fragrant water.
"This is unlike you, Husband," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Yes, girl, say it again! I have been watching this love story unfold for at least three years, and this is absolutely not the rigid Jingye I know.
Well, they say you never truly know someone's worth until you almost lose them.
He let out a soft, heavy sigh, kneeling beside the tub.
"I know I've wronged you, Yin, and I know you have forgiven me. But I want to spend every day proving how much I love you. Words can't explain how I feel, so please... just let my actions speak."
His hands were incredibly gentle as he scooped water over her hair, wetting the dark strands. He began to wash it, his long fingers moving through her hair with a tenderness that made her heart ache.
"Mmm... so relaxing," she hummed. Her eyes drifted shut, all her defenses melting away as she leaned back against the tub, completely trusting this man with everything she had.
Finishing with her hair, he gave her scalp a slow, soothing massage before his hands trailed down to the damp skin of her neck. His hands worked absolute miracles, kneading away months of tension from her neck and shoulders.
"Mm... you're so good at this, Husband," she whispered, completely breathless.
"I'll do anything-I mean anything-to make you smile," he murmured, leaning down so close his lips brushed her skin, blowing softly into her ear.
Time paused for them. In that candlelit bathroom, it seemed as if they were the only two people left in the entire world.
Argh, love is so annoying! Especially when single-ass me is sitting here watching them... I envied everything about this, okay? Everything!
That envy aside, once he was done taking care of her in the water, he guided her gently out of the tub.
He wrapped her in a plush, soft towel, lifting her up to sit her right in front of the vanity mirror.
With agonizing patience, he blew her hair dry, the warm air stirring the sweet scent of the bath oils.
Once it was dry, he carefully worked a few drops of nourishing oil through her strands, combing it out before gathering it into a loose, effortless bun.
Then came the real torture for my single heart: he began applying lotion to her skin.
His touch was slow and deliberate, smooth hands tracking over her shoulders and down her arms, making sure every inch of her was pampered.
After completing the entire ritual, he finally slid a silky nightgown over her head. He stepped back, inspecting his work with a satisfied, deeply proud smile.
"Awww, whose husband is this cute and caring? I want to steal him," she teased, looking right into his eyes. You could see the absolute adoration radiating from her entire face.
"This husband belongs only to Yin," he purred, stepping forward to wrap his arms securely around her waist.
She lifted his chin, tilting his face up, and pressed a sweet, lingering kiss to his lips. "This is your reward for taking care of me," she smiled.
Oh yeah, I was literally smiling like a total idiot now. Forget the envy, I am fully invested.
I watched as he led her to the bed and tucked her under the covers. He took care of the lights, plunging the room into a cozy, warm darkness, before climbing in beside her.
Without a second thought, he pulled her close, making her rest her head right against his chest, right over the steady, calm beating of his heart.
Oh yeah, there was absolutely nothing else to gossip about there. I left them quietly-not like they could even hear me anyway. I shifted my focus over to the main family house...
Little Ran and Zhong were sitting right across from their grandparents, listening to old stories. But the atmosphere wasn't exactly warm.
"Grandma, why do you hate Mommy so much?" Zhong asked, his voice completely innocent, breaking the quiet room.
The older woman's expression hardened instantly.
"She's just with your father for his money," she gritted out, her teeth clenched in bitter resentment.
Beside Zhong, little Ran was already half-asleep, lying flat on her stomach while lazily sucking on her bottle. But Zhong wasn't about to let that slide.
"No, you can't say that!" Zhong defended fiercely, sitting up straight.
"Dad is the one clinging to her. They really love each other! When they had that big fight, she was the one who left him, and he had to go running just to look for her."
"I was willing to overlook everything else, but the pictures? How does she explain those?" the grandmother asked, a sharp, uneasy shift cutting through her voice.
The seven-year-old boy blinked, the accusation sparking a memory from the chaotic day Yin had packed up and left with him.
"That is AI, Grandma!" Zhong declared, seeing right through the trap.
"Aunty Fu and that other aunty asked a computer to make them. Dad is already gathering evidence to sue them for... er, what do you call it again?"
He paused for a few seconds, his little brow furrowing as he searched for the heavy word. "Defamation!"
The old woman's mouth dropped open in absolute shock, the words drying up in her throat, while the old man slowly looked down, a wave of heavy shame washing over his face.
"It is our fault," Old Dong muttered, his voice weighed down by regret. "We jumped to conclusions without thoroughly investigating."
"So... we wrongly accused Yin," the grandmother breathed, a heavy, defeated sigh escaping her lips.
"She may not be my real mommy, but I won't let anyone hurt her ever again,"
Zhong said firmly, his small voice full of absolute conviction.
"She made sure my autism was treated, and she gave me a baby sister. She's the best mom I could ever ask for."
With that final, heart-melting defense, he leaned forward to kiss his grandma and granddad goodnight. Then, he gently scooped up his sleeping little sister and carried her off to their bedroom.
The room fell into a quiet, humbled silence.
"I think... we should go and apologize to her tomorrow," the grandmother murmured, the harshness completely gone from her face.
The old man nodded slowly in solid agreement. "I think we should organize an apology package, too," he added, wanting to make things right.
They both looked at each other and nodded, finally united in fixing the mess they had made.
Author's Note
Hey everyone!
I am officially BACK! 💖
I know I had to put this book on hold for a while, and I want to say a massive, heartfelt thank you to all of you who stuck around, kept this story in your libraries, and waited so patiently for my return. Your support truly means the absolute world to me.
We are diving straight back into the drama and the romance, and things are finally heating up for Jingye and Yin (and let's be real, little Zhong is officially the MVP of this chapter!).
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Stay tuned, because the next updates are going to be wild! ✨
- Zorry Sunblaze