Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Learning How to Get Along as a Couple (1)

There was a faint tremble in Lin Jianqiu’s voice, but it was laced more with a resolve that had pushed through her confusion.

She summoned the greatest courage of her life and looked directly into Chang Jia’s turbulent eyes.

Chang Jia’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The smell of alcohol on him seemed to have faded slightly, but his gaze was still unfocused.

He looked at the hand Lin Jianqiu had reached out with—the hand that was now gripping his arm tightly.

Then he looked at her eyes, which were brimming with confusion, and finally let out a heavy sigh.

Chang Jia’s voice was thick with exhaustion as he said hoarsely, “…Let me rest for a bit.”

He gently pulled his arm from her grasp. Although the movement lacked its earlier force, it still carried a sense of distance.

Lin Jianqiu watched Chang Jia leave, frozen to the spot.

The spark of courage that had just ignited in her heart felt as if it had been doused by a bucket of cold water.

The feelings of being wronged and lost surged through Lin Jianqiu once more.

’Brother Jia won’t tell me… so what am I supposed to do?’

「Early the next morning,」 Lin Jianqiu was already pacing outside Su Tang’s courtyard gate, sporting two dark circles under her eyes.

Her heart was in a turmoil. After tossing and turning all night, she had finally decided to find Su Tang.

At this point, only Su Tang could help her.

Su Tang’s words from yesterday echoed over and over in her mind.

Especially the part about wanting an attentive and caring wife who could understand his heart.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt Su Tang was right. And the more she thought, the more she felt… a wife like Su Tang was truly wonderful.

Finally, the courtyard gate opened.

Su Tang walked out, dressed in a well-fitted, light-colored floral-print outfit.

Her hair was loosely tied up, revealing a fair neck. She looked as fresh and bright as a flower beaded with morning dew.

She was holding an enamel mug, on her way to get some soy milk, when she looked up and saw a nervous and uneasy Lin Jianqiu.

Su Tang was on the afternoon shift today; she had two surgeries to perform.

So she had to preserve her energy for the morning.

“Sister Qiu’er?”

Su Tang was a little surprised, but then understanding dawned on her. A warm, knowing smile spread across her face.

“So early? Come on, come in and sit.”

“N-No, that’s alright, Tang.”

Lin Jianqiu quickly waved her hands, her voice barely a whisper. “I… I just wanted to say a few words. I won’t keep you.”

Su Tang didn’t insist. She placed the enamel mug on the stone block by the door.

She leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed naturally over her chest. Her posture was relaxed and poised. “Alright, go ahead.”

The morning light fell on Su Tang, outlining her in a soft, golden halo.

Looking at her confident and poised demeanor, Lin Jianqiu felt a powerful surge of envy.

’It’s like Su Tang was born knowing how to talk, how to act, how to be with someone like Lu Xiao.’

’Not like me, so clumsy and awkward I don’t even know how to be close to my own husband.’

“I… I was up all night thinking.”

Lin Jianqiu took a deep breath, her fingers nervously twisting the faded hem of her clothes.

“You were right. Brother Jia… he’s probably feeling wronged. It’s my fault. I’m too rigid…”

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, thick with nasality as if she were about to cry.

“But… but I don’t know what to do, Tang. The rules I learned growing up all taught me to be that way. I’m afraid if I do something wrong, I’ll just make him angrier and make him think I’m not a good wife…”

She looked up at Su Tang, her eyes filled with hope and a hint of timidity. “Tang, can… can you teach me? Like… like how you are with Brother Lu?”

The moment she asked, Lin Jianqiu’s face flushed beet-red.

In her eyes, this was almost like asking about the most private of matters.

Seeing her look so envious yet lost—so desperate to change but with no idea how—made Su Tang’s heart ache with a soft pang of sympathy.

She took Lin Jianqiu’s hand and felt how sweaty her palm was.

“Sister Qiu’er, don’t be anxious.”

Su Tang’s voice was gentle yet firm, carrying a power that could soothe the soul.

“Saying you want to be ’like Lu Xiao and me’ isn’t quite right. Every couple has their own way of being together. There’s no fixed mold.”

She paused, her eyes bright and sincere.

Su Tang was actually quite happy about Lin Jianqiu’s change of heart.

At least it showed that Lin Jianqiu had truly listened to what she’d said yesterday.

“The key is, you first have to ask yourself: do you want to be close to Brother Chang? Do you want him to be happy? Do you want your life together to have flavor and warmth?”

Lin Jianqiu nodded forcefully, her eyes reddening again. “I do! I… I actually… I also want him to smile at me like he used to, to… to hold my hand…”

By the end, her voice was almost inaudible.

“That’s the spirit!”

Su Tang patted the back of her hand encouragingly.

“Having that ’want’ is the first step. Rules are rigid, but you live your life for yourself.”

“Between a husband and wife, as long as you’re not going against your conscience or hurting anyone, you should do whatever makes you comfortable. Who cares what other people think?”

Thinking of Lu Xiao, a sweet smile bloomed on her lips unconsciously, and her whole expression brightened.

“Look at Lu Xiao and me. We love being affectionate. When I’m happy, I’ll even jump up and hang on his neck! He might complain that I’m being a handful, but do you see him push me away? He holds on tight!”

“What’s wrong with that? We’re a couple. Being loving and affectionate doesn’t bother anyone, does it?”

Just as she was speaking, the courtyard gate was pushed open again. Lu Xiao was back from his morning exercise.

He was wearing an army-green undershirt, with beads of sweat still on his temples. The lines of his muscles were sleek and powerful.

Lu Xiao spotted Su Tang and Lin Jianqiu by the gate. His gaze landed on Su Tang first, and his expression instantly softened into a silent, smiling warmth.

“What are you talking about, standing at the gate?”

Lu Xiao walked over and naturally raised a hand, using the pad of his thumb to wipe away a smudge of dirt she’d gotten on her cheek.

The gesture was intimate, practiced, and full of tenderness.

“I’m teaching Sister Qiu’er how to ’break the rules’.”

Su Tang looked up and smiled at him, her tone tinged with a little pride.

Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lin Jianqiu, who was standing beside them, looking a bit dazed.

He didn’t ask any more questions, just reached out and gently squeezed the nape of Su Tang’s neck, his deep voice laced with affection.

“Always full of ideas, aren’t you? Now stop talking and go get the soy milk before it gets cold.”

He picked up the enamel mug from the stone block, but his eyes never left Su Tang.

“I know, I know, you worrywart!”

Su Tang shot him a playful glare, but her eyes danced with sweet affection.

She turned back to Lin Jianqiu and said, “Sister Qiu’er, see? This is ’breaking the rules.’ You keep the other person in your heart, show you care when you want to, get close when you want to, openly and without hesitation. Isn’t that great!”

Lin Jianqiu gazed at the perfect pair before her.

Lu Xiao was tall and straight, his gaze focused solely on Su Tang, filled with a silent indulgence.

Su Tang was charming and vivacious, but in Lu Xiao’s presence, her usual confidence was softened by a sweet, girlish coyness.

An aura flowed between the two of them, one that no outsider could penetrate.

The image was seared into Lin Jianqiu’s mind, making her heart burn with envy.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep