Chapter 193: Tempting Gu Tingxiao
Her grandparents would be cooking around this time anyway, since they had to deliver a meal to Sheng Wanze at the hospital later.
The timing was perfect for everyone to have some. The spiritual spring water Wanyan had mixed into the broth would do wonders for Sheng Wanze’s injuries.
Tasked with the delivery, Gu Tingxiao carried the container of pig’s trotter soup across the lane. After he called out from the courtyard, Grandma Sheng came to open the door. Seeing him there, she immediately invited him inside.
“Xiao Gu, what brings you over? Come in and sit for a while.”
“Grandma, I won’t come in,” he replied evenly. “Wanyan made this soup. It’s been simmering all afternoon, so please take it.”
Hearing this, Grandma Sheng immediately tried to decline. Her granddaughter had already brought over precious fruit that afternoon, and now she was sending a rich, meat-heavy soup. How could the young couple afford to be so wasteful?
“Oh, that won’t do. Your brother and sister-in-law already have food provided. You’re injured too, so you should take this back to rebuild your own strength.”
“Grandma, we have plenty at home. This is for you.”
Grandma Sheng was stubborn, but Gu Tingxiao was even more unyielding. In his mind, any task assigned by his wife had to be executed perfectly. Because he spoke with his usual blank, deadpan expression, Grandma Sheng actually felt a little intimidated.
She knew her grandson-in-law was naturally distant and cold, but when he got serious, he could look truly terrifying.
“Alright, alright, I’ll take it,” she relented quickly. “You’re still recovering, so hurry back and rest!”
Gu Tingxiao nodded and turned to leave.
Knock, knock, knock.
Before Grandma Sheng could even walk back inside her house, she heard another rap on the door. She opened it to find Gu Tingxiao standing there again.
“Xiao Gu, did you forget something?”
Gu Tingxiao simply stared down at the container in her hands. A wave of panic suddenly washed over Grandma Sheng. Was he upset that his wife had given away their food?
She had always worried about this. It wasn’t right for a married granddaughter to constantly subsidize her maternal family with such expensive items. If her husband took issue with it, how would Wanyan ever maintain her standing in the Gu family?
Grandma Sheng’s heart pounded as her mind raced with anxious thoughts. She tentatively extended the container, offering the pig’s trotter soup back to him.
Gu Tingxiao’s brow furrowed slightly. “Grandma. The container and the basket. I need them back.”
“Oh! Oh, of course! I’ll go empty them right now.”
Realizing she had completely misread the situation, Grandma Sheng felt a hot flush of embarrassment. She silently scolded herself for letting her imagination run wild. Xiao Gu was such a good, dutiful man; how could she judge him based solely on his stern exterior? It was entirely uncalled for. At her advanced age, she shouldn’t be harboring such cynical thoughts. She felt too ashamed to look him in the eye.
Grandma Sheng quickly transferred the soup into her own cookware, returned his basket and container, and offered him a warm, apologetic smile. “Slow down on your way back, Xiao Gu. Mind your wounds.”
Gu Tingxiao nodded, took his things, and headed back home to report his success to his wife.
Sheng Wanyan had absolutely no idea that her husband’s brief errand had nearly frightened her grandmother to death. If she had known, she definitely would have given him a stern lecture on his facial expressions.
When Gu Tingxiao walked through the door, he handed her the empty basket and looked at her expectantly, like a loyal dog waiting for approval.
“Wanyan, I completed my mission.”
Seeing him practically begging for a reward, Sheng Wanyan smiled, stood on her tiptoes, and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
Gu Tingxiao’s eyes instantly lit up. There are perks like this? If he had known ahead of time, he would have pivoted his head to catch her right on the lips.
“There’s your reward. Now go fetch the bowls and chopsticks so we can eat.”
“Right away, honey.”
Gu Tingxiao’s steps were slightly unsteady as he floated toward the kitchen, feeling a bit lightheaded with joy. Sheng Wanyan found his reaction hilarious. For a terrifying military captain, he was entirely too easy to please.
After dinner, Gu Tingxiao walked out to the well to haul water so they could heat it for his bath. Sheng Wanyan washed the dishes and stacked them on the bottom tier of the drying rack to drain.
Since he couldn’t bathe properly with only one functional hand, Gu Tingxiao stood by the tub, looking at her with an undisguised, pleading gaze.
“Wash yourself,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “You managed just fine by yourself last night.” Why was he suddenly helpless today?
“Wanyan, I can’t reach my own back.”
Sheng Wanyan sighed. Defeated, she stepped into the bathroom to help him. Because he couldn’t risk getting his bandages wet, Gu Tingxiao stood in the washbasin wearing nothing but his shorts.
Warm water cascaded down his back, tracing the hard lines of his tapered waist, his sculpted glutes, and his powerful thighs. A single kerosene lamp illuminated the room, casting a dim, amber glow over his incredibly athletic silhouette.
Sheng Wanyan subtly swallowed hard. This is entirely too tempting.
“Wanyan, you can scrub a bit harder,” his voice rumbled.
Her pulse gave a sudden leap. Hearing him speak in that low register within the steamy, confined space made it incredibly difficult to keep her thoughts innocent. Snapping herself out of her daze, she furiously resumed scrubbing his back. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and began silently reciting a mantra to clear her mind, desperately trying to suppress the unbidden thoughts taking over her brain.
The moment she finished, she threw down the towel and bolted out the door. The mental mantra wasn’t working fast enough; her only option was to physically distance herself from the suffocatingly intimate atmosphere.
Gu Tingxiao watched her hasty retreat, a slow, smug grin spreading across his face.
Deep into the night, Sheng Wanyan stirred, dreaming that a heavy snake was slowly coiling around her body. When she opened her eyes, she realized Gu Tingxiao was hovering over her. Terrified for his recovery, she immediately tried to push him away.
“What do you think you’re doing? You’re injured, you—mmph!”
Gu Tingxiao effectively cut her off with a deep kiss. She froze, not daring to push him too forcefully out of fear that his massive chest wound would tear wide open.
“Wanyan, my other hand works perfectly fine,” he murmured against her ear, his voice low and raspy. “Don’t worry. I won’t make you do any of the work.”
His breath sent a shiver down her spine, but Gu Tingxiao had underestimated his wife’s sheer willpower. Though her senses were clouded by his touch, a stubborn thread of rationality remained intact.
“No. Absolutely not until you’re fully healed.”
“Wanyan… it’s been almost a month.”
Sheng Wanyan remained completely unyielding. Seeing the absolute determination written across her face, Gu Tingxiao realized he wouldn’t be getting the main course tonight. He would have to settle for just a little taste of soup to satisfy his cravings.
The next morning, Sheng Wanyan woke up with her muscles aching, an intimate reminder of exactly how much “soup” Gu Tingxiao had managed to sneak.
By the time she dragged herself out of bed, Gu Tingxiao had already walked to the cafeteria to fetch breakfast. He set down a fresh mug of malted milk for her, looking up with a thoroughly practiced expression of pure contrition.
“You’re sleeping on the floor tonight,” Sheng Wanyan snapped, her tone sharp with irritation.
Gu Tingxiao fiercely resisted the idea of banishment. When it came to sharing a bed with his wife, he possessed an infinite amount of shamelessness. He immediately flashed a bright, placating smile, doing everything he could to coax her back into a good mood.
“How about I rub your back for you tonight, Wanyan?”
“Get out.”
“Can’t do that.” His rejection was lightning-fast and entirely without shame.
Sheng Wanyan felt as though she had thrown a heavy punch into a bale of cotton—the impact was completely absorbed, leaving her with nowhere to direct her anger. Left with no other choice, she gave him the silent treatment for the rest of the day, eventually grabbing her bicycle and pedaling off to the hospital to visit her brother.
When she arrived at the ward, she encountered Pan Yue carrying a fresh breakfast container. Sheng Wanze looked up guiltily at the sight of his pregnant wife constantly bustling back and forth for his sake. It made him want to force a premature discharge just so she wouldn’t have to strain herself any longer.
“Wanyan, you’re here,” Sheng Wanze greeted her. His complexion looked significantly improved today, a healthy touch of color finally returning to his face.
Wanyan noted the change with satisfaction. It seemed the spiritual spring water from yesterday’s pig’s trotter soup had already gone to work. If she could find a stealthy way to get her brother to consume more of it, he would be out of this hospital bed in no time.
“How are you feeling today, Brother?”
