Chapter 11: The sky turned dark, and then it lit up again

“You can choose to continue staying here alone.” Seeing her furious expression, Yi Huan simply dropped those words and turned back into the house.

“What kind of bullshit is that? You say you’re leaving me here and just leave, without a single word of explanation. For over ten days, you didn't care whether I lived or died. Now that I’ve finally managed to farm some land and found a bit of a mental pillar to lean on, you just say one damn sentence and expect me to abandon my precious things to wander the world with you? Did you even ask for my opinion, dammit? Believe it or not, I’ll send a letter of divorce and leave you to gnaw on bones by the front gate!” Su Zhirui followed closely behind Yi Huan in a rage, but then she became so angry that tears began to fall.

“For those ten-plus days, I was searching for people and looking for a place to stay,” Yi Huan replied indifferently, turning back to glance at her.

“And every evening, you came back to check on me.”

“Grain is merely a commodity, not a treasure.”

Those three short sentences immediately left Su Zhirui staring at Yi Huan in stunned silence for a long time. Fine, she admitted her heart felt much better—not just a little, but a lot. Moreover, she was now even more certain that she had been sulking for nothing. Watching Yi Huan naturally settle onto the bed, Su Zhirui suddenly swallowed hard, because that bed was far too small to accommodate two people.

“Come here.” Seeing Su Zhirui standing at the doorway like a wooden puppet, Yi Huan suddenly sat up, his brow furrowed in deep agitation and a look of displeasure.

“What?” Su Zhirui walked over fearfully. Just as she was about to voice a protest, she was suddenly pulled down by Yi Huan and pinned beneath him.

“Open your eyes,” Yi Huan breathed into her ear.

“Hey, be gentle! I worked so hard to make those clothes!” Feeling Yi Huan tugging at her garments, Su Zhirui couldn't help but cry out, her face flushing. “Can't you be a little more tender?” Pushing against the man on top of her, Su Zhirui felt an impulse to die. “Fine, fine, whatever you want.” Finally, having been teased until her whole body felt unbearably hot, Su Zhirui gave up the strength to struggle. A thought suddenly flashed through her mind: *Could this man be retaliating against me because every time I dream, I'm doing that stuff with him?*

When she woke up, it was already the following evening, and Su Zhirui’s entire body was so limp she couldn't muster any strength.

“Is it light out?”

“It’s dark,” Yi Huan answered, sitting beside her.

“Then I’ll sleep until it’s light again.” Having said that, Su Zhirui collapsed back down.

The morning of the third day.

“Is it dark yet?” Su Zhirui asked again, opening her eyes from her slumber.

“It’s light,” Yi Huan answered honestly.

“Then I’ll sleep until it’s dark.”

“...”

The evening of the fourth day.

“Is it—”

“It’s dark, and now it’s light again,” Yi Huan said, automatically finishing her sentence.

“But why do I still feel like I haven't slept at all?” Su Zhirui asked, her mind in a fog.

“...”

“Sir, please don't turn me into a sow. Let me have a good night's sleep tonight.”

After her warning, Su Zhirui finally obtained a night of peace, though it meant that once dawn broke, she would have to pack up and leave the little nest she had painstakingly arranged for over ten days.

Passing through large and small streets and walking along rugged, muddy paths, when the two finally arrived smoothly at a courtyard, Su Zhirui could only watch dizzily as Yi Huan placed all the luggage back into her hands.

“I’m leaving.”

“Come back in three days.”

“This will be our home.”

Leaving behind those three sentences, Yi Huan dashed off, leaving Su Zhirui staring blankly at his departing figure. Although she was still a bit angry that he had left her without a care in the world, at least this time he had explained how long he would be gone. It was finally some progress; she decided to let him off the hook just this once.