Free Web NovelChapter 1012: Chapter 738: You Drank, That’s Not Okay
A lifetime together, just the two of us...
As drowsiness crept in, Shang Ruyi unconsciously whispered this phrase and slowly closed her eyes, drifting into a dream. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Perhaps it was because of those inexplicable words Yu Mingyue had just said, Shang Ruyi’s dream started off a bit chaotic. At one moment, she saw many people carrying dung, chopping wood, tilling fields, and weaving cloth. Then, she found herself in a completely unfamiliar scene, devoid of the familiar yellow earth and lush green trees, without pavilions and towers, intricately carved beams, and painted columns. Instead, there were some unfamiliar towering pillars reaching straight into the sky, adorned with glittering transparent windows, surrounded by oddly dressed people moving about.
Where is this place? And who are these people?
She was greatly surprised. The sheer unfamiliarity instinctively stirred a sense of fear within her, and a self-saving, sobering thought immediately arose in her mind—
This is a dream!
So, there is no need to be afraid!
As soon as this thought emerged, everything around her dissipated like smoke, leaving no trace. Next, as if echoing in her ears, was the phrase she had been silently reciting before falling asleep: A lifetime together, just the two of us.
This almost sweet phrase calmed her down again, filling her heart with sweetness. She even felt as if she was enveloped in a warm spring breeze, incredibly comfortable.
At this moment, a pair of familiar large hands, carrying a familiar warmth, wrapped around her, pulling her into a familiar, solid chest.
Half-asleep, Shang Ruyi opened her eyes. Perhaps due to the similarity between the dream setting and her current reality, she wasn’t startled when she woke up. She looked at the person before her with dazed eyes, noticing his smile, and the gentle touch of his arm around her waist, like the spring breeze in her dream. She couldn’t help but relax more, burrowing softly into his embrace.
Yu Wenye’s smile deepened, and he lowered his head, gently pecking the corner of her lips.
The familiar sweet taste satisfied him immensely, so as he continued to kiss, he slowly pried open her soft lips, delving deeper. Gradually, Shang Ruyi’s breathing became rapid, and she grew more awake. Unable to help herself, she let out a sticky murmur, and just before she felt suffocated, she reached out to push him away.
"No!"
Yu Wenye, caught off guard and barely balanced on the edge of the bed, nearly fell off when she pushed him.
Fortunately, he managed to regain his balance and avoided an embarrassing fall.
He couldn’t help but frown and ask, "What’s wrong?"
Shang Ruyi became a little more alert, looking at the eyes so close to hers and his warm lips. Embarrassed, she buried most of her face in the blanket, whispering, "You drank alcohol."
Yu Wenye raised an eyebrow, remembering how she had complained about the "smell" just now at Bai Fu Hall due to his drinking.
So he blew out a breath, checking himself. Fearing her disdain, he had already bathed and rinsed again just now to rid of the smell.
So he said, "There’s no smell now."
But Shang Ruyi still refused to "give in," pushing him again: "You drank. That’s not okay."
Only then did Yu Wenye realize it wasn’t about the "smell," but about his drinking. Confused, he asked, "Why is it not okay to drink?"
Shang Ruyi blushed– she was too embarrassed to tell Yu Wenye that before her marriage, her aunt Yu had shared many private talks with her, including this marriage advice: if the husband drank, it was best not to sleep together, and if they did, it was best to avoid conceiving that night.
At the time, Shang Ruyi didn’t understand and vaguely agreed, but Yu was afraid she wouldn’t take it seriously. She warned that in their village, several men drank excessively and stayed rarely sober, and their wives bore children who turned out to be dull or foolish. Those men would claim their wives were at fault, abusing or even divorcing them.
Yu angrily added, "I think it’s because of the drinking."
She sighed and told Ruyi, "Having children brings the most hardship to women. Especially since Ruyi, you’re marrying into the Duke Mansion with the previous engagement cancellation, any further mistakes could make your life there difficult. So you must bear this in mind."
However, due to her "transaction" with Yu Wenye, Shang Ruyi didn’t take it to heart.
Not until Yu Wenye rescued her from the Western Turks, confessed his feelings, and expressed his desire to have a child with her, did Shang Ruyi recall it. From then on, she not only paid attention to whether Yu Wenye had drunk before coming to her, but every time they shared intimacy, if he hadn’t overwhelmed her into sleep, she would instinctively place a cushion under her feet to avoid conceiving.
Of course, she was too shy to mention these to Yu Wenye, so she kept silent today as well.
She softly asked, "Didn’t you go over there tonight?"
Originally waiting for her answer, but instead hearing this unrelated question, Yu Wenye instinctively replied, "You weren’t feeling well, so I was worried about you."
Then, as he realized what he said, his expression grew cold. He looked at Shang Ruyi in displeasure: "Do you really want me to go over there?"
"..."
Usually, Shang Ruyi might pacify Yu Wenye, perhaps suggesting, besides herself, he had obligations and responsibilities to spend time with Chu Ruoyan too.
But tonight... perhaps due to the phrase "A lifetime together, just the two of us," she couldn’t bring herself to speak those words.
After quietly meeting Yu Wenye’s slightly angry gaze for a long time, she found herself inexplicably shaking her head, then reached out to wrap her arms around his waist, pressing her soft body against his. She felt his body stiffen, seemingly surprised and "honored." Facing his astonished eyes, Shang Ruyi softly said, "No."
"..."
"I still wish for you to be by my side."
"...!"
This time, Yu Wenye was truly "honored."
He even lightened his breathing, as if fearing a deeper breath or a heavier heartbeat would be loud enough to wake this moment’s dream. After a while, he raised his hand to embrace Shang Ruyi, pressing his palm firmly against her back. Feeling her warmth through the cloth made it all real, and he took a deep breath, tentatively asking, "What’s gotten into you today?"
