Xu Yi was still young, and sleeping with a woman before marriage wasn’t proper. While he might not refuse, he would find it difficult to accept.
Xiao Lian stood next to Su Xi, saying, “I want to sleep with my brother.” Being able to sleep next to him was good. Since her arrival, she hadn’t slept beside him, and when they were younger, they often did. The bed would be messy in the morning, with sweat and strange things his brother never let her see or ask about.
Jin Yu frowned slightly, sighing inwardly. Looking at Xiao Lian seriously, she said, “Don’t kick the blankets at night, don’t disturb others’ sleep, don’t press on Su Xi’s belly, and don’t get up in the middle of the night…”
Xiao Lian felt conflicted. There weren’t so many rules when she used to sleep with her brother. What if she wet the bed?
“Did you hear me?” Jin Yu asked, her gaze sharpening.
Xiao Lian’s small shoulders trembled as she shrank behind Su Xi. “Too many rules…”
Su Xi felt awkward after hearing these instructions. Having experienced much since childhood, he wouldn’t easily cause problems. Even pregnant women in ordinary families would help with heavy work. He could do it too.
Now, he wasn’t allowed to touch anything heavy or carry a copper basin in the morning. Su Xi placed his hand on his belly, smiling, “I’ll sleep with Xiao Lian. Nothing will happen.”
Jin Yu looked at Su Xi, her eyes softening, “Take good care of yourself.”
“Okay,” Su Xi smiled, “I’ll take care of myself and the baby.”
Xiao Lian pouted, wishing for concern directed at him. Looking at his belly, he realized it was too small to hold a baby.
Xu Yi continued to grip Jin Yu’s clothes, saying nothing. Unable to see, he listened to the voices around him.
After giving some instructions, Jin Yu took Xu Yi’s hand and led him out, carefully closing the door behind them.
Su Xi quietly watched Jin Yu leave. Xiao Lian asked, “Brother, when you sleep with her, she restricts things. Can you still sleep? Isn’t it annoying?”
Su Xi laughed, stroking Xiao Lian’s hair without answering. The restrictions were for their good.
Xiao Lian, seeing Su Xi’s silence, pouted. He still wanted to sleep with her.
Jin Yu carried Xu Yi to the room, and Xu Yi shyly allowed it.
When Jin Yu placed Xu Yi on the bed, he became nervous and shy. “Are we really going to sleep together tonight?”
Jin Yu held his delicate hand. “Although I wanted to wait until after marriage, we’re almost married now. Sleeping together for a few nights is fine. There aren’t many people who know us here.”
Xu Yi’s face blushed. “But we said we’d wait until we get home… We’re still in an inn… What if someone hears us?”
“You’re almost my husband. People will hear us at home too,” Jin Yu said, amused.
Xu Yi hesitated. “This… this is different… you… I…”
Jin Yu hugged him, stroking his uneasy hand. “Don’t overthink it. I’m not doing anything else. I just want to take care of you.”
Despite feeling somewhat disappointed, Xu Yi found the warmth of her embrace sweet.
Hua Yan watched them closely, believing that even if the couple was about to marry, the young master’s purity was important. She approached Xu Yi, looking down respectfully. “Young master, let me help you undress.”
“
Xu Yi felt embarrassed, realizing he had forgotten Hua Yan was still in the room, who had seen everything. What would Hua Yan think of him?
Jin Yu looked up at Hua Yan, “It’s not late, you should go rest. I’ll take care of things here.”
“But…” Hua Yan hesitated. Would Miss Jin take advantage of the young master? He hadn’t prepared any medicine, and there was no doctor here. What worried him most was whether Miss Jin would abandon the young master after taking him.
Xu Yi became nervous, “Let Hua Yan stay here… I’m afraid to be alone.”
Jin Yu caressed his face, then moved down to his neck, starting to undress him, “If you’re afraid, we can let him stay.”
Xu Yi blushed and grabbed Jin Yu’s hand, his voice panicked, “Hua Yan, you should go rest and come find me tomorrow…” He didn’t want Hua Yan to see or hear anything. If Hua Yan knew everything, how could he face him later? He didn’t want to lose him.
Hua Yan felt worried, “Young master, let Hua Yan stay with you, if…”
“Go rest, don’t worry. I won’t do anything to you,” Jin Yu told Hua Yan, assuring her that she wouldn’t hurt Xu Yi again. With only Xu Yi as her master, Hua Yan was allowed to continue staying with him.
As the door closed with Hua Yan’s departure, Xu Yi felt relieved that he wouldn’t be seen in such an embarrassing situation. However, as his clothes were slowly removed, he blushed and his heart raced. “Miss Jin, I… we…”
“Don’t you trust me?” Jin Yu replied, taking off his clothes and hanging them by the bed. She began removing his lower garments, “I said I won’t touch you tonight, and I won’t. We’ll be married in a few days, and then you’ll know.”
As Jin Yu removed his pants, Xu Yi’s body stiffened and trembled. “I… I understand…” he stammered, nervous about being seen.
Now in his inner garment, Xu Yi shivered from the cold. Jin Yu embraced him, helped him lie down, covered him with blankets, and then began removing her own clothes. The rustle of fabric disturbed him, and his heart raced, face heating up. He tried to distract himself, saying, “Miss Jin, I brought the wedding dress I made myself. Can I wear it when we get married? Even if it’s not as good as what the mansion makes, I put my heart into it…”
“Okay, I’m sure what you made is better,” Jin Yu replied with a smile.
Xu Yi giggled, “Yes, I also cut many ‘happiness’ characters.”
Sure, paste all the ones you cut. Our new room is big enough,” Jin Yu said, indulging him.
“But… I want to keep some to look at later,” Xu Yi said, his eyes welling with tears. “I forgot I can’t see…”
Jin Yu was stunned, realizing he was thinking about his eyes. She lifted the blanket and embraced him. “You’ll be able to see in the future.”
“No,” Xu Yi shook his head. “Let’s not see. This is good enough.” His hand trembled as it moved up Jin Yu’s clothes. “Miss Jin, can I touch your face? I want to remember you…”
Jin Yu felt warmth in her eyes and guided his hand to her face. “Yes, you can touch me every day from now on.”
Xu Yi giggled, lovingly caressing her face. “A long time ago, I never thought I’d be this close to you.”
“You are mine now,” Jin Yu said, her eyes filled with a soft smile. “When we get married, even though the people of Ten Li Town won’t be there, the mansion’s servants and workers can drink wedding wine together.”
“Yes,” Xu Yi nestled in her embrace. “As long as you’re here, it’s good.”
“There, you don’t need to worry about rumors.”
“You’re mine, and they’ll all treat you well.”
“Why? Do they all love you like I do?”
“No,” Jin Yu twirled a strand of his hair, feeling its softness. “They are from the mansion, different from the Jin and Xu households.” They should be considered her subordinates.
Xu Yi leaned his forehead against Jin Yu’s neck, thinking of his deceased father, feeling melancholic. “If only my father could see how happy I am now. I even dreamed about him today.”
Jin Yu was stunned and looked at Xu Yi with tenderness. She had investigated their father-son relationship—his father was forced to leave Shi Li Town to work hard elsewhere, sometimes unsure of their next meal. He returned only six years ago. Jin Yu gently stroked his back. “Your father can see you. He knows you will live happily.”
Xu Yi’s eyes flickered. “I think my father would be happy seeing me marry the person I love. He used to tell me not to resent, to keep loving silently and wait for happiness. Am I happy now? Will you keep me this happy?”
