The first argument between Jian Xi and He Ran since they got together occurred this summer.

He Ran had returned home late after drinking with his colleagues, at 1 a.m.

When he opened the door, he found Jian Xi sleeping on the living room sofa. A single essential oil lamp was lit in the living room, filling the space with a pleasant fragrance. The warm light cast soft waves on the walls.

He Ran crouched beside the sofa and gently patted Jian Xi’s shoulder. “Wife.”

Jian Xi stirred, her sleepy eyes blinking open as she became more awake.

He Ran’s words carried the scent of alcohol. “Go back to bed and sleep.”

Jian Xi didn’t respond.

He Ran tilted his head, slouching casually as he teased, “Do you want me to carry you?”

At first, Jian Xi remained calm. “Where were you?”

He Ran replied, “I met up with Lao Zhao and the others. Things went well at the company this month—we even secured the Fuzhou route.”

Before he could finish, Jian Xi raised her voice sharply. “How do you have so many social engagements? How many times has it been this month already? You tell me!”

He Ran hadn’t expected her to get angry. After thinking carefully for a moment, he earnestly explained, “Three times.”

Jian Xi threw off the blanket, sitting up with heightened emotions. “If you don’t want to come home, just sleep in the warehouse. It’ll save on gas money. By the way, since you love drinking so much, why don’t you go grow some grapes?”

Her words exploded like firecrackers, one after another, leaving He Ran stunned.

His eyelids narrowed slightly as he tried to control his tone. “Wife, what’s wrong? Are you feeling upset? Tell your husband about it.”

“Tell you what?! What’s there to talk about? Do you secretly hope I’m always unhappy?”

For a moment, silence fell. He Ran pressed his thin lips together, as if sharpening a blade.

Jian Xi’s eyes still burned with anger, showing no signs of calming down.

He Ran smirked, his voice turning cold. “Why would I grow grapes? I only drink baijiu.”

Jian Xi grabbed the blanket and hurled it at his face.

He Ran barely dodged, his temper flaring from her actions. “Can’t we talk properly?!”

Jian Xi: “You’re the one who did something wrong! Why should I be the one to act nicely?”

He Ran: “I just had dinner with my colleagues tonight! I invited you, but you didn’t come. So what if I came home a little late? It’s not like I was out cheating on you! Why are you throwing a tantrum here?”

Jian Xi’s eyes immediately reddened, her throat tightening as tears welled up. “You’re being mean… so mean…”

The effects of the alcohol churned inside him, fueling He Ran’s frustration and impulsiveness. With pent-up anger, he stood up abruptly and stormed into the bathroom.

Jian Xi sat alone on the sofa.

Her tear-filled eyes stared at the tightly closed bathroom door. As she gazed, she suddenly covered her face and burst into sobs, burying her head in the blanket, her body shaking with grief.

Meanwhile, behind the bathroom door, He Ran leaned his face against it, his ear pressed tightly to listen for any sounds outside.

Oh no—there were faint sobs.

Jian Xi must be crying.

The realization instantly wiped away his earlier anger. Though he still felt a bit resentful, concern overwhelmed him.

Should he go out and apologize?

He Ran quickly bristled. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Pretend to go out and retrieve something instead?

He Ran sighed, worried. “What if she yells at me again when I do?”

After much internal conflict, he muttered to himself, “I need to prove to the heavens that I, He Ran, will not easily surrender to this inexplicable fit of rage!”

With that, he decided to tough it out for ten minutes, finish showering, and then go comfort her.

He Ran stripped off his clothes in a few swift motions, pulling off his underwear until it pooled around his ankles. Balancing on one foot, he flicked his leopard-print boxers onto the floor with a kick.

Standing under the showerhead, he was about to wash when he noticed something on the storage rack.

Behind the bottles of bathing products lay a plastic wrapper containing… a pregnancy test strip.

He Ran picked it up and instantly understood everything.

One line on the test strip meant no pregnancy.

The reason for Jian Xi’s emotional outburst was simple and direct.

Six months ago, the two had started planning for their second child, but nothing had happened yet.

He Ran wasn’t too concerned about it—he figured it was only a matter of time.

But Jian Xi’s mindset was different. When she set her heart on someone or something, she threw herself into it wholeheartedly and pursued it relentlessly.

“This wife of mine…”

Underneath the tree of wisdom, He Ran seemed to be eating the fruit of idiocy.

He quickly rinsed off, wrapped a towel around his waist, and dashed out.

Jian Xi had returned to the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

He Ran had prepared a bellyful of sweet nothings, sucking in his stomach and gathering his breath. The word “wife” was already poised on the tip of his tongue.

He raised his hand, ready to knock.

But before he could, the door creaked open.

There stood Jian Xi, looking dejected.

“Darl—”

“I’m sorry.”

They spoke simultaneously, but Jian Xi’s words came out faster, unreserved.

“I shouldn’t have snapped at you.” Jian Xi lowered her head, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

He Ran glanced down, saying nothing.

Jian Xi sincerely admitted her mistake. “I was wrong.”

He Ran’s voice was flat. “Keep pulling at your skirt like that, and soon everyone will know you’re wearing black.”

Jian Xi froze, loosening her grip slightly. In a small voice, she said, “It’s the one you bought for me last week.”

He Ran raised an eyebrow. “Nonsense. The one I bought was the lace-up kind.”

The kind tied around the hips that, with a tug, would make anyone blush.

Jian Xi’s mood remained low, her brows furrowed, looking pitiful.

Suddenly, He Ran reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms.

In a hushed tone, he murmured, “You silly goose, why are you in such a rush?”

Jian Xi’s voice quivered with tears. “So you knew all along.”

He Ran hummed in acknowledgment. “I saw it in the bathroom.”

For months, Jian Xi’s tightly wound anxiety unraveled at his gentle words.

“I didn’t mean to feel this way, but it’s been so long… Why can’t I get pregnant? Is there something wrong with me? I’ll go get checked again tomorrow.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” He Ran scolded softly. “What nonsense are you thinking? Mengmeng is already over two years old. What could possibly be wrong with you?”

“Then why haven’t we—”

“It’s probably because I haven’t been trying hard enough,” He Ran said with a dismissive laugh.

This technically meaningless reassurance made Jian Xi sniffle.

How much harder could he try? During their most intense moments, Jian Xi had hidden all the belts.

He Ran couldn’t help but feel exasperated.

Jian Xi said, “I know it’s not good to feel this way, but I can’t help being anxious.”

“First of all,” He Ran cleared his throat, his heart swelling with pride, “the fact that you want to have my child makes me deeply grateful as a man.”

“Second,” he continued, “husband wants to tell you that having children isn’t something you can force. When it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, getting worked up won’t help.”

He Ran thought for a moment, a plan forming in his mind. “When the baby is born, I’ll beat him up a little extra for you.”

He pretended to look fierce, performing for the air. “Brat! All the tears you made your mom cry today—you owe them back to me!”

Jian Xi let out a soft chuckle, finally smiling.

He Ran’s focused expression was incredibly handsome and charming.

Looking at her, he teased, “Now that’s how beautiful you are.”

Jian Xi pursed her lips, lowering her head, still feeling guilty.

“To be honest, I don’t care that much about having kids.” He Ran shifted positions, lying on the bed with his head resting on Jian Xi’s lap.

“I’ve got thick skin and not much sensitivity. You’ve drained all the tenderness I ever had. Sometimes, I feel like I’m turning into a teenage boy again.”

He Ran clicked his tongue, absentmindedly stroking the inside of Jian Xi’s thigh. “This texture… unbeatable.”

Jian Xi: “….”

He Ran continued, “So fundamentally, in this complicated world, the person I want to spend my life with is you—and only you. Everything else—money, fame, children—all of that is just extra value beyond you.”

He Ran whistled playfully. From the very beginning, he’d already sorted things out clearly.

“Jian Xi, as long as you live with me, that’s all that matters.”

You brought warmth to my life when I needed it most, and with your unwavering passion and love, you’ve turned my once barren existence into something rich and fulfilling.

He Ran licked his lips and reached up to caress her again.

Jian Xi shifted slightly, remaining silent.

He Ran, lying on his side, couldn’t see her expression.

“What’s leaking?” He Ran frowned, touching his face—it was wet.

Realizing what it was, he looked up to see Jian Xi’s face streaming with tears.

“Oh my god, wife, are you playing the role of a faucet tonight?” He Ran extended the index finger he’d just used to wipe her tears and wiggled it teasingly in front of her.

“I just licked it—your sweetness runs deep; even your tears taste sweet.”

“You’re the faucet,” Jian Xi sniffled, pretending to pout as she lightly swatted at him.

He Ran grabbed her hand and smiled. “You really are like one—a faucet that’s both tight and full of water.”

Jian Xi: “….”

She didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

He Ran was astounded by his own crude imagination.

Goodness, he couldn’t think like that anymore—if he did, things would heat up again.

Resting his head on Jian Xi’s lap, He Ran propped his legs up and suddenly said, “Jian Xi.”

“Hmm?”

“There’s something on your face.”

“Huh?” Jian Xi tried to push him away to look in the mirror.

He Ran stopped her. “Don’t move. Lower your head a bit—I’ll take a look.”

Obediently, Jian Xi followed his instructions.

“Lower… a little more. Let me get it off.”

“Okay.”

Without giving it much thought, Jian Xi lowered her head further.

In this position, her waist bent downward too. He Ran suppressed a victorious grin. Slightly lifting his head, he leaned toward Jian Xi’s face and planted a soft kiss.

After shamelessly stealing the kiss, he solemnly commented, “Not bad. The skincare cream you put on today smells nice.”

Jian Xi was wearing a silk slip dress that clung to her when damp.

He Ran glanced at her face. “Wife, do you really not love me?”

Jian Xi: “….”

He Ran suddenly sat up and flipped over, pinning her down.

“Damn, Lu Hanxiao must’ve bought fake alcohol today. Why does it feel like I’ve become a Weeble-Wobble?!”

Jian Xi dodged his approaching lips. “You were having a company gathering. What was he doing there?”

“Maybe he has a crush on me,” He Ran teased mischievously. “Today, your husband is in a great mood. Let me show you what a storm feels like.”

Jian Xi’s hand struggled toward the bedside cabinet.

He Ran panted, kissing her while asking, “What are you reaching for?”

“India… Indian… Indian miracle oil.”

“Your damn grandpa.” He Ran nearly lost his drive.

Jian Xi whispered softly in his ear, “Aren’t you my grandpa?”

He Ran’s heart melted into mush. “Wait, tonight I’ll show you something different.”

He quickly got up, jumped off the bed, and opened the wardrobe.

Half a minute later, He Ran selected a navy-blue tie and gently covered Jian Xi’s eyes with it.

“Husband…” The sudden darkness made Jian Xi slightly nervous.

He Ran took out an elegant paper bag and began pulling items from inside.

He had already become sworn brothers with the owner of the store at the mall—all purchases were discounted at “brother price.”

Jian Xi’s sharp ears caught the faint sound of vibration. “What’s that?”

He Ran leaned down and whispered, “Wife, I love you so much.”