Chapter 82: After Marriage [Sugar Rush]

At that time, no matter how beautiful the beginning of Zhu Xingyao’s dreams were, they always turned into nightmares. The ending was always her running after Jiang Tu, but he would never look back. As she chased him, she would fall and miscarry.

Talking about it now still made her feel a bit uneasy.

Jiang Tu lifted her chin, frowning slightly. “So, in your dreams, am I always the heartless one?”

Zhu Xingyao: “...”

Could it be said like that? Seeing his displeased expression, she suddenly felt like laughing. Smiling, she straddled him, leaning on his chest and whispering softly, “So, dreams are opposite. You didn’t refuse to turn around; you’ve always walked towards me, and I wasn’t pregnant either...”

Jiang Tu ruffled her hair and whispered, “Of course, it’s opposite. How could I ever let you chase me?”

It was already 1 AM, yet Zhu Xingyao seemed quite energetic. She crawled to the side, reached out to turn on the bedside lamp again, and looked at him. “Whenever I woke up from those nightmares before, I always felt terrible. Even thinking about it made me feel suffocated. I didn’t want to tell you before because I was afraid you’d feel bad too.”

After all, they weren’t planning to have children, but in her dreams, she had been pregnant countless times.

In the end, she always miscarried.

The outcome was always a nightmare.

Jiang Tu understood what she meant. He fell silent for a moment, flipped her over onto her back, and smiled down at her. “Did you dream about the process of getting pregnant?”

Zhu Xingyao: “...”

Her face suddenly flushed, and she didn’t dare look at him. “No...”

“Really not?” Jiang Tu buried himself in her neck, planting delicate kisses. Probably due to the alcohol, his body and breath were hotter than usual. Zhu Xingyao was a bit breathless. He asked again by her ear, “Then how did you get pregnant?”

Zhu Xingyao: “...”

His ears tickled when he kissed them, and his calloused hands felt itchy against her waist. She covered her ears and squirmed a few times, mumbling, “You’re so hot.” Successfully changing the subject, Jiang Tu propped himself up and looked down at her. Zhu Xingyao blushed and whispered softly, “I really didn’t dream much. I just jumped straight to being pregnant. Anyways, it definitely wasn’t as intense as your version.”

Jiang Tu chuckled and turned off the light again, pulling her close from the side. “Can’t sleep?”

“A little.” She clung tightly to him with both arms and legs.

Jiang Tu felt that she was especially clingy tonight. He closed his eyes and endured it for a while before leaning over to kiss her lips. “If we don’t do something, will you be unable to sleep?”

Zhu Xingyao paused, then realized they had been apart for more than a week. Plus, she was on her period, and there was nothing they could do. Feeling a bit guilty, she hummed, “Not at all, I’ll sleep right now...” Her body suddenly stiffened, and she whispered softly, “If you want, I can try another way...”

Jiang Tu pressed her head against his chest and sighed softly. “Let’s sleep.”

Except for their first time together, he had never let her use her hands or any other methods to help him. Held firmly by him and unable to move, Zhu Xingyao felt a bit uncomfortable. She struggled a few times in the dark and then stopped. Trying to close her eyes, she somehow drifted off into a daze.

Two days later, they started packing their luggage, preparing for their honeymoon.

Zhu Xingyao paired two sets of matching outfits according to Jiang Tu’s clothes. When he wasn’t working, he rarely wore shirts and suits. Like in high school, he preferred casual and relaxed styles. But he was naturally a good-looking man who looked great in anything.

Seeing her subtle intentions, Jiang Tu smiled.

Tang Dou jumped into the suitcase, messing up the neatly folded clothes Zhu Xingyao had just arranged. She frowned, picked him up, and handed him to Jiang Tu. “He might be hungry. Go feed him something.”

Jiang Tu took Tang Dou out, poured some cat food, and fed him several small fish treats. He called Jiang Lu, “I’ll bring Tang Dou over tonight. Mom, please take care of him for a few days.” Since Ding Yu couldn’t keep pets, whenever they were both busy and not home, they usually sent Tang Dou to Shu Xian’s place.

“Oh, then bring your sister-in-law over for dinner,” Jiang Lu, who was training, typed furiously on his keyboard.

Jiang Tu grunted and hung up.

He walked into the master bedroom. Zhu Xingyao held up two dresses, “Husband, black or khaki?”

“Khaki.” He quickly replied.

“Okay.” Zhu Xingyao took out two more sets and looked at him, “What about these?”

“Take a thicker piece of clothing. It often rains in Rome this month, and it gets cold.”

“Wearing too much isn’t photogenic...”

Jiang Tu wondered if all women were like this when they traveled. They were only going for a week, yet she packed a huge suitcase and seemed to think it wasn’t enough. He thought for a moment, took an extra jacket from the wardrobe.

Turning around to open the bedside drawer, Zhu Xingyao happened to see him stuffing three boxes of condoms into the small compartment of the suitcase.

Zhu Xingyao: “...”

Wasn’t that too many? That meant they’d be spending their days in the hotel.

Silently turning around, she continued packing her cosmetics. After a while, while he was making lunch, she secretly removed one box.

Recently, Jiang Lu had been quite busy preparing for a competition and had stayed at the club for several days. That evening, he managed to squeeze in two hours to go home. As soon as he entered, he smelled the aroma of food. Walking into the kitchen, he sneaked a piece of spare ribs, sweet-talking, “Mom, your cooking smells the best.”

Shu Xian put the fish in the pot to steam and scolded, turning around, “Don’t sneak food, wait until your brother and sister-in-law come to eat.”

“Just one piece, it won’t hurt them.” Jiang Lu leaned casually against the door chatting with her, his hands in his pockets. “By the way, they’ll bring Tang Dou over later, asking you to take care of him for a few days since they’re going on their honeymoon.”

Shu Xian happily said, “I know, your sister-in-law texted me yesterday.”

“Does my sister-in-law often text you?” Jiang Lu was curious.

“Not often, but we talk on the phone once a week and occasionally exchange a few messages. Unlike your brother’s cold personality, she has a good family background, is very pretty, and surprisingly easy to get along with.” Shu Xian sighed suddenly, feeling a bit helpless. “Everything about her is great, except for her not wanting to have children... A couple should have a child; raising only cats is useless. In old age, there won’t be anyone to accompany them.”

Jiang Lu said, “Isn’t it my brother who doesn’t want children?”

Shu Xian glanced at him, “Your brother probably says that for your sister-in-law’s sake. I think it’s her who doesn’t want to have kids. Many artists don’t want children...”

“It’s their business. Whatever they want to do is fine.” Jiang Lu shrugged indifferently, hugging Shu Xian’s shoulders to comfort her. “Don’t worry, I won’t choose the DINK lifestyle. I’ll give birth to two or three kids for you to play with in a few years.”

Shu Xian suddenly looked up at him, “Three? If your future wife really agrees to have three, you can give one to your brother for adoption.”

Jiang Lu: “...”

His mouth twitched. Why would his wife give birth to children for his brother and sister-in-law? And damn it, he was still single! Where was his wife?

Just then, the door opened, and Zhu Xingyao and Jiang Tu walked in.

Zhu Xingyao was holding Tang Dou. Jiang Lu glanced at them, and Tang Dou jumped down from Zhu Xingyao’s arms. He was frequently sent here, and Zhu Xingyao had bought him a bed placed in the corner of the living room. Tang Dou leisurely walked toward his bed.

“Mom.” Zhu Xingyao looked at Shu Xian.

Shu Xian hurriedly responded, “Oh, Little Lu, go tidy up the table. We’re about to eat.”

Jiang Tu stepped forward, “I’ll do it.”

Jiang Lu greeted his sister-in-law, “This cat grows fast. Last month when I saw him, he wasn’t this big.” He picked up Tang Dou and clicked his tongue, “He’s gained quite a bit of weight.”

Zhu Xingyao smiled and went to the sterilizer to take out four sets of bowls and chopsticks.

Seeing her delicate white hands, Shu Xian rushed over to snatch them away, “Oh, Star, go to the living room and play with Tang Dou. Don’t bother with this.”

Zhu Xingyao felt both amused and exasperated. Every time she came here, her mother-in-law wouldn’t let her do chores. She reclaimed the dishes, “It’s fine, it’s not heavy labor... Just taking out bowls. Mom, you don’t have to be so polite to me. I’ve learned to cook at home. Brother Tu taught me.”

“I just think your hands are so pretty; using them for chores wouldn’t be good.” Shu Xian smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Zhu Xingyao looked pleadingly at Jiang Tu.

Jiang Tu stood by the round table, glanced at her, and said to Shu Xian, “Mom, you don’t need to do this. Let her do whatever she wants. We’ll all be more comfortable.”

Shu Xian looked at Zhu Xingyao, smiling apologetically, “Alright, alright. I won’t be so polite anymore.”

Zhu Xingyao finally breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled, placing the bowls on the table.

Shortly after dinner, Jiang Lu had to return to the club. Before leaving, he remembered Shu Xian’s words and became increasingly frustrated. He turned to Jiang Tu, “Brother, I have something to discuss with you.”

Jiang Tu glanced at him, got up, and walked to the entrance.

The brothers stood at the stairwell. Jiang Tu was craving a cigarette. In fact, his addiction had been severe a few years ago, almost impossible to quit. After marriage, he gradually smoked less, occasionally having one.

He took out his lighter and cigarette pack, lit a cigarette, and asked Jiang Lu, “What is it? If it’s about Jiang Jinhui, forget it.”

Before Jiang Tu’s marriage, Jiang Lu had tried to reconcile him with Jiang Jinhui. But their father-son relationship had been like enemies; how could they reconcile? Jiang Lu rolled his eyes, “How could it be about him?”

Jiang Tu remained silent, waiting for him to speak.

Jiang Lu coughed lightly, “I just want to ask—are you and Sister-in-law really not planning to have children?”

“Mm.” Jiang Tu’s tone was indifferent.

Jiang Lu spoke resentfully, “You and Sister-in-law should have a child. I’m only 23, and I don’t even have a girlfriend yet! Mom told me to have more kids and give one to you guys.” He rolled his eyes speechlessly, “We don’t have a throne to inherit, so why bother with adoption? What era is this...”

Jiang Tu: “...”

He frowned, his expression slightly cold.

“Mom feels guilty about you and doesn’t say much about your matters. She just vents to me.” Jiang Lu scratched his head and added honestly, “You and Sister-in-law are so good-looking. Not having a child would be such a pity. I also want to be an uncle.”

Jiang Tu smoked half a cigarette and looked at him, “Are you done talking?”

Jiang Lu: “Done.”

“If you’re done, go back.”

He stubbed out the cigarette and walked away.

Behind him, Jiang Lu silently muttered, “So heartless.”

After entering, Jiang Tu threw the cigarette butt into the trash bin and looked at Zhu Xingyao, “Let’s go back.”

Zhu Xingyao picked up Tang Dou, gave him a kiss, and raised him to Jiang Tu’s face to rub against him, “Come, kiss Daddy goodbye. We’re leaving.”

Tang Dou obediently rubbed against Jiang Tu’s face.

Jiang Tu reached out to pet him, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Shu Xian sighed inwardly. Look! They treat the cat like a child!

That night, Li Xixi @Zhu Xingyao in a small group chat: “Is your flight tomorrow noon?”

Yao Yao Tian Shang Xing: “Yes, anything to bring?”

Lin Jiayu: “Yes.”

Soon, she sent a shopping list, all small items, easy to carry.

Li Xixi: “I don’t need anything. Have fun. I previously went to Italy for work. If it’s fun, Xiang Yang and I will go next time.”

Yao Yao Tian Shang Xing: “Actually, we’re mainly going to buy a cello. Jiang Tu said it’s a wedding gift.”

Lin Jiayu: “Thank you for providing another inspiration.”

Yao Yao Tian Shang Xing: “...”

The next noon, after Zhu Xingyao and Jiang Tu boarded the plane, she pulled down her scarf to reveal her face. Soon, passengers recognized her. Although they had been keeping a low profile recently, a few days ago, a video of Li Xixi’s proposal was taken by younger students and posted on Weibo. They appeared on the trending topics again. With frequent appearances, it was hard to forget, let alone Jiang Tu’s unforgettable face. Few men looked that good, even with glasses.

“Are you going on your honeymoon?” The girl next to them smiled sweetly.

“Mm.” Zhu Xingyao smiled warmly.

The girl glanced at Jiang Tu and said enviously, “That’s wonderful. Can we take a picture together?”

Zhu Xingyao paused, then smiled, “I can, but my husband probably won’t. He doesn’t like taking pictures with strangers or people he’s not familiar with.”

“Really can’t?” The girl looked wistfully at Jiang Tu and whispered, “I really like both of you and envy your relationship. I feel a photo together might bring me good luck in love... I haven’t met a single good partner in my twenty-some years, only bad ones...”

This reason...

It was hard to refuse.

Zhu Xingyao turned to look at Jiang Tu.

Jiang Tu glanced over, calmly saying, “Let’s take it.”

The girl quickly leaned close to Zhu Xingyao and took a few photos. Jiang Tu leaned back in his seat, glancing over.

After the plane took off, the girl chatted softly with Zhu Xingyao. Zhu Xingyao learned that she owned many houses and earned substantial income from renting them out. She was going to Italy to visit friends.

Twelve hours later, the plane landed.

It was raining in Rome. After returning to the hotel, Zhu Xingyao walked to the window and looked outside, watching the raindrops hit the glass and observing the foreign street scenes. Jiang Tu draped a towel over her head from behind, rubbing her face and hair like drying a puppy. “Your clothes are a bit wet. Take a shower, or you might catch a cold.”