Chapter Fifty-Nine: Worlds Apart

Such a sensitive topic—how am I supposed to explain it to Wang Ying? This girl, honestly, she’s already so grown, yet it seems she’s never truly been in love. I’m from the countryside, so I don’t know much about city life, but isn’t it said that few adult women in the city remain virgins? I remember a college friend once told me that there are two kinds of girls who can keep themselves in university: one is like the fierce, intimidating type that no one wants, and the other has psychological problems, which no one dares approach.

Wang Ying’s beauty is well-known; calling her one in a hundred hardly does her justice. Her figure, her face, every gesture and smile, she is perfection itself. That she could remain untouched makes me, as her husband, incredibly excited and blessed. But how do I answer her question?

“Sweetheart, it’s like this... You said you don’t want children yet, so…” My explanation feels so weak. Not wanting children doesn’t mean giving up happiness. This isn’t the era of Lady Shangguan Wan’er; there are all kinds of contraceptives now, and it has nothing to do with wanting children or not.

“Really? You’re not lying to me?” Wang Ying’s eyes searched mine, half believing, half doubting.

Seeing that she believed me, my heart leapt: “Of course. You’re my wife, I love you, I’ll always go along with you. However you want things, that’s how they’ll be.”

Wang Ying nodded, her gaze dreamy as she walked into the main room. Sitting by the stove, my mind was in turmoil. Only seven days—how should I arrange them? After these seven days, how would I explain? Could I really watch her leave in silence? The more I thought, the more confused I became. After serving the shredded pork noodles to Wang Ying, I found an excuse to leave, heading to Wei Qi’s house.

This time, Wei Qi was awake. To my surprise, Yingzi was there with him. When she saw me, Yingzi blushed and, after a polite word, hurried out. As she left, I noticed the back of her skirt seemed damp.

Good grief! What did Wei Qi do to her? Who does he really like, Yingzi or Shang Xiaoyun?

“Dachuan, has Wang Ying woken up?” Wei Qi, buttoning his shirt and chewing a toothpick, looked well satisfied, his spirit clearly refreshed.

“Seventh Uncle, what’s going on? Don’t you like Shang Xiaoyun anymore?” I remembered he was really into her.

“I do, but the gap between us is too wide, like heaven and earth, so I’ve stopped pursuing her. I know my place. Being with Yingzi feels more grounded.” Wei Qi’s dark face turned red. Seeing his disheveled attire, and recalling Yingzi’s damp skirt, I guessed he’d succeeded. I patted his shoulder: “Congratulations, Seventh Uncle!”

“No need to be so formal between men. Now, tell me—has Wang Ying woken up?”

I told him everything, including my worries about these seven days and what would happen afterward.

Wei Qi smacked his lips and agreed: seven days is indeed too short. When someone knows they only have seven days, what would they do? “Don’t worry about that now. Just be with her, make these seven days count. And let me remind you, during these seven days, you’d best help her become a woman.”

Honestly, I wanted Wang Ying to become a real woman, but with only seven days, would that be too cruel? Ah, one step at a time. “Hey, can I stop calling you Uncle? Can I call you Brother instead? We’re about the same age, it feels weird calling you Uncle.”

“No way. Affection is one thing, but you can’t mess up seniority. You have to call me Uncle. Your Second Uncle and I are brothers.” Wei Qi was adamant. I didn’t have the energy to argue, so I said, “Fine, I’ll call you Seventh Uncle. Wang Ying’s awake—should you visit her, or should I bring her to see you?”

Wei Qi shook his head. “Nephew, I’ll visit her when I have time. You should go back; she’s just woken up and needs your care. Treat her well. Seven days will vanish before you know it—cherish them.”

I thought his advice was wise, so I left and returned home. Wang Ying had finished the noodles and was washing the dishes. I hurried to take over: “Sweetheart, rest, let me do it.”

Wang Ying paused. “Why are you so good to me, darling? Isn’t dishwashing and laundry women’s work?” She stood beside me, charming and playful.

“Well, with such a beautiful wife, how could I bear to let you do chores?” I replied as I washed.

“Thank you, darling. You treat me well, and I’ll cherish you just as much.” Wang Ying took a tissue and gently wiped the sweat from my brow. I’d never truly been in love before; seeing her delicate snowy wrist, I couldn’t resist putting the dishes aside and taking her hand.

“Naughty, what are you doing? We’re an old married couple—aren’t you afraid people will laugh at us?” She glared at me, but her face was flushed with shy red.

A surge of desire swept through me, and my mind wandered. I suddenly scooped her up and ran into the bedroom. As I carried her, my cheek brushed her chest—soft and elastic, thrilling.

“You rascal, you’ve lost your mind! Why so impatient? Can’t you wait till night? What if someone comes in?” Wang Ying protested, pounding my back, but I held her tight. At last, unable to escape, she wrapped her arms around my head.

I laid her on the bed, pressing myself over her.

“Dachuan, what... what are you doing?” Wang Ying lay there, her gaze flustered, teeth biting her lip in bashful confusion.

“What else? I want to kiss my wife.” My words tumbled out, urgent and incoherent. With such a beautiful wife, what was I waiting for?

“Naughty, you can’t kiss me.” Wang Ying pushed my chin away.

My heart sank—could she still not accept me?

“Go brush your teeth. It’s early, you haven’t brushed yet after sleeping all night.” Wang Ying lay there, her breath a bit heavy, her chest rising and falling.

I’d forgotten about that. She’d already brushed her teeth, so if I wanted to kiss her, I had to be clean, too. I hurried out to the courtyard to wash up.

Not only did I brush my teeth, I washed my face as well. If it were night, I’d probably bathe. When I returned to the room, I found Wang Ying sitting there, dressed anew. She wore a white shoulder-hugging dress, the V neckline deep enough to reveal her delicate curves.

My heart pounded, and I hugged her without thinking. Wang Ying didn’t resist, letting me hold her.

“Dachuan, I... I feel a bit hot,” she said as I held her. In this summer heat, that was no lie.

“Sweetheart, if I kiss you, you won’t feel hot anymore—want to try?” I smiled inside; she was so innocent! As I spoke, I leaned in.

Wang Ying put her finger to my lips. “Dachuan, you’re lying!”

I grew serious. “No, I’m not lying. Everything I said is true. Try it and see.” At this point, I couldn’t wait any longer. I pressed forward, my lips meeting hers.

As a child of the countryside, following my Second Uncle in spirit rites since I was thirteen, I’d never truly dated, let alone kissed or held hands with a girl. As I kissed Wang Ying’s lips, my whole body trembled and I couldn’t control myself. A certain part of me sprang to attention.

What should I do? My body was burning; I wanted so badly to strip Wang Ying, to press her beneath me.

It seemed Wang Ying was inexperienced as well. We kissed, lips pressed together, but didn’t progress further.

After a while, I grew dissatisfied. My hand reached out, cupping her curves—a wonderful sensation.

We rolled together on the bed, Wang Ying not resisting but letting me explore step by step. When my hand moved to her most private place, she stopped me.

“Darling, I’m scared.”