His face turned bright red. How could he let his wife help him undress? He twisted his body, trying to escape Niley's grip.
Niley let out a soft chuckle. Seeing her unhappy, Mier didn't dare to move again. He turned his head away from her, but the feeling of her hand on him became even more intense.
The next second, he felt a wave of heat spread through his body, making him unconsciously lean closer to Niley's hand.
Realizing this, Mier was overwhelmed.
"Wife… wife…"
He whimpered softly, body trembling. With teary eyes full of longing, he looked at Niley.
Then, his hands were suddenly released. As soon as he was free, he couldn't help but wrap his arms around Niley's neck.
Niley didn't say a word and just quietly looked at him.
Her gaze made Mier's face flush even more.
"Wife…"
After teasing him and suddenly letting go, Mier felt extremely wronged. Tears welled up quickly in his eyes.
"Tsk," Niley clicked her tongue and wiped his tears, then pulled him closer.
Men in this matriarchal world were all fine, except they cried too much.
She really couldn't handle this kind of tear attack!
"Why are you crying? You'll have more reason to cry in a bit."
As she spoke, she lowered her head and bit Mier's ear. While he was dazed, she slipped off the troublesome clothing.
Just when her hand was about to go further, she was stopped.
She looked up at him in surprise.
After all, he had just taken the initiative.
"I-I'll do it myself."
See? He was the one being forward.
Niley looked at him with a teasing smile.
Mier was so embarrassed by her open stare that he quickly turned around to keep undressing.
There was no way he'd ask his wife to leave now!
But as he turned, the pale skin of his back was fully exposed to Niley. His skin was covered in scars, old and new, even his arms bore them.
Her eyes darkened. In her heart, she cursed Jiang Yu for being heartless—and decided not to act like a good person anymore, either.
"Once you finish, go straight into the bath. I've put the bathing supplies by the side," she said. "Be careful not to touch the wounds."
She turned to leave, but the next moment, she was tightly hugged from behind.
His body trembled, and he said nothing, just held onto her.
A long while passed. Just as she was pushing down all the wicked thoughts in her mind, a choked voice came from behind.
"Wife… do you… do you dislike my body?"
She didn't need to look to know those marks were all from beatings with sticks. He thought she didn't mind… but maybe he was wrong.
After all, what kind of woman would enjoy seeing scars on her man? That would ruin the mood.
Thinking this, he let go of Niley and started picking up the clothes from the floor.
Niley sighed and quickly reached out to stop him.
"Mier, how old are you this year?"
She blamed herself for being tempted by his looks—but now things couldn't be undone.
Mier felt upset, but he didn't forget that she had paid money for him. So even if he was sad, he still mumbled, "Nineteen."
Nineteen.
An adult already.
"That's enough then."
Mier lowered his head and quietly began putting on clothes, but his ears stayed alert, listening to Niley.
Before he could think more, he was suddenly lifted into the air.
A deep, charming voice sounded by his ear, "You're already undressed. What's the point in putting it all back on?"
He was shocked, staring at Niley in disbelief.
"Hmm?" Niley leaned close to his ear and asked, "Want me to help you bathe?"
"W-wife!"
He quickly waved his hands and refused, only to meet her teasing smile.
"You should take care of your own things. And since you're mine, I'll wash you myself."
Before he could respond, she carried him straight into the bathtub.
Mier wasn't an ignorant boy. His father had taught him about these things, and he had even read picture books. Still… just now, she seemed unwilling.
But for him, this was also a good thing.
He held tightly onto Niley's clothes like a shy bird, lowering his head, and when he accidentally touched something soft, his face turned beet red.
When Niley said she would help him bathe, she really meant it. As she washed him, she explained how to use the modern bath products.
At first, Mier was shy and uneasy, but slowly, he grew curious.
After using the bath gel she mentioned, his whole body was covered in bubbles, only his head sticking out. That discomfort slowly faded away.
Everything in her home was strange and new to him. Especially this thing called a bathtub. Back home, he only had a small basin to bathe in. His eldest brother would bathe first, then they'd reuse the water in turns.
He had never felt this comfortable before.
Earlier, he had eaten a whole bowl of fine rice—not a single grain of coarse rice—and lots of meat too. Something he could never have imagined in the past.
It was all thanks to her.
His wife was so good to him that he suddenly felt selfish. He wanted to keep her all to himself.
But when he thought of his brothers, he felt guilty.
"What are you thinking?" Niley asked, scooping him out of the tub and wrapping him in a towel before carrying him to the bed.
"Thinking about you."
Mier's words slipped out as she interrupted his thoughts, his eyes fixed on her as she moved.
She smiled, leaned over, and kissed his lips gently. "So obedient."
Then she handed him a dry towel. "Wipe your hair. I'm going to take a quick shower."
Niley washed up fast and returned to find Mier sitting there obediently waiting for her, which melted her heart completely.
"Why didn't you cover yourself with the blanket? What if you caught a cold?"
It was still winter when she arrived in this world. Even though the New Year had passed, the weather hadn't warmed up yet. The heater was on, but nights were still cold.
As she spoke, she pulled the blanket over him.
Mier pouted and stopped her hand. "I thought you liked it."
He looked down at the towel barely covering his body. He didn't expect her preferences to be this unique.
Niley: …
Okay, she admitted she did it on purpose.
But him saying it out loud like this—he really wasn't shy at all anymore.
Well, they had already bathed together, after all.
"I do like it. Especially when you wear just this, Mier."
She moved closer, tugging at the towel.
Even though she had seen him several times, her heart still pounded.
Mier blushed deeply and quickly shut his eyes. "Wife, the candle…"
"You don't want me to look?" Niley sounded a little disappointed.
But seeing him so embarrassed, she still blew out the candle.