She Smelled Like the Commander

"Welcome back."

In the living room, Keqing and Fu Hua, who had been sitting on the sofa watching TV, rose almost simultaneously and came over to Ye Ming. One on each side, they took the things from his hands.

Laffey, following behind Ye Ming, seemed to have caught the scent of danger. She quietly took a step back, blinking as she watched Ye Ming get sandwiched between Keqing and Fu Hua. Hugging her snacks, she did not say a word.

"These two bags were so heavy. Carrying them all the way up nearly exhausted me. My hands are sore."

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As if he had not noticed the strange atmosphere at all, Ye Ming rubbed his palms and then proceeded to direct the two women without the slightest hesitation.

"Keqing, one of the two bags you're holding has ingredients, and the other has the daily necessities you asked me to buy. Put the necessities in the bedroom. As for the ingredients, no need to put them in the fridge—just leave them in the kitchen. I'll cook them in a bit."

Then he turned to Fu Hua. "Since this is a rare get-together, I specifically bought two bottles of red wine. If I remember correctly, Fu Hua, you drink, right? A little tonight should be fine, shouldn't it?"

Without waiting for Fu Hua to respond, he added, "Of course, it's fine if you don't want any. I bought juice too, so you can pick whatever you like later."

The two women held their bags and exchanged a glance, neither of them moving.

Ye Ming frowned and urged them, "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and put the stuff in the kitchen. I'm going to wash my hands, then I'll start cooking."

Having said that, Ye Ming went into the bathroom without waiting for either woman to respond.

Ye Ming dawdled in the bathroom for three or four minutes before coming out. When he did, he found Keqing and Fu Hua already sorting the ingredients in the kitchen, while Laffey was lazily leaning against the sofa, hugging an unopened bottle of red wine as she watched TV.

Ye Ming took a deep breath, entered the kitchen, and began chasing them out.

"Out. Both of you, go rest. I said I'd be cooking this time, so just go relax outside."

With one hand on each girl's arm, Ye Ming pushed them toward the door. At the same time, he casually said, "There's plenty of time ahead. If either of you wants to show off your cooking skills, you'll have plenty of chances later."

Hearing that, Fu Hua froze for a moment and gave Ye Ming a deep look. That look made him feel a little guilty.

"I asked Yae Sakura and Okita Souji. They said they'd come over for dinner tonight. But Ye Zi, are you prepared?"

Fu Hua stared at Ye Ming meaningfully. "Cooking for six isn't easy."

What six? Aren't there just the three of us? Oh, and Laffey. Four people.

Ye Ming grumbled to himself before giving Fu Hua a smile. "There's nothing to be done about it. If everyone wants to come eat, I can't exactly turn them away, can I? Otherwise, wouldn't the people who don't get to eat go hungry? A meal I owe has to be repaid, and responsibilities that should be carried have to be carried."

"Luckily, I'm healthy, and my cooking isn't bad either. Making a few extra portions might be tiring, but as long as I put my heart into it, I can make food that suits everyone's tastes. At least no one will go hungry."

"I hope so."

Fu Hua took the initiative to leave the kitchen.

Keqing remained where she was, unmoving.

"Um, Ye Ming..."

Keqing hesitated.

"What is it?" Noticing Keqing's expression, Ye Ming comforted her. "Don't worry. Fu Hua is actually pretty easy to get along with. You'll understand once you spend more time together."

"No, I wanted to tell you that the company is giving us tomorrow off, so you don't need to go in. As for me, I need to take advantage of the break to visit headquarters, so I won't be able to stay with you for the time being."

"A day off? Why? It's not the weekend or a holiday, so why are they giving you time off?" Ye Ming asked curiously.

"There might be business adjustments coming up," Keqing answered. Then, before Ye Ming could ask anything else, she took the initiative to hug him and said guiltily, "I'm sorry. We only just started living together, and I..."

At that point, Ye Ming could only pat Keqing on the back and comfort her. "It's okay. We still have a long time ahead of us. There's no need to care too much about a day or two."

"Alright, since you're going on a business trip tomorrow, go get some rest. I can cook by myself."

Ye Ming pushed Keqing out of the kitchen. "Oh, and keep an eye on Laffey for me. Don't let her sneak any wine."

"Mm." Keqing agreed and left the kitchen as well.

After sending the two women away, the kitchen immediately felt much more spacious.

Ye Ming let out a quiet breath, rolled up his sleeves, and began preparing the ingredients.

Time always passed quickly when one was busy. By the time Ye Ming had finished stir-frying all the dishes, an hour and a half had passed, and night had fallen. At some point, Yae Sakura and the pink-haired girl named Okita Souji had arrived in the living room. The women were sitting on the sofa, watching TV and chatting. The atmosphere was much better than when there had only been Fu Hua and Keqing.

Seeing this, Ye Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief and carried the dishes out of the kitchen.

"Alright, time to eat. Laffey, go wash your hands. Fu Hua, Keqing, come help me bring out the dishes."

Perhaps Ye Ming's talk with Fu Hua had worked. Or perhaps Yae Sakura and Okita Souji, as outsiders, had helped ease the atmosphere. Maybe it was simply because Laffey, secretly sipping red wine at the table, was too adorable. In any case, the meal was quite pleasant. Ye Ming did not feel any strange tension, and because everyone chatted so happily, he never found a chance to probe Okita Souji's identity.

Even after dinner ended, Ye Ming had not managed to say much to Okita Souji. He only vaguely learned that she came from some ancient swordsmanship family in Japan and practiced the famous Tennen Rishin-ryu swordsmanship of the Bakumatsu era. He had no chance to ask anything else.

After dinner, he saw Yae Sakura and Okita Souji off. Then he carried the satisfied, deeply sleeping Laffey—who had successfully snuck quite a bit of red wine—onto Fu Hua's bed and tucked her in. As Ye Ming stood up, he suddenly noticed that Fu Hua had entered the bedroom at some point and was watching him from behind.

Ye Ming smiled. "You must be tired too, right? I'll head out now. Hurry and get some rest—you still have work tomorrow."

With that, Ye Ming started toward the door.

"Ye Zi, Keqing is leaving on a business trip tomorrow, right?"

Just as Ye Ming reached the bedroom door, Fu Hua suddenly spoke.

"Yeah. Hm?" Ye Ming became alert. "What is it?"

"Nothing. Get some rest early. See you tomorrow."

Fu Hua's tone was calm.

"Uh, see you tomorrow."

Ye Ming walked out of the bedroom, closed the door, and let out a deep breath.

A man's keen instincts told him that something might very well happen tomorrow.

Ye Ming was not an idiot, but precisely because he was not an idiot, he found it a little strange.

His wife had barely left on a business trip, and then at home...

Wasn't that a little inappropriate?

Chapter 64: She Smelled Like the Commander

After leaving Fu Hua's bedroom and turning off the living room lights, Ye Ming finally returned to his own room.

The bedside lamp was on. Keqing had already changed into her pajamas and slipped under the covers.

They had already done what needed to be done, so there was nothing to avoid. Ye Ming took off his clothes, changed into pajamas, and got under the covers too.

Keqing lay on the bed, her head turned toward Ye Ming, saying nothing.

Ye Ming turned to look at Keqing as well, feeling something strangely wonderful.

Come to think of it, this was his first time sharing a bed at home with a girl he was officially in a relationship with. When he reached out, there was no longer cold empty air beside him, but the warm body of a girl. It felt rather nice.

"Keqing."

Ye Ming held the girl's body and called her name.

Keqing did not speak. She merely curled into Ye Ming's arms, pressing her face to his chest and quietly listening to his heartbeat.

So Ye Ming stopped speaking too. He simply held her, felt the warmth of her body, and closed his eyes.

The girl's shallow breaths were close by his ear. Listening to Keqing breathe, Ye Ming gradually relaxed as well.

On the first night they truly lived together, Ye Ming lay in bed holding Keqing, surprisingly without much desire.

Ten minutes later.

"Do... do you want to?"

Feeling the change in Ye Ming's body, Keqing's cheeks bloomed with an alluring blush.

"N-No."

Ye Ming stiffly refused Keqing.

Keqing's voice was beautiful, but in the middle of the night, Ye Ming was afraid of waking Fu Hua and Laffey. Fu Hua would be fine—she was just an ordinary person, and her hearing was not that sharp. But Laffey was different. Before they had soundproofed the place, Ye Ming truly worried that if he and Keqing made any noise, they would wake Laffey next door and she would hear everything clearly.

"I-I can bite the pillow."

Knowing what Ye Ming was worried about, Keqing blushed and leaned close to his ear, whispering softly.

Ye Ming fell silent. He could see Keqing's shyness and reluctance.

Come to think of it, it had been the same at the office during the day. Keqing had been so embarrassed and shy that she could barely stand it, yet she had still forced herself to take the initiative.

Was that simply Keqing's nature?

Of course not.

It had been the same when she gave him the bank card. Ye Ming was not a man who was slow when it came to feelings. He could sense Keqing trying to please him. He did not know what exactly had happened before, but honestly, Keqing's love was a little too humble. It made his heart ache for her.

"Keqing, we still have a long road ahead of us. There's no need to rush, and there's no need to force yourself so much. Sometimes, being more honest might be better."

"Don't worry. Since I chose you, I won't let go again."