Seeing her like this, the anger in Su Ling's heart over her unfiltered words vanished in an instant.
All that remained was a deep sense of helplessness...
And a trace of heartache he deliberately tried to ignore.
He released his grip on her cheeks and, with an awkward stiffness, gently drew her into his arms.
His movements were clumsy, yet they held a silent tenderness.
"You silly thing. What are you thinking about all day?"
Su Ling's tone remained deliberately cool, but his voice had softened without him realizing it.
"And... who said I was your husband? Don't call me that."
Gu Yuena was stunned by his sudden show of tenderness.
Tears still clung to her curled lashes, but she had already forgotten to cry.
She lifted her little face and stared blankly at Su Ling's stern profile, as though she couldn't believe he was being so gentle all of a sudden.
"I... I..."
She stammered, unable to form a complete sentence. Her heart was racing, and her cheeks felt unbearably hot.
Though shy, she still couldn't let go of his denial of their relationship. She couldn't help muttering a quiet protest:
"But you are my husband... We bowed to Heaven and Earth and got married, so we're husband and wife."
"And I'm not silly. I just... just like you too much."
She buried her flushed little face in Su Ling's chest. Her voice grew softer and softer until it was nearly a whisper.
"A-and also..."
As if summoning all her courage, she added in a timid voice, her face red as she tried to claim the "rights" she was owed.
"You... you've never held me like this while we slept..."
At the thought of curling up in the young man's warm embrace and falling asleep each night, her cheeks