Tang Wulin's Wandering Hands

After breakfast, the dishes were finally cleared away amid a clatter of clinking bowls and chopsticks.

Tang Wulin rushed to wash the dishes, only to break a plate and get dragged out of the kitchen by the ear by Gu Yue. So, with a clear conscience, he claimed the comfiest big sofa in the living room.

It was ten in the morning. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire living room in a warm golden glow. A slow-paced art film was playing on the television. The male and female leads brushed past each other on a rain-soaked street as a sorrowful, lingering melody played.

Gu Yue hugged a soft pillow and curled up at one end of the sofa, completely absorbed in the movie. Her eyes even looked slightly misty. Tang Wulin, meanwhile, sprawled across the other end of the sofa, game console in hand. He looked like he was playing, but the corner of his eye kept tracking Gu Yue's every movement.

The movie reached its climax, and the female lead wept her heart out. Gu Yue sniffed and sighed. "That girl is so pitiful."

"Tch, what's so pitiful about her?" Tang Wulin said without even looking up, curling his lip. "If it were me, I'd just take her out for hotpot. All her worries would disappear."

Gu Yue could not be bothered with his straight-man logic and turned her attention back to the screen.

It was at that very moment that Tang Wulin began his "invasion plan."

At first, it was just a tentative little move. His left foot quietly shifted over and brushed against Gu Yue's right foot. Gu Yue did not react, only drawing her foot back slightly.

Tang Wulin grinned and grew bolder. He put down his game console, pretended to stretch, let out an enormous yawn, then dropped his arm over Gu Yue's shoulders without warning. Gu Yue stiffened and was about to shove him away when Tang Wulin leaned close to her ear and lowered his voice. "Wifey, aren't you cold? Let me warm you up."

"I'm not cold. If you're hot, go stand in the corner by yourself," Gu Yue mercilessly exposed him.

"Come on, don't be so heartless." Tang Wulin shamelessly refused to move his arm. Instead, it slid down from her shoulder, his palm landing precisely at Gu Yue's waist.

Through the thin fabric of her loungewear, that warm, broad hand pressed with undeniable force as it stroked her slim waist. Every hair on Gu Yue's body was about to stand on end. The sensation was far too vivid, far too invasive.

"Tang Wulin," Gu Yue ground out through clenched teeth, "take your hand away."

"I'm giving you a massage. Didn't you say your lower back gets sore from sitting too long?" Tang Wulin lied through his teeth, while his hand became increasingly dishonest. The massage turned into tickling, his nimble fingers slipping beneath the hem of her shirt and touching that small patch of soft, warm skin.

Gu Yue finally reached the end of her patience. She grabbed the large hand causing trouble at her waist and twisted it hard.

"Ah! Easy, easy! Are you trying to murder your husband?" Tang Wulin cried out miserably, finally settling down for the moment.

But who was he? Tang Wulin, whose skin was thicker than a city wall. Less than three minutes later, seeing Gu Yue absorbed in the movie again, he started getting restless once more.

This time, he changed tactics.

First, he slowly shifted his body until he was practically pressed against Gu Yue from behind. Then, the hand that had just suffered such terrible injustice slipped down through the gap in the sofa and precisely grasped Gu Yue's lower leg where it rested at her side.

Gu Yue was wearing lounge shorts, leaving most of her legs bare. Tang Wulin's palm was rough and warm, lightly callused, and as it brushed over her smooth skin, it sent a tingling current through her.

"Mm..." Gu Yue let out a soft, uncontrollable sound, then immediately tensed up.

Tang Wulin pushed his luck further. His fingers slowly slid up along the curve of her leg, from her ankle to her calf, then to the sensitive soft flesh on the inside of her knee. His movements were slow, carrying a tormenting patience, as if he were exploring some peerless treasure.

Gu Yue felt heat rise from her neck, burning the tips of her ears red. She wanted to move, but that delicate sensation seemed to pin her in place. The male and female leads on the television were still gazing deeply into each other's eyes in the rain, while the man behind her was doing something utterly improper.

"Tang Wulin..." Gu Yue called out in warning, but her voice was soft and carried little threat.

"Hm? What is it, wifey?" Tang Wulin wore an innocent expression, but his hand never stopped. Hidden by their position, his palm had even slid to the outside of her thigh, an extremely dangerous spot.

Gu Yue finally exploded. She abruptly turned around, and at the same time, Tang Wulin's hand broke through the final line of defense, his palm covering that soft, springy spot he jokingly called her "big bun."

Slap!

A crisp sound exploded through the quiet living room.

A bright red handprint immediately appeared on the back of Tang Wulin's hand. He jerked it back as if shocked, clutching it as he bared his teeth at the furious Gu Yue.

"You old pervert! Wandering hands! Are your hands so idle they're growing mushrooms?" Gu Yue's cheeks were flushed red with anger, her chest rising and falling violently. She had really put strength into that slap.

Tang Wulin was a little dazed by the blow, but only for a second. Then he entered full "tragic drama" mode. He retreated into the corner of the sofa, hugged his terribly wronged hand, and gazed at Gu Yue resentfully like a large dog abandoned by its owner.

"Heaven and earth bear witness," Tang Wulin sighed heavily, his voice full of grievance. "I'm your legal husband! The officially certified kind! What's wrong with touching my own wife? Haven't I treated you well enough? I must have saved the galaxy in my past life, only to end up in this life getting beaten just for one touch..."

As he spoke, he even deliberately sniffled, putting on an act like he was about to cry.

Gu Yue looked at his self-righteous yet shameless expression and felt utterly speechless. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart, but an involuntary thought flashed through her mind.

What was I thinking back then? Why did I let this guy full of filthy thoughts trick me into marrying him? Was there water in my brain at the time? Is this really Tang Wulin? He's clearly just an unweaned little hooligan!

"How did I ever fall for a guy like you..." Gu Yue pressed a hand to her forehead, her tone full of doubt about life itself.

The moment Tang Wulin heard that, he instantly revived at full health. With one roll, he wrapped himself around Gu Yue again like an octopus, resting his chin on her shoulder and breathing hot air against her ear as he grinned like his scheme had succeeded.

"Hehehe, wifey, it's too late to say that now."

His voice was brimming with obvious smugness, even carrying a hint of provocation.

"The law recognizes it, and we're legally married..." He counted on his fingers, then finally leaned close to Gu Yue's ear, blew lightly, and lowered his voice. "Remember to reward me tonight."

"Reward my ass!" Gu Yue was just about to retort when she suddenly remembered the freshly poured glass of orange juice sitting on the coffee table.

At that moment, Tang Wulin's movements were too exaggerated, and their earlier scuffle had left her breathing uneven. Gu Yue instinctively reached for the glass, intending to take a sip and calm herself down.

However, Tang Wulin's words—"reward me tonight"—were simply too horrifying. Before Gu Yue's brain could process them, her throat caught, and the orange juice she had not even swallowed sprayed straight out.

"Pff—cough, cough, cough!"

The orange juice sprayed out in a fan shape, splashing precisely across Tang Wulin's face. A few drops even flew into his open mouth.

For a moment, the scene was incredibly awkward.

Tang Wulin froze in place, blinked, and licked the juice from the corner of his mouth. After spacing out for two seconds, he suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Wifey, was that... an indirect kiss? Or a passionate method full of vitamin C?"

Gu Yue wiped her mouth while coughing. Looking at the man in front of her, his face covered in orange juice as he continued to laugh stupidly, she wished she could crawl into a crack in the floor. She grabbed the pillow beside her and began hammering Tang Wulin's still-laughing face.

"Tang Wulin! Go die!!!"

"Ow! Don't hit my face! Wifey, I love you! Really! This orange juice is pretty sweet!"

As for whether there was a reward that night?

Author: "Don't ask me. I don't know either."