Sulking

As night deepened, the only sounds left in the house were the occasional drip from the kitchen faucet that had not been fully shut off, and the faint, deliberately heavy breathing coming from behind Tang Wulin's bedroom door.

Gu Yue lay on the living room sofa for a while longer, flipping through an industry journal she had long since stopped reading. Her ears remained trained on the master bedroom. At first, she could still hear the soft rustle of fabric, probably from someone tossing and turning in bed while clutching that enormous chibi body pillow. About half an hour later, everything fell silent except for that tightly shut door. Even the exaggerated breathing could no longer be heard.

Gu Yue put down the magazine, rubbed her brow, and got up to head for the master bedroom. When she reached the door, she raised her hand to knock, but it stopped halfway through the air. She could picture Tang Wulin on the other side, puffing out his cheeks, his eyes damp but stubbornly putting on an "I'm very angry" expression. For some reason, she found it amusing, mixed with an indescribable softness in her heart.

"Hey, open the door." She curled her knuckles and rapped twice against the door, neither too hard nor too softly. Her voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable edge.

There was complete silence inside. Even the faint movement from earlier had vanished, as if no one were in there at all.

A third of Gu Yue's patience had run out. She knocked twice more, this time with more force. "Tang Wulin, open the door."

"..."

Gu Yue raised an eyebrow. This was the first time tonight that she had taken the initiative to come looking for him, yet he dared leave her hanging like this. Just as she was about to raise her hand for a third knock, a sound finally came from inside. It was not the door opening, but a soft click from the lock—it had been locked from the inside.

"Tang Wulin, open the door." Gu Yue spoke for the third time, a hint of warning entering her tone.

This time, there was a response from inside. The voice was muffled by the thick door and carried a slight nasal tone, sounding so aggrieved it was practically dripping with misery. "...Not opening!"

Gu Yue: "..."

She was almost angry enough to laugh. How did he manage to make the words "not opening" sound both so stubborn and so pitiful, while also tugging at her heart?

"Then spend tonight hugging that body pillow!" Gu Yue deliberately cooled her voice, trying to provoke him with the attitude of abandoning him.

There was silence inside for two seconds, then Tang Wulin shouted even louder, sounding even more wronged. "None of your business!"

Now Gu Yue was certain. This guy was definitely doing it on purpose. She took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to kick the door down, and changed tactics. Her voice softened slightly, carrying a coaxing note. "Isn't it nice to sleep hugging me?"

"No!" The answer from inside was firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.

"You don't want cuddles either?" Gu Yue lowered her voice, nearly whispering the question, her tone holding a teasingly intimate probe.

"Don't want them!" The reply came quickly, but if one listened closely, the final note seemed to tremble.

Standing outside the door, Gu Yue listened to Tang Wulin stubbornly refuse despite sounding unbearably aggrieved. She could practically see him clutching that body pillow tightly, burying his face in it, leaving only a pair of reddened eyes glaring fixedly toward the door. That timid yet stubborn look was actually... kind of cute?

She shrugged, her face expressionless, but she had already made up her mind. Fine. Since he had such backbone, she would indulge his "backbone."

"Suit yourself." Leaving those two words behind, Gu Yue turned around decisively and walked straight toward the guest room, leaving an empty silence outside the master bedroom.

Tang Wulin waited inside for a long time. Instead of the expected "Please open the door" or "I'll get angry if you don't open up," he heard Gu Yue's retreating footsteps and the soft sound of the guest room door opening and closing. He abruptly poked his head out from beneath the covers, his mouth twisting as his eyes instantly reddened while he stared toward the door.

...She really left? She wasn't going to coax him anymore? She was just leaving him here all alone?

Hugging the body pillow, he curled up in the center of the bed like an abandoned oversized toy. The grievance and jealousy in his heart, mixed with the panic of being "abandoned," nearly drowned him. He thought sulkily, It was better that she left. At least it was quiet. He... he wasn't sad at all!

In the guest room, Gu Yue finished washing up and changed into a comfortable silk nightgown. She walked to the window, looked at the countless lights of the city outside, and sighed softly.

This guy was really jealous.

She picked up her phone, opened the smart assistant, and typed into the search bar: "How do I coax a big dog at home (husband) who is jealous and throwing a tantrum?"

Almost instantly, the AI gave a clear and organized response:

[1. Give attention and reassurance: A big dog (husband) throwing a tantrum usually stems from a lack of security or feeling neglected. Avoid giving each other the cold shoulder at such times. Taking the initiative with physical contact, such as hugs or stroking his hair, works best.]

[2. Apologize sincerely and offer affirmation: Even if you think he is being unreasonable, first acknowledge his feelings ("I know you're unhappy"), then explain the situation.]

[3. Redirect his attention: Prepare food or activities he likes, and use a relaxed atmosphere to break the stalemate.]

[4. State boundaries and promises clearly: Clearly convey your choice to him ("You're the one I like most") and ease his unease.]

[5. Give him the cold shoulder in moderation (use with caution): If he is emotionally agitated, give him a brief amount of space, but make it clear that you will not leave and will return later to comfort him.]

Gu Yue read through them one by one, unable to stop the corners of her lips from curving upward. The AI's summary was quite comprehensive, especially the first and fourth points, which hit right at the heart of the matter.

She put away her phone, turned off the guest room lights, and lay down in the darkness.

Tomorrow... they would talk tomorrow. She would see how much longer he could keep this up in the morning.

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