Passing through the corridor, Xuandou arrived at Kurenai's door.
He reached out and gave it a push.
Sure enough, it was unlocked too.
Dressed in a thin nightgown, Kurenai lay on her side on the bedding, holding a book without turning a page for quite some time.
Hearing the noise, she glanced up at Xuandou, then lowered her eyes again, pretending not to see him.
Xuandou walked over and lay down beside her.
Kurenai shifted aside, refusing to let him hold her.
Xuandou was in no hurry either. He turned onto his side to look at her.
"Still angry?"
Kurenai snorted coldly.
"What do I have to be angry about? You're not mine alone."
Xuandou sighed and reached for her hand. Kurenai tried to pull free, but couldn't.
"Kurenai, once the investiture ceremony is over, I'll marry you."
Kurenai's hand stilled.
"Don't you already have Kushina?"
Xuandou nodded.
"I'll marry all of you!"
"As you know, I'm a noble of the Land of Hot Water now. The other nobles would definitely laugh at me if I had only one wife."
"Besides, you're all my women. I don't want to let any of you down."
Kurenai stared at him for a long while, then gave a soft scoff.
"Greedy."
But her voice had already lost its earlier coldness.
Xuandou smiled and pulled her into his arms.
"What matters most is that we all live a good life together from now on."
As he spoke, his hand began to wander.
Smack!
A crisp sound rang out.
Kurenai slapped Xuandou's hand away.
She immediately sat up and demanded:
"What are you trying to do?"
Early the next morning.
The table was laden with an exquisite Japanese breakfast the servants had prepared in advance.
Xuandou sat at the head of the table, observing