Upstairs, there were two rooms: one on the left side and one on the right. At the end of the hall was a bathroom and a separate toilet.
In rural areas, it was uncommon for houses to have a proper bathroom and toilet inside, and Qin Lian couldn't help but feel a little impressed.
Her gaze fell on the closed door of the children's room opposite. She sighed softly, then turned and entered the bedroom on the right.
The bedroom was spacious, with a double bed in the center, a wooden wardrobe to one side, and a simple desk and chair by the wall.
The room held only the bare necessities, lacking the personal touches that could make it feel more homely.
She walked toward the bed and picked up her backpack. Only then did she notice the neatly tucked bedsheet.
It was clean and appeared new.
Raising her eyebrows in surprise, she chuckled softly. "Did he change the bedsheet when he placed the bag here?"
Shaking her head with a faint smile, she grabbed her cotton pajamas and fresh underwear before heading to the bathroom for a much-needed bath.
___
After taking a bath, Qin Lian entered the bedroom and froze when she saw Xu Yinchen standing in front of the open wardrobe.
His unexpected presence in the bedroom caught her off guard. Instinctively, she touched the towel wrapped around her damp hair.
Because of the wound on her forehead and the bandage wrapped around her head, she hadn't been able to wash her hair properly.
Still feeling sticky and uncomfortable, she had tried to rinse the ends as best as she could.
"Ah! I… didn't pack any towels in my luggage. That's why I took them from the wardrobe. You were downstairs, and children were sleeping, so I couldn't ask," she explained quickly, worried he might have been looking for towels.
Noticing his surprised expression, she hesitated and said, "I used two towels. Are there no more towels for you? I'm so sorry. I should have checked first."
Xu Yinchen looked at her, his gaze lingering as he took in her freshly bathed appearance.
Her cheeks carried a soft, rosy flush, her white cotton pajamas clinging delicately to her frame, simple yet unintentionally alluring.
The undone collar of her shirt revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her smooth skin, while the towel atop her head held back her damp hair, leaving her slender neck exposed.
A few droplets of water shimmered against her skin, catching the light and drawing his eyes, making his breath hitch for a moment.
He pursed his lips, quickly averting his gaze. "You don't need to ask. It's alright."
Without saying anything, Xu Yinchen left the room, leaving Qin Lian alone in the room.
After he left, her gaze landed on the double bed in the middle of the room, and a wave of embarrassment swept over her.
"Are… we… going to sleep together tonight?"
She couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen. After all, she had come here as his bride; they were technically husband and wife.
But… They had just met today. He wouldn't try anything, right?
…..
After taking a bath, Xu Yinchen returned to the room. Before entering the bedroom, he knocked softly on the door, then pushed it open.
His gaze landed on the bed and paused for a moment.
Qin Lian was already lying on the far left side, stiff and straight like a board. The cotton blanket was pulled up to her neck, and her eyes were shut tightly, as if she were fast asleep.
Seeing the way her brows were tightly knitted, it was clear she wasn't really asleep. But it was a little too obvious.
An amused chuckle escaped his lips, but he immediately straightened his expression.
He quietly closed the door behind him. The faint click made Qin Lian flinch under the blanket, though she kept her eyes shut tight.
Did... did he just close the door? Why?
Can't we just leave it open? What's wrong with that?
She pressed her lips together, staying completely still like a mannequin on display.
Her heart pounded as she heard the sound of the wardrobe door opening. She could hear him moving around, but didn't dare to open her eyes.
Then came the soft click of the light switch. The room went dark.
Why did he turn off the light?!
Can't we sleep with the lights on? Is that too much to ask?! She screamed inside her head.
Although she had been in a relationship for three years, apart from holding hands and the occasional kisses, which she could count on her fingers, they had never gone any further.
Their relationship had always been that hollow. Yet, like a fool, she had seriously planned a future with a man like that.
Qin Lian took a deep breath and shook her head, trying to push away those useless thoughts.
Just thinking about how she had blindly trusted that shameless man, how she stayed loyal and stuck in that so-called relationship for three whole years, made her skin crawl.
Three years. Wasted. She couldn't believe how naïve she had been.
Thank God she had discovered the truth before they crossed that line. If things had gone further, she would've been disgusted, not just with him, but with herself for letting it happen.
She tried to push those negative thoughts aside and clear her mind. But then she realized something strange.
The man she had expected to be sleeping beside her still hadn't shown up. Her brows furrowed as she cautiously opened one eye to check.
The lights were off.
The room was dark, but soft moonlight filtered through the window, along with a cool breeze that stirred the curtain.
She glanced to her side. The space next to her was empty. Her eyes widened in surprise. Where did he go?
She sat up slowly, her gaze scanning the room. That's when she saw him.
Xu Yinchen had arranged a bedding for himself on the floor. He was already lying down, flat on his back, eyes closed, his posture straight and disciplined.
She blinked in surprise. He didn't even try to sleep on the bed?
A flicker of guilt rose in her chest. Maybe she had been too quick to claim the bed without asking.
Should she have offered to sleep on the floor instead? Or… at least suggested sharing the bed?
It was large enough for two people to sleep on their own sides without even touching. But along with the guilt came a quiet sense of relief.
He hadn't said anything. He hadn't made her uncomfortable. Without a word, he simply gave her space.
That quiet consideration. No fuss, no show of being noble, touched her more than she expected.
She pulled the blanket closer.
It wasn't anything dramatic, but it made her feel warm. And unexpectedly safe.
While she was staring at his face under the moonlight, she couldn't help but take a closer look.
His features were sharp and well-defined, with a straight nose and a refined jawline that added to his quiet strength. He looked manly, yet unexpectedly handsome in a calm, restrained way.
As her gaze lingered on his peaceful expression and disciplined posture, a low voice suddenly caught her off guard.
"How long do you plan on continuing to stare?"