Chapter 60: A Husband’s Heart
Looking at the simply bound book in his hands, Huo Beixing could tell that aside from its serious-looking cover, everything else about it was profoundly unserious.
Zhao Ningzhuo cleared his throat, planning to recommend this bestselling book to him in a lark-like voice.
“This book—”
Huo Beixing lifted a hand and tossed it back to him.
Looking at the book that had returned to him in less than a minute, Zhao Ningzhuo said, “You don’t want it?”
Before Huo Beixing could speak, Zhao Ningzhuo got there first. “Don’t want it because you can’t read?”
Huo Beixing: ……
Like some pyramid-scheme salesman, Zhao Ningzhuo lowered his voice. “This is good stuff. If there are words you don’t know, just look them up on your phone. This is the internet age. The internet will give you answers.”
Turning his head, Huo Beixing went back to watching Dora the Explorer. “I’m not reading it.”
I already solved the literacy problem for you, so why won’t you read it?
Zhao Ningzhuo didn’t understand. “Why?”
Huo Beixing thought for a moment, then tossed out three words. “No nutritional value.”
Zhao Ningzhuo pointed toward Dora the Explorer on the TV. “And that has nutritional value for you?”
Huo Beixing: ……
Just then Uncle Zhong came over to bring Zhao Ningzhuo a drink, and upon hearing that, he coughed lightly. “This animated show has educational enlightenment value for young children.”
Zhao Ningzhuo: ……
Dora the Explorer, I owe you an apology.
Once Uncle Zhong left, Zhao Ningzhuo finally felt comfortable pulling out the book again.
After all, the title really was somewhat embarrassing.
But that was fine—Huo Beixing had thick skin.
Even if he read it in public, this bastard wouldn’t blush.
Zhao Ningzhuo stuffed the book back into his hands. “You absolutely have to read this. It’ll be a huge help to your married life. I only brought it because I can’t stand watching your marriage hit a crisis, so don’t fail to appreciate good intentions.”
Stubborn as a dead duck, Huo Beixing said, “Marriage crisis? Do I have one?”
Zhao Ningzhuo replied, “Don’t you?”
“……”
Come on, don’t you have any idea?
The moment you stop being stupid, your wife will divorce you at once. And even if you stay stupid forever, he’ll still divorce you in half a year.
Either way, there’s no escaping it.
So rather than that, it’d be better if he developed real feelings for you and couldn’t bear to divorce you.
But judging from your bastardly behavior, that’s going to be hard, which is exactly why you absolutely have to read this book.
Zhao Ningzhuo still had a small meeting to attend in a bit. After reminding Huo Beixing to read the book, he grabbed the drink Uncle Zhong had just brought, downed it in one gulp, wiped his mouth, got up, and left.
Huo Beixing stared at Dora on the TV, but every now and then his gaze drifted back to the book.
Since he was bored anyway, reading it wouldn’t hurt.
He reached out, picked up the book, and opened to the first page.
Instant thunderbolt.
“Do you want to capture your husband’s heart? Do you want to become a winner in life?”
Huo Beixing’s brow twitched.
Capturing your husband’s heart makes you a winner in life?
He found it somewhat laughable.
This book reeked heavily of trash.
But after reading the second line, the corners of Huo Beixing’s mouth straightened, and he took back his earlier thoughts.
“It’s suitable for both men and women—having more than one husband is even more suitable, oh~~”
Huo Beixing: ……
This book was not nearly as simple as it looked on the surface.
Holding his breath, he read the first point.
Eighteen Steps, Step One.
No matter what your husband/wife does, you must offer praise. Even the smallest thing deserves encouragement, or at least cheerleading. For example: You did great, that was amazing, you’re so incredible, go go go! (Sister Zhiling version)
No one dislikes praise.
No one dislikes emotional satisfaction and encouragement.
Just like when other people say you’re awesome—the more, the better.
But don’t forget one thing: praising is praising, but next time if something comes up that both you and your partner could do, you should ask them to do it instead. However, pay attention to your wording. For example: I can’t do this well, could you help me? Or: Ah, you really do this best, I just can’t live without you. You can! You’re so capable! I rely on you to survive! (rural version)
That way, you can shove all the work onto the other person while also making them feel needed. Killing two birds with one stone.
Huo Beixing stared at the book, his face covered in black lines.
Whether it was true or not, he’d know once he tried it.
With a complicated mood, Huo Beixing closed the book.
—
Study
An Yi handed the materials over to Gu Lingling. Because the studio had received a recommendation from the brand’s designer, they had successfully signed up for the design competition to be held at the end of the year.
But Gu Lingling suffered from severe pre-competition anxiety. Just like the last few times, she was worried about all sorts of things.
The three of them had the video on, and because they wanted it to feel more serious, they didn’t use WeChat video chat. Instead, they started an actual video conference.
Life needed a little ritual.
Gu Lingling asked, “What are we going to do about our materials?”
By “materials,” she meant the fabrics, decorative supplies, and so on for the pieces they would create for the international design competition. The organizers would not provide those for the contestants, and everyone able to participate in this competition already had status and money in the design world, so naturally they would choose the best fabrics.
Their studio now had a little money to work with, but the studio had only just gotten started. Every part of it needed money. They really weren’t wealthy.
An Yi said, “Leave the materials to me. You don’t have to worry.”
Lin Jiu added, “That’s right. Just leave it to An Yi and me.”
Gu Lingling pressed her lips together on screen. “You two…”
Thinking she was about to say something touching, An Yi and Lin Jiu told her not to be such a stranger.
Gu Lingling said, “You two aren’t planning to sell your kidneys, are you?”
“……”
“……”
Woman, your imagination is very bold.
An Yi shook his head in denial. “No. Don’t overthink it. In any case, we’ll figure something out. Don’t worry.”
Lin Jiu echoed, “Don’t worry, don’t worry.”
Only after the two of them repeatedly guaranteed that they would absolutely not sell their kidneys did Gu Lingling finally relax.
At dinner time, after finishing one bowl of rice, An Yi was getting ready to attack a second.
“So amazing.”
An Yi: ?
He looked up to see Huo Beixing sitting across from him, watching him with a serious face.
Amazing?
Because he was eating two bowls of rice?
An Yi scratched his head. “Actually it’s nothing.”
Huo Beixing said, “No. Very impressive. It makes me admire you.”
Looking at the third bowl of rice in Huo Beixing’s hand, An Yi had no idea what exactly the man was admiring, but he didn’t ask.
After all, the things children admired were always strange.
After dinner, as usual, An Yi accompanied Huo Beixing in watching Where Does the Runaway Bride Escape To.
Huo Beixing didn’t want to watch it. “Aren’t we watching Dora?”
An Yi shook his head. “You like this one more.”
With that, he focused intently on the drama.
Clearly, he liked it quite a bit himself too.
Since An Yi liked it, Huo Beixing didn’t say anything more and simply sat beside him, observing seriously to see what exactly was so magical about this drama.
Five minutes later…
Very good.
Sure enough, it had something to it.
As An Yi ate grapes, he would pop one into his own mouth, then casually feed one to Huo Beixing too. The other man’s cool fingertips brushed against his lips, and the sensation was oddly pleasant.
Onscreen, the male and female leads were embracing and spinning in circles. Just when An Yi thought it would end there with maybe some fireworks, the two of them suddenly started making out wildly.
Pfft—
The grape he had just put in his mouth almost got stuck. He turned sideways and frantically reached out to cover Huo Beixing’s eyes.
“Don’t—don’t watch, don’t watch!!”
Huo Beixing took in the sight of his face turning bright red like a fully ripe apple. “Why?”
An Yi felt even the tips of his ears heat up. Two people kissing—this was the kind of thing he hadn’t even dared to look at back in the village. Even when couples got married there, the bride and groom at most hugged or held hands, and even that was enough to make people feel embarrassed.
Huo Beixing took An Yi’s hand off his face. Seeing his ears now bright red, he reached out and pinched one of his earlobes.
“Wife, why are your ears red?”
An Yi answered, “Being helpful.”
Huo Beixing: ?
An Yi pointed at the pair snuggling together on the TV. “I’m blushing on their behalf.”
Huo Beixing: ……
Watching his flustered expression, Huo Beixing maliciously asked, “If you’re blushing for them, then who blushes for you?”
Red-faced, An Yi dug his fingers into the fabric of his pants.
Huo Beixing narrowed his eyes.
“Grown-up matters. Kids shouldn’t ask.”
Huo Beixing: ……
The moment he said that, Little Frog gave a whoosh and fled into the bathroom to wash his face, intending to cool himself down.
Just as An Yi was using a towel to wipe his face, Huo Beixing’s tall figure appeared at the bathroom doorway.
“Wife, are you using the toilet?”
An Yi responded vaguely and carelessly.
The next second, a bizarre tone came from outside the door.
“Jiayou jiayou~~”
An Yi: ???
The words had barely left his mouth before Huo Beixing felt like life had instantly lost all meaning. But that’s what the book had said to do.
A wave of embarrassment flooded over him and made him question the book’s practicality.
That night, after showering, An Yi climbed into bed early. When Huo Beixing came out of the bathroom bare-chested, he saw An Yi sitting on the bed kneading his own legs.
“Wife, what are you doing?”
An Yi replied, “Pinching my legs a bit. This helps relax the muscle groups.”
“So amazing.”
“Want to try it? I can do yours too. It hurts a little, though.”
Huo Beixing’s steps paused.
That book really did work.
Since it meant physical contact, he didn’t refuse. Looking at his little wife’s skinny arms and legs, he assumed that no matter how painful it was, it couldn’t be that bad.
Ten minutes later, Huo Beixing had his face buried in the pillow, veins bulging at his neck, the muscles in his back stretched tight, making him look especially wild.
It really fucking hurt.
Sitting astride his lower back, An Yi bent one of his legs and commented, “You’re a little stiff.”
After finishing, An Yi nudged him and turned him over. At that point, Huo Beixing’s handsome, brilliant face was tightly drawn. Smiling, An Yi asked, “Hurts a little, right?”
In a hoarse voice, Huo Beixing replied, “Not bad.”
But seeing An Yi’s smiling face, Huo Beixing suddenly felt the pain was worth it.
An Yi took two wet wipes, intending to wipe his face for him. But when he leaned down, he noticed that Huo Beixing’s eyelashes were really quite long.
He had never seen a man with such long eyelashes before, and couldn’t help staring for a long while. Yet the moment he lifted his gaze, he met Huo Beixing’s eyes head-on.
Those peach blossom eyes were staring straight at him without the slightest shift.
“Wife, what are you looking at?”
An Yi swallowed. Sometimes that face really did hit with a lot of impact. “Your eyelashes.”
“Then do you like them?”
Honest little frog nodded. “I do.”
The huge room was so quiet it felt frightening.
The distance between the two of them grew smaller and smaller, and just as their breaths were about to fall onto each other’s faces, An Yi suddenly snapped back to himself and clapped a hand over Huo Beixing’s mouth.
Too terrifying.
Just a little more, just a little more, and he would have committed a crime.
How could he possibly have those kinds of thoughts about Huo Dabao?
This was way too criminal.
Muffled behind An Yi’s hand, Huo Beixing spoke up for himself. “Wife, I’m not a child anymore.”
An Yi said, “I know. You’re a big child.”
Huo Beixing: ……
