Sharing a Bed

Jiang Ru sat in a daze for a while before standing up to go outside and gather the laundry, then went back inside to find a basin.

Once that was done, she went to the kitchen to get hot water.

Just as she stepped out of the room, he brushed past her. Jiang Ru didn't spare him a glance, bringing the hot water back to her room. When she didn't see him there, she didn't mind.

In her heart, she secretly hoped he wouldn't come back tonight.

Unfortunately, things did not go as she wished. Just as she finished bathing and stepped out, he pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in, carrying meat and vegetables with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Seeing her dragging the bathtub out, he spat out the half-smoked cigarette.

Then, he turned around, put the meat and vegetables into a basin, and hung it up high.

By now, the sky was pitch black. Jiang Ru went into the room and lay straight down on the bed.

Not long after, he entered the room for a moment, took something from the cupboard, and went back out. Immediately, the sound of splashing water echoed from the courtyard.

An image flashed through Jiang Ru's mind, and her face inadvertently flushed red. She hadn't expected this man to have so little modesty; who on earth bathes right in the middle of the courtyard?

Even though Jiang Ru had no intentions toward him, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed for him.

Especially when she thought about the fact that they would have to share a bed shortly, her heart felt uneasy. She tried her best to shuffle toward the very edge of the bed.

Thus, when Li Xiao finished his bath, dried his hair, and returned to the room, he saw Jiang Ru almost glued to the wall.

He rubbed his hair vigorously with a towel before tossing it onto the table by the window. Glancing at the back pressed against the wall, he turned on the electric fan at the foot of the bed, kicked off his slippers, and climbed on.

The wooden bed "creaked" and sank visibly under his weight.

It was clearly a wide double bed, but as soon as he lay down, the space suddenly felt cramped.

Jiang Ru was a bit afraid of this man, so she nudged inward just a tiny bit more.

The man lying on the outside turned off the light. His shadow stretched long against the wall as he reached out to pull the mosquito net.

Unable to hold it in any longer, she finally whispered a reminder: "Remember to pull the net tight."

If it wasn't sealed, there would be mosquitoes. She had suffered greatly from mosquito bites over the past few days.

Immediately after, the sound of the net being pulled shut followed.

Seeing that he was somewhat reasonable, and remembering his earlier actions, Jiang Ru relaxed slightly, feeling that a man like him might not be as terrifying as she thought.

Her courage grew. She had been lying on her side for a long time and half her body was numb, so she carefully turned over to face him.

The room was as dark as ink. Faint moonlight filtered in from the opposite window, but she couldn't see his back clearly.

With worries still weighing on her mind, she suppressed them for a moment before speaking softly again: "The thing is... in a few months the baby will be born. I need to prepare some things for it."

Li Xiao was often away from home, and Jiang Ru wasn't sure when he would leave next. If he was gone by tomorrow morning, she was afraid he would forget to leave money.

Though, she didn't even know if he had any money left.

After she spoke, the room fell back into silence.

Just as Jiang Ru was wondering if she had been too subtle and he hadn't understood, the man suddenly rolled over. He lay on his back and spoke with a mocking tone: "Where is the money I gave you?"

Jiang Ru didn't answer; the original host had given it all to her younger brother.

Perhaps knowing "her" character all too well, the man only gave a cold laugh and said nothing more.

Jiang Ru felt a bit frightened by his reaction and didn't dare say another word in her awkwardness.

She thought to herself that if all else failed, she would have to find her nominal mother-in-law; at worst, she would go sell vegetables herself.

Touching her belly, she let out a weak sigh, feeling that her situation was truly miserable.

In the darkness, the man turned his head. With an expressionless face, he glanced at the person beside him.