5 Perfect

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With the pea cake from noon as a prelude, Ye Miao was not surprised when Qin Jin came in carrying the tray. But Qin Jin personally brought it over, and that pleased him.

“Brother Jin, I’ll take it,” Ye Miao said, standing up and reaching out to take the tray.

“Sit down, you’ve been hungry all day,” Qin Jin said, shaking his head as he placed the tray on the table by the window.

The table was made last year during the family division—unfinished natural wood. The Qin family wasn’t wealthy and saved wherever they could.

Ye Miao obediently sat down by the table. Before he could get a good look at the dishes on the tray, Qin Jin said, “You eat first, I’m going out. Big brother and the others are still outside.”

“All right,” Ye Miao quickly replied.

After the door clicked shut, Qin Jin let out a long sigh. Actually, he was already quite hungry himself, and since night had fallen and the bridal chamber awaited, it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t eat. But his mind was restless—Qin Jin didn’t like him, and tonight’s bridal chamber...

Qin Jin himself was also troubled by the bridal chamber tonight. Admiring the young husband’s looks and sharing the bridal chamber were two different matters. Sigh.

Stepping out of the room, seeing Qin Bing and the others still busy, Qin Jin suppressed his worries and told his brothers and sisters-in-law to head back.

The borrowed tables, chairs, pots, and dishes had already been returned. All that was left was to clean the courtyard and tidy up the items.

There wasn’t much work left; Qin Jin could finish it alone.

Qin Bing and the others didn’t insist—they knew it was their fourth younger brother’s wedding night and that they shouldn’t stay too long.

Once they left, Qin Jin rolled up his sleeves and swept and wiped as needed.

After tidying the courtyard, he went into the kitchen.

A small oil lamp was lit inside, casting a dim, pea-sized circle of light that barely illuminated the room.

Just as he finished scrubbing the big pot, Ye Miao carried the tray into the kitchen.

Seeing Qin Jin holding the kitchen broom, Ye Miao was startled and hurried over, “Brother Jin, you go out. I’ll clean up!”

No man should be stuck scrubbing pots and pans; that was his job. He placed the tray on the cutting board and reached out to take the broom from Qin Jin.

Qin Jin dodged his hand, set down the broom, then picked up a ceramic bowl filled with cool water from the cutting board and handed it to him. “I did this little chore on my own. Drink some water—you must be thirsty.”

He hadn’t had a sip all day.

Ye Miao didn’t take it, his eyes still fixed on the broom, his face anxious. “Brother Jin, really, let me do it.”

Qin Jin hadn’t expected this young husband to be so stubborn. He simply grabbed Ye Miao’s hand and forcibly pressed the bowl into it. “Listen to me.”

Those four words instantly reminded Ye Miao of the afternoon’s saying—marriage means following the husband. He paused, then cupped the bowl with both hands.

“Drink,” Qin Jin said, also recalling that phrase. He suppressed the awkwardness in his heart and turned to scrub the dishes Ye Miao had just used.

Ye Miao looked up, staring at Qin Jin’s tall figure, and slowly drank all the water in the bowl.

His heart fluttered—he worried Qin Jin might refuse the bridal chamber tonight, yet Qin Jin had been cooperative all day, no cold expressions, even considerate—it seemed he was willing.

His inner scales tipped little by little toward willingness.

Qin Jin cared about what he ate and drank, was willing to scrub the dishes he used, and didn’t dump all the kitchen work on him.

Being considerate to this extent, would he really turn cold in bed?

After finishing the water, Qin Jin tidied up the kitchen. Seeing Ye Miao set down the bowl, he hesitated briefly, then said, “There’s warm water in the pot. Wash yourself.”

At those words, Ye Miao’s eyes flickered nervously. He lowered his head and replied obediently, unsure where to put his hands and feet.

But inside, he was ecstatic—was this a hint about the bridal chamber?

Seeing Ye Miao like this made Qin Jin even more perplexed—the young husband was clearly looking forward to tonight.

“I’ll go get you a towel and a basin,” Qin Jin said, as if making small talk, “All new.”

Ye Miao softly replied, his cheeks already flushing.

Soon, Qin Jin brought a wooden basin and closed the kitchen door. He sighed deeply, thinking of the Qin Jin in the courtyard—no matter how he tried, he couldn’t suppress the faint smile tugging at his lips.

Standing in the courtyard, Qin Jin tilted his head toward the moon. The moonlight was soft and bright. He often heard his grandfather say that in earlier times moonlight was so bright you could see things clearly. He had always doubted it, but seeing it with his own eyes now, he understood his grandfather had not lied.

Pulling back his chaotic thoughts, he lowered his head and turned around a few times in place.

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At that moment, the sound of rushing water came from the kitchen, making him stop.

In his previous life, after graduation, he inherited the family bookstore. With paper reading almost obsolete, he spent most of his time figuring out how to revive the business, leaving no time to find a girlfriend.

He had never truly experienced intimacy, so his mind wasn’t wandering.

More than anything, he was worried.

Did he have to share the bridal chamber tonight?

Of course, once the marriage was agreed upon, the bridal chamber was inevitable. From the moment he accepted the match, he had prepared himself to be responsible for Ye Miao for life.

Including the bridal chamber and having children.

But he truly didn’t like boys. What if, after undressing Ye Miao, he had no reaction? The thought was unbearable.

This worry troubled him until he finished washing and returned to the room.

Inside, red candles burned. Though it was summer, the thick thatch on the roof kept the room cool.

Ye Miao lay in bed, covered by a very thin quilt, his delicate face mostly hidden beneath it, only his eyes peering out at him.

“…”

Qin Jin swallowed nervously and quietly closed the door.

He had expected Ye Miao to be shy and hide entirely under the quilt, but instead, the young husband stared at him unwaveringly.

This young husband had quite the courage.

His mind raced: “Are you tired today?”

“No, I just sat around. Didn’t do much,” Ye Miao said, shaking his head lightly.

“Hmm… that’s true.”

Qin Jin turned and walked to the bedside, lowering his eyes. He took off his shoes. “Blow out the candle?”

“All right.”

Ye Miao answered quickly, but if one listened carefully, his voice trembled.

Actually, his hand hidden under the quilt was tightly clutching the edge of his clothes. Although he thought Qin Jin wouldn’t turn cold after going to bed, just in case, he decided to be a little proactive.

After all, Qin Jin didn’t like him.

But lacking experience and afraid that being too forward would make Qin Jin think him shameless, he pondered and chose to bravely meet Qin Jin’s gaze.

That was the best he could come up with.

He kept his eyes open, watching Qin Jin avoid his gaze the moment he entered the room.

Watching Qin Jin blow out the red candle, then lie stiffly on the bed without covering himself or speaking.

The room was extremely quiet.

He gripped the edge of his clothes tighter, forcing back the moisture in his eyes.

All the joy from today had evaporated without a trace.

Qin Jin was a good person.

But he really didn’t like him.

He shouldn’t be greedy... He should take it slow. Maybe with time, Qin Jin would come to like him...

The countryside was very quiet at night, only the chirping of unknown insects. So when Qin Jin heard the sound of someone sniffling beside him, he couldn’t help but turn to look toward the bed.

Was he crying?

“Brother Miao?”

Ye Miao didn’t answer, fearing that if he spoke, the thick nasal sound would be noticed.

Qin Jin sat up. The room was dark, but the window was open. By the faint moonlight, he saw Ye Miao slip down, hiding completely under the quilt, sniffles growing louder—he was quietly wiping tears.

...

Not sharing the bridal chamber on the wedding night was a great humiliation and grievance for young brides and grooms of this era.

Especially for someone like Ye Miao, who had grown up steeped in hardship and was sensitive.

He had promised publicly that he would never let Ye Miao suffer grievances, yet now he was the one causing those tears. Enough, enough. At times like this, better for Ye Miao to think he had some physical ailment than to keep crying.

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“Brother Miao, I... I’ll light the candle again.”

In the pitch dark, well, lighting the candle would make things clearer.

Ye Miao was somewhat puzzled—why light the candle?

When the room was once again filled with a soft yellow glow, Ye Miao froze.

Sensing Qin Jin climbing onto the bed again, he dared not move a muscle.

Determined, Qin Jin pushed aside his chaotic thoughts and slowly pulled Ye Miao out from under the thin quilt.

Ye Miao didn’t look at him, but his lashes were wet, trembling violently, his nose red, and he sobbed quietly, looking both pitiful and adorable.

“It’s my fault. Don’t cry,” Qin Jin scolded himself inwardly.

He held Ye Miao close, gently patting his back. When Ye Miao’s emotions stabilized, Qin Jin’s large hand moved from his back to the front.

He slowly undid Ye Miao’s buttons.

The body in his arms was indeed fragile, like paper, making him wonder just how much suffering this young husband had endured.

Yet this warm body pressed close to his neck, so intimate, stirred no resistance in him.

His broad palm slipped beneath the clothing. Ye Miao finally understood Qin Jin’s intent and felt a bittersweet joy—this man was truly soft-hearted. Just a few tears, and he was willing to share the bridal chamber.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Miao placed his hands on Qin Jin’s shoulders and shakily began to undo Qin Jin’s buttons.

Qin Jin was also a little nervous, even prepared for no response and possible doubt from Ye Miao. But when he fully removed his partner’s clothes, he was stunned.

So pale.

Very pale.

Paler even than Ye Miao’s face.

And so delicate, under the dim candlelight, like white jade.

His Adam’s apple moved again as he collapsed onto the bed, holding Ye Miao.

The true purpose of the bridal chamber was to soothe Ye Miao’s grievances. Without any resistance, Qin Jin applied what he had learned in his past life to Ye Miao. The young husband was so shy he nearly kept his eyes closed the entire time, forgetting all his previous sadness.

The night deepened quickly. Qin Jin helped them both wash up again. After getting back into bed, he immediately pulled Ye Miao, who was hiding under the covers, into his arms.

He cupped Ye Miao’s face with both hands and sincerely apologized, “It’s my fault. Don’t be angry.”

“...”

Ye Miao’s cheeks were still flushed. He dared not meet Qin Jin’s eyes. His heart swelled warmly, and it made Qin Jin want to lift the corners of his mouth.

But in the end, Ye Miao just grasped the front of Qin Jin’s shirt and softly murmured in agreement.

“Sleep now.” Qin Jin exhaled, relieved.

Good.

He hadn’t lost face.

Ye Miao wasn’t crying anymore.

This bridal chamber... was acceptable.

He turned over, pulling his partner tighter into his embrace.

It was actually uncomfortable—this young husband was too thin, all bones, poking sharply.

But afraid Ye Miao might overthink it, he held him close, pondering how to help him gain some strength.

Ye Miao wasn’t comfortable either. Having just been through so much, his whole body ached. Yet he clutched Qin Jin’s shirt tightly, closing his eyes contentedly.

Not liking him didn’t matter.

This man was soft-hearted after all.

He sneaked a small smile.