The sharp sound of shattering porcelain cut through the sarcasm.
Everyone turned to see Gu Yuan frozen at the entrance of the pantry, the hem of his suit still stained with mud from the previous night’s struggle.
He silently bent down to collect the shards, his knuckles turning white, betraying his exhausted state.
As night fell, Qian Ruixue carefully tucked her necklace away in front of the vanity mirror.
Reflected in the glass, a figure lay curled on the bed; Gu Yuan had fallen into a deep sleep without even changing his shirt.
She stepped closer on tiptoe and unexpectedly caught the scent of cedarwood mixed with the smell of medicinal ointment—the very perfume she had gifted him for his birthday half a year ago.
"You could have just told me, actually..."
She pressed her face against his slightly rising back, feeling the bruises beneath his clothes that had yet to fade.
Memories flashed back to the day of their wedding, when this man had clumsily tried to put the necklace on her, and the gem clasp had snagged on her hair three times.
When the morning mist drifted into the bedroom, Gu Yuan was startled awake by a weight on his chest.
He looked down to see a sapphire hair clip tucked into his wife’s locks; he had specifically placed it there himself that morning.
Qian Ruixue, still dazed with sleep, caught his hand as he tried to pull it away and pressed his warm palm against her neck.
"Right here..."
She murmured drowsily, "It’s even hotter than the gem."
Chapter 259