69: Chapter 69 With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?

The meal was simple: a plate of green vegetables, a bowl of egg custard, and a pot of steaming white rice.

There was no meat.

The wound on Chen Fan's back was still throbbing; every movement brought a stinging, searing pain.

But he simply sat down in silence and picked up his rice bowl.

Lin Wan carefully placed the daughter in her arms into a bamboo cradle nearby before sitting down across from Chen Fan. She picked up her chopsticks but did not move.

She just kept her head down, staring at the bowl of white rice in front of her without saying a word.

The air was so quiet that the faint sound of the baby girl's breathing in the cradle could be heard.

Between the two of them, there was an awkwardness and distance so thick it felt almost tangible.

Chen Fan took a mouthful of rice.

It was very fragrant.

It tasted like home.

It was a feeling he had never experienced, yet felt incredibly familiar.

He glanced at the silent woman across from him, then at the tender little life in the cradle.

In his heart, he cursed that animal Chen Jinzhong a hundred times over, from head to toe.

Abandoning his wife and child to chase after some illusory enchantress.

How foolish!

How despicable!

With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?

"Ahem."

Chen Fan cleared his throat, breaking the suffocating silence.

"I..."

He wanted to say something, but found a thousand words stuck in his throat.

Apologize? He didn't feel it was necessary to apologize on Chen Jinzhong's behalf.

Explain? How could he explain the absurdity of the past year or so?

Ultimately, he chose the clumsiest and most direct topic.

He pointed toward the cradle.

"The child... what is her name?"

Lin Wan's hand holding the chopsticks trembled almost imperceptibly.

She still didn't look up, and her voice was very soft, carrying a hint of lingering hoarseness.

"Nuannuan."

"Chen Nuan."

Nuannuan.

Chen Fan repeated the name silently in his heart.

A very warm name.

He set down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and limped over to the side of the cradle.

The little one was sleeping soundly, her tiny mouth slightly pouted, and her long eyelashes were like two small fans, trembling gently with her breath.

Her features were very delicate, looking exactly like Lin Wan.

Is this... 'his' daughter?

A strange sensation spread through the depths of Chen Fan's heart.

It wasn't the irritation and resistance found in Chen Jinzhong's memories, but rather... a very novel feeling, a stirring of Bloodline connection.

He reached out, wanting to touch that tender little face, but his hand stopped mid-air.

He was afraid of waking her.

He was also afraid that the scent of blood on him would frighten this tiny life.

He just watched quietly for a long time.

Until Lin Wan's voice sounded from behind him.

"The food... is getting cold."

Chen Fan snapped back to reality and sat back down at the table.

For the rest of the meal, the two had no further exchange.

After eating, Lin Wan silently cleared the dishes and walked into the kitchen.

Soon, the sound of splashing water came from the kitchen.

Chen Fan sat where he was, looking at the small courtyard.

In the yard, a few pieces of Nuannuan's small clothes were hanging to dry, and next to them were several lush, healthy-looking green vegetables.

Everything was kept in perfect order.

This woman had held this home together all by herself while raising the child.

He stood up and walked to the kitchen door.

Lin Wan had her back to him, leaning over as she washed the dishes.

Her somewhat frail back looked rather lonely under the dim yellow light.

Chen Fan just watched her without saying anything.

It wasn't until Lin Wan finished washing the last bowl and turned around that she noticed him.

She was startled and instinctively took half a step back, nervously wiping her hands on her apron.

"You..."

"Let me do it."

As Chen Fan spoke, he reached out to take the wet cloth from her hand.

Lin Wan, however, jerked her hand back as if she had been burned.

"No need."

She turned her body aside, avoiding Chen Fan.

"You are a man; you don't need to do these things."

Chen Fan's hand froze in mid-air.

He gave a bitter smile and withdrew his hand.

It seemed the rift left by Chen Jinzhong would not be so easily mended.

Just then.

"Waa—"

A loud infant's cry came from the cradle.

Lin Wan's body tensed instantly. Ignoring Chen Fan, she hurried out of the kitchen and picked Nuannuan up.

She skillfully checked the diaper and felt her daughter's forehead, her movements gentle and practiced.

In her mother's arms, Nuannuan's crying gradually subsided into aggrieved sobs.

A pair of large, dark eyes curiously observed Chen Fan standing nearby.

Who was this stranger?

Looking into those clear eyes that contained not a single trace of Impurities, Chen Fan's heart softened.

He tentatively reached out a finger and gently tapped Nuannuan's little nose.

Nuannuan was stunned for a moment.

Then, she began to giggle.

She reached out her chubby little hand, grabbed Chen Fan's finger, and stuffed it into her mouth.

That smile was so pure it seemed capable of washing away all the filth in the world.

Chen Fan smiled too.

A smile from the bottom of his heart.

Holding her daughter, Lin Wan was stunned as she watched this scene.

The Chen Jinzhong in her memory hated children.

Back when she was pregnant, he had many complaints.

After Nuannuan was born, he had never once come back to look at her.

But the man before her...

Lin Wan's heart felt a bit chaotic.

She sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard holding Nuannuan, gently soothing her.

Chen Fan sat down beside her as well.

The night gradually deepened.

The shadow of the old locust tree stretched out very long.

Neither of them spoke, but that suffocating awkwardness had unknowingly dissipated quite a bit.

After a long time.

Lin Wan finally spoke.

She looked at her daughter, who was almost asleep in her arms, without looking at Chen Fan.

"This time you've come back..."

Her voice was very soft, carrying an almost imperceptible tremble.

"...how long will you stay?"

After asking this, her whole body tensed up, as if waiting for a verdict.

Chen Fan turned his head, looking at her beautiful profile.

Under the moonlight, her skin was so white it was almost transparent, revealing fine peach fuzz.

He was silent for a moment.

Then, in an unprecedentedly solemn tone, he slowly said,

"Now that I'm back, I'm not leaving."

He had no goals, no ambitions for far-off travels.

Ever since his Transmigration to this world, he had been like a rootless duckweed, constantly drifting.

Stopping to rest now... perhaps it wouldn't be bad?

Lin Wan's body gave a violent shudder.

Slowly, very slowly, she turned her head, her almond-shaped eyes filled with disbelief.

Joy, like ripples on a lake after a stone is thrown, spread through her heart, yet she suppressed it desperately.

She was afraid this was all just a dream.

Seeing her cautious appearance, Chen Fan sighed inwardly once more.

What an animal, that Chen Jinzhong.

How could that white lotus enchantress even compare to such a virtuous wife?

Night fell.

Lin Wan coaxed Nuannuan to sleep and settled her into the small bed in the inner room.

She walked out of the room and saw Chen Fan sitting on a chair in the outer room, seemingly waiting for her.

Only a single oil lamp was lit in the room, its flame flickering and casting their shadows onto the wall.

Lin Wan stood at the door, somewhat at a loss.

This home had only one bedroom.

Before, they used to sleep together.

But now...

She bit her lower lip, her hands nervously wringing the corner of her clothes, her head bowed, not daring to look at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan stood up and walked toward her, step by step.

He could smell the faint scent of soapberry coming from her.

A very clean, comfortable scent.

For no reason at all, his heart rate quickened slightly.

He reached out and gently took her cold hand.

Lin Wan's body stiffened again.

She instinctively wanted to pull back but didn't break free.

Chen Fan didn't say anything; he just led her to the bedside.

He looked at her pretty face, flushed red from shyness, and at her slightly trembling long lashes.

He leaned down and picked her up in his arms.

"Ah."

Lin Wan let out a very soft exclamation, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck.

Chen Fan placed her gently on the bed, then moved in over her.

He embraced that warm, soft, slightly shivering body.