70: Chapter 70 The Land of Gentle Comfort

The flickering lamplight cast long, intertwined shadows of the two of them against the wall.

Lin Wan's body was soft and warm, trembling with a barely perceptible shiver.

Chen Fan's movements were light and gentle, without a shred of roughness.

He could feel the tension and shyness of the woman in his arms; it was an awkwardness akin to a first time.

Though they were husband and wife, they were as unfamiliar as strangers meeting for the first time.

In his heart, Chen Fan cursed that brute Chen Jinzhong a thousand times over again.

A long while later.

The panting gradually subsided.

Lin Wan's skin was flushed with a charming pink hue. She rested on Chen Fan's solid chest, long eyelashes still clinging with crystal-clear teardrops.

It was not from sadness, but from the emotional release after reaching the peak.

She slept soundly and peacefully, as if she had completely laid down all the fears and anxieties of the past two years in this embrace.

Chen Fan, however, felt no sleepiness.

He lowered his head, looking at the peaceful sleeping face in his arms, his heart filled with calm.

There was no thrill of conquest, nor the emptiness that follows desire.

There was only a sense of… settled stability.

Perhaps, living a stable life like this would not be bad.

The next day.

When Chen Fan woke up, the space beside him was already empty, leaving only a faint lingering warmth and fragrance.

He sat up; the wound on his back had scabbed over after the night, but even the slightest movement still brought a tearing pain.

He threw on his outer robe and walked out of the bedroom.

It was just barely dawn, but Lin Wan was already sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, using the morning light to sew.

In front of her sat a bamboo basket filled with various fabrics and sewing supplies.

Hearing the movement, she looked up. Seeing Chen Fan, her pretty face flushed red for no reason, and she subconsciously avoided his gaze.

The madness of last night, thinking of it now, still made her blush.

Her complexion was much better than yesterday; her cheeks were rosy, and the bitterness between her brows had lessened, replaced by the charm unique to a married woman.

Only her gait was still slightly unnatural.

"Why not sleep a little longer?" Chen Fan asked, his voice carrying a morning rasp.

"I'm used to it," Lin Wan said, lowering her head to continue her work. "The Zhang family's wife is in a hurry; her son's new clothes must be delivered today."

Only then did Chen Fan realize that for the past two years, Lin Wan had likely relied on this tailoring and sewing work to raise their child alone and support this family.

He sighed in his heart once more.

That Chen Jinzhong is such a bastard!

"Waa..."

A cry came from the inner room—it was Nuannuan.

Lin Wan immediately put down her needle and thread, getting up to go inside.

"Let me," Chen Fan said, stepping ahead of her into the room.

He imitated Lin Wan's actions from yesterday and picked up Nuannuan. Although his movements were a bit clumsy, they were steady enough.

The little one stopped crying the moment she was in his arms, her large, dark eyes curiously examining this unfamiliar embrace.

Chen Fan held his daughter and sat in the courtyard, teasing her.

He pinched her little cheek and used his finger to tap her little nose.

Nuannuan was tickled into giggling, stretching out her chubby little hands to grab his finger and refuse to let go.

Sunlight filtered through the branches of the old locust tree, casting mottled light spots on the father and daughter.

Lin Wan stood at the kitchen door, watching this scene, completely mesmerized.

She looked at the man holding their daughter, a gentle smile on his face that she had never seen before.

She looked at her daughter's pure, innocent smiling face.

Unknowingly, the corners of her mouth also curled up slightly.

Perhaps, he had truly changed.

After breakfast, Lin Wan went to deliver the finished clothes and returned with a few dozen copper coins.

This was three days' worth of food for the mother and daughter.

Chen Fan watched her carefully place those copper coins into a clay pot, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He said nothing and silently returned to the room.

A moment later, he walked out.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound rang out.

Chen Fan tossed a heavy money pouch directly onto the table.

Thirty taels of gold shimmered with an alluring luster in the morning light.

Lin Wan's breath hitched instantly.

She looked at the pile of golden objects on the table in astonishment, then looked at Chen Fan in disbelief.

"Th-this is..."

"A reward from the Prince's estate," Chen Fan said dismissively.

"Keep it. You don't have to work so hard anymore."

Lin Wan's first reaction was not joy, but fear.

She waved her hands repeatedly, her face turning pale.

"No! No! This is too valuable! I cannot take it!"

She was just an ordinary woman; how could she have ever seen so much gold?

In her eyes, this was a massive fortune that could lead to the ruin of a family.

"Take it if I give it to you," Chen Fan said, pushing the pouch toward her, brooking no argument.

"What would a grown man like me do with so much money on me?"

Lin Wan still shook her head, looking as if she were about to cry.

"Jinzhong, listen to me. We cannot take this money. Wealth shouldn't be flaunted; it will invite disaster..."

Chen Fan looked at her panicked appearance, and his heart softened.

He was no longer forceful and changed his approach instead.

He picked up a piece of gold, pressed it into Lin Wan's hand, and held her hand.

"Listen to me."

His voice was very soft, yet carried an irresistible strength.

"From now on, I will provide for this family."

Lin Wan's body trembled. She stared blankly at Chen Fan, looking into his incomparably earnest eyes.

In the end, she did not refuse again, but silently lowered her head, letting her tears fall one by one onto that cold piece of gold.

The day passed slowly and warmly.

When night came.

Lin Wan boiled hot water, tended to Chen Fan's wound on his back, and changed the dressing.

After finishing all this, she blew out the oil lamp in the outer room.

Inside the bedroom, only the hazy moonlight filtering in from outside remained.

She walked to the bedside, not acting as passively as the night before.

Instead, with her back to Chen Fan, she nervously undid her clothes.

One piece, then another.

Under the moonlight, that exquisite, snow-white body was faintly visible.

Shyly, she quickly slipped into the quilt, wrapping herself tightly, leaving only her little head exposed.

Chen Fan looked at her cute appearance and laughed.

He walked over, got into bed, and from behind, gently embraced the petite, slightly trembling body.