55: Well-fed and warm, yet thoughtful

"No!"

Li refused stiffly. His eyes were fixed on the soldier, looking as if he would start a fight at the slightest disagreement... Li was truly bold because of his high skill, developing a personality that made proper communication impossible.

But he seemed to have forgotten that he was still injured; he might not even be able to run away on his own, let alone with Tu Nan and Gaia.

"Aren't you Miss Tu Nan's guard? She hasn't said a word, so why are you interrupting?"

The soldier was dissatisfied.

If it weren't for the Children, Tu Nan really wanted to just give up, but of course, that was impossible.

She guessed that Kong Jiamu had provided this house for a friend. One could only say that Hain had a lot of Face.

She wanted this house.

She could imagine that this house would be relatively safe, making it more favorable for her pregnancy and childbirth. After all... with her current physical condition, she had no confidence in a smooth birth if she had to live like she did in the previous two months.

But she couldn't let the two Male Beasts behind her notice anything was wrong, especially Li.

"This gentleman... may I ask how I should address you?" She smiled brightly to ease the tense situation.

"With such good conditions, in my opinion, Lord Zhuang Qi must have told you something. But he is really being too polite... we have already caused him so much trouble on this journey. To accept more money and property, I'm afraid we cannot."

The soldier's thinking was very linear.

"Miss Tu Nan, my name is Song Jie, I'm a sergeant." He first answered the simplest question while his mind continued to process what Tu Nan had said afterward.

That's right, he had gone to ask Zhuang Qi, and Zhuang Qi only said that she was a Young Miss from the Capital Star with a noble status.

Hmm, Miss Tu Nan doesn't accept money.

"The orders I received were..."

"Ah, could your orders be to force me to accept all this?" Tu Nan asked with some feigned surprise.

"No..."

"Right, I know you actually want to take care of me. How about this: we'll move into the house, as we were looking for one anyway. Please don't mention the Karu or anything else, alright? Our hands might be a bit tight for the first three months; could we pay the rent all at once after three months?"

Tu Nan interrupted him twice in a row.

Fortunately, Sergeant Song Jie was already used to this way of speaking; his superior, Colonel Kong, also frequently didn't let him finish his sentences.

As long as the matter could be explained clearly, it was fine.

Colonel Kong only said to take good care of her, and this plan was something he had come up with himself. Since this lady felt this was already good enough, there shouldn't be a problem.

"Alright, we'll do as you say. Then please follow me." He walked to the front to lead the way.

Li and Gaia were just like him, not knowing how things had turned out this way... Zhuang Qi was taking such good care of them? Gaia felt a deep sense of emotion in his heart. The leader of the Oasis was indeed as benevolent as the rumors said.

The golden-haired tail wagged happily.

However, it would have been better if he had just let Ken tell them directly instead of calling this soldier to notify them.

Sigh.

***

"This is it."

Song Jie felt the matter was completely resolved, clapped his hands, and left directly.

The conditions of the small courtyard "rented" to them were quite good.

It was similar to a small Siheyuan from Tu Nan's past life. It only had one floor, with three rooms surrounding a tiny courtyard. Next to the courtyard gate were the kitchen and storage room.

Gaia put Li directly into the main room and settled himself into one of the side rooms.

During his time spent with Tu Nan, he had developed a habit—never questioning Tu Nan's decisions.

Li didn't have that awareness yet. He sat on the bed, hoping Tu Nan would explain a few things. After all, accepting someone's unprovoked kindness was too dangerous for him.

Tu Nan saw Li sitting there with a cold Face, sulking, and she softly leaned over to sit beside him.

She reached out her hand toward Li. Li snorted through his nose; no matter how dissatisfied he was, he still remembered she was pregnant and had walked the whole way.

He had no choice but to pull her into his arms, using his large, hot palms to gently massage her lower back.

This was a habit he had just developed over the past few days after Tu Nan said her back had started to ache.

Tu Nan leaned sideways against Li's chest, her arms wrapping around his waist, pressing her Face against his chest, listening to his heartbeat immediately change its rhythm.

How interesting, Tu Nan thought.

The two of them already had Children, yet Li was always restless because of her proximity.

She asked Li softly.

"I made the decision for everyone, are you going to be angry with me?~"

Li thought for a while. He did feel unhappy, but it didn't seem like he was angry with Tu Nan. Organizing his words, he answered with confusion.

"I'm not angry with you."

"I'm angry with myself."

"If I could solve everything, you wouldn't need to worry about these things."

His head turned slightly to the side as he observed the fully furnished interior of the house, feeling somewhat distressed.

"Back in the River Valley, I could have provided all of this for you, but now we have to rely on Zhuang Qi. My Female Beast now has to rely on the charity of others to live a good life..."

Ah... as expected, his pride was wounded.

The corners of Tu Nan's lips curled up as she buried her Face deeper into his chest.

"If it were just me, I would be willing to spend any kind of life with you, but now I have your Children..."

"I'm sorry, I don't want them to suffer even a little bit."

Tu Nan's words were muffled, yet they struck Li like thunder, waking him up.

That's right, Tu Nan was pregnant and still had to take care of him. What Face did he have to make Tu Nan refuse help from others?

Li fell silent.

"When the Children are born, we'll go find a house of our own. It doesn't matter if it's smaller or a bit run-down."

Tu Nan was always as soft as water... hearing this only made Li feel more guilty.

"Just stay here, you don't have to worry."

He silently vowed in his heart that once his injuries were healed, he would definitely go out and get better resources.

His Tu Nan, his Children—they all deserved the best of everything.

The motherly love he never received as a child, his Children would receive in his stead.

He would never let go of Tu Nan's hand again; the situation back in the River Valley would never happen again.

The three of them thus settled down in the courtyard. Li's injuries also improved amazingly day by day, and half a month later, his wounds were basically completely healed.

Since they had saved on rent, the three of them did not skimp on food.

Li was well-nourished, and his previously sallow complexion had completely recovered.

This afternoon, he was shirtless, sharpening his knife in the courtyard under the sun, his muscles bulging into beautiful planes with his movements.

Tu Nan rested her chin on her hand by the window, watching idly.

Li had finished sharpening the knife. Seeing the remaining water, he picked up the basin and poured it over himself from head to toe.

Water splashed everywhere.

He casually shook his hair. His hair hadn't been trimmed lately and had grown to ear-length; as it swayed with the water droplets in the sunlight, his whole being was filled with masculine power and pheromones.

Like a statue from ancient Greece, as if those burly gods of war had come to life... Tu Nan was slightly dazed.

During this time, adhering to the principle of sustainable development, she could only indulge in Li sparingly. The genes the Children needed probably hadn't been gathered enough.

Tu Nan smiled slightly and tiptoed away from the window.

Right now... she was slightly, just a little, craving him.

Tu Nan opened the door and, as Li turned his head, she gave an exceptionally sweet smile.

Her eyes were sparkling.