The amount of water in a mere bathing tub couldn't drown anyone. Even in a moment of panic, the amount of water one could choke on would be limited. After a brief moment of fluster, Su Tan'er finally regained her composure, with shyness and attempts to create distance taking over. Ning Yi patted the water off his clothes, stood up, and left. Su Tan'er sat on the wooden stool inside, wrapped in a bath towel, biting her lip.

"Husband... how could Husband... be here..."

She trailed off halfway through the question, her voice already softening. Ning Yi replied from outside the curtain, "I was planning to take a bath, and then... what about you?"

"I... I asked Juan'er to help me heat the water..."

Ning Yi was stunned for a long while.

"When I came back, there was no one else in the courtyard. Juan'er went out... uh, you were sleeping. When did you tell her to do that..."

Su Tan'er had already realized what happened in the bathroom. With a woeful expression, she looked utterly embarrassed. After a long while, she replied in a voice as thin as a mosquito's hum, "...At noon... What time is it now?"

Looking at the sky outside, it was probably already Shen Shi (3-5 PM). After waiting for a long time, Ning Yi's reply came from outside. He chuckled, "Heh, you might as well wash up first since you're already wet. I'll go... change my clothes. It's nothing."

Having just carried Su Tan'er out of the tub, his robe was also soaked. Ning Yi looked at his condition, turned and went out. Before he reached the door, a slightly hesitant voice came from inside, "Hu-Husband... Wait..."

"Hmm?"

"The water... is a little cold."

********************

After changing out of his robe, he quickly went to the small kitchen to start a fire and heat water. Ning Yi's physique was good enough that even a cold bath wouldn't be a problem in this weather. He just felt that soaking in a tub of cold water in such a room was inappropriate. But the hot water he had heated just now wouldn't be enough for Su Tan'er.

In the quiet courtyard in the afternoon, the autumn leaves rustled. While heating the water, Ning Yi talked to Su Tan'er about the academy, its closure, Li Pin's departure, and the luncheon.

"...Second Uncle said we're all family, and there's no distinction between the main family, the second branch, or the third branch. Outsiders are just watching the fun. His sons are immature, and you're the best one to manage this family in the future. So he told me to remind you to rest more since he's seen you've been too tired lately... Oh, right, he also said that there's no end to business in the world."

Carrying the hot water over, Ning Yi said these words. From the room separated by the wall, Su Tan'er's slightly smiling voice came out, "Does Husband believe that?"

"Whether you believe it or not, I believe it." Ning Yi smiled and nodded.

This answer probably made Su Tan'er feel cheeky, and she became slightly flustered. As Ning Yi walked into the entrance of the bathroom, he said, "There's still some truth to the saying that there's no end to business in the world, leaving everything else aside."

"But there's a difference between urgent and non-urgent matters..." Su Tan'er murmured inside, then said, "Never mind that. What about the others, does Husband believe them?"

"...One must be honest."

Pushing open the curtain and entering the bathroom, Su Tan'er was curled up on the stool, wrapped tightly in two bath towels and clothes. She was originally tall and graceful, but even curled up like this, exposing only her face, she still had a peculiar charm. At this moment, although her face was red, she was looking at Ning Yi. "That doesn't count as an answer."

"One must be honest... so Second Uncle seems quite honest too." Ning Yi said, pouring the hot water into the tub and reaching in to test the temperature.

"Husband is not honest."

"Dishonest people always think others are dishonest. I still believe in Second Uncle."

"Cheeky."

"It's very hot, the water temperature should be about right... You have conflicts with your Second Uncle, so you can't slander me just because I said he's honest..."

Su Tan'er smiled and stared at him, word by word: "Husband is cheeky, not honest."

"Alright, 'Only women and petty people are difficult to deal with'..."

"Husband is the most glib. Cheeky, not honest."

"I won't argue with you." Lifting the curtain and preparing to leave, a voice came from behind.

"Not telling the truth, not honest."

"Okay." Ning Yi sighed, turned around, and only showed his face. He blinked his eyes, "I really didn't do it on purpose when I walked in just now."

After saying this, Su Tan'er's eyes widened instantly, and her cheeks, which were originally just slightly pink, turned red in the blink of an eye. She sat there hugging herself, wanting to say something, but couldn't. Long after Ning Yi put down the curtain and left, Su Tan'er lifted the bath towel and stepped onto the floor. The bathroom originally had a curtain and a wooden door. Once the wooden door was closed, no one could enter. Su Tan'er originally thought that Juan'er was at home and didn't fully close the door at first. Now she went over and bolted the wooden door.

She was still dressed in a silk camisole and trousers, barefoot, and at this point, half of her body was already wet, so it naturally wouldn't dry in a short time. Recalling the scene that guy might have seen just now, her face turned red again, and she hugged her chest, leaning against the door panel. He must be laughing outside, she thought to herself.

Footsteps sounded, and Ning Yi hummed a song as he walked past the veranda outside the bathroom, preparing to heat his own bathwater. Su Tan'er pursed her lips: "Husband is not honest!"

She whispered the sentence, guessing that the outside could hear it, but she didn't dare to shout too loudly. She sniffed and then smiled as she walked towards the tub.

********************

Su Tan'er finished bathing, and then it was Ning Yi's turn. By the time he finished his bath, it was already approaching evening. Seeing that it was probably around five o'clock in the afternoon, Ning Yi sat in the gazebo in the middle of the courtyard, waiting for his hair to dry in the wind. Chan'er and Juan'er had also returned and greeted Ning Yi in the sunset. Chan'er came over and swayed, "Has Young Master-in-law taken a bath?" After chatting for a few words, she went back to her own business.

After a while, Su Tan'er came over with a smile. She simply tied up her long hair, put on a lake-green dress, and after sitting down, squinted her eyes and looked at the sunset outside the trees. "So, Husband is going to the Yan Cui Tower with Wenxing and the others tonight?"

"Yes." Ning Yi nodded, then looked up and thought, "I wonder which girl is the most popular there..."

"The most popular... is called Lü Xia."

"How do you know?"

"I've been there once, disguised as a man." Su Tan'er covered her mouth and laughed, then said, "Husband, have fun. After all, Young Master Li is leaving soon. Say goodbye to him for me, and wish him smooth sailing. As for those who are not so honest, there is no need to pay attention to them..."

"Hmm?"

"Actually, in my opinion, it would be much better for Husband and Young Master Li to go play together than to go with Wenxing and the others. It's meaningless, and I'm afraid they'll spoil Husband's mood."

Su Tan'er had a strong personality, but she was good to her family. Of course, those who could be considered her family were only a few. During the New Year, she also pulled Ning Yi to visit various households. There were occasionally similar banquets and gatherings on weekdays. At each banquet, she always took care of Ning Yi's presence. Although in a sense, it was all the same whether or not Ning Yi needed this kind of care, Su Tan'er's "superfluous" actions were enough to prove that she really regarded this marriage as a marriage to manage.

Ning Yi was able to get to this point, and he would not pursue any pure love. For him, his previous life was somewhat similar to Su Tan'er's position. If he were in the same life, being assigned a spouse, he would naturally have to "manage" it in this way. Using such words, but naturally he didn't find it repulsive. You can't ask two people to fall in love at first sight and then be all lovey-dovey. In a certain situation, you can only look at things according to the pattern of that situation.

Su Tan'er's marriage was naturally unavoidable at first, but since she accepted it, she showed enough sincerity. She had given a complete stranger enough respect and sincerity. Ning Yi also agreed with this emotion—the other party was already trying hard to express her sincerity: if possible, let's live like this.

She had little choice from the beginning. What Ning Yi saw was a nineteen-year-old girl's wholehearted seriousness and effort. On the one hand, she worked hard to take care of her business, and on the other hand, she worked hard to take care of her family, which didn't have much choice in the first place. This was her sincerity. Ning Yi appreciated this emotion. He originally planned to leave if he couldn't live with it. Since he could live with it, staying was of course part of the plan.

Although they had once lived such a life under a certain relatively deliberate "management," they now had some good feelings for each other, which was actually very ideal. At this time, she said these words, actually feeling that Ning Yi didn't need to deal with these second-generation ancestors in the family, so Ning Yi also smiled: "It doesn't matter, they won't spoil my mood."

"Since Husband is going with Young Master Li and the others, I won't let Xiao Chan follow." Su Tan'er said, taking out a few silver notes from her sleeve, "Husband probably doesn't have much silver on him. Here are five hundred taels, Husband, take them. If there's anything you like, please give them more support. Husband has the name of the number one talent, so you can't be stingy."

Saying this, she smiled again: "Those brothers from the second and third branch are really not competitive enough. If the family is put in their hands, it will be ruined. Second Uncle and Third Uncle must also know that, but now they are only in their thirties and forties, like fathers. When the grandchildren come out and become talented, they will still be grandfathers in power. So saying they aren't competing is just not honest. Second Uncle and Third Uncle are competing for themselves, not for the younger generation. Wenxing and the others are stupid, they can't be heads of the family, they can only be fathers of family members..."

Su Tan'er lowered her head, and her words became softer: "Husband, don't stand on Second Uncle's side in the future, okay? Even if it's on purpose, I want to hear Husband say bad things about the second and third branches... I think Husband should be on my side. I love to hear Husband say that Second Uncle and Third Uncle are not honest, and I don't love to hear Husband say that Second Uncle is honest, even if it's on purpose. I'm petty in this regard..."

She raised her head, pursed her lips slightly, and looked at Ning Yi with a smile on her face, a hint of pleading in that smile. The sunset shone down, falling on her face. At this moment, Ning Yi felt moved by this pettiness.

Whether it's true or false, it's really cute...

*************

Today Mao Ni told me that you want a monthly ticket, not for anything else, but to force yourself to write. So... I ask for a monthly ticket! Please let my conscience be condemned!!!