Chapter 11

Qin Nanshan had no choice but to shut Summer into the secondary bedroom.

Wen Yi gave up on touring the apartment. She sat quietly on the sofa, occasionally glancing back at the secondary bedroom door, terrified that Summer might bolt out again.

She suddenly remembered Qin Nanshan’s dog profile picture on his phone—it was unmistakably Summer.

If she’d known beforehand that a massive “bomb” lived here, Wen Yi would never have moved in, no matter what. Frowning, she pondered her next move, her brows knitting tighter the more she thought.

The rent at Yuting Mansion was sky-high, and she’d just terminated her lease there last month. She’d only recently moved out of Changle Lane—if she went back now, Ms. Wen (her mother) would skin her alive.

Stay in a hotel? That seemed like a decent option.

Qin Nanshan came out and sat beside her, falling into the same silence.

Their cohabitation had barely begun, and it was already hitting a wall.

After mulling it over, Wen Yi was about to speak when he cut her off. “Summer is ten years old this year. He’s lived with me for a full decade.”

Wen Yi swallowed her words, leaned back against the sofa, and let out a long, silent sigh in her heart.

Ten years—what kind of bond was that? How could the little tenant in her belly, barely over three months along, possibly compare?

She hung her head dejectedly, unwilling to compromise just yet. She didn’t dare live alongside such a huge animal. Dogs were far scarier than Qin Nanshan.

Qin Nanshan lowered his gaze, his expression subtly darkening, his dark eyes unreadable. After a long pause, he repeated, “He really doesn’t bite.”

“But you’re his owner—of course he wouldn’t bite you. To him, I’m just a stranger. What if he suddenly decides he doesn’t like the look of me and lunges? I’m pregnant. If he scares me badly enough later on when the baby is bigger, what if it causes a miscarriage?”

Qin Nanshan naturally had complete faith in his dog. Summer needed walks, but at his age, he wasn’t like younger dogs that required daily outings. Qin Nanshan only took him out when he had free time. The neighborhood was full of strangers, yet Summer was gentle and well-behaved—he’d never frightened or hurt anyone.

Still, he could understand Wen Yi’s fear. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I’ll be home the entire winter break. I won’t leave you alone with Summer. If I do have to go out, I’ll lock him in the secondary bedroom. How does that sound?”

“Well… what about afterward?”

Qin Nanshan looked troubled. “Why don’t you try getting used to him first? If it really doesn’t work, I’ll send him back to my parents’ place in the eastern suburbs villa.”

Wen Yi asked, “Would you be okay with that?”

“I wouldn’t want to, but there’s no other way.”

Looking at his expression, Wen Yi could tell how deep his bond with Summer ran. If she forced them apart, she’d become the villain.

Qin Nanshan added, “I’m not Summer’s owner. We’re friends. You and the baby will be his friends too.”

Wen Yi was stunned. These days, who treated their dog or cat as anything less than a child? Calling them “friends” was genuinely rare.

Suddenly, she recalled their high school days. Qin Nanshan had always excelled academically, with a reserved personality. Unlike the bold and carefree boys around him, he preferred solving problems in the classroom or strolling the sports field while reciting from memory. He didn’t seem to have many friends back then—the image she retained of him was mostly a solitary figure seen from behind.

At their wedding a few days ago, his groomsmen were a colleague and two junior fellow students from his research group. His social circle had widened a bit as an adult, but from Wen Yi’s interactions with them, it was clear they weren’t close. In the eyes of his juniors and colleagues, Qin Nanshan inspired awe and admiration more than friendship—they saw him as a role model.

In the end, Wen Yi’s heart softened, and she nodded temporarily in agreement.

She had no deep grudge against the dog. Since he was willing to compromise, she had no reason to be unforgiving.

Having lost all interest in exploring further, she asked directly, “Where’s my luggage?”

“In the master bedroom. I didn’t open it.”

Only then did Wen Yi head toward the master bedroom.

The master bedroom was spacious, dominated by a two-meter-wide bed in the center. Opposite the bed was a full-wall wardrobe, flanked by two bedside tables holding scattered items like a desk lamp and alarm clock.

The bedding was plain-colored and neatly folded, the curtains drawn open to let in excellent natural light. The afternoon sun around three or four o’clock spilled directly onto the bed, warm and inviting.

The scent in the room was pleasant too—neither perfume nor body wash, but a faint, mellow sandalwood aroma, mild and rich, just like the one that lingered on him.

Her suitcase sat in front of the wardrobe. Wen Yi shifted it aside and opened the doors.

Half the wardrobe was filled with clothes, the other half empty—clearly cleared out for her.

The source of the sandalwood fragrance became apparent: a wardrobe sachet.

Wen Yi’s gaze slowly swept over the rows of black, white, and gray shirts and suits, and an odd feeling brushed across her heart.

Her family had never had any men’s clothing or other items in the house. The only exceptions were two pairs of slippers bought specifically for hosting her uncle and cousins.

At this moment, the clothes appearing in the wardrobe felt utterly foreign. Wen Yi did not dare look too long. She turned to glance at him. Qin Nanshan said, “There’s only one wardrobe in the apartment that can hold clothes.”

Wen Yi nodded, bent down to squat, opened her suitcase, and began hanging up her colorful dresses and nightgowns.

“Need any help?”

“No thanks, I’ll do it myself. There isn’t much.”

The spacious wardrobe gradually filled up.

Qin Nanshan stood at the doorway, watching the bright colors invade what had once been a space belonging only to him. His eyelids lowered slightly.

The reality of marriage had been settled the day Wen Yi came to his door. After that came meeting the parents, engagement, registering the marriage, the wedding. So many steps had been taken, yet only in this moment did he truly feel the meaning of being married.

There really was another person invading his life.

What Qin Nanshan did not yet know was that this was merely the beginning. In the future, everything would be turned upside down.

……

After simply tidying up, Wen Yi lay on the bed gazing at her unfamiliar new home. A certain emotion welled up in her heart. She had actually gone and married herself off just like that. From now on, this would be her home. How could it feel so unreal?

She picked up a small hourglass from the bedside table. The hourglass was quite heavy, with an elegant design, like two diamonds placed tip to tip. She turned it over, and fine white sand began to fall slowly into the bottom diamond.

Wen Yi stared at it for a while. Her restless thoughts gradually calmed, and she slowly accepted this new life, this new identity.

Besides being Wen Hongyu’s daughter, she was now also Qin Nanshan’s wife and the baby’s mother.

She closed her eyes.

After resting for half an hour, the little tenant signaled hunger with a rumble in her stomach. Wen Yi decided to go out for food and stop by the supermarket to buy some daily necessities.

So she went to the next room to find her dining companion. Summer was still inside, and she did not dare open the door. She only knocked lightly. “I’m going out to eat and buy a few things. Are you coming?”

Qin Nanshan glanced at the half read paper on his computer screen and pressed his brows. “It’s cold outside. There are still vegetables in the fridge. I’ll cookck something up later.”

“Oh, then I’m heading out.”

By the time Qin Nanshan reacted and chased after her, Wen Yi had already changed her shoes and left. He did not even catch a glimpse of her figure.

The Greater Cold had just passed, and Shencheng welcomed a new wave of cold air. The bare sycamore branches along the road clattered against each other in the wind, creating a scene of desolation.

The advantage of an older neighborhood was its mature surrounding amenities, especially being close to the university with plenty of food options. Unfortunately, it was winter break and approaching the New Year, so very few shops on the street were open.

Wrapped tightly in her down jacket, Wen Yi deeply regretted her decision to come out. How pitiful, a newlywed pregnant woman foraging for food alone while her heartless husband lounged comfortably at home.

She turned into a nearby supermarket that was still open, planning to grab something quickly and head back.

Toothpaste, toothbrush, towel, water cup, face towels, body wash… He probably had body wash and shampoo, but she worried she would not be used to them, so she bought her usual brands anyway.

As she wandered into the snack aisle, Wen Yi recalled every corner of his apartment. She truly had not seen any trace of snacks. Spending so many days off at home without snacks would be so boring. Before she finished shopping, her cart was already full.

Leaving the snack section for the New Year goods area, Wen Yi stopped again. Although they would definitely spend the New Year at his parents’ place this year, the apartment still needed some festive atmosphere. She casually picked up some window flower stickers and small lanterns, then grabbed a pair of couplets as well.

Finally, in the fresh and prepared foods section, Wen Yi stared at the various roasted meats and delicacies displayed under the bright lights. She swallowed hard, feeling rather spineless.

Qin Nanshan said he would cook at home. He probably prepared a portion for her too, right? He would not be that stingy, would he?

Whatever. She would buy a little. If he had not cooked for her, she would eat it herself. If he had, it could be an extra treat.

After checking out, she had two full large bags. As a pregnant woman, she naturally could not carry them, and she had not driven. Fortunately, modern life was convenient. The supermarket offered delivery service, free within three kilometers.

After finishing her shopping, Wen Yi went down to the first floor of the mall and happily bought herself a cup of steaming hot milk tea. She strolled home slowly, her mood relaxed.

The supermarket was only two or three hundred meters from home. When she returned, the neighborhood was livelier than before. In the small pavilion, property staff were decorating the community, and a group of children played around them, each holding a small red lantern.

This place had a higher occupancy rate than Yuting Mansion, full of human warmth and everyday life.

But after walking a few more steps inside, she unexpectedly ran straight into the man walking his dog. Wen Yi instinctively stepped back, her whole body tense with refusal as she shouted, “Don’t come any closer!”

Summer looked deeply hurt and let out a whimpering cry.

One person and one dog stared at her, or perhaps at the milk tea in her hand, their gazes intense. Wen Yi reluctantly held it out and said to Qin Nanshan, “I didn’t buy one for you. If you want to drink, you can have mine.”

Qin Nanshan chuckled. “I don’t want any. Have you eaten?”

“No…”

“What about the things you bought?”

“I had them delivered. They haven’t arrived yet.”

“Mm. You go upstairs first. I’ll walk Summer a bit longer.”

Wen Yi maintained full alert, keeping five steps away. “You walk back that way. Don’t come toward me.”

Qin Nanshan tugged the leash. Summer obediently turned around with him. Once they were at a safe distance, Wen Yi let out a long breath and quickly ran into the building.

Standing at the door again, Wen Yi realized she was stumped. It was an electronic lock, and she did not have the code.

She had to call and ask. The code she got was “123456.”

Wen Yi exclaimed, “With a code like that, thieves could get in so easily!”

He told her to change it. After ending the call, Wen Yi looked it up online for a while and successfully figured out how to modify the password. When entering the new one, she hesitated for a moment, then decided on something meaningful to both of them and easy to remember. She sent it to him.

When Qin Nanshan got home, he instinctively entered 123456. The lock prompted that the password was wrong. Only then did he remember Wen Yi had changed it. The new password was 221107.

His memory was good. That date was not their wedding day or the day they registered the marriage. It was the day they reunited, the Start of Winter.

Once inside, the living room was empty. Qin Nanshan settled Summer, then went to the kitchen.

The soup he had started simmering before going out was now on low heat, but the flame had been turned off.

The doorbell rang. Qin Nanshan opened the door and was immediately stunned by two completely full bags. She had bought way too much.

Wen Yi heard the commotion and came out. “That was fast?”

She organized the items one by one, handing him the two boxes of prepared foods she bought for him to heat up, then stashed the snacks she purchased in the space under the coffee table. Whatever did not fit had to be piled on top of the table.

Next came the daily necessities. She unpacked the toothbrush and towel and took them to the bathroom. Qin Nanshan followed her in and saw the things in her hands. “I bought these for you.”

Wen Yi, who had never been inside the bathroom before, finally noticed the new toothbrush on the washbasin and the towel beside it with the tag still attached. She laughed awkwardly. “I did not see them. It is fine. An extra set can be for guests.”

Qin Nanshan said nothing. “Come eat.”

She was not done organizing yet, but Wen Yi first pulled out the red lanterns, red window flowers, and couplets. “I picked these up on a whim. Before we head back to your parents’ place, we should find time to put them up. It will add some festive warmth. I also bought a set for my mom. I will take it to her in the next day or two.”

Qin Nanshan stared at those items, which had not appeared since Xuan Ying and Qin Heng moved out. He was lost in thought for a moment.

It was not until Wen Yi sat down at the dinner table and let out a sigh of admiration. “Did you make this soup?”

Qin Nanshan shifted his gaze from the jumbled couplets and lanterns she had disturbed and sat across from her. “Mm. Try it. Chicken soup. I skimmed off the oil and foam. It is not greasy.”

Wen Yi knew he was thinking about her morning sickness. “I do not throw up anymore. It does not have to be too bland.”

“Good.”

After a busy day of moving, tidying, and shopping, Wen Yi had a huge appetite. She finished two small bowls of rice first, set down her chopsticks, and stared at the man across from her who was eating slowly and methodically.

Qin Nanshan felt uneasy under her gaze. When he looked up, the woman was staring at him with bright, watery eyes, her eyelashes blinking as if urging him: Hurry up and finish so I can wash the dishes.

He said helplessly, “I will wash the dishes.”

“That does not seem right.” Then Wen Yi noticed something. “Why are you eating with your left hand?”

She could not remember from much earlier, but since they reunited, they had eaten together many times. If she remembered correctly, he had always used his right hand, including at her house and at the engagement banquet.

Qin Nanshan glanced at his left hand and explained lightly, “I can use both hands.”

Wen Yi was perceptive and could not help guessing. “You use your right hand when eating with outsiders and your left when eating alone?”

He paused slightly and nodded.

Being left handed was not rare, but when he was little, other children often teased or commented on it. His parents also thought using the right hand would be more convenient for studying and working in the future. When he was four or five, they hoped he would switch. He spent two months changing, but when alone, his left hand still felt more natural.

Nowadays, more and more people used their left hand, and he felt no shame about it, but the habit formed in childhood was hard to break again.

Wen Yi’s starry eyes twinkled. She raised her voice playfully, stirring up trouble for no reason. “Oh, so I used to be an outsider!”

Qin Nanshan could not keep up with her rhythm for a moment and froze in place.

He could only say calmly before she got worked up, “You are not anymore.”

Wen Yi was fairly satisfied with this answer. She touched her belly and sighed. “Then our daughter will probably be left handed too. How cool!”

Qin Nanshan looked up at her, the warm yellow light from above reflected in his eyes.

Wen Yi pushed back her chair. “I am going to take a shower. You said it yourself, you are washing the dishes.”

Then she hummed a little tune as she walked back, casually grabbing a bag of potato chips from the coffee table on her way to the bedroom. “Bang.” The sound of the door closing carried a note of delight.

After a long while, Qin Nanshan set down his chopsticks and looked at the numerous snacks that had appeared in the living room, along with the scattered lanterns and couplets. Complex emotions stirred in his heart.

He washed the dishes, then tidied the living room and kitchen. Finally, after feeding Summer, he noticed the bathroom door was still closed. The frosted glass was completely fogged up.

She had been showering for too long. Qin Nanshan went over and knocked. The door opened.

Steam billowed out like clouds.

Along with the steam came the woman wearing a face mask and pajamas. Wen Yi spoke unclearly. “Your water temperature is not stable. It keeps switching between cold and hot. It was so uncomfortable. Something must be wrong. We need to call someone to fix it. Oh, right, I will wash my dirty clothes myself tomorrow. Do not touch them. Also, why is there no trash bin under the sink? I had nowhere to throw my makeup remover wipes and face towels.”

As she spoke, she grabbed a ball of tissues from the counter and went out to throw them away, then returned to the master bedroom.

Once the steam cleared, the mirror was still foggy, with obvious streaks from where a hand had wiped it.

The washbasin now held many bottles and jars that did not belong to him: big and small, tall and short, in all different colors, scattered here and there.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of her body wash, so sweet it made one slightly flustered.

His brows furrowed lightly. He went in, arranged the cosmetics and skincare products neatly from tall to short, then wiped the mirror clean. Only after finishing all this did his heart settle.

After his own shower, Qin Nanshan knocked on the master bedroom door but did not push it open. “I still have some work. You sleep first.”

“Oh, okay.”

He did have things to do. Today’s plans had been disrupted by unexpected events. Summer had already been walked yesterday, so there was no need today. There was no need to make soup, no need to be distracted because of another person.

Summer was already resting in his bed. Qin Nanshan sat at his desk, but suddenly his thoughts about research and the future evaporated.

This was somewhat different from what he had imagined.

And… the matter of sharing a bed.

Deep into the night, cold air whistled through the window edges. Qin Nanshan eventually lost the mood to continue reading his paper. He took off his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers, and closed his eyes to rest.

He did not know how much time passed until Summer came over and nudged his foot. Qin Nanshan startled awake and realized he had dozed off for half an hour.

He looked down at his watch. It was nearly eleven. Time to sleep.

He got up, first going to the balcony to bring in the washed clothes. On the balcony hung two pieces that did not belong to him: her hand washed underwear, black lace, hanging alone in the corner, swaying lightly in the breeze. He did not look long, finished hanging the clothes, and left.

Then he went to the master bedroom, opening the door quietly with light movements.

All the lights in the master bedroom were off. The light from the living room seeped through the door crack, forming a triangle that illuminated a slight bulge under the covers on the bed.

The air conditioning was on, keeping the room at a comfortable temperature. Wen Yi was lying on her side facing inward, her face not visible.

She was asleep.

He gently closed the door, his footsteps soft as he walked to the outer side she had left for him.

Wen Yi had woken up long ago, or rather, she had not fallen asleep at all. She had opened her eyes the moment he opened the door.

From another perspective, pregnancy was a good thing. It had not only cured her of years of staying up late but also improved her sleep quality. It might even extend her lifespan by a few years.

Pregnant for over three months, aside from those few days of hesitation, this was the first time she had lain awake for more than an hour, tossing and turning.

She had gotten up once in the middle, tiptoeing to the door. The secondary bedroom was completely quiet. She had no idea what the man and his dog were doing in there.

When she came back, she still could not sleep.

Wen Yi blamed it all on waiting for the man beside her. When there was something unfinished hanging over her, her heart could never settle.

She inhaled the overwhelming sandalwood scent filling the air, squeezed her palm, and said softly, “Can you not come back so late from now on?”

Qin Nanshan paused in surprise and asked gently, “You are not asleep yet? Did I disturb you?”

“No. I cannot sleep when you are not here.” As soon as she said it, she realized how much that could be misinterpreted. Wen Yi’s face burned red. “I mean, I am not used to waiting for someone.”

The darkness stretched on endlessly. The whole space fell into a quiet yet intimate atmosphere. The hum of the air conditioner grew infinitely louder, mingling with their breaths, one deep and one shallow, intertwining until it was impossible to tell whose was whose.

After a long while, Qin Nanshan replied, “All right. I will come back earlier from now on.”

Even longer passed, and there was still no movement beside her. Wen Yi had no choice but to roll over. In the faint natural light, she made out the man standing motionless by the bed.

The flush on her face had faded. She was utterly puzzled by his behavior. “What are you doing? Come up already.”

Qin Nanshan was silent for a few moments before saying slowly, “I need to use the bathroom. You sleep first.”

“……” Why did he not go just now? Wen Yi really wanted to ask if there was something wrong with his kidneys.

Another ten minutes went by before he came back in and lifted the covers to get into bed.

Wen Yi caught a faint whiff of nicotine on him. “You went to smoke?”

Qin Nanshan lowered his head to sniff his loungewear and said apologetically, “I changed clothes. Does it still smell?”

“A little, but it does not mat…..” Before she could finish saying “matter,” the man beside her sat up again. “I will take a shower.”

“……”

Wen Yi finally could not hold out any longer. She was not waiting anymore.