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Yue Yao noticed their interaction and, although it wasn't anything explicit, their relationship seemed a bit closer. She smiled slightly, knowing she shouldn't act as a third wheel here, and pretended to yawn.

"Ah... So sleepy, especially today. I just came here sleepwalking. You guys carry on, I'll head back to sleep too."

Seeing Yue Yao about to leave, Zhang Yurong hurriedly called her back, "Yue Yao, wait..."

How could she not know that Yue Yao was trying to avoid making it awkward for them? But Yue Yao had hurt her foot. Even though Li Yan said it wasn't serious, she was still unsure, and even if it wasn't serious, she should be careful tonight. She still needed Yue Yao's help; she couldn't rely on Li Yan for everything. She was already mortified when he removed her stockings just now.

"Hmm?"

"You... Stay with me tonight!" Yurong pleaded with a flushed face. Last night, they had taken care of the unconscious Li Yan. Tonight was just a minor foot injury, asking for someone's care might seem a bit spoiled. So she added, "I hurt my foot... I'm afraid of Li Yan, afraid he'll sneak into my bed at night, and then I won't even be able to kick him out."

Li Yan was speechless. How could she link it to this? If I really intended to sneak into your bed at night, not even a few professional bodyguards could stop me.

Turning his head, he met Zhang Yurong's gaze. She looked back, her eyes filled with apology. She knew that disparaging her own husband like this was a bit over the line, but pride was important to her too.

Li Yan understood her thoughts immediately, giving her a slight smile to show he knew and didn't mind, which eased Yurong's worry a bit.

Yue Yao had already returned, sitting by the bed she chuckled, "Yurong sis, if brother-in-law Li Yan climbs into your bed, that would be perfectly natural. I think you should just give in to him sooner rather than later, then you won't have to worry so much..."

"Yue Yao... What are you saying?" Yurong stammered, both anxious and ashamed.

She had already shared the situation about her marriage with Yue Yao, and Yue Yao, having lived there for a while, knew they slept in separate rooms. But knowing and discussing it in front of Li Yan were two different matters. Now, in her room with Li Yan present, Yue Yao directly brought it up. Isn't that hitting the nail on the head, crushing a man's pride?

Pride is about face, and bringing it up in front of someone is truly not giving any face. It's like someone having erectile dysfunction, everyone knows, but who would say, "Hey buddy, visited the ol' doc again today?" in front of him?

Li Yan's situation, in ordinary eyes, didn't feel dignified either — a man unable to conquer his own wife. Even if you can't win her heart, you can at least rightfully win her body and deal with the heart part later. So when Yue Yao jokingly said it out loud, Yurong was extremely worried that Li Yan would get angry and leave in a huff.

After Yue Yao spoke, she noticed Yurong's expression and realized she had said something wrong. This could have been said privately to Li Yan, but doing it in front of Yurong didn't feel respectful.

However, whether it's dignity or face, keeping it needs strength and attitude. Like when Si Country wanted to parade their aircraft carrier at our doorstep: initially, the papers said, "The carrier arrives, we'll make it a sieve"; a few days later: "If people don't bother us, we won't bother them, if they do, we must retaliate"; finally: "The military exercise by Si Country isn't significant, really..." The face issue ties back to strength and attitude.

If Li Yan were a hot-headed guy, hearing such remarks might have enraged him; if he were insecure, yearning for benevolence from Zhang Yurong, even if not angry, he would feel hurt. But he's not like that! He's confident he can win Zhang Yurong over, and they initially agreed to not interfere mutually. Naturally, he wouldn't be annoyed or upset over off-handed remarks by two close girls.

He reacted calmly, not intending to say much since everyone knew about the issue, and Yue Yao wasn't an outsider. But seeing both girls feeling like they did something wrong, sneaking concerned glances at him, Li Yan felt he should express something.

"Haha... Yue Yao, you're really more anxious than the eunuch. Yurong sis and I didn't have much understanding before marriage; we started falling in love only post-marriage. We're just entering the honeymoon phase, and the issue you mentioned is a little premature. Don't frighten my little darling." He finished speaking, laughed, and stood up, showing the medicated oil on his hands, then headed to the bathroom to wash.

Seeing he wasn't angry or upset, the two girls exchanged a glance and finally felt relieved.

Yue Yao leaned in to Yurong and chuckled, "Post-marriage love, honeymoon phase, little darling… Teehee, so romantic."

Yurong blushed, saying, "Don't talk nonsense... He's always been so unserious." Hearing him call "my little darling" just now, left her feeling cold yet oddly touched inside.

...

When Li Yan came out and noticed him packing up to leave, Yurong quickly called out to him, "You… got hurt on your back too, let me apply some medicine…"

"My skin is thick, no need."

"No way, you must! Come lie down here!" Zhang Yurong shifted aside a little and settled herself again, pointing beside her.

Li Yan had no choice, so he lay beside her, lifting the back of his sleepwear for her to check his back.

Zhang Yurong didn't see any obvious injury but worried he might have internal injuries. She started to feel around from the top, occasionally pressing, saying, "Tell me if it hurts..."

Li Yan felt quite comfortable with her small hands on his back, so he hummed a few times casually, letting her fuss around.

Zhang Yurong lacked experience, but she mimicked Li Yan's earlier actions, applying some medicated oil and rubbing it over his back. After a while, she exclaimed, "It's red! I told you were hurt!"

Li Yan and Yue Yao broke into a small sweat. With oil and rubbing, wouldn't you expect it to turn red...

Soon after, as Yurong's leg was immobile, making it hard to kneel up, her rubbing caused her to breathe heavily. Her soft voice in Li Yan's ears, along with her hands rubbing his back, made him feel like he was getting scrubbed by a beautiful woman. Using the excuse that he was fine now, he quickly stopped her and returned to his room.

...

Once he was finally out of the shower, all his lewd thoughts had washed away.

There was a missed call on his phone, seeing it was from Yu Xiaodi, Li Yan quickly called back. She had especially come to see him off when he went to Beihai Country, and greeted him on return, but thanks to some middle-school acquaintance issue, they barely had time to meet. He hadn't found time to visit her these past days either.

"Uncle, why didn't you answer my call?" Yu Xiaodi complained lightly.

"I was just showering…"

"Showering? Isn't that quick for men? You weren't doing anything impure, were you?"

Li Yan felt a cold sweat, pretending to be angry, "You cheeky girl, what are you saying? Wouldn't that be embarrassing if your roommate heard?"

"Hehe, if I'm not afraid, what are you worried about?" Yu Xiaodi giggled mischievously before lowering her voice to ask, "Come on, I'm not a kid who's clueless. When you're… doing it, who do you think about? Ever think of me?"

Li Yan wiped his forehead, replying irritably, "No!"

"No? So, it's Zhang Yurong then? Alas… no way around it, I lag behind her so much in figure and aura…"

Hearing her self-pitying words, Li Yan helplessly reassured, "Little girl, stop overthinking. I wasn't thinking about anyone, wasn't even doing anything, okay?"

"Uncle, tomorrow… would you give me a health checkup?"

Yu Xiaodi suddenly murmured softly. Li Yan was taken aback, a health checkup? I'm good at that! But... isn't that inappropriate.

(Thanks to the brothers who tipped on the 19th: It Was You Long Brother, Sai Clan's Little Fish, ｗǒ╃→風★, Dragon's World Tea Guest, kgjo, woaitingting, Newcomer Clown, dongmin8061, Stevenjiang, AǐR (Blue Sky), Reader ID: 100819073955748, I Am a boo, しょぅけん, Cp Pampas) (To be continued, to find out what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)

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