PWE – Chapter 137

Xiao Wange nodded. “Mm, keep it.”

As she spoke, she carried all the bundles into the bedroom. While tidying up the items inside, she called out to him in the main hall, “Have you eaten yet? If not, I can make you something to eat.”

Zhan Zeyan’s voice came from outside the room. “I’ve eaten. I had dinner with my comrades in the county town.”

Xiao Wange pressed her lips together. “Do you want a late-night snack? I can make you some tangyuan.”

He hadn’t been home for quite a while. Now that he was finally back, she wanted to prepare some of the food they had at home for him.

Zhan Zeyan said, “No need to trouble yourself. I’m not hungry.”

After a pause, Zhan Zeyan suddenly walked into the room holding Zhaozhao. He looked at her and said, “Are you sleepy? If you are, go to sleep first.”

In the past, even when he stayed up for New Year’s Eve, he never stayed awake until dawn—at most until midnight before turning in.

Now that midnight had already passed, he felt it was fine to go to sleep.

Xiao Wange turned to face him. “Let’s sleep. I’ll take out another quilt. Tonight the three of us can squeeze in together. No need to make up another bed.”

Zhan Zeyan had no objections and placed Zhaozhao at the innermost side of the bed.

After tucking Zhaozhao in properly, he walked over to the bundle Long Yan had brought.

He frowned, his expression turning somewhat cold and heavy. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly said, “We shouldn’t have accepted this. If we get the chance to return it, it’d be better to give it back.”

That man had said he could also be considered Zhaozhao’s father. Didn’t that mean he was also implying that he could be considered Wange’s husband?

He didn’t want to share his wife with another man, nor did he want to share his child.

He didn’t have that kind of kink!

Xiao Wange took a cotton quilt out of the cupboard and then fetched a bedsheet.

She deftly slipped the quilt into the sheet, then grabbed the two corners and shook it more than ten times. Seeing her busy, Zhan Zeyan quickly came over to help.

He held the opposite two corners and shook the quilt together with her.

He glanced at the quilt, then at her. “Is this a new one?”

Xiao Wange nodded. “Yes. I just bought it in town a few days ago. For the New Year, you’re supposed to add new things. Quilts count too.”

Zhan Zeyan curled his lips slightly. “Anyway, the family isn’t short of money now. Buy whatever you want.”

Many men disliked it when women added household items they already had, thinking it was a waste of money.

Even if the woman earned the money herself, they still felt it was wasteful.

Xiao Wange smiled and looked up at Zhan Zeyan.

When it came to spending money, he had never restricted her.

Though even if he wanted to, he couldn’t—most of the money she spent now was money she earned herself. Although his salary was handed over to her as well, she had barely touched it.

If he tried to restrict her, she definitely wouldn’t give him a good look.

The two of them got onto the bed one after the other. Xiao Wange lay in the middle, Zhan Zeyan on the outer side.

The bed wasn’t small, but it wasn’t big either. With three people, it was a bit cramped. But in the cold winter, being close actually made it warmer.

Xiao Wange closed her eyes and breathed steadily, pretending to sleep.

In the darkness, Zhan Zeyan stared at Long Yan’s bundle. Thinking of that man who looked exactly like him, he couldn’t fall asleep at all.

After remaining silent for more than ten minutes, he suddenly asked softly, “Wange, are you asleep?”

Xiao Wange was actually feeling a bit sleepy by then.

But hearing his voice, she still replied, “No, I’m not. What’s wrong?”

Zhan Zeyan frowned, his eyes turning somewhat cold in the darkness. “Even though you said that man has no ill intent toward you and Zhaozhao, just to be safe, I think we should still be cautious. How about this—why don’t you move to town for the next few days? I’ll have He Xiuyan rent a place for you, and let him protect you.”

Hearing this, Xiao Wange couldn’t help but laugh softly.

She turned her head to look at him. “He Xiuyan does have some ability, but those abilities are completely inadequate in front of that man. If that man really wanted to deal with me, He Xiuyan being around would only cause me more trouble. So let’s forget about involving He Xiuyan, and forget about renting a place too.”

Zhan Zeyan: “……”

For some reason, hearing her say that He Xiuyan would only cause her trouble made his heart ache uncontrollably.

It felt as if she were talking about him—as if she were saying that he, being by her side, was also just someone who caused trouble.

He knew she didn’t mean it that way. But at this moment, he still felt miserable—a kind of inferiority-driven pain. He felt that he wasn’t worthy of her, that he couldn’t even protect her.

Earlier, he had said he wanted to stay, to guard her and Zhaozhao. But with his abilities, he clearly wouldn’t be a match for that man either. If he stayed, he would only add to her troubles.

He knitted his brows tightly. The coldness in his eyes was suddenly flooded with sorrow.

He used to think he was quite capable, but now he felt like a useless person.

Just then, Xiao Wange suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, rubbing lightly against his chest as she said, “Go to sleep early. You still have to set out in the morning to meet up with your comrades.”

Her action made his body stiffen.

Hidden beneath the quilt, his hand clenched tightly.

After a few moments of silence, he reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms.

The warmth of her body was like the gentle sun of early spring, instantly illuminating his darkened heart.

No matter what, as long as his wife didn’t despise him, it was enough. No matter what, as long as she… was willing to stay by his side.

He slowly closed his eyes and lowered his head to gently kiss her on the forehead.

With her eyes closed, Xiao Wange imperceptibly curved her lips in the darkness.

She shifted slightly in his arms, finding a more comfortable sleeping position.

Outside, the cold wind howled bleakly, but inside the room, it was warm and cozy.

Zhan Zeyan held her for less than ten minutes before falling asleep, as if his wife herself had a built-in hypnotic effect.

However, an hour later, Zhan Zeyan on the bed suddenly opened his eyes.

He turned his head to look at his sleeping wife and child, then suddenly raised his hand and cast a spell on them.

If Xiao Wange had seen his actions, she would surely have cried out in shock. After all, Zhan Zeyan didn’t know any magic techniques—yet at this moment, he had clearly used a spell.

And his eyes were wrong too. At this moment, his eyes were blood-red—an intense crimson even more vivid than the rosy clouds on the horizon, filled with aggression yet also with a bewitching allure that could make one fall into them.

After he cast the spell, a barrier suddenly appeared around Xiao Wange and Zhaozhao. That barrier blocked out all external sounds, as if within it existed an entirely different world.