TPW – Chapter 18 My First Time (Three Updates in One)

He came running like a gust of wind, eyes red, arms spread like an eagle protecting its chick. His childish, milky voice held no real threat, yet it made Xu Haizhou shudder.

That was the first time Qiao An ever called him “Dad”—and it was in a moment like this.

The neighbors all started chattering and managed to stop Wang Bin in his tracks. Fortunately, Wang Bin still had a shred of conscience left—he didn’t swing the brick at the child.

Xu Haizhou quickly shielded his son behind him.

Wang Bin halted, fuming with rage. “Dad?” he snapped.

Pointing a trembling finger at Xu Haizhou, he gritted his teeth. “You little brat! He’s not your father! Do you even know what it means to take a thief for your dad?”

Qiao Lu rushed up, breathless, pulling her son back. “Wang Bin, if you’re not educated, don’t throw around big words. It just makes you look ridiculous, okay?”

The little guy clutched the hem of Xu Haizhou’s shirt, poked his head out from behind him, and said the fiercest words in the weakest voice—

“He is my dad!”

“The hell he is! What’s so good about him?” Wang Bin sized up Xu Haizhou. Aside from his face, what did he have that could compare to him?

“He gonna buy you new clothes? Feed you meat every day? Buy you biscuits and candy? I’ve been so good to you, and you don’t like me one bit?”

“I don’t like you!” The little guy turned and wrapped his arms around Xu Haizhou. “I don’t want new clothes, I don’t want meat—I just want my dad! Go away! You big meanie!”

Kids can tell who genuinely cares for them. When Wang Bin was courting Qiao Lu, he’d treated Qiao An decently, but all of it had been with ulterior motives. The disgust he’d shown toward Qiao An had left its mark.

His kindness was fake—a lie. That uncle never liked him.

And he pushed his mom into the water! He was just like that rotten Chen Ergou in the village. They were both bad guys!

Qiao An’s childish words and innocent tone made the neighbors burst out laughing. Everyone said what a well-raised boy he was.

“What a sensible child, already knows how to protect his family. Wang Bin, even a kid wants nothing to do with you. Can you stop showing up here to prove your worth?” Liu Xiaohong sneered.

Enraged and humiliated, Wang Bin raised the brick again, ready to strike. Xu Haizhou tensed, prepared to fight back—but just then, the eldest daughter from the Tian family walked over and snatched the brick away.

The fastest solution is often the simplest.

Wang Bin was stunned. “Mind your own damn business! Give it back!”

But Aunt Tian wasn’t the least bit afraid. Back in the day when she ruled the factory floor, this brat was still running around in split-bottom pants!

“Oh, knock it off! You wanna hit me now, is that it? It’s a joyous day—don’t you mess it up! Go on home before I tell your dad!”

“Go ahead! What, you think I’m scared of him now?” He wasn’t a three-year-old anymore.

“Well, maybe you’re not scared—but I am! I’ll go get him right now.” Aunt Tian turned and left without hesitation.

“Shit!” Realizing she was serious, Wang Bin chased after her on instinct, but halfway through, he stopped, trying to save face. “I’m just being civil in front of the kid, that’s all. Next time I see you on the street, you’d better watch out!”

Xu Haizhou let out a cold laugh. With thick brows shadowing his high brow bones, he stood there like an unsheathed sword, chilling to the core.

“You’d better actually try something.”

Wang Bin shivered involuntarily and left almost at a run—but not in the direction of the silk factory. He headed for the Wang family compound.

No one knew if Aunt Tian really went to find Wang Bin’s father, but the neighbors’ help genuinely moved Qiao Lu.

The commotion sparked some small talk in the courtyard as people gathered around.

Liu Xiaohong sighed. “It’s partly my fault. I never should’ve introduced Qiao Lu to him just because of his decent conditions.”

Actually, Wang Bin had seen Qiao Lu a few times and couldn’t forget her. He’d come to Liu Xiaohong, asking her to play matchmaker. Sister Liu thought if he liked her, surely he’d treat her well.

Who could’ve guessed—dogs really can’t stop eating shit.

“It’s not your fault. You meant well,” Aunt Chen comforted her.

Liu Xiaohong’s mother-in-law, Grandma Feng, slowly hobbled over with her cane. Her hair was silver but neatly combed, and her clothes and face were both meticulously clean. Her eyes were warm and kind.

Grandma Feng had five sons. Four of them—and her husband—were all martyrs. In that courtyard, she was the most respected elder. Whenever she spoke, people naturally felt reassured.

“Don’t worry. That Wang Bin kid is nothing but a paper tiger. You just focus on living a good life with Xu Haizhou.” she said as she pulled Qiao Lu’s hand and patted it gently.

Auntie Chen chimed in too. “Yeah, he’s all bark and no bite. Got some dirty money and thinks he’s somebody. Don’t take it to heart.”

“If he ever shows up again and your man’s not around, just come find us! I don’t work—I’m in this courtyard all day!” shouted Wu Guifang, the daughter-in-law from the Hu family.

Qiao Lu’s heart warmed. The neighbors of the 1980s were just too kind and supportive.

After the whole farce ended, little Qiao An went home and cried his heart out.

He bawled inconsolably, tears streaming down his face, and no one could figure out why—Xu Haizhou wasn’t hurt, and his Mom hadn’t been bullied.

The couple watched anxiously, hearts aching. Especially Xu Haizhou—he’d already started treating the little guy like his own flesh and blood through countless small details. Seeing him cry like this broke his heart.

“Don’t cry,” he murmured, “Daddy will make sure you get to eat meat every single day.”

His fingertips weren’t as soft as Qiao Lu’s—they had a thin layer of calluses, a little rough—but they were warmer than hers. When they touched his face, they felt toasty and incredibly comforting.

As Xu Haizhou wiped his tears, Qiao An leaned into the motion, nuzzling against his hand. Though the tears stopped quickly, he still looked uneasy and squirmed in Xu Haizhou’s arms, shaking his head restlessly.

“I don’t want meat. I want Mommy. I want Daddy.” The little guy lacked a sense of security—just the slightest disturbance could send his thoughts spiraling.

Now the couple finally understood: the child had been frightened.

Qiao Lu rubbed his head gently and comforted him, “Don’t be scared, Mommy’s here and Daddy’s here too. We’ll always be with An’an, no one can separate us.”

“Our An’an is a little man. A little setback like this can’t get you down, right?” This was the first time Qiao An had ever nestled into Xu Haizhou’s arms of his own accord—so soft, with a sweet milky scent. The man’s heart melted into a puddle.

Qiao An stopped crying. He sniffled, a tiny, clear tear clinging to the tip of his nose, swaying with every word he spoke.

“Mm… An’an wants to be a man.”

Xu Haizhou wiped the tear off his eyelashes with his thumb. “A real man isn’t scared of bad guys that easily.”

“Mm, I wasn’t scared, Mommy,” Qiao An said as he reached his arms out, asking to be held.

Qiao Lu smiled as she took her son into her arms and kissed him. “My son is amazing. You were so brave protecting Daddy just now.”

The little one blushed shyly and whispered, “I-I didn’t want him to hit Daddy. That hurts.”

“But weren’t you afraid of getting hurt yourself while protecting Daddy?”

“I was,” he admitted. Then after a moment’s thought, he shook his head. “I wasn’t afraid. I’m a man.”

“Mommy’s little treasure is a real man. Mommy’s so happy. An’an is the best!” Qiao Lu continued to smother him with kisses.

“Mm!” The little one nodded vigorously. He felt like he was awesome too!

Seeing how much their son liked Xu Haizhou, Qiao Lu felt overjoyed. Didn’t this just prove that mother and son had the same great taste?

“Daddy is nice to me, so I’ll be nice to Daddy too.” When he looked at Xu Haizhou, his little face turned red, tinged with shyness.

Xu Haizhou gently kissed his forehead—it was the first intimate moment shared between father and son.

Qiao An caught a whiff of his unique scent, different from the sweet balm on Qiao Lu. He thought Daddy smelled rich and earthy, like fresh grass—very comforting. It was a scent that made him feel safe.

“Having you and your mom is the greatest blessing of my life.”

Never before had Xu Haizhou felt this way—like he’d truly found two priceless treasures.

Children’s emotions come and go quickly. After being comforted, Qiao An returned to normal as if nothing had happened. He played with his little goldfish for a while, then climbed into bed and took a nap. When he woke up, Qiao Lu had already finished cooking dinner.

Since they’d had meat for lunch, it was a vegetarian dinner tonight. Qiao Lu made two dishes: scrambled eggs with cucumber and stewed cabbage with vermicelli. Even though there was no meat, her cooking was so good that both father and son devoured the meal like it was from a restaurant—everything was gone in no time.

As night fell, the courtyard grew lively.

In this era, entertainment options were extremely limited, but life in a shared courtyard was much more interesting than in apartment blocks. Everyone had been neighbors for a decade or two; it only took a simple topic to spark a fun conversation. Men, women, young, and old all gathered together, blending like one big family—it was bustling and warm.

Qiao Lu was infected by the cheerful atmosphere and was about to take her son to greet the neighbors when Qiao An suddenly held his belly and announced: “Mommy, I want to poop.”

Of all the things from this era, Qiao Lu could tolerate almost anything—except the toilets. Just thinking about them made her want to cry.

Like in the apartment blocks, you still had to squat in a public latrine with zero privacy.

Public toilets were one of the most iconic constructions of the century, part of the collective childhood memories of everyone born in the ’70s, ’80s, and even early ’90s.

Unlike the clean, private stalls of thirty years later, these public toilets had no privacy at all. Inside a concrete hut, the squat holes lined up in neat rows. The moment you squatted, everyone in there could see your bare butt. Even though it was the women’s toilet, the awkwardness was inevitable. On top of that, there was no ventilation—the stench was so strong you had to pinch your nose just walking past.

Living in this era, Qiao Lu felt like the only thing keeping her going was the dream of moving into a house with a private bathroom!

“Alright, let Daddy take you.”

Although the little guy had cried his heart out in Xu Haizhou’s arms that afternoon and even called him “Daddy,” now that his rationality had returned, he was feeling shy again—like a bashful little girl.

He fidgeted uncomfortably.

Qiao Lu laughed, “It’s okay, just go. Don’t hold it in.”

The little one looked pitifully at her. “Mommy…”

Qiao Lu spoke gently but firmly, “Mommy’s a girl and can’t go into the men’s bathroom. An’an is already a three-year-old boy—if you keep going into the women’s bathroom, people will laugh at you.”

She pinched his cheek with a smile. “Besides, we have a Daddy now, of course Daddy should take you, right?”

After thinking it through, the little guy realized it made sense. He wilted a bit and hung his head. “Alright then.”

He glanced up at Xu Haizhou, who was standing nearby, looking at him with a gentle expression—so warm it gave him courage.

The little guy shuffled over with tiny steps and tugged on the hem of Xu Haizhou’s shirt, lifting his head and speaking in his soft baby voice: “I—I… Daddy, I want to poop.”

Xu Haizhou chuckled quietly, rubbed his head, and took his little hand.

“Daddy will take you.”

It was the first time the father and son held hands in public. For little Qiao An, this was an incredibly novel experience. At first, he was a bit uncomfortable, but after walking thirty or forty meters, he gradually got used to it.

Dad’s hand was so warm. So big—super big! Much bigger than Mom’s!

He curiously gave it a little squeeze. Caught off guard by Xu Haizhou’s glance, he quickly stuck out his tongue, embarrassed, and didn’t dare move again.

The corners of Xu Haizhou’s lips curved upward uncontrollably.

As they approached the courtyard gate, the little guy suddenly looked back. Qiao Lu was still standing at the door, watching the father and son as they walked away.

Qiao An bashfully turned his head around, feeling a bubbling joy inside. His steps grew lighter, and he skipped out of Qiao Lu’s sight.

Qiao Lu couldn’t help laughing—this kid was so shy yet so cute.

“Qiao Lu, don’t just stand there like a dummy. Come chat with us!” called Aunt Tian.

Qiao Lu smiled. “Sure, I’ll come over after I finish washing the dishes!”

At the center of the courtyard stood a tall loquat tree, which bloomed in the winter. Especially during this season, the creamy white blossoms dotted the branches, looking particularly lovely. After meals, the residents of the courtyard loved to gather under the tree to chat.

“Don’t let the cold fool you. When everyone’s huddled together, it’s actually pretty warm.” Knitting as they chatted, the aunties laughed and talked, their bodies warming up with the lively conversation.

Aunt Tian enthusiastically pulled Qiao Lu to sit beside her on a long wooden bench.

Most of the people present were uncles and aunties. The younger generation stayed inside where it was warm. The only young person outside was Aunt Chen’s youngest daughter, Chen Simei, who looked around fifteen or sixteen. She had a round, apple-like face and single eyelids, and she wore a cotton-padded jacket with floral patterns. She looked lively and cheerful.

As soon as Qiao Lu sat down, she heard the girl’s loud, clear voice: “The new bride is here!”

Qiao Lu smiled at her in response.

“Where’s your son? And where’s Haizhou?” asked Aunt Tian.

“Haizhou took An’an to the toilet,” Qiao Lu replied.

“Oh.”

Qiao Lu had just married into the compound. Not only was she unfamiliar with everyone, but they were unfamiliar with her too. Sitting here together now, she wasn’t quite sure what to say and had to work hard to find conversation topics.

“It’s pretty rare, you know, for both parents not to be around.” In the courtyard, families were generally multigenerational. Households without grandparents were few and far between, like Qiao Lu’s small three-person family.

Qiao Lu smiled faintly, brushing hair from her face. “It’s no big deal. Fewer people at home makes things quieter.”

Aunt Tian chuckled. “Too quiet and it becomes lonely!”

Aunt Chen nodded. “Yeah, too much quiet isn’t good either. Don’t be shy. Come out and chat with us whenever you like. It’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“Okay,” Qiao Lu replied.

Qiao An didn’t take long in the bathroom, and before long, Xu Haizhou brought him back. The moment the little guy saw Qiao Lu, he ran toward her like a bullet.

“Mama!”

He charged like a little cannonball. Qiao Lu, caught off guard, nearly got knocked over, but luckily, Aunt Tian caught her from behind.

Realizing he’d almost made a mistake, Qiao An stuck out his tongue and buried his head in Qiao Lu’s arms like a little ostrich.

“Mama…”

Qiao Lu laughed and pinched his soft cheek. “All done?”

“Mhm!”

“Where’s Daddy?”

The little hand pointed behind him. “There!”

Qiao Lu looked over. The couple shared a smile, and Xu Haizhou quickened his pace, striding over and sitting down beside her. Then, quite naturally, he slipped his arm around her shoulders.

It was the first time the two had shown affection in public. At first, Qiao Lu stiffened, a bit awkward. Then she suddenly remembered—they were married now. It was perfectly fine to show affection openly. Gradually, she relaxed.

A clean, cool scent drifted from him. Qiao Lu’s thoughts were momentarily elsewhere as the aunties around them started teasing the newlyweds.

“Newlyweds really are inseparable, huh?”

“Yeah, look how lovey-dovey they are!”

“Well, that’s what newlyweds do. Don’t laugh—weren’t you the same when you first got married?”

“Hahaha—”

Everyone burst into laughter.

The aunties were all very good at chatting, and the atmosphere grew more and more lively. Even Qiao Lu began to open up. She glanced sideways at Xu Haizhou, who was already looking at her.

Their hands, hidden beneath their thick coats, squeezed each other gently. Passing warmth in such a subtle way made Qiao Lu’s heart skip a beat—shy but sweet.

Qiao An wasn’t idle either. Over by the loquat tree, Grandpa Chen Fuguai kept trying to make conversation with him. Holding a tobacco pipe, the old man smiled as he looked at Qiao An and puffed out smoke rings, which made the little guy shrink further into his mother’s arms.

“What a sweet little girl—we’ve never had such a pretty one in this courtyard before.” He patted Qiao An’s hair fondly.

Qiao Lu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Uncle, he’s a boy.”

“What? A boy?” Chen Fuguai took a big drag of his pipe, puzzled. “A boy with such fair skin? Smooth like tofu.”

Forget rough-and-tumble boys—even most girls weren’t as fair and clean-looking as Qiao An.

Everyone burst into laughter, teasing Old Chen for being so old he couldn’t even tell boys from girls anymore.

Qiao Lu smiled helplessly. “I’ll just take that as a compliment.”

Chen Fuguai laughed heartily. “Yes, yes, it’s a compliment. A boy with delicate looks is a blessing—makes people dote on him.”

Qiao Lu was grateful that Qiao An was still young and forgetful. Otherwise, this would’ve haunted his entire childhood.

The adults kept chatting, the atmosphere warm and lively. The children ran around the courtyard, then suddenly stopped to jump rope.

Qiao An lay in his mother’s arms, watching them.

Noticing the child’s gaze, Qiao Lu lowered her eyes and gently squeezed his warm little hand. “Do you want to go play with the other kids?”

Qiao An shook his head and clung to her tightly.

“There are so many kids—don’t you want to play with them?”

The little guy stared at the group without blinking. His eyes flickered briefly, then he suddenly looked up at her.

There was an emotion in his eyes that was hard to define. He bit his lip and blinked. His long lashes lowered like curtains, trembling slightly.

He still shook his head. “No…”

Back in the countryside, there were always plenty of kids running all over the hills, climbing mountains, swimming in rivers, crawling through dog holes, and stomping in mud pits. The original Qiao Lu had been a neat freak who didn’t want her fair, clean son playing with those dirty kids. After being separated from his peers for so long, Qiao An gradually became introverted and reluctant to interact with other children.

Looking down at her son, Qiao Lu saw him purse his lips silently, but his eyes remained fixed on the kids.

Just as she was about to coax him with kind words, the little guy suddenly broke free from her arms like a wild horse off its reins and bolted into the house.

“Hey—!”

“I’ll go,” Xu Haizhou got up to chase him.

Qiao Lu could only sigh, her brow furrowed with concern. “This child…”

Liu Xiaohong laughed and glanced into the house. “He’s probably just shy.”

“He looks so quiet. Must be timid, right?” asked the aunt from the Chen family.

Qiao Lu looked toward the room, worry in her eyes. “Yeah, very timid.”

The Chen aunt, absentmindedly looping yarn, said, “It’s fine. He’ll get used to it in time. Kids all love to play eventually.”

“Let my daughter take him out next time. They’ll be thick as thieves in no time, don’t worry.”

Crickets chirped as the bright moon hung in the sky.

On the first night of their marriage, Qiao Lu took her son to wash up early and went to bed. Xu Haizhou had gone to the bathhouse with his shower ticket—it’d be at least twenty minutes before he got back.

After washing up for the night, the mother and son lay in bed. Their goldfish bowl was on the bedside table. The two little fish swam happily, occasionally blowing bubbles, making Qiao An giggle—everything was fascinating to a child.

While Qiao An watched the fish, Qiao Lu also stared at them, though her thoughts were far away.

She blushed at the thought of Xu Haizhou.

It was their wedding night. Of course that kind of thing was inevitable… but there was only one bedroom in the house. What if Qiao An heard something…? And people said the first time hurt—but wait, she wasn’t technically a virgin… Still, in her heart, it was her first time!

Sigh. She didn’t know if that man was the gentle type. People said men often had two personalities—gentle before, but once things started, they could become really domineering. If he only cared about himself… The thought sent a chill down her spine.

“Mama, Mama?” Qiao An called her twice without getting a response.

He poked her cheek with a finger, lips pouting. “Mama, why aren’t you answering me?”

“Huh?” Her face flushed as Qiao Lu snapped out of her thoughts. She grabbed his warm little hand. “What’s wrong, An’an?”

“I called you and you didn’t answer.” His eyes were a little aggrieved.

Qiao Lu couldn’t help laughing and rubbed his soft cheek—it still smelled faintly of lotion.

“Sorry, Mama was just spacing out and didn’t hear you. What did you want?”

The little guy wasn’t one to hold grudges, especially not against Mama. He quickly cheered up and pointed to the goldfish bowl. “Mama, what are their names?”

“Names?” Qiao Lu raised an eyebrow. Who names goldfish?

Seeing the eager look in her son’s eyes, Qiao Lu smiled. “Of course they can have names. What do you want to name them?”

“Name them?” Qiao An tilted his head in confusion. “I can name the fish?”

“Of course! You’re their little owner. You can name them however you want.”

He got both excited and worried. Resting his chin on his hand, he thought hard for a while. Then, seeing one fish blow a bubble, he had a burst of inspiration.

“Mama, can this one be called Bubble?”

Qiao Lu gently brushed his bangs aside. “Of course it can.”

Then she pointed to the other one. “What about this one? What’s its name?”

“Hmm…” He thought for a moment. His eyes fell on the white tail of the other fish. Unlike Bubble’s red tail, this one’s tail was half white!

So…

“She’ll be Little White!”

Pfft—

Qiao Lu doubled over with laughter. “Sweetie, you really have a gift for naming. So creative, so catchy! Wonderful! You get a big thumbs-up!”

Qiao An, hearing Mama laugh, thought she didn’t like the names. But after she praised him, he lit up with joy and began flailing his arms around. “Bubble and Little White! My fish have names now! They’re Bubble and Little White!”

Qiao An’s body ran warm at night. If he wore too much, he’d end up sweating. His pajamas were just a thin undershirt, so thin it was nearly see-through. Now, excited, he waved his chubby little arms in the air like lotus roots, and Qiao Lu quickly pushed them back under the blanket.

“Don’t move, or you’ll catch a cold.” She patted his chest and gently said, “Alright, that’s enough fun for today. Time to sleep. Say goodnight to Bubble and Little White.”

Qiao An blinked his sleepy eyes and tugged at her sleeve. “Mama, I want to wait a bit before sleeping.”

“Why?” Qiao Lu was puzzled.

“Um… I want to… I want to tell Daddy Bubble and Little White’s names. He doesn’t know yet.”

Oh my god, how could a child be this adorable?

Qiao Lu couldn’t help laughing. She bent down and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then patted his head. “Don’t worry. Go to sleep. I’ll tell Daddy when he gets back.”

Qiao An looked a bit torn. After a while, he yawned—he really was sleepy. Daddy was taking forever.

In the end, he couldn’t hold out and snuggled under the covers. “Okay then. Mama, don’t forget.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Bubble, goodnight. Little White, goodnight.” He stuck out a tiny hand and waved at the fish. “I’m going to sleep now. You two sleep early too, okay?”

Childish words and innocent voice—Qiao Lu’s heart was about to melt.

Under her gentle gaze, Qiao An slowly closed his eyes. Accompanied by the soft lullaby Qiao Lu hummed, his breathing soon became slow and steady.

When Xu Haizhou returned to the room after showering, the first thing he saw was Qiao Lu leaning against the edge of the bed, and Qiao An curled up under the blanket, sound asleep.

The child’s head was the only thing exposed, his lips slightly pouted, breathing calm and steady. Under the warm glow of the lamp, his skin was so pale it seemed to shine.

And it wasn’t just him—Qiao Lu, as a mother, was equally striking.

She was wearing a loose, beige short-sleeved top, clearly meant for summer. Her pants were also loose-fitting; one leg was draped off the bed, and as she moved, her ankle peeked out from the pant leg—fair and delicate, like it had been smoothed over with face cream. Just looking at it was enough to make one’s heart itch.

Xu Haizhou’s footsteps paused briefly, then he walked straight to the wardrobe.

Opening the closet door, he swiftly stripped off his shirt with practiced ease. Qiao Lu looked up, and unexpectedly, came face to face with her husband’s well-toned physique.

His bare back was well-defined, muscles evenly distributed along his frame—lean but not scrawny. As he lifted his arms, the muscles there flexed with effortless strength, exuding masculinity.

Qiao Lu wasn’t a naive girl anymore. In the age of the internet, she’d seen her share of R-rated content—so she wasn’t shy, but she was genuinely impressed.

Xu Haizhou’s skin, hidden beneath his clothes, was surprisingly fair—not the porcelain fair of women, but a healthy, clean shade with a subtle golden undertone. His build was lean and well-proportioned.

When he turned slightly, she caught a glimpse of his abs. Those muscles—deeply carved, distinct, and impossible to ignore—were a visual treat.

And the best part? He had a six-pack—her favorite number of abs.

Men are said to be visual creatures, falling for what they see first. But in this moment, Qiao Lu had to admit—women are, too. One look, and her heart was stirred.

When he pulled off his shirt, she had to admit she was a little tempted. If she’d known during the blind date that he had such a great body, she might have skipped meeting his parents altogether and dragged him straight to the registry office and into the bridal suite.

But since he wasn’t making a move… well… if the enemy stays still, I stay still.

Qiao Lu’s gaze felt like two flames—wherever she looked, Xu Haizhou felt a burning heat. That fire climbed from his chest downward, gathering into a heated, pressing desire.

Xu Haizhou was 25 years old. Though he’d never dated before, like the saying goes—you might not have eaten pork, but you’ve seen pigs run. And even if you hadn’t seen them run, you’d definitely heard about it. Back when he worked at a garment factory, his coworkers who had partners often pulled him into risqué conversations. He listened, even if he never had the chance to put any of it into practice.

Of course, he’d tried taking care of himself, but it never quite lived up to the hype. He never fully understood what his coworkers meant by those soul-consuming, body-melting experiences.

Xu Haizhou considered himself a traditional man. Even though he was curious, he never thought about trying anything before marriage. He was waiting—waiting for the day he’d marry someone he truly loved, and then do things properly.

Now, that day had come. As he looked at Qiao Lu lying not far from him, his simmering heat turned into an urgent longing.

Qiao Lu had thought he was going to sleep shirtless, but he just changed into a looser “pajama top.”

“What’s wrong?” Seeing her eyes fixed on him, Xu Haizhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he slowly walked toward her.

“Nothing.” Qiao Lu shook her head, forcing herself to push away the colorful thoughts in her mind. She lifted the blanket and said, “Come in, it’s cold out there.”

The moment she said it, they both froze.

That gesture and phrasing—how could it not sound like a very eager invitation?

Realizing this herself, Qiao Lu’s face suddenly burned. She slid into the covers, hugging her son as she lay down, leaving only her beautiful almond-shaped eyes peeking out, staring unblinkingly at him.

Xu Haizhou chuckled lowly. Nothing made a man happier than knowing his wife was just as eager as he was.

Before getting into bed, he noticed the enamel basin with the goldfish on the nightstand. He picked it up and took it outside, just in case any accidents at night knocked it over and spilled water on the bed.

Qiao Lu watched him carry the basin out and suddenly remembered something.

When he came back, she leaned her chin on her palm and asked, “Do you know what those two fish are called?”

Xu Haizhou looked puzzled, unsure why she was asking such a question. “Their names?”

“Mhm.”

“What are they called?” Of course, he had no clue.

Qiao Lu held back a laugh and pointed at Qiao An, who was sound asleep beside her. “Our son named them. The red-tailed one is called Bubble, and the one with the white tail is called Little White. Remember that—he’ll probably quiz you tomorrow.”

That was just too adorable.

Xu Haizhou couldn’t help but chuckle. His deep voice grew even softer. “Alright, I’ll remember.”

At bedtime, Qiao An lay on the inside by the wall, Qiao Lu was in the middle, and Xu Haizhou slept on the outermost side.

The wooden bed wasn’t even 1.8 meters long—only about 1.5 meters wide. With Xu Haizhou’s tall, broad build, it felt cramped the moment he lay down.

But in winter, a bit of crowding meant a bit more warmth.

Qiao Lu had a cold constitution. Before giving birth, she endured every winter with difficulty. But after having a child, little Qiao An became a tiny heater—just holding him through the night kept her warm and toasty.

Now, with Xu Haizhou added to the mix, and his body temperature even more astonishingly hot, with warmth pressing in from both sides, Qiao Lu was worried she might get too hot to sleep.

She cuddled her son and inched closer toward the wall, laying still.

The mattress dipped beside her—something large sank down. It was Xu Haizhou.

He lay down too, pulled up the covers, and then slowly shifted closer to her, so close they were touching.

They were both wearing short-sleeved shirts; their arms were almost pressed together. The skin-to-skin contact felt scalding hot.

Qiao Lu’s body instantly stiffened like a stone. Thankfully, after lying down, Xu Haizhou didn’t make any further moves.

The air turned awkwardly still. Qiao Lu swallowed unconsciously—loud enough that Xu Haizhou could clearly hear it.

So… awkward.

The room was so quiet, one could hear a pin drop.

In the midst of this silence, Xu Haizhou suddenly lifted the blanket, startling Qiao Lu.

“Cough, forgot to turn off the light.”

He got out of bed and tugged the cord for the light. The room shifted from bright silence to dark silence.

He lay back down in the same position, saying nothing, doing nothing—just quietly becoming a wooden statue… But the occasional waft of feminine fragrance from beside him burrowed into his nose, stirring his senses. Xu Haizhou couldn’t hold back anymore.

Five minutes later, he shifted slightly, turned to the side, and gently wrapped an arm around his little wife’s waist.

“Qiao Lu.”

“Mm… mm?” Her voice trembled.

“Is An’an asleep?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

He had already noticed Qiao An was asleep the moment he came back from his shower, but now, nervously, he asked again.

Qiao Lu swallowed once more, her heartbeat pounding.

They both knew what was about to happen.

“Cough… yeah, he’s asleep.”

“Mm.”

Qiao Lu had no idea when a flashlight had been placed on the nightstand. The batteries seemed to be running low. When Xu Haizhou turned it on, the beam was dim—barely enough to make out the other’s features.

But perhaps it was that faint glow that pushed the atmosphere to its peak of ambiguity and tenderness.

In the haze, she saw his silhouette slowly leaning closer. A pair of hands reached out, slow and searching, finally resting by her arm. Their fingers intertwined. Warmth surged into her palm, and within it, she could feel his deep affection.

Feelings are truly mysterious. Some people spend decades together without ever feeling love. Others know each other only days, and love burns hot enough to burst from the chest.

A few seconds passed.

Then came a long, sensual breath—like a wordless signal.

Qiao Lu’s heart skipped two beats, and the next moment, Xu Haizhou was pressing her beneath him.

“Haizhou…” In the darkness, her voice quivered.

“Qiao Lu,” Xu Haizhou’s voice was even more hoarse, practically unrecognizable.

His large, warm palm slowly caressed her shoulder. Their breaths tangled together—it was impossible to tell who the scent belonged to.

“Can I?” he asked softly. His voice was low, sexy, and fell into her ears like thunder, jolting her into shivers and blurring her mind.

Her lashes trembled nonstop. The thick hormonal scent enveloping them nearly knocked her out, leaving her groggy and dazed. She didn’t even know if she should say yes or no.

But her body moved instinctively—her hands crept around his neck. And in the next heartbeat, Xu Haizhou cupped the back of her head and kissed her.

It was strange—his palms and skin were so hot, yet his lips were cool and soft.

Before she could think too much, his heated breath surrounded her entire face.

Her breathing hitched. Xu Haizhou’s kisses trailed to her forehead, cheeks, and earlobes…

Even these gentle touches clung like magnets.

He was iron. She was magnet. There was a natural pull between them.

This was Xu Haizhou’s first time with a woman. He was a bit hasty, with no real technique—just raw emotion. He even bumped into her teeth a few times. It didn’t hurt, but left a strange sensation.

Like a piece of candy in the mouth—crushed and binding their souls together.

In the dim light, Qiao Lu was kissed into a dizzy daze before she finally came up for air—only to fall into an even deeper embrace the next moment.

Her gaze unfocused. In a haze, she felt herself falling into a vast ocean—endless and boundless. Then, suddenly, a towering wave rose before her, like a city wall, threatening to swallow her whole.

At that moment, the only way to survive was to cling to him.

“Haizhou… Haizhou… Haizhou…”

“Haizhou…”