Chapter 7: She Must Not Be Spoiled

Even though that was his answer, Bai Yan was clearly not satisfied with it.

She leaned in close to Jiang Chengyan’s ear, her large, clever eyes darting left and right to make sure no one was watching. Then, cupping her hands to his ear, she whispered, “But husband, I’m the female, you’re the male. In the future, aren’t we supposed to have baby rabbits?”

Jiang Chengyan’s smile remained, but his voice was chillingly cold. “Be quiet.”

Bai Yan whimpered softly.

And so, Jiang Chengyan carried Bai Yan into the shop. Since the county town was bustling, the shop assistant was run off his feet. When he saw the couple come in, he could only call out, “Honored guests, please take a look around. If you see something you want, let me know when you’ve decided.” With that, he spun away like a top to tend to other customers.

Jiang Chengyan took the basket from Bai Yan’s back and finally set her down on the floor.

“Go try them out. See which fabric you like,” Jiang Chengyan said, gesturing at a row of samples laid out on the counter.

Bai Yan nodded, and under Jiang Chengyan’s watchful gaze, pressed her face against the sample quilts.

Jiang Chengyan was at a loss for words.

What a unique method! She plastered her cheek against one quilt after another, working her way from one end to the other.

At last, she stopped at the quilt in the farthest corner.

“Husband, this one’s comfortable. It doesn’t scratch,” Bai Yan called out to Jiang Chengyan, waving her arm happily and grinning to show her small white teeth.

Jiang Chengyan, staring at those little white teeth, murmured, “You really are a rabbit.”

“Assistant, come here a moment,” Jiang Chengyan called as he walked over to Bai Yan.

The assistant had a distinct impression of this young couple—their looks were exceptional, though their clothes were quite ordinary, especially the young wife, whose attire was clearly a man’s clothes altered to fit her.

He hadn’t expected such a couple to choose the most expensive bedding set in the shop.

“Two sets each of pillows and mattress pads. Deliver them to this address,” Jiang Chengyan said, jotting down an address in the ledger before paying.

As Jiang Chengyan paid, he caught Bai Yan looking at him with sparkling eyes, as if he were a juicy carrot.

“Yes, sir,” the assistant said, hastily hiding his surprise as he made a note of the order.

After buying the bedding, Jiang Chengyan was ready to take Bai Yan to the clothing shop. He couldn’t let her keep wearing his oversized clothes, flapping around like a little beggar.

But when he tried to tug her along by the hand, she wouldn’t budge.

Turning around, he saw the little woman already squatting on the ground.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Chengyan raised his brows at her.

“Carry me,” Bai Yan replied. She didn’t want to walk; she wanted to hop and skip, but her husband had said she’d be snatched away if she did.

Jiang Chengyan recalled his own warning. He had intended not to spoil her, lest she become too unruly.

But then, the arm she was holding was gently shaken, and she pleaded in her soft voice, “Carry me.”

Jiang Chengyan pressed his tongue against his back teeth, exhaled, and squatted down in front of her. Bai Yan gleefully climbed onto his back.

In the basket was a freshly washed little carrot. Lying on Jiang Chengyan’s back, Bai Yan happily gnawed on it.

“Husband, where are we going next?” Her way of addressing him was now quite fluent.

“To buy you some clothes,” Jiang Chengyan replied.

No sooner had he finished than a piece of freshly bitten carrot was shoved up to his lips.

The man’s eyelids twitched in exasperation.