Ch 130 (Extra 12): Reborn to Raise My Husband

Lin Qingyu & Gu Yanxu (End)

“Junzhu, would you like to rest a bit longer, or prepare to get up?”

“Breakfast has all been prepared. Only the porridge the lord ordered before he left is still cooking.”

Ye fulang entered to tidy up and saw that Gu Yanxu was already awake. At that moment, he was staring at the canopy above, lost in thought, a faint smile at the corner of his eyes as he asked.

Gu Yanxu came back to himself. He pulled the brocade quilt tighter around his body. With even the slightest movement, a deep soreness spread through him.

A body long pampered could hardly endure even a little strain.

Too embarrassed to complain of pain, he only said, “I’ll get up in a bit.”

The moment he spoke, he realized his voice had gone hoarse. Startled, he quickly shut his mouth, his eyes widening.

“Ah, then rest a little longer. The porridge should be ready soon.”

Ye fulang smiled and adjusted the curtains again before lowering them.

Last night, Lin Qingyu had asked for hot water in the kitchen. The servants naturally understood what had taken place.

Gu Yanxu pulled the blanket over his head. Though he knew the servants would not dare to tease him,

he and Lin Qingyu were properly married—what had happened was only natural. If nothing had happened, it would instead invite gossip.

Even so, knowing that did not stop the embarrassment.

Especially when he thought about how, last night, for their first time, he had been so…主动.

He almost felt too ashamed to face Lin Qingyu again!

Gu Yanxu lay in bed for quite a while longer before slowly getting up.

Meanwhile, Lin Qingyu rode in his carriage, the horse nearly running its legs off before he managed to arrive at the office just in time.

He straightened his robes slightly and entered. The officials had already gathered.

As he stepped in, many of them cast glances his way.

It was no wonder—they were looking. Normally, he was either the first to arrive or among the first three.

Yet today, even Ren Heng, who was always the last to arrive, was already seated, leisurely brewing tea.

“They say marriage can slow a man down. I suppose I believe it now.”

Ren Heng spoke with a faint smile.

Sitting beside him, Qi Beinan also curled his lips slightly.

Lin Qingyu knew he was being teased, but he was not annoyed.

He quietly began arranging his documents, a trace of a smile visible on his face.

Qi Beinan and Ren Heng exchanged a glance. It was rare to see Lord Lin in such a good mood.

Qi Beinan could not help but think that Xiao Yuanbao had been visiting the Lin residence frequently lately—perhaps those two adversaries had truly begun to reconcile?

He did not ask. If things were improving, that was already a happy outcome.

Taking advantage of the cool morning light, the officials busied themselves with their duties.

By the afternoon, when the heat set in and drowsiness followed, there was little motivation left for work.

Thus, the mornings in the office were always the busiest.

Lin Qingyu was usually focused. Once he entered the office, he could settle his mind regardless of the time of day.

But today, for some reason, his thoughts kept drifting.

And every thought, without exception, turned to Gu Yanxu.

At one moment, he wondered if he had gotten up yet; at another, what he might be doing after rising.

In the past, he rarely concerned himself with how Gu Yanxu spent his days or whom he associated with.

It had seemed enough that each of them simply went about their own affairs.

But as he thought, last night’s events suddenly surfaced in his mind.

The feeling of those slender legs wrapped around his waist—it still seemed to linger.

How could someone like him… be like that?

Crying on one hand, yet refusing to let him stop…

A rush surged through Lin Qingyu’s entire body.

“Not going for lunch?”

A light knock sounded on the desk. Qi Beinan called out to him.

Lin Qingyu came back to himself and realized it was already midday.

He responded and told Qi Beinan to go ahead.

In the afternoon, Lin Qingyu did not rest, instead finishing the tasks he had left from the morning.

When it was time to leave, he immediately packed up and went home.

Ren Heng returned from the Ministry of Personnel and, seeing that Qi Beinan was still there while Lin Qingyu had already left, remarked in surprise, “What’s gotten into him today?”

Qi Beinan said, “Perhaps he has something to attend to.”

After saying that, he added, “I’ll head back as well.”

After leaving the palace and reaching the inner city streets, Lin Qingyu saw the lively bustle of people and carriages.

Only then did it occur to him that he had returned rather early today.

He stopped the carriage driver, thinking to pass some time outside before going back.

Time was indeed spent—but when he finally returned, he carried a food box of pastries, along with a few newly popular items from the capital.

In the end, he had simply spent that time in another way—on Gu Yanxu.

“He’s back?”

When the maid happily came to report this, Gu Yanxu was seated at the dressing table, tidying himself.

He had slept for most of the day and refused to get up, only taking a few bites of porridge after Ye fulang told him Lin Qingyu had instructed it to be prepared for him.

“Why is he back so early today!”

Ye fulang smiled. “What else could it be? Naturally, he’s thinking of Junzhu.”

At this, the tips of Gu Yanxu’s ears warmed, though his expression remained composed. “Don’t speak nonsense.”

Then he urged, “Hurry and finish arranging my hair!”

When Lin Qingyu entered the room still wearing his official robes, Gu Yanxu was hurriedly putting on his crown. Seeing that Lin Qingyu had not even changed clothes, he paused slightly.

Usually, Lin Qingyu did not come here to change, which made him think he still had time to prepare. He had not expected him to come directly to the room today.

Though they had been married for several months, he had rarely seen Lin Qingyu in official attire.

In the mornings, by the time he woke, Lin Qingyu had already gone to the office. When he returned, he would first change into casual clothes in the study before coming over.

He remembered asking his mother when he was young what she liked most about his father.

She had said that what captivated her most was the sight of his father in official robes. At the time, he had not understood—official robes were merely green or red, hardly as beautiful as fine silks.

He had thought it was because his father, as a duke, wore purple robes that made him look noble.

But now, seeing Lin Qingyu standing straight and composed in a simple green robe, for no reason at all, his face flushed slightly.

Only now did he understand his mother’s meaning. What one loved was not the status, but the person.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Gu Yanxu pretended not to care much about Lin Qingyu’s return and straightened himself, continuing to fix his appearance in the mirror.

“Just got up?”

In the end, Lin Qingyu was the one who spoke first.

Gu Yanxu gave a soft “mm,” then said, “You came back rather early today.”

Lin Qingyu fell silent for a moment. Had he really been returning that late all this time?

Gu Yanxu noticed that Lin Qingyu was holding something but had not asked the attendant to mention it, assuming it must be something important. He asked, “What did you buy?”

“Pastries.”

Lin Qingyu still had Gu Yanxu’s earlier remark in mind—that he had come back early today—and felt there was a hint of quiet grievance in his tone.

A trace of guilt stirred within him. He had not intended to say more, but as if wanting to make up for it, he added,

“I bought them especially for you.”

Gu Yanxu’s eyes lit up. Hearing this, he immediately set aside what he was doing and moved toward the table.

Seeing this, Lin Qingyu opened the food box. Inside were a plate of pineapple cakes and a plate of water chestnut cakes.

“The master who makes crab roe pastries wasn’t there today, so I bought something else.”

Gu Yanxu took a bite of the pineapple cake. It was sweet, almost as if it melted straight into his heart.

It wasn’t as though he had never eaten fine pastries before. Having eaten so many, they had long since seemed ordinary to him. Yet now, he felt that what Lin Qingyu had brought back tasted especially good.

He did not hold back his praise and said it was delicious.

“Then I’ll bring some for you in the future as well.”

Hearing this, Gu Yanxu lifted his eyes to look at him.

He felt that the man before him seemed almost like a different person from before.

“What’s wrong with your neck?”

Lin Qingyu noticed that his collar was drawn higher than usual. The weather had already grown warmer, and most people had begun changing into lighter clothing.

Yet Gu Yanxu had done the opposite.

At this, Gu Yanxu instinctively raised a hand to cover his neck.

He shot Lin Qingyu a light glare, pressed his lips together, and turned his head aside, a trace of anger rising.

Lin Qingyu’s brows moved slightly. “What is it?”

“I knew you would laugh at me.”

Gu Yanxu had been brooding over this for quite some time in the room, repeatedly regretting how things had gone the previous night.

He was afraid Lin Qingyu would think him frivolous and look down on him.

And now, asking about his neck like this—wasn’t it clearly meant to tease him?

Lin Qingyu did not understand how he had suddenly become upset. He said, “Why would I laugh at you?”

“You were the one who bit it, and now you ask on purpose—how is that not making fun of me?”

Lin Qingyu froze. Seeing Gu Yanxu turn his head away, his eyes slightly red, it was clear he was truly upset.

A tightness rose in his chest. “I truly didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Let me see. Is it serious?”

But Gu Yanxu refused to let him look, covering his neck and turning away again.

Seeing him act willfully, Lin Qingyu did not feel annoyed. Instead, he found it unexpectedly… endearing.

He reached out and took hold of Gu Yanxu’s wrist, gently patting it. Seeing that he did not resist too strongly, he carefully lowered his hand.

On that fair neck were several faint purplish marks, trailing down toward the collarbone. Beyond that could not be seen.

Gu Yanxu’s neck was long and slender. The night before, Lin Qingyu had caught glimpses of it and found it pleasing, and without thinking, had kissed it a few times.

He had not felt that he used much force, yet it had still turned out like this.

“Does it hurt?”

Gu Yanxu felt his gaze linger, his fingertips lightly brushing along his neck, making him feel a little ticklish.

It almost seemed as though he truly hadn’t known it would turn out this way. Then again, remembering that he had said he had never been with anyone before marriage, perhaps he really didn’t know.

“It doesn’t really hurt.”

“I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Lin Qingyu sat beside him, a hint of concern in his voice. “Are you feeling alright otherwise?”

He had not lied—yesterday had indeed been his first time. He had originally intended to be restrained and proper, thinking there would be plenty of time in the future.

But he had not expected Gu Yanxu to be so… enthusiastic.

For a moment, he had lost control. It had indeed been too much.

Gu Yanxu’s face flushed red. After resting for most of the day, he was already much better.

He did not answer Lin Qingyu’s question, but instead asked softly, “Do you think I was too… improper?”

“No.”

Lin Qingyu answered immediately.

At most, he had simply been surprised.

Before, in his eyes, Gu Yanxu had always been dignified and proud, raised in luxury, as though there was little in the world he truly regarded highly.

That likely included him as well, the husband arranged by a duke.

Since Gu Yanxu had treated him with indifference, he had in turn kept his distance.

Their life together had been like cooled water.

But now, seeing that he was not as he had first appeared—and that perhaps there was some place for him in his heart—how could he possibly feel any disdain?

“You like this… it’s good.”

Hearing this, Gu Yanxu’s brows shifted slightly.

Looking at Lin Qingyu’s usually cool face, he hadn’t expected that he too would take pleasure in such matters. In the end, he was still a man.

Seeing his flickering gaze, Lin Qingyu seemed to guess his thoughts.

He reached out and pulled Gu Yanxu into an embrace. Though they were not facing each other, being pressed close made it easier to say what was difficult to speak aloud.

Near his ear, Lin Qingyu said softly, “What I meant wasn’t only in bed.”

“I apologize for judging you based only on what I saw before. From now on, I will put you first in all things. I hope to truly come closer to you and understand you. In the long years ahead, I hope that by my side, you can be as happy as you were in your family home.”

Leaning against his shoulder, Gu Yanxu listened to his words. The corners of his lips slowly lifted.

He felt happy, yet also a little shy, and simply wrapped his arms tightly around Lin Qingyu.

“You have to keep your word.”

Lin Qingyu said, “If I break today’s promise, may I lose forever what I seek.”

Gu Yanxu held him even tighter. “I also want to understand you. I want to know what you like to eat, what you like to do… I want to know how you lived, day after day, before you met me…”

“Alright.”

“I’ll tell you everything, one by one.”

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