393 Warmth (Part 1)

The moon outside the window slowly hid under the thick dark clouds. The wind outside howled, making the window frame creak.

The squeaking of the wood formed a strange music score.

The thunder boomed.

At first, raindrops as small as sand grains fell, and then the rain gradually became heavier. To the naked eye, it looked like they were falling in torrents.

The branches of the jujube tree in the courtyard were wrapped in the raindrops, but they did not seem to be stopping at any time.

Dawn broke and the rain gradually stopped. The sun pushed through the clouds, casting a golden light on the earth.

Zhao Nian, who was in Madam Qin’s arms, knocked on the door and called out in a baby voice, “Mama! Mama!”

The door was pulled open.

Zhao Zhan looked at Zhao Nian and reached out to take his son from Madam Qin’s arms. Then, he dashed out of the room and closed the door. “Don’t go in. You’ll disturb your mother’s sleep.”

“Is she still sleeping? Breakfast is prepared and placed in the dining room. Shouldn’t you wake her up?”

“There’s no need to do that.” Zhao Zhan was already making his way toward the dining room. “Jiaojiao hasn’t had a good rest for the past few months. Madam Qin, can you put Zhao Nian in Doctor Sun’s courtyard to play later? You can stay in our courtyard and watch over Jiaojiao. I’ll prepare food for her when she wakes up.”

“Today is the first breakfast after moving to Shangjing. There are elders in the house… She…”

Zhao Zhan immediately retorted, “Jiaojiao had dinner with me yesterday. We’re a family. There’s no need to be so polite with the rest.”

There were too many people living in this house.

Although his lover was considerate and never said much, Zhao Zhan didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable in her own home.

“After we buy the house and move out, Grandmother, Lingzhen, and his wife will still be here. Fang Tianliu and his family of three will also move out. At that time, Madam Qin, you will get the chance to rest more.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, I will still come over to accompany Grandmother from time to time.”

Zhang Lingzhen also had a business in Shangjing, so he was always busy working. Sometimes, an appropriate separation could make the family closer. Zhao Zhan wasn’t unaware of this.

“Madam Qin, Fang Tianliu and I will be going out for a while. If Jiaojiao wakes up, tell her that the brand I promised her yesterday is ready and that she should remember to use it.”

Although Madam Qin did not understand the context, she did not ask any further. She nodded and replied, “Alright.”

Yue Jiaojiao slept all the way until after lunch before she slowly woke up.

She turned over and lay on the pillow. She had consumed too much energy last night, and her stomach was rumbling with hunger, but she was too lazy to get out of bed.

The door was pushed open from the outside, and the sun shone into the room.

Yue Jiaojiao raised her hand to cover her eyes.

“My lady, are you awake?” Madam Qin heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed her tense spine. “I’ve been in this courtyard for a long time and was starting to get a little worried, so I couldn’t help but come over to take a look.”

“Madam Qin, I’d like a cup of water please.”

Her throat was so thirsty that it hurt. Madam Qin hurriedly poured a glass of water and handed it to her.

“Two more cups, please.”

The pot of tea was half empty before Yue Jiaojiao laid back down to ease the discomfort in her throat.

“Are you hungry? Should I go get something for you to eat?”

Madam Qin lowered her eyes, not daring to look at her.

Yue Jiaojiao was afraid of the heat, so the blanket had been messily pushed to the side, and her undergarments were loose, revealing a large area of her skin.

It seemed to be filled with blooming and warm roses.