I bring bad luck to my husband, you bring bad luck to your wife.

When Xiangxi finished preparing her change of clothes and came to the hot spring room, she saw Yang Tongchuan standing by the bathtub, holding a bucket and staring blankly.

"What's wrong? Why are you spacing out?"

"It's nothing, I was just testing the water temperature for you. Leave the dirty clothes over there, Xiang-ge will wash them when he gets back tomorrow."

"Hmm." Xiangxi felt that Yang Tongchuan was acting a bit strangely tonight.

Without paying much attention, he turned around, took off his coat, and untied his hair.

Just as Xiangxi was about to continue, she felt a chill run down her spine. She turned around and found that Yang Tongchuan hadn't left yet.

Xiangxi then realized why she felt something was off: Yang Tongchuan was being too honest, which was abnormal.

Just as Xiangxi was about to urge Yang Tongchuan to go out first, the image of the Hu woman in the market suddenly appeared in her mind.

There was an element of spite involved.

Xiangxi didn't chase Yang Tongchuan away anymore. Instead, she turned around, her back to Yang Tongchuan, and continued changing her clothes.

As the close-fitting blouse was slowly removed, her smooth back was exposed to the candlelight.

Xiangxi heard the sound of the bucket hitting the ground.

The drawstring of the trousers slowly came undone, and Xiangxi kicked off her summer shoes and socks, just as one leg was sticking out.

He could clearly hear Yang Tongchuan tearing off his clothes.

At this moment, Yang Tongchuan's eagerness satisfied Xiangxi's little vanity. Even after being married for so long, she still held a strong attraction for Yang Tongchuan.

Xiangxi changed her clothes first, threw them aside, and stepped into the large bathtub by herself.

The water temperature was just right, and Xiangxi scooped up a handful of water and wet her face.

With a whoosh.

Yang Tongchuan followed him in.

A lot of water overflowed from the bathtub.

This bathtub is the largest size available in the store, and it's more than enough for Xiangxi and Xuebao to bathe in.

It was a little crowded when Yang Tongchuan came along.

Xiangxi leaned closer to the bucket, wanting to give Yang Tongchuan more space.

Yang Tongchuan suddenly grabbed Xiangxi's ankle, not giving Xiangxi a chance to get away from him.

Xiangxi suddenly became playful.

Using Yang Tongchuan's grip, he moved closer to him.

"Sit still," Xiangxi commanded, needing a foothold at this moment.

Yang Tongchuan sat obediently in the bathtub, as upright as a little radish in a private school.

Xiangxi found a spot she liked best.

Yang Tongchuan's breathing quickened. He tried to lean closer, but Xiangxi stopped him with her hand.

"My husband is covered in sweat. Let me wash you to help you relax." Xiangxi reached out and untied the hair ribbon that was binding Yang Tongchuan's hair. She ran one hand through his hair and the other hand massaged the back of his neck.

"Ugh." Yang Tongchuan let out a low growl. At this moment, he would give his life even if Xiang Xi wanted it.

Yang Tongchuan's arms were like shackles, binding Xiangxi.

"There's nothing in the hot spring room, I'm not in a hurry, don't be afraid." With the arrow already on the bowstring, Yang Tongchuan didn't forget to make preparations.

"Alright." Just as Yang Tongchuan was hesitating, Xiangxi spoke up first.

"Really, you can try it if you don't believe me."

This was simply the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Even a eunuch couldn't handle this situation.

Xiangxi hadn't felt this much pain in a long time.

Yang Tongchuan was so anxious that he broke out in a sweat.

"It's alright. It'll be fine in a bit," Xiangxi reassured Yang Tongchuan.

Yang Tongchuan kissed Xiangxi with trembling hands, and Xiangxi responded generously.

The only regret was that Xiangxi regretted not actually applying some lip rouge.

The water in the bathtub churned violently, splashing more water out and wetting the floor, leaving deeper and deeper watermarks.

Xiangxi's long hair floated on the water, swaying incessantly.

Outside the window, the festive atmosphere at the market reached its peak with the fireworks display, one wave higher than the next.

Suddenly, Yang Tongchuan stood up while holding Xiangxi.

It's not convenient in the water; it just doesn't feel quite right.

Xiangxi felt like she was a love letter filled with wild and unrestrained words, and Yang Tongchuan was the only one who could read it.

(Here's a proper explanation: Historically, Zhang Xu and Huaisu are widely recognized as having the highest achievements in cursive script, and the two are collectively known as "Crazy Zhang and Drunken Su," representing two peaks in the field of cursive script. *͈ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈ෆ)

"Can you still handle it?"

After one round, the person in Yang Tongchuan's arms was as soft as a freshly cooked red bean paste cake.

(Special note: The red bean paste cake, fresh out of the steamer, is white with a warm yellow tinge. It trembles slightly when picked up with chopsticks. When you bite into it, the dense red bean paste mixed with the cake is so soft that it melts on your tongue.)

"Can you still take it?" Xiangxi has really gone mad tonight, his brain is broken, he actually dared to provoke Yang Tongchuan.

Yang Tongchuan was taken aback; he never expected Xiangxi to ask him a question in return.

To Yang Tongchuan, the soft, weak voice sounded like a declaration of war.

"My darling, you're asking for it."

Since no one was home, Yang Tongchuan simply hoisted Xiangxi onto his shoulder and hastily draped a coat over Xiangxi's back.

They carried the person back to the bedroom, like a wolf carrying its prey back to its den.

All night long, Xiangxi paid the price for her provocation.

No matter how much Xiangxi cried and apologized, Yang Tongchuan pretended not to hear her.

"My husband, I was wrong, I was really wrong."

"My lord, my stomach hurts, it hurts so much."

"Yang Tongchuan, that's enough, let go."

·······

The next day, Xiangxi couldn't get out of bed to pick up Xuebao. He was too ashamed to do so, as anyone could tell what had happened the night before.

He didn't even have time to see his brother and sister-in-law or send Mohele away.

In the afternoon, Yang Tongchuan picked up Xuebao from the Yang family after finishing his shift.

Brother Xiang came back with us.

When I got back, I found that the host family had changed a lot of clothes, sheets and blankets, and even two pillows.

"Um, after washing it clean, hang it to dry in the backyard, so that the young master doesn't see it." Yang Tongchuan only realized this belatedly and felt a little embarrassed.

"I know, sir." Brother Xiang had no idea about these things.

Xiangxi had been lying in bed all day and wasn't hungry; she only drank some porridge.

When Yang Tongchuan returned from his shift, Xiangxi pulled the blanket over herself and refused to talk to him.

"Are you hungry? I bought you some sweet soup on my way back from picking up Xuebao. It's made with snow pear and white fungus to soothe your throat."

"I won't eat." Xiangxi's throat was tearing and sore as soon as she opened her mouth.

"Let's be reasonable. What happened last night can't be entirely my fault." Yang Tongchuan wanted to try and get a reduced sentence.

He would have been better off not mentioning it, because bringing it up made Xiangxi even angrier.

"Have Brother Xiang clean up the east wing for you, and you can sleep there starting today."

"No, I'm not guilty enough to do that." Yang Tongchuan was furious, not even having time to savor the memory of last night.

"These past few days, I've been fetching water for my husband to wash up, massaging his back and feet, and taking good care of him. I'm trying my best to atone for my sins, and I hope my husband will be lenient with me." Yang Tongchuan pulled Xiangxi's blanket down a little to keep him from suffocating.

But secretly, he was delighted: he had eaten a very satisfying meal and wouldn't be hungry for several days.