The voluptuous and beautiful nanny, Technician Shen fell for her.

Su Nianhe lowered her head, her gaze completely filled with the gleaming gold lock on her chest. The metal edge was already warm from her body heat.

For nineteen years, Su Dahe calculated how many kilograms of coarse grain she could exchange for, and the village bachelors calculated when she would be single again.

No one ever told her that she could live a peaceful life, or that every day she lived would count.

The stinging in her eyes could no longer be suppressed, and large tears streamed down her face, pattering onto the gold lock.

Shen Huai didn't stop her, nor did he say "Don't cry".

He knew how much resentment she had been holding in. She'd endured the hard times; it was better to cry it out than to bottle it up.

He took half a step forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace.

Su Nianhe clutched the front of his dark gray cotton coat with both hands. At first, she only sobbed softly, but later she buried her face in his chest and cried so hard that she could hardly breathe.

Shen Huai's large hand moved slowly up and down her back, letting her vent her emotions.

Shen Huai only released her when her crying gradually subsided, leaving only intermittent hiccups.

He turned and walked to the washbasin stand, poured half a basin of hot water into the enamel basin, and took a clean towel to wash and wring it out.

Su Nianhe sat on the wooden chair, her eyes red and her nose pink, looking pitiful.

Shen Huai bent down, placed a warm towel on her face, and gently wiped away her tears. His movements weren't particularly skillful, but he was extremely patient.

Su Nianhe let him finish wiping her face, then took a deep breath and said in a thick nasal voice, "Shen Huai, I want something sweet."

She ate longevity noodles, half a braised pig's trotter, and drank two bottles of Beibingyang soda for lunch today, and her stomach is still bloated. If someone else heard this, they would probably ask, "Didn't you just eat?"

Shen Huai didn't even flinch as he draped the towel back on the rack.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked bluntly.

"White Rabbit milk candy," Su Nianhe requested, then added, "I also want to eat glutinous rice strips."

Shen Huai picked up the cotton coat draped over the back of the chair and put it on, zipping it all the way up.

"Stay inside and lock the door."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and walked into the cold winter night of Jiang City.

On the evening of the third day of the Lunar New Year, the state-run stores near Nanqiao Road had already closed.

Shen Huai pushed out the old-fashioned bicycle, straddled it with his long legs, and rode westward into the city against the north wind.

He remembered that near the family compound in the west of the city, there was a privately owned grocery store. The owner was a retired soldier, and the store was open during the Chinese New Year.

The cold wind stung my face, and the bicycle chain made a regular creaking sound.

After riding for almost half an hour, Shen Huai finally saw the grocery store with its wooden door half-open.

He parked the car and went inside.

The shop owner was sitting by the stove listening to the radio when he saw someone come in. He stood up and greeted them, "Out shopping on the third day of the Lunar New Year? What would you like?"

"Two packs of White Rabbit milk candy, and two jin of glutinous rice strips," Shen Huai said, taking out his money.

The shopkeeper wrapped the glutinous rice strips in straw paper and handed them over along with some milk candy. "It's so cold outside, are you buying this for your wife?"

Shen Huai took the item and responded with a soft "Mm".

Shen Huai rode his bicycle back to the courtyard on Nanqiao Road.

The lights were on in the main room.

He pushed open the door and brought in a gust of cold air from outside.

Su Nianhe was sitting cross-legged on the large wooden bed, flipping through the foreign picture books he had brought back.

Shen Huai placed the paper packet and milk candy on the round table and took off his cotton-padded coat, which was still damp with cold air.

He didn't rush over; he warmed his hands by the stove to dissipate the cold air before walking to the bedside.

"I bought it." Shen Huai tossed a bag of White Rabbit milk candy onto the bed.

Su Nianhe's eyes lit up. She immediately put down the picture book, unwrapped a candy, and stuffed the plump white milk candy into her mouth.

The rich milky flavor melts in your mouth.

She puffed out her cheeks and looked up at him. "Where did you go to buy it? Weren't all the nearby shops closed?"

"West of the city," Shen Huai replied casually.

Su Nianhe slowed down her chewing.

The west side of the city is at least seven or eight miles away from here. It was late at night, and the north wind was so strong. He rode his bike that far just because she said she wanted to eat something sweet.

She moved further into the bed and patted the empty space next to her.

"Come sit here."

Shen Huai sat down next to her, his long legs directly on the ground.

Su Nianhe peeled open the second candy, but instead of putting it in her own mouth, she held it to his lips.

"You eat too."

Shen Huai doesn't like sweets. He looked at the candy being offered to his mouth and then at her expectant face.

He lowered his head and took her fingertips into his mouth.

Startled, Su Nianhe pulled her hand back, her fingertips brushing against his warm lips and neat teeth before she withdrew it as if she had been electrocuted.

"Why did you bite my hand?" Her cheeks began to turn red.

Shen Huai bit the candy, and the milky sweetness spread in his mouth, which was really cloying.

But his gaze was fixed on Su Nianhe's rosy lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"It's too sweet." His voice became low and hoarse.

Su Nianhe didn't react immediately, "White Rabbit candy is sweet."

Shen Huai suddenly leaned forward, cupped the back of her head with one hand, and kissed her directly.

He pried open her teeth and passed the still-melting candy from her mouth over to her.

Su Nianhe's eyes widened at his actions, her mouth filled with the sweet taste of his scent.

The fruity and milky scents on her body intertwined, creating an extremely irresistible attraction.

Shen Huai's breathing became heavy, and his large hand slid down her back, gripping her unreasonablely slender waist.

He kissed her deeply, with a long-suppressed urge of plunder.

Su Nianhe's body went limp from his kisses, and the sketchbook in her hand fell onto the blanket.

With nowhere to put her hands, she could only cling to his broad shoulders.

The air between the two heated up rapidly.

Shen Huai felt her astonishing body temperature through the thin fabric of her sweater with his large hand.

"The seventh." He breathed heavily near her lips, his voice hoarse, as if reminding her, and also warning himself, "Why isn't it here yet?"

Su Nianhe leaned against him, panting heavily, her face flushed red. After a long while, she managed to stammer out, "You...you go eat two more pieces of glutinous rice strips to calm your nerves."

Shen Huai was amused by her and lowered his head to bite the tip of her nose.

"Keep the glutinous rice strips for yourself; I can only eat vegetarian food for the next few days."

Su Nianhe didn't understand his lewd words. She stepped out of his arms, straightened her disheveled clothes, and reached out to untie the paper package containing the glutinous rice strips.

The north wind was howling outside, but it was so warm inside that it made you sleepy.

The next few days were peaceful yet busy in the courtyard on Nanqiao Road.

Su Nianhe buried herself in the picture books she brought back from the port city, holding a soft measuring tape and scissors, and gesturing to the cardboard.

Shen Huai would leave early and return late every day to discuss the construction team's affairs with He Jianjun after the start of spring.

The two were busy with their own things, but whenever it was mealtime, no matter how busy Shen Huai was, he would come back on time to cook.

On the afternoon of the sixth day of the first lunar month, the two went to a photo studio.

The experienced photographer covered the camera with a red cloth and directed them to stand in the correct positions.

"Men, come closer and smile," the old man called out.

The photo was printed without color, but she was wearing the same bright red coat.

Su Nianhe smiled with her eyes crinkling, while Shen Huai's expression was cold, but the gentleness in his eyes was clearly visible.

After dinner, Su Nianhe counted the needles, thread and scissors at the counter.

Shen Huai sat by the stove, holding a dry rag in his hand, carefully wiping a clean white shirt.

Su Nianhe turned to look at him. "You're wearing a white shirt in the dead of winter?"

"We're going to get our marriage certificate tomorrow." Shen Huai hung his shirt on the back of the chair to dry. "I have to look presentable."

Su Nianhe stopped moving and suddenly became nervous.

Shen Huai walked over, wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Have you found the household registration booklet yet?" he asked.

"I found it. It was in the crossbody bag." Su Nianhe's voice was very soft.

Shen Huai turned his head and kissed her cheek. "Go to sleep early. We'll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau as soon as it opens tomorrow."