Sharuti headed to the temporary accommodation provided by the village.
Walking alone through the village late at night oddly comforted her.
The melancholic mood that had settled gradually turned into gentle waves and washed away.
‘I should apologize later.’
As Sharuti organized her emotions, she sighed deeply.
Thinking about Ashu, who was left alone and confused, guilt crept in.
‘I was too rude.’
She impulsively confessed her ugly feelings, poured out emotions she couldn’t handle herself, and then fled. She also felt sorry for not properly concluding the walk he suggested.
However, Sharuti didn’t particularly regret it. In a way, it was her method of drawing a line and keeping a distance. She was just a bit too forceful and firm with Ashu at that moment.
‘Why do I act impulsively so often these days?’
Sharuti paused for a moment and looked up at the night sky.
In Ashu’s village, the night sky was unusually beautiful. The stars densely scattered across the night sky sparkled as if someone had ground mana into pieces and sprinkled it in the sky.
Beneath countless twinkling stars, Sharuti pressed her chest firmly.
‘I have to endure it, but I feel like I’m becoming lax without even realizing it.’
Sharuti frowned.
She silently scolded herself for letting her mental state become lax.
‘I need to be careful.’
However, the moment she opened the door to the temporary lodging, Sharuti realized the reason.
“I was just about to come and fetch you since you hadn’t come.”
Ren, who was quickly approaching with his shoes on, said.
Ren, with sharp discernment, quickly approached Sharuti, confirmed that her body had cooled down, and wrapped her body with the blanket he had hanging on his side.
“I’ve warmed up the room. Please come in, my lady.”
Sharuti staggered in, as if relieved.
The sound of Ren’s breath, uttered as if in relief, felt slightly trembling. He must have been waiting anxiously for her, worried about her throughout.
Sharuti pressed her nose for no reason. Without any room for excuses, it was confirmed that she was relying on Ren’s presence.
‘It shouldn’t become a habit.’
Yet, she had already grown accustomed to it.
The image of Ren worrying about her naturally came to mind, and emotion was read in Ren’s calm face as if it were natural.
The tension that had stiffened the muscles gradually melted away like ice in front of Ren.
“…….?”
On the other hand, Ren, holding the door handle, sharply observed the surroundings.
Even though their relationship had become cooperative, the monitoring eyes hadn’t completely disappeared.
With a crooked posture, Ren, looking outside, clicked his tongue.
“Lack of consideration. Bringing my hardworking master around until this late hour and then sending her back alone.”
Although it was a muttered complaint, the voice was somewhat loud.
Thud. Ren, who had pointed out Ashu’s delicacy appropriately, immediately closed the door.
“Ren?”
When Sharuti, who was standing vaguely in the middle of the room, called him, Ren briskly returned to Sharuti.
“Sit here.”
“Let me wash my hands first……”
“Forget it.”
With a stubborn attitude, Ren seated Sharuti on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Sharuti, buried in the thick blanket against her will, sneakily observed Ren’s expression.
Ren brought a large basin, prepared who knows when. It contained lukewarm water.
Sharuti, who was watching with disbelief, quickly raised her head.
“I’ll do it!”
Ren, rolling up his sleeves, naturally kneeled under the bed. Sharuti was startled when she saw him.
However, Ren paid no attention and soaked a towel in the water.
Squeezing the towel tightly, Ren looked down at her.
“If you get colder, I’ll warm you up again here.”
His attitude and expression were both stubborn.
Sharuti, who hesitated, extended her hand without further resistance.
Fortunately, there was no need to warm the water further. Ren tilted his head freshly and wrapped her hand with the towel.
“The walk was enjoyable, huh? Judging by how cold your hands are, you came back late.”
“…….”
His tone was freezing.
“Well, did Ren take a break?”
“He didn’t take me or look for me. What could he have done?”
Ren muttered as if complaining.
Sharuti rolled her lips. The sight of his lips puckering up slightly was visible.
“Sorry.”
“There must have been a reason for leaving me. I understand.”
His stubborn expression didn’t match his strong facial features.
“…But did you have to leave specifically because of me?”
Seeing Ren, who was trying not to show the obvious tension in his face, Sharuti finally burst into a small laugh.
Along with the laughter, Sharuti’s robe fluttered, and Ren’s expression became somewhat tense.
“Ren has worked hard today. I wanted to let you rest.”
“That goes for my lady as well.”
Ren carefully molded his hands.
Sharuti looked down at Ren’s hands, caught by him. She could feel Ren’s strength through the towel.
Sharuti subtly rolled her eyes and stole a glance at Ren. Only the top of Ren’s head concentrating on the massage was visible.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
