We got married less than two weeks after meeting through a blind date. For the first three months after the wedding, we slept in separate rooms. Then one night, he knocked on my door. His voice was husky: “It’s time we consummate this marriage.” Lucas and I had just gotten our marriage license and were driving home. Halfway there, the car suddenly stopped. Lucas unbuckled his seatbelt and said, “Wait here, I’m going to buy something.” “Buy what? Are you feeling sick?” “No, just some essentials.” Left alone in the car, I relaxed my tense nerves. It felt surreal – we were really married now. Lucas and I had met through a blind date set up by my aunt. She had enthusiastically told me: “He’s handsome, from a good family. His parents are both high-ranking government officials.” “He also works for the government, as a detective…” If I didn’t agree, I knew my other aunts would all come knocking with more suggestions. So I reluctantly nodded. When we met, he was just as my aunt described – handsome, nearly 6’2″ tall, with piercing eyes like a hawk. But when he furrowed his brow, he looked fierce and serious. I didn’t dare look up at him. The date didn’t last long, with barely any conversation before we parted ways. I thought that was the end of it, but three days later my aunt called to say he wanted to meet again. I frowned, not really wanting to go. But thinking of Lucas’s intimidating face, I was afraid to refuse in case he showed up at my door. I decided to meet once more to clearly explain my feelings. He suggested meeting at the movie theater. When I arrived, Lucas was already there. He wore a khaki trench coat over a white shirt, with long straight legs ending in black leather shoes. He had a bit of an English gentleman vibe. He seemed less fierce than last time. While waiting in line for tickets, he leaned down close to me. I was suddenly enveloped by the faint scent of his body wash. “Do you want popcorn and soda?” I shook my head, just wanting to get the movie over with. During the film, Lucas was very attentive. He didn’t say anything unnecessary or make any suspicious moves. He was quite well-behaved. As the movie neared its end, I breathed a sigh of relief. When we came out, it had started pouring rain outside with thunder and lightning. The wind carried moisture in the air. Lucas’s car was parked across the street, still some distance away. I hadn’t expected it to rain tonight, so I was going to get wet either way. I decided to just put my bag over my head and make a run for it. Suddenly my wrist was grabbed firmly, almost painfully tight. Lucas quickly loosened his grip when he realized. “Sorry.” He took off his coat: “Use this over your head.” “Let’s go together.” Lucas was tall, so his coat was big enough to cover us both. “Move in closer.” We were very close, our skin occasionally brushing. When my arm accidentally touched his hot chest I quickly pulled it back. Half of Lucas’s body got soaked. His wet hair clung to his forehead, looking a bit messy. “Are you cold?” I shook my head. “You should dry off quickly. Be careful not to catch a cold tomorrow.” The car arrived home as the rain gradually stopped. I unbuckled my seatbelt and forced a faint smile: “Thanks for today. Go take a hot shower when you get home to ward off the chill.” I got out of the car, and the door on the other side opened too. “Did you need something else?” “I’m free this weekend. Want to grab dinner together?” I was about to refuse, but seeing Lucas’s sharp eyes, I swallowed my words. I nodded in agreement. Before our weekend dinner plans, Lucas and I unexpectedly met again due to an incident where a student’s parent violently attacked a teacher. It happened suddenly – I was walking and replying to a message when an angry-looking parent rushed out wielding a stick. “Are you Ms. Wilson?” I nodded, not fully processing what was happening. The stick came down hard on my shoulder. “My child is in the hospital with a concussion because of you…” I let out a muffled cry and collapsed. I tried to speak but my voice was stuck in my throat. I was confused – we always treated those kids like precious treasures, never hitting or scolding them. How could I have beaten a student? The parent was in a rage, about to bring the stick down on my stomach when Lucas appeared and forcefully kicked him away. Lucas was in his police uniform, his face dark with anger. The parent was taken to the police station while Lucas brought me to the hospital. My right shoulder was injured, with bruising and swelling over a large area. “It’s not too serious. I’ll apply some medicine and give you some ointment to use at home daily.” Lucas frowned, his expression grim. The nurse who had been sneaking glances at Lucas earlier now didn’t dare make a sound, her hands shaking as she applied the medicine. “Gentle–” The nurse’s hands were trembling like a sieve. I looked up. Lucas’s expression wasn’t much better, looking quite fierce. I felt helpless. “Why don’t you wait outside?” He gave me a cool look, nodded, and turned to leave, closing the door behind him. The school principal called to express concern. “Principal, this counts as a work injury right? I can’t even lift my arm to write now.” “Take a few days off to rest at home. Come back when you’re healed…” While I felt wronged by the whole incident, hearing I could take a few days off work lifted my mood considerably. In the hallway, Lucas stood ramrod straight with his arms crossed over his chest, thin lips pressed tightly together. He drew many glances, but his intimidating aura kept people from approaching. “Thank you for today. How did you show up so quickly?” “I happened to be in the area on business.” That night as I was about to sleep, my phone screen lit up. Lucas had sent a message: “The investigation results are in. The injured child just started middle school and was struggling academically. His family is also poor. A teacher deliberately targeted him, punishing him harshly in class for not completing homework. After school, the teacher called him to the office and warned him not to tell anyone. When the parent got home from work, he found the child unconscious and took him to the hospital where they discovered a concussion and other injuries. When questioned about who did it, the student made up a teacher surnamed Wilson…” I read it, feeling conflicted. Teachers’ ethics really needed improvement. I glanced at the time and sent a message back: “You’re still not off work?” “I am. About to shower.” “…” “Rest well. Good night.” “Good night.” As I got to know Lucas better, I found him to be very polite and gentlemanly in his speech and manners, aside from his intimidating demeanor. I thought marriage to someone like him would probably be quite nice. So when Lucas called two weeks later to ask if I wanted to get married, I didn’t hesitate long before agreeing. Lucas tossed a large cardboard box labeled “health products” into the backseat. I didn’t think much of it. There was also a bag of fresh fruit on top which he handed to me. I opened it to find many plump, glistening lychees. I peeled one and popped it in my mouth. As I bit down, the sweet juices burst forth, filling my mouth with a delicious aroma. My mood instantly lightened. Once I started eating them I couldn’t stop, devouring over a dozen in one go. I sighed contentedly at how sweet the lychees were, my fondness for Lucas growing even more. Our new home was a large apartment, simply but elegantly furnished with high-quality pieces. Lucas carried a box into the bedroom. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and I could faintly make out the deep red bedspread contrasting starkly against the white walls. My hazy state of mind suddenly cleared as I realized – tonight would be our wedding night. The thought made my heart race. I felt awkward and flushed bright red. Before this, my only “relationships” had been with fictional characters. I’d never even held hands with a guy in real life. Lucas emerged from the bedroom and glanced at me, furrowing his brow. “Not feeling well?” I shook my head, saying sheepishly, “Just a bit hot.” I opened the fridge and asked, “What do you want for lunch?” He unbuttoned his shirt and rolled up the sleeves, revealing muscular forearms. He looked slightly surprised. “You can cook?” When we’d visited Lucas’s family before, they had a private chef who made amazing Suzhou cuisine. He nodded and smiled. “I learned to cook for myself when studying abroad. Eating out was too expensive.” Lucas cooked in the kitchen while I busied myself organizing clothes in the bedroom. I opened the closet to find dresses hanging neatly, with a row of new lingerie sets below. The tags were still on – clearly pre-prepared. As I bent to take clothes from my suitcase, I noticed the box he’d brought back from the pharmacy earlier was open. The tape had been removed. I peeked inside to find it full of contraceptives in various flavors. My face instantly flushed red. There was also an unopened box on the nightstand, seemingly prepared specially for tonight. It was hot, and I’d started sweating just from moving around a bit. My hair felt sticky and I didn’t want Lucas to see me looking so disheveled. I grabbed some clothes and quickly ducked into the bathroom to shower. When I came out feeling fresh, Lucas was just coming out of the kitchen, a delicious aroma wafting into the living room. His eyes lingered on me for a moment before quickly looking away. “You showered?” “Yeah, it was too hot earlier and I got all sweaty.” The table was set with braised fish in vinegar sauce, stewed pork ribs with yam, tofu and vegetable soup, and a small dish of pickled vegetables. My mouth watered at the sight. I couldn’t help but give Lucas a thumbs up. “Lucas, you’re amazing! This is Michelin star level!” “So good!” I’d planned to act ladylike in front of him, but the food was just too delicious. I couldn’t resist having an extra bowl of rice.
Lucas got an urgent work call in the afternoon and had to leave in a rush. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling more at ease by myself. I napped until late afternoon and saw a message from him: “Sorry, I won’t be back for dinner tonight.” I went down to the convenience store to buy some snacks, then watched a movie and read for a while. Looking up at the clock, I saw it was nearly 10pm. I frowned and sent him a message, but got no reply. He must be too busy. I spent my wedding night alone. Lucas called to tell me he’d be away for the whole week – there were new developments in the case and he had to drive to another city overnight. I said I understood. Before we married, my parents had warned me about the demands of Lucas’s job and told me to be understanding and accommodating. For the next few days I ate alone, slept alone, played on my phone alone. I almost forgot I was a married woman. One afternoon as I was returning home from work with a bag of oranges, I ran into a neighbor I’d met recently. He was a university professor with a refined air and gentle smile – the type I used to like. “Off work, Ms. Wilson?” I nodded. “Which middle school do you teach at?” I smiled and named my school. “What a coincidence, my nephew goes there. It’s a good school…” We chatted casually as we walked. Just as I was about to close my door, I realized I’d forgotten to buy cold medicine. I’d left the window open last night and woke up with a stuffy nose after kicking off the covers in my sleep. Ryan mentioned he had some cold medicine and kindly brought over two boxes. I felt bad accepting them and gave him a few oranges from my bag. After showering, I went to the living room to get some water and take the medicine. Suddenly I heard the door handle turn. My heart clenched in fear – a woman living alone, hearing someone at the door… The door opened. It was Lucas. He stood in the entryway changing his shoes, which were muddy. His clothes were wrinkled and he looked exhausted. My racing heart calmed. I asked with concern, “Have you eaten?” His voice was hoarse: “I grabbed something on the way.” Lucas stared at me intently. I looked down and realized why. Home alone, I’d thrown on a thin silk nightgown. The loose fabric clung to my curves, threatening to slip off my shoulders. Most importantly, I wasn’t wearing anything underneath. I took a deep breath and calmly went to the bedroom. I closed the door and quickly changed into long sleeves and pants. Less comfortable, but I felt safer. When I came out, he was drinking water. Our eyes met and his gaze seemed meaningful. I nervously looked down and sat on the couch hugging a pillow. “I’m going to shower,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. Lost in thought, I heard his voice from above me. I mumbled a vague “Mm-hmm.” The shower ran for 8 minutes before the bathroom door opened. Lucas came out wearing a loose white t-shirt and black shorts. His tall, lean body was on display – muscular arms and legs clearly visible. He went to the fridge for water, tilting his head back as he drank. I watched his Adam’s apple bob. “Not going to bed?” His hair was still damp, clinging to his forehead. His dark eyes seemed misty as he stared at me. I felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze, my face growing warm. “It’s too early, I want to watch TV for a bit.” Lucas glanced at me, then calmly walked to the entryway and flipped a switch. The lights went out, plunging the living room into darkness. The only illumination came from the TV. The couch dipped as he sat next to me, our legs touching. I was suddenly enveloped by the heady scent of his masculine pheromones. My whole body tensed, palms sweating nervously. I tried to subtly scoot away. He suddenly turned and pulled me into his arms, strong hands gripping my shoulders tightly. I stiffly turned my neck, saying softly, “Maybe we should go rest in the bedroom for a bit.” When he’d first come home, I’d noticed dark circles under his eyes and stubble on his chin. He looked exhausted. Lucas slowly shook his head. “I’ll watch TV with you for a while first.” The living room fell silent again. I’d put on a disaster movie. At first I struggled to focus, but soon got drawn in. As the credits rolled, I heard steady breathing beside me. I gently nudged him. “Lucas–” Before I could finish, he jerked awake and grabbed my arm. In the darkness, his eyes were sharp and cold, brows furrowed fiercely. “Ow–” Lucas paused, then immediately let go. I stared at him wide-eyed, shrinking back. Realizing he’d overreacted, Lucas quickly apologized: “Sorry, it was a reflex.” In his line of work, even the slightest disturbance put him on high alert. Though I understood, I still felt unsettled. If he’d gripped any harder, I wouldn’t be able to hold a piece of chalk tomorrow. Still shaken, I put a hand to my chest. I managed a dry “It’s fine, just be more careful next time.” Seeing his distress, I felt a pang of sympathy. I couldn’t help adding: “Really, don’t worry about it. Go get some sleep.” As I spoke, I yawned and headed to my room. I glanced back to see Lucas hadn’t followed. I lay down and pulled up the covers. The bedroom door opened and I tensed slightly. Lucas came in with a glass of warm milk. “Mom said you need this to sleep well.” I quietly thanked him as I took the glass. Under Lucas’s watchful gaze, I silently drank the entire glass of milk. “I’m turning off the lights.” “Okay.” He reached for the switch, then lay down. I scooted to the very edge of the bed, almost falling off. Moonlight filtered softly through the thin curtains into the bedroom. The room was filled only with the sound of steady breathing. Lucas rolled over– I held my breath. “Does your hand still hurt?” I shook my head, my voice stiff: “It’s…fine now.” After a while, Lucas spoke again, his voice low and husky: “Emma–” “Hmm?” “Move over a bit, you’re about to fall off.” “Oh.” I inched over bit by bit. When the thin silk of my nightgown brushed against his hot skin, my back stiffened and I broke out in a sweat. The room’s intimate atmosphere intensified. I didn’t dare move my legs. Just as I was about to roll over to put some distance between us, Lucas reached out and pulled me into his arms, pressing our bodies tightly together. My face burned hot. He wore a t-shirt, but I could feel the heat radiating from his body. Sweat started to bead on my forehead. This position was uncomfortable. I turned onto my side. Our eyes met– His pitch-black eyes looked calm, but I could feel the heat in his gaze. Feeling like things were about to progress if I didn’t say something, I gently pushed against him and tentatively said: “Um, Lucas, can we sleep in separate rooms? I toss and turn a lot and get up at night. I might disturb your sleep.” There was a long silence beside me. Finally, his calm voice said: “Alright, I’ll sleep in the guest room.” I was taken aback that he agreed so quickly. “Lucas, you’re not upset are you?” He chuckled and shook his head. I breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.” Lucas’s voice softened: “Emma, I know we rushed into marriage. You still need time to adjust. I respect your choice, but I hope you won’t make me wait too long.” He got up and took fresh bedding from the closet to the guest room. That night I dreamed Lucas and I were rolling from one end of the bed to the other. It felt so real that my face was still flushed when I woke up. I scratched my head, wondering why I’d had such a dream.
Lucas knocked on the door: “Emma, breakfast is ready.” I usually didn’t have much appetite in summer mornings. But seeing the sesame noodles, scallion pancakes, and mung bean porridge on the table made my mouth water. “Lucas, what time did you get up to make all this?” “6am.” I had been sound asleep at that hour. My face reddened slightly in embarrassment. I picked up a spoon, about to add sugar to my porridge. He brought over a glass of water first: “Don’t eat yet, drink some warm water first. It’s good for you.” I looked up at him. Only then did I notice his hair was damp and his face slightly flushed. He wore athletic shorts and a t-shirt, the front soaked with sweat. I could faintly make out the lines of his body under the shirt – all muscle, but lean rather than bulky. “Did you go for a run earlier?” He nodded. “Mm. You eat first, I need a quick shower.” Without the comparison, I wouldn’t have realized how lazy I was. I decided I’d cook dinner tonight. I couldn’t let him do everything. … After work I stopped by the supermarket. I bought some groceries, having asked Lucas’s mom what dishes he liked. Passing the frozen section, I saw ice cream on sale. I tossed six pints into my cart. By the time I got home it was dark outside, and I was alone in the house. I finished cooking, but Lucas still wasn’t back. I glanced at the clock – he should be off work by now. Just as I was about to call him, my phone rang. “Emma, I have to work late tonight. I might get back pretty late.” “Okay, have you eaten?” “I’m busy right now, I’ll grab something from the cafeteria later.” “Get some rest early, don’t wait up for me. Remember to lock the door.” “Captain Lu…” I heard someone calling him on the other end. We only chatted briefly before he hung up. I looked at the steaming beef and lotus root rib soup on the table. I went to the kitchen and packed some food in a thermos… I took a taxi to the police station. When the guard asked who I was, I said I was Lucas’s wife. It felt a bit awkward saying those words – I felt embarrassed. The guard’s eyes lit up when he heard that. He enthusiastically led me inside. When I saw Lucas, he was poring over case files with a cigarette in his mouth, brows furrowed. I squinted slightly – this was the first time I’d seen Lucas smoke. I’d never smelled smoke on him before, so I assumed he didn’t. Lucas looked up and saw me, seeming surprised. He quickly took a final drag of his cigarette and stubbed it out in the ashtray. He jogged over, took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. His gaze was deep, hiding a smile. Someone nearby started teasing: “Captain, who’s this?” The guard laughed and said, “It’s the Captain’s wife.” “Captain got married? When are you treating us to the wedding banquet?” “Quick, look – the Captain’s wife brought him dinner!” It was my first time at the police station and I felt nervous. A group of young, energetic officers in training called out greetings, addressing me as “sister-in-law”. It was quite lively. My face turned bright red from the attention. Lucas smiled faintly and said, “Thanks Uncle Li. We just got our marriage license recently, haven’t had the wedding yet. I’ll invite you all when we do.” The guard smiled and left, telling us to spend some time together. Lucas’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “There’s watermelon inside. I picked it up from a farm earlier – it’s very sweet.” I held up the thermos and smiled. “I made a couple dishes and brought them over.” We went inside and Lucas closed the door. He took out a watermelon, wiped it clean, and quickly cut it in half. He stuck a spoon in one half. His dark eyes stared at me intently. Feeling shy under his gaze, I tried to make conversation: “This watermelon is too big, I can’t finish it all.” “If you can’t finish, leave it here. I’ll eat it later.” My face reddened slightly. Growing up, only my dad would eat my leftovers. Now there was a second man willing to do so – it felt strange. “Hurry and eat your dinner. The food won’t taste as good if it gets cold.” “Have you eaten?” I shook my head. I’d been so eager to bring the food over that I hadn’t eaten yet. “I’ll eat when I get home.” Knowing he had a big appetite from all his training, I’d packed extra food. He took out a pair of disposable chopsticks from a drawer and handed them to me. “Let’s eat together.” Lucas put a slice of beef in my bowl. “Eat more, your waist is too thin.” His blunt words startled me and I choked. Lucas’s mom had said he liked spicy food, so I’d added extra Sichuan peppercorns and chili when cooking. Now as I choked, I felt awful. My face turned red as I coughed, breaking out in a sweat. Lucas hurriedly stood up and patted my back to help me breathe. “Have some water.” I gulped down water from the cup he handed me, finally managing to catch my breath. I looked up at Lucas. His brows were deeply furrowed, expression serious. He looked a hundred times fiercer than usual. “You can’t handle spicy food. Don’t use so much chili when cooking.” I felt wronged. “I only made it spicy because you like it.” “And I only choked because you said something shocking.” He fell silent and walked out the door. Did we just have our first fight? I watched his figure disappear into the night through the window, feeling an inexplicable sense of loss. Eight minutes later, Lucas returned carrying a bag filled with various candies. Acting as if nothing had happened, he unwrapped a lemon flavored candy. “Open your mouth.” The sweet and sour candy melted on my tongue, making the spiciness fade. Lucas asked gently, “How is it? Feeling better?” I nodded. “You shouldn’t eat this dinner. I’ll make you something when we get home.” I felt bad for misjudging him earlier. “It’s okay, the lotus root soup isn’t spicy. I can eat it with rice.” “Alright, I’ll eat the spicy beef. You drink all the soup.” “Wait for me to finish up work and we’ll go home together.” Lucas ate quickly, polishing off his meal in 5 minutes. He sat down at the computer, looking focused. I don’t like having people around when I’m working, so while Lucas reviewed case files, I got up to take a walk outside. I ran into one of his coworkers – tall, handsome, and very friendly. “Hey sis, let’s exchange contact info. I’ll add you to our family group chat.” “Our Captain never had a girlfriend before. The bureau chief tried to set him up once, but the girl thought he was too intimidating and busy…” James was quite funny, able to make me laugh with just a few words. “Emma, time to go.” Lucas stood behind me, tall and straight-backed, holding his briefcase and the thermos. “Bye sis!” I smiled and waved goodbye to James.
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