"You're blus.h.i.+ng. It's lovely." He said. The lady remained silent.

"Did I say something wrong?" He added.

"No. Chen Linyun, you've put up a lot for me, haven't you? I'm really sorry, dear." She said.

"There you go again. I told you stop saying sorry." He said mildly, dotingly. "I should be the one apologizing, Jinxu. You should be happy with me. I've s.n.a.t.c.hed you from your family so I should have been responsible enough to maintain the kind of life and well-being you have before our marriage. But I failed you immensely."

"You did not. I… It's all my fault…"

"Don't blame yourself, Jinxu."

"I cannot even carry our child well."

"Is that why you're adamant in getting pregnant again?"

The lady nodded. "I can't face another failure. The next one would certainly destroy me."

Chen Linyun sighed. "At least, don't think about leaving me again."

The lady nodded again.

"Will you finally return to my side? Live with me? Our dreamhouse is almost ready." Chen Linyun tried his luck.

The lady's cheeks turned a lot redder.

Chen Linyun laughed. "Honey, you're thinking about that a lot, huh?"

"Chen Linyun!" She spanked him really hard.

"Hahahaha! I'm joking. Don't you think I haven't sensed it?" Chen Linyun turned serious. "You're uncomfortable doing it, yet…"

The lady's mouth twitched. "I'm your wife, it's my obligation."

"Jinxu!"

Chen Linyun sat up and stared at her unreadable face.

"I don't want the day to come that you'll realize how useless of a wife I am. I don't want you to walk away from me."

"And so, you're forcing yourself to do it with me? Honey I wouldn't have forced you myself. You simply should have told me."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, dear. We've already experienced too much. Loosen up." Chen Linyun coaxed his wife.

"Don't worry about it, let's just think that we're playing house. How's that? Will you live with me now when we return from this trip?"

The lady pursed her lips, thinking hard. "Are you sure? It will be alright?"

"We're married. We should be living under one roof. Let's stop this setup, even if it's fun. We can continue with our dates, though. If you want we can have our own rooms, as long as we are under one roof. Like housemates, but I won't really push for that."

Before the lady could answer, they were interrupted by a phone call. Chen Linyun's body tensed.

*Ring* *Ring*

"Someone's calling you. Won't you answer it?" Xue Jinxu pointed out.

"Uhm…" Chen Linyun stuttered, and fetched his phone inside his pocket.

"It's Mo Wenbin. Just a minute."

Chen Linyun stood up and went away.

Xue Jinxu tilted her head sideways. She's so near in getting suspicious.

Chen Linyun was on the phone for some time. Once in a while he would look in the direction of the wife.

'What's taking him so long?' Xue Jinxu contemplated. 'Is there a problem?'

Finally, the call ended. Chen Linyun hung up and went back to the lady on the recliner.

"Jinxu…"

"Was that Mo Wenbin? Is anything the matter?" Xue Jinxu sat up from her lying position earlier, getting tense herself. Her brows were knotted together.

"Linyun…" She murmured out of concern.

Chen Linyun's forehead and back were already drenched in sweat.

"Listen, Jinxu, there might be a little glitch back at the house. Please control your temper, dear." Chen Linyun started.

"Honey, what's wrong?" She fetched her handkerchief from her dress's pocket and proceeded in wiping Chen Linyun's forehead. She's getting extremely nervous.

"Honey…"

"Just tell me. Spit it out!" She's getting irritated, yet trying to be patient. 'Whatever it is, it must be hard for him to say it. What is it?'

"Promise me first that you will control your temper." Chen Linyun was trying to manage the situation. He was desperate.

The wife had this questioning look.

"Just do it, promise me."

"Chen Linyun, what's this? Did you do something bad? I'm… I'm getting a bad feeling about it."

"Just do it, promise me." Chen Linyun repeated.

"And remember that you are the only apple of my eye, the only love of my life."

"You are the only one, no compet.i.tion."

He kissed her on the forehead. "And honey, I love you to the moon and back… Always remember that…"

"CHEN LINYUN!!!" The lady stood up getting angry at the moment. "WILL YOU PLEASE TELL ME? STOP BEATING AROUND THE BUs.h.!.+"

'Oh G.o.d, she's really scary. Mo Wenbin this is your fault.' He gritted his teeth, and braced himself. "Promise me first." He insisted after the lady's unexpected fit of anger.

"Okay, okay, I promise! I'm the only apple of your eye. I'm the only love of your life. I will always remember that you love me to the moon and back. And so do I, Chen Linyun. So please tell me whatever it is, trust me too. I can handle it."

"Well, there is… there's an uninvited guest at our accommodation."

"Aunty invited her."

There was only dead silence between them. The night breeze that blew past them howled eerily.

"You mean, her." Xue Jinxu clarified.

Chen Linyun fidgeted before answering. "…Yes." He was looking down. He could not look her in the eyes.

"Did she go here for you?" The wife asked.

"No. She went as Mo Wenbin's acquaintance."

"Will I have a problem with her? I mean, with her behavior towards you?" The lady probed further.

"No, no! I'll make sure you won't have any problems! I'll keep my distance from her, I swear I will." Chen Linyun was frantic in making the wife secure. This vacation was supposed to make them closer. He couldn't afford another rift.

"Do you mean everything that you said earlier? Everything about me being the only one?" Xue Jinxu quietly asked. The theme was becoming more of a thriller.

"Yes, of course, dear." Chen Linyun rapidly answered.

"Then, I don't think there's any problem." Xue Jinxu extended her hand towards Chen Linyun. He flinched. The wife laughed wryly but continued her actions. She guided his chin upward such that he would lock his gaze with hers. "I trust you, Chen Linyun." She wrapped her frail arms around his neck and closed their gap with a kiss on their lips. 'I won't be lying, I'm threatened. But he's keeping me secured.' She thought.