Fighting For My Wife With Myself After Being Reborn - Chapter 16

“Axu, wake up.” A hand, fragrant and gentle, lightly patted Shen Huaixu’s cheek.

Her senses, which had been submerged in deep sleep for a long time, gradually began to rouse. She could faintly hear Gu Yinghuai’s tender voice set against the background noise of an announcement. The sensation on her cheek was light, delicate, soft—something to be cherished.

“Can someone really be this sleepy?” A soft chuckle rang in her ear, a sound so incredibly familiar. “Shen Huaixu” struggled to move her eyes, trying to force her eyelids open to see the face of the person laughing beside her.

Slowly, a faint light filtered into those silver-gray eyes.

As “Shen Huaixu” slowly blinked, Gu Yinghuai’s face appeared above her. She saw Gu Yinghuai smiling adorably.

“Hi there, finally awake?” Gu Yinghuai stroked “Shen Huaixu’s” forehead, smoothing the messy strands of hair away. She smiled and said, “I told you, if you were that tired, we could have just left tomorrow. You just had to rush for a flight right after work.”

A flight? “Shen Huaixu” didn’t react for a moment.

“I think I’ve slept myself into a daze,” “Shen Huaixu” pretended she hadn’t fully woken up yet. “Where are we now?”

“Almost at the airport. The announcement just said we’re expected to land in fifteen minutes. I was worried you’d oversleep, so I woke you up early. Here, have some water to moisten your throat.” Gu Yinghuai poured a cup of water and held it to her lips. “Shen Huaixu” lowered her head slightly and drank a bit in that position.

“Thanks for the hard work, Huai.” Lips damp with water kissed the fingers held near them. She looked up, the very image of a little fox, using her eyes to seduce the person in front of her.

“Radiating charm again…” Gu Yinghuai muttered softly, reaching out to cover “Shen Huaixu’s” eyes. She felt the curl of the eyelashes brush against her palm.

“Shen Huaixu” chuckled softly and did not push away the hand covering her face.

Accompanied by the roar of engines and bouts of turbulence, the plane landed at the airport, a rare occurrence of being on time.

It was already late at night. The night sky in Dali was beautiful; the stars were twinkling, and the constellations were brilliant.

The nighttime temperature was a bit low, and the wind blowing through felt chilly. Gu Yinghuai rubbed her arms and took the coat “Shen Huaixu” handed her.

“Wow, it’s much colder than back home.” The coat shielded her from the cold air, and Gu Yinghuai’s pale, frozen face regained a bit of its original pink glow.

“Yeah, it’s a good thing I packed a coat in the bag.” “Shen Huaixu” took her hand and followed the crowd into the airport.

Dali truly lived up to its reputation as a tourist destination. Even though it was late at night, taxis at the airport were still coming and going in an endless stream, giving tourists absolutely no reason to linger or stay overnight at the airport.

As soon as tourists emerged, people immediately approached them to ask if they needed a ride.

“Shen Huaixu” had a faint impression of this trip.

She remembered that the hotel she booked seemed to have a private shuttle service, so they didn’t have to squeeze into public transportation with the other tourists.

“Huai, keep an eye on the luggage. I’ll check where we’re supposed to go.” “Shen Huaixu” used the excuse of looking at travel tips to actually open the memo app on her phone. Sure enough, it was packed with a detailed itinerary for this trip.

On the hotel page, the address, phone number, and the duration of the booking were all recorded.

[Private shuttle service, notify one hour in advance (Hotel already notified of estimated arrival time)]

“Shen Huaixu” was sincerely grateful that her habit of recording and registering things in her memos had never changed.

Otherwise, in her current state of having just woken up and being completely “blind” to the situation, there would have been no way for her to fake it in front of Gu Yinghuai.

“I notified the hotel before we boarded. They said they’d send a car to pick us up. The license plate is…” “Shen Huaixu” looked at the WeChat chat records with the staff, then looked up to search for the hotel’s car at the bustling airport exit.

Gu Yinghuai was also searching. Her gaze swept back and forth until she spotted a staff member holding a sign not far away. She excitedly tugged on “Shen Huaixu’s” sleeve and pointed it out. “Axu, look! Is that it?”

“Shen Huaixu” squinted in the direction of her finger.

“Yes, my Huai is the best.” “Shen Huaixu” kissed Gu Yinghuai’s cheek. With one hand pulling the suitcase and the other holding Gu Yinghuai—who was in a joyful mood and smiling like a spring breeze—she walked toward the staff member with the sign.

After successfully meeting the hotel staff, “Shen Huaixu” sat in the back seat, holding Gu Yinghuai and chatting with her in low tones.

“I’m so hungry. I wonder if we can still order takeout after we get to the hotel.” The several hours of flight time had drained Gu Yinghuai’s energy. She desperately wanted to eat something, then take a shower and go to sleep.

“Let me check.” “Shen Huaixu” opened the food delivery app and changed the location to the hotel. Several late-night BBQ places popped up immediately. “Want some BBQ?”

Hearing “BBQ,” Gu Yinghuai’s eyes lit up instantly. She lifted her head from “Shen Huaixu’s” arms and stretched her neck to see the phone screen.

“Yes, yes, yes! I haven’t had BBQ in so long. I want grilled chicken feet!” Recalling the taste of grilled chicken feet, Gu Yinghuai’s mouth started watering.

“Okay, grilled chicken feet. What else?”

“Blood rice sausage! Rice cakes! Pork belly and chicken tendons!”

“Mhmm, and I want grilled squid!”

After Gu Yinghuai finished listing the dishes, she still felt like she wanted more. “How about a grilled eggplant too?”

“Shen Huaixu” gave in to her expectant gaze and nodded slowly. “Alright, one grilled eggplant.”

“Medium spicy?”

“Yay!”

Hearing that she could order medium spicy, Gu Yinghuai raised her hands in a cheer. Then, while the driver wasn’t looking, she pulled down “Shen Huaixu’s” mask and gave her a reward kiss.

Usually, “Shen Huaixu” didn’t allow Gu Yinghuai to order medium spicy BBQ. Firstly, she worried Gu Yinghuai’s stomach couldn’t handle it, and secondly, she feared the merchants might use chili powder to mask the lack of freshness in the ingredients, which could cause an upset stomach.

On this trip, “Shen Huaixu” didn’t want to be a killjoy. She tried her best to satisfy all of Gu Yinghuai’s requests.

Trading a medium spicy BBQ for a kiss from Gu Yinghuai seemed like a good deal.

“Shen Huaixu” curled the corners of her mouth slightly and rubbed the hair of the person in her arms.

They arrived at the hotel. The driver helped them take their suitcases out of the trunk, and another staff member stepped forward to lead them inside.

Checking in, registering, and getting the room card.

“Shen Huaixu” declined the staff’s offer to help with the luggage and took Gu Yinghuai to their floor by themselves.

As they entered the room, a massive floor-to-ceiling window appeared before them.

Gu Yinghuai let go of the suitcase handle, kicked off her shoes haphazardly, and ran to the window.

“Axu, come look! It’s so beautiful!” Outside was the shimmering surface of the lake. The surrounding lights were reflected on the calm water, and as the evening breeze brushed by, it blew up a sheet of golden light.

The starlight in the sky was no less than the city lights. The Milky Way was visible to the naked eye, hanging in the sky like a dream, as if they had entered a different world.

“It is very beautiful.” When “Shen Huaixu” said this, she didn’t look at the Milky Way. She looked at Gu Yinghuai. She felt that the starlight in Gu Yinghuai’s eyes was far more brilliant and dazzling than the galaxy in the sky.

After glancing at the Milky Way for a moment, “Shen Huaixu” withdrew her gaze with little interest. She said, “I’ll go organize the luggage. You keep looking.”

Gu Yinghuai raised her hand. “I’ll help too.”

“Shen Huaixu” poked her forehead and smiled. “No need, it’ll be quick. I’m just putting on the bedsheets.”

“That’s exactly why it needs two people.” Gu Yinghuai abandoned the dreamy, romantic Milky Way and followed “Shen Huaixu” like a little puppy, helping her put the disposable covers over the hotel bedsheets.

After finishing the bed, Gu Yinghuai took the initiative to take out the toiletries and arrange them on the bathroom counter.

By the time they finished unpacking, the BBQ had arrived.

“Shen Huaixu” opened the door. A delivery robot was parked outside. After entering the code and taking the food, the robot wished “Shen Huaixu” a wonderful night and then turned and whirred away.

The BBQ tasted good, but it was a bit spicy.

Gu Yinghuai’s eyes grew watery from the heat, crystal-clear beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose, her cheeks were flushed, and her tongue, peeking out from her lips, was also bright red.

“So spicy, but so goowd.” She sniffed, ignoring the stinging pain on her tongue to take a large bite of a chicken foot.

It was savory, spicy, soft, and chewy.

A teardrop hanging on Gu Yinghuai’s eyelashes fell instantly.

“If it’s spicy, don’t take such big bites.” “Shen Huaixu” felt both distressed and amused. She could never understand why Gu Yinghuai would keep eating spicy food even when she was crying from it. If it’s spicy, don’t eat it; why force yourself?

“Drink some yogurt to cool down.” She gave the yogurt, already fitted with a straw, to Gu Yinghuai. Gu Yinghuai took it and sucked several times before the numbness in her mouth was finally neutralized.

“Because it’s delicious! And when you eat spicy food, you can’t stop. If you stop, it gets even spicier.” Gu Yinghuai wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and grabbed two more tissues to blow her nose. “The chili here is very fragrant. I really like it.”

“Let’s take a few packets back with us,” “Shen Huaixu” said.

“Yes, definitely!” Gu Yinghuai nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with “Shen Huaixu.”

After finishing the BBQ, “Shen Huaixu” urged Gu Yinghuai to shower while she stayed behind to briefly clean up the table.

Gu Yinghuai stood at the bathroom door and gave her a mischievous smile. “I thought you’d want to shower together?”

“Cherish tonight well.” Large, warm palms framed Gu Yinghuai’s slender waist. “Shen Huaixu” leaned down, hovering close to Gu Yinghuai, and lightly brushed against her earlobe.

Gu Yinghuai felt like her earlobe had been burned; her shoulders gave a tiny involuntary shrug.

“I’m going to shower now!” She pushed the person holding her away. Her cheeks were burning as she quickly shut the bathroom door.

“Shen Huaixu” gently rubbed her fingertips, feeling the lingering warmth belonging to Gu Yinghuai.

While Gu Yinghuai was showering, “Shen Huaixu” quickly browsed the travel plans in her phone’s memo.

She came from the future and had experienced these events before, but it had been a long time. No matter how good her memory was, she had more or less forgotten many details.

Furthermore, she couldn’t guarantee that the future wouldn’t change uncontrollably because of her arrival. “Shen Huaixu” didn’t dare to gamble, nor did she want to.

She finished reading the plan and silently mapped out the route for tomorrow.

“Axu, I’m done.” Gu Yinghuai, wearing her own pajamas, came out of the bathroom drying her hair.

Neither she nor Shen Huaixu liked wearing hotel bathrobes. Heaven knows how many people had worn them; the mere thought of wearing a robe worn by countless strangers made Gu Yinghuai feel uncomfortable all over.

“Okay, I’m coming.” “Shen Huaixu” put away her phone. Seeing that Gu Yinghuai’s long hair was still dripping water, she walked forward with a furrowed brow. “Why didn’t you dry your hair before coming out?”

She pulled Gu Yinghuai back into the bathroom, took the hairdryer from the drawer, and expertly began drying Gu Yinghuai’s hair.

“I thought I’d wait until you were showering to dry it. Alright, alright, I’ll do the rest myself. I’ll go outside to finish.” Gu Yinghuai stopped “Shen Huaixu” from continuing. “Go take your shower, it’s late.”

“Mm, remember to dry it thoroughly.” “Shen Huaixu” watched Gu Yinghuai take the hairdryer and stand by the bed to finish, then she closed the bathroom door and began her shower.

When “Shen Huaixu” emerged while drying her hair, Gu Yinghuai was already lying on the bed, drifting off to sleep.

She walked to the bedside and could see that the marks she had left on Gu Yinghuai’s neck earlier had been treated properly, leaving only a faint greenish bruise.

“Shen Huaixu” gently brushed away the hair covering Gu Yinghuai’s cheek. Her lover’s face was flushed pink in sleep, so cute that “Shen Huaixu’s” heart felt as though it were melting.

She carefully pulled out the blanket pinned under Gu Yinghuai, adjusted her sleeping position, and tucked her in.

“Shen Huaixu” closed the bathroom door once more and hid inside to dry her hair using the lowest setting of the hairdryer.

The lights outside the window gradually faded.

“Shen Huaixu” pulled the curtains shut and turned off the room lights, leaving only a dim nightlight by the bed.

She lifted the covers and lay down beside Gu Yinghuai.

The person who had fallen asleep earlier sensed “Shen Huaixu’s” arrival and shifted her body slightly to lean into her embrace.

“I feel like Axu has been a little different lately,” Gu Yinghuai said softly with her eyes closed.

“Shen Huaixu’s” heart skipped a beat. She didn’t know if Gu Yinghuai had heard her suddenly erratic heartbeat, nor if Gu Yinghuai had discovered her secret.

She forced herself to remain calm and controlled her voice as much as possible to keep it from sounding strange. “How so?”

Gu Yinghuai was silent for a moment, then shook her head. “I can’t quite say. I just feel like Axu has changed, yet also hasn’t.”

“Like two days ago when I was drunk, Axu acted very strangely. Much more assertive than before, and you said some strange things to me.”

“Then… does Huai hate it?” “Shen Huaixu” heard her own voice tremble as she waited for Gu Yinghuai to pass judgment.