Chapter 116: How Good It Feels to Be Home

Before dawn, Kang Ning woke up right on time. He gently moved the arm that felt like mutton fat from his chest, slowly sat up, and quietly studied the girl sleeping soundly beside him. Her beautiful eyes still held traces of tears, yet her delicate lips curved into a satisfied smile.

Under Kang Ning’s thoughtful and tender care, Shuyi had experienced the whirlwind of pain, shyness, and bliss during a short yet seemingly eternal forty minutes, completing the complex journey from a young girl to a woman.

After a few minutes of discomfort, her whole body gradually relaxed. Her pained moans turned into intoxicating, delicate gasps, and her supple, slender waist began to sway uncontrollably. Tender and sensitive, she was carried to the clouds time and again by the full, enduring, and searing hardness of Kang Ning within her. Every unavoidable ecstasy made Shuyi cry out in joy and weep with happiness, followed by a brief, amnesiac-like swoon. Yet, her toned, strong, and fair legs remained tightly wrapped around Kang Ning’s sturdy waist, preventing him from stopping. He could only gently and slowly continue their rhythm until she could bear no more and he finally let go.

Kang Ning was both resilient and gentle. As a man, he was undoubtedly exceptional—in physical appearance, technique, and character. More commendably, he was deeply respectful and wholeheartedly devoted to every woman in his life, cherishing and caring for her as if she were the apple of his eye, willing to exhaust every effort to do anything within his power for her. He buried his own wounds deep within his heart, bringing joy and happiness to everyone who cared for him, and even to kind-hearted or vulnerable strangers.

Looking at the beautiful face beside him, desire rose once more in Kang Ning’s heart. Knowing that Shuyi, having just experienced her first intimate encounter, could no longer withstand his advances, he quietly got out of bed to take a cold shower. After dressing, he went downstairs, opened the garage, took a tracksuit and running shoes from his bag in the jeep, changed into them, and went for a light jog to buy breakfast. He then went to the kitchen to boil a small pot of ginger-sugar water for Shuyi, cracking an egg into it.

Once everything was ready, Kang Ning returned to the bedroom. After watching the sleeping Shuyi for a long while, he carefully drew out the white silk scarf from beneath her—stained with the bright, plum-blossom-like mark of her maidenhood—fastened it securely with two plastic cartoon clips, and hung it on the clothesline by the window. He returned to the bedside, leaned down, and gently kissed Shuyi’s delicate cheek before tiptoeing back to the living room. He left a note and departed with reluctance.

As soon as Kang Ning closed the door, Shuyi, who had been fast asleep, slowly sat up. She smiled happily at the scarf fluttering in the gentle breeze by the window. The scarf, bearing the plum-blossom mark of her life’s milestone, was like a proud banner of youth, blushing her face and warming her heart.

Just past seven o’clock, Kang Ning trotted into the residential compound gate, carrying a bag of breakfast. As usual, he greeted the security guard, Xiao Yong, with a smile. Watching Kang Ning’s vigorous stride and upright figure as he moved away in his tracksuit, Xiao Yong put away his smile and scratched his head in confusion: "I didn't see Mr. Wu go out for a run earlier, did I? How did he come running back? Did I miss him while I was in the restroom?"

When he finished breakfast, Lu Jing had not yet woken up. After washing up, Kang Ning walked into her bedroom and kissed her gently, feeling a pang of guilt.

Lu Jing kept her eyes closed and wrapped her hands around Kang Ning’s head, pulling him to press his ear against her belly. "Can you hear it? Our child is getting naughtier by the day."

Kang Ning closed his eyes and listened quietly for a long time. He lifted his head to look at Lu Jing’s happy face and asked softly, "Jing'er, what name do you plan to give the child?"

Lu Jing opened her eyes and replied excitedly, "I’ve already thought of it. Let’s call the child Lu Xiaokang. Does it sound nice?"

Kang Ning froze. It took him a long while before he thought foolishly: *I wonder if the little one named Xiaokang back home thousands of miles away is sneezing right now?*

Seeing Kang Ning’s dazed look, Lu Jing assumed he wasn't satisfied. She quickly sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Husband, do you not like the name? I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Even Mengmeng and Xiaoyi said it was good!"

Kang Ning grinned. "How could I be dissatisfied? It’s a great name. If you read it backward, it’s a member of the Kang family, heh!"

"Read it backward? Kang Xiaolu?" Lu Jing muttered it to herself repeatedly in confusion, then gave Kang Ning’s chest a slap. "Pah! Absolutely not. If you keep saying it, it starts to sound like 'Kang the Little Donkey'—that’s disgusting! You are not allowed to read it backward!"

Kang Ning broke into a cold sweat, thinking to himself, *Who reads it like that?* But he replied sweetly, "I repent, I repent! Following my lady’s wishes is always the right thing to do!"

Lu Jing laughed happily. She got out of bed, finished washing up, and sat at the dining table, looking at the tempting breakfast. "Husband, the feeling of 'home' is truly wonderful."

Kang Ning smiled tenderly at Lu Jing and, after handing her a glass of milk, watched her quietly. Kang Ning planned that after Shuyi left for university in Leijiang at the end of August, he would settle scores with Ni Sanqi, a gang leader with deep connections and powerful underworld influence. While he was at it, he would also eliminate the wicked village chief. Therefore, before the end of August, he had to get Lu Jing to move to Chengdu for her safety.

After careful consideration, Kang Ning asked for Lu Jing’s opinion while they ate: "Jing'er, shall we move to Chengdu?"

Lu Jing smiled and replied, "I’ll listen to you. Sigh! Ever since Uncle Wang died so tragically, I’ve wanted to leave this heartbreaking place. I only stayed behind because Xiao Lin hadn't given birth yet and I was worried about her. Now that there’s nothing holding me back, I’m ready. Mengmeng called last night to discuss it with me; she said her father, who just became the Director of the Department of Construction, secretly pulled some strings to have her file transferred to the Chengdu Municipal Agency Experimental Primary School. She suggested I move to Chengdu, too. Mengmeng even said she found a beautiful duplex apartment by the Qingshui River in Jinxiu Garden. It’s already renovated and only costs a little over 600,000. If you’re willing, we can settle on it."

Kang Ning hadn't expected Mengmeng to be so efficient. A weight lifted from his heart, and he nodded at Lu Jing. "You’re already eight months pregnant. I think we should finalize it quickly so you can give birth in Chengdu; the hospital facilities there are much better than here."

"Alright, I’ll call Mengmeng in a bit and transfer the money for her to handle it," Lu Jing said happily, knowing that giving birth in a major hospital in Chengdu would be much safer. "Xiaoyi is coming over for dinner tonight; I’ll ask her to help sell this place."

Near noon, Kang Ning offered to cook for Lu Jing, but she told him not to go to the trouble, saying she would just make a fruit salad later. There was chicken soup in the refrigerator she could heat up in the microwave, so he didn't need to tire himself out with dinner.

After a moment’s thought, Kang Ning asked to be excused, changed into casual clothes, and left the house.

Carrying a large bag of groceries, Kang Ning climbed the stairs. As he reached the corner, he smelled the aroma of boiled fish. He entered, closed the door, and went into the kitchen to find Shuyi busy with a small apron on.

"It smells wonderful! I never imagined our girl had this talent." Kang Ning took out the veal and vegetables he had bought and started cooking with a smile.

Shuyi’s eyes held a trace of shyness, her small lips pressed tightly together, and tiny beads of sweat dotted her smooth forehead and pretty nose.

Kang Ning washed his hands and grabbed a towel. Shuyi playfully raised her flushed face and closed her eyes, waiting for him to wipe the sweat away. To her surprise, the mischievous Kang Ning didn't wipe her face; instead, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her reddened lips deeply, causing the weak-kneed Shuyi to drop her spatula with a loud clatter.

An hour later, the two of them sat around the dining table in the cozy little room, excited by the sight of the exquisite and sumptuous feast. Kang Ning served Shuyi a bowl of egg drop soup. Shuyi, moved, looked foolishly at Kang Ning’s face and said something that made him feel both touched and ashamed: "Brother Xiaohua, I’ve always longed for a home like this. This feeling of 'home' is just so wonderful!"