After breakfast ended, the couple packed some clothes and other necessities for their one-day vacation in Flower Spring Resort.
Half the car ride to the hot spring resort, the two were both quiet. They wanted to talk to each other but can't seem to decide on which topic to talk about, making the air quite awkward.
Finally, Zhang Yixing found a way to break the building ice in the atmosphere. "You wanna stay in Flower Spring Resort til night or do you have another place you want to go?"
Zhou Yuexi thought for a while before answering. "I actually want to go shopping. The maids in the Zhou Family Villa didn't get all my things in my room and the clothes they got for me are not the usual type I wear."
"Okay, we'll leave Flower Spring Resort after lunch then go to the mall to buy everything you want.", Zhang Yixing said.
A thought suddenly struck his mind, "Right, we should get something for grandfather. It would be rude to visit him empty handed.", he added.
Zhou Yuexi smiled at the mention of Elder Zhou. "Grandfather wouldn't mind even if we do."
"Even if he doesn't, I still want to give him a gift. You can consider this as me bootlicking your grandfather.", Zhang Yixing debated. "So... Any suggestion as to what your grandfather would like to have?"
Zhang Yixing looked at his wife waiting for her answer.
"This man sure knows how to win people's hearts. Grandfather is one stone-hearted man but Zhang Yixing is doing just fine in pleasing him.", Zhou Yuexi thought to herself.
"Grandfather loves drinking tea, so getting him premium quality tea leaves is the best way to bootlick."
Zhang Yixing beamed as he said, "It's perfect then! There's an authentic tea place near Flower Spring Resort, we can swing by before going to the mall."
When the couple reached the hot spring resort, they checked in into their room. After settling in, they changed out of their clothes into the robes provided by the resort then they split up to take a dip in the hot springs, since the men's bath place is separated from the women's.
"Let's just meet here again after an hour.", Zhang Yixing said before closing the door behind him.
Zhou Yuexi nodded in response. "Okay."
...
After reaching her private hot spring tub, Zhou Yuexi took off her robe, had a dip into the steaming hot water and settled into a comfortable spot.
Once Zhou Yuexi fully adjusted to the water temperature, she closed her eyes and meditated on the recent events in her life.
She thought of all the changes she needs to cope up with and the new things she need to do as a married woman.
Being the overthinking person that she is, Zhou Yuexi pictured all possible scenarios that she will go through in her mind. Starting from what everything morning should be like, to how every conversation should be, up to who should use the bathroom first, Zhou Yuexi thought about them all and resolved in her mind how they should be addressed.
Everything was fine untill she got stranded on one thought.
"Should we have children?", she asked herself. "But I'm not ready to be a mother!"
Zhou Yuexi's face turned red when she realized what she was thinking of. She chastised her self for envisioning such things.
Having a child, more so children, means that she will have to consummate her marriage with Zhang Yixing. Not that it's impossible nor can she prevent it but as of now she can't imagine hers self doing that kind of business with her husband. Sure they both promised to make their marriage work but she doesn't think that they're already at the phase of their relationship where they should be having 'that'.
Ever since she was a child, Zhou Yuexi convinced herself that she would give her first time to the one loves after they get married. However, the situation they are in isn't the thing Zhou Yuexi imagined. Sure they are legally married but there's no feelings involved, no love. Maybe someday they'll get there but right now, it's a far fetched idea.
Zhou Yuexi slapped her self out of her thoughts as she realization dawned on her. She was thinking of 'that' again! Twice in the same day!
"Just what is getting into me?!", Zhou Yuexi berated her self.
Zhou Yuexi stayed in the hot bath for a good 30 minutes before deciding to go back to their room.
When she reached their room, she locked the door behind her and immediately slipped off her robe to change into her clothes. She didn't bother to go to the bathroom to change since she already locked the door and she had the room to her self.
Or so she thought.
Just after she got into her undergarments the bathroom's door opened and spitted out a newly dressed Zhang Yixing. Zhou Yuexi was so shocked and mortified to see her husband going out of the bathroom as she looked over there.
Zhang Yixing immediately noticed her almost naked wife and quickly went to the bathroom again and shut the door behind him.
"I didn't see anything!", he shouted through the closed door.
But what he said didn't ease the embarrassment that Zhou Yuexi felt. She was as red as a tomato almost all over her body!
The second that Zhou Yuexi heard the sound of a door unlocking from the bathroom's area, she was frozen on her spot. Her hands which were picking up a dress from her bag hanged loosely, her eyes wide in shock and her mouth slightly agape from the realization that someone saw her in such an exposed manner.
...
Inside the bathroom, Zhang Yixing was also blushing a bright red color all the way to his ears.
Even though he said he didn't see anything, it was just his way to help Zhou Yuexi feel less embarrassed and maybe somehow a way to convince his self to erase his wife's seductive picture in his mind.
All that Zhang Yixing had was just a glimpse but he can't seem to get Zhou Yuexi's barely dressed image off his mind.
Zhou Yuexi was wearing a pair of black laced panty and brassiere, it wasn't even a lingerie but the effect ot has on Zhang Yixing's brain is almost the same of seeing her not wearing anything. The sight of her milky white skin makes him think of how smooth and soft it would feel in his touch. Zhou Yuexi didn't have an hour glass body but her slight curves in the right places was enough to send Zhang Yixing's mind to go haywire.
Zhang Yixing was partly thankful and partly regretful. He was thankful he had quick reflexes so he was able to jump back into the bathroom. Though he also feels regretful as he didn't get a longer glance of Zhou Yuexi in that state. It was such a mouth drying sight that his long kept desires were awaken and he couldn't help but feel aroused. His eyes turned into a darker shade of black and his pupils contracted in his lust.
Seeing that he was feeling the desire he so amazingly tamed for the last decade for his wife he felt rather guilty. He didn't want to have a relationship with Zhou Yuexi based on his body's needs. He's fully aware that they are legally husband and wife and that seeing each other in their birthday suits is a normal thing but he still feels guilty of thinking of his wife's body this way.
After the short time he spent with Zhou Yuexi, he quite understood how she viewed things. He knew that Zhou Yuexi didn't want to have sex with someone she doesn't love. Even though it's his right to do it with her as her husband, he doesn't want to force her into things she doesn't want to do. He promised Elder Zhou himself that he would take the best care of Zhou Yuexi and he's willing to sacrifice his needs in order to keep his words.
Zhang Yixing held his desires in and took a cold shower. After the fire in his body subsided to the low temperature of the water, he dried himself up and slid into a fresh set of clothes.
Before going out, he cautiously asked, "Are you done now?".
Zhou Yuexi didn't answer immediately as she was still mortified by the prior event. She coughed lightly to ease her racing heart before speaking. "Yeah."
Hearing the affirmation from his wife, Zhang Yixing then went out of the bathroom.
The first thing he did was stare at Zhou Yuexi. She was now wearing a black long sleeved shirt style top A-line dress with white collars and cuffs.
Zhou Yuexi on the other hand didn't want to look at Zhang Yixing at first due to embarrassment but when he had been silent for quite a while, she couldn't help but look at why he was not saying anything. After she did so, she ended up being like Zhang Yixing, stupefied by their amazing telepathy.
The clothes Zhang Yixing changed into were a white oxford shirt underneath a thin black v-neck sweater and khakis.
They're style seemed like they purposely dressed up into couple outfits but in reality it was purely coincidental.
Zhou Yuexi had a brief glimpse of what Zhang Yixing was wearing earlier and she deliberately picked another dress that's of another color so that she won't look like she was trying to match his clothes. But the thing she wanted to avoid is exactly what she got. Not only were their clothes matching, it was like they are wearing a couple outfits!