Chapter 36: Was I a Bit Too Reckless Last Night?

The Jiang Family's wedding banquet stayed lively until the afternoon before it finally ended.

After seeing off the guests, Jiang Ran impatiently pulled Su Ruan, got into the car, and returned to their new room.

The new room was on the second floor of the Jiang Family house; the room had been redecorated, and all the furniture inside was newly replaced.

The room wasn't large, but it was clean and cozy.

Red double‑joy characters were pasted on the windows, the bed was covered with a brand‑new silk quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water, and the table held gifts from relatives and friends such as a Warm Water Bottle and an enamel basin, filling the room with strong domestic warmth and festive cheer.

Closing the door shut out the outside world.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

After the clamor came sudden silence, and an ambiguous, tense atmosphere quietly spread through the air.

Jiang Ran watched Su Ruan, standing in the center of the room in a red dress, stunningly beautiful, and felt his throat dry a little.

The pride and flamboyance he had shown before everyone during the day gradually settled, turning into a deeper, hotter longing.

He stepped closer, his gaze blazing, as if he wanted to devour her.

Su Ruan could clearly hear her own heart pounding like a drum.

She slightly lowered her lashes, her cheeks flushed with a rouge‑like hue, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress.

Even though she had experienced countless scenes, as Su Ruan's first time, facing this vigorous, fierce‑eyed man before her, she couldn't help feeling a bit nervous and shy.

Jiang Ran walked to her and stopped.

He didn't act immediately; he simply stared at her deeply, his voice hoarse from restraint.

"RuanRuan…" He extended his hand, his fingertips trembling imperceptibly, gently touching the delicate skin of her cheek, "You look… really beautiful today."

His touch felt like a current, making Su Ruan shiver slightly.

She lifted her eyes, meeting his vortex‑deep gaze, within which swirled unabashed love, desire, and an almost reverent cherish.

"Jiang Ran…" she whispered, her voice carrying a softness she hadn't even noticed in herself.

That single word completely shattered Jiang Ran's self‑control.

He suddenly lowered his head and captured her slightly parted lips.

This kiss was unlike any he had given before.

It was no longer a reckless test, nor a rapacious urgency, but a tenderness and lingering that proclaimed ownership.

He patiently traced the shape of her lips, sucking gently, as if tasting the world's most precious honey.

Su Ruan's whole body went limp under his kiss, and she could only weakly cling to his broad shoulder, feeling his scorching body heat and increasingly rapid breathing.

His kiss gradually moved downward, lingering on her sensitive earlobe and slender neck, leaving fine, damp, warm traces.

His large hand also began to wander restlessly behind her, feeling her delicate curves through the smooth fabric.

"RuanRuan… my bride…" he panted, whispering repeatedly into her ear, as if confirming and as if swearing.

At some point the clothing was gently slipped off, and the ornate Wedding Dress was carefully placed on a nearby chair.

Her translucent white skin exposed to the air sparked a faint shiver.

Jiang Ran stared at the body beneath him, as if carved from the finest mutton‑fat jade, his breathing suddenly heavy, his eyes frighteningly red.

He seemed to be facing an unparalleled treasure, fervently wanting to possess it yet fearing his clumsy movements might hurt her.

"Don't be afraid…" he kissed her forehead, his voice hoarse beyond recognition, "I'll be gentle…"

His movements were indeed exceedingly gentle, tinged with the green‑horn awkwardness and caution of a first experience, yet carried an undeniable dominance.

Under his raw yet passionate caress, Su Ruan's body gradually relaxed, like spring water melting.

The unfamiliar pleasure surged like tide after tide, making her unable to stop emitting soft whimpers, her nails unintentionally leaving shallow red marks on his taut back.

Red candles flickered, the canopy warm with a spring night.

Jiang Ran immediately halted all movement, looking at her nervously, his forehead dotted with restrained sweat: "Pain? …"

Su Ruan looked at the genuine concern and nervousness in his eyes, and the slight discomfort in her heart suddenly vanished.

She reached out, gently encircling his neck, and offered her own lips proactively.

That silent encouragement completely released Jiang Ran's long‑suppressed passion.

The night was still long.

Outside the window the moonlight was hazy; inside, the room was a scene of sensual beauty.

The next morning, Su Ruan awoke with a lingering sour‑soft sensation.

She shifted slightly and immediately felt her whole body as if it had been taken apart and reassembled, especially a certain unspeakable spot that sent clear dull pain and a strange sensation.

She opened her eyes, and the first sight was Jiang Ran's enlarged handsome face.

He lay on his side, a sturdy arm domineeringly draped across her waist, holding her tightly in his embrace, his chin resting on the crown of her head, breathing evenly and long, the exhaled warmth brushing her forehead.

Even in his sleep, his brows were slightly furrowed with a youthful stubbornness, yet the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved into a faint smile, as if he had dreamed something pleasant.

Su Ruan watched his unguarded sleeping face, recalled last night's frenzy, and her cheeks involuntarily began to flush.

That guy… looks like an innocent little wolf‑dog, but when it comes to the carnal, he's unbelievably fierce.

In the latter part she was almost carried by him, drifting in the tide of passion, and she forgot exactly how she fell asleep.

She cautiously tried to shift the arm that lay across her waist, but as soon as she moved, the arm tightened instantly, and she heard his husky, sleepy, sexy mutterings at her ear.

"Don't move… sleep a little longer…"

He didn't even open his eyes, habitually lowering his head to leave a warm kiss on her forehead, then, like cradling a large plush toy, he squeezed her back into his arms, sighing contentedly.

Su Ruan found his childlike gesture both amusing and exasperating, yet her heart inexplicably softened.

She calmed down, stopped struggling, and let him hold her.

Sunlight gradually brightened, and fine dust in the room danced in the shafts of light.

Jiang Ran finally got enough sleep; his long lashes fluttered a few times, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was initially hazy from just waking, but when it met Su Ruan's clear, smiling eyes, it instantly cleared, then lit up fiercely, as if studded with countless stars.

"Daughter-in-law!" His voice was hoarse from just waking, yet brimming with excitement and satisfaction; he tightened his arm, planted a heavy kiss on her lips, laughing like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat, "Morning!"

"Morning." Su Ruan's cheeks flushed slightly as she replied softly.

Jiang Ran propped himself up, half-lying, his eyes fixed on her without blinking; his gaze slid from her faintly reddened cheeks to the delicate collarbone exposed beyond the quilt, speckled with ambiguous red marks, and his eyes instantly grew dark again as his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Does it still hurt?" He reached out, gently touching her cheek, his tone tinged with a hint of annoyance and concern, "Last night... was I being a bit reckless?"