Chapter 107 Loving someone is like growing a flower (1/2)

Winter arrived in the blink of an eye, and the wind on the island grew stronger day by day, carrying a salty, damp smell that seeped straight into one's bones.

Su Wantang's belly was already alarmingly large, like she was carrying a small watermelon.

Lu Linchuan was heartbroken and stayed by her side almost every step of the way, except when she was doing exercises. He took care of everything for her, from bending down to put on her shoes to serving her tea and water.

That evening, after Lu Linchuan washed Su Wantang's feet, he was carefully wiping her slightly swollen ankles with a dry towel.

Under the dim light, the man's tall figure squatted in front of her, his movements as gentle as if he were handling some rare treasure.

"Lin Chuan, have you been having something on your mind lately?" Su Wantang asked softly, touching his resolute profile.

Lu Linchuan paused in wiping his feet, looked up, and his dark eyes reflected worry: "Your due date is in two months. I'm afraid... what if there's an emergency mission for the military and I can't leave? What will you do alone?"

He was a soldier, and military orders were absolute. This uncertainty weighed heavily on his mind.

Su Wantang felt a warmth in her heart and smiled as she pinched his cheek: "I'm not alone, I have Sister Li and Sister Zhao too. Besides, there's a medical team in the army, what are you worried about?"

“That’s different.” Lu Linchuan frowned, clearly not comforted. “No matter how good they are, they can’t be with you 24 hours a day. Postpartum care is a major event for women and cannot be taken lightly.”

He was silent for a moment, then, as if he had finally made up his mind, he took Su Wantang's hand and asked in a tone that was both suggestive and tentative: "Wantang, I'm thinking of... writing a letter to my mother and asking her to come from Shanghai to take care of you. Do you think that's okay?"

He was afraid she would feel uncomfortable living with her mother-in-law, and his eyes were filled with caution.

Seeing his expression, Su Wantang couldn't help but laugh: "I thought it was something important. Of course I'd be happy if Mom could come! I'm overjoyed!"

As if he had received an urgent mission, he immediately pulled out paper and pen, leaned over the table, and began writing a letter. His serious expression made it seem less like he was writing a letter home and more like he was drafting a battle plan.

After writing the letter, Lu Linchuan carefully put it in an envelope, intending to mail it the next morning.

Today, the two little ones in Su Wantang's belly were particularly fussy, with their little legs and feet bulging out one bump after another on her belly, making her back ache and her legs weak, and her ankles swollen like two white radishes.

Lu Linchuan brought out a basin of hot water from the kitchen, and the room was immediately filled with steam.

Without a word, he walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), knelt down on one knee, and placed the wooden basin steadily on the ground. Then, he lifted a corner of the quilt, grabbed Su Wantang's ankle, and was about to put her feet into the water.

"Oh, I can do it myself." Su Wantang's face flushed, and she wanted to pull her foot back.

A grown man, a proper battalion commander, washing her feet—what kind of talk is that?

Lu Linchuan didn't speak, but glanced at her, then firmly grasped her foot with his large hand and immersed it directly into the perfectly heated water.

"Sit still."

His voice was deep and commanding, yet his movements were incredibly gentle.

The warm water instantly enveloped her sore and swollen feet, and Su Wan-tang sighed comfortably, all her embarrassment vanishing into thin air.

Lu Linchuan had large hands, his fingertips and palms covered with calluses from years of training. The rough touch brushed against her delicate instep, bringing waves of tingling, itchy sensation.