A Kiss Makes It All Better

Even knowing it was a trap, Susan Evans couldn't resist for the sake of silver. Five taels of silver was a fortune—enough to feed a whole family for a year!

Susan decided she would do whatever it took to make the Evans Family Elders give up on digging silver out of Lily Evans!

Lily Evans had already figured out Susan's greedy nature. She smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Third Aunt."

"No trouble at all, it’s only right!" Susan Evans waved her hand, happy to pocket the benefit and get out of the way. She dragged Sam Evans back to the Evans house, chatting him up along the way, planning how to fool the family elders.

After Susan left, Lily went inside and patted Margaret Evans’s hand. "Mom, you heard everything. Third Aunt is so shrewd—she’ll handle it. We spent five taels of silver, repaid Third Uncle’s kindness, and won’t have the Evans family trying to snatch our betrothal money anymore. It’s a win-win!

Margaret Evans nodded. "My Lily is still the smartest."

Sure enough, just as Lily predicted, Susan Evans went home and spun a story so wild you’d think she was weaving clouds. She claimed Lily hadn’t struck it rich, that their home still looked poor, and convinced the Evans Family Elders to give up on asking Lily for betrothal money—for now.

That night, Lily sat at the table, candle lit, making clothes for Lucky.

"Come here, let me take your measurements." Lily grinned and beckoned.

Lucky trotted over and started taking off his clothes right in front of Lily.

"Hey! What are you doing taking your clothes off?" Lily’s cheeks flushed red as she hurriedly grabbed Lucky’s hand away from his waistband.

Lucky tilted his head, looking pure and innocent. "You have to take off your clothes to get measured, right?"

Lily’s face burned even redder. It wasn’t that kind of measurement! Why would he need to strip down for this?

"Stand still! Arms out!" Lily huffed, shot him a look, and grabbed a measuring tape.

"Okay, okay!" Lucky obediently straightened up. Lily walked over, wrapping the tape around his waist. Lucky looked down at the little woman in his arms, his heart thumping wildly. He wanted to hug her, but was scared she’d get mad, so he just stood there and endured.

She measured his waist, then his shoulders, and finally the length of the clothes.

Lucky was tall, so Lily had to stand on tiptoe, circling him with the tape, completely surrounded by his faint, unique scent.

"All done. Sit down." Lily tucked a stray hair behind her ear, her heart racing like a startled deer, but she tried to look calm as she sat down to thread a needle.

Maybe the candlelight was too dim, or maybe her mind was too flustered, but after several tries she still couldn’t get the thread through the needle. Instead, she accidentally pricked her finger.

A bead of blood welled up, and Lily yelped in pain.

Lucky immediately grabbed her finger and put it in his mouth, gently sucking on it.

His soft, warm tongue curled around her fingertip, his fragrant lips holding her hand. Lily stared at Lucky’s handsome face so close to hers, and her mind went completely blank.

"Wifey, does it still hurt?" Lucky asked, all worried, never thinking anything else. He let go of Lily’s hand and carefully examined her finger.

"It’s just a little prick, I’m not that delicate!" Lily’s ears turned crimson as she pulled her finger back, still feeling the warmth of his touch.

Lucky came closer, holding her face in his hands, his eyes so wet and earnest it nearly made her soul fly away.

"Wifey, a kiss makes it all better, really." Lucky said seriously, cupping her cheeks as he leaned in and kissed her.