After marrying me, You Lin had been agonizing over what to call me.

"Couple terms? Honey? Darling? Or something else? Why does every option feel so weird?"

You Lin ambled over with her coffee, but I barely glanced up from my newspaper. "You’ve always called me Ye Xi just fine."

"It feels strange to use your name after marriage. You calling me ‘wife’ feels natural, but me calling you ‘husband’? Just... off."

"Seriously? Wasn’t it ‘Ye Xi’ you were screaming last night? Don’t force it—"

"Ye Xi! You pervert!"

Flushing crimson, she slammed the coffee cup down, clearly recalling something vivid.

"See? You *are* used to ‘Ye Xi’—"

I set aside the paper, pulled her into my lap, and brushed a featherlight kiss on her lips.

"*This* is what a real pervert does. All talk, no action—that’s fake."

"You—"

Her retort dissolved against my mouth. After that, she stopped obsessing over titles. Whatever she called me, I answered.

……

……

……

"Lazybones You Lin" finally decided to cook properly. She’d bought groceries early, even grabbing several swimming crabs to show off.

"Don’t you dare step inside! Got it?"

"Yes, yes!"

I promised obediently—then crept to the kitchen doorway to watch her fumble.

The crabs were tightly bound with straw. Instead of washing them, You Lin actually *prayed* over them first, as if terrified of taking life.

*Buying them when you can’t even handle them… What if they pinch you?*

I peeked from the hall just as she untied the straw. Gripping a crab’s hind leg with one hand and a cleaver with the other, she yelped when it wriggled free and clamped onto her right index finger.

Trapped, she couldn’t use the knife. I rushed in, sliced off the claw, and pried it open—blood already welled from the puncture.

"Stop. Come here, let me bandage this."

I dragged her out of the kitchen. I’d never met anyone so *clueless*. Pain seemed slow to register for her; she was biting back tears now.

She’d been so tough as a kid—always charging first to defend Xiaoxi in fights. But after marriage, she’d grown tender, clingy. Now pregnant? I wanted to cradle her like porcelain.

"If you hadn’t come in time, I’d have lost this finger…"

"Just focus on resting. Leave cooking to me."

I ruffled her hair and strode back into the kitchen.

Having a wife who wants to cook for you is bliss. But when she can’t cook and insists on "experimental cuisine"? A nightmare.

……

……

……

"Mrs. Ye, I know Qingying’s a good child, and your husband’s career is impressive, but I hope you’ll also consider our teachers’ workload—"

"I’m so sorry! I’ll discipline her properly. Truly, I apologize for the trouble…"

I stepped out of the bathroom towel-drying my hair to You Lin’s frantic apologies over the phone.

"Who was that?"

She ignored me, still bowing and scraping into the receiver.

Unacceptable.

Feeling snubbed, I wrapped my arms around her from behind. By the time I tried grabbing the phone, the call had ended.

"The kindergarten teacher…"

She melted against my bare chest, fingers tracing idle circles before slapping me hard.

"This is *your* fault! Filling Dian Dian’s head with ‘big ideas’! Do you know how many times the teacher’s called me? She’s practically running the classroom now!"

"*This* is worth panicking over? I thought it was something serious!"

I dipped to kiss her, but she turned her face away with a grimace.

"She’s too young! Your ‘wisdom’ is grinding away her childlike wonder!"

"So what? Mature outside, playful at home—I see no problem."

Ever since Dian Dian was born, You Lin had turned fiercely protective. Now she even challenged my authority as head of the household—grabbing my wrist when I slipped my hand under her shirt.

"Kids should act like kids. No more ‘big ideas’ from you!"

"Fine… How about we… make another one?"

Before she could react, I swept her up and tossed her onto the bed. But she scrambled toward the edge in silence, truly angry this time.

A mother now, yet her figure remained untouched—still girlish, yet layered with a new, intoxicating warmth.

"Wait! I’m sorry! I’ll be a good dog if I ever preach again!"

I caught her ankle. She’d *just* let me shower; if tonight ended in frustration, I’d combust.

"Let go! I’ll bite you!"

My apology only confirmed her suspicion: *ulterior motives*. She kicked back, her heel smacking my cheek twice.

"Then bite me."

There’s a saying:

*Enough is enough.*

Yes, I had ulterior motives. I couldn’t scold or hit my wife. But I couldn’t let her walk all over me—especially not in this intimate space.

For the sake of future happiness in bed, I *had* to reassert my authority as husband tonight.

Newlywed You Lin had been adorable—obedient, pliant, molding to any pose I requested. Nothing like this rebellious streak now.

"Dian Dian’s not asleep yet! Don’t—"

"Please. Before my shower, you said she was out like a little pig."

No more excuses. I killed the lights, stripped, and closed the distance in one fluid motion.