Call Me Husband

The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened.

When Chen Mian went downstairs, Flora was already in the kitchen.

Porridge was simmering on low heat on the stove. Flora stood with her back to him, tipping up on her toes to reach a clay jar on the topmost shelf of the wall cabinet.

Chen Mian walked over and reached up to take it down for her.

Flora glanced back at him with a smile, taking the jar from his hands. “You’re up so early?”

“Yeah, I have some things to do today,” Chen Mian replied with a nod.

Flora took some pickles out of the clay jar and placed them on a small dish, asking casually, “What are you going to do, Mr. Chen Mian?”

“I’m going into the Forest of Death to see what’s causing the magical beast riot.”

Flora froze mid-motion, turning to look at Chen Mian with a touch of worry in her eyes. “Can I come with you?”

“No need, I’ll be back soon.” Chen Mian reached out and gently patted her head. “Don’t worry.”

“But there are several dragons in the forest!” Flora’s voice quickened slightly.

“Don’t worry, Flora. Even if all those dragons teamed up, they couldn’t hurt me. I’m not lying to you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Flora pursed her lips and didn’t press further.

She lowered her head to arrange the dish of pickles, then turned to fetch a bowl of porridge from the stove and set it in front of him. “At least eat before you go, then.”

“Okay.”

The two of them sat down at the dining table. Flora sat across from him, sipping her porridge in small mouthfuls. Every now and then, she would look up, her gaze lingering on his face for a split second before darting away.

“Flora.”

“Hmm?”

“Open wide~”

Flora startled, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

Chen Mian had picked up a piece of fried egg and was holding it in front of her.

“I...” She opened her mouth, her ears slowly turning red. “I’m not a child anymore.”

“I know,” Chen Mian said, keeping his hand where it was. “Open wide.”

Flora pursed her lips, but in the end, she obediently opened her mouth and took a small bite. Her voice was slightly muffled as she mumbled, “...You fed me like this on the very first day we met, Mr. Chen Mian... Why?”

“Because you’re cute, Flora.”

“...How are you so good at sweet-talking today, Mr. Chen Mian?”

“Because I like you,” Chen Mian said naturally. “I haven’t forgotten that I’m supposed to say I like you every morning and night.”

Flora’s hand holding the spoon paused slightly. She looked up at him, her lively eyes shining bright. “I like you too, Mr. Chen Mian.”

“Flora, don’t you think it’s time to change how you address me?” Chen Mian said with a smile, looking at her.

“Chen... Chen Mian.”

“Not that,” Chen Mian said, shaking his head.

“...Then what should I call you?”

“Lean in and I’ll tell you.”

Hearing this, a faint blush rose on Flora’s face. Still, she set down her spoon, leaned forward slightly, and tilted her ear closer to him. Her light brown hair slipped behind her ear, revealing a fair earlobe and a slightly reddened tip.

Looking at her profile as she leaned in, Chen Mian said with amusement in his voice, “Just call me Chen Mian. You don’t need to add ‘Mr.’”

Flora paused, then turned her head to look at him. They were so close that they could see the curve of each other’s eyelashes. “...You’re teasing me, Mr. Chen Mian.”

“What did you think I wanted you to call me?”

“I thought you were going to say ‘darling’ or something like that.” The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She quickly sat back up straight, lowering her head to pretend to focus on her porridge, though her ears were red enough to burn.

Watching her look as if she wanted nothing more than to bury her face in her bowl, Chen Mian let out a chuckle. “Then you can call me that, Flora.”

“I... I’m too embarrassed...”

“Then let’s start with my name. And rather than ‘darling’... I would prefer you to call me...”

“What?” Flora looked up again, her face flushed.

“Lean closer.”

Flora hesitated for a moment, but with a red face, she leaned in a bit closer.

This time, the distance was even closer—so close that her ear almost brushed against Chen Mian’s cheek. Flora held her breath slightly, her heartbeat becoming exceptionally loud in the silence.

Chen Mian turned his head, his lips almost brushing her ear as he whispered softly, “Call me husband.”

Flora froze entirely.

The crimson color on her ears spread to her cheeks at a speed visible to the naked eye.

She quickly sat back, her hands gripping the rim of her bowl. She kept her head down, staring blankly at the porridge that was almost gone.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Mian watched her try to shrink herself into the bowl, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips that he couldn’t suppress.

“It’s not just a matter of a name,” Flora finally spoke, her voice incredibly soft. “This... this is very...”

“Very what?”

“Very...” She peeked up at him, then quickly looked down again. “...Very embarrassing.”

“I don’t need you to call me that right now, Flora. Only when you want to.”

“...Then will you wait for me?”

“I will.”

She looked up again, her gaze lingering on Chen Mian’s face for a long time. Then, as if making a grand resolution, she took a soft breath. Her voice was tiny, yet incredibly clear: “...Husband.”

The moment those words left her lips, she seemed to lose all her strength. She slumped back against the chair, covering her face with both hands. “...Don’t laugh at me.”

Looking at the girl covering her face so tightly, the smile on Chen Mian’s lips deepened, his gaze softening visibly.

He reached out, gently pulling her fingers away from her face to reveal her eyes, which were still slightly misty. “I won’t laugh. Say it again?”

“...No more.” She tried to pull her hands back again, but he caught her fingertips, and she didn’t pull away.

“Next time, then.”

Flora lowered her head, looking at their interlaced fingers. Only after a long while did she softly murmur, “...Okay.”

The living room fell quiet for a moment.

“Flora, this isn’t just a form of address, you know.”

“I know... It’s what Mother would call Father.”

After a while, the chirping of birds outside and the distant laughter of the demi-human villagers drifted through the window panes, making the morning feel exceptionally peaceful.

Chen Mian let go of her hand, stood up, and carried the bowls and chopsticks to the sink. “I should head out.”

“Yeah.” She stood up too, walking over to his side. “Please be careful.”

“I’ll definitely be back before dark.”

She walked to the doorway, watching him bend down to change his shoes and open the apartment door.

Just as he was about to step out, Flora suddenly spoke, her voice sounding much more natural than before. “Chen Mian.”

He turned back.

“I’ll be waiting for you,” Flora said with a gentle smile. “Make sure to come back early.”

Chen Mian looked at her and gave a soft nod. “I will.”