First Doesn't Mean Last

Married Life (1)

Mei opened the wardrobe and found a packet of medicines.
'What's this for?..'

Someone grabbed the medicine away from her hand. It scratched her hand a bit making it bleed. A paper cut.

It was Chen Rui. He looked really mad and glared at her with cold eyes. It was frightening.

"Wh-whats wrong, Chen Rui?.." she said as her hand was shaking from the blood.
"Mind your own business. Don't touch my things." He said walking out of the room to go to work.

Mei teared up and fell on her knees on the ground. She crawled into a ball beside the wardrobe crying.
"Why is he so mean suddenly?.. what did I do wrong.." she muttered crying louder.

They didn't talk nor look at each other for the next three months...

One morning, as Mei was making breakfast for herself, someone rang the bell.
"Who might it be?" She questioned herself while going to the door.
"Who's it?" She asked.
No response.
"Who's this?" She asked again.
"Open," said a woman's voice. She was probably in her 40's.

Mei opened the door and saw two people in front of her. One man, whose hair looked like her husband's. And a woman whose eyes were the same as her husband's.

"You are?.." she asked confused.
"Oh my! Chen Fei look at our daughter-in-law! She's so beautiful and cute!" The woman said giggling as she glanced at her husband.
"Hmm... I'm glad our son finally found a woman to marry" the man said.
"He dated to hide this cute wife from us!" Exclaimed Chen Zi*, Chen Rui's mother.

(*Zi means graceful)

Mei just stood there confused.
"Uh.."
"Oh, we are Chen Rui's parents" finally said Chen Fei*, Chen Rui's father.
"Come in, sir. And ma'am" she said backing up so they could enter.

(*Fei means wise person)

"Hmm, this apartment is small. Are you sure you are comfortable here?" Chen Zi asked Mei as she sat on the sofa in the leaving room.
Mei nodded.
"It's fine ma'am. It's small and peaceful." She said with a faint smile.
"Sit here, dear," said Chen Zi petting of the sofa beside her. Mei sat next to her.
"Is Rui treating you well?" Asked his father.
"Mhm"
"Are you sure?" Asked Fei raising an eyebrow.
"Listen, kid, you don't have to hide anything from us," said the mid-aged female with a bright smile.
"If he bullies you, we will punish him"
"Well.. he's kind of.. cold all the time.." mumbled softly and looked down.
"Oh! It's just how he is. You just need to make him be more himself, honey" said Chen Zi.
"I'll try... sir, Ma'am."
"No. Call me mom."
"And call me dad," said the man beside the front sofa with a smile.

'They're so kind... I should try my best to make Rui open up to me. I mean. I'm not the best either.' She decided firmly clenching her hands against her chest.

The Chen couple stayed for a few hours and talked with Mei An. They left before Rui came home. They also asked to keep it a secret or he might change his address again.

'Why does Chen Rui not want his parents to come to his house?' She wondered while preparing dinner for the two of them.

Rui didn't ring the bell and used the keys to get in the house but smelled pizza. It was his favourite food! He put his bag on the sofa.

"Mhm.. smells good" he sniffed the smell while going to the kitchen and saw Mei opening the oven.

Smoke came out causing Mei to cough softly. She forgot the put on her hand gloves before holding her pizza tray.
"Ouch!"

Rui rushed and grabbed her hand. He opened the tap putting cold water on. He put the water on her hand.
"What do you think you're doing?? Do you wanna burn yourself? These gloves for that! What will you do if you get a scar??" He said all of it so fast Mei could barely understand half of it.

But she was really happy. Happy that her husband cared enough to scold her for almost getting burned.
"Do you care?" She said with a small smirk.
"I..." he let go of her hand and walked away into their room fast.

Mei smiles and puts some cream on her hand for burns. She put the pizza on a plate and walked into their room to ask Rui to come to eat.

"Chen Rui. Dinner's ready"
"Not hungry" he replied looking at his laptop while working on it.
"Come on. You're not a kid" she said as she walked over to him and closed his laptop.
"Time for food!" She took the laptop and put it on the desk beside their bed. She grabbed his hand and walked him with her to the dinner table.
"Sit" she orders crossing her arms.
"Mhm.." he nodded and sat on the chair.

Mei sat beside him and put a piece of pizza on his plate. She took one and started eating as well. Rui did the same.

"How's the burn?" Rui asked hesitantly.
"It's a small burn. It's ok." Mei replies with a bright smile.
Rui looked away blushing softly.
'Ugh.. she's too cute..'

After dinner, Mei An went to the bathroom to take a shower. She took off her clothes and turned on the hot water and a bit of cold. She loved warm showers. It was the best!

Suddenly, the water stopped working and she was still covered with soap on her body.
'Ugh.. what do I do now?'