Chapter 33: The Reason
Su Muyao possessed a wood-elemental ability, which made her exceptionally sensitive to scents.
“Wen Nanxi, are you injured?”
Su Muyao stepped forward, asking softly, her eyes filled with concern.
To Su Muyao, Wen Nanxi’s presence held a different significance.
Perhaps it was because he was the first person to treat her with gentleness and protect her after her transmigration.
Unlike the others, he hadn’t shown such open disgust.
Wen Nanxi usually carried an air of aloof detachment, his elegant, picturesque gaze holding a quiet indifference, as if nothing in the world could stir his emotions.
Yet, the moment he saw Su Muyao, the aura around him softened, and his gaze turned tender and lingering.
“I’m fine,” he said in his warm voice. “I just ran into some mutated beasts, which is why I’m back a bit late.”
Wen Nanxi couldn’t bear to tell her what he had actually gone through, fearing it would frighten her.
Meeting the gentle, reassuring look in his eyes, Su Muyao said, “Then go and rest for a bit. I’ve made shuijiao (dumplings) for dinner.”
Seeing her sweet, adorable appearance, Wen Nanxi reached out and gently smoothed her brow.
Although he had washed thoroughly before returning to scrub away the bloodstains, his Wife Master possessed keen senses due to her ability; perhaps she could still detect something.
“It’s alright,” he said. “I’ll help you cook.”
Though he didn’t know what shuijiao were, Wen Nanxi couldn’t bear to let Su Muyao toil away in the kitchen alone.
After washing his hands again and entering the cookhouse, he watched Su Muyao wrap the dumplings.
After observing for just a few moments, he began to help.
Wen Nanxi’s movements remained as refined and gentle as ever; even wrapping dumplings, he looked as elegant as a painting.
The key point was that his dumplings looked beautiful.
Su Muyao felt he wrapped them even better than she did.
Was this simply talent?
Su Muyao blinked, looking at Wen Nanxi. “That’s amazing. You learned it just by watching.”
Wen Nanxi replied warmly, “So, in the future, don’t work so hard cooking by yourself. If there’s anything to be done, just assign it to me.”
“Okay.”
Hua Linye was busy in the courtyard. Watching Su Muyao and Wen Nanxi in the cookhouse, he felt an indescribable warmth surrounding them, an atmosphere that seemed impenetrable to outsiders.
A trace of loneliness appeared in Hua Linye’s foxy eyes.
He couldn’t help but look at Xiao Jihan, who was working nearby.
Seeing that he still wore that cold, aloof expression, he couldn’t resist asking, “Xiao Jihan, do you still detest Wife Master?”
Xiao Jihan’s hands paused, appearing to seriously consider the question.
After a long while, he said, “I don’t know.”
Hua Linye knew Xiao Jihan disdained lying. He said, “I hope you stay that way.”
“Once you start caring, you stop being yourself.”
Xiao Jihan looked at his sorrowful appearance and seemed to realize something, slightly startled. “You’ve fallen for Wife Master?”
After all, they used to despise her.
Even if she had been different these past few days, it shouldn’t have shifted from loathing to affection so quickly.
Seeing Hua Linye’s silence, Xiao Jihan reminded him in a low voice, “Didn’t you say before that your father died in your mother’s backyard because he lost his heart to her? You said you would absolutely never fall for anyone.”
Hua Linye’s father’s death had always been a knot in his heart.
He had once told himself he would never give his heart to anyone, and certainly not to his Wife Master.
Hua Linye gave a self-deprecating smile. “Xiao Jihan, I only said that because I didn’t understand these things back then.”
“The truth is, the heart is the hardest thing to control.”
“Especially when our spiritual seas go berserk; we instinctively develop a fondness for the first female who enters our spiritual sea to soothe us.”
“Even if it’s not affection, we won’t detest or reject them anymore.”
Moreover, his rampage had been severe; he had nearly died.
In that instant, she had appeared in his spiritual sea and saved him from the nightmare of his childhood. The significance was different.
“Otherwise, why do you think Wen Nanxi protects Wife Master now? It’s also because she soothed his spiritual sea, so his attitude toward her changed.”
“Wen Nanxi is gentle but distant by nature; if he didn’t allow it, Wife Master would never have been able to get close to him.”
He could sense it now. Wen Nanxi not only allowed her to approach him but also actively sought to be near her and protect her.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have warned Hua Linye that night not to provoke her.
He was afraid Hua Linye would make his relationship with her real.
Hearing this, Xiao Jihan understood why Hua Linye’s attitude toward Su Muyao had changed after returning yesterday.
It turned out it was because of the spiritual soothing.
In the past, when their spiritual seas went berserk, Su Muyao would never soothe them.
She hadn’t possessed the spiritual power to do so.
But even if she had wanted to help back then, they would have refused.
Likely because they didn’t want any connection with her at the time.
Back then, everyone was just thinking about leaving.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jihan’s expression shifted.
…
Su Muyao, of course, had no idea what Xiao Jihan and Hua Linye were discussing.
She was focused on wrapping dumplings.
With Wen Nanxi’s help, it went quickly.
After all the dough was used, there was still a bit of filling left.
So, Su Muyao kneaded a little more dough to continue wrapping.
Watching her knead the dough, Wen Nanxi finally understood how flour became dough.
Next time, he could do this part and let Wife Master rest.
Once the dumplings were wrapped, it was time to boil them.
Wen Nanxi brought firewood from the yard to stoke the fire.
When the water boiled, Su Muyao dropped the dumplings in.
Just then, Mei Qingchen returned.
Seeing his figure, Su Muyao’s body instinctively tensed up.
Facing Mei Qingchen, she really couldn’t bring herself to relax.
She was instinctively on guard.
Sensing her tension, Wen Nanxi said gently, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let him hurt you.”
Those who knew Wen Nanxi well understood that while he appeared gentle as jade and noble, his nature was inherently cold.
But once such a person decided to protect someone, he would absolutely not allow anyone else to harm her.
Su Muyao believed Wen Nanxi and nodded. “I know.”
“Actually, he also promised not to attack me again.”
But deep down, she still didn’t dare trust Mei Qingchen.
His existence was like a ticking time bomb.
Yet, she couldn’t make him leave.
So, after the dumplings were cooked, Su Muyao silently ladled out five large plates.
Even Mei Qingchen’s share was included.
Then, she poured a small dish of vinegar for dipping and ladled a bowl of dumpling soup for everyone.
Su Muyao called out to Hua Linye and Xiao Jihan in the courtyard, “Time to eat.”
Hua Linye and Xiao Jihan washed their hands and entered the cookhouse to sit down.
They wouldn’t make their Wife Master wait for them to eat.
However, there was no movement from Mei Qingchen.
Su Muyao walked out of the cookhouse. “Um, Mei Qingchen, it’s time for dinner.”
Mei Qingchen was moving some stones, repairing a section of the courtyard wall. Hearing Su Muyao’s words, he didn’t even turn his head, saying with disgust:
“Su Muyao, are you still planning to drug my food?”
Su Muyao paused, recalling her predecessor’s memories again. She explained helplessly, “No, I won’t drug you again.”
Mei Qingchen let out a cold, mocking sneer. “I don’t believe you. So, I will not eat the food you make.”
The only reason he had returned to stay here was because his sword still needed her repair.
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