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墨書 Inktalez
Silently, there were no words spoken; at this moment, it seemed that only silence matched the atmosphere. Looking out at the high-hanging moon, Night Star, like her, had hardly slept through the night.
The next day, upon waking, the gloomy mood from last night seemed to vanish in an instant, transforming back into the warm sun of winter, almost intoxicating in its warmth.
Facing the man's puzzled gaze, she appeared quite calm. "Since there's no way to change the outcome, we should cherish these few days we have."
With a smile on her lips and helping Aunt Liu with farm work, this state of mind was something the man had never experienced.
Dog Egg proudly showcased the game he had caught in the woods. "Mom, look what I brought back—a wild mountain chicken! Just right for big brother to replenish his strength."
The wild chicken in his hands was flapping vigorously. The woman stood up excitedly, almost jumping over to Dog Egg's side. "You really are thoughtful; this is my first time seeing such a lively one."
Dog Egg grinned foolishly and raised what he held. "Isn't your Husband injured? It's just the right time for a big boost. There's nothing else in the mountains, just this."
"Big brother, thank you so much for thinking of this." Turning her head, the woman's eyes sparkled brightly and sincerely said, "Auntie, you have a good son."
Aunt Liu kindly took her hand and smiled. "Girl, why are you being so polite with Auntie?" After speaking, she sighed lightly as if recalling some sad memories. "If only my son could find a girl as lovely as you."
The man mentioned chuckled and scratched his head. "Mom! What are you saying? I still need to take care of you; getting married isn't urgent."
"You! You're not young anymore and don't even have a partner; how can you not make me anxious!"
"Auntie, big brother is a good person; I’m afraid all the girls in this village will be eager to marry him. So please don’t worry," the woman comforted with a smile.
Meanwhile, Night Star sat nearby watching. He could see the maternal glow in Aunt Liu's eyes, completely different from his impression of Old Madam—there was no coldness or indifference, only love.
His beautiful brows furrowed slightly; such feelings were extremely unfamiliar to him. Yet it seemed this was true mother-son affection. Between him and Old Madam, there was always a sense of mutual respect akin to soldiers; there was not a trace of intimacy.
At noon, Aunt Liu made a pot of rich wild chicken soup that smelled incredibly delicious; just smelling it made one salivate.
She carefully placed a large bowl in front of him and gently blew on it to cool it down, saying, "Take your time drinking, be careful it's hot. There's a layer of oil on top that keeps the heat in, but just by looking at it, you can tell it's very nourishing!"
Staring blankly at the large bowl of soup before him, he then raised his gaze to look at her, his little wife. Slowly, he lifted his hand and began to sip the hot soup, as if it tasted even better than usual.
However, this was just wild chicken soup, which was naturally inferior to what he had in the General's residence. Yet he still enjoyed it. This kind of simplicity and warmth was something he could not experience in the General's house.
"Don't just drink the soup; eat some meat! That way your wounds will heal faster." As she finished speaking, she moved her chopsticks and placed a piece of meat directly into his bowl.
The man said nothing; he ate whatever she picked for him. By the end of the meal, he had eaten even more than usual.
"You two really have a great relationship; it's truly enviable."
This was not the first time she had heard such words. The woman smiled slightly and turned to look at the man behind her, saying, "With such a good man, I naturally have to treat him well. Otherwise, what if he runs off with someone else?"
"The girl knows how to joke." After a few hearty laughs, they helped Aunt Liu wash the dishes, ignoring Night Star's expression.
But she found it amusing; the man who usually had a cold demeanor had been teased by her for several days now. He must have been holding back his frustration for a long time. If there weren't others around, he might have lost his temper by now.
Even though he was injured, Night Star did not remain idle. He sat with Dog Egg discussing hunting. Occasionally, villagers passed by outside the courtyard. Though they were different people, anyone who walked by would sneak a glance into the yard.
The man sitting in the courtyard resembled a shining Buddha, attracting countless gazes as if even just looking at him was worthwhile.
"Girl, you need to keep an eye on your man. Look outside the courtyard; all sorts of wolves are coming and going!" Aunt Liu patted her hand and said seriously.
Turning her gaze to the diverse crowd at the entrance, she noticed it was indeed livelier than other households. Looking back at Night Star, he sat there with an icy expression, seemingly oblivious to the situation around him.
Shaking her head slightly, she thought he really was like a block of wood! She chuckled and said, "Aunt Liu, you can rest assured; my husband is not that kind of person."
"Girl, that's not quite right. What man doesn't stray? That young fellow may seem honest, but you both are from the city. Once a man has money..."
Her earnest advice and worried expression warmed her heart instantly. After spending a few days together, her heart felt like it was in warm water—constantly in a state of warmth—much better than that cold General's residence!
Smiling, she shook her head and set aside her work, walking in front of the man and blocking the sunlight from his face. Slowly raising her gaze to meet his, she unexpectedly covered his eyes with her hand.
Bending down to whisper in his ear, she said softly, "Let me tell you, don't sit here shining like that at someone's door. Can't you see the villagers have all come to look at you? If this continues, I might have to stand at the door and charge for entry!"
Her palm still held a slight chill from the air, and because she was so close, he could even smell the fragrance of soap from her clothes. It was different from other women; it was refreshing, just like her presence, as if it carried the scent of sunshine.
He remained silent, but his slightly calloused hand covered hers and moved away the hand that was blocking his eyes. Her hand felt so soft that it seemed like it could be crushed with just a gentle squeeze.
"Hey, that's not a bad idea! You could charge people for just taking a look at you! It's like money falling from the sky!" Excitement sparkled in her bright eyes.
"Dream on!" Not wanting to hear any more of her nonsense, he stood up to leave.
But it wasn't that easy. At that moment, she was like a rabbit that had escaped its cage, suddenly jumping in front of him with arms wide open, blocking his way. "How is that a dream? My plan is totally feasible!"
He glanced at her dismissively, crossing his arms and refusing to speak further. "Look, you're right here, your face is here. If they come to see you, I can charge them; it's practically face value! With that money, I could leave the General's residence all by myself. How great would that be!"
The word "leave" seemed to provoke him; his originally cold gaze became even more inscrutable.
Faced with such a stare, Mo Xier instinctively took a few steps back, feeling as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. She would never forget the first time they met when the teacup had shattered in his hands.
"I don't want to hear that again! Do you understand?" Night Star's voice was harsh and low, carrying a coldness she had never seen before.
Beside them, Dog Egg noticed the rising tension between the two and stood up to intervene. "You two shouldn't argue; my mother always says that harmony brings prosperity."
Taking a slight step back until she understood the meaning behind his gaze, she realized she had never truly understood this person before her. In fact, she depended on him for survival; what right did she have to say those things earlier?
They had merely escaped death together; what made her think she still held a place in his heart?
Forcing a smile, she waved her hand at Dog Egg reassuringly. "It's fine; we often bicker like this. Don't take it to heart, big brother; it'll be alright soon."
That forced explanation was hard for anyone to believe. Just as she was about to speak again, Mo Xier shook her head slightly. "Big brother, we really are fine; just joking around."
After saying that, she turned back to Aunt Liu, but the atmosphere around her was different from before; it was no longer joyful, and she seemed much more subdued.
Watching the woman's back, he didn't know what was wrong with him. The moment he heard her mention the word "leave," it felt as if countless flames were burning in his heart.
Instantly, all indifference enveloped him like a porcupine donning armor, continuously using its quills to prick those nearby until they were all bruised and battered.
In all these years at the General's residence, this was how he had lived—only with a cold demeanor and armor could he defend against those hidden arrows.
Old Madam had taught him that as long as he could fight, that was enough; there was no need to learn how to interact with others. The General of the Heavenly Universe Kingdom never needed to bow his head to anyone!
"Hey, brother, it's fine. I can tell she's not that petty. Just go back and comfort her later. Women are all sharp-tongued but soft-hearted," Dog Egg patted his shoulder in a comforting manner, trying to ease the tension.
The man shook his head slightly and turned back to the room, not coming out until dinner time that evening.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was clearly not as relaxed as it had been during the day. The two who had not spoken were like strangers, completely different from the intimacy they had shared at noon.
Aunt Liu and Dog Egg exchanged glances and tacitly chose to remain silent. This couple's issues needed to be resolved by themselves; anything they said would be pointless.
Once back in their room, neither of them spoke a word, not even exchanging glances. The first thing she did upon entering was throw the bedding and pillows on the bed onto the floor again.
Her wrist was suddenly grabbed by him, and meeting his fierce gaze, her spirit did not falter at all. "What are you doing? I want to sleep separately. Don't you find me displeasing? Well, I don't like you either!" After saying that, she struggled to break free from his grip, but it only tightened further.
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