Zheng Wei walked to the lamp stand, lit the oil lamp, and covered it with the lampshade before saying, "Everyone has finished eating and gone to rest. I'll have Aunt Qu save you some food. Shall I get it for you?"
It was already evening, and Shen Xiaoyan didn't want to dress up just for a meal. Hearing Zheng Wei's offer, she was naturally pleased.
Watching Zheng Wei leave, Shen Xiaoyan changed into her pajamas and got out of bed.
After washing up in the spatial dimension, she emerged to find Zheng Wei already waiting for her at the table.
A table full of dishes and bowls was laid out.
Looking at the exquisite food, along with two or three kinds of congee and several plates of various steamed buns and dumplings, Shen Xiaoyan swallowed.
"There's so much, I won't be able to finish it all myself, will I?"
Although she said this, her hand had already picked up her chopsticks and placed a steamed dumpling into her mouth.
"I haven't had dinner yet, I'll eat with you."
Zheng Wei said, also picking up a dumpling with his chopsticks.
Shen Xiaoyan knew that Zheng Wei was afraid she wouldn't have a good appetite eating alone, so he deliberately hadn't eaten and had been waiting for her.
While it was a small matter, it showed his thoughtfulness.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't touched, but the most important thing now was to eat quickly. She saw that while she was lost in thought, Zheng Wei had already taken several bites – all of her favorite dishes.
The benefit of eating together was that watching the other person eat made the food even more delicious. Before they knew it, they had eaten everything on the table.
Shen Xiaoyan rubbed her slightly distended belly and looked at Zheng Wei, "It's all your fault. What if I gain weight?"
Zheng Wei affectionately stroked Shen Xiaoyan's head, "I like it when you're a bit plump, it feels good to touch."
"Pervert!"
Shen Xiaoyan chided him playfully and stood up to clear the dishes.
Zheng Wei, however, snatched them away, saying as he tidied up, "It's quite cold outside. You're in your pajamas, you shouldn't go out."
With that, he placed all the dishes on a wooden tray and carried them out.
The moment the door was opened, a gust of wind blew in. Shen Xiaoyan's thin pajamas offered little protection against the chill.
She rubbed her arms and stood up, then moved behind the glazed screen.
Not long after, Zheng Wei returned.
Shen Xiaoyan was leaning on the round table by the bed, feeling bored. Hearing Zheng Wei's footsteps, she immediately turned her head in surprise, "You're back?"
Zheng Wei sat down beside Shen Xiaoyan and asked with a smile, "Why aren't you sleeping anymore?"
Shen Xiaoyan rubbed her stomach and said with a rueful expression, "I ate too much, I can't sleep yet."
"Then let's do some exercises, and you won't feel so full." As Zheng Wei spoke, he reached out to take Shen Xiaoyan's hand.
Shen Xiaoyan, however, dodged to the side.
After a brief bout of playful wrestling, both of them were slightly breathless and sat on the bed, leaning against each other to rest.
When she had caught her breath, Shen Xiaoyan asked, "Did your mother ever mention your father to you?"
She had always known that Zheng Xiang was not Zheng Wei's father, but after meeting Kong Huangwei, Shen Xiaoyan's intuition told her that Zheng Wei's father must have been no ordinary person.
Zheng Wei's expression turned somber, and he said with a hint of melancholy, "No, I asked her once, but she was unwilling to say, and I couldn't do anything about it."
Hearing the loneliness in Zheng Wei's voice, Shen Xiaoyan felt heartbroken.
She didn't know who her own father was, nor where her mother was, whether she was alive or dead, or if she was with her father.
"What if we start with my master?"
Shen Xiaoyan suddenly exclaimed, her proposal brimming with excitement.
"My master was an old friend of your father and mother. From what you've told me, they spent a long time together in the Sacred Spirit Continent. Perhaps he can tell you who your father is?"
Zheng Wei shook his head. "It's useless. When my mother asked about my father's whereabouts, he remained silent. There's no way I could ask him."
A pang of bitterness struck Zheng Wei.
It was one thing to not know anything before, but now that two people who knew the truth were right beside him, and he couldn't get any answers, how could he not feel like a failure?
Seeing Zheng Wei like this, Shen Xiaoyan's heart ached. After a moment of thought, Shen Xiaoyan smiled again.
"Tell me, what does my master love the most?"
Zheng Wei answered without hesitation, "Wine."
"Exactly."
Shen Xiaoyan snapped her fingers and continued, "Yes, we just need to bring good wine to him. I don't believe he'll still refuse to say anything."
Zheng Wei savored Shen Xiaoyan's words and found them plausible.
"Mimi, you are so clever. How should I reward you, my wife? Perhaps a full-body massage."
As Zheng Wei spoke, his hands began to roam over Shen Xiaoyan.
Shen Xiaoyan grabbed Zheng Wei's hands and glared at him, "Behave yourself. I don't want to be bedridden tomorrow."
"What's wrong with that? Think of it as getting some good rest," Zheng Wei said with a smile.
Shen Xiaoyan was speechless at his words. Her eyes darted, and she said, "That won't do. Your mother is here now. If she sees me sleeping until late every day, she'll surely have thoughts about me."
Hearing this, Zheng Wei sat up straight, which was rare, and looked at Shen Xiaoyan seriously for a moment before saying, "Does Mimi really care so much about my mother's opinion of you?"
Shen Xiaoyan rolled her eyes at him. "Isn't that obvious? Although I am your wife and will spend my life with you, she is still your mother. Even if we can't get along perfectly, I don't want you to be in a difficult position between us."
Zheng Wei was truly touched by Shen Xiaoyan's explanation.
Shen Xiaoyan was not from this era, and she didn't subscribe to the idea of obeying her husband unconditionally. Their relationship was meant to be based on mutual respect.
As for giving up her own personality after marriage, acting like a submissive daughter-in-law in front of her mother-in-law, and doing whatever she was told – that was definitely not Shen Xiaoyan's style.
Yet, it was precisely this Shen Xiaoyan who had said such a thing, which moved Zheng Wei deeply.
"You truly are Mimi, so considerate of your husband."
Shen Xiaoyan smiled, "Naturally. Who do you think I am?"
"Since Mimi is so sensible today, I'll let you off the hook. Get some good rest. I'll sleep with you."
With that, he pulled Shen Xiaoyan to lie down with him and covered them both with the quilt.
"Do you think Master will talk?" Shen Xiaoyan asked, a hint of doubt in her voice.
Although they had spoken so well just now, using wine to elicit information, Kong Huangwei had been friends with the confused old man for so many years without getting any answers. Could a few pots of wine really achieve it?
Shen Xiaoyan began to feel uncertain.
"Whether it works or not, we'll find out tomorrow. Let's sleep now, my dear."
Zheng Wei said, gently patting Shen Xiaoyan's back. When he looked at her face again, he suddenly realized that Shen Xiaoyan had already fallen asleep.