Old Mrs. Ling smiled even more radiantly, her eyes suddenly becoming suggestive as she glanced back and forth between the two.
Finally, her gaze settled on Ling Yuchen. "Yuchen, I'll have the kitchen stew a large rooster tomorrow. Why don't you both stay for another day?"
Ling Yuchen's originally gentle expression immediately turned grim. He said coldly, "No need, Grandma. I can manage."
He gritted his teeth on the last two words!
"What do you know, child? After getting married, everyone eats a large rooster. Your father ate one back then too."
Ling Junye: "..."
Zhu Yunfei and Old Master Ling maintained their composure, as if they hadn't understood the implication at all.
Only Xia Wantang blinked her innocent, wide eyes, her face full of purity.
"Why eat a large rooster? Is that some kind of custom?"
Old Mrs. Ling smiled meaningfully and perfunctorily replied, "Yes, yes, a custom, just a custom."
"Oh, okay." Xia Wantang turned to look at Ling Yuchen and said, "Since it's a custom, let's stay for another day!"
Ling Yuchen looked down at her clear, crystal-like eyes and, by some strange impulse, nodded.
"Okay, okay, hahaha..."
Old Mrs. Ling was so happy she couldn't close her mouth. This way, she would soon be able to hold her great-grandchild.
Xia Wantang, not understanding, giggled along.
She thought Old Mrs. Ling was happy because they were staying an extra day.
Ling Yuchen looked at her, his gaze darkening, his thin lips pressed together, his eyes filled with heat.
...
After watching television with the old master for a while, Ling Yuchen and Xia Wantang returned to the East Courtyard.
As night deepened, the warm yellow lights of the long corridor extended into every corner.
The two walked hand in hand, Xia Wantang hooking her arm around Ling Yuchen's wrist and resting her head on his shoulder.
"It's so good. I was always worried your family wouldn't accept me, given my ordinary background."
Ling Yuchen turned his head to look at her and said gently, "Are you relieved now?"
"Mmm," Xia Wantang admitted frankly. "I even thought we wouldn't last long."
"And now?"
Ling Yuchen looked at her with deep eyes, the warm yellow light casting a soft glow on his handsome face.
Xia Wantang smiled and didn't speak, but instead let go of Ling Yuchen's arm and intertwined her fingers with his.
This silent gesture spoke volumes.
Ling Yuchen tightened his grip on her small hand and suddenly asked with a smile, "Do you know the purpose of a large rooster?"
Xia Wantang looked at him with confusion, her eyes questioning.
What use could a chicken have? Wasn't it just for nutritional supplement?
Ling Yuchen paused his steps, a smile in his eyes, and leaned down to whisper something in her ear.
Xia Wantang's face turned visibly red. She stammered, "Are... are you telling the truth?"
"You started the fire, you deal with it."
Ling Yuchen's smile deepened. He wasn't at a disadvantage anyway.
Xia Wantang now wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
What had she done?
She had even suggested staying an extra day.
Oh heavens, what would her grandparents and parents think of her?
Seeing her embarrassed state, Ling Yuchen couldn't help but chuckle, a low sound rumbling from his throat.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, evoking suggestive thoughts.
"Why didn't you remind me?"
Xia Wantang angrily pushed Ling Yuchen and quickened her pace toward the East Courtyard.
The thought of it made her feel so embarrassed, especially remembering her grandmother's meaningful glance at the end.
Ling Yuchen quickly caught up, saying helplessly, "Alright, don't be upset. They've all been through this. It's just human nature."
Despite his words, Xia Wantang still felt mortified, unable to shake off the embarrassment even after returning to the East Courtyard.
She covered her face and collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in the quilt, utterly dejected.
On the first day of meeting her husband's family, she had made such a huge joke of herself. It was truly embarrassing.
Suddenly, she seemed to recall something, revealed her face, and turned to look at Ling Yuchen.
"Do your family members know about my background?"
Ling Yuchen sat on the sofa, his long legs crossed, his well-defined fingers resting casually on the armrest.
He said nonchalantly, "They probably do."
He hadn't told them directly, but they would definitely send someone to investigate.
As long as she wasn't someone with a heinous or unsavory past, they wouldn't interfere further.
Xia Wantang propped herself on the bed with her hands under her chin, lost in thought.
The reason she suddenly asked this question was because she remembered what her second aunt had asked earlier.
Although Ling Yuchen had interrupted her then.
But it was clear that she knew something.
If she could know, how could Ling Yuchen's family not?
This meant that even knowing these things, they were still willing to accept her.
Thinking of this, a warmth spread through her heart.
Perhaps she wasn't as unfortunate as she thought.
"What are you giggling about?" Ling Yuchen stood by the bed.
His tall figure blocked the light, casting Xia Wantang into shadow.
Xia Wantang, in a good mood, climbed up and stood on the bed, towering a head over Ling Yuchen.
"Can't I be in a good mood?"
Ling Yuchen looked up at her slightly, a faint smile on his lips. He directly took her hand and pulled her into his arms.
Xia Wantang instantly lost her balance and stumbled forward, but Ling Yuchen caught her steadily.
Still startled, she hooked her arms around his neck, her legs coiling around his waist.
Their faces were suddenly inches apart.
Ling Yuchen cupped her, slowly leaning towards her lips.
Xia Wantang turned her head, her voice trembling, "I, I can't."
She dared not meet his seductive eyes again, or she would truly be unable to get out of bed tomorrow.
Thinking of this, she felt a slight tremor of fear.
It was over. Tomorrow, she still had to eat the large rooster.
In the end, Ling Yuchen placed her on the bed and then went to the bathroom to shower.
The night passed without incident.
Another bright, sunny day.
Xia Wantang opened her hazy eyes and met his deep, dark gaze.
Ling Yuchen gently kissed her red lips, his voice as magnetic as ever, "Are you getting up?"
Early in the morning, Xia Wantang felt a little restless from his teasing. If she stayed in bed any longer, she definitely wouldn't escape.
"Yes, I'm so hungry."
The first night sharing a bed.
It felt good. She slept soundly, without dreams, and woke up with the dawn.
Xia Wantang went straight to the bathroom to wash up.
Ling Yuchen, meanwhile, was holding his phone, seemingly sending messages. The notification sounds continued unabated.
In the WeChat group chat.
Situ Jun: Breaking news! Ling Yuchen, the eternal bachelor, has bloomed! Heard he even got his marriage certificate.
Jiang Zexi: Really?
Li Bowen: When did this happen?
Situ Jun: Jiang Zexi, fess up first. Have you been hiding a lover?
Jiang Zexi: Yes, she's my girlfriend.
Ling Yuchen saw this and slowly typed a message on his phone.
Ling Yuchen: Yes, we're already married.
The group chat immediately became abuzz.
Li Bowen: How come I didn't know anything?
Jiang Zexi: Shocked face.
...
When Xia Wantang came out of the bathroom, he was still lying in bed, not yet up.