At noon, Liu Nanfeng ate a canceled order meal, which was a spicy and fragrant pot. In the sweltering heat, it made him feel even more restless. Working people truly have a difficult life.
However, at this moment, Liu Nanfeng's mind had calmed down considerably.
"Su Jinxiu" was indeed a demon, but she likely wouldn't harm him. After all, they had been together for so long; if she wanted to harm him, she would have done so already.
Furthermore, the incident with Li Guizhen had taught him a valuable lesson: not all demons are evil.
Just as humans have good and bad, so too do demons.
However, the one thing that made Liu Nanfeng uneasy was: from when did Su Huamei replace Su Jinxiu?
Why did she replace Su Jinxiu?
Was Su Jinxiu also a demon?
If so, was she also a Huapi (skin-changing demon)? Was her appearance in his memory her true form, or just something she had painted on?
If not, where did she go? Was she harmed by Su Huamei?
Countless questions made his heart even more restless.
He bought a bottle of ice water from a nearby convenience store and drank it down, but it felt completely useless.
Just then, his phone rang. It was his "wife" calling.
"Honey, have you eaten yet?"
Su Jinxiu's soft, delicate voice came through the receiver.
Su Jinxiu's voice was exceptionally pleasant. Without seeing her, just hearing her voice, one could automatically imagine a gentle woman from Jiangnan.
Liu Nanfeng was even more deeply touched. Even when she was angry and spoke harsh words, they were delivered with an inherent gentleness.
"Yes, I have. A canceled order, spicy and fragrant pot. It nearly killed me with spiciness," Liu Nanfeng said, feigning a relaxed tone.
"You, you always push yourself like this. Why don't you stay home? It's so hot outside, why do you have to go out every day?"
Su Jinxiu said coquettishly on the phone. While her tone seemed like a complaint, it was actually full of affection.
"Didn't I tell you before? If I stay home for too long, I don't get any exercise, and my body becomes weak. I'm useless..."
Liu Nanfeng's words suddenly stopped short. He suddenly remembered something: maybe his weakness wasn't due to a lack of exercise, but because he had been drained by a demon?
"What's wrong?"
Su Jinxiu's curious voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Nothing, I just dodged a car just now."
Liu Nanfeng casually made up an excuse. Su Jinxiu didn't suspect anything. Upon hearing this, she reminded him, "Then come back early this afternoon. The weather is hot, drink plenty of water."
"Okay, I know."
"Then I'll close the shop early too. I'll go back and make something delicious. After dinner, we'll go see a movie."
Su Jinxiu's words were full of excitement.
"Sure, you arrange it," Liu Nanfeng replied.
After graduating from university, Su Jinxiu opened a coffee shop called Nanfeng. Besides coffee, she also sold cakes and flowers.
The business was neither good nor bad. She had three employees to help her, and they lived a leisurely life.
In the past, Liu Nanfeng loved to bring his laptop and spend the entire day in the coffee shop.
After hanging up the phone, Liu Nanfeng didn't put his phone away immediately. Instead, he opened the order-taking software. Several orders were immediately pushed to him. It was the busiest time of day.
Liu Nanfeng didn't delay any further and rode his bike to pick up the meals.
He busied himself until almost two in the afternoon before the orders started to decrease. However, since he didn't rush to grab orders, he hadn't delivered too many.
But even so, his clothes had been soaked through with sweat several times.
When the sun shone and the wind blew, his clothes would dry, leaving him with a stale odor and feeling uncomfortable with stiff fabric.
He decided to turn off the software and head home.
As for whether he would be drained by a demon upon returning, he had also thought it through; it was unlikely.
After all, he knew very few writers who weren't weak, and it wasn't possible for every household to have a female demon.
Moreover, the [Guan Shan Hai] gave him confidence. He wanted to go back and see if he could trigger a "past cause" and trace back time to see the reason for Su Jinxiu becoming a demon.
Liu Nanfeng currently lived in Wangjiang Garden, which he had bought with a loan after graduating from university. Of course, the down payment was paid by Su Jinxiu, and Liu Nanfeng had been repaying the loan.
Although Su Jinxiu had the financial capacity to buy it outright, Liu Nanfeng wouldn't allow it. Even though he was a "kept man," he still had some pride.
Passing by the coffee shop, Liu Nanfeng glanced inside. There were only three employees, and Su Jinxiu was not there.
Seeing the sparsely populated lobby, Liu Nanfeng didn't go in and headed straight home.
However, before going home, he went to a nearby postal station to pick up Su Jinxiu's packages.
Besides the bag of rice he already knew about, there were two other packages. He didn't know what they were.
The apartment Liu Nanfeng bought was on the 24th floor, neither too high nor too low. From the balcony, he could see the river, and the scenery was excellent.
Upon arriving home, Su Jinxiu heard the noise and came out of the kitchen.
"You're back so early?" Liu Nanfeng said.
"Yes, there wasn't much going on at the shop, so I went to the supermarket to buy some groceries and came back."
Su Jinxiu said, stepping forward to take the packages from Liu Nanfeng's hands.
In the morning, she had said the rice was too heavy to carry, but now she held it in her hand as if it were light as a feather, with remarkable ease.
Liu Nanfeng couldn't help but glance at the text above her head again.
Name: Su Huamei
Race: Huapi
Cultivation: Three hundred and eighty-two years
Identity: Wife's sister
Past Cause: Not triggered
The text remained unchanged. The female demon indeed lied.
"I've already boiled the bathwater. You go take a bath first, and I'll wash your clothes."
"Okay."
"I've also prepared your clothes. Wear that light blue T-shirt. Your skin is fair, and this color suits you. Oh, and I bought you a yellow one, too. You can try it on when you come out..."
Listening to Su Jinxiu's continuous chatter, Liu Nanfeng felt a surge of warmth.
If only she weren't a demon, she would be the most perfect wife.
Wait, if she weren't a demon, then she would be his sister-in-law.
Thinking of this, his mind became a bit muddled. He couldn't quite figure out if the person in front of him was Su Jinxiu, and if so, was it always like this?
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing, I'm going to take a bath."
Liu Nanfeng walked past her, his body brushing against her arm. However, unlike Cai Die, it did not trigger a "past cause."
Liu Nanfeng felt a bit bewildered but didn't stop. He walked directly into the bathroom.
He turned on the shower, and the warm water washed away the fatigue from his body.
"Why didn't it trigger?"
Liu Nanfeng was very puzzled. At that moment, Su Jinxiu's humming could be heard from the living room.
"The驸马 (son-in-law of the emperor) approaches to examine the details: It is written that Qin Xianglian, aged thirty-two, accuses the imperial son-in-law. He deceives the king, disrespects the emperor, and breaks his engagement to marry into the royal family."
...
This was an excerpt from the Peking Opera "Zha Mei An" (The Case of the Beheaded Mei).
"Su Jinxiu" loved Peking Opera very much, he knew that. But why was she singing "Zha Mei An"? Liu Nanfeng couldn't help but overthink.
"Honey, do you want me to help you scrub your back?"
Just then, Su Jinxiu's voice came from outside the bathroom.
"No need, it's just sweat on my body. I just need to rinse it off," Liu Nanfeng quickly replied.
"Oh, I've taken the watermelon out of the refrigerator. Eat some when you come out."
"Okay."
Liu Nanfeng felt Su Jinxiu leave from the doorway.
His heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Judging by her natural and uninhibited demeanor in her speech and actions,
one could tell that she had spent a considerable amount of time with him. Things that should have happened had likely already happened, which was why she was so casual and uninhibited.
But if that were the case, what about Su Jinxiu? Where was she?
Liu Nanfeng extended a finger, and Cai Die appeared on his fingertip.
It seemed to exist as if in a dream. The rushing water from the shower had no effect on it.
Liu Nanfeng flicked his finger, and Cai Die immediately flapped its wings and flew through the wall, scattering specks of brilliant light.
When Liu Nanfeng came out of the bathroom, he saw Su Jinxiu bending over and searching for something.
Wearing a silk pajama set, her posture of bending and leaning forward made her rounded hips even more prominent. Her slender waist and fair thighs revealed glimpses of enticing allure...
She exuded a captivating charm that firmly held Liu Nanfeng's gaze.
"What are you looking for?" Liu Nanfeng asked, swallowing.
"Do you smell anything?"
Su Jinxiu turned around and asked.
"Smell? No, what smell do you smell?" Liu Nanfeng sniffed his nose upon hearing this.
"Perhaps it's just my imagination."
Su Jinxiu stood up and turned around.
At this moment, Liu Nanfeng was startled because a faint red glow emanated from around Su Jinxiu's body.
Liu Nanfeng was surprised because this was precisely Cai Die's ability of "discernment of hearts, recognition of true feelings."
The red glow indicated that Su Jinxiu's feelings for him were sincere and not feigned.
Moreover, only Liu Nanfeng could see this glow. Su Jinxiu herself was completely unaware of it.
"This is the new shirt I bought for you. Put it on and let me see."
Su Jinxiu picked up a light yellow T-shirt from the side and walked over, holding it against his chest.
Liu Nanfeng didn't stand on ceremony and directly took off the shirt he had just put on.
"Looks like delivering food actually has its benefits. You've got abs now."
Su Jinxiu gave a suggestive smile and patted his chest.
"We're married, we're practically old married folk, do you have to be like this?" Liu Nanfeng said, implying something.
Then, as he put on the light yellow T-shirt, he observed Su Jinxiu's reaction.
"Hehe, no matter the time, my husband is always the most charming in my eyes."
"I know you're lying, but I love hearing it. Say more."
"I'm not lying at all. I mean it sincerely."
Su Jinxiu pouted, her face full of charming indignation.
"We've been together for seven years. Do you remember how we met?"
"Of course, I remember. When we were sophomores, it was the student union's freshman welcome event. I was the first person to receive you. You were wearing a large, loose blue suit and dragging a black suitcase. You hadn't even shaved your beard..."
Su Jinxiu said, reaching out to gently stroke the corner of Liu Nanfeng's mouth, then leaned in and kissed him naturally before pulling back and tidying his collar.
"It fits perfectly, and this color suits you very well. Take it off, and I'll wash it with your other clothes."
Looking at Su Jinxiu's calm and composed demeanor, Liu Nanfeng became even more bewildered because many of the details she mentioned were exactly accurate.
That blue suit was bought for him by his father after he was admitted to university. Considering the cooling weather, he would need to wear a sweater underneath, so his father specifically bought it a size larger.
However, it wasn't cold enough in September to wear a sweater, so the blue suit appeared exceptionally loose, almost comical when worn.
As for his beard, he had heard that shaving more often made it grow back thicker, and that the area around his mouth would eventually turn a greenish hue. Furthermore, he didn't have his own razor, so he rarely shaved.
"So, the first gift you gave me was a razor?" Liu Nanfeng asked, looking intently at Su Jinxiu.
"What?"
Su Jinxiu, who was appraising Liu Nanfeng, paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"Yes, I bought that razor at the supermarket next to the school. It cost eighteen yuan and came with a box of blades. I didn't expect you to keep using it until graduation."
Liu Nanfeng smiled and said, "What movie do you want to watch tonight?"
"Huapi."
Liu Nanfeng: ...
"Although they are all unknown actors, the reviews online are quite good."
"Oh? Then it should be good."
Regaining his composure, Liu Nanfeng echoed her words and took off his T-shirt, changing back into his own clothes.
Su Jinxiu, holding the T-shirt, walked into the bathroom.
Liu Nanfeng took the opportunity to summon Cai Die back.
Cai Die immediately appeared on Su Jinxiu's back, flashed, and reappeared on Liu Nanfeng's fingertip, then vanished instantly.
And the red glow on Su Jinxiu's body also disappeared.
Su Jinxiu seemed to sense something and immediately turned around, looking around the living room with a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong?" Liu Nanfeng asked deliberately.
"Nothing."
Su Jinxiu withdrew her gaze and turned back into the bathroom.
Liu Nanfeng sighed softly. He was no longer sure whether it was Su Jinxiu or Su Huamei with whom he had shared a deep affection all these years.
However, one thing he was sure of was that the person he married was Su Jinxiu. Otherwise, Su Huamei's information wouldn't have the words "wife's sister."
Perhaps he had met Su Huamei for the first time, not Su Jinxiu. Otherwise, how could she know those details? Or perhaps Su Jinxiu had told her?
"Is the watermelon sweet?"
Su Jinxiu's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"What?"
Eating watermelon and thinking, Liu Nanfeng hadn't heard clearly. He looked up questioningly.
"I asked if the watermelon is sweet?"
Su Jinxiu frowned slightly.
"Yes, very sweet. Do you want to try some?"
"No, thank you. It's too sweet, and the sugar content must be high. I'll gain weight."
"Do demons also fear gaining weight?" Liu Nanfeng couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"But having text above my head is so unsightly, like an NPC with a character name."
Thinking this, the text above Su Jinxiu's head suddenly turned into a wisp of smoke and vanished without a trace.
"It can do that?" Liu Nanfeng was somewhat surprised.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Su Jinxiu touched her cheeks with a confused expression.
"No, I just think your complexion is very good today, exceptionally beautiful." Liu Nanfeng made up a casual excuse.
"A man's mouth is a deceitful mouth, especially someone like you who writes novels. You're best at fabricating stories and deceiving people..."
Su Jinxiu said this, but she smiled particularly brightly and happily.
"I'm really not lying. I'm sincere." Liu Nanfeng said with a grievance.
"Really? Then take out your heart and show me."
"Uh..."
This was a sweet talk between lovers, but knowing the other person's identity, it became somewhat chilling.
"Look at your silly face."
Su Jinxiu rolled her eyes at him and turned to go to the kitchen.
Liu Nanfeng let out a long sigh of relief.
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