Start cultivating immortality in Xiaoao world, bumped into the master's wife at the start! - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Bumped Into Another Soft and Fragrant One

…

In a tastefully decorated private room.

At the dining table.

Yue Lingshan and Yue Buqun were holding their bowls and chopsticks mid-air, frozen in place, staring blankly at Ning Zhongze.

Ning Zhongze sat gracefully, her head slightly lowered, her willow-leaf eyebrows knitted with worry. Her gaze was unfocused, her mind clearly elsewhere.

She stared unblinkingly at the rice bowl in her hand. With the other hand, she picked up a single, gleaming grain of rice with her chopsticks and elegantly placed it in her mouth. Her lips moved gently a couple of times. After a short pause, her throat shifted as she swallowed it down.

Clang!!

At that moment, Yue Lingshan’s chopsticks slipped from her hand, landing on the table with a crisp sound.

She snapped out of her daze and looked at her mother with concern. “Mother, are you okay?”

“Yes, junior sister! What’s wrong with you? You seem so preoccupied. If something’s bothering you, say it out loud, don’t keep it bottled up. It’ll harm your health,” Yue Buqun added, his face full of worry. Ning Zhongze’s behavior had truly startled him.

“Ah—oh! I’m fine! What could be wrong? Let’s eat!”

Ning Zhongze looked up and saw her daughter and husband staring at her. Realizing she’d lost composure again, her gaze turned evasive and panicked, not daring to meet their eyes.

After speaking, she lowered her head, raised the rice bowl to her lips, and began shoveling rice into her mouth quickly with her chopsticks.

Ning Zhongze tilted the porcelain bowl at a high angle, almost covering her stunning face, trying to hide her flustered and guilty emotions. Her dark, bright eyes shifted slightly, peeking at Yue Buqun and Yue Lingshan from the rim of the bowl.

She noticed both of them looking at her with strange expressions, which only deepened her unease and apprehension.

She scooped a few more mouthfuls of rice and then stopped.

Clunk!

Ning Zhongze placed the bowl on the table, stood up with rice still in her mouth, and mumbled, “I’m full. You two go ahead and finish eating. I’m going out for a walk!”

With that, she quickly fled the room, which was now filled with an odd atmosphere.

Yue Buqun and Yue Lingshan stared blankly at her retreating back, mouths slightly agape, thoroughly confused.

What just happened? She’s full already?

She barely ate a few grains of rice—didn’t even touch the dishes—and now she’s full?

Wasn’t she just saying she hadn’t eaten all day and was starving?

That’s it?

Yue Lingshan looked at the now-empty doorway, then turned to her father, blinking her bright, lively eyes, full of confusion and curiosity.

“Father, what’s going on with Mother?”

Yue Buqun looked at his daughter and shook his head, puzzled. “I don’t know either.”

“That’s really strange. Mother usually isn’t like this… Could it be that the recent attack was too much for her to bear?” Yue Lingshan speculated, brows furrowed.

“Sigh… That’s probably it,” Yue Buqun sighed, then added, “Shan’er, hurry and finish eating. Afterward, go check on your mother. Stay with her more in the coming days. Don’t let her fall ill from overthinking.”

“Mm-hmm, okay, Father!”

Yue Lingshan nodded and quickly resumed eating.

…

After leaving the dining room, Ning Zhongze wandered aimlessly, dazed, along the stone-paved path.

The early autumn night sky resembled a deep blue silk cloth—quiet and profound.

The moon hung high, like a bright lamp, casting a gentle silver glow over everything, making the autumn night feel even colder.

“Sigh…”

Ning Zhongze looked up at the sky. Thin clouds drifted like gauze, momentarily covering the bright moon. She let out a deep sigh, her eyes filled with complexity.

“What should I do?”

As the clouds floated past and the moon shone once more, Ning Zhongze gazed intently at its brightness. It was unclear whether she was asking herself or the moon.

But either way, it seemed neither could offer her an answer.

Just then—

A strikingly handsome face suddenly appeared on the surface of the moon.

“Chong’er…” Ning Zhongze murmured softly.

The next moment, she suddenly snapped out of it, shook her head, her eyes filled with panic.

She had no idea why she suddenly thought of Linghu Chong.

In a flurry of panic, she turned and quickly left the area.

Unknowingly, she found herself outside the kitchen.

There, she stopped and noticed a sliver of light on the ground ahead.

She slowly raised her head and followed the light with her gaze.

The kitchen door was slightly ajar, and a warm glow of firelight peeked through the gap.

So late at night… who could still be in the kitchen? Could it be those bratty boys sneaking food again?

Ning Zhongze’s brows drew together slightly. With a stern face, she walked forward slowly.

Lately, food in the kitchen had been mysteriously disappearing. She suspected someone was sneaking in to eat.

They had already rounded up the most mischievous boys and questioned them thoroughly, but their stories matched—they all claimed it was rats stealing the food. Yue Buqun had nearly drawn his sword in frustration.

But now, finally, she was catching them red-handed. No matter what, she was going to give them a good scolding.

Ning Zhongze stormed up to the door but didn’t push it open right away.

She wanted to observe how these rascals committed their ‘crime’ since they never left any evidence. She peered through the crack in the door.

But in the next instant, Ning Zhongze was frozen in place as if caught by an invisible force.

Inside, the figure that had been haunting her thoughts was busy bustling about.

“Chong’er!” Ning Zhongze’s heart trembled. The person inside the kitchen was none other than Linghu Chong—and he was alone.

“He’s… cooking?”

Ning Zhongze watched as Linghu Chong flipped food in a wok with a spatula, puzzled.

The next moment, a delicious aroma wafted through the air, confirming her suspicion.

She looked at Linghu Chong’s busy figure and, for some unknown reason, felt a sudden delight in her heart. She smiled and muttered softly, “You little rascal, I made you go hungry all day, now you’re starving, huh? Finally came looking for food.”

“Who’s there?”

Her voice startled Linghu Chong, who was focused on cooking.

In a flash, he appeared at the door and flung it open.

“Ah!”

Ning Zhongze, who had been leaning close to the door, lost her balance and fell forward—straight into Linghu Chong’s arms.

“Master’s Wife!!!” Linghu Chong exclaimed joyfully upon recognizing the soft, curvy body in his arms.

“You… Let me go!”

Ning Zhongze blushed furiously. A beautiful flush spread quickly across her cheeks and crept all the way to her ears.

Once again embraced by Linghu Chong, the familiar and intoxicating masculine scent overwhelmed her senses. She was momentarily lightheaded, never expecting him to open the door so suddenly.

“Ah—oh!” Linghu Chong helped her steady her soft, delicate frame. Gazing at her stunning face, he asked gently, “Are you all right, Master’s Wife?”

“I’m… fine.”

Ning Zhongze replied and looked up—only to freeze.

Her eyes locked onto Linghu Chong’s handsome, sunny face, and she couldn’t look away.