Hou Mingzhu was actually in a good mood, merely putting on a facade of aloofness. Inwardly, she was overjoyed. Her romantic life abroad had been stagnant, primarily because her heart was still set on Ye Tiancheng. She simply couldn't let go of him, and that's why she had been so focused on finding a way to see him.
Heaven knew how excited Hou Mingzhu had been when she received that call from Fatty. However, she couldn't let Ye Tiancheng see it. They had already agreed to part ways, and she didn't want him to realize her feelings, which would make her feel cheap.
Therefore, Hou Mingzhu had to pretend to be reluctant, acting as someone not particularly close, merely offering a small favor out of past acquaintance.
Unbeknownst to Ye Tiancheng, as he went to the kitchen to cook, Hou Mingzhu, drawn by the aroma, couldn't help but follow. She leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching him, and felt an immense sense of contentment.
"You startled me. What are you doing here? I don't have much of a ventilation system, so the kitchen gets quite smoky. Be careful, girls usually don't like environments with so much oil smoke."
"Ye Tiancheng, you've really changed. You seem more considerate than before. You used to be such a straightforward guy, as if nothing could impress you. Always thinking about competing and winning. Now you're a bit like a domestic man."
"Look at what you're saying. It seems I was quite a scumbag before. I regret it now. Fortunately, this ordeal has made my appearance unsightly but hasn't stripped me of my ability to work. I can still atone with my labor."
"Don't say that. You're not that bad of a person. When I was young and ignorant, you even forgave me after I accidentally set a fire and killed someone. Looking back now, I can't even compare to your magnanimity. In front of you, I'll always be nothing more than a little girl."
It had been too long since they had such a deep conversation. Over the past year, their relationship had chilled to below freezing point due to the child's matters. Now, there was finally a sliver of room for reconciliation, but they both knew in their hearts that their relationship wouldn't improve. Yet, by a twist of fate, they felt a sense of mutual appreciation.
As Ye Tiancheng spoke, he couldn't help but grin. A sense of unspoken understanding made Hou Mingzhu smile suddenly as well.
"Alright, cook properly. We need to see how good your cooking is later. You've never properly cooked for me before. Besides the beef noodles, I see you're making another dish. This is your moment to shine."
Hou Mingzhu's icy demeanor finally melted away, replaced by a happy expression. Ye Tiancheng's mood also relaxed considerably. He had a premonition that this would be a beautiful meal.
However, just as Hou Mingzhu was about to leave the kitchen, several dark shadows suddenly darted at her feet. Those shadows moved incredibly fast. Even with her bravery, Hou Mingzhu felt a surge of fear, nearly jumping up, her face turning pale with fright.
"Help! What is that?"
Hearing Hou Mingzhu's scream, Ye Tiancheng's heart skipped a beat. Fearing for her safety, he unleashed a surge of true qi, and saw a mouse lying on the ground, barely alive.
Ye Tiancheng quickly put down his spoon and rushed over to check. Fortunately, Hou Mingzhu was unharmed. She had merely been startled by the scurrying mouse, and her nerves had been affected.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, don't worry. It was just a fat rat. Even without you, I could have handled it myself."
Ye Tiancheng was accustomed to Hou Mingzhu's stubbornness and wasn't surprised at all, remaining calm.
"Alright, don't put on a brave face. If it scared me, it must have scared you too. I was worried it was a consequence of my curse, but thankfully, it was just a very fat rat."
Even at this moment, Ye Tiancheng's heart was pounding, and he was filled with a sense of dread. He probably wouldn't recover from it anytime soon.
"It's good that you're alright. I was truly scared. Everyone is becoming so unfortunate because of my curse. I've lost all confidence in myself. I dare not believe that I can prevent those around me from being affected. I don't know when I'll be free from this identity as a bringer of misfortune."
Seeing Ye Tiancheng's anxious expression, Hou Mingzhu suddenly realized that she hadn't come to add to his troubles but to bring him some peace of mind. From what Fatty had said, Ye Tiancheng had suffered too many blows recently, and his mental state was abnormal. It was only then that Hou Mingzhu felt pity for him.
Perhaps Ye Tiancheng had seemed happy earlier because he saw her, but when something actually happened, his underlying sorrow was evident, the worry in his eyes too deep to be dispelled.
Hou Mingzhu's heart softened instantly. She quickly walked over and gently hugged Ye Tiancheng. As her arms wrapped around his waist, she could feel him stiffen slightly, as if he had finally broken free from those terrible illusions and returned to reality, no longer so afraid.
"I'm sorry, Hou Mingzhu. Perhaps I shouldn't have asked you to come. You're just an ordinary person and can't bear too much danger. I'm afraid my momentary negligence might plunge you into an abyss of eternal damnation."
Ye Tiancheng was extremely anxious. Hou Mingzhu could only gently pat his back, trying to calm him down.
"It's not as dramatic as you say. It was just a giant rat, bigger than an ordinary one, and you've already killed it. I'm not as fragile as you think. Even if there are other dangers, I believe that as long as you are by my side, all problems can be solved. I'm not afraid."
Ye Tiancheng released Hou Mingzhu and looked into her eyes. "Do you really mean that? I thought after all this, you wouldn't choose to believe me anymore. Your trust in me has long since eroded."
Hou Mingzhu smiled and shook her head. "If that were true, I wouldn't have come at all. The reason I came is because I care about you, and I want to pull you out of that abyss of suffering. Of course, you have to make an effort yourself; my strength alone isn't enough. Shall we work together?"
Seeing the sincerity in Hou Mingzhu's eyes at that moment, Ye Tiancheng suddenly felt as if he had gained strength. His heart settled down, and his face exuded a sense of peace.
"Thank you, Hou Mingzhu. I'm so glad to have you. Without you, I wouldn't know what to do."
"Alright, aren't you going to cook for me? If you get distracted again, you might burn the food, and then I won't be able to eat it."
Ye Tiancheng finally realized that he had indeed been distracted. He apologized humbly and then continued cooking.
The meal was exceptionally pleasant, mainly because he had company. Not only was Ye Tiancheng happy, but Hou Mingzhu was also delighted. Coming here felt like arriving at a paradise, and she could finally relax and enjoy a meal without worrying about anything.
"This is delicious. Fatty told me before that your specialty is beef noodles, and I didn't believe him at first. After all, the last time I ate your cooking, it was beef noodles, but not this good. Today, I've discovered it's much better than before."
"Isn't that normal? I've been training every day, and over time, I've found my own knack. I know how to make it taste good. I'm happy if you like it, so please eat more."
Since Hou Mingzhu arrived, apart from the scare with the big rat, Ye Tiancheng had no other unpleasant experiences. His face had been adorned with a kind smile the entire time.
"Then I'll eat it all. I won't be polite."
After eating, Hou Mingzhu started to feel drowsy. Perhaps after eating, the blood had all gone to her stomach to aid digestion, causing a slight lack of blood to her brain, naturally leading to sleepiness.
"I'm so sleepy. Can I sleep for a bit? I suddenly feel like I can't stay awake."
Hou Mingzhu's sudden drowsiness once again alerted Ye Tiancheng. Could it be that her sleepiness was due to his curse? Ye Tiancheng looked at Hou Mingzhu vigilantly, clearly sensing the suspicion in his expression.
"Don't worry, I'm just tired. I've been feeling sleepy after meals lately. Perhaps my body is a bit weak. I'll go for a check-up after this period. It's definitely not what you're thinking."
Seeing that Hou Mingzhu, despite being sleepy, showed no physical ailments, Ye Tiancheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, though his smile was a bit strained.
"That's good! But I'll be watching you closely. If there are any unexpected situations, I'll resolve them immediately."
"No need to trouble yourself. I'm perfectly fine and won't have any problems. I'm going to sleep now. I won't talk anymore."
Hou Mingzhu was too drowsy to continue talking. She lay down and quickly fell asleep. Regardless of what Ye Tiancheng said, she was determined to get a good night's sleep.
Hou Mingzhu soon fell asleep. Ye Tiancheng had prepared clean bedding for her, so lying in it felt like resting on clouds—incredibly soft, warm, and comfortable, like basking in the sun.
Most importantly, mentally, Hou Mingzhu felt no fear with Ye Tiancheng by her side, guarding her, which allowed her to sleep so soundly.
"Hou Mingzhu, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
It had been about an hour since Hou Mingzhu arrived, and she hadn't shown any negative reactions. This was her longest record, making Ye Tiancheng wonder if there was really such a thing as a destined soulmate.
Hou Mingzhu, in her sleep, heard Ye Tiancheng call her name and mumbled a response before drifting back to sleep.
Seeing Hou Mingzhu turn over and continue sleeping, Ye Tiancheng was instantly charmed. The heavy burden in his heart instantly lifted. It seemed Hou Mingzhu was fine for now, which was the best outcome.
"I knew you'd be alright. Sleep well, and cast all your worries aside. I will protect you."
Hou Mingzhu slept for a long time. Perhaps she was still tired from the journey with Fatty, which caused her to sleep so deeply that she was completely unaware of her surroundings.
When she woke up, it was already the next morning. Hou Mingzhu felt a bit disoriented. She had slept for so long that she had lost her sense of time. Everything around her felt both strange and familiar, a feeling that couldn't be described in words.
"You're awake. Breakfast is almost ready. I've made you egg soup today. I'm raising a few chickens over there, so the eggs are fresh. Let me let you taste my different cooking skills. I'm afraid you'll get tired of beef noodles every day."