Chapter Seven: Breakfast

With a soft “mm,” Wang Susu approached the stone table and inhaled the fragrant steam rising from the two bowls of porridge. The rich aroma of lotus seeds filled her nostrils, invigorating her spirit and easing much of her fatigue and weariness. The porridge was thick and sticky, dotted with a few red dates. Stirring it slightly, she could see the lotus seeds and peanuts within.

She didn’t notice anything amiss, only marveling at how deliciously fragrant the porridge was. Unable to resist, she swallowed again and stole a glance at Chen Ling, thinking to herself how unexpectedly good his cooking smelled.

At that moment, Chen Ling was preparing to stir-fry a dish. He fetched a few farm-fresh eggs, cracked them into a bowl, added chopped scallions and salt, then mixed them with chopsticks. Next, he set up the wok, heated the oil, and once it was hot, poured in the egg mixture. The wood fire blazed strong, and soon a simple scallion scrambled egg was ready—smooth and skillful.

Wang Susu watched, entranced. When Chen Ling served the dish in front of her, she suddenly came back to herself, her cheeks flushing even deeper. Chen Ling’s transformation overnight was so profound that she felt somewhat overwhelmed. Seeking to change the subject, she asked, “Why are you cooking in the courtyard? Isn’t there a stove inside the house?”

Chen Ling smiled upon hearing this. “I saw you were sound asleep, so I didn’t want to make noise inside. Besides, we have plenty of firewood; cooking outside is convenient enough.” His hands kept moving as he spoke casually, but to Wang Susu, it felt like a gentle blow straight to her heart. Was he really avoiding waking her because she was asleep?

Biting her lip tightly, she couldn’t quite put the feeling into words. It was as if a long-closed, sensitive corner of her heart cracked open, letting in shafts of sunlight that dispersed the lingering shadows deep within. She even found herself beginning to believe the words Chen Ling had spoken yesterday. She only hoped he would never revert to the way he was before—to stay like this was enough.

Soon, Chen Ling finished frying another dish: deep-fried peanuts. These were the peanuts he had brought from the hidden realm; after they had grown, he dug up a few plants. Without drying them in the outside world, they had already lost their moisture, becoming so dry they could be pressed for oil directly. Chen Ling tasted them and found them delicious. Yet, due to limited time and conditions, apart from adding some to the porridge, he could only prepare the peanuts this way.

“Susu, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry and bring me the white sugar!” Chen Ling’s voice snapped Wang Susu back to reality.

“Ah? White sugar? Okay! I’ll get it for you!” She quickly got up and hurried inside. If one paid attention, they would notice her steps were noticeably lighter than usual.

Having retrieved the sugar and sprinkled it over the peanuts, Chen Ling gave a simple stir and placed the dish on the table.

“Ah Ling, your cooking smells wonderful!” Wang Susu wrinkled her nose slightly and praised softly, sneaking a glance at Chen Ling to gauge his reaction. She was cautiously testing the waters, as he had never spoken to her so familiarly before—only impatience.

Noticing her adorable expression, a tender smile unconsciously played at Chen Ling’s lips. “Smells good? That’s good. I’ll cook for you every day from now on.” Then, he sat down on the stone bench opposite her.

Wang Susu blinked in surprise, not expecting such a response. Her fair face flushed again uncontrollably. She wanted Chen Ling to change for the better, but such intimate words spoken so casually made her blush and feel awkward, unsure how to respond. Yet, beneath her embarrassment, a quiet happiness stirred, leaving her unsure how to handle it.

“Drink the porridge; it’s not hot anymore,” Chen Ling said, noticing her unusual demeanor but choosing not to press.

“Mm.” Wang Susu nodded softly and took a small sip, her eyes brightening instantly. The bashful flush vanished, replaced by delight in the delicious food. Before long, she had finished nearly half a bowl. The exhaustion and drowsiness melted away, replaced by a warm, comforting sensation throughout her body.

“This lotus seed and peanut porridge is really delicious!” she couldn’t help but praise, then asked, “Ah Ling, where did you get such good lotus seeds?”

The porridge contained lotus seeds, peanuts, and red dates, but Wang Susu found the lotus seeds the most fragrant.

Chen Ling smiled but didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “Don’t just eat porridge; try the dish. There’s steamed bread in the pot. Eat it with the bread.”

Her casual question was quickly diverted, and Wang Susu eagerly tasted the food Chen Ling had prepared, hardly putting down her chopsticks until she was completely full, reluctant to stop.

“Ah, I’m so full.”

“It’s all your fault, Ah Ling, your cooking is too good,” she murmured, rubbing her bloated belly.

She had never spoken to Chen Ling so freely before, but his recent behavior had subtly influenced her, allowing her to relax a bit.

“It’s good, right? I’ll make you an even better meal at noon,” Chen Ling said, scooping porridge into a bowl and smiling gently at her.

In truth, Chen Ling’s cooking skills were average at best. The secret to the deliciousness lay in the ingredients—all sourced from the hidden realm. The lotus seeds and peanuts aside, even the water used for cooking the porridge was drawn from the realm’s pure mountain streams. How could the food not be delicious?

Beyond the stream water, other products from the hidden realm were also tremendously beneficial to health. Take the rooster, for example; after spending half a day there, it was full of energy and vigor, strutting about and courting the hens early in the morning. Clearly, it had been greatly nourished.

If the rooster benefited so much, then after all the hardships Wang Susu had endured with Chen Ling, she certainly deserved some of these good things too. However, at present, it was hard to hide or find an excuse to share more. There was no way to bring out more of these treasures for her.

So Chen Ling cleverly turned some of the ingredients into food, and it seemed to be working well. Wang Susu’s once haggard face had visibly regained color and vitality. Her eyes sparkled with newfound brilliance, much to Chen Ling’s satisfaction.

“Ah! This is truly satisfying!” Chen Ling sighed contentedly after finishing the remaining half pot of porridge. These were precious things and must not be wasted.

After eating his fill, Chen Ling stood up to wash the pots and bowls.

“I’ll do it, Ah Ling!” Wang Susu was surprised he intended to wash up and hurriedly stood.

She already thought it was remarkable that Chen Ling cooked. If he did everything, she would feel uneasy... She had never been treated this way before, as if living in a dream.

“It’s fine, you rest and let your food settle,” Chen Ling waved her off, “You ate a bit too much for breakfast today. Sit down and don’t move; if you catch a chill and your stomach acts up, you’ll be the one suffering.”

“I...” Wang Susu opened her mouth to say something but was gently pressed back onto the bench by Chen Ling’s furrowed brow and firm tone. “Be obedient.”

“It’s just washing dishes, not some huge deal,” Chen Ling said firmly.

Seeing his resolve, Wang Susu dared not argue further, but her gaze toward him held something different than before.

After washing the dishes and scrubbing the pots, Chen Ling saw his wife staring blankly at him with her big, clear eyes. In that moment, her innocent, slightly dazed expression bore a striking resemblance to the Hong Kong actress Vivian Chow.

The early spring sunlight shone upon her thick hair and pure, fair face, making her even more beautiful than Vivian.

Initially, Chen Ling only intended to fulfill the responsibilities of this body and make amends for past wrongs. But now, at this moment, his heart raced uncontrollably.