After Nangong An finished sorting the sweet potatoes, he went to the stream to take a bath, then returned to the courtyard feeling clean and refreshed.
As soon as he pushed open the courtyard gate, a rich aroma of grilled meat rushed toward him. Seeing the busy little woman in the courtyard, his heart instantly felt full. He quickened his steps, watching Yunxi turn the skewers in her hands.
“Xi’er, what are you making? It smells so good!”
Yunxi sprinkled seasoning onto the skewers, flipped them a few more times, then carried them to the table and sat down.
“Nangong An, come sit down. I made barbecue for you—hurry and try it.”
Nangong An had eaten plenty of roast chicken before, but this was his first time eating barbecue. Just the smell alone made his mouth water.
He strode over and sat beside Yunxi. The moment he sat down, she handed him a lamb skewer.
“Hurry and taste it. See if it’s good.”
Taking a bite directly from her hand, Nangong An tasted the lamb. It was numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant—neither greasy nor gamey—crispy on the outside and tender inside. It was truly the best lamb he had ever eaten.
They had grilled lamb before, but at most it was just cooked enough to eat. He had never known grilled lamb could be so tender and delicate, making one crave more after a single bite.
How many more skills did his little woman have that he didn’t know about?
Seeing him eat skewer after skewer, Yunxi knew just how delicious the barbecue was.
“Here, have a drink.” She handed him a beer.
Nangong An didn’t hesitate and took a big gulp. The taste was smooth and mellow, with a unique malt aroma and a lingering aftertaste.
“Xi’er, what kind of wine is this? It’s completely different from those strong liquors.”
Yunxi said mysteriously, “Hehe… of course it’s different. This is produced by the space—nowhere else has it. Since it’s good, let’s have a toast.”
So the two of them drank cup after cup together.
Sizzle, sizzle—
The oysters on the grill began to make sizzling sounds.
Hearing that sound, Yunxi knew the oysters were done.
The broth inside the shells bubbled, looking especially tempting.
“Nangong An, bring me the basin on the table so I can put the oysters in.”
Nangong An picked up the basin and looked at the strange things on the grill.
“This is what you call oysters? They look so odd!”
“Hehe, don’t judge them by their looks. They’re good stuff.”
Yunxi smiled as she quickened her movements. If they stayed on the grill any longer, they’d overcook and lose their texture.
After transferring all of them into the basin, she sat back down at the table.
“Nangong An, hurry. They won’t taste good once they cool.”
She picked up an oyster, blew on it, and drank a sip of the broth straight from the shell.
“Mmm, so fresh.”
Then she used her chopsticks to pick up the oyster meat and put it in her mouth.
The plump oyster burst with juice as soon as she bit into it—indescribably delicious.
Nangong An followed her example, sipping the broth first, then swallowing the oyster meat in one bite.
“How should I describe it?” he said. “It’s fresh, tender, and rich, with a soft, almost creamy texture. One bite makes you fall in love with it.”
Yunxi knew he would like it—this was a delicacy no one could resist.
“Hehe, of course. Otherwise there wouldn’t be a saying: ‘Oysters are a gas station for men and a beauty salon for women.’”
Nangong An didn’t understand all the terms she used. He only caught “gas station for men” and “beauty salon for women.”
So he figured this thing must be good for both men and women.
In the end, the two of them grilled and ate as they went. Yunxi drank a bottle of orange juice with pulp, while Nangong An drank four bottles of beer without even turning red. She couldn’t help but admire his alcohol tolerance.
Because of her work in modern times, Yunxi barely drank alcohol at all. She didn’t know how much the original body could drink, but she personally didn’t like alcohol. Still, she wouldn’t stop others from drinking.
“Nangong An, hurry and go soak in the bath to get rid of the alcohol smell, then rest well. Aren’t we heading north tomorrow?”
“Alright,” he replied, standing up.
But before he could even lift his leg, he toppled toward Yunxi.
Heh—so he wasn’t sober after all. This man had hidden it very well.
“Wife, hug me.”
“Wife, kiss me.”
“Wife, don’t go.”
At that moment, Yunxi regretted letting him drink.
In the end, she used every ounce of strength she had to get him onto the bed.
She herself was drenched in sweat.
After making sure Nangong An had fallen asleep, she picked up her pajamas and went into the bathroom. She removed the cumbersome clothes, turned on the shower, and stood under the spray.
Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, and a familiar scent enveloped her from behind.
At some point, Nangong An had also stripped naked and entered the bathroom.
Struggling angrily, Yunxi shouted, “Nangong An, let go! What are you doing?”
Nangong An squinted his eyes, yet spoke clearly. He muttered aggrievedly,
“Wife… you’re so fierce. Don’t you like me? You’re so mean.”
Being naked and held by a man like this—if she hadn’t known he was drunk, she would have beaten him half to death.
Sigh. Yunxi knew she had once again lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot. She swore she would never let him drink again.
In the end, no matter how much she coaxed him, he refused to let go. She had no choice but to continue bathing like this—and ended up washing him as well.
What happened afterward was something she herself hadn’t expected. She didn’t resist and followed the desires of her own body.
She slept with Nangong An.
The next day, she dragged her exhausted body up early. To be honest, she felt a little embarrassed to face Nangong An.
When Nangong An got up and saw the scratch marks all over his body and the traces on the bed, the image of the charming woman beneath him last night slowly surfaced in his mind.
He had slept with Yunxi. What started as an act had become real. From now on, she was his wife.
He quickly got up and walked out of the room. The courtyard was quiet—there was no sign of Yunxi. He hurried out of the courtyard.
Searching everywhere for the woman who had completely captivated him, he finally found her lying on the grass.
“Xi’er, why are you up so early? About last night—”
“Nangong An, we’re both adults. What happened last night doesn’t need to be taken too seriously. It was a normal reaction,” Yunxi said calmly. She wouldn’t assume anything just because they slept together once—especially in ancient times, where men having multiple wives was as common as eating. She didn’t dare hope for too much.
“Once you’ve seen the vast ocean, no other water compares. After Mount Wu, no clouds are the same. Xi’er, I love you. From the moment you said you were my wife, you have been the only woman in my life.”
Nangong An looked at Yunxi seriously and said,
“To gain one true heart and never part until old age—Xi’er, will you give me this chance?”
For a brief moment, Yunxi was moved. But how could she be sure his words were sincere? A lifetime was so long—could he really love only her forever? Or should she cherish the present and live in the moment?
In the end, reason won out. She looked at Nangong An and said,
“In our world, it’s one man and one woman. A man can’t marry two women at the same time. So my request is simple: if one day you no longer love me, we part on good terms. Is that okay?”
What she didn’t know was that this man would later love her to the bone—and how could he ever love another woman?