On a winter morning, the cold seeped through the cracks of the window, freezing noses red.
Jiang Mian woke from the chill—but one part of her body felt unusually warm.
Groggily, she rubbed the source of heat.
It felt hard as iron, like a red-hot plate—but with reassuring curves.
Hmm? Iron plate?
Jiang Mian’s eyes flew open.
Military green fabric filled her vision.
Her gaze traveled upward—there was a man’s rolling Adam’s apple and tense jawline.
Her eyes moved downward…
Jiang Mian gasped sharply.
She found herself tangled around Huo Jingchuan like an octopus, hands and feet gripping him from all directions.
One leg was boldly draped across his waist, her face pressed against his chest, saliva almost dripping onto his clothes.
【Holy crap! Disaster! How did I turn the Living Yama into my body pillow?!】
【Not gonna lie, though—this human heating pad is top quality. Constant warmth, no electricity needed. Shame I woke up too early, could’ve snuggled for two more hours…】
Huo Jingchuan had his eyes closed, breathing steady, seemingly still asleep.
But only he knew that he had woken the moment that rebellious leg landed on him.
A former reconnaissance soldier, now a regimental commander, his alertness was off the charts.
Every muscle in his body was tense as iron; the veins at his temple were thumping merrily.
This woman… sleeps like she’s at war!
Seeing him “unawake,” Jiang Mian hurriedly withdrew her limbs, tiptoeing to the edge of the bed, patting her chest in feigned panic, putting on the act of a shy, obedient little wife.
She tidied her messy hair, wrapped herself in an old cotton jacket, and shivered as she got out of bed.
“Brother Jingchuan’s still asleep. I need to make him breakfast. I’m a virtuous wife…”
She muttered this aloud, but in her mind she was wailing:
【I’m freezing to death! When will this crappy house have heating?! I’m starving, starving—I feel like I could swallow a whole cow!】
She pushed open the kitchen door.
Her heart sank.
The rice jar was nearly empty, only a thin layer of old rice at the bottom, and a few shriveled sweet potatoes that looked like tree bark.
Forget meat—there wasn’t even a drop of oil.
【The mighty Huo family… eats this? Is this even food? Even pigs would turn their noses up at this!】
Jiang Mian pursed her lips in disgust, clutching her growling stomach.
Then her eyes lit up—she had a plan.
She clasped her hands and theatrically headed to the backyard, muttering, “Ah, my stomach feels funny, better go to the latrine.”
Once she rounded the corner and confirmed the coast was clear, she focused her mind.
Whoosh!
The bleak, freezing backyard instantly transformed.
It became a warm, bright supermarket, shelves stacked with every imaginable food!
This was the golden hand she had from her time-traveling—her billion-yuan supply space.
Jiang Mian moved straight to the prepared foods section like a seasoned shopper.
Steam rose from large, fresh meat buns on the shelves; freshly ground, fragrant soy milk sat next to golden fried dough sticks and just-boiled tea eggs…
She swallowed hard, feeling her soul tremble.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a meat bun bigger than her face and bit in.
The soft dough wrapped around juicy, savory filling.
The rich meat juices burst in her mouth, warmth sliding down her throat into her stomach.
【Mmmmmm! This is the meaning of life!】
She devoured three large meat buns in one sitting, chugged a cup of hot soy milk, and even snatched a tea egg for good measure.
Her mouth greasy, her belly full, Jiang Mian finally let out a satisfied burp.
She cleaned her face and rinsed her mouth, ensuring no stray meat fibers remained, then reluctantly left the space.
Back in reality, the winter wind still bit cold.
But Jiang Mian was filled with warmth—powered entirely by meat buns.
She returned to the modest kitchen, glanced at the meager old rice and sweet potatoes, and set about “showing her skills” without a shred of guilt.
No need to rinse the rice too much—don’t want to lose nutrients (really laziness).
No need to peel the sweet potatoes; boiling would soften them anyway.
Half an hour later…
A pot of watery porridge with a handful of rice grains and a few sweet potato chunks was ready.
Jiang Mian scooped a bowl, and the surface was clear enough to reflect her face. She nodded with satisfaction.
【Perfect! This is natural, pollution-free, low-fat, low-sugar healthy breakfast!】
She carried the bowl, put on a gentle, virtuous expression, and opened the bedroom door.
Huo Jingchuan was already “awake,” propped against the bed’s headboard. His face was pale, but his eyes remained sharp.
Jiang Mian placed the bowl on the wooden stool by the bed, looking at him with mock concern:
“Brother Jingchuan, you’re awake! You must be starving! There isn’t much food at home, so I specially made you sweet potato porridge. Cooked it a long time, soft and sweet—very nourishing.”
She even pretended to wipe nonexistent sweat from her forehead.
But Huo Jingchuan didn’t glance at the porridge.
His nostrils twitched.
A faint, subtle scent—impossible to ignore for a specially trained soldier—entered his nose.
It was… the smell of meat?
Not just meat—there was the wheaty aroma of fermentation, even a hint of sweet soy milk.
And then, that brain-rattling inner monologue from the night before blasted in his mind, complete with sound effects:
【Burp~ This meat bun smells amazing! Thin dough, big filling, juicy to the last bite! Especially the meatball—so much juice! Yum!】
Huo Jingchuan’s gaze froze.
【And the soy milk, sweetness just right. Drinking it warms your whole body. Oooh, stuffed now…】
Meanwhile, Jiang Mian wore the expression of “we’re poor but I tried my best,” presenting the porridge to him:
“Brother Jingchuan, eat while it’s hot.”
【As for the Living Yama… he’s sick, disabled, low activity, weak digestion. Definitely not suitable for big meals.】
【This sweet potato porridge may look like pig slop, but it… nourishes the stomach, clears the intestines. Truly, I am the perfect, caring wife!】
【Eat, eat—finish it and you’ll have energy to be my shield later when the nosy neighbors come to laugh.】
Huo Jingchuan slowly lifted his eyelids, his dark, deep eyes locking on Jiang Mian.
They traveled from her fake, innocent face to the tiny grease stain at the corner of her mouth—and finally landed on the bowl of “pig slop.”
She ate meat buns and drank soy milk herself…
Then gave him old rice and sweet potato soup…
And called it “nourishing” and “being a virtuous wife”?
Good.
Very good.
Jiang Mian felt his gaze crawl over her, making her scalp tingle. She instinctively touched her face: 【What are you staring at? Is my face broken out? Or are you dazzled by my beauty?】
Huo Jingchuan’s lips curved into a chilling cold smile, hoarse and low:
“I’m not hungry.”
“But… why does this room… smell like meat buns?”