Chapter Sixty-One: I Am Here for Everything (Part Two) — Third of Five Updates
She didn’t know when she’d fallen asleep. When Tao Ming opened her eyes and turned her head, she found herself alone in bed—Soft and Glutinous were gone!
Startled, she sat up abruptly. The cool quilt slipped down her body, and only then did she realize she wasn’t wearing anything. Memories of Su Nanxing flashed through her mind, but hearing the laughter of Soft and Glutinous from outside, she finally relaxed.
After getting dressed and washing up, Tao Ming pushed open the door. The sky was still dark, but the little building was ablaze with light. A crowd was playing “Eagle Catches Chicks” with the two children.
At the moment, Qin Sihao played the eagle, Su Nanxing was the mother hen, and the chicks’ line included the Seventh Prince, Mu Zhi, and Dragon Scale One—a most incongruous sight.
Tao Ming leaned quietly against the doorframe, watching them play. Soft spotted her and shouted, “Mom, come play with us!”
Tao Ming agreed and joined the end of the chick line, grabbing Dragon Scale One’s sash as the group moved around. Quickly she found herself out of breath, was caught by Qin Sihao, and went to rest on the side.
The Seventh Prince, feigning slowness, was also caught and sat down beside her.
Su Nanxing glanced their way, then continued playing with the remaining chicks.
The Seventh Prince said offhandedly, “You seem much more lively these days.”
“It’s different when you’re loved.”
“Are people from the other world always this direct?”
“People from the other world and people from Weishui are all the same—some are straightforward, some are reserved. But I’ve always believed that if you love someone, you should say it. Otherwise, how would the other know?”
“Are you fond of him?”
“Yes.”
“Just because he’s shameless?”
“How could that be! I was joking.”
“Then why?”
“It must be fate.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in fate?”
“I do now.”
“How painfully sweet!”
“Haha, you’re a quick study.”
Soft was caught and squeezed into Tao Ming’s arms, nibbling her ear and whispering, “Dad said you wet the bed and that’s why you weren’t wearing clothes. Is it true?”
Tao Ming: “...”
Seventh Prince: “...” I absolutely did not want to hear that!
Su Nanxing walked over with Glutinous, nudged the Seventh Prince aside, and said, “Wife, are you hungry?”
Tao Ming was, in fact, a little hungry, so she nodded.
The Seventh Prince interjected, “That wine you gave me before, do you have any left?”
“One red crystal coin per jar.”
“Shameless profiteer!”
Tao Ming grinned, “I aspire to be the greatest profiteer ever!”
Su Nanxing blocked the Seventh Prince’s gaze. “Wife, what would you like to eat?”
Tao Ming glanced up at the three moons hanging in the sky. “At a time like this, barbecue is perfect.”
Soft shouted happily, “I want chicken wings!”
“No problem, you can have whatever you like.”
He immediately began taking things out—grill, charcoal, spices, cooking oil, brushes, meat skewers, chicken wings, potato slices, eggplant, bean curd...
He even produced a case of beer. Soft cried, “I want Ice Peak soda!”
“No problem.”
As Su Nanxing took the items, he asked, “Why did you bring so much food?”
“I was worried we wouldn’t be able to eat the local stuff.”
“Brilliant as always, wife!”
Qin Sihao, Mu Zhi, and Dragon Scale One gathered round, finding everything a novelty.
Su Nanxing took charge of the grill, but it was a bit small and slow. So, Tao Ming brought out some cold dishes to go with the drinks.
The Seventh Prince took a bite of smashed cucumber and commented, “Crispy. What is this?”
“Cucumber.”
He picked up a piece and examined it. “But it’s green. Why call it cucumber?”
“Green gourd works too.”
Qin Sihao sipped his beer. “Not strong enough.”
Tao Ming remembered the sweet rice wine from before. “The wine the Seventh Prince brought was even weaker!”
Qin Sihao shot the Prince a glance. “As if he could handle real wine.”
Tao Ming agreed, pulled out a bottle of Erguotou, unscrewed the cap, and handed it over. “Uncle Wu, try this.”
Qin Sihao took a swig. “Now that packs a punch!”
Su Nanxing handed the grilled chicken wings to the two little ones—two skewers each—giving the rest to Tao Ming. The others waiting for food were clearly displeased. Su Nanxing tossed out, “If you want to eat, cook it yourself,” and pulled Tao Ming aside for a chat.
Tao Ming watched the others fumble with the grill, while Soft and Glutinous gave them chaotic instructions, laughter sparkling in her eyes.
Su Nanxing put his arm around her shoulders. “Wife, this all feels like a dream.”
“It does to me, too.”
“I used to worry you’d grow old before me, but now, we can be together for a long, long time.”
“I’m just a weakling, only at Moon Level Two. I might not be able to keep up with you.”
“The Su family has a Spirit Gathering Array—it’ll make your cultivation twice as effective.”
“So what level are you?”
Su Nanxing’s gaze flickered. “I’ve been focused on studying arrays, so I haven’t spent much time cultivating.”
Tao Ming could tell he wasn’t being honest. “Hmm?”
“I’m always sneaking out to play, never really put my mind to cultivation. I’m only at Sun Level Five.”
Tao Ming raised her voice a bit. “Only Sun Level Five? What hope is there for someone like me?”
“With your talent, you’ll catch up in a few hundred years.”
She bit into a chicken wing—Su Nanxing’s skills hadn’t declined. “So, you still haven’t told me why you went to Earth.”
“My mother was forcing me to marry, always parading girls in front of me. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I ran off.”
“One day, hiding in Dongchang Tower for a meal, I happened to run into your father and the Seventh Prince. The Su and Qin families have been at odds lately, so I hid and eavesdropped. That’s when I learned your father was from another world. He exaggerated everything about it—how boldly the women dressed. That got me curious.”
“After secretly tailing him, I heard more about that world. The Su family has an array: if you have the right item, you can teleport there.”
“So I looked for a chance to steal something clearly not from Weishui off him—now I know it was called sunglasses—and used it to get to Earth.”
“When I first arrived, I was at your family’s place. But it was too small, so I went to the Magic City to make a living.”
Tao Ming smiled sweetly. “Now, tell me about all those girls paraded in front of you!”
“Wife, heaven’s witness, I never even looked at them properly!”
“Then what about those boldly dressed girls you mentioned?”
“I only ever saw you!”
“So you’re saying I’m shameless?”
“That’s not it! The other girls never let me see anything, anyway!”
Tao Ming eyed him skeptically. “With your looks, it should be easy to deceive a girl.”
Su Nanxing had to be honest. “I don’t know why, but every time a girl tried to get close, my soul just rejected it—until I met you.”
“You never told me all this before.”
“I was afraid you’d get cocky.”
“You’re not afraid now?”
Su Nanxing lowered his head, licking the crumbs of seasoning from the corner of her lips. “Wife, I love you.”
At his words, a pleasurable shiver ran through Tao Ming, leaving her momentarily speechless.
“My mother sealed my cultivation and locked me inside the courtyard. All I could do was think of you to pass the time.”
“If my father hadn’t sent me to assassinate the Saintess, I’d still be locked up.”
Tao Ming traced Su Nanxing’s features with her finger. “If your father had sent someone else, we might already be dead.”
Su Nanxing caught her hand and kissed it gently. “Perhaps that’s just fate between us.”
“You’re even more sentimental than before.”
“I used to hide so many secrets, always afraid you’d discover them. It made me reserved. Now, with nothing to hide, I can finally be open.”
“So say more, let me hear it.”
Su Nanxing bent down and kissed her. “Wife, I love you.”
Soft ran over, shouting, “What are you two doing?”