TFRLTOP Chapter 38 Part 1

Chapter 38 — The Zhiqing’s First Wife

◎Let Me Show You a Treasure◎

When Ming Ming opened her eyes again, it was dark outside.

“Did I just switch time zones or something?”

“This is New Village, Longyan Mountain branch of New York Village, GMT+8, 6:00 p.m. sharp. Your thoughtful customer service agent reporting the time for you—” After six polite “beep” sounds, the system tore off its courteous mask and roared: “What the hell! Why are you tangled up with the male lead again?!”

Ming Ming clutched her head in agony and cursed, “Damn mutt, you and the male lead are practically joined at the hip.”

She flopped onto the bed, holding her waist, muttering to herself:

“This feeling… so familiar.”

“So this is standard male lead performance level?”

“Scary, scary.”

“Dog of a man—nothing special.”

“I had you all wrong.”

“I thought you still carried a torch for your little childhood sweetheart, that you’d stay loyal to her forever. Who would’ve thought, in the end, you’re just a slave to desire.”

System: “Then why did you respond to him?”

Ming Ming’s eyes darted guiltily. “I—it was, uh, passion overwhelming reason…”

“Not buying it! Weren’t you supposed to be locked in the black room? How do you even know I responded?!”

System: “Ha. I was bluffing.”

Ming Ming: “…”

Drawing on her limited knowledge of literature, Ming Ming made her judgment on Yan Junsheng’s actions:

“Hah. Men are all Xu Zhimo.”

“Even if they don’t love their old-fashioned wives at home, it doesn’t stop them from climbing into bed and having kids.”

“Click click click—pathetic creatures ruled by their lower halves.”

System: “Then why didn’t you reject him?”

“Why would I reject him? I’m bored out of my mind here anyway. Why not have a little fun?”

“Sure, Wang Hu isn’t bad either, but Yan Junsheng is definitely better looking, no contest.” Ming Ming rolled around in the quilt, giggling, “Heh, jackpot, jackpot.”

The system decided to log off for a while—out of sight, out of mind. The female lead hadn’t even shown up yet, so let her run wild.

When Yan Junsheng came home, he washed his hands, rinsed a few sweet fruits he’d picked from the back mountain, and dried his hands. He looked up to see Ming Ming standing lazily in the doorway, stretching with narrowed eyes. Her shirt rode up just enough to reveal her slim waist and pale, soft belly. Yan Junsheng walked over, and while her arms were still raised, he placed a hand on her stomach.

“Hiss!”

His freshly washed hands were icy cold. Ming Ming shivered at the shock and instantly dropped her arms, hunching slightly to dodge away.

“Our Juan’er’s stomach is all empty,” Yan Junsheng teased. “Didn’t eat the food I left for you? Just woke up?”

As if he didn’t know!

And whose fault was that?

Ming Ming glared, trying to pry his hand off, but he pressed in closer instead, sliding an arm around to her back and pulling her snugly against him. His palm pressed more firmly to her stomach, holding her in place.

With his other hand, he offered her a fruit. “Have a bite first. I’ll cook dinner.”

Ming Ming couldn’t break free. She turned her head and glared at him—just in time for Yan Junsheng to steal a quick kiss. She was even angrier now, so she bit down hard on the fruit to block any further sneak attacks. Yan Junsheng grinned at her, then leaned in to peck her fair neck before letting go and heading to the kitchen.

Ming Ming chomped noisily, juice spilling everywhere, grinding her teeth in frustration. When had this guy become such a flirt?

Young Master Yan was in unusually high spirits—so much so that she could faintly hear him humming while he cooked. Ming Ming polished off the fruit in a few bites, then spotted the big white goose pacing in the yard. With a flick, she tossed the pit toward it.

She missed, but the pit landed close enough to startle it. The goose flapped its wings and charged at her, honking furiously. Ming Ming quickly slammed the door shut, laughing hysterically.

From the kitchen, Yan Junsheng’s voice floated out: “Stop bullying the goose, or it’ll lay you a bad egg!”

“Tch.”

Ming Ming stomped away, sulking.

That morning, Yan Junsheng had left her a meal, but she’d slept too long and missed it. So now, for dinner, he cooked the leftover slab of pork belly with green beans and steamed a pot of rice. The smell alone had Ming Ming drooling.

She wolfed down three bowls of rice, and most of the meat ended up in her belly, too. Yan Junsheng was delighted, feeding her more than himself. By the time Ming Ming realized it, the meat dish was practically gone.

She licked her lips sheepishly.

“Eat up. I’ve got vegetables,” he said.

Ming Ming couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Truly worthy of the title “male lead”—such a responsible, high-quality young intellectual.

She’d already forgotten all the criticism she’d heaped on him earlier.

“Whoever feeds me is my dearest,” might as well have been written across her forehead.

Full and satisfied, Ming Ming sprawled lazily in the chair, her stomach round, eyes nearly shut, pure bliss.

Yan Junsheng finished the dishes and came over to wipe the table, just in time to hear Ming Ming pat her belly and mumble contentedly, “Oh, my dear husband, maybe in a few decades you’ll be fried chicken, bubble tea, and ice cream. But for now, you’re just rice, beans, and pork belly… Eh, better than sweet potatoes, potatoes, and cornbread.”

Yan Junsheng: “…”

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. What was she even talking about?