Saturday, noon.
Just after finishing a round of her game, Xu Yinsheng stealthily followed the delicious aroma into the kitchen. Staring at the Spicy Fish in the pan on the stove, its color, aroma, and flavor all perfect, she couldn’t help but lick the corner of her mouth.
Noticing the little glutton cat peeking at the doorway, Zhao Yicheng beckoned her over. Xu Yinsheng scurried over, her feet barely touching the floor.
The man raised his hand and stuffed a slice of brown meat into the girl’s mouth. Xu Yinsheng chewed, her eyes lighting up instantly. Sauced Beef—delicious!
Zhao Yicheng rubbed her head. “Come with me for my follow-up tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Xu Yinsheng nodded in response.
“Take the dishes out.”
“Got it!” Xu Little Glutton Cat immediately carried the Spicy Fish out with a spring in her step.
Placing the Spicy Fish on the dining table, Xu Yinsheng gazed at it, unable to resist pulling a vial from her small cloth pouch. It glimmered with a faint green hue.
Ever since she concocted the Food Elixir a few days ago, Xu Yinsheng had become obsessed with its magic. No matter what food she tried, just a single drop of Food Elixir made it incredibly delicious—even her most hated Bitter Melon and Broccoli became irresistible.
“What are you doing?” Just as she was about to drop the elixir onto her food, a deep and magnetic voice startled her from behind. Xu Yinsheng almost flung the vial in shock.
“Nothing, just checking out the fish.” Xu Yinsheng swiftly stuffed the vial into her pocket and leaned over the table, her nose nearly touching the Spicy Fish, eyes brimming with longing. “Hehehe, Spicy Fish, fragrant and spicy—I could eat three big bowls of rice with this.”
Noticing her little tricks, Zhao Yicheng walked over. While Xu Yinsheng was still lost in her Spicy Fish daydream, he reached into her pocket and pulled out the Food Elixir.
“What’s this?”
Zhao Yicheng held the vial up to the light, the greenish glow reminding him inexplicably of some game animation.
“Food Elixir! It’s an ability I have in this form—it can make already tasty food even more delicious. Want to try it? I guarantee you’ll love it.”
Busted, Xu Yinsheng didn’t bother pretending any further. She simply spilled everything she knew.
After listening, Zhao Yicheng shook the vial, popping the cork with a flick of his fingers. He lowered his head and took a sniff.
A putrid, fishy stench, as if fermented in a muddy pond for over a decade, mixed with the indescribable aroma of cilantro, assaulted his senses. It nearly made him gag.
Cough, cough, cough!! After a fit of violent coughing, he finally caught his breath, his brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly.
“Just throw this stuff away.”
Hearing that, Xu Yinsheng panicked. She lunged forward, hugging Zhao Yicheng’s arm tightly, refusing to let go.
“Even if you don’t like it, don’t throw it away! I like it, that’s enough—give it here, give it here!” As she spoke, she tried to jump and snatch the vial from Zhao Yicheng’s hand.
Zhao Yicheng simply held it higher, teasing her.
In the scuffle, Xu Yinsheng pushed against his chest, trying to pull him away. Off balance, she tumbled to the floor, dragging Zhao Yicheng down with her in a tangled heap.
Zhao Yicheng was momentarily stunned, unable to process what had happened. Xu Yinsheng was sprawled on top of him when, suddenly, something seemed to fall from above—getting closer and closer—until everything went dark.
A stream of ghostly green liquid dripped down onto his face. He felt an odd sensation, indescribable yet very real, as if he could sense the liquid flowing across his skin.
He felt a faint warmth. Instinctively, he opened his eyes, only to be greeted by Xu Yinsheng’s face looming large in his vision.
Xu Yinsheng looked a little odd at the moment, her expression strange. She clung tightly to his neck, half-draped over him like a sloth, as if she’d lost her mind. She stuck out her tongue and licked his cheek, that soft and wet feeling making his skin tingle.
“You smell so good, let me lick you.”
Villa, Xu Yinsheng’s bedroom.
Zhao Yicheng found the black notebook in the bedside cabinet. Clipped to it was a Ballpoint Pen—seemed Xu Yinsheng often used this to exchange intel with her future self… or perhaps just to vent.
After last time, when he turned into a little boy, Zhao Yicheng had learned from Xu Yinsheng’s confession that the future Xu Yinsheng had left her a cross-time diary for information exchange.
And now… he glanced at the girl still clinging to his left side, nuzzling, licking, nibbling, and biting his cheek nonstop.
Xu Yinsheng was definitely not acting normal right now…
Opening the diary, Zhao Yicheng barely touched pen to paper before a slender, pale hand snatched it away.
Zhao Yicheng turned his head. From the corner of the curtains stepped out a dancer dressed in sizzling, sexy attire. Long legs, slim waist, perky hips, exposed navel, black stockings—her outfit couldn’t be more revealing.
As she walked over, she ran a hand along her collar, exposing a swath of snow-white cleavage.
“Good afternoon, my husband from another timeline—or should I call you Old Zhao now?” The bewitching Xu Yinsheng—perhaps it was more accurate to call her Dancer Xu at this moment.
“You…” Zhao Yicheng noticed this alluring woman and, almost imperceptibly, took a step back.
The Xu Yinsheng he remembered would never dress so provocatively, so feminine—not even a miniskirt unless he forced her into one, and then only reluctantly.
Dancer Xu seemed to notice his caution and quickly explained, “Ahem, don’t get the wrong idea—I don’t usually dress like this.”
“I was just cosplaying a sexy dancer at home. You know I’m obsessed with figurines and love my two-dimensional waifus. I couldn’t resist cosplaying myself.”
“As soon as I got word of what was happening here, I rushed over without even changing clothes. If you don’t believe me, I can dance for you right now, to prove my innocence.” As she spoke, she began to sway her slender waist, performing a sensuous, enchanting dance.
Zhao Yicheng turned his eyes away and gestured for her to stop. Dancer Xu halted her dance, watching as he pointed at the elixir-addled girl still clinging tightly to his side.
“Let’s keep it brief—do you have a way to get Xiao Yin back to normal?” “Of course.” Dancer Xu walked over.
After some effort, they finally managed to pull Xu Yinsheng off Zhao Yicheng. Dancer Xu casually summoned a red cord and tied Xu Yinsheng up like a dumpling.
“I knew you’d mess up.” Dancer Xu pinched the soft flesh of Xu Yinsheng’s cheek. “Didn’t I warn you—never mess around with a pharmacist’s elixirs?”
“Now look, all she can do is kiss and lick you, acting like a total love-struck fool. But I can’t blame you—even I fell into the same trap once. Karma, huh? Heaven spares no one.”
At that moment, Zhao Yicheng brought over two steaming cups of tea—top-grade Dragon Well Tea. He handed one to Dancer Xu, and kept one for himself.
The two sat on the bed, with the Xu Yinsheng dumpling tied up between them.