“Su Qianqian is wary and intimidated by my previous domineering behavior. If I want her to change her opinion quickly, I need a complete transformation, showing more sides of myself until I can completely override her original impression…”
Sunlight streamed in through the window.
Su Qianqian’s eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes, unusually energetic.
She was in a great mood—after all, Lin Muxue had already discovered her presence here, so all she had to do was wait! It wasn’t as hopeless and indefinite as before.
But even though Su Qianqian was up early, she couldn’t get out of bed now… because two hands were wrapped around her, holding her tightly in a warm embrace.
In front of her was an exquisite face, hair splayed on the pillow, all the usual dignity gone, along with the recent shameless stubbornness.
Looking at this face again, Su Qianqian had to admit, even if reluctantly, that among all the people she had met, Luo Wuhen was certainly one of the most beautiful.
“But it’s too close…”
At this moment, Su Qianqian and Luo Wuhen were practically nose to nose.
She tried to pull her head back, but Luo Wuhen’s hands were firmly wrapped around her—one at her waist, the other cradling her head…
With no other choice, Su Qianqian tried to wake Luo Wuhen.
“Wake up. Why are you still sleeping today?”
As Su Qianqian called and shook her gently, Luo Wuhen’s eyelashes trembled, and a pair of misty eyes slowly opened.
This time, it was Luo Wuhen’s turn to wake up in a daze.
Su Qianqian wanted nothing more than to do nothing, but Luo Wuhen in this half-awake state was dangerous—
She felt the hand pressing on her head suddenly tighten, and Luo Wuhen’s face moved even closer…
Su Qianqian felt a gentle bite on her lips, and then a slick sensation slid across, as if tasting something delicious…
Her lips and teeth were pried apart again, and suddenly, their breaths mingled, warm and soft against Su Qianqian’s cheek…
That slippery touch became clearer and more insistent.
Su Qianqian’s fingertips curled, eyelashes quivered downward; she wanted to resist, but in the end, she could only let that gentle invasion spread, unsure if what bloomed between her lips and teeth was tingling numbness or warmth.
When their lips parted, Su Qianqian glared angrily at Luo Wuhen, but was met with those still-drowsy eyes, hair tangled on the bed, clothes slipping off her shoulders to reveal fair skin and a delicate collarbone…
“Morning? Up so early today? Just now, I feel like I had a delicious little appetizer~”
As she spoke, Luo Wuhen flipped over and pinned Su Qianqian beneath her.
“How about letting me try the main course?”
“It’s so early in the morning—what are you playing at…?”
Su Qianqian struggled hard and then glared furiously at Luo Wuhen, the two staring at each other until, in the end, Su Qianqian looked away first…
Seeing Su Qianqian’s resentful look, as if she were about to be forced, Luo Wuhen instead burst out laughing, then sat up and pulled up her fallen clothes.
“I told you, if you don’t agree, I won’t do anything. It’s obvious you don’t want to continue right now…”
Su Qianqian sat up, a little surprised that Luo Wuhen was really keeping her word this time.
“Why are you still here at this hour? Normally you would have gotten up long ago.”
“I listened to you and delegated some power to the new Ministers. I don’t need to attend court as often now. At least until the wedding, I want to spend more time with you.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, national affairs come first!” Su Qianqian waved her hands quickly. She definitely didn’t want Luo Wuhen clinging to her all day.
“Heh, too late. I suddenly feel pretty relaxed like this—it’s been a long time since I slept in, and it feels great! I feel like I’ve gotten a hundred years younger~”
As she spoke, Luo Wuhen stretched in a way that was almost girlish!
Looking at Luo Wuhen now, there was a strange sense of familiarity with her youthful demeanor, and Su Qianqian had to admit she felt an odd sense of dislocation.
But when she thought of what Luo Wuhen had done to her before, Su Qianqian quickly squashed the thought—just because someone got better later didn’t mean you could forgive their past mistakes—not so easily, at least!
Luo Wuhen casually tied up her hair and looked at Su Qianqian. “So, normally, what do you do after getting up in the morning? Together?”
“Get up in the morning… wash up, eat, then start cultivating?”
“Mhm~, then let’s go. I’ll make you breakfast. From now on, as long as I have time, let me handle your breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
Su Qianqian firmly refused Luo Wuhen’s proposal—not because she didn’t like eating, but because: “I really don’t think that’s necessary. You delegate power, then start cooking, and if you slack off because of me, people might start talking!”
“My Heavenly Emperor deserves my love. I won’t neglect you for a bunch of irrelevant people. Alright, let’s go~”
Luo Wuhen leaned in, hugging Su Qianqian, her face nuzzling against Su Qianqian’s cheek, like she was just cuddling but with an air of insistence that left Su Qianqian utterly helpless.
In the end, Su Qianqian and Luo Wuhen ended up in the Imperial Kitchen.
Watching Luo Wuhen skillfully light the fire, wash, and stir-fry, Su Qianqian sat nearby, quite curious—after all, she’d never seen Luo Wuhen cook before.
Luo Wuhen had now tied her hair into a high ponytail and, for good measure, put on an apron, looking every bit the competent, capable woman.
Her fingertips gripped the knife with precision, cutting vegetables and meat evenly, the knife tapping out a crisp rhythm against the cutting board.
Her gaze was focused, and with each turn of the wrist, the ingredients were separated and placed neatly on plates, every movement clean and efficient.
Once the wok was hot, Luo Wuhen lifted the oil pot in one hand, tilting her wrist slightly so that golden drops of oil spread evenly.
As soon as it sizzled, she added the seasonings, the spatula dancing in her hands.
Her temperament now was completely different from before, looking for all the world like a gentle wife and loving mother.
When the hot dishes were ready and plated, Luo Wuhen personally set them in front of Su Qianqian, looking at her with anticipation.
Su Qianqian hesitated as she picked up her chopsticks, looking at the dishes Luo Wuhen had made and her expectant gaze.
It might not be enough to change her impression completely, but to say she felt nothing at all wasn’t possible either…
“Mm, it’s delicious.” Su Qianqian chewed carefully, and her voice, rare for her, softened toward Luo Wuhen.
Hearing Su Qianqian’s gentle tone, Luo Wuhen’s heart sped up a little.
Su Qianqian had never treated her kindly before… Is this what it feels like to be moved without desire? Not bad at all…
“Then, may I…”
Luo Wuhen hesitated as if she wanted to say something.
Su Qianqian thought she was about to make some lewd request, and her eyebrows knitted, but in the end, Luo Wuhen’s actual request took her by surprise—
“May I… taste your cooking? I’d like to try something you made yourself.”
When Luo Wuhen said this, there was a visible shyness on her face, making the just-now-prepared Su Qianqian feel a little embarrassed.
“Well, I’d advise you not to… I’m really not good at cooking, and no matter how I try, I just can’t get better at it…”
“I want to, as long as you make it, I’ll like it.”
“Alright then… but I’m telling you now, it really won’t taste good…”
Luo Wuhen thought, how bad could it be? If it’s terrible, I’ll just block out the taste.
But as soon as Su Qianqian started cooking, the smile on Luo Wuhen’s face froze…
A truly unique burnt smell gradually filled the entire kitchen, and every now and then, flames would shoot up violently from the stove.
Even watching from a distance, Luo Wuhen could sense disaster brewing in that pot, with black smoke slowly rising afterward…
When the food was plated, Luo Wuhen stared complicatedly at the indescribable thing on the plate, then glanced up at Su Qianqian, who was holding a spatula, a smudge of ash inexplicably stuck to her face and an embarrassed blush coloring her cheeks.
“Heh, looks… delicious.”
But just as Luo Wuhen reached for her chopsticks, Su Qianqian snatched the plate away.
Luo Wuhen looked at her in confusion, only to see Su Qianqian disposing of the unnamable thing at once.
“Don’t force yourself to eat it. I really have no talent for this—it’s better if you keep cooking from now on.”
“Then, can I cook for you for the rest of your life…?”
“A lifetime is a bit much, don’t…”
“Why don’t you give it a try? I can teach you. We’ve got plenty of time now.”
“I’d like to learn, but no matter what, I never managed to before…”
After a few gentle words of persuasion, Su Qianqian finally relented.
At the stove, Luo Wuhen hugged Su Qianqian from behind, explaining as she held Su Qianqian’s hand, truly teaching her step by step.
Su Qianqian was eager to learn and listened intently.
Stealing a glance at the side profile of her earnest instructor, Su Qianqian couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth in her heart…
“Darling, did you hear? You can’t add too much of this.”
“Oh, okay. And… what’s with that form of address…”
“This way it sounds more intimate…”
In the end, Luo Wuhen stared in silence at the result of her hands-on teaching—why did everything go right, yet the dish still turned out like this…?
But Su Qianqian was quite satisfied. This batch was much better than before!