Chapter 156: A Matter for Me to Initiate

Having shared the same kang and pillow with her for these past few days, Chu Chengjin had long since grown accustomed to having someone sleeping by his side.

Hearing her so direct and endearing words now, Chu Chengjin also extended his arm.

"Wife, such words should be spoken by me. Thank you for last night, my wife; tonight, it is my turn to put in the effort."

Gu Xiaoyao slipped into his embrace without the slightest hesitation. Anyway, she was very fond of the herbal fragrance that emanated from his body.

"Chu Chengjin, you smell so wonderful! Just the scent makes me want to eat something."

Chu Chengjin chuckled in a low voice. The vibration of that laughter made Gu Xiaoyao's ear tickle, and his warm breath seemed to burrow straight into her heart.

"Does the scent on my body resemble some kind of dish that makes you want to eat? If you are truly hungry, I shall go to the kitchen and boil a bowl of noodles for you."

She loved the scent on his body, while he, in turn, loved the scent on hers. It smelled so comforting, and it easily became an addiction.

If it were possible, Chu Chengjin truly wished to tuck her into his pocket and take her out just to sniff her whenever he had a spare moment.

If it were possible, he even wished to trace her entire body with his sense of smell, just to see if she carried this fragrance from head to toe.

"I am not hungry! Are you?" Gu Xiaoyao blinked her large eyes at him, completely oblivious and unaware of what he was thinking in his mind.

There is still food left in the kitchen. If you are hungry, you can just heat it up and eat. By the way, Xiaoshu seems to be making pancakes tomorrow; I'll have him put meat in the pancakes—they're bound to be delicious."

Chu Chengjin smiled as he listened to her words, his answering tone gentle and refined, yet the thoughts running through his mind were rather twisted and deviant.

"If you love them, you must eat plenty. When I am not here, should anything happen, you may ask the villagers for help; they will be willing to assist."

"If the villagers are unwilling to help, I will have someone sent here."

The two of them chatted idly about future matters, and as they spoke, Gu Xiaoyao gradually grew drowsy and fell asleep in his arms.

Looking at her sleeping countenance, Chu Chengjin gently stroked her face with the pad of his thumb. When he finished, he gathered her soft fingers into his palm.

Bending his head down, Chu Chengjin parted his lips, revealing the tip of his tongue. With dark, fathomless eyes, he lightly licked the palm of her hand.

In her sleep, Gu Xiaoyao dreamed that she was taking a bath. Somehow, even though she was clearly eating something just a moment ago, why did she suddenly find herself washing in hot water?

Early the next morning.

When Gu Xiaoyao woke up, she felt something a bit strange about her palm. She looked at the center of her hand, gave it a little shake, and then cast the odd sensation to the back of her mind.

"Chu Chengjin, why did you wake up so early today? Are you going down the mountain right now? I'll go down with you in a moment!"

Chu Chengjin, who usually woke up exceptionally late, had risen unusually early today. His luggage was already packed. He stood outside the courtyard, gazing at the scenery, and turned to smile at her upon hearing her voice.

"Alright. Did you sleep well last night?"

"Mm, I slept very well. Xiaoshu, are your pancakes done yet? Didn't you say you were making meat pancakes?"

Gu Xiaoyao stood there and called out toward the kitchen. The few people still sleeping in the adjacent room jerked and twitched on the kang like dying fish.

To actually have meat pancakes for breakfast—what an extravagant morning meal! With such delicious food awaiting them, there was certainly no reason to linger in bed. Lady Liu and the others scrambled up as if pursued by a pack of hounds.

"Sister, they're done, they're done! We added minced meat into the dough, and frying them up makes them smell so fragrant! You and brother-in-law go ahead and eat first. Aren't you two heading down the mountain?"

Gu Xiaoshu carried out a large platter of pancakes, and the rich aroma of meat immediately drifted across the courtyard, smelling utterly delectable.