Chapter Seventy-Three: Hus~band~

Northeast Huaxia, Beiyang City! It was already nearing midnight, and the broad avenue was sparsely dotted with hurried pedestrians racing home, while a few drunks staggered aimlessly under the streetlights. Only a handful of vehicles remained, their headlights shining as they glided through the night—and among them was the grand Hui Teng that Xue Tian’ai was driving.

Seated behind the wheel, Xue Tian’ai wore a faintly melancholic expression. He found women truly unfathomable: one moment, they nestled into your arms with a gentle, coquettish whisper; the next, their demeanor shifted, and they bit down with fierce intensity, leaving you in agony.

Qin Mengxue sat in the passenger seat, arms folded across her chest. Though she said nothing, her gaze could not help but drift toward Xue Tian’ai’s sharply defined profile. Her mind replayed the events of earlier—she still could not imagine her carefree, easygoing husband displaying such formidable skill, those ghostlike, uncanny movements, that harsh, cold, killing aura. When he fought the men in black, the kingly dominance he exuded was unmistakable, as if he were a sovereign surveying the world.

And then there was his culinary talent—his dishes rivaled any master chef, and his physique was sculpted, every muscle refined. All of this was so hard to reconcile with the Xue Tian’ai who spoke with brazen irreverence, as if he wasn’t himself at all. Yet reality reminded Qin Mengxue: the aloof Xue Tian’ai, the smiling Xue Tian’ai serving braised ribs, the shameless Xue Tian’ai with a roguish grin—they were all the same man.

What sort of husband had her family found for her? Who, truly, was Xue Tian’ai? At this moment, Qin Mengxue felt he was both intimately close and deeply unfamiliar. It seemed she had never truly understood her own husband.

Her thoughts blurred, her beautiful eyes flickering restlessly. Curiosity welled up as she glanced at the man beside her. “Hey, Xue Tian’ai, what kind of person are you, really?”

Xue Tian’ai was stunned by the question, then smiled and replied, “Eldest grandson of the Xue family, Xue Tian’ai, your husband. I am who I am—a different kind of spark.”

Seeing him feign ignorance, Qin Mengxue pressed on impatiently, “What did you do before? Don’t tell me you were in film—I won’t believe it!”

“But I really was in film!” Xue Tian’ai shook his head, feigning grievance. “I acted in many classics, you know! Just that my works are banned in Huaxia!”

If he weren’t driving, Qin Mengxue would surely have pummeled him again. “You think I’m as gullible as a three-year-old? Fine, don’t say anything if you don’t want to! Hmph!”

She turned her face away, feeling a hint of hurt. She was his wife, so why wouldn’t he tell her the truth?

“Ah…” Xue Tian’ai sighed deeply after a moment’s silence, deciding to say something at last.

“Honestly, I can’t really explain what I did before.” This, at least, was the truth.

“Why?” Qin Mengxue’s heart leapt—finally, he was opening up. She turned eagerly to him.

“Because I did too many things, and it’s complicated. I can’t sort it all out to tell you clearly,” Xue Tian’ai shook his head.

“Hmph, in the end you still told me nothing!” Qin Mengxue crossed her arms in frustration, her chest rising with indignation, cheeks puffed in anger.

“Hehe.” Xue Tian’ai gave a sheepish chuckle. “But wife, whatever I used to do, now I’m your husband—your private assistant.”

“Hmph!” Qin Mengxue snorted, but his words warmed her heart. Yes, what did it matter what he was before? Now he was her husband, who would protect her—that was enough.

Besides, with time, she would surely make him tell her everything… Wait, what do you mean ‘with time’? Who says she wants to spend her life with this scoundrel… At that thought, Qin Mengxue’s face flushed scarlet. Ah, what was this feeling?

After about forty minutes, Xue Tian’ai finally drove home to Villa Three in the Hongyang estate. The moment they entered, Xue Tian’ai flung himself onto the sofa.

“Damn, today was exhausting!” This morning, he’d fooled around with Gan Bingning in the office, then spent the day gaming in Qin Mengxue’s office, and in the evening fought that so-called eighth-ranked assassin, Chain. He never imagined life after returning home would be like this.

But before he could even rest, Qin Mengxue sat beside him, nudging him. “Hey, Xue Tian’ai, get up—go cook, I’m starving!”

Xue Tian’ai didn’t budge, still lying face-down.

“Xue Tian’ai, I’m hungry! I want to eat—there’s food and meat in the fridge,” Qin Mengxue pushed him again.

“Open the Blue App or the Yellow App, let’s order takeout. I don’t want to cook,” Xue Tian’ai said, hands pressed together atop his head.

“Takeout isn’t tasty—I want your cooking! Please, I’m starving!”

“I really don’t want to…” Xue Tian’ai lifted his head, looking at her pitifully.

“But I really want your cooking, please, husband~” Qin Mengxue pursed her lips, her expression even more plaintive, eyes full of pleading. Her face was tinged with a rosy blush—this was the first time she called him ‘husband’, even if for a purpose, and saying it aloud felt so shameful…

Xue Tian’ai was instantly softened by the word ‘husband’, and seeing her flushed cheeks and those eyes, he felt himself soaring.

The ice-cold queen at home revealing such a girlish side—ah, just watching was a delight…

“Wife, can you call me ‘husband’ again?” Xue Tian’ai’s eyes shone as he looked at Qin Mengxue. This sudden sweetness was irresistible!

“Go cook, husband~” Qin Mengxue repeated softly, cheeks reddening.

“Alright! Just for that ‘husband’, I’ll go! Cooking is nothing—I’d brave fire and blades for you!” Xue Tian’ai sprang up and strode to the kitchen.

As he walked, he slipped on a gold-rimmed pair of glasses from who-knows-where, took a leather case from his pocket, and tied his hair back in a small ponytail. This was his habit when cooking or handling paperwork.

Watching his retreating figure, Qin Mengxue’s eyes sparkled. Though he was lecherous and sharp-tongued, he cooked well, was handsome, had a great body—and most importantly, he protected her. Perhaps marrying him wasn’t so bad.

Should she try to adjust, to adapt to a life with Xue Tian’ai? After all, she was now a married woman…

No, no, Qin Mengxue, where’s the courage you swore to resist this marriage? Where’s your backbone? How could you be won over so easily?

But she was a woman, after all—marriage was inevitable. In every respect, family, looks, character, Xue Tian’ai was outstanding. Since she’d already married him, why not learn to accept?

Ah, no, no…

Ah, yes, yes…

Her mind was a battlefield between two little figures, leaving her with a headache. She had no choice but to turn on the television and watch dramas, trying not to think about it.

Meanwhile, Xue Tian’ai was oblivious to her inner turmoil, humming contentedly as he chopped vegetables and boiled meat, busy and cheerful, working with pleasure.

By the time Qin Mengxue finished an episode, Xue Tian’ai had the meal ready. The tempting aroma filled the whole house.

Smelling the meaty fragrance, Qin Mengxue’s eyes lit up; she was already seated at the table before Xue Tian’ai could say a word.

When Xue Tian’ai emerged from the kitchen with the dishes, he saw Qin Mengxue sitting with anticipation at the table and couldn’t help but smile. His wife was like a child.

“What did you make? What did you make?” Qin Mengxue couldn’t see what he was carrying from her seat.

“See for yourself!” Xue Tian’ai gently set down two plates and smiled.

Qin Mengxue’s eyes brightened even more. He had made two dishes: braised pork and a vegetable salad.

The braised pork looked exquisite—glossy, sauce-red, steeped in golden broth, exuding a mouthwatering aroma. Each piece was smooth and tender, enough to make one salivate.

Unable to resist, Qin Mengxue dug in immediately. As the chopsticks pierced the trembling pork skin, the juices burst forth—a visual feast. Lifting a piece to her mouth, she chewed lightly, and happiness blossomed on her palate.

Just like yesterday’s braised ribs, this was the best braised pork she’d ever tasted—melting in the mouth, rich but not greasy, full of fragrance. The meat and sauce danced a ballet on her taste buds.

She then sampled the vegetable salad, a leaf of lettuce sweeping away the oiliness in her mouth—a feeling of bliss.

Xue Tian’ai watched her delighted eating, his smile warm.

“Xue Tian’ai, aren’t you eating? If you don’t, I’ll finish everything,” Qin Mengxue said, mouth full, glancing at him curiously.

“Eat? Of course, I’ll eat—hey, leave some for me!” Xue Tian’ai grabbed his chopsticks.

“Hmph! Hmph! Hmph! I’m not so soft-hearted!”

“Ah, that piece was the perfect ratio of fat to lean!”

“If you’re slow with the chopsticks, don’t blame others…”

…

While Xue Tian’ai and Qin Mengxue joyfully fought over the braised pork, a black figure appeared in the forest where Xue Tian’ai had battled Chain.

The shadow stood silently beside Chain’s corpse, a wicked smile curling his lips.

“Chain, don’t provoke those you can’t handle in your next life.”

He drew a bottle from his pocket, opened it, and poured the contents over Chain’s body. Then, without a backward glance, he departed.

The moon crept out from behind the clouds, its silver light spilling onto the earth, casting a peaceful, harmonious glow.

Yet Chain’s corpse had vanished, as if it had never existed at all…