Virtuous Wife, Good Mother Zhang Lexuan, A Happy Life Together

Mu Tianyi's breathing grew rapid.

He vaguely felt that the path which had troubled him for two years seemed to have finally revealed a faint outline.

"Thought of something?" Mu En watched the changes in his great-grandson's expression, a flash of brilliance in his eyes.

Mu Tianyi raised his head, the morning light from outside the window reflected in his dark eyes, his tone resolute:

"Xuan Zu, I might have... found the direction."

He paused, then added:

"Reign Over the World is a form of mental suppression, but it incorporates your Bright Sacred Dragon."

"I was thinking, if I could fuse the divinity of the Bright Sacred Dragon with the aura of the Dark Sacred Dragon within Reign Over the World and release them to form a dual mental crushing force..."

"This might just be the breakthrough point for a Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

Mu En froze for a moment.

Then, the old man set down his teacup and threw his head back in laughter.

The laughter was full of vigor, causing the window lattices of the study to hum and rattle.

"Good, good, good!"

Mu En said "good" three times in a row, his laughter echoing throughout the study.

"Xuan Zu knew it; your brain is much sharper than mine!"

Finishing his morning cultivation, Mu Tianyi walked back toward his small courtyard, his mind still replaying the cultivation methods of Reign Over the World.

Mu En had taught him in great detail today, from the application of mental power to the rhythm of releasing one's aura, breaking down every single move and technique.

Yet, Mu Tianyi's thoughts remained focused on that spark of inspiration from the morning.

Integrating the auras of the Bright Sacred Dragon and the Dark Sacred Dragon into Reign Over the World simultaneously—the more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

Arriving at the gate of his courtyard, Mu Tianyi took out his key to open the Space Gate.

Then, he froze.

The air was filled with the scent of a meal, piping hot, carrying the charred fragrance of scallions sautéed in oil and the savory sweetness of meat broth.

Mu Tianyi twitched his nose, subconsciously swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

Although his small courtyard wasn't large, the layout included three rooms.

Two bedrooms, a quiet room for cultivation, and a living room connected to a kitchen and bathroom; it had everything one needed.

Usually, he only used the kitchen to boil water occasionally, and the stove was as clean as new.

What was going on today...

Mu Tianyi pushed open the door, his mind full of confusion.

Passing through the living room, the kitchen door was half-ajar, and the fragrance was drifting out from within.

He walked over and pushed the door open.

The range hood in the kitchen was humming, and a small clay pot was simmering on the stove, bubbling and steaming.

A slender figure stood before the stove.

Zhang Lexuan was standing there.

She wasn't wearing her usual black martial attire today, having changed into simple, light-gray loungewear. Her long hair was loosely pinned back with a wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears.

A pale blue apron was tied around her waist, the strings knotted into a beautiful bow at the back, perfectly outlining the girl's slender waist.

She was stirring the clay pot with a spoon, leaning down to sniff the aroma before nodding in satisfaction, the corners of her mouth curving into a faint arc.

The afternoon sunlight from outside the window spilled in, landing on her profile and making that small section of her fair neck look almost translucent.

Mu Tianyi stood at the kitchen doorway, watching for two seconds.

Apron, loungewear, stove, sunlight.

This scene...

How should he put it?

It looked exactly like those classic "virtuous wife and mother" shots from the films and television dramas of his past life.

Mu Tianyi gave a dry cough: "Sister Lexuan?"

Zhang Lexuan turned her head, and seeing it was him, a smile naturally blossomed on her face.

"You're back?"

As she spoke, she turned back to turn off the heat and lifted the clay pot off the stove.

"Just a moment, it'll be ready soon. Go sit in the dining room."

Her tone was as natural as if she were in her own home.

Mu Tianyi's mouth twitched. The questions hovering on his lips circled twice before he finally retreated from the kitchen obediently, taking a seat at the dining table.

The table was small and wooden, covered with a light-colored tablecloth.

Several dishes had already been set out.

A plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, vibrant and fresh.

A bowl of braised pork ribs, rich in color with a mouth-watering aroma.

A dish of cold-tossed wood ear mushrooms, garnished with slivers of red chili and cilantro.

In the center sat a small pot of winter melon and pork rib soup that had just been brought out; the broth was clear, with a few droplets of oil glistening on the surface.

It wasn't a lavish spread, but everything looked incredibly appetizing.

Mu Tianyi stared at the plate of braised pork ribs for three seconds, his stomach letting out a loud growl.

He swallowed hard.

To be honest, as the great-grandson of the Mu family, he had eaten plenty of fine food at the Shrek Academy cafeteria.

But cafeteria food and this kind of freshly prepared home cooking were two completely different things.

Especially...

He truly hadn't expected Zhang Lexuan to be such a skilled cook.

The mere scent alone had hooked every craving in his stomach.

A cup of tea's time later, the final dish was placed on the table.

It was a plate of scrambled eggs with scallions; the golden egg pancake was sprinkled with bright green scallions, instantly whetting one's appetite.

Zhang Lexuan walked over carrying the rice, placing one bowl in front of Mu Tianyi and keeping one for herself before sitting down opposite him.

"Try it."

The young woman untied her apron, folded it, and placed it on the empty chair beside her, her tone laced with a hint of anticipation.

Mu Tianyi didn't stand on ceremony; he picked up his chopsticks and first grabbed a piece of braised pork rib.

The moment it hit his tongue, his eyes lit up.

The ribs were stewed until tender and flavorful, the sauce rich and savory, the meat falling off the bone with the slightest pressure.

The sauce, perfectly balanced between salty and sweet, coated the meat, making every bite a delight.

"Delicious!"

Mu Tianyi praised her sincerely, then reached for a mouthful of the stir-fried vegetables.

They were crisp and refreshing, the heat controlled to perfection, preserving the natural sweetness of the vegetables without any raw bitterness.

Watching him eat until his eyes squinted in satisfaction, Zhang Lexuan's lips curved slightly as she lowered her head to take a bite of rice.

"Sister Lexuan, your cooking is just too good." Mu Tianyi took a sip of the winter melon soup; it was clear and savory, the winter melon stewed until translucent and melting in his mouth. "It's much better than the cafeteria."

The tips of Zhang Lexuan's ears turned slightly red as she said softly, "As long as you like it."

She paused, then added, "If you like it... I can make it for you every day."

Mu Tianyi's chopsticks faltered.

Make it every day?

How did that sound...

Before he could overthink it, Zhang Lexuan had already naturally changed the subject:

"Right, there is something I need to tell you."

"Hm?"

Zhang Lexuan set down her chopsticks, sat up slightly straighter, and looked at Mu Tianyi with a serious expression:

"It was arranged by Mu En. He told me to move in, into the guest room right next to yours."

Mu Tianyi stopped chewing his rib.

He looked up at the closed door on the side of the living room.

His small courtyard had a two-bedroom layout; he lived in the master bedroom, and the guest room had always been empty, filled with miscellaneous items.

Now someone was going to live there?

Mu Tianyi blinked.

With his mental capacity, he connected the information in an instant.

Arranged by Xuan Zu.

Letting Sister Lexuan move in.

Living right next door to him.

It was as clear as day.

Mu Tianyi was silent for two seconds, picked up a piece of egg pancake, shoved it into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

To be honest, he didn't dislike this arrangement.

Such a great beauty, and she was exactly his type.

Her personality was gentle yet she possessed her own opinions, and she could even cook.

Moving in to live with him—what reason did he have to refuse?

He was just a little surprised.

His Xuan Zu had planned this out in such detail.

Arranging for the two of them to live together this early.

Was the next step to go straight to holding a great-great-grandson?

Mu Tianyi's mouth twitched slightly, and he shook that dangerous thought out of his mind.

"What, are you not welcoming?" Zhang Lexuan asked softly, watching his changing expressions.

The young girl's tone sounded calm, but her fingers gripping the chopsticks tightened slightly.

Mu Tianyi snapped back to reality and grinned:

"Welcome, of course I welcome you."

He picked up a mouthful of wood ear mushrooms, his tone casual yet sincere.

"Sister Lexuan, with you moving in, my courtyard will be a bit livelier. Besides, I couldn't ask for more when it comes to your cooking."

Zhang Lexuan froze for a moment, then lowered her head, the corners of her lips curving into a soft arc.

"That's good then."

She said softly, the trace of tension in her voice quietly dissipating.

In truth, she knew in her heart.

Mu En had asked her to move in, and she could have completely refused.

But she didn't.

Or rather, she didn't want to refuse.

The night she returned from the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhang Lexuan lay in the single dormitory arranged by the Inner Court, tossing and turning as she thought about many things.

She had been saved by Mu En; this life was given to her by the Mu family.

When Mu En asked if she was willing to be Mu Tianyi's fiancée, she had nodded.

It wasn't just to repay a debt.

At least, not entirely.

She had always remembered the way the eight-year-old boy by the Sea God Lake had looked at her earnestly and said, "If you have any trouble in the future, just come find me."

His tone hadn't been loud, but his eyes had been very sincere.

She had seen too much hypocrisy, so she was exceptionally good at distinguishing what was real.

Since she was already his fiancée, living a bit closer wasn't a bad thing.

She was just worried...

Would he feel offended by her moving in so abruptly?

Would he think she was being too forward?

After all, he was still so young.

Although he always had a composure that exceeded his age in his speech and actions, when it came down to it, he was only eight.

Zhang Lexuan snuck a glance at Mu Tianyi.

The youth was shoveling rice into his mouth, his cheeks bulging; it wasn't exactly a graceful sight, but it inexplicably made one feel at ease.

She curved her lips and picked a piece of pork rib from her own bowl, placing it into his.

"Eat more."

Mu Tianyi looked up, his mouth still full of rice, and mumbled a "Thank you, Sister Lexuan" before lowering his head to continue eating.

The afternoon sunlight outside the window spilled into the dining room, falling upon the two of them and stretching their shadows long and far.