Morning

Author's note: This book is a sequel. For the earlier story, please see my work Oath of Lin Yue: Eternity, available on the author's homepage or through search.

Tang Wulin slowly woke in that beam of light. The first thing he saw was Gu Yue, her eyelashes fluttering as she rested in the crook of his arm.

She was sleeping soundly, her breathing even. The faint frown that usually lingered between her brows had relaxed, making him want to play a prank on her.

"Wifey—kissies—"

He drawled the words, his voice hoarse from sleep and full of shameless affection. Without giving her a chance to object, he turned onto his side, stretched out his long arm, and wrapped Gu Yue completely in his embrace. Gu Yue gave a sleepy little hum. Before she could protest, Tang Wulin's big mouth had covered half her cheek.

"Smooch!"

The crisp, resounding sound was like a champagne cork popping. His lips sucked hard on the flesh of her cheek, forcibly stretching the soft skin into a ridiculous yet suggestive curve. Then, as he abruptly let go, her skin snapped back with another "smooch!" A bright red mark instantly appeared on Gu Yue's fair cheek, glistening faintly with moisture.

"Ow!"

The pain jolted Gu Yue fully awake. She sat up, clutching her stinging, burning cheek, all sleepiness gone as she glared furiously at the culprit. "Tang Wulin! Did you bite me?! What the hell are you doing so early in the morning?!"

Rather than panicking at her bristling fury, Tang Wulin grinned. He tightened his arms, trying to curl her back beneath the covers like a giant octopus. "You're awake already, so go back to sleep for a little longer."

Gu Yue nearly got squeezed breathless by his brute strength. Struggling, she shoved at his chest. "Get lost! I need to wash up and make breakfast! If you don't get up now, you're not getting any!"

With that, she raised a hand and gave Tang Wulin's messy black-haired head a solid knock.

"Ow!" Tang Wulin clutched his forehead in pain and finally had the sense to let go. He watched pitifully as she hopped off the bed and disappeared through the bedroom door.

Standing before the sink, Gu Yue looked at the woman in the mirror, one cheek red and her hair a complete bird's nest, and ground her teeth.

After hastily washing up, she went into the kitchen, tied on an apron, and began kneading dough to make pancakes. Flour scattered across the counter. As she vigorously pounded the dough, she raised her voice and shouted toward the bedroom:

"Tang Wulin! Can't you come help me?! You laze around in bed like a dead pig every day! Are you blind? Can't you see I'm busy?!"

After quite a while, Tang Wulin's sluggish voice finally came back, accompanied by a strange echo. "I'm on the toilet..."

Gu Yue froze, the veins at her temple throbbing. "I knew I couldn't count on you! Fend for yourself, then!"

"Then why did you ask?" Tang Wulin's voice was full of perfectly justified confusion.

"You... you're unbelievable!" Furious, Gu Yue slammed the dough onto the cutting board. "Don't bother eating!"

The moment she finished speaking, the bedroom door opened. Tang Wulin, dressed in pajamas and slippers, shuffled to the kitchen entrance with an innocent look on his face. "Wifey, I'm here! I'm here to help!"

Gu Yue shot him a sidelong look and continued rolling out the dough. "Wash your hands. Don't touch my dough!"

"Got it~" Tang Wulin answered readily, yet he walked straight to her side and reached for the snowy-white ball of dough.

"Wash your hands, Tang Wulin!" Gu Yue screamed.

"It's fine if I just touch it once..." Before he could finish, his fingers had already sunk deep into the dough.

"Tang Wulin! My dough! You touched it without washing your hands! Go die!"

Gu Yue grabbed the iron ladle beside her and swung it at him. Tang Wulin reacted quickly, catching her wrist and pulling her into his arms to dodge the ladle. At the same time, his other hand, covered in flour, smeared a streak across her face.

"Ah!!" Gu Yue cried out and kicked him. "Ow!" Tang Wulin yelped as her foot struck his shin.

The two of them wrestled in the kitchen, flour flying everywhere as if a light snow had fallen.

Ten minutes later, they finally called a truce. Tang Wulin raised both hands in surrender, an ingratiating smile on his face. Gu Yue, meanwhile, grumpily kneaded the contaminated dough again, glaring at him from time to time.

"Alright, alright, I was wrong, my lady wife." Tang Wulin leaned closer and gently bumped her with his shoulder. "I'll definitely wash my hands first next time. Forgive me this time, okay?"

"There won't be a next time!" Gu Yue shook him off. "Go set out the bowls and chopsticks. And pick up those hairs you dropped on the floor earlier!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

At the breakfast table, the pancakes did not look very good, but they tasted decent enough. Gu Yue sipped her porridge in small mouthfuls, while Tang Wulin wolfed down his portion. He did not forget to sneak glances at Gu Yue's cheek, where a faint pink mark still remained.

"Keep looking, and I'll gouge your eyes out!" Gu Yue glared at him.

Tang Wulin chuckled and placed the best piece of pancake into her bowl. "Wifey is the prettiest. Even when her cheek is red from me sucking on it, she's still pretty..."