Chapter 13

The next morning.

Meng Yingying, still half-asleep, again felt a cool, soft touch on her lips—but this time, she didn’t even want to bother with it.

After Zhan Tingxu kissed her for a while, she lazily opened her eyes.

“You have to move back to the next room to sleep tonight,” Meng Yingying stretched with a yawn.

As she stretched, the hem of her pajamas lifted slightly, revealing a sliver of her soft, porcelain-white waist.

Zhan Tingxu’s gaze darkened, and he couldn’t help but reach out and wrap an arm tightly around her waist.

“Why?” His deep, magnetic voice rumbled.

“Let go of me! I don’t want you sleeping in my room!” Meng Yingying struggled.

But Zhan Tingxu’s grip stayed firm. “This is my room too.”

Finding it useless to struggle, Meng Yingying finally gave up and sighed helplessly. “Fine—let go first. I’m going to eat breakfast.”

He lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead before finally releasing her.

Freed, Meng Yingying immediately gathered up the bedding and mat from the floor and carried them back to the storage room next door.

Seeing this, Zhan Tingxu couldn’t help laughing and crying at the same time. “What are you doing?”

“Sleeping on the floor is bad—the ground’s too cold!”

With that, Meng Yingying went to have breakfast.

Zhan Tingxu watched her back with a wry smile. Looked like he really wouldn’t be sharing her room tonight.

Breakfast was egg-and-corn pancakes, and the children were eating happily.

As soon as they saw Meng Yingying, they called out, “Mom, come eat breakfast! It’s super tasty today!”

She took a bite—sure enough, it was fragrant and delicious, the kind of flavor that lingered after chewing.

Just then, Madam Lü came in with several daughters-in-law and Li Yanhong, bringing a basket of eggs.

Seeing that Meng Yingying was awake, Madam Lü came over with concern. “Yingying, you’re finally up? How are you feeling?”

“I’m much better now, thank you, Mom,” Meng Yingying replied politely.

Li Fang, noticing her pale face, muttered under her breath, “If you’re so frail, stop going near the river. If you get sick, it’ll just cost money to treat you.”

Madam Lü shot her a glare. “Watch your mouth!”

Li Fang choked on her words and stayed silent.

Madam Lü turned back to comfort Meng Yingying. “Just ignore what your sister-in-law says, don’t take it to heart.”

“I wasn’t bothered in the first place,” Meng Yingying said coolly.

At that moment, a breeze blew in. Worried that his wife might catch cold, Zhan Tingxu draped a jacket over her shoulders.

Meng Yingying was surprised. “But it’s still summer.”

“Autumn’s almost here, mornings are chilly. Better wear it.”

He gently made sure the jacket fit snugly.

Seeing how tenderly Zhan Tingxu treated Meng Yingying, Li Yanhong—hiding behind Li Fang—couldn’t suppress the jealousy in her eyes.

She had thought last night would be her chance to steal Meng Yingying’s body, but who knew Zhan Tingxu would come to her rescue?

“Oh right, I made you some brown sugar ginger tea. Drink it while it’s hot,” Madam Lü said, signaling to Li Fang to bring it out.

But the tea had already been handed to Li Yanhong earlier, so Li Fang turned and asked her, “Where’s the ginger tea?”

“Here it is!”

Li Yanhong quickly set a thermos on the table and flashed a fake smile at Meng Yingying. “Sister-in-law, please have some!”

But Meng Yingying found her smile stiff and insincere, making her uncomfortable.

Thinking back, it was Li Yanhong who told her there were freshwater shrimp by the river last night—that’s why she went there.

And she clearly remembered feeling pushed into the water, not slipping in by accident like everyone claimed.

Second Sister-in-law Ye Li urged, “Why aren’t you drinking? Mom made it herself!”

Bao Xiuxiu added sarcastically, “Look at her—eating and drinking well, but too proud for Mom’s tea?”

“We’d love to drink it, but Mom won’t make any for us. She really doesn’t know how lucky she is,” Li Fang sneered.

Ye Li chimed in, “Some people really do live charmed lives.”

With all their sniping, Meng Yingying lost any desire to drink it.

Hearing this, Zhan Tingxu shot them a cold glare. “Whether my wife drinks it or not is none of your business.”

Li Fang scolded, “Fourth Brother, it’s wrong to spoil your wife like that.”

Ye Li added, “At least it’s Mom’s good intentions—don’t waste it.”

Seeing Meng Yingying’s reluctance, Zhan Tingxu told Madam Lü, “Just leave it here. I’ll return the thermos later after she’s had it.”

Madam Lü didn’t press the matter and said kindly, “It’s fine—mornings are better with light food. The tea can wait, or you don’t have to drink it at all if you don’t feel like it.”

Meng Yingying assured her, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll drink it.”

Madam Lü gave her a few more reminders before leaving with the daughters-in-law.

Once they were gone, Zhan Tingxu poured the ginger tea into a bowl and spoon-fed it to Meng Yingying.

She protested shyly, “I can drink by myself.”

“I like feeding you. Come on, open up.”

Under his insistence, Meng Yingying had no choice but to open her mouth.

The children immediately clamored, “Does it taste good? We want some too!”

Zhan Tingxu gave each of them a spoonful and asked, “Good?”

“Good!” they chorused.

Meanwhile—

Just as Li Yanhong left the courtyard, a harsh, robotic voice roared in her mind, full of suppressed anger:

“Li Yanhong, you tried to kill Meng Yingying. That’s a serious crime. Have you forgotten why we sent you here?”

But Li Yanhong was ecstatic to hear the voice. She quickly asked, “Robot, tell me—how can I switch into Meng Yingying’s body?”

The robot countered, “Why do you want her body?”

“Because I like it better! She’s the prettiest—what a waste not to take it for myself!” Li Yanhong declared shamelessly.

But the robot’s fury only grew stronger.

“Remember your identity and mission. You’re here to repair the story, not to steal the heroine’s life for your own fun.”

“Then what’s the point of transmigrating?” Li Yanhong complained.

“Seems I need to punish you.”

BOOM—

Before she could react, lightning cracked overhead and struck her. Her bones felt shattered, her hair burned, and the pain was excruciating.

“Ahhhh! It hurts!”

Hearing the nearby thunder, Li Fang and the others jumped in fright and ran over.

“What happened? Did someone just get hit by lightning?”

“I don’t know! That bolt was huge—I thought it was coming for me!”

When they arrived, they found Li Yanhong collapsed on the ground, unconscious—still smoking!