Chapter 226: You bastard!
Chapter 226: You bastard!
Hong Shi pushed open the door to her modest room, the wooden frame creaking softly.
The familiar scent of sandalwood greeted her, a calming fragrance she’d chosen to mask the otherwise musty atmosphere of the Holy Land quarters.
She stepped in, closing the door behind her with a quiet click.
Her usually composed face bore a slight frown as she walked toward the small desk in the corner.@@@@
Sitting on the simple chair, she let out a heavy sigh, her posture relaxing momentarily.
Reaching into her storage ring, she retrieved a jade bottle and poured a single, glossy healing pill into her palm.
"Haa..." Hong Shi muttered as she tossed the pill into her mouth, as she felt the medicine dissolve and a soothing warmth spread through her body.
Her gaze swept across the room—sparse and neatly kept.
A bed with crisp sheets, a small cabinet, and a couple of scrolls lying neatly on the desk.
This place had been her sanctuary for years, but now it felt like a cage.
"I should leave soon," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible.
Rising from the chair, she made her way to the cabinet.
Opening it, she retrieved a stack of foldedrobes and a small chest. She placed them on the bed and began sorting through them.
One by one, items disappeared into her storage ring.
First, the robes, then the chest, its contents rattling softly as it vanished.
From the desk, she picked up the scrolls and a simple jade hairpin, pausing for a moment as she turned the hairpin over in her fingers.
A faint smile flickered across her lips before she stored it away.
Next, she crouched by the bed and reached underneath, pulling out a small box.
Opening it revealed a collection of talismans, medicinal herbs, and a well-worn dagger.
She inspected the dagger’s edge briefly before placing it into the ring, followed by the rest of the box’s contents.
Her gaze then fell on the room itself.
Empty now, save for the bed and desk, it felt strangely unfamiliar.
Hong Shi stood in the center of the room, her expression conflicted for a brief moment before hardening.
"And by the way," he said casually, "Ming is also my wife."
For a moment, there was silence.
Zhang Fumin blinked, her mind struggling to process his words.
"...Ming?" she repeated slowly, and her eyes widened as the realization hit her.
"Zhang Ming? My mother?"
Zhang Yuan tilted his head, his smile never faltering. "Uh, yeah."
Her jaw dropped, and her face turned red—not from the heat of the water but from sheer disbelief. "You..."
"Bastard!" she finally exploded, spinning around in his lap to face him fully.
Her fists began pounding against his chest, though there was no real force behind them. "What the hell were you thinking? My mother? Are you insane?"
Zhang Yuan caught her wrists effortlessly, his grip firm yet gentle. "Now, now," he said, his voice calm as always. "Don’t be like that. It’s not like I’m neglecting you."
"Not neglecting—" Her words were cut off by a frustrated groan.
"You’re unbelievable! What’s next? Are you going to tell me half the world women are your wives?"
"Calm down," he said, his voice soothing. "You’re still my favorite, Fumin."
She glared at him, her chest heaving as she tried to rein in her frustration. "Don’t try to sweet-talk me now! What kind of lunatic marries his wife’s mother?"
Zhang Yuan’s smile grew sly as he leaned closer, brushing his lips against her ear. "A lunatic who adores you, Fumin. Isn’t that enough?"
Her face turned crimson, and she pushed him away, crossing her arms with a huff. "You’re impossible," she muttered, though her voice lacked the venom she had moments ago.
"That’s why you love me," Zhang Yuan quipped, leaning back against the tub’s edge with a satisfied grin.
Zhang Fumin shot him one last glare before sighing heavily and leaning back into his embrace again, though she didn’t let go of her irritation completely.
"I swear," she muttered under her breath, "if I find out there’s another woman you’re hiding from me, I’ll drown you in this tub."
Zhang Yuan chuckled softly, resting his chin on her shoulder once more. "Noted."
The steam swirled around them as the tension slowly dissipated, leaving only the warmth of the water and the quiet sound of their breathing.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!
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