Although Mu Ran sometimes had complaints about Boss Hu sending her husband to gather herbs on the mountain in the dead of night, there were also times when she thought this boss was quite decent.
Today, shortly after the Hour of the Monkey, Boss Hu said there were few customers and they could close shop early, so Cangshu Bai was able to get off work ahead of time.
It was still early, so Cangshu Bai took Mu Ran for a stroll around the town. However, even though he handed over all his wages to her, Mu Ran was very restrained when it came to spending money.
She bought a packet of steaming hot mung bean cakes, placed them in Cangshu Bai's hand, and then said with a smile, "Let's go home."
Cangshu Bai reached out and smoothed her hair away from her forehead. "Don't you want to buy anything else?"
Mu Ran shook her head. "There's nothing else I want."
He asked, "Something to eat, something to play with, clothes, jewelry, or storybooks?"
Mu Ran's face scrunched up in conflict, then she shook her head firmly again. "No, no, I don't want any of it."
Cangshu Bai nodded. "Alright, then let's go home."
Holding onto the jade pendant at his waist, Mu Ran followed him forward. Hearing the lively cries of vendors coming from all directions, her eyes couldn't help but wander.
That hairpin is so exquisite.
That sugar figurine is made so adorably.
And that green ruqun dress hanging in the tailor shop is so beautiful too.
Cangshu Bai stopped walking and looked down at her. "Are you really not buying anything?"
Mu Ran pressed her lips together, her brows tightly knit. Her pretty face was so conflicted it was about to wrinkle up like a steamed bun. This look of utter indecision was truly pitiful.
Cangshu Bai wasn't in a hurry, waiting silently with immense patience.
Finally, Mu Ran finished her internal struggle. Feeling a bit embarrassed, her eyes curved into crescents. "Maybe just a little something, a very small thing."
The corner of Cangshu Bai's mouth twitched. "Alright."
Mu Ran was very methodical about money, even keeping her own account book. If she overspent the monthly budget, she would become quite anxious.
She mentally calculated how much money was left for the month, her gaze shifting between several shops before finally making a decision.
"To the bookstore!"
Cangshu Bai let out a soft sigh.
Upon entering the bookstore, Mu Ran found quite a few customers discussing the most popular books of the moment.
"Hey, the second volume of 'The Amorous History of The Green-Clad Guest' is out, have you read it?"
"Not yet! What's it like? Tell me quickly, how many more beauties has The Green-Clad Guest taken in?"
"This time, The Green-Clad Guest has taken in Fairy Hongling. They dual-cultivated for seven days and seven nights, lost in a whirlwind of passion, utterly oblivious to the world. It's incredibly steamy!"
"Wait, wasn't that Fairy Hongling an enemy of The Green-Clad Guest? The Green-Clad Guest killed her people and seized her treasures. Fairy Hongling was no match for him, her state of mind was affected, her cultivation path became blocked, and her progress stalled. She viewed him as a mortal enemy, so how could she possibly dual-cultivate with him?"
"You just don't get it, do you? Love turning to hate, only to finally submit beneath The Green-Clad Guest—that makes it even more thrilling!"
Someone else whispered, "The name 'Fairy Hongling' in the story sounds an awful lot like Fairy Hongfu from Scarlet Flame Peak, doesn't it?"
"You haven't heard? The story of The Green-Clad Guest and Fairy Hongling is based on the battle between The Green-Clad Guest and that Fairy Hongfu in the Void Realm two hundred years ago. The proud, supremely talented Fairy Hongfu was defeated by a nobody of a Green-Clad Guest. Her cultivation hasn't broken through since—it's certainly something to talk about."
Listening to the gossip, Mu Ran couldn't help but wander over to the bookshelves. She glanced furtively at Cangshu Bai, who was browsing other books, then quickly grabbed a copy of the newly arrived 'The Amorous History of The Green-Clad Guest'.
The title alone sounded improper—perfect for reading secretly alone in the middle of the night.
Mu Ran hid the book and went to pay, but before she could even pull out her money, the book was plucked from her hands. Her hands were now empty. She turned around to find Cangshu Bai standing behind her, silent, just looking at her quietly, which made the pressure she felt immense.
Mu Ran had always loved reading storybooks, especially the racy ones—she could never resist taking a peek.
Cangshu Bai never stopped her from this little hobby. Sometimes he would even browse them with her, and then practice with her to see if the contents of the books were feasible.
Thus, Mu Ran felt that her noble and upright husband was actually a bit of a closet pervert.
Her eyes couldn't help but dart to the book in his hand. "Jinzhi, it's not like I mean anything by it. I just feel like we've run out of books to read at home."
Cangshu Bai said, "Not this one."
She was puzzled. "Why not?"
"The fabricated content in this book is unrealistic."
Mu Ran glanced at the books in other customers' hands. "But it seems everyone really likes reading it."
Cangshu Bai put the book back on the shelf, his tone indifferent. "Buy something else."
Mu Ran said, "Oh," thinking to herself that her husband was a true gentleman who probably couldn't bear to see the slanderous rumors about The Green-Clad Guest and Fairy Hongfu from two hundred years ago.
In the end, she picked a copy of 'A Few Things About the Sword Immortal and His Master's Wife,' paid, and left.
As they stepped out of the bookstore, Cangshu Bai asked the owner, "Which publisher sent over that book about The Green-Clad Guest?"
The owner, busy with his accounts, said offhandedly, "It came from Wufang City."
Mu Ran was already standing on the street. She turned back, puzzled. "Jinzhi, what's wrong?"
Cangshu Bai walked out of the bookstore, took the things from her hand, and then grasped her hand. "I was just thinking about what to eat tonight."
"The radishes we planted in the field should be big enough now, right? I want radish and pork rib soup today, okay?"
He said, "Okay."
"And there are still two fish you caught from the river in the water vat. Let's cook one. I want boiled fish with chili oil, okay?"
He nodded. "Okay."
"Hmm... I also want fish cakes and radish meatballs."
He said softly again, "Okay."
Cangshu Bai's temper was just too good. Mu Ran kept making request after request, and he never found it troublesome, to the point where Mu Ran felt that if she said she wanted to watch him swallow a knife, he would do it without hesitation.
Mu Ran looked up at him. When they reached a spot with no one around, she stood on her tiptoes. Since he was quite a bit taller, it was still a bit of a strain even then, requiring him to actively bend down to cooperate.
She deliberately whispered in his ear, "Jinzhi, I want to eat you, okay?"
The young man's gaze grew deep and meaningful. His fingers brushed over the ribbon on her dress. "As long as you don't regret it later."
Mu Ran: "..."
She was starting to regret it already. What should she do?
But as it turned out, there was no medicine for regret in this world.
The next day, Mu Ran lay in bed like a corpse. It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that she groggily opened her eyes. The slightest movement made her feel sore all over.
Not even ten meals of radish meatballs and fish cakes could make up for this!
She had just turned onto her side when the person also lazing in bed pulled her into his embrace.
Mu Ran lifted her eyes, caught sight of the scratch marks on his neck, felt a twinge of guilt, shifted her body, and nestled against his chest, playing with his hair. "Aren't you going to work today?"
"Boss Hu said I could go in later today."
When did he say that? She hadn't heard it.
The chirping of birds came from outside the window, faintly carrying with it the sound of gossip from the neighbors.
"Have you heard? The bookstore in Wufang City was blown up in the middle of the night!"
"What? Blown up?"
"That's right! All the books there were destroyed. What a shame!"
Murǎn perked up a little, wanting to get out of bed and join the gossip brigade, but the arm resting around her waist held her in a firm yet gentle restraint, preventing her from moving.
Since she couldn't move, she simply gave up the idea and settled back down obediently.
The Green-Clad Guest.
Murǎn silently repeated these three words in her mind, then stole a glance at the clothes scattered haphazardly on the floor. Her husband's green robe was strikingly visible beneath her own beautiful pink silk skirt.
She raised her head and stared directly at her husband's handsome face.
Cangshu Bai opened his eyes, the corners slightly curved, still revealing a touch of weariness and languor. "What is it?"
"Jinzhi, you're not actually The Green-Clad Guest, are you?"
Before Cangshu Bai could deny it, Murǎn cupped his face and laughed first.
"You spent so much energy last night, how could you possibly have had the strength left to go blow up a bookstore?"
Reassured, she nestled back against his chest and closed her eyes to catch a little more sleep.
After a good while, the man's large hand gently stroked her cheek. In her state of comfort and drowsiness, she seemed to hear a soft chuckle.
