Chapter 74: After All, They Were Still Strangers. - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 74: After All, They Were Still Strangers. Listening to Su Mo's guarded and unfamiliar tone, Xu Miaoyin felt an inexplicable pang of sadness. After all, they really were just strangers meeting for the first time. Suddenly, the rain on her body felt as cold as ice. She snapped her thoughts back to the present. Xu Miaoyin noticed Su Mo was discreetly eyeing her impressive figure. This melted a bit of her heartache and gave her some confidence. "Su Boss, after I returned, I thought it over again and decided to go and fight those bandits. My disciples are still on their way and won't arrive for a few days." "I was wondering if I could stay at your place for a bit." Hearing Xu Miaoyin still planned on heading to Black Wind Mountain, Su Mo grew displeased. He had made it clear enough. Yet she still intended to march to her death. A foolish woman with more beauty than brains. Of course, Su Mo didn’t voice his thoughts. Since she wanted to stay, he’d let her room here for a few days and maybe persuade her to abandon the foolish plan. After all, the Hengshan Three Heroes had already set out. News would arrive in a few days to scare Xu Miaoyin off. Such a stunning beauty. It would be such a waste if she died. With that thought, Su Mo glanced at Xu Miaoyin’s charming face. "In that case, Chief Xu, you might have to bear with the inconvenience of staying in the brewing room for now." "There might be a bit of a wine smell, but you’ll get used to it." "Just the brewing room?" Xu Miaoyin sounded somewhat disappointed. "I can’t really handle the smell of wine." "If you don’t mind, Su Boss, I could lay out a ground bedroll in your room." As she spoke, she retrieved a waterproof bundle from her white horse at her side. Seeing Xu Miaoyin's large package of belongings, Su Mo was puzzled. Was she here to fight bandits or move house? Driven slightly by desire, he overlooked the details. "Lady Xu, if that's the case, I’ll just take a little loss. You can stay in my room, and I’ll stay in the brewing room." "All for just 10 wens a day." "Can't help it, my place is small and wasn't designed as an inn." Hearing Su Mo's usage of "Lady Xu," Xu Miaoyin felt slightly uncomfortable. "There's no need to call me Lady. I'm only twenty-four; just call me Miaoyin." With that, she handed over a silver ingot. "This is ten taels; I plan to stay a bit longer." Su Mo was secretly delighted as he accepted the silver. Perhaps fortune was smiling on him. He hadn’t even officially opened yet and had already made close to twenty taels. Looking at Xu Miaoyin's ripe, peach-like figure, a warmth spread through Su Mo's heart. "Then, Miss Miaoyin it is," Su Mo agreed. Xu Miaoyin nodded in satisfaction. "That's much better." "Su Boss, do you have a bath bucket around? I'd like to take a hot bath." "This rain is far too cold." "I'm worried I might catch a chill." Hearing Xu Miaoyin wanted a bath, all sorts of indescribable images flitted through Su Mo's mind. "I have a bath bucket, but it's typically mine to use." "Would that bother you?" Xu Miaoyin shook her head. "Not at all. When traveling, a hot bath is luxury enough." In her heart, she added a thought. How could I mind when it’s my Su Lang’s? Seeing Xu Miaoyin’s indifference, Su Mo promptly led her to his room. "I’m about to steam buns, and the hot water I boiled can be for your bath. You can eat a few before bathing." "By the way, once you've changed into dry clothes, I'll dry this set for you." "And your horse, I’ll lead it to the stable to feed it some fodder." Impressed by Su Mo's thoughtfulness, Xu Miaoyin felt a daze and inadvertently merged the man before her with the one from her memories. Two people with the same name, the same looks, and the same gentle care. Oh heavens. What kind of joke are you playing on me? Gazing at Su Mo busy in the kitchen, Xu Miaoyin retreated to Su Mo’s space, shedding her wet clothes and donning a clean outfit. Looking at her sodden skirts, jackets, underpants, corset, and embroidered shoes, a blush crept across Xu Miaoyin's fair skin. Would having him dry them send the wrong message? Would Su Lang think I’m trying to seduce him and see me as loose? Caught in this dilemma, the enticing aroma of flour and meat wafted from the kitchen. “Miaoyin, the buns are ready.” “Come over and have some.” Su Mo’s voice came from the kitchen, urging Xu Miaoyin to hurry out, walking along the rain-dripping eaves to the kitchen. Upon entering, she was greeted by a misty white steam, needing a moment to glimpse the scene clearly. Inside the largest iron pot in the kitchen, the water boiled, steam wafting up. Su Mo had steamed all the buns. A large stack of them. Nearly a hundred arranged neatly in the bamboo steamer, with thin skin and generous filling, like pristine jade balls. "Gruuumble..." Xu Miaoyin's stomach voiced its protest awkwardly. She hadn’t eaten since last night. Su Mo quickly brought over five porcelain plates, six buns on each, laying thirty lamb buns on the kitchen table. "Help yourself, see how my cooking measures up." "I’ll draw your bath now." "Finish eating, then bathe." Su Mo then ladled hot water into the wooden tub and carried it to the room. Watching Su Mo busily moving back and forth, a surge of happiness welled inside her. Back in the day, wasn’t it her dream with Su Lang to leave behind the world’s troubles and open a shop in some distant land? It was a dream unfulfilled in the past life. Grabbing a bun, she bit into it, releasing rich, flavorful juice that brimmed in her mouth. The lamb filling was astonishingly savory. These lamb buns, once started, were impossible to stop on. Unknowingly, all thirty large buns vanished into Xu’s stomach. When Su Mo finished preparing the bath and returned, he found Xu Miaoyin standing sheepishly before him. "Su Boss, I ate them all." Su Mo paused in surprise. How did she finish all of those in such a short time? Yet, even after thirty buns, her waistline was still as trim as ever. It was a mystery where all those buns had gone. Seeing she'd been truly hungry, Su Mo quickly fetched another plate. "There are more if you need." But Xu Miaoyin merely covered her mouth with a smile. "I'm full, so I’ll go bathe first." "Oh, alright." Watching Xu Miaoyin head off to bathe, Su Mo grabbed a lamb bun and took a bite. Mmm, delicious. No doubt it's my own handiwork! After eating, Su Mo remembered he hadn't yet dried Xu Miaoyin's clothes. He went to the room to retrieve them. From outside, a sound of water could be heard from within, indicating Xu Miaoyin had already begun her bath. Meanwhile. Xu Miaoyin enjoyed the rare warmth of the bubble bath. The warm water just covered her by the neck. Imagining Su Mo had previously bathed in this bucket, a blush spread across Xu Miaoyin’s cheeks. As leader of the Snow Maiden Sect, her martial skills were beyond question. She already knew of Su Mo’s approach when he left the kitchen. She even fantasized about Su Mo barging in and whether she should resist or submit. And if she resisted, how much force could she use without harming Su Lang... Su Mo stood outside the door, not daring to intrude. Heavens knew that if he offended her, she might kill him on the spot with no one to appeal to. "Miaoyin, I'm here to grab the wet clothes." Hearing his voice, a hint of disappointment flickered in Xu Miaoyin's eyes. "Su Boss, I piled the wet clothes by the door. Just open it, and you’ll see them." When she bade him to do so, Su Mo felt his nose itching slightly. Without delay. Su Mo opened the door. Immediately spotting the pile of clothes at the entrance. Quickly grabbing them, he backed out. Barely stealing a glimpse of snow-white skin. Feeling a bit flustered, Su Mo hugged the clothes tightly, walking briskly away, unsure if his fleeting glance had caught Xu Miaoyin’s attention. Looking at the clothing in hand, even noticing the pink corset and pure white undergarments, Su Mo couldn’t help inhaling deeply. Perhaps due to her martial prowess reaching its zenith, Xu Miaoyin’s garments lacked the usual sweat scent of an average woman. Instead, a subtle fragrance arose. Su Mo's nostrils couldn’t withstand the pressure any longer. A droplet of fresh blood slowly trickled down. Staining the soaked white skirt, turning it into a spread. It resembled a blood-red plum blossom blooming. Dang it! Su Mo was a bit panicked. How did it drip onto the clothes? Afraid that Xu Miaoyin might notice, Su Mo quickly retrieved his laundry tools and began cleaning her garments. His actions soon caught the attention of Xu Miaoyin, who was still bathing. Huh? Why is he washing my clothes? That means Su Lang has touched every piece... Even though she'd done everything with Su Mo in her past life, this situation left her feeling a bit bashful. In this life, she was still an untouched maiden... But then, she decided not to be so reserved. She had noticed a young maid showing some interest in Su Lang before. She couldn’t bear it if someone else got ahead of her! Su Lang could only be hers! With her arms crossed over her chest, Xu Miaoyin resolved to win Su Mo over in the days to come! ... Meanwhile, as Su Mo was washing Xu Miaoyin’s clothes, Guo Lin, braving the heavy rain with her maid by her side, made her way along the waterlogged streets to the tavern, holding an umbrella. As soon as they were near the tavern, the young maid sensed something was off. Why was the lead horse from yesterday’s group of white horses in the tavern’s stable? Guo Lin's heart leaped. A sense of foreboding descended upon her. Immediately, she knocked on the door. "Su Mo, open up!" Su Mo had just finished washing the bloodstain out of the white skirt when he heard Guo Lin’s voice outside. Tsk! Why is she here today? Isn't she afraid of getting soaked! He quickly soaked all of Xu Miaoyin's clothes in a wooden basin and placed it by the well. Then he went to the tavern's main hall and opened the door for Guo Lin. Seeing Guo Lin’s face turning a bit pale from the cold, Su Mo hurried them inside. "What brings you here today?" "Isn’t it better to stay at home in such heavy rain?" Guo Lin seemed not to hear Su Mo’s concern but instead kept glancing around the tavern. "Did you have a guest at the tavern today?" Su Mo didn’t suspect anything and nodded promptly. "Yes, Head Chief Xu came in the morning, saying she still intends to deal with the Black Wind Fortress." "Oh..." Guo Lin then swiftly closed her umbrella and headed toward the courtyard. Seeing the clothes soaking by the well and noticing the pink corset, Guo Lin stood frozen, her heart gripped by an unseen force, her mind completely blank... (End of Chapter)