Chapter 81: Warmth at Home

Luo Xiaoyun pushed open the door to her home. Just as she finished changing her shoes, she looked up and saw Su Muxue walking over from the hallway, a small handbag in her hand, clearly about to go out.

Their eyes met. Su Muxue’s gaze lingered on her.

A light apricot knit top, a milky white pleated skirt, white sneakers, and silver-white hair loosely tied in a low ponytail. Su Muxue looked her over, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

“Why are you going out in women’s clothes today?” she asked, her tone laced with both surprise and tenderness.

Luo Xiaoyun answered casually, “Went to dinner with my second brother.”

Su Muxue nodded, didn’t press further, and simply said, “I’m going grocery shopping. Want to come along?”

“Sure,” Luo Xiaoyun replied readily, turning to open the door.

Just as her hand touched the handle, the person behind her suddenly drew close.

Su Muxue’s breath brushed against the back of her neck. The warm sensation made Luo Xiaoyun freeze for a moment. Before she could turn around, Su Muxue had already circled in front of her, head slightly tilted, studying her face earnestly.

Luo Xiaoyun felt a little uneasy under her gaze and instinctively touched her cheek. “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

The corners of Su Muxue’s lips curved into a faint smile. She reached out and gently pinched her cheek, her tone carrying a hint of admiration. “Nothing. Just think that Xiaoyun in this outfit has a certain charm.”

With that, she planted a light kiss on Luo Xiaoyun’s cheek, then pulled open the door as if nothing had happened. “Let’s go.”

Luo Xiaoyun stood frozen, her fingers unconsciously touching the spot where she’d been kissed, her cheeks slowly flushing red.

“Oh… okay,” she murmured, following Su Muxue out the door.

The two walked to the nearest supermarket.

At this hour, the store wasn’t crowded. The lighting was soft, the shelves neatly arranged. Su Muxue pushed the shopping cart ahead, while Luo Xiaoyun obediently stayed by her side, occasionally handing her a plastic bag.

Su Muxue was serious when picking ingredients. She picked up a pack of beef brisket, examined it front and back, then put it down and chose another.

Tomatoes had to be perfectly ripe, neither too hard nor too soft. Greens had to be bright green with fresh roots.

Luo Xiaoyun watched from the side, thinking that even the way she picked vegetables was beautiful.

“Beef brisket stewed with tomatoes, and stir-fried greens. That’s enough for the two of us.” Su Muxue placed the selected ingredients into the cart and glanced at Luo Xiaoyun. “Anything else you want to eat?”

Luo Xiaoyun was about to shake her head when her gaze was drawn to the refrigerated cabinet nearby. Colorful ice cream bars were neatly stacked inside, strawberry, mango, matcha, chocolate… they gave off wisps of white mist in the cold air.

Her eyes lit up. She tugged at Su Muxue’s sleeve and pointed at the cabinet, her tone carrying a hint of coaxing. “Muxue, I want some.”

Su Muxue followed her finger, then looked at her eager expression and couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s cool in the evening. Eating cold stuff might make you catch a cold.”

“Just one. A tiny one.” Luo Xiaoyun held up one finger, her eyes sparkling. “I won’t get sick.”

Su Muxue gave in under her hopeful gaze. “Fine, but eat it slowly.”

Luo Xiaoyun’s lips curled into a smile. She quickly walked to the cabinet, picked a strawberry ice cream, and hugged it contentedly.

The two browsed a bit longer, got all the groceries, and headed to the checkout.

By the time they left the supermarket, the sky had darkened. Streetlights flickered on one by one, casting long shadows behind them.

Luo Xiaoyun licked her ice cream in small bites. The sweet strawberry flavor melted on her tongue.

Su Muxue carried the groceries in one hand and held hers tightly with the other, reminding her gently, “Slow down. Don’t choke. It’s too cold. Eating too fast isn’t good.”

Luo Xiaoyun nodded obediently and slowed her pace.

But halfway through, a dull ache suddenly tugged at her lower abdomen.

It wasn’t sharp, just uncomfortable. She frowned, her steps unconsciously faltering, and the ice cream stopped at her lips.

“What’s wrong?” Su Muxue immediately noticed something off. She stopped and turned to look at her.

“Nothing.” Luo Xiaoyun shook her head, dismissing the little pain as just a stomach upset from the cold ice cream. “Let’s hurry home. I want to eat what you cook.”

She finished the remaining half of the ice cream in a few bites, linked her arm with Su Muxue’s, and quickened her pace. The faint dull pain came and went, quickly forgotten.

Back home, Su Muxue went straight to the kitchen, tied on an apron, and started cooking.

Water boiled in the pot. The beef brisket was blanched to remove the smell. Tomatoes were stir-fried in hot oil until the sauce turned red and glossy, then the beef was added and simmered over low heat.

A rich aroma gradually drifted out of the kitchen, filling the living room.

Luo Xiaoyun curled up on the sofa, breathing in the scent. The slight discomfort in her stomach was completely overshadowed by anticipation.

About an hour later, Su Muxue came out carrying a clay pot. She lifted the lid, and the fragrance of tomato beef brisket hit them. There was also a bowl of stir-fried seasonal greens, bright and crisp.

“Time to eat.” Su Muxue served her a bowl of rice and placed several pieces of beef brisket into her bowl.

Luo Xiaoyun took a bite. The beef was tender and fully flavored. The sweet and sour tomatoes had completely infused the broth. Paired with rice, it was simply perfect. She closed her eyes in satisfaction and mumbled, “Muxue’s cooking is the best.”

Su Muxue smiled, her eyes full of affection. “Eat up. Have more.”

The two sat across from each other, eating and chatting, warm and cozy.

After dinner, they cleaned up and then curled up on the sofa, each playing on their phones.

Luo Xiaoyun leaned against the armrest, swiping her finger across the screen, but her mind wandered.

The faint, dull ache in her lower abdomen resurfaced, slightly more noticeable than before, but still within ignorable range. She didn’t pay much attention, thinking it was just her stomach acting up from the cold food.

Su Muxue sat beside her, occasionally looking up to check on her, then went back to her phone.

They stayed like that for a long time.

“I’m going to shower,” Luo Xiaoyun said, putting down her phone and standing up.

Su Muxue hummed in acknowledgment without looking up.

Luo Xiaoyun walked into the bathroom. She had just taken off her clothes and turned on the shower when the door handle turned.

Before she could react, Su Muxue pushed the door open and walked in, holding her own pajamas, her face wearing an expression of entitlement.

“Why are you coming in again…” Luo Xiaoyun instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, her cheeks reddening.

“Saving water.” Su Muxue said it matter-of-factly as she began unbuttoning her clothes.

Luo Xiaoyun opened her mouth, wanting to say, “We don’t need to save that much water,” but meeting Su Muxue’s smiling eyes, she swallowed her words.

Warm steam soon filled the bathroom.

“Don’t touch there…”

“Be gentle.”

“That tickles.”

“…”

Luo Xiaoyun’s voice came intermittently through the mist, tinged with shyness and resignation. Su Muxue’s low laughter mixed with the sound of water, indistinct.

After who knows how long, the two finally came out of the bathroom.

Luo Xiaoyun’s cheeks were flushed. Her silver-white hair was half-damp, loose over her shoulders. She wore the light pink pajamas Su Muxue had prepared for her.

Su Muxue walked out behind her, her expression calm as if nothing had happened, her hair already blow-dried. She had changed into a lotus-pink sleeveless nightgown.

They returned to the bedroom. They turned off the main light, leaving only the warm yellow bedside lamp.

Out of habit, Luo Xiaoyun burrowed into Su Muxue’s arms, pressed her face against her chest, rubbed against it, and found the most comfortable position. Su Muxue’s embrace was always warm, carrying the faint scent of body wash and a steady heartbeat that made her feel safe.

The “face wash” treatment was as good as ever.

Su Muxue leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, her voice soft as the evening breeze. “Good night, Xiaoyun.”

“Good night.” Luo Xiaoyun answered, her voice muffled.

Su Muxue reached out and turned off the lamp.

The room fell into darkness.

Luo Xiaoyun nestled in Su Muxue’s arms, listening to her steady heartbeat, feeling the tenderness of her fingers lightly combing through her hair. The faint discomfort in her lower abdomen surfaced again, but in this reassuring embrace, it didn’t seem to matter much.

She closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Our Guide to the Second World

CapableDevotedGuideverse

Read Now →
Not interested