Start cultivating immortality in Xiaoao world, bumped into the master’s wife at the start!

Chapter 20: Almost Got Caught by Yue Lingshan

Linghu Chong coughed twice at her words and said seriously, “When I got here, there was no rice left, so I had to scrape up some leftovers from the bottom of the pot, just about half a ladle. So I made do and fried a bit of egg fried rice.”

“Made do? You call that a bit? Were you making do with the rice or with the eggs?” Ning Zhongze widened her bright eyes, staring hard at Linghu Chong.

At that moment, from the corner of her eye, she noticed a pile of eggshells heaped up in a basket in the corner, and she was instantly dumbfounded. “How many eggs did you use?”

“Uh…” Linghu Chong’s eyes shifted slightly, thought for a moment, then used his fingers to gesture to Ning Zhongze, saying, “Not many, just a little… twenty or so!”

“Twenty or so?” Ning Zhongze cried out, grabbed Linghu Chong by the collar, and glared at him fiercely.

“Twenty eggs and you say that’s not much? Are you a pig? Who puts that many eggs in fried rice? And you still have the nerve to say it’s just a bit? This isn’t egg fried rice, it’s rice egg soup! You probably used one egg per grain of rice!”

“I hadn’t eaten in a day and a night—I was starving! I used up a lot of energy too, I needed to replenish it,” Linghu Chong replied with great grievance.

“You…”

Ning Zhongze’s face flushed red as images of Linghu Chong’s battle flashed through her mind. He had fought hard and expended a lot of energy. Eating more eggs to replenish himself was indeed reasonable—after all, you are what you eat.

Thinking it through, Ning Zhongze released him with a blushing face and said, “I’ll let it slide this time. But next time, don’t use that many eggs. The ones you used could feed Mount Hua for several days!”

“Hehe, yes, thank you, Master’s Wife!” Linghu Chong said with a grin.

“Mm.”

Ning Zhongze nodded. Somehow, her gaze suddenly drifted down to Linghu Chong’s waist.

The flush that had faded from her face quickly returned in an instant.

She snapped out of it, blinked, and quickly looked away.

Seeing that Ning Zhongze wasn’t going to pursue it, Linghu Chong beamed, holding the bowl of fried rice as he picked out the burnt bits.

Once he’d cleaned it up, Linghu Chong took a whiff—the aroma was rich and enticing. He looked at Ning Zhongze and asked, “Master’s Wife, do you want some?”

Ning Zhongze glanced at the slightly crumbled eggs and rice in the bowl and had no appetite at all. She waved her hand and said, “I’m not hungry, you go ahead.”

“All right then!”

Linghu Chong was straightforward—since Master’s Wife wasn’t eating, he didn’t insist. He began eating himself, shoveling spoonfuls of fried rice into his mouth non-stop. His cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk. After chewing a couple of times, he quickly swallowed.

He looked like a starved ghost, eating ravenously without the slightest regard for his image.

Ning Zhongze was stunned, just staring blankly as she watched him eat for a while.

“Is it really that good?”

Watching Linghu Chong devour the food with such gusto, Ning Zhongze unconsciously licked her lips, curiosity sparking inside her. Her eager taste buds were pushing her to try just one bite.

“Mhm! It’s good, Master’s Wife! Though it doesn’t look like much, the taste is quite decent. Definitely the flavor you’re familiar with,” Linghu Chong nodded as he spoke.

It was unclear if he said that last line on purpose.

When Ning Zhongze heard it, her face flushed again. She spat softly, “What nonsense are you spouting? What familiar flavor? Fried rice just tastes like fried rice. What else could it be? You think I haven’t had fried rice before?”

“Yeah, I didn’t say anything else—just that it tastes like usual egg fried rice. A familiar flavor. Isn’t that right?”

“Master’s Wife, why are you reacting so strongly? Don’t tell me… you’ve had unusual fried rice before?”

Linghu Chong’s face looked innocent and sincere, his big sparkly eyes full of curiosity and confusion as he stared at Ning Zhongze.

“Who… who’s reacting strongly? Am I? I was talking about the same thing—egg fried rice flavor, a familiar one!”

Ning Zhongze’s eyes darted around, avoiding his gaze. Her tone was flustered and betrayed a lack of confidence.

“Yes, yes!”

Linghu Chong chuckled at her slightly embarrassed expression.

Seeing him laugh, Ning Zhongze’s face tensed. She huffed, “Linghu Chong, you dare mock…”

Mmph!

Before she could finish, her mouth was stuffed with a piece of fried egg.

Ning Zhongze widened her eyes, staring at Linghu Chong in disbelief. She couldn’t believe he had the audacity to do that to her.

“Eat it, Master’s Wife—it’s delicious!”

Linghu Chong used his chopsticks to pop the egg fried rice into her mouth, cutting off her scolding mid-sentence.

Ning Zhongze was furious and had no intention of eating it, but just then, her stomach growled. She had only eaten a few bites earlier and wasn’t full. Now, that rich aroma of fried egg reached her taste buds and triggered her brain—it was impossible to resist.

Her lips moved slightly and she began chewing. As she did, the flavor burst forth, overtaking her senses and hunger. A sparkle lit up in her eyes.

Linghu Chong smiled faintly at the sight and withdrew his chopsticks. “Tastes good, right?”

Ning Zhongze’s throat moved as she swallowed. She didn’t say anything but looked toward Linghu Chong’s bowl, her gaze full of longing and desire for more.

Seeing that, Linghu Chong didn’t need to ask—he scooped up another mouthful and brought it to her lips.

Ning Zhongze’s eyes lit up at the sight of the golden fried rice. She was just about to open her mouth when her peripheral vision caught sight of the chopsticks.

Suddenly, she realized something, her eyes widened, and her face flushed again with embarrassment. She looked up at Linghu Chong, her expression both shy and angry.

“Wh-What’s wrong?” Linghu Chong was startled by her reaction. His lips quivered, and he asked, confused.

“These are your chopsticks!!!”

Ning Zhongze shouted, her voice trembling, filled with both anger and shame.

Linghu Chong had used the same chopsticks he ate with to feed her—didn’t that mean she’d just…

Eek!!!

Ning Zhongze’s delicate body shuddered. If not for Linghu Chong’s genuinely innocent look, she would’ve slapped him on the spot.

“Ah! Oh! I forgot! I’ll go get a new pair right now!”

Linghu Chong suddenly realized, panicked, and quickly moved to get a new set.

But just then, Ning Zhongze stopped him. “Forget it. I’ve already eaten… what’s the point of changing them now? You gonna wash them?”

“You don’t mind, Master’s Wife?”

“You still dare ask?”

“No, no… not saying another word!”

Linghu Chong returned to her side, glanced at her stunning face, and gave an embarrassed grin. “Do you want more, Master’s Wife?”

“What do you think?”

Ning Zhongze gave him a glare, but looking at his innocent, handsome face, she couldn’t help but feel like he’d done it on purpose.

Linghu Chong quickly scooped up more fried rice and brought it to her lips again.

Ning Zhongze froze. She had already intended to take the bowl herself and eat.

But for some reason, as if under some mysterious influence, she slightly opened her red lips and leaned forward, taking the rice into her mouth.

She ate one bite after another, her movements graceful and natural.

Linghu Chong continued to feed her, one bite at a time.

At that moment, the atmosphere turned strangely quiet. So quiet it was almost eerie, only the soft sound of Ning Zhongze chewing could be heard.

Yet, the entire scene exuded an oddly warm and cozy vibe.

Ning Zhongze found herself enjoying the food immensely. She didn’t know why, but eating this way made her feel especially warm and at peace.

Linghu Chong looked at her gentle, beautiful face and a joyful smile appeared on his own.

A while later.

Ning Zhongze raised her head, gave a satisfied burp, and shook her head at Linghu Chong.

“You’re full, Master’s Wife?” Linghu Chong held up his chopsticks and asked.

“Mm, you can have the rest,” Ning Zhongze nodded.

“All right then!”

Linghu Chong looked at the remaining half bowl of fried rice, and without hesitation, brought it back to his mouth, devouring it again like a starving man.

Ning Zhongze watched him eat using the chopsticks she had just eaten with. A flush reappeared on her cheeks.

This time, she didn’t say anything. She simply sat there, watching him eat in silence. Watching him enjoy the food so much, she couldn’t help but smile—a soft, tender smile full of affection.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.

“Where on earth did Mom go? I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find her!”

Immediately after, Yue Lingshan’s voice rang in both of their ears.

Ning Zhongze and Linghu Chong’s eyes widened in unison, looking at each other, their hearts tightening in panic.

“Huh? Why is the light in the kitchen still on? Is someone in there?”

Yue Lingshan noticed the kitchen still brightly lit. Feeling puzzled and curious, she slowly approached.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Linghu Chong and Ning Zhongze panicked, their eyes darting around in search of a hiding spot.

But there was nowhere suitable to hide.

By now, Yue Lingshan was already at the doorway, her hand reaching for the door.

Linghu Chong and Ning Zhongze stared fixedly at the door, their pupils contracting. Their hearts were racing, minds going completely blank.