Chapter 125: Perhaps You Are Too Beautiful

The remnants of the meal on the eight-immortal table were cleared away by Mrs. Li and Gu Xiaoshu, while the two Chu brothers sat in the corner, their faces flushed a deep red.

Inside the room, Madam Liu remained, still refusing to eat. She seemed to be locked in a stubborn standoff with Gu Xiaoyao and the others. However, during the meal, no one had even remembered she was still in there; had it not been for the occasional clatter coming from her room, no one would have noticed her presence at all.

"Xiaoyao, are we really not going to save any food for her? Your mother-in-law hasn't eaten yet, and she's still throwing a tantrum in there!"

Mrs. Li had always been perceptive. As soon as she heard the sound of Madam Liu smashing things inside, she knew the woman was merely looking for attention. Yet, Gu Xiaoyao lived by the principle that one must earn their keep to eat, much like the Chu brothers. Even though they had done things in the past that disgusted her, as long as they were willing to work and didn't cause trouble, she could temporarily set the past aside.

"Don't worry about her. Once you've finished cleaning up, go back to your room and rest. She won't come out here; she wouldn't dare."

Gu Xiaoyao could not tolerate the vice of laziness. If Madam Liu wanted to eat, she would have to go out into the fields and work. If she expected the younger generation to wait on her hand and foot like a deity, that would only happen once she was dead and her memorial tablet was sitting in the room.

"Is this really the right way? Won't it look bad?"

Mrs. Li was worried that her son-in-law might eventually think her daughter was too harsh and was mistreating his own mother.

"It's fine. She'll come out after a couple of days of fussing. If we give in now, she'll be riding on our heads from here on out."

Gu Xiaoyao felt this was perfectly fine. She needed to be left hungry for a few days; people could be base creatures, and sometimes, unless you've gone hungry for a few days, you don't know what it’s like to look at a leaf and crave it.

After Mrs. Li acknowledged this and finished tidying up, Gu Xiaoyao squatted on the threshold, staring blankly ahead.

"Wife, are you alright?"

Seeing her face flushed and her expression dazed, Chu Chengjin realized she was a bit tipsy.

"I'm fine, I'm doing great! Come on, let's go inside and rest."

Gu Xiaoyao suddenly stood up, looked at Chu Chengjin, pursed her lips, and pulled him into the room by the hand.

Once inside, Gu Xiaoyao pulled him onto the kang, kicked off her shoes, and then pressed down on Chu Chengjin's shoulders, asking with great seriousness.

"Chu Chengjin, why do you look better the more I look at you? Are you wearing lip balm? Why do your lips look so delicious?"

The wine had left her feeling light and airy, and her tether to reason seemed to have snapped completely. Gu Xiaoyao heard the words coming out of her own mouth.

"Wife, do you want to taste them?"

Chu Chengjin smiled, his lips curling into a look that carried a hint of wickedness. He reached out to gently stroke her flushed cheeks with his fingers.

The heat from her skin seeped into his palms, and Gu Xiaoyao, feeling the coolness of his fingers, rubbed her face against them like a kitten.

"Your hands are so cool and comfortable. If I want to taste them, are you willing to let me?"

"No, that's not right. If I want to taste them, you certainly wouldn't be able to stop me. Since we are husband and wife, this is only natural."

Gu Xiaoyao’s once-clear eyes now seemed veiled in a misty haze. With a sudden burst of strength, she pressed Chu Chengjin down onto the kang. Their robes tangled together with the movement, while Chu Chengjin’s hand remained resting against her burning cheek.