269 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Jiang Ying felt her teeth itch with the desire to shout: "I hate that you're such a blockhead!" But she couldn't say that now. If she did, Lei Shuang would get startled and retreat far away like a scared rabbit. All her efforts up to this point would be wasted. Jiang Ying's cheeks tinged with red as she averted her gaze, avoiding eye contact with Lei Shuang, and with some hesitation, she revealed a bit of her true feelings: "If I didn’t want this, I would have cut ties completely." Hearing her words, Lei Shuang froze as if in a stupor. Gradually, her expression changed. First, her eyebrows shot up high, then the corners of her mouth widened in a lively dance across her face. "Right," Lei Shuang foolishly agreed. If Jiang Ying didn't want this, or truly hated her enough to want her dead, why wouldn’t she strike while she was asleep? Not only had Jiang Ying refrained from violence, but she also allowed their hair to be intertwined, sleeping side by side until daylight. So, didn’t the underlying truth reveal itself: Jiang Ying doesn’t hate her, doesn’t dislike her, might even like her a little bit? Didn't that mean she didn't need to die? Lei Shuang's joy was unmistakable. She seized Jiang Ying's hand tightly, her face animated with excitement: "Are you willing to become my companion?" "Reluctantly, perhaps," Jiang Ying adopted an air of loftiness, clearing her throat before speaking. "After all, we know each other well, and you’re not bad." "Good, good, good!" Lei Shuang leaped three feet into the air with glee. Jiang Ying's words, "you're not bad," translated in Lei Shuang's mind to "you're very good, trustworthy, dependable," making her feel as if her tail would wag right up to the sky. However, mid-leap, their hair tie pulled taut, yanking at her scalp and immediately turning joy to pain. “Ouch!” Lei Shuang grimaced, appealing to Jiang Ying, “We can’t keep our hair tied like this forever. What do we do?” Instead, Jiang Ying asked her, “Do you acknowledge today’s events?” Without hesitation, Lei Shuang replied, “I acknowledge!” At this point, there was no way she wouldn’t. Deep down, a subtle joy flickered within her, though she couldn’t quite understand why. Perhaps it was surviving a near-death experience, not being hunted by Jiang Ying, and instead embracing a beauty as her companion; Lei Shuang was blissfully content. Yet having just narrowly escaped death, she dared not be too wanton. If Jiang Ying grew displeased and it led to her demise, that would be far from blissful. Jiang Ying shot her a glance, and with a swift motion, drew a dagger, decisively cutting through the hair tie. Upon seeing the cold glint of the knife, Lei Shuang's first instinct was one of guilt. That Jiang Ying carried such a sharp dagger with her was enough to send chills down her spine, imagining what could have happened if it had silently found its way to her throat in the dead of night. She wouldn’t have stood a chance. Lei Shuang shivered at the thought, internally vowing that Jiang Ying sparing her life today would be met with lifelong gratitude and dedication, striving to be a worthy companion. Unexpectedly, after cutting the hair, Jiang Ying tied each severed lock into a knot, placing them in two separate silk pouches. Handing one to Lei Shuang, Jiang Ying commanded, "Keep this well." Lei Shuang was stunned once again, her expression vacant. After a moment of surprise, comprehension dawned, turning her worry into joy as she eagerly rubbed her hands. Wasn't this the testament of her love... no, her future love? Why shouldn't a marriage of convenience also be considered love? She would cherish it dearly! Chapter 293 Ren Qingyue found herself unable to sleep well in the first half of the night because Yan Zhao kept tossing and turning, even resting her head on Ren Qingyue's chest, making it impossible for her to find sleep. Finally, in the latter half, she got used to the weight of Yan Zhao on her and drifted into a hazy sleep. In the Demon Realm, the days and nights weren’t distinct, blurring the boundaries of time, so when Ren Qingyue awoke, she had no idea how long she had slept. A soft brush against her cheek stirred her from slumber. Slowly opening her eyes, she took in her unfamiliar surroundings with cautious suspicion, shifting her gaze to discover Yan Zhao already awake, propped on her elbows, chin in hands, watching her. "When did you wake up?" Ren Qingyue inquired. Yan Zhao's eyes darted, avoiding contact, her expression slightly nervous: "Not too long ago." Ren Qingyue was skeptical: "Is that really the truth?" Yan Zhao replied, "It is the truth." "Then why do you look so guilty?" Ren Qingyue found it amusing; Yan Zhao's evasive eyes were far too telling. Yan Zhao stubbornly straightened her neck: "I'm not guilty of anything." Ren Qingyue, with quiet conviction, pressed on: "Are you hiding something from me? Will you talk or not?" Faced with her elder sister's persistence, Yan Zhao realized escape was futile; she lowered her head, sounding a bit defeated: "I secretly kissed you." Now it was Ren Qingyue's turn to be taken aback. She recalled the fleeting touch she felt on her cheek just before waking, a sensation so ephemeral she paid it no mind, given her drowsiness. A soft blush spread across Ren Qingyue’s ears as she redirected her gaze: "Aren’t you being a bit overbearing?" Kissing her while she slept! Though she didn't actually mind, she couldn't condone it outright! Yan Zhao, focused on her fingers, confessed: "I was wrong." Ren Qingyue arched an eyebrow: "Do you really understand you were wrong?" Yan Zhao obediently nodded. Seeing her contrite demeanor, Ren Qingyue pressed further: "How much do you remember about last night?" Yan Zhao tilted her head thoughtfully and said the unexpected: "I remember you tearing my clothes." Ren Qingyue: "???" Her eyes widened: "When did I ever tear your clothes?" Yan Zhao got up from the bed, pulling at her collar to reveal the evidence of torn fabric near the strap: "Proof." "!" Ren Qingyue's temples throbbed. "That's you tearing your own clothes!" Yan Zhao looked baffled: "Huh?" Ren Qingyue reprimanded sharply: "I let you drink so much! You got completely inebriated, then clung to me, making a scene!" Yan Zhao's eyes widened: "I hugged Sister?" Ren Qingyue was speechless at her focus, thinking: Didn't you hug me enough? Unexpectedly, Yan Zhao sighed in regret: "I can't remember, what a pity." Ren Qingyue: "..." She poked Yan Zhao's forehead with a finger: "What goes through your little head all day long? Acknowledge your mistake?" Yan Zhao nodded: "I acknowledge my mistake." "Then write me an apology letter," Ren Qingyue instructed. "Start now." Yan Zhao promptly got out of bed, swiftly heading to the nearby table, where she gathered pen, ink, and paper to write her apology in a composed manner. As she began writing, Ren Qingyue reminded her: “Detail everything honestly. No shortcuts.” Yan Zhao nodded and began to write. Seizing the moment, Ren Qingyue changed into fresh clothes, then gracefully approached the table to see Yan Zhao writing: "I shouldn’t have gotten drunk; next time, drink less." Teachable, Ren Qingyue nodded in approval. Then she saw Yan Zhao add another line: "I shouldn’t forget hugging Sister, next time remember it." Ren Qingyue: "?" Yan Zhao continued writing: "I shouldn’t secretly kiss Sister, I should ask for permission." Thinking that would be the end of it, she was surprised when Yan Zhao dipped her pen again and wrote: "I shouldn’t misunderstand Sister tearing my clothes." "Even if it was Sister who tore them, it’s fine, but tearing clothes is a bad habit, best not to." Ren Qingyue: "..." As Yan Zhao made to continue writing, Ren Qingyue stopped her: "Enough, that’s sufficient." If she allowed Yan Zhao to keep writing, who knew what form this apology letter would take. It would be utterly embarrassing if anyone else saw it. Yan Zhao hesitated, not releasing the pen: "But I haven’t finished." Ren Qingyue asked, "What else do you have to write?" Yan Zhao looked directly into her eyes, clear and sincere: "I shouldn’t lie to Sister, I woke up half an hour earlier than I said." Surprised, Ren Qingyue remarked, "You woke up that early? What did you do during that half hour?" Yan Zhao replied, "I watched Sister." Ren Qingyue suddenly felt embarrassed, yet outwardly feigned indifference: "Oh? You watched me?" Yan Zhao, earnest as ever, asserted: "Sister looks beautiful when she sleeps." Her enthusiastic expression struck a chord within Ren Qingyue, causing gentle ripples in her once calm heart. All those years, she never felt pleased by compliments on her appearance, but today she made an exception for Yan Zhao. "What's so fascinating about someone sleeping?" Ren Qingyue turned her face away, deciding to drop the matter from last night. Offhandedly, she asked, "You spent half an hour watching me? Is it possible you did more than just sneak a kiss?" Yan Zhao immediately showed a sheepish demeanor as if caught: "...Not that much more." Ren Qingyue was both surprised and amused, along with an indescribable tickle at her heart: "Just how many times did you kiss me?" Yan Zhao counted on her fingers, moving from one to ten without stopping, and then started a second round before finally arriving at an exact number: "Sixteen times." She glanced cautiously at her senior sister: "It... it wasn't that much." Her voice faltered, laced with guilt. Ren Qingyue was impressed, less from annoyance and more from the absurdity of it all. Amusement reached a pinnacle where anger seemed inappropriate, so she mockingly glared at Yan Zhao: "You sneaked sixteen kisses on me, so I get to twist your ear sixteen times, no objection?" Immediately, Yan Zhao's face crumpled miserably, her features bunching together: "No objections." Ren Qingyue pinched Yan Zhao's ear, twisting it in eight turns to the left and then to the right, completing sixteen precise twists. Yan Zhao grimaced, the ear turning bright red, nearly a size larger than the other. Upon releasing her, Yan Zhao clutched her ear, thinking: Had I known, I wouldn’t have confessed. If she hadn’t confessed, her senior sister wouldn’t have discovered, and she wouldn’t have received the ear-twisting punishment. But just as this thought settled, Ren Qingyue spoke up: "I'm a firm believer of merit and punishment balanced fairly. Mistakes require penalties, while honesty deserves rewards. For your candor today, you earn a reward." Yan Zhao's eyes immediately sparkled with anticipation: "What’s the reward, what’s the reward?" Ren Qingyue replied, "I can grant you any wish." Immediately, Yan Zhao's mind whirred, about to blurt out her wish when Ren Qingyue continued sternly: "Except agreeing to be your companion; until you've thoroughly contemplated your answer to my question, don't expect shortcuts." Dampened slightly, Yan Zhao felt a pang of disappointment that quickly faded, and she perked up again: "Then I'll choose something else." Ren Qingyue gave a slight nod, indicating for her to speak. Yan Zhao declared, "I want to kiss Sister!” "…" Ren Qingyue laughed at the request, "You already kissed me sixteen times this morning, isn't that enough?" She assumed Yan Zhao might come up with something more daring or challenging, but Yan Zhao, being the simple and endearing person she was, didn't stray far beyond her innocent desire. Yan Zhao shook her head earnestly: "Not enough." Recalling the sixteen secret kisses from this morning, Ren Qingyue felt a sense of calm, becoming quite accustomed to Yan Zhao's frequent requests for kisses. Ren Qingyue accepted it with equanimity, thinking that another kiss wouldn’t make much difference. She had been kissed many times by Yan Zhao before. Ren Qingyue nodded in agreement: "Alright." Delighted, Yan Zhao quickly said: "Sister, close your eyes then." This was the first time Yan Zhao had made such a request. Initially, Ren Qingyue found it odd, but she quickly saw sense in it. How mischievous could Yan Zhao possibly be? It was likely that Yan Zhao felt embarrassed by her gaze, thus requesting she close her eyes. Ren Qingyue herself found it awkward. Receiving a conscious kiss from Yan Zhao felt completely different than having been kissed while asleep. Embracing the moment, she closed her eyes, surrendering to the sweetness of it all.