Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

The terrifying power of the Golden Core Tribulation seemed to still linger in Chen Xueru's senses. The searing pain as the lightning struck, the agony of her meridians being torn apart and then rebuilt, and the immense joy and exhaustion of successfully condensing her Golden Core at the final moment—all these were etched into her memory. That tribulation had exhausted almost all of her spiritual power and energy, but it also propelled her cultivation to a new level—the early stage of the Golden Core realm.

Having survived the ordeal, Chen Xueru recuperated for a full month under He Damin's meticulous care. During this month, He Damin turned down almost all unnecessary social engagements and business, becoming Chen Xueru's most loyal guardian.

The villa's courtyard wasn't large, but it was meticulously maintained. Every morning, as the first rays of golden sunlight filtered through the dense camphor tree leaves, casting dappled shadows, He Damin would accompany Chen Xueru in practicing Tai Chi in the yard. Chen Xueru had just recovered, and her movements were still very gentle, each step slow and graceful, like willow branches swaying in the wind. He Damin would follow closely beside her, his movements steady and powerful, carrying a sense of returning to simplicity. He would occasionally stop to gently correct Chen Xueru's breathing or adjust her posture. When his fingertips touched her slightly cool arms, he could always feel the faint yet resilient energy emanating from her inner core. Morning dew dampened their hair and clothes, the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and earth, and occasionally, early birds would chirp sweetly in the branches.

In the afternoon, the sunlight softened, and the study became their private world. He Damin would choose a book that interested Chen Xueru, or simply study some ancient alchemical texts with her. Chen Xueru would lean back on the soft sofa, a book in her hands, the sunlight streaming through the French windows, casting a warm glow on her. He Damin would sit on the single sofa beside her, sometimes reading, sometimes just quietly watching her. He would watch her slightly furrowed brow in thought, watch her occasional smile of sudden realization, watch her small movements of her neck as she sat for a long time. The study was quiet, with only the rustling of turning pages and the silent warmth flowing between them.

As night falls, the stars twinkle. They move together to the balcony, where two wicker chairs and a small tea table are placed. He Damin brews a pot of tea, and the two sit side by side, gazing up at the deep night sky. Hong Kong nights are filled with flashing neon lights, and while the stars aren't numerous, the occasional bright one is enough to soothe the soul. Chen Xueru rests her head gently on He Damin's shoulder, feeling the warmth and security emanating from him. He Damin, in turn, extends his arm to embrace her, listening to her softly share her insights on cultivation, or simply enjoying this rare tranquility.

He Yushui is the busiest person in the family, with a ton of work at the TV station and the company. When she occasionally has a spare moment to return to the villa, she can't help but tease He Damin when she sees him looking like a "good family man."

"Uncle, have you changed your ways? You used to be so elusive, always running around, either in meetings or socializing. Now you've become a hands-off boss, always running around after Auntie." He Yushui said with a grin as she stood at the living room doorway, holding a stack of documents.

He Damin was carrying in a bowl of freshly stewed rock sugar pears, intending to soothe Chen Xueru's throat. Hearing this, he wasn't annoyed, but his eyes and brows were full of smiles: "Your aunt just went through a tribulation, she's weak, she needs to rest well. I'm at ease with you and your brother keeping an eye on things at the company and the TV station."

He Yushui pouted, knowing that her uncle was determined to stay with her aunt, so she didn't say anything more and ran upstairs with the documents to deal with them. Actually, she was quite happy for them. Her uncle and aunt had gone through a lot, and it was good that they could live such a peaceful life now.

He Yuzhu also frequently returned from the restaurant. He was now a well-known catering entrepreneur in Hong Kong, but his respect for He Damin and Chen Xueru remained undiminished. Each time he returned, he always carried something—either fresh ingredients or carefully prepared tonics. That evening, he returned carrying a thermos, and as soon as he entered, he shouted, "Uncle, Aunt, I'm home!"

He strode over to Chen Xueru, carefully opened the lid of the food bowl, and a rich, delicious aroma immediately filled the air. "Auntie, please try this. This is a fish maw, conch, and chicken soup that I had the head chef in the kitchen specially stew for you. It's been simmered for a whole day, so it's very nourishing and will also help stabilize your cultivation."

In the bowl, the golden chicken broth was crystal clear, with large chunks of fish maw and conch meat clearly visible, along with tender, stewed chicken. Chen Xueru smiled as she took the bowl from He Yuzhu, scooped up a spoonful, and felt the warm broth slide down her throat—delicious and rich, instantly spreading warmth throughout her body. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Zhu's cooking skills are getting better and better! This soup is even more authentic than those in those fancy restaurants."

He Yuzhu was a little embarrassed by the praise. He chuckled twice, scratched his head, and gave a simple smile: "I'm glad you like it, Auntie. If you like it, I'll stew it for you again tomorrow."

A few days later, He Daqing also arrived. He was now helping out at the restaurant with He Yuzhu, and his life was relatively stable. He carried two exquisitely packaged boxes of bird's nest, and seemed a little flustered as he entered. He sat down on the sofa, placed his hands on his knees, rubbed them together, and his eyes darted between He Damin and Chen Xueru, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

He Damin saw through his thoughts and poured him a cup of hot tea: "Brother, have some tea."

He Daqing took the teacup, took a sip, and as if having made a great decision, finally spoke: "Damin, Xueru, you...you're not young anymore. Life is so good, shouldn't...shouldn't you consider having a child?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xueru's cheeks flushed bright red, all the way to her ears. She subconsciously lowered her head, her fingers gently twisting the hem of her clothes.

He Damin, on the other hand, seemed quite calm. He smiled and said to He Daqing, "Brother, this can't be rushed. Xue Ru has just survived her tribulation, and her body still needs proper care."

He Daqing was about to say something when Qin Huairu, sitting next to him, quietly tugged at his sleeve, glared at him, and then turned to He Damin and Chen Xueru, a smile spreading across her face: "Damin knows what he's doing, so don't worry about it. Having a child is a matter of fate; it will come naturally when the time is right."

When Qin Huairu glared at him like that, He Daqing swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, gave an awkward smile, lowered his head and continued to drink his tea without saying another word.

After seeing He Daqing and Qin Huairu off, the villa returned to its tranquility. Chen Xueru leaned gently on He Damin's shoulder. Only a warm yellow floor lamp was on in the room, casting a soft light. She was silent for a moment before whispering, "Brother Damin, he's right. We...should have a child."

He Damin looked down at her. Under the lamplight, her cheeks still held a lingering blush, and her beautiful eyes sparkled as if filled with starlight, carrying a hint of expectation and a touch of shyness. He reached out and gently stroked her hair, saying softly, "Okay. Once you've fully recovered, we'll let things happen naturally, okay? No rush."

Chen Xueru nodded vigorously, burying her face deeper into his chest, feeling the warmth of his chest and the strong heartbeat, her heart filled with peace and anticipation.

A month passed quietly in peaceful and warm daily life. Chen Xueru's body had finally fully recovered, and not only that, her cultivation at the early stage of the Golden Core realm had also been completely stabilized. She looked inward at her dantian, where the round and full Golden Core was slowly rotating, emitting a warm yet powerful light. With each rotation, strands of spiritual energy nourished her limbs and bones.

After enduring the tribulation of lightning and a month of careful recuperation, Chen Xueru's complexion was astonishingly good. Her skin had become even more delicate and fair, with a rosy glow, like a freshly peeled egg, smooth and delicate. Her already bright eyes now seemed to shimmer with light, like two of the most dazzling stars. Her whole being exuded a refined and vibrant beauty, as if she had been reborn.

Looking at her, He Damin felt a ticklish sensation in his heart, like a kitten's claws scratching at him. He had been holding back for a month. From the moment she successfully survived her tribulation and was left extremely weak, he had been taking meticulous care of her, not daring to overstep his bounds in the slightest. Now, seeing her fully recovered, even more radiant than before, the emotions he had suppressed for so long surged forth like a flood bursting its banks.

That evening, He Yushui went to the TV station for an important planning meeting and was expected to return very late. He Yuzhu was on duty at the restaurant, dealing with the evening peak customer flow. Only He Damin and Chen Xueru remained in the entire villa.

He Damin came out of the shower, wrapped only in a towel, water droplets sliding down his muscular chest and arms. He walked to the bedroom door and saw Chen Xueru sitting in front of the dressing table, staring blankly at a delicate little mirror. Soft light shone on her, giving her a hazy glow.

He walked over quietly and gently hugged her from behind. His chest pressed against her back, feeling the softness and warmth of her body. "What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?" His voice, languid and husky from just having showered, sounded in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

Chen Xueru's body trembled slightly, then she relaxed, leaning against his chest, and whispered, "It's nothing... I was just thinking, Brother Damin, have you ever thought about what our child will be like?"

He Damin gently rested his chin on the top of her head, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair. He thought carefully for a moment, then said, "If it's a boy, like me, tall and strong, I can protect you in the future. If it's a girl, like you, beautiful and gentle, our little princess."

Chen Xueru chuckled, a gentle smile curving her lips. "So, in your heart, do you hope it's a boy or a girl?"

"Either is fine." He Damin turned her around so that she was facing him. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes, his gaze filled with love and seriousness. "As long as it's our child, boy or girl, I'll love it."

Chen Xueru's face flushed again, as if it had been smeared with rouge. She lowered her head shyly, her long eyelashes fluttering gently like two small fans, and stopped talking.

Looking at her shy expression, He Damin's love deepened. He bent down and carefully lifted her up in his arms. Chen Xueru gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat. He Damin carried her step by step towards the soft bed.

That night, the moon outside the window was exceptionally round and bright, like a giant silver plate hanging in the deep blue sky. Moonlight silently streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a hazy, silvery-white glow on the floor, like a thin layer of frost.

He Damin held Chen Xueru tightly, as if trying to meld her into his very bones. Time seemed to stand still at that moment, leaving only their rapid breathing and strong heartbeats. They felt each other's warmth, shared their love, and their spirits and bodies merged perfectly in that instant.