The worse you are, the stronger you become: My summoned beast is a photographer.

The problem with being overly telepathic is that you can hear the other person's thoughts and feelings at any time.

Aura blushed, feeling the jumbled thoughts in Ming Luochen's mind bouncing and hopping towards her heart like a group of rabbits without leashes.

My wife has such a great figure...it smells so good!

Ming Luochen rode on the back of his centaur wife, his arms around her slender waist. He buried his head in Aura's neck with a lovesick look and took a deep breath. The scent of the girl's sweat mixed with her faint body fragrance was like some kind of addictive drug, making him feel dizzy.

Aura was so embarrassed she almost tripped over her horse's hooves. She was glad that only she could hear what he was thinking—it was understandable why a man who had been single for thirty-four years would be so clingy if he suddenly had a girlfriend.

I felt both happy and sad.

She was happy that Ming Luochen liked her so much, feeling that she hadn't chosen the wrong person; she was worried because his love was too intense, and it was the first time she had faced such a burning and clingy affection, especially his heartfelt words, which were so cloying they gave her goosebumps, and she really couldn't handle them. If he dared to say some of those things out loud, she really wanted to throw him off her back.

Back at the manor, Valerius happily showed Marina the treasures bestowed upon him by His Majesty, and talked at length about his afternoon tea with Fitz that day.

"Our daughter has really grown up; she handled the special envoy with ease."

He spoke with great enthusiasm, gesturing wildly as he spoke. Marina listened attentively, nodding occasionally, but her gaze was already fixed on the treasures, her mind probably calculating how to store them.

Just as the conversation came to a close, a servant's voice came from outside, reminding them that it was time for dinner.

On the huge dining table, there were boiled vegetables, cold salads, and fruits...

There are still many key ingredients.

Ming Luochen glanced at the table full of green vegetables, his eye twitching in disgust. He'd only eaten a few bites a few days ago while caring for the comatose Aura, not paying much attention. But after eating fruits and vegetables for several days in a row, he was experiencing diarrhea. He was always a glutton, a carnivore—his extra weight wasn't from a vegetarian diet—and suddenly lost his appetite for dinner. His mouth felt utterly bland; if he kept eating like this, he felt he'd lose weight.

[This is practically a weight-loss meal.]

He lowered his head and took a bite of the apple, finding it tasteless. He began to miss barbecue, hot pot, fried chicken, spicy hot pot... Even instant noodles, which he used to find unpalatable, now seemed like an unattainable delicacy.

Aura was also in a dilemma. The things Ming Luochen liked to eat seemed to simply not exist in this world. Through his memories, she saw those steaming, glistening foods and couldn't help but swallow hard—not to mention Ming Luochen wanted to eat them, she wanted to try what hamburgers and fries were like.

Ming Luochen munched on an apple with disdain, swinging his legs as he sat on a large stool—which was really just a widened and thickened crossbeam for centaurs to lean on while standing; he looked like a child sitting on it. He searched his mind for Aura's memories, finding only martial arts training and useless information. He wanted to find some ingredients, but his father-in-law doted on his daughter; she never lifted a finger and ate mostly fruits and vegetables. Occasionally, she would even eat dirt to supplement her calcium, and even the salt was bitter mineral salt.

However, in Aura's memory, the high school professor had talked about the characteristics of some plants when teaching a wilderness survival class, which piqued Ming Luochen's interest.

Some wild plants are bought by merchants in the city and sold to restaurants and pharmacies. If you could gather enough non-toxic plants that represent the sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors, wouldn't you be able to cook for yourself? Or you could use the spices already discovered in this world. Ming Luochen's interest was piqued, and his eyes lit up slightly.

Let's not make anything complicated for now, but grilling should be manageable. As for the main course, we'll have to figure something out—he really can't stand eating leafy greens for every meal.

After a few bites of food, Ming Luochen went to the bathroom to take a shower. Although this world lacked natural gas, it possessed magic stones imbued with fire element. Simply tossing one into the water and it would boil like a red-hot stone, heating the water. Moreover, these magic stones could be used repeatedly. He tossed the magic stone into the tub, watching the steam rise from the surface, and thought that this world wasn't so primitive after all; in fact, it was even better than some impoverished rural areas.

Nobles wore both tops and trousers, and even had special pajamas for sleeping—loose, long white linen shirts. The material wasn't limited to linen; silk was more expensive, and even for an earl's family, wearing silk was considered extremely luxurious. He changed into his pajamas; the fabric felt a little rough against his skin, but it was still quite comfortable.

My wife's awake, so how about tonight... hehehe?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he paused for a moment before quickly shaking his head.

No, no, my wife just woke up and needs to rest.

Ming Luochen returned to the bedroom and lay down on the enormous bed. The bed was as wide as a small square, and when he lay down, it was like a leaf falling onto a lake. But his mind wouldn't listen, and he started to let his thoughts wander again. Thinking of his wife's figure, centaur-like, it really was like riding a big horse. A mischievous smile crept onto his lips. He turned over and buried his face in the pillow.

Aura blushed crimson, her mind replaying images of Ming Luochen. After showering, she took several deep breaths at the bathroom door before mustering the courage to walk into the bedroom. Pushing open the door, she met Ming Luochen's eyes, which held a mixture of nervousness and anticipation—like a puppy waiting at the door for its owner to come home—and gave him a reproachful glare.

Can you please stop being so lecherous for a day?

"It's because you're too beautiful." Ming Luochen smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. She was the one who initiated it, sneaking into his room in a lace nightgown in the middle of the night, and now she was blaming him.

But his wife really was beautiful, and had such a great figure. Ming Luochen's gaze fell on Aura, and his breathing became heavy involuntarily.

She had shed her daytime finery, wearing only a loose, plain white nightgown. Her long hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, a few strands clinging to her neck, giving her a rare softness over her former aristocratic sharpness. Moonlight streamed in through the high window, bathing her in a soft, silvery glow.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his eyes filled with tension and barely suppressed anticipation. He stared at her intently, his heart pounding so hard it could almost be heard in the quiet room.

Aura closed the door and turned off the light. The room was plunged into darkness, with only the moonlight remaining.

She nervously lay down on the bed, the bed slumping slightly. A horse's hoof lightly touched the edge of the bed before retracting. Ming Luochen didn't pounce on her; instead, he lay quietly to one side, like a neatly rolled-up blanket, obediently pressed against the edge of the bed.

Behave yourself and sleep quietly. Your wife needs rest.

Ming Luochen turned his back to Aura, closed his eyes, and tried to distract himself. He silently recited the multiplication table and then went through "Quiet Night Thoughts" again, but it didn't work. So he started thinking about what to eat tomorrow.

Through his memories, Koola saw things she shouldn't have. Her cheeks flushed, but a small voice inside her said—surely no one else knows that a horse's first time also results in bleeding.

She suddenly felt like laughing.

Aura smiled faintly, feeling a warmth in her heart—he was still restraining himself. He had clearly thought about it a million times, but he didn't utter a single word, turning his back as if he were being punished.

She slowly reached out and embraced Ming Luochen, her arms encircling his waist, her palms resting on his slightly cool pajamas. Then, she leaned close to his ear, her lips almost touching his earlobe, and whispered:

"husband."

Those two words were as soft as cotton candy and as sweet as honey, sweetening the ear and reaching the heart.

Ming Luochen was overjoyed; it was the first time he'd ever heard her address him like that. He whirled around, nearly bumping into her nose, his eyes sparkling like stars, and excitedly asked, "Could you call me that again?"

"Honey." Aura's tone softened, the last syllable rising slightly, like a kitten gently patting her with its paw. She hadn't expected him to be so easily satisfied; he was just too adorable.

Ming Luochen felt his heart melt. He hugged his centaur wife tightly, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He really wanted to brag to everyone—I have a wife! I have the most beautiful wife in the world!

Ming Luochen, who was immersed in excitement, felt a warm breath on his ear, which made him feel itchy. He heard Aura's thoughts.

If you want it, you can have it anytime... Don't hold back. It's my duty as a wife.

A sweet feeling washed over him, as if someone had poured a jar of honey into his heart.

Moonlight streamed through the window, falling on her slightly pursed lips, a pale pink like peach blossoms just beginning to bloom in spring. The longing he had suppressed throughout the day, hidden from his gaze, suddenly burst forth. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and as he leaned forward, even his breathing trembled, as if afraid to disturb a butterfly perched on a petal.

Aura noticed the movement and looked up, her nose brushing against his refreshing scent before she could even speak. A light, cautious kiss landed on her lips.

Like a soft feather gently brushing past, so light it's almost unreal, yet incredibly hot.

Aura froze instantly, her eyelashes trembled violently, her ear tips turned bright red, and even the fingers gripping the corner of the blanket tightened involuntarily, wrinkling the small piece of fabric.

Ming Luochen didn't dare linger. He touched her briefly and then pulled back slightly, looking down at her reddened earlobes. His eyes were full of nervousness, yet also concealed an uncontrollable anticipation. His voice was as low as a whisper in the night wind: "Aura... I..."

"I love you."

Knowing his feelings perfectly, Aura pressed his head down and continued the kiss. Her fingers ran through his hair, her palm pressed against the back of his head, the pressure just right, leaving him nowhere to retreat.

No words were needed; they were lost in a passionate kiss.

【I love you too.】

Whether on plains or mountain peaks, all the boundless scenery has been claimed. After gathering nectar from a hundred flowers to make honey, for whom is the toil, for whom the sweetness?

As soon as the morning bell rang, Aura dragged the drowsy Ming Luochen out of bed. He was still dreaming, in which he was gnawing on a roasted chicken leg, the skin crispy and the juices overflowing—when a pair of warm hands pulled him out of the abyss of delicious food.

"Ugh... just five more minutes..." he mumbled as he turned over and pulled the blanket over his head.

Aura was both amused and exasperated. She simply lifted him off the bed, blanket and all, like picking up a lazy cat.

After a quick tidy-up and putting on her clothes, she hurried off towards the academy. Ming Luochen lay on her back, his eyes not fully open, his head slowly drooping, only to be jolted awake by her long hair, repeating this cycle over and over.

Their hurried footsteps concealed a tacit, ambiguous understanding between them.

I was neither late nor early.

As soon as she entered the classroom, Aura's former friend greeted her warmly, "Good morning, Aura." Her voice was half a tone higher than usual, carrying a deliberate enthusiasm.

News travels fast in aristocratic circles, and the news of the royal family's invitation to Aura had already spread throughout the circle. Everyone knew what it meant for a family to be favored by the royal family.

"Ora, I made breakfast. Try it and see if you like it." A fox-eared girl enthusiastically brought a bento box to Ora. The bento box was wrapped in pink cloth and tied with a pretty bow.

"Thank you, but I've already had breakfast, so I don't need it." Aura politely declined, her tone as indifferent as if she were simply saying that the weather was nice today.

She knew perfectly well what was going on. Compared to these friends, she truly didn't care about them now. Back when she summoned an F-rank summoned beast and was ostracized by the entire school, not a single one of them stood up for her. Now that she had received the goddess's blessing and was summoned by the royal family, they all crowded around her, their faces beaming with smiles, as if nothing had happened.

At this moment, she only had Ming Luochen in her heart and wanted to stay by his side. Everyone else seemed like a third wheel, which was a bit annoying.

She led Ming Luochen to her seat, pressed him down to sit beside her, and stood to the side, the four hooves of her horse gently pattering on the stone floor. She glanced down at him, a slight smile unconsciously curving her lips.

Ming Luochen yawned and rubbed his eyes, completely unaware of the complex, envious, and jealous glances cast at him from the classroom.

His world is very small, so small that it can only hold one person.

And that person was standing right next to him.