In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

By the time they finished their meal, it was already dark.

The servants set out fresh tea and opened all the hidden recesses in the walls.

Embedded inside were actually luminous pearls.

Soft light poured out from all directions, illuminating the entire study like a courtyard under a full moon, clear and not dazzling.

Xie Yige was so shocked that she opened her mouth wide, revealing her adorable pearly teeth.

"These are all precious books; we can't use candlelight here." Cui Yutang looked at her surprised expression, just like a little squirrel.

Xie Yige then had the time to look at his study.

Both walls were lined with tall bookshelves, neatly categorized into five sections: Classics, History, Philosophy, Literature, and Appreciation. Next to the bookshelves were sliding ladders, on which were displayed many bamboo slips and silk books, gleaming with a warm, ancient charm under the pearly light.

She couldn't help but marvel—she began to have a profound understanding of the concept of "the foremost family in the Tang Dynasty".

"Cui Yutang, you have so many books!" She walked to the bookshelf, her eyes scanning the rows of books. "May I take a look?"

"Yes, you can do whatever you want with everything in this villa." He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Including me."

Xie Yige suddenly turned around and looked at him with an ambiguous expression.

"Anything is fine?"

Cui Yutang perked up and immediately put down his teacup: "Hmm, whatever you say is fine."

Xie Yige beckoned with her finger.

Cui Yutang immediately pounced on her—but she immediately pressed her palm against his chest.

It feels so good. I really want to put my hand in there.

Xie Yige's mind wavered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Go out and have someone boil some water for a foot bath, and put some ginger in it."

"Huh?" Cui Yutang immediately looked dejected.

He gave a muffled "oh" before walking out.

Xie Yige smiled gently as she watched his retreating figure, her beautiful pearly teeth shining brightly under the shimmering light.

She turned around and focused her attention back on the bookshelf.

Not long after, Cui Yutang came in carrying a basin of water in both hands.

Wisps of steam rose from the water, and the aroma of ginger wafted out with the steam, spicy yet warm.

"Why did you bring it in yourself? Where's Baoyu?" Xie Yige asked, puzzled.

"Of course I'll personally prepare the water for your foot bath." He seemed to have appeased himself, his expression quite pleasant, with a hint of smugness in his eyes.

[Finally, I can touch my wife's beautiful little feet again.]

A deep, pleasant male voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

Xie Yige blushed.

What is Dudu up to now!

"This is for you," she quickly explained, her tone softening as she looked at his somewhat aggrieved expression. "Your knees were cold today, so soak them in the water; they'll feel better tomorrow."

Cui Yutang's eyes lit up instantly, and his gaze seemed to hold beautiful little stars.

He obediently sat down and put his feet in the water.

The water temperature was just right, and the heat from the ginger spread up my calves, seemingly relieving some of the soreness in my knees.

Seeing that he was settled, Xie Yige turned her back to him and continued to look for her favorite books on the bookshelf.

My wife has an absolutely gorgeous figure.

The next thought followed immediately, a low, hoarse voice carrying a suppressed longing.

I love it.

She would look better without it.

Xie Yige didn't dare to turn her head, her face turning bright red.

[Xie Dudu, you'd better stop using that useless supernatural power of yours!]

"Master, this is the first time I've connected so smoothly." The beeping voice was filled with excitement.

[Thanks to the incredible excitement you all just had! Keep it up!]

Shut up!

Xie Yige took a deep breath, trying to bring her attention back to the bookshelf. She continued to the "Appreciation" section, drawn to the colors of several book covers.

Why hasn't she turned around to look at me even once in so long?

I'm so sad.

Does she not want me anymore?

That inner voice followed again, carrying a hint of resentment.

Xie Yige glanced over and saw that Cui Yutang's eyes were fixed on her, like a large dog that had been neglected.

[Xie Dudu, you'd better shut your head right now, or I'm going to beat you up!]

Xie Yi randomly picked the book closest to her and turned back to his side.

Dudu sighed from the corner: "My master is hopelessly infatuated; he really won't let me suffer even a little bit."

Seeing her return to his side, Cui Yutang quickly composed himself.

"What book did you choose?"

"Huh?" Xie Yige was taken aback—she hadn't even noticed. So she held the book up to him.

Cui Yutang stared at the title of the book, his gaze suddenly becoming ambiguous.

Xie Yige felt something was off and looked down at it as well.

—The Story of the Stone.

"You like watching this?" he asked, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"Oh, right," she replied, forcing herself to speak.

"Then take a good look."

After soaking his feet, he got up and asked someone to come and take away the water and the basin.

Why are they so easy to talk to? That's a bit strange.

Xie Yige was immediately captivated by the contents of the first page.

Cui Yutang sat on the other side of the couch, picked up the latest imperial edict that his father had sent him, and began to review it.

The room fell silent instantly, with only the rustling of pages turning and the soft glow of the luminous pearl flowing slowly through the air.

The Story of the Stone tells the tale of a stormy night when a tombstone in the wilderness was split in two by lightning. A villager named Li Wei thought the stone was of good quality and took it home.

One night, he came home drunk and found a pair of red embroidered shoes at his door.

Under the dim moonlight, it shimmered with an eerie red glow.

Xie Yige gradually held her breath.

She turned the page.

Li Wei bent down to pick up the embroidered shoes. When he looked up, he saw a woman in red standing in front of him. The woman's face—

"Waaaaah, Cui Yutang, this is terrifying!"

Xie Yige threw herself into Cui Yutang's arms, trembling all over, and didn't even know where the book in her hand had gone.

Cui Yutang quickly hugged her, wrapping one arm around her waist and gently patting her back with the other.

"What's wrong?" He looked down at her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"That book...it was so scary..." She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled and trembling with tears, "...It was so terrifying..."

"Is it that scary?" His hand gently stroked her back, as if comforting a frightened kitten.

She looked up with a pitiful expression, her peach blossom eyes still glistening with frightened tears. "You didn't even remind me."

"I reminded you," he said, looking at her innocently.

"I asked you, 'You like watching this,' and you said, 'Yes.'"

Xie Yige was speechless and could only bury her face deep into his chest again, the fear in her mind resurfacing.

"It's all your fault anyway."

"Yeah, it's all my fault."

His eyes swept over the blankets on the bed, and he could no longer hide the smile on his lips.