This night, Meng Jingwei cursed Qing Muye countless times, even going so far as to insult his ancestors by the end.
Qing Muye, torn between anger and tenderness for her, ultimately did his utmost to quicken his pace, allowing her to rest sooner.
The next day.
Meng Jingwei awoke to find Qing Muye's figure gone from the bedroom.
She wasn't surprised by this.
Dragging her sore and weary body to the bathroom to wash up, she deliberately checked herself in the mirror. Fortunately, no marks were left on her, which wouldn't hinder her filming.
Changing into a different set of clothes, she walked out of the bedroom, greeted by the rich and fragrant aroma of pumpkin congee.
Meng Jingwei, in her slippers, padded to the kitchen, where Qing Muye stood with his back to her, busy at the stove.
She leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, tilting her head to watch the man diligently cooking, finding the moment exquisitely beautiful.
After standing for a while, she noticed Qing Muye seemed oblivious to her presence. She took a few steps forward, embraced him from behind, and pressed her cheek against his back, "A Ye, good morning."
His waist suddenly felt warm. Qing Muye turned his head slightly, seeing Meng Jingwei pressed against his back, and smiled with relief. "Why didn't you sleep longer?"
"I still have to go to the set today; if I sleep any longer, I'll be late."
Meng Jingwei mumbled, closing her eyes and yawning sleepily.
Qing Muye held a spoon, stirring the congee in the pot with one hand, while holding her delicate fingers with the other, caressing her soft skin. "Your hands are so cold; you need to wear more clothes."
"Mm, I'll wear more when I go out," she replied.
"Go sit in the dining room; the congee is ready," he said gently, patting her hand.
Meng Jingwei straightened up, turned, and obediently went to sit in the dining room.
A moment later, Qing Muye emerged from the kitchen carrying a pot of congee. He saw Meng Jingwei, clad in a light blue plush jacket, propping her chin on her hands on the table, looking playful and cute.
She appeared half-asleep, lazy, like a little kitten curled up in its cozy den, basking in the winter sun.
"The weather is cold; have some congee to warm yourself up."
Qing Muye placed the congee on the table and thoughtfully served a bowl for Meng Jingwei, placing it before her.
He then returned to the kitchen, and when he reappeared, he carried a tray with two glasses of milk and a plate of preserved vegetable fried eggs.
Meng Jingwei's eyes lit up as she saw the preserved vegetable fried eggs. "You made these?"
"Who else?" the man raised an eyebrow, a hint of pride in his eyes.
"How did you know I like to eat this?"
"Mom and Dad told me." Qing Muye sat opposite her, pointing to the plate of preserved vegetable fried eggs. "A couple of days ago, Mom and Dad sent over some preserved vegetables, saying you liked them. So I called Dad and asked him to teach me how to make it."
Meng Jingwei looked at the plate of preserved vegetable fried eggs, dotted with slivers of garlic sprouts, a common and down-to-earth dish from the countryside.
Since coming to Lancheng, Meng Jingwei hadn't tasted her hometown cuisine.
She picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and chewed slowly. The taste was exactly the same as her father made.
"How is it? Is it delicious?" Qing Muye asked, full of anticipation.
Meng Jingwei bit her lip, nodded, and gazed at Qing Muye with her beautiful eyes. As she looked, a thin layer of mist began to well up in her eyes.
Her nose tingled, and she said, "A Ye, thank you."
To have such a husband was truly her honor.
Meng Jingwei could almost imagine him calling her father to ask for cooking instructions.
The man couldn't help but chuckle. He stood up, walked over, and sat beside her, raising his hand to wipe away the tears from her eyes. "Silly girl, is this little thing I did for you worth crying over?"
Meng Jingwei met his gaze for a few seconds, then burst into a giggle and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. "You've done so much for me; how could it only be this one thing?"