The two sat down at the table. Jiang Nuan placed the congee in front of him and, seeing he had recovered much and seemed much more energetic, said, "You drink some congee first."
"What about you?" Mu Jiuchen watched her quietly, still holding her hand.
Jiang Nuan smiled and pointed towards the kitchen. "I need to get mine. The maids have all gone to eat. I let them go out, and I'll be right back."
As Jiang Nuan spoke, she stood up. Mu Jiuchen still held onto her, afraid that if he let go, she would leave him. He still felt a sense of unreality, unsure if he was dreaming or awake.
Jiang Nuan looked at his hand. The man's hand was very fair, and she could clearly see the veins on his arm. It was long and good-looking. She smiled, "Mu Jiuchen, I won't leave. I'm just going to the kitchen to get some food. You haven't missed my cooking after being away from me for so long?"
Mu Jiuchen deeply missed her cooking, but how could such beautiful hands do such rough work?
"Nuan Nuan, from now on, you will be my little princess. You are not allowed to do these things," Mu Jiuchen said imperiously. Her hands were fair and soft, but there were faint calluses on her palms.
"Alright, alright. From now on, I'll be your little princess," Jiang Nuan coaxed him like she would a child.
Only then did Mu Jiuchen slowly release her hand.
Jiang Nuan turned to go into the kitchen, Mu Jiuchen's gaze following her.
Until her figure disappeared, Mu Jiuchen's dark eyes overflowed with a starry, brilliant smile. "Nuan Nuan, it's so good to see you well!"
Jiang Nuan fumbled in the kitchen for a while before emerging with a tray holding all the breakfast items.
While they were asleep, the maids had prepared breakfast. She came down and saw that the taste wasn't quite right. She was always particular about food.
The shredded chicken congee had a fishy taste and wasn't good. She wanted to make a new batch herself and told the maids to eat first.
Jiang Nuan placed an egg pancake in front of Mu Jiuchen, along with a vegetable roll, which was both rich and nutritious.
Jiang Nuan looked up and saw Mu Jiuchen still looking at her. She smiled and asked, "Why aren't you eating?"
Mu Jiuchen looked at her bright smile and asked absently, "Nuan Nuan, I'm not dreaming right now, am I?"
Jiang Nuan's expression faltered, and her heart ached slightly. She then smiled, "Mu Jiuchen, you're not dreaming. Stretch out your hand."
Mu Jiuchen obediently extended his hand.
Jiang Nuan took his ten fingers and bit down hard.
Mu Jiuchen's entire body trembled, and a jolt of electricity instantly coursed through him.
Jiang Nuan also felt his body tremble violently. She looked up, her bright eyes blinking at Mu Jiuchen.
Mu Jiuchen's earlobes turned red. Looking at her white teeth as she bit down, he actually felt a reaction.
His body, which had been abstinent for some time, seemed to have been opened up like a dam bursting.
He quickly lowered his head to eat the egg pancake. The soft, fragrant egg pancake melted in his mouth, and the long-lost taste filled his heart with happiness.
"Delicious, Nuan Nuan." She was even more delicious, but he could only savor her at night.
Jiang Nuan said, "I'll make it for you every day from now on."
Mu Jiuchen looked at her and said, "You better keep your word."
"Okay!" Jiang Nuan smiled and ate a piece of egg pancake, looking at him.
"Mu Jiuchen, after breakfast, I have something to tell you."
Mu Jiuchen: "Okay!"
They happily ate breakfast. As Jiang Nuan stood up, Mu Jiuchen also stood up, and she suddenly noticed he wasn't wearing shoes.
Thinking of how he had rushed down earlier, she felt a pang of heartache.
"Why aren't you wearing shoes?"
Mu Jiuchen glanced at his feet nonchalantly and said, "It's nothing."
Jiang Nuan couldn't do anything about him. The floor was cold, and he could easily catch a chill.
She turned and went to the shoe cabinet by the entryway. She found a pair of slippers and placed them on the floor for him to wear.
Mu Jiuchen smiled, put on the slippers, and still held Jiang Nuan's hand.
"Nuan Nuan, let's go for a walk in the garden." His voice was much more cheerful, and the uneasiness gradually subsided.
Jiang Nuan: "Okay!"
They went to the garden for a walk. After some time, Mu Jiuchen asked, "Nuan Nuan, when did you wake up?"
"A few days ago. After I woke up, I wanted to come here and look around. I ended up having an accident and met you."
Jiang Nuan said concisely.
Looking at the stone steps ahead, she sat down. Mu Jiuchen also sat beside her, his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
"During those days, it was thanks to you appearing in my dreams that I could catch my breath," Mu Jiuchen said, resting his head on her shoulder. The arrogant man, always unyielding, had set aside his pride in front of Jiang Nuan and confessed his longing.
Jiang Nuan tilted her head and looked at him. "I also saw a girl who looked very much like me beside you. I was about to follow her to see who she was when a force pulled me back, and then I woke up."
Jiang Nuan's tone carried a hint of jealousy. Mu Jiuchen's mood lifted as he listened.
"Don't worry, in my heart, no one can replace Nuan Nuan's position. That woman resembles you in every way and approached me with a purpose," Mu Jiuchen said, then kissed her cheek.
He gritted his teeth and said, "I really want to hit you." But he couldn't bear to. Seeing her standing alive and well before him was already a blessing.
"Hmph!" Jiang Nuan snorted softly. "You dare!"
Mu Jiuchen said angrily, "If you do anything dangerous or lie to me again, see if I dare?"
Jiang Nuan leaned into his embrace, sensing the underlying anxiety in his words.
"Could you bear to?" Jiang Nuan asked with a smile, her voice unusually gentle. Listening to his strong heartbeat, she silently counted his heartbeats.
"I couldn't bear to," Mu Jiuchen said, looking down at her. He loved how she leaned on him dependently.
"Nuan Nuan, what were you going to tell me just now?"
Jiang Nuan slowly straightened up from his embrace.
Mu Jiuchen wouldn't let her, pulling her back into his arms.
"Just like this, I'll listen," Mu Jiuchen said, resting his head on hers and inhaling the faint fragrance of her body. He was filled with joy.
"Oh! Mu Jiuchen, don't be too shocked after you hear this. I only feel it's fate." This was a lifelong pain for him, and only by facing it could his life become better.
"Mmm! Tell me. Besides the things you do, nothing anyone else does will shock me too much." Mu Jiuchen thought that in this world, other than her actions, there was truly nothing that could shock him.
Jiang Nuan then said, "I met your mother in the plaza, and I recognized her at a glance. She had a difficult life because she abandoned you."
Hearing this, Mu Jiuchen's mind momentarily faltered before he slowly understood what she had said.
She said she had met his mother.
Mu Jiuchen blinked his eyes and stared quietly into the distance, saying nothing.
Time seemed to stand still, his mind a whirlwind. Fragments of his childhood flooded his memory.
Happiness, joy—these were rare moments of bliss in his life.