After My Faked Death Failed, My Ex-Wife Came Chasing After Me - Chapter 40

“I will take responsibility for you for the rest of my life.”

Lu Ting’an froze instantly, gazing at her in utter disbelief.

“You… are you serious?”

Lin Zheng nodded, appearing somewhat puzzled by the question: “Mhm.”

A wave of horror surged through Lu Ting’an’s heart as a battle raged within her mind. This isn’t right. Did the sun rise from the west today? Since when did Lin Zheng become so easy-talking?

Lin Zheng looked at her with a steady gaze and said calmly, “What, are you unwilling?”

Lu Ting’an swallowed hard, lowered her head, and whispered, “Forget it… You just suffered internal injuries from breaking through your cultivation realm, and you’ve only just settled that mess of a legal case. You’re exhausted enough as it is; you should go back and rest first.”

Lin Zheng’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She leaned down a bit, staring into Lu Ting’an’s eyes, and said, “It does not matter. I wish to treat you.”

Lu Ting’an was momentarily choked up. She instinctively averted her gaze, not daring to look at her. Frantically, she raised her hand to rub the back of her head and said, “Then… then let it be at Yingyue Pavilion. I’ll host the banquet; consider it a celebration for your successful breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.”

The corners of Lin Zheng’s lips rose slightly, pulling into a faint, shallow smile: “Fine, everything shall be as you wish.”

Although Lu Ting’an was the one “hosting” the banquet, her cooking skills had always been comparable to alchemy—whether the result was edible depended entirely on luck. In the end, she had to run to the dining hall, wheedling and pestering the cook for a large pile of ingredients, which she then lugged back in one go to hand over to Lin Zheng to cook.

Lu Ting’an sat by the stove with her legs crossed, crunching loudly on an apple. She watched Lin Zheng methodically start the fire, wash the vegetables, and prepare the meal. Lin Zheng had rolled up her sleeves, revealing two forearms as white and lustrous as jade that moved nimbly up and down. Her slender fingertips glided across the cutting board, and in the blink of an eye, she had sliced a series of beautiful and exquisite dishes.

Lu Ting’an watched her with eyes full of admiration, and a thought suddenly popped into her head: If only Lin Zheng could cook for her for the rest of her life.

But as soon as the thought occurred, Lu Ting’an quickly shook her head, trying to shake off these unrealistic notions. She scolded herself in her heart: “Lu Ting’an, what kind of beautiful dream are you dreaming? A ‘Heaven-Chosen’ female protagonist always prioritizes her career; why would she cook for you? She’s not your wife.”

Lu Ting’an froze for a second, glancing at her with a hint of regret, and couldn’t help but lament: Such a virtuous and martially powerful beauty—and she isn’t even my wife.

Lin Zheng sensed the gaze behind her and turned her head slightly to look at her, saying softly, “What is it? Are the dishes not to your liking?”

Lu Ting’an stuck out her tongue and didn’t answer directly, laughing: “No. It’s just that, in this setting, it would be perfect if there were a jar of ‘Long Wind Drunk’ from Jinling City.”

Lin Zheng raised an eyebrow. “You wish to drink?”

Upon hearing this, Lu Ting’an waved her hands hurriedly: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. The last time I ate with you, you only had one small cup and ended up unconscious from drunkenness, and even…”

Before she could finish, the image of Lin Zheng untying her bodice after getting drunk that night flashed through her mind. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she coughed twice, saying, “Anyway, you shouldn’t touch that stuff ever again.”

Lin Zheng stared at her for two seconds. Suddenly, she untied the cloth belt at her waist, said a quiet “Wait for me” to her, and turned to depart on her flying sword.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Lu Ting’an chased after her for a short distance, but Lin Zheng acted as if she hadn’t heard. Lu Ting’an was forced to stand in the courtyard under an osmanthus tree, hands on her hips, panting as she watched Lin Zheng’s receding back.

“What’s wrong with this person today? Why is she spoiling me like this?”

After saying that, Lu Ting’an paused for two seconds and couldn’t help but lower her head and laugh out loud.

Before long, Lin Zheng arrived gracefully carrying two jars of “Long Wind Drunk.” When Lu Ting’an saw her, her eyes lit up. She hurried forward to take them, saying with a grin, “Rare indeed, Lin Zheng! Didn’t you say before that ‘mere worldly desires are not worth violating sect rules’? Why did you take the initiative to go down the mountain to buy wine today?”

Lin Zheng’s expression was calm as she spoke indifferently: “For you, it is worth it.”

“…” Unable to tease her back, Lu Ting’an found herself lightly flirted with instead. She gave her a mock-reproachful look: “Give me a break. But let’s agree beforehand—you are not allowed to drink!”

Lin Zheng remained noncommittal, turned around, and went back into the kitchen to continue cooking.

Soon, Lin Zheng brought four dishes and one soup to the table. Lu Ting’an, who had been lying like a corpse on the bed, smelled the fragrance and ran downstairs in three steps. She rubbed her hands in excitement: “So feast-like! What delicious things did you make?”

Lin Zheng said, “Assorted platter, mushrooms stuffed with meat, steamed perch, white-cut chicken, and water shield tofu soup.”

“Wow, your skills are great.” Lu Ting’an smiled with great satisfaction. She reached out for the jar of Long Wind Drunk, poured herself a full cup, took a sip, and couldn’t help but praise: “The disciples in the sect always said Long Wind Drunk is the best wine in Jinling City; seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation.”

Lin Zheng sat down and, without a word, took the wine jar and poured herself a cup as well.

Lu Ting’an quickly stopped her: “Hey, didn’t I just warn you? Your tolerance is poor, and your behavior while drunk is even worse—don’t drink.”

Lin Zheng glanced at her with some displeasure and said, “That was the first time I drank wine and I was unprepared. It will not happen now.”

“Really?” Lu Ting’an let go of her hand suspiciously. She used her chopsticks to put a piece of fish into her mouth; the flavor filled her mouth instantly, and she couldn’t help but marvel: “Mmm, so tender. You should try it too.”

Lin Zheng looked at her without saying a word, only moving to pick all the meat from the fish belly, carefully removing the tiny bones, and placing it in Lu Ting’an’s bowl. She said, “If you like it, eat more.”

Lu Ting’an was stunned and couldn’t help but laugh: “You don’t need to serve me. This was meant to be a celebratory feast for you; you should eat for yourself.”

Lin Zheng lowered her eyes, her hands never stopping as she whispered, “It is fine. I want to serve you.”

“…” Lu Ting’an was momentarily surprised, not quite understanding what she meant by those words. But on second thought, she figured Lin Zheng was perhaps grateful to her for speaking up in front of their Master, so she didn’t refuse her kindness.

Since her last resolution to practice inedia (fasting), Lu Ting’an hadn’t touched meat for a long time. Coupled with Lin Zheng’s excellent cooking, she couldn’t help but finish everything like a whirlwind, even drinking every drop of the soup.

By the end, Lu Ting’an was already a bit tipsy. However, seeing Lin Zheng still looking as normal as ever, she couldn’t help but find it strange and asked: “Eh? You haven’t drank any less than me today, so why is there no reaction at all?”

Lin Zheng said calmly: “I told you, last time was because it was my first time and I was caught off guard. Actually, we of the Nine-Tailed Fox tribe have always had a very high tolerance for alcohol.”

Lu Ting’an shook her head helplessly. She propped her chin on her hand, looking at her with bleary, drunken eyes, and smiled: “I was careless. Had I known, I wouldn’t have drank with you. Today, it is I who have been impolite.”

Lin Zheng watched her with gentle eyes as she slowly slumped down. Her lips moved, murmuring softly, “You were not impolite.”

After Lu Ting’an completely lost consciousness, Lin Zheng picked her up around the waist, carried her up the wooden stairs to the second floor, placed her on the couch, and sat beside her, smoothing her robes.

To be fair, while Lu Ting’an was usually rowdy, she was unexpectedly quiet when drunk. Her long eyelashes curled slightly, and her delicate, exquisite face was stained with a shallow flush. The corners of her mouth were turned up unconsciously in a faint smile, looking like a delicate porcelain doll.

Lin Zheng’s fingers resting on her lap curled involuntarily. Finally, unable to resist the throbbing in her heart, she used the back of her hand to gently caress Lu Ting’an’s face.

Lu Ting’an felt an itch and turned her head slightly, pressing Lin Zheng’s mischievous fingertips under her cheek.

Lin Zheng’s gaze fell upon the wrist wrapped in thick gauze, and her movements suddenly paused. After a moment, she carefully took that hand into her palm and kneaded it gently.

“Lu Ting’an,” she sighed softly, her heart aching with bitterness, “Why are you so good to me?”

Lu Ting’an had been sleeping soundly but was awakened by these movements. She opened her drowsy, blurred eyes to look at Lin Zheng. Her pupils couldn’t focus, and she asked dizzily, “Why am I sleeping here? Did you bring me up?”

Lin Zheng gave a soft “Mhm.” Lu Ting’an knocked on her head, feeling still unclear. She blinked hard, only to see a great beauty staring at her with an affectionate gaze. She couldn’t help but grin foolishly: “Lin Zheng… I’ve found that you are truly beautiful.”

Lin Zheng’s breath hitched instantly. With a hint of disbelief, she asked: “What did you say?”

Lu Ting’an fell back onto the couch, shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks. Because of the drunkenness, her voice was soft and mellow: “I said you’re beautiful! The first time I saw you, I thought you were beautiful.”

Lin Zheng couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Lu Ting’an’s hand, her heart trembling. Such blunt and sincere words were something Lu Ting’an would never say if she were sober. Lin Zheng lowered her head abruptly, her heart filled with guilt, feeling that she was taking unfair advantage of the situation.

Lu Ting’an, however, was completely unaware of the other’s internal struggle. Her hand instinctively reached for the top of Lin Zheng’s head, and she mumble-muttered: “Strange… since you’re a fox demon, why don’t you have fox ears? And those nine fluffy tails—I touched them once before, they were so soft. Change into them, let me touch them one more time.”

At this, Lin Zheng’s ears turned red with shame. She quickly moved to stop the drunkard, her tone turning a bit colder: “Lu Ting’an, do not speak nonsense.”

Lu Ting’an had clearly grown accustomed to having things her way here. Seeing that Lin Zheng wouldn’t cooperate, she immediately grew defiant. She struggled to sit up and glared huffily at Lin Zheng: “I want to touch them! You change into them; if you don’t change, I won’t let you leave!”

Lin Zheng frowned as she looked at her. Seeing that Lin Zheng still made no move, Lu Ting’an grew annoyed and reached out to grope at her lower back.

“Don’t move.” Lin Zheng grabbed her hands firmly to restrain them. Lu Ting’an was not convinced; she opened her mouth to bite Lin Zheng’s fingertips, but unexpectedly met Lin Zheng’s very dangerous gaze.

Lu Ting’an froze instantly, like a child who had done something wrong, and silently let go. Since her hands were still bound, she could only use her lips to lightly touch the spot she had just bitten.

A “boom” went off in Lin Zheng’s mind.

“Lu Ting’an, you asked for this.”

Lin Zheng gritted her teeth and let out a low growl. She suddenly flipped over and pinned Lu Ting’an to the couch. Lu Ting’an felt the world spinning; by the time she reacted, she was held firmly beneath Lin Zheng, and her lips felt a sudden heat.

Lin Zheng engaged her clumsily, prying open her teeth and deepening the kiss like she was conquering territory. Lu Ting’an couldn’t help but retreat repeatedly, only to be forcefully dragged back.

Lu Ting’an’s eyes snapped wide, her heart beating like a drum. She wanted to reach out and push her away, but against Lin Zheng, her strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree. She was held and kissed honestly for a while until she couldn’t even breathe properly, at which point Lin Zheng finally showed mercy and let her go.

Lu Ting’an touched the corner of her mouth, which had been bitten, hissed in pain, and looked at her aggrievedly, shouting: “Lin Zheng, you’re bullying me! I won’t play with you anymore!”

Lin Zheng’s eyes were deep, and the nine-tailed mark on her forehead grew increasingly crimson. Her thumb gently brushed over Lu Ting’an’s lips; the soft, sweet touch made her breath falter for several beats. She buried herself obsessively against Lu Ting’an’s neck and said in a low voice: “I’m sorry… I simply could not hold back anymore.”

With that, Lin Zheng suddenly pulled open Lu Ting’an’s already half-open collar. Below the elegant lines of her collarbone, the snowy peaks and pink inner garment were faintly visible. Lin Zheng’s gaze darkened. She leaned down, her canine teeth nipping at the soft flesh, her kisses falling like raindrops.

Lu Ting’an let out a tearful moan and raised her leg to kick. Lin Zheng was quick, untying her own belt to tightly bind Lu Ting’an’s legs. Unable to resist, Lu Ting’an’s hands unconsciously wrapped around Lin Zheng’s neck.

“Lin Zheng… Lin Zheng, be gentler, it hurts…”

“Don’t bite me, waah…”

Lin Zheng was deaf to the pleas. She only felt the emotions suppressed in her heart for so long surging like a river breaking a dam, uncontrollable. She set about pleasing the person beneath her almost reverently, wishing she could knead Lu Ting’an into her own body.

Although a voice in her mind kept warning her: “Lin Zheng, this is wrong. How will she look at you when she wakes up?”

Yet Lin Zheng could not convince herself to pull away. The most ascetic of model disciples, the most self-disciplined of immortal sect elites—at this moment, her reason was burned clean by a fire. She didn’t dare let go even for a moment, fearing that if she loosened her grip, this stolen sweetness would instantly vanish.

In the midst of the chaos, Lu Ting’an felt something cold land on the tip of her nose. She reached out absentmindedly to wipe it and suddenly caught sight of Lin Zheng’s mist-filled eyes, causing her to freeze slightly.

“Lu Ting’an.”

The Lin Zheng on top of her suddenly called her name.

“Here… I’m here…” Lu Ting’an had been kissed into a daze; her voice was trembling beyond recognition, yet she forced herself to answer.

“In the future, you are not allowed to harm your own body to save me, do you understand?” Lin Zheng kissed her forehead, her eyes full of heartache.

Lu Ting’an nodded haphazardly and buried her face aggrievedly in Lin Zheng’s chest.

Lin Zheng picked her up, leaning her against the couch as her reason finally began to return slightly. She looked down at Lu Ting’an and saw that the marks on her neck were quite colorful, and behind her ear was a nine-tailed mark unique to their fox clan. She suddenly felt she had gone too far, patted Lu Ting’an’s head apologetically, and whispered, “I am sorry.”

But she did not regret it.

“Lu Ting’an, it was I who provoked you first.”

Lin Zheng let out a deep sigh and pulled the girl even tighter into her embrace. She leaned close to her ear, her chest vibrating: “From now on, I will take responsibility for you for the rest of my life.”