Chapter 26: Inspiration Springs from Life

Although the lunch that Rou Xue made had already turned into a culinary disaster, Xia Shu still patiently took the dishes she’d prepared and remade them with a fresh twist. Even though the final taste was still somewhat odd, he finished every last bite.

“We could have just started over with new ingredients, you know,” she said.

“I’m sorry, Xia Shu. I really messed up this time. How did I end up adding so much soy sauce?”

“It seems I still have a lot of room for improvement in my cooking. Next time, I promise you won’t be disappointed!”

Rou Xue’s words were full of apology, but seeing Xia Shu clear every plate to the very last morsel moved her deeply.

Xia Shu scratched his head and chuckled to himself. He would never let Rou Xue know that, aside from the excessive soy sauce, she’d probably added way too much salt to the sweet and sour ribs as well.

But knowing that Rou Xue had earnestly set out to learn how to cook just for him, he would always finish whatever she made, no matter how difficult it was to swallow.

As long as it wasn’t poisonous…

“It’s really not bad at all. Overall, you did quite well. I believe you’ll do even better next time.”

“Cooking is a kind of art, just like painting. Every stroke is important, and every shade needs to be carefully measured.”

“When you have time, let me teach you to cook, step by step.”

“I think my cooking skills are enough to teach you. It should be easier to understand than those online tutorials.”

He looked at Rou Xue with gentle indulgence, and without forgetting to clear the table, he headed into the kitchen and began tidying up on his own accord.

Rou Xue hurried over to help with the dishes. Hearing Xia Shu’s words, she suddenly felt that her tall, handsome young man seemed more charming than ever, his boyishness faded away, leaving her with a sense of someone she could truly rely on.

“You’re right. It’s not just about cooking—life itself is an art. Different ways of living bring different experiences.”

“Sometimes, making choices is important, but as long as your intentions are good, with some planning and action, you can make your art shine.”

Her bright eyes sparkled with lively light as she gazed up at Xia Shu’s handsome profile.

“That’s the essence of art, isn’t it? Just like our love—it will become a masterpiece in itself.”

Xia Shu turned, smiling affectionately at her, and their eyes met in perfect understanding, sharing a silent message.

Rou Xue rose up on tiptoe, and Xia Shu bent his head slightly. In that sun-drenched kitchen, as golden light spilled through the window and bathed them, they shared a kiss so sweet it was almost overwhelming.

A powerful sense of happiness surged between them. Rou Xue’s heart blossomed in full bloom; she was lost, utterly smitten, nothing like a thirty-year-old single woman…

No!

At this moment, she was as delicate and dependent as a little bird. In front of Xia Shu, she was no longer the big sister figure, but a vision of a beloved wife.

Unable to restrain herself, Rou Xue hugged him tightly from behind as he washed the dishes, her hands finding the defined lines of his abs.

Leaning gently against his back, breathing in the scent of him that mingled so perfectly with her own, she smiled and murmured, “Meeting you is my one-in-a-million stroke of luck, Xia Shu…”

“I feel the same,” he replied.

“Will you always love me like this?”

“I will.”

“Mm. I believe you.”

Rou Xue knew she’d asked this question countless times, yet Xia Shu never seemed impatient with her. That made her happier than anything.

And now that she’d revealed all her secrets to her younger boyfriend, she had grown bolder.

Since he had seen through her step by step, why not let their love become even more unrestrained, even more passionate?

The dishes were cleaned up in no time.

When they finished, Xia Shu and Rou Xue returned to the living room together.

Xia Shu hoped he could always enjoy this kind of intimate routine with his beloved. He wished this sweetness would never grow tired or dull.

He was still young and this was his first time in love, but with Rou Xue, his heart was set on an endless future together.

After all, he was with a fox maiden!

How many people could experience a love story this unique?

“Xia Shu, you have to keep my secret!” she whispered.

“Don’t worry. I’ll always protect you,” Xia Shu said firmly, gazing into her eyes. He would never utter a word about her true identity.

If such a thing ever got out, it would surely bring Rou Xue endless trouble.

After some thought, Xia Shu resolved to keep treating her as an ordinary person.

But curiosity still gnawed at him. “Say, if we had a child one day, would our baby be just an ordinary human?”

“I don’t know… Maybe,” Rou Xue replied. She had wondered about the same thing while Xia Shu was sleeping earlier.

“I’m kind of looking forward to it,” he said with a grin.

“That’s something for a few years down the line,” she smiled, leaning into his arms.

“But what if… someday… it just happens?”

“Would you take responsibility?”

“Haven’t I already told you my answer from the very beginning?”

Xia Shu held her tightly.

If that day ever came, he knew he would have to work even harder to provide for his family.

Lately, the novel he was working on—My Wife Isn’t What She Seems—had been stuck in a creative rut, but after learning about Rou Xue’s true identity, inspiration struck him suddenly.

Now, the female lead’s character was getting more interesting than ever…

Art imitates life, after all!

Most of the comments on Xia Shu’s novel were full of speculation that it was a self-insert autobiography.

He had hinted at the truth here and there.

But as for the idea that his wife might actually be a fox maiden—would any of his readers really believe it?

Probably not.

After all, in real life, such a thing was too far-fetched to be true.

To Xia Shu, Rou Xue was already an all-knowing, all-capable girlfriend.

He hoped that, whether in his stories or in real life, their future would always have a happy ending.