ABFC | Chapter 27: Isn’t This the Masked Boss?
by angrybird
When she remembered the “I haven’t showered for three days” nonsense she had made up, the corner of her mouth twitched, “I can’t believe you are a fish that cares about hygiene and cleanliness.”
The big fish proudly lifted its head and, with great manners, turned its back.
Wen Ruan: ……
What’s up with the Demon Lord? It’s bad enough that his mind doesn’t seem quite right, but the fish he raises is so strange too.
Shaking her head, she took off her clothes, stretched out her toes and gently dipped it into the water. Carefully, she sat down, allowing herself to sink into the warm water.
The spiritual energy, accompanied by warmth, gradually spread throughout her body, causing her fair skin to flush with a light pink hue. She playfully splashed the water, letting out a long sigh.
“I’m still alive.”
After coming to the Demon Realm, the rheumatism she had been most worried about completely disappeared at this moment. From now on, its shadow would no longer loom over her heart.
“From now on, I’ll come here every day to soak in the water, hehe.”
The next day.
Wen Ruan stretched her limbs, feeling completely refreshed as she sprang up from the bed. She moved her hands and feet, and heard some noise coming from the corridor outside. While tying her hair up, she shouted towards the window:
“Lu Zhu, what are we having for breakfast today?”
In the corridor, the woman in green stood silently, gazing blankly in the direction of the Wuxiu Pavilion, completely ignoring her question.
Wen Ruan waited for a long time without getting a reply, and felt a bit puzzled. She grabbed her hairband, pushed open the window, leaned out halfway, and gently patted the woman’s back.
“Lu Zhu, what’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing, nothing.” Lu Zhu snapped back to her senses, as if startled by her, “Madam, why did you get up so early today?”
“I slept well last night.” She flashed a smile, showing her teeth. “I feel like having something sweet today. How about you?”
Lu Zhu glanced at her rosy complexion and asked a bit sharply, “The Demon Lord won’t return to the Demon Realm for another half month. It seems like the Madam doesn’t mind?”
“Well, he’ll come back eventually.” Wen Ruan finished fixing her hair and walked out of the bedroom. She rubbed her hands together, speaking half-jokingly, half-seriously:
“My husband is the Demon Lord, he has his own world. Though I’m his wife, there’s nothing much I can do to help.”
She paused for a moment, then continued, “But if I stay where I am, as long as he turns around, he will definitely see me. He’ll know that there is still someone like me in the world who has been thinking about him.”
After hearing her words, Lu Zhu fell silent for a few seconds, then faintly curled her lips into a smile, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes, “I didn’t expect the Madam to be so infatuated with the Demon Lord.”
Wen Ruan smiled but remained silent.
Indeed, I’m almost moved by myself.
Hmm, maybe I’ll try a line of poetry like that in front of Mu Zhe next time.
Such a good talent can’t be wasted.
Outside Wuxiu Pavilion.
Zhu Sha nervously rubbed the clean handkerchief in his hands, feeling somewhat uneasy.
It wasn’t until the sound of footsteps approached that he suddenly looked up. After hesitating for two seconds, he finally stuffed the handkerchief back into his chest.
“Madam.”
Wen Ruan, with Lu Zhu, excitedly ran over and waved at him. “Good morning.”
Zhu Sha awkwardly turned his gaze away, clasping his fists in a salute: “Madam, the Demon Lord has not yet returned.”
“I know.” Her tone suddenly dropped, “My husband just left yesterday, there’s no way he would be back so soon. I just…” She trailed off. She just came here to check in, that’s all.
Zhu Sha could hear the melancholy in her words and pressed his lips together, “If the Demon Lord returns, I will be sure to inform the Madam at the first opportunity.”
“Thank you.”
The mission was accomplished, so she was about to leave. But then she accidentally caught sight of the pile of frost that had accumulated on Zhu Sha’s shoulder. She sighed inwardly.
Standing guard in this cold weather, this young man has it tough too.
She took the food box from Lu Zhu’s hands, wrapped a few pastries in a handkerchief, and handed them over, “Here you go.”
The usually casual Lu Zhu suddenly straightened up, staring unblinkingly at the young man in the silver robe.
Under her gaze, Zhu Sha hesitated for a moment but still took the pastries. He gazed at the delicate pastries wrapped in the handkerchief, his voice soft as he said:
“The Madam’s handkerchief last time…”
“What?” His voice was too soft, and Wen Ruan couldn’t hear clearly. She took a few more steps toward him. “What did you say?”
“…Nothing.” Zhu Sha tucked the pastries away and looked at the top of her dark hair seriously, “Thank you, Madam.”
Lu Zhu’s gaze shifted between the two of them, then lingered on the handkerchief. She couldn’t help but feel a strange excitement.
“Madam, the wind is cold.” As if noticing her gaze, Zhu Sha suddenly took a step back, standing with respect as he said:
“I respectfully see you off, Madam.”
“Alright, then I’m leaving.” Wen Ruan waved at Zhu Sha and walked off with the food box.
After walking a short distance, she poked Lu Zhu, who was lost in her own thoughts. “I’ll just stroll around. You can head back first.”
Lu Zhu reached out to take the food box, “Then I’ll bring this back with me.”
Wen Ruan turned her body to avoid her hand. Meeting her confused gaze, she gave a sheepish smile and said, “I want to have some snacks and eat while I walk.”
“…Okay.”
*******
Walking out the wide corridor of the Demon Palace, Wen Ruan shook the food box in her hand, her eyes smiling and her brows relaxed, “I made some extra today. The big fish will definitely be happy.”
A faint sound of footsteps came from ahead. She looked up, and her smile froze at the corners of her lips.
Under the blooming red plum tree, a figure in black emerged. The young man had broad shoulders and long legs, with half of a fox mask covering his face. His lips, contrasting with the bright plum petals, appeared even paler, almost as white as paper.
The moment he saw her, his previously hurried steps faltered, and he stopped in place.
——It was the boss who faints at the slightest provocation.
Wen Ruan’s scalp nearly tingled with panic.
This person knew her background!
She instinctively tried to run, but quickly halted, barely stopping herself in time.
From the look on his face, he was probably here to see Mu Zhe, and he might even be one of his subordinates.
Now that she was Mu Zhe’s wife, coming and going from the Wuxiu Pavilion every day, she could avoid meeting him the first few times.
But if they happened to run into each other again, and he brought up her past with Mu Zhe…
Then it would be game over.
No, she had to take the initiative to attack and prevent things from going wrong!
With her level of strength, she couldn’t kill or silence him, so the only option was…
She glanced around, gritted her teeth, and steeled herself to walk up to him.
Facing the strange gaze of the other party, she coughed dryly and waved to him awkwardly but politely.
“What a coincidence.”
The young man in black didn’t respond. He simply gave her a once-over, examining her from head to toe. Seeing that she was unharmed, his gaze turned somewhat strange.
“Haha, we actually met here again. You must be surprised too, right?” She rubbed her face awkwardly and let out a dry laugh.
“This isn’t the place to talk. Come with me, and I’ll explain everything slowly.”
Saying that, she quickly grabbed his wrist and hurried toward a more secluded area.
Mu Zhe lowered his eyes and squinted at his wrist.
It was covered with the girl’s delicate fingers, like water bamboo shoots, her knuckles, slender and soft, still carrying a gentle warmth.
His initial instinct to pull away paused for a moment, and he allowed himself to be led behind the twisted branches of the plum tree.
Having survived the jaws of the Beiming Kun, he was also curious—what was it about this woman that made her so special?