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The innkeeper kept staring for a long time until Wu Tan looked over, and only then did the innkeeper hurriedly shift his gaze toward the young woman in front of him.

"Listening to your accents, it sounds like you’re from out of town and unfamiliar with our local dishes, I can introduce a few," the innkeeper offered informatively.

Shen Chuwei was fretting over not understanding the names on the menu, so naturally, she was pleased to have someone clarify.

She nodded enthusiastically, "That would be great."

The innkeeper looked at her smile and felt a sense of pleasure for the first time.

With the innkeeper’s guidance, Shen Chuwei ordered eight dishes in one go.

"Innkeeper, we’ve been traveling all day and are quite hungry. Please hurry with the meal," she requested.

The innkeeper informed her, "It’s not mealtime now, so the dishes will come out quickly."

Wu Tan reminded him, "Just two bowls of Plain Congee and two plates of vegetarian dishes for me."

The innkeeper couldn’t help but take a few more glances at the monk upon hearing this, "No problem."

After the innkeeper finished speaking, they were led upstairs to a private room by a waiter.

Shen Chuwei followed the waiter upstairs, and only now that she wasn’t distracted by hunger, did she have the chance to take in the inn’s decor and layout, which both emphasized elegance.

Walking and looking around resulted in missing a step, but fortunately, Xiao Jinyan was quick to steady her, "Be careful."

Shen Chuwei looked up at Xiao Jinyan and said with a smile, "I’m glad to have my husband."

A simple phrase put Xiao Jinyan in a very pleasant mood.

Wu Tan was right behind Shen Chuwei and instinctively reached out to help her when he saw her miss a step, but he paused mid-air because someone had beaten him to it.

He quietly withdrew his hand as if nothing had ever happened.

Once inside the private room, the waiter waited until the guests were seated before leaving. In no time, he came in with a teapot, poured a cup of tea for each person, and then left.

The innkeeper hadn’t lied; just after she finished a cup of tea, the waiter began bringing in the dishes one after another.

Shen Chuwei had never tried Nanzhao country’s cuisine and was looking forward to it. As she saw the dishes being served, they smelled appetizing. She couldn’t wait and picked up a piece of Snow Cedar Meat and put it in her mouth. At first taste, it was sweet, followed by a crispy texture.

The reason it was called Snow Cedar Meat was that the surface of the meat resembled a layer of snowflakes. The meat seemed as if it had been fried, crispy on the outside and tender inside, which is how Snow Cedar Meat got its name.

After eating one piece, Shen Chuwei picked up another and placed it in Xiao Jinyan’s bowl, "Husband, try the Snow Cedar Meat. It tastes good."

Xiao Jinyan looked at the piece in his bowl and then up at Shen Chuwei, "Alright."

He tried the meat in his bowl and after chewing slowly, he said to Shen Chuwei, "It is indeed very tasty."

Shen Chuwei’s eyes curved in delight, "I think so too."

Wu Tan glanced at the interactions between the two. Throughout their journey, he had seen many such moments, and perhaps accustomed to it, his indifferent gaze revealed no other emotions.

After they finished eating, Xiao Jinyan took Shen Chuwei with him, following the waiter to their guest room.

The waiter said cheerfully, "If there’s anything you need, just let me know."

Xiao Jinyan instructed, "Prepare some hot water. We need to bathe."

"Please wait a moment, the hot water will be ready shortly," the waiter replied, still smiling.

Shen Chuwei’s first action upon entering was to check the bed, an important part of ensuring a comfortable night’s sleep.

She approached the bed and examined it; the bedding was clearly expensive. She pressed down on it, finding it somewhat soft, which should make for a comfortable sleep.

When Xiao Jinyan looked over, he saw her testing the bed. He walked over and pressed down on the bed as well, "Quite soft."

Just as Shen Chuwei was about to pull her hand away, she saw another hand press down beside hers, and he had mentioned it was quite soft—suddenly, there was an ambiguous atmosphere between them...

She withdrew her hand and glanced around at the furnishings of the guest room. There were no flashy decorations; even the patterns on the screen were of bamboo, still highlighting that touch of elegance.

"Inns in Nanzhao country are certainly different."

Xiao Jinyan nodded in agreement, "Mmm, definitely not the same as some of the smaller inns."

By then, the waiter had also ready the hot water.

Shen Chuwei opened her bundle and handed Xiao Jinyan some clean clothes, "You bathe first."

Xiao Jinyan bent down, took out Shen Chuwei’s clothes from the bundle, and said, "Let’s bathe together. We can rest a bit afterward, and at night I’ll take you out for a stroll."

Being in Nanzhao Country for the first time, Shen Chuwei hadn’t gotten a good look at the street food during the ride in the horse carriage. It would be a shame not to go out and explore.

"Alright."

"Then we’ll bathe together," Xiao Jinyan said, watching her hands move behind the screen. After setting down the clothes, he went to fasten the door.

Shen Chuwei was wearing women’s clothing, which could be easily removed in the summer. In no time, she was dressed only in her undergarments.

When Xiao Jinyan came behind the screen, he saw that she was down to her underclothes. His eyes darkened, and he began to undress while careful not to look further, lest he become too distracted to even remove his own clothes.

The inn’s bathing tub was quite large, easily accommodating two people. As they sat down, some water sloshed out.

Soaking in the warm water eased their fatigue.

However, Xiao Jinyan, who had been abstinent for a while, was struggling to contain himself.

He whispered suggestively in her ear, "Xiaojiu."

Shen Chuwei felt it too, and as she turned to look at Xiao Jinyan, she saw that familiar look in his eyes. She took the initiative, wrapping her arms around his neck, and tenderly kissed his lips, saying, "Only once."

Xiao Jinyan was slightly puzzled, "Why?"

He forgot what he had promised just a moment ago.

Shen Chuwei pouted, "You promised to take me out tonight."

Xiao Jinyan immediately understood and smiled, "Mmm, I’ll take you out tonight."

Wu Tan’s guest room was not far away, and he too had asked the waiter to prepare hot water.

After his bath, he put on his clothes and lay down on the bed to rest. But just as he settled in, someone jumped in through the window.

He sat up from the bed as he heard the noise and looked outside, "Who’s there?"