The warm glow of the afternoon sun slanted through the gaps in the courtyard walls, painting golden streaks across the packed earth floor. Xu Ming exhaled deeply, wiping his forehead with the back of his sleeve. His arms and back ached from hours of kneading, stirring, and cutting, but when he looked at the wooden boards spread across the yard, his heart swelled with satisfaction.
Dozens of fresh soaps lay in neat rows, their colors faintly tinted from the herbs and petals he had added. Some were pale green with mint, others carried hints of lavender and wild chrysanthemum. He had even shaped a few into little flowers, leaves, and rounded discs, giving them a charm the villagers had never seen before.
"They'll smell nice once they dry completely," he murmured to himself, crouching to adjust one that leaned slightly.
A faint breeze carried the mingling scents across the courtyard, soft and refreshing, unlike the plain, harsh soap villagers usually used. Xu Ming imagined the women of the village holding one of his flower-shaped soaps and smiling. That thought alone made the soreness in his body worth it.
Still, exhaustion weighed on him. His muscles trembled, his palms felt raw, and a fine sheen of sweat dampened his temples. He dragged his feet inside, washed his hands, and began preparing lunch, humming faintly as he chopped vegetables.
Cooking was easier now than it had been weeks ago—Shen Li had made sure their home was stocked with good produce, and Xu Ming's modern knowledge of seasoning allowed him to experiment. As he sliced ginger, he caught himself reminiscing about his old life.
In his past world, afternoons like this would have been filled with deadlines, rushing down crowded streets, or fighting drowsiness in a stuffy office cubicle. Soap-making? Cooking? Owning a courtyard with chickens? He would have laughed at the absurdity. Yet here he was, sleeves rolled up, hands stained faintly with flower essence, preparing food for a man who quietly, steadily, had become the pillar of his strange new life.
A sound at the gate interrupted his thoughts.
The wooden door creaked open, and Shen Li stepped into the courtyard, tall and steady, his shoulders framed against the sunlight. His gaze immediately landed on the rows of soaps laid out to dry. He paused, brows lifting in faint surprise, before the corners of his lips tugged slightly. Closing the gate behind him, he walked closer, bending slightly to inspect the flower-shaped ones.
His rough hunter's hands reached out, not touching, just hovering close as though the delicate shapes might crumble at his fingertips. The faint scents of herbs and blossoms drifted up. Shen Li's eyes softened for a moment, then he straightened and stepped inside the house.
Xu Ming, busy over the stove, turned his head when the door opened. A smile curved his lips."You're back. Just wait a minute, the food's almost ready."
Shen Li set down a bundle wrapped in leaves. "I bought the meat."
"Good. We'll keep it for dinner," Xu Ming replied, wiping his hands and taking the bundle to store in the corner. He was secretly pleased—good meat meant hearty meals, and Shen Li's hunting ensured they rarely went without.
When the food was ready, Xu Ming carried it to the table. Shen Li sat, posture relaxed yet attentive, watching as Xu Ming placed the dishes carefully. One particular plate caught his attention.
The aroma was savory, yet faintly sweet, the sauce shimmering golden-brown under the light. Vegetables were sliced thin, sautéed quickly with ginger, and layered over a bed of soft bean curd. It was simple, but refined in a way unlike the usual village meals.
"What's this?" Shen Li asked, curiosity flickering in his deep voice.
Xu Ming's lips curved proudly. "It's called Mapo Doufu—well, something close to it. I adjusted the ingredients. It's one of my newest recipes."
Shen Li raised a brow. "Newest?"
Xu Ming coughed lightly, realizing he'd slipped. In this world, there shouldn't have been such a dish. But instead of pressing, Shen Li merely chuckled, the sound low and warm.
It startled Xu Ming.
He had seen Shen Li's cold indifference when facing the villagers, his stern composure when hunting, his unyielding silence in the face of family disputes. But a laugh? Gentle, amused, and genuine? It softened his sharp features, brightened his dark eyes, and made Xu Ming's chest thump strangely.
His cheeks grew hot. He quickly lowered his gaze, pushing the chopsticks toward Shen Li."Try it first before laughing at me."
Still smiling faintly, Shen Li picked up his chopsticks and tasted the dish. The rich sauce, paired with tender bean curd, melted on his tongue, the flavors balanced and comforting. He chewed thoughtfully, then nodded.
"It's good."
Xu Ming glanced up, his eyes lighting with shy pride. The sight of Shen Li eating with such quiet contentment filled him with a warmth he couldn't explain.
But when Shen Li's gaze lifted and met his, Xu Ming froze.
"You're blushing," Shen Li remarked, tone light.
The words were simple, but they struck like a spark against dry tinder. Xu Ming's face flushed deeper, and he quickly ducked his head to hide, ears turning scarlet. He muttered something about finishing his food and busied himself with his bowl.
Shen Li chuckled again, his lips quirking. He didn't press further, but in his heart, he thought: My wife is cute.
The meal passed in a comfortable quiet, broken only by the clink of chopsticks and the faint breeze rustling outside. Xu Ming gradually relaxed, his heartbeat calming, though his cheeks stayed warm long after.
When they finished, Shen Li stood to clear the table while Xu Ming insisted on washing the bowls. Their movements, once awkward, had grown in sync. Shen Li, silent but steady, handled the heavier tasks; Xu Ming, meticulous and clever, added small touches of warmth to their meals and home.
Later, as the evening light dimmed, the two sat in the courtyard, the fragrance of drying soaps filling the air. Shen Li leaned back, watching the horizon, while Xu Ming rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
It was quiet, peaceful—yet under that quiet, something unspoken bloomed.
A bond, fragile yet strong, like the first shoots of spring pushing stubbornly through the soil.
And though neither voiced it aloud, both Shen Li and Xu Ming knew: finding solace in each other was the greatest fortune of their unexpected union.