For the next few days, Xue Wen followed a steady routine.
He ate as much food as he could get his hands on, converting every grain of rice and every sliver of meat into Marrow Essence.
His cultivation climbed little by little each day, and though the progress was slower compared to using Marrow Beads, it was progress nonetheless.
Unfortunately, his small stockpile of Marrow Beads had been exhausted on the very first day.
Now he could only wait until his monthly allowance.
He could have asked Ding Mei for some, but he held himself back.
She had already suffered too much.
He wanted her to live comfortably, to wear new clothes and feel cherished, not drained because of his greed.
The days passed in relative peace.
Nothing unusual occurred.
Ding Mei continued to act shy around him, her cheeks reddening every time he tried to speak to her for more than a moment.
His wife was simply too timid, too unused to warmth, and Xue Wen found her innocence oddly endearing.
The Ding Brothers, who once hounded him at every opportunity, didn't bother him again.
But the incident where he had called Ding Chao a cuck still spread like wildfire through the clan.
Every servant, every disciple had heard the story by now.
The insult was so sharp that Ding Chao had flown into a rage, one unlucky guard who let the rumor slip from his lips was dragged into the courtyard and executed on the spot.
That only made the tale spread faster, carried in fearful whispers.
Inside his room, Xue Wen sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, taking in a deep breath.
His chest rose and fell steadily as he muttered under his breath, "Today, I'll receive my allowance. With those beads, I can finally break into the Bone Cracking Realm."
He stood up and left his chamber.
In the kitchen, Ding Mei was preparing lunch.
The sound of footsteps made her turn her head.
When she saw him walking out, her expression softened.
She gently wiped her hands on her apron and stepped forward.
"Are you going somewhere, dear?" she asked, her voice soft like a flowing stream.
"Yes," Xue Wen nodded with a smile, "I'm going to the mansion."
They hadn't been intimate once since his arrival.
Although he was certain that Ding Mei would not refuse him if he asked, after all, she was his wife, forcing her didn't sit right with him.
He wanted her to fall for him naturally, to see his actions and sincerity before giving herself completely.
"Can you eat lunch first?" Ding Mei asked timidly, her fingers clutching the apron, her tone hesitant as though afraid of rejection.
Xue Wen smiled warmly and pulled out a chair. "Sure. Let's eat together."
Her face lit up with a small smile.
She scurried back into the kitchen and soon returned with bowls of rice and a fragrant meat dish.
She placed a portion in front of him and another for herself before sitting down across from him.
Xue Wen's gaze lingered on her.
She always kept her distance, as though a wall of shyness separated them.
Smiling faintly, he tapped the empty chair beside him.
"Come here. Sit next to me."
Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart began racing wildly in her chest.
For some reason, being near him always made her flustered. Still, she remained frozen in her seat, unable to move.
Xue Wen let out a quiet breath, then reached over, gently pulling her chair closer until she sat right beside him. "You should listen to your husband," he teased lightly, his tone playful.
Her face flushed crimson, and she bowed her head, unable to meet his eyes. "I… I apologise, dear," she whispered, her voice so soft that even a mosquito's hum would sound louder.
"There's no need to apologise," Xue Wen said, picking up a small piece of meat with his chopsticks.
He held it out to her. "Here. You eat first."
Ding Mei froze, her eyes trembling.
Her fingers twisted nervously around the edge of her dress, her heart thumping so fast it felt like it would burst.
Yet, she didn't dare refuse him. He was her husband.
It was her duty to fulfill his wishes.
She slowly opened her mouth, accepting the bite.
Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill.
Never in her life had she imagined that her cold, indifferent husband would one day act so tenderly toward her.
Her memories came crashing back like waves.
She was the only daughter of the patriarch, loved and protected, spoiled with warmth.
Her father adored her and even arranged her first marriage to a powerful three-star Bonebearer.
Yet that man died suddenly, taken by a mysterious illness before they even settled in their new home.
Her second husband died at the marriage ceremony itself, struck down by the venom of a sacred beast.
That was when the clan began whispering, she was a jinx, cursed to bring misfortune to any man who wed her.
She had begun to believe it herself.
Ashamed, she distanced herself even from her father, unable to meet his eyes.
Her third marriage had been no better.
This time, the man did not die, but he treated her with coldness and cruelty.
Still, she endured, comforting herself with the thought that as long as he lived, perhaps she wasn't cursed after all.
But a few days ago, even he fell gravely ill.
The alchemist said he would not survive. Ding Mei had nearly broken then, pouring all her strength into caring for him despite her despair.
But miraculously, he woke up.
And since then, he had been different, gentle, patient, kind.
As she chewed the bite of food, tears spilled down her cheeks, uncontrollable.
Xue Wen noticed immediately.
Before she could retreat or wipe her face in shame, he reached out and drew her into his arms.
His warmth enveloped her, and all the emotions she had buried deep within her heart surged to the surface.
Like a dam breaking, she collapsed against him, sobbing into his chest.
Her frail hands clutched tightly at his robes, her body trembling with each sob.
Xue Wen sighed inwardly, holding her close. She has suffered too much… for someone with such a gentle heart.
He didn't speak further. He simply let her cry, his arms a safe harbor for her storm of emotions.