What if you were targeted by a cool and aloof beauty?

An Chen nodded in satisfaction, then reached his hand into Jiu Ge's arms.

"Keep bragging." He remained completely calm and composed, revealing absolutely nothing about his inner thoughts.

"Um……"

Jiuge pursed her lips tightly, her heart pounding.

The thrill she felt when they held hands earlier was already enough to shake her to her core.

Now An Chen is even throwing himself into my arms!

Although it was his hands that were offering themselves to An Chen, this was still an important part of his life.

Taking a deep breath, Jiu Ge gently lifted An Chen's hands with both of hers, leaned closer, and began to carefully blow on his hands.

Just like examining a delicious dish that is about to be served from all angles, constantly using your senses to inhale the aroma of the dish.

From the inside out, and from the outside in.

An Chen felt that something was wrong.

The feeling of a girlfriend's cute comforting of a wounded boyfriend didn't come through; instead, the feeling of a hungry beast released from its cage staring at the meat on the plate, ready to devour it at any moment did.

Right now, An Chen feels like he's the piece of meat on the plate...

Chapter 86 As Husband and Wife

Feeling that it was about time, An Chen withdrew his hand.

"cough."

He cleared his throat and said, "Alright, let's switch the illusion back."

Grandma Li has already taken An Chen and Jiu Ge's illusions to the straw mat in the next room.

A hundred years ago, rural farmers lived a hard life and used straw in many things.

Although straw beds are not as comfortable as modern cotton quilts, they do provide warmth and absorb moisture.

Aside from the three drawbacks of being prone to mold, insects, and discomfort, it has many advantages.

Seeing that the dreaded mealtime and the preschool teacher-led sessions for coaxing children were over, An Chen decided to get down to business.

Jiuge paused for a moment and then asked, "Eh? Do we need to switch back? Now or after we've slept together?"

She had originally planned to use her original body after this complete cycle of reincarnation was over.

If she were to switch back now, it would mean that she would soon be sleeping in the same bed with An Chen again.

Is it too early to sleep in the same bed? But not sleeping in the same bed would be a waste...

Moreover, what if An Chen asks you to use illusions to justify sleeping in the same bed...?

The more Jiuge thought about it, the more her brows furrowed.

"Sleep in the same bed?" An Chen raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhat amused.

So that's what Jiuge cared about.

"Hmm...Grandma Li has already laid out a straw bed for our illusions, and we also told them that we are husband and wife." Jiuge looked around, her expression quite bewildered.

She still didn't understand what An Chen meant.

“Because we’re set up as a married couple, it’s perfectly normal for us to sleep in the same bed,” An Chen said, pretending to think.

Jiuge remained silent, her face filled with conflict.

“As a married couple, if we’re hesitant about something as simple as sleeping in the same bed, our identities will be exposed, and our mission might fail,” An Chen explained patiently.

In the first cycle, his and Jiuge's main task was to see what exactly happened in Gouzi Village, try not to break the balance of the cycle, and figure out the connection between the glowing stone and the existence of the illusion. They would then get their hands on the stone while dealing with the illusion.

Aside from these little schemes, An Chen hadn't really thought about what Jiu Ge had said.

Now, what Jiuge just said has reminded him.

“That’s true.” Jiuge was somewhat convinced.

She originally wanted to be husband and wife with An Chen, and she was sure they would be husband and wife in the future. Thinking about it that way, it didn't seem like a bad thing to experience married life in advance, and it would also help her see if they were compatible.

Moreover, Jiu Ge also harbored a tiny bit of hope that she would sleep in the same bed with An Chen, which would be a great opportunity to enhance their relationship.

“Actually, using illusions would work too… but I’m afraid I’ll miss the important details of the illusion if I don’t actually stay inside it,” An Chen sighed.

There were five people in total who entered the illusion, including him and Jiuge. So far, only he and Jiuge have been lucky enough to find a place similar to the "scene of the incident" and meet the little stone who is suspected to be the "culprit".

"No need for illusions! Just the two of us will do! The mission is the most important! This way we can kill two birds with one stone!"

Jiuge looked like she was ready to go all out, her expression already showing a hint of eagerness.

An Chen was amused.

I never expected you to be like this, Jiuge.

He wanted to ask what the last sentence meant by "killing two birds with one stone," but knowing when to stop, he resisted the urge to tease Jiu Ge.

If I tease this girl too much, we really won't be able to sleep in the same bed anymore.

“What you said makes a lot of sense, let’s go then.” An Chen stood up, as if to step out.

Jiuge stood up as well.

After waiting for two minutes, she controlled the illusion of An Chen and herself to walk back to her side.

Then, she put away the light sphere and illusion and stopped the barrier. Jiuge looked at An Chen's hand with a hint of hesitation, and then looked down at her own hands.

Apart from a little moonlight, there was hardly any light left, and the surrounding scenery looked somewhat eerie.

Seeing two illusions, just like myself and An Chen, walking hand in hand and laughing towards me was actually quite unsettling...

The thought that this was a dream world from a hundred years ago, filled with people who had already passed away, and who might even be "demonized" if not careful, still made Jiu Ge's heart race even after she had calmed down.

An Chen silently observed Jiu Ge's subtle movements and, having roughly understood the situation, took Jiu Ge's hand and led her inside.

This time, Jiuge was very well-behaved, following the other person quietly into the house without changing her expression or skipping a beat.

……

"Did you go out to use the restroom?"

As soon as I entered the house, the old man, who had already finished washing up, greeted me with a smile and concern.

Young couples are so affectionate; they even hold hands when they go to the toilet together.

Upon hearing this question, Jiuge's eyes widened and she froze.

If I remember correctly, I read online that a hundred years ago, rural toilets were just latrines swarming with flies, and there was no separation between men and women, nor was there any clean toilet paper...

What if I really need to go to the toilet later?

"Yes." An Chen remained calm and nodded with a smile.

He gently stroked the back of Jiuge's hand with the fingers of the hand he was holding, trying to soothe her flustered emotions.

"Yes, yes, the well water is hot. You can just rinse yourselves off if you want to take a bath." The old man pointed to a basin of boiling water next to him, waved his hand, and walked away.

There's nothing wrong with a married couple showering together.

A hundred years ago, very few people had access to electricity, and kerosene lamps were still the primary means of lighting in rural areas.

Adhering to the principle of prioritizing thrift, people in Gouziwan generally go to bed at eight o'clock on average.

Even after the water cooled down, An Chen and Jiu Ge didn't actually go to wash up.

The illusion is fake, the food and drink are fake, even the water is fake, but the two of them are real.

God knows if this bathwater came from a stinking ditch...

After secretly pouring out the bathwater and resetting several protective barriers, An Chen and Jiu Ge returned to the straw mat.

"I wonder if those three have any clues." Jiuge glanced sideways at the straw shop, her eyes darting around.

Two people who like each other are sleeping in the same bed... What if An Chen tries to take advantage of her?

Even the most composed boy is still only this age; it's better to be safe than sorry...

What if I really get groped? What if we're all squeezed together and someone accidentally touches a place they shouldn't?

Should she refuse or let An Chen have his way?

Thinking of this, Jiuge suddenly panicked.

And does An Chen prefer women with big or small breasts?

Looking at her not-so-ample chest, her mind went blank.

"Didn't we just see their situation?"

An Chen sat calmly on the straw mat and patted the straw next to him.

He was a little confused. Jiu Ge was fine just now, so why did she start changing the subject again?

"..." Jiuge remained silent.

She shook her head, trying to calm herself down again.

Chapter 87 Sleeping in the Same Bed

"Stop worrying, it's time to sleep." An Chen yawned.

He took off his shoes and lay down squarely on the straw mat.

"If only we could send them to the afterlife as soon as possible..." Jiuge took a breath and sat down on the straw mat.

Unlike modern, comfortable beds, straw mats are a bit prickly and itchy.

She admired An Chen somewhat; he could lie there perfectly straight, like a block of tofu, without even flinching.

An Chen maintained the square-shaped posture.

After thinking for a while with his eyes open, he said, "The war is already a fait accompli. All we can do now is try not to imagine what will happen in Gouzi Bay in the next few days."

As long as it doesn't involve An Chen's own affairs, Jiu Ge is mostly easy to understand.

Jiuge tilted her head, blinked, and after a long silence, asked, "You can read minds?"