Chapter 34: Discovering Her Secret

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Discovering Her Secret

Qiao Suluo thought, "Beautiful female beasts might look as flawless as jade under the lamplight, but I am definitely not one of them. Is it because I’m so ugly that I look even scarier under the light? Or is there something sticky on my face?"

She reached out to touch her cheek, completely unaware that her fingers no longer looked as thick as before after she lost twenty-two pounds in a single day.

Que Hongjin’s picturesque brows shifted slightly. He picked up a clean towel and gently dried the water from her hair and face. "It’s nothing. Your face was covered in water; this should feel more comfortable," he said.

His movements were incredibly light and gentle as he wiped her face. Qiao Suluo had never been cared for like this before, especially not by such a beautiful Beast Husband like Que Hongjin, whose features were as exquisite and breathtaking as a painting. Just looking at him was a feast for the eyes, let alone having him wait on her with such care.

After wiping away the rainwater, Que Hongjin crouched down and removed the shoe from her right foot. He could see the medicine applied to her ankle, carrying a faint herbal fragrance. This reminded him of that day—the day she had woken up and applied medicine to his wounds. She had already changed back then. She was different, but he simply hadn’t believed it at the time. Now, it seemed his wife harbored many hidden secrets.

He noticed that the skin on her feet was very fair, completely different from the complexion of her face.

Que Hongjin examined her ankle and said softly, "It might hurt a bit in a moment, so bear with it for now."

A fleeting trace of vulnerability flashed in Qiao Suluo’s eyes, but she quickly steadied her gaze. "It’s fine. I’m not afraid of the pain. Just set the bone." Though she didn’t know why Que Hongjin knew how to set bones, she trusted him. As she spoke, she turned her head away, refusing to look at her foot.

Seeing her reaction, Que Hongjin’s expression softened uncontrollably. He mused that she didn’t look like someone unafraid of pain in the slightest; she was just acting tough. Sighing softly in his heart, he brought up a topic she would be interested in. "What does my wife want to eat tonight?"

The mention of food instantly diverted Qiao Suluo’s attention. She began pondering over what she wanted to cook for dinner.

In that brief moment of distraction, Que Hongjin’s fingers moved. CRACK.

Her sprained bone was snapped back into place. By the time Qiao Suluo snapped out of her daze, her foot no longer hurt. The pain had only lasted a split second.

"Try moving it. Does it still hurt?" he asked.

She wiggled her foot, and her eyes lit up. "It doesn’t hurt anymore! That’s amazing."

As she looked at Que Hongjin, her eyes curved into crescents, sparkling and radiantly beautiful. Seeing the smile on her face, his expression grew even gentler. "It’s good that it doesn’t hurt anymore. Bai Qianluo should have finished boiling the water. Go wash up and change into some clean clothes in a bit while I make dinner."

Qiao Suluo looked at him and said, "Let me make dinner. I want to make noodles tonight."

She had never made noodles for them before. Noodles? Ever since leaving the Capital City, they had indeed not eaten noodles. This was the southern region, where people were accustomed to eating rice, but they were actually more used to wheat-based foods.

"I’ll make them," he offered.

"Your flavor profiles are different," Qiao Suluo insisted. "Let me make them for you so you can taste my noodles." In truth, she just wanted to show her gratitude. Her usual way of thanking people was by treating them to delicious food.

Seeing her insistence, Que Hongjin didn’t say anything more.

Soon, Bai Qianluo finished heating the water. He poured it into the bathtub for Qiao Suluo, adjusting it to the perfect temperature. After leaving some extra hot water on the side, both Que Hongjin and Bai Qianluo stepped out of the room.

Qiao Suluo began her bath. Even though her current body was overweight, she was a stickler for cleanliness and bathed every day.

At that moment, the system spoke up. "Host, you can take the Detoxification Pill now. It purges the body of toxins, which will be excreted through your skin, so it’s the perfect time since you need to wash anyway."

Qiao Suluo was about to agree but hesitated as a thought crossed her mind. "Will the change be too obvious?"

"If asked, you can just say that you ate a strange wild fruit in the forest," the system suggested. "You can claim it might have had a detoxifying effect, which caused the changes.

"However, I doubt Que Hongjin and Bai Qianluo will even ask. Given their personalities, they won’t pry into your affairs. Besides, it’s pitch black tonight with all the lightning and thunder. Any changes won’t be easily noticeable."

Thinking it made sense, Qiao Suluo swallowed the Detoxification Elixir she had received as a reward. Soon, a layer of black impurities seeped out of her skin. She washed it off, changing the bathwater several times until she was completely clean.

Looking at her arm, she muttered, "It really is obvious. My skin has even gotten a bit fairer."

At least she was no longer as dark and grimy-looking as before. That had just been too ugly. It was truly a test of endurance for Que Hongjin and Bai Qianluo to look at her face every day.

As she thought this, she touched her cheek again.

"This is just the beginning. You’ve only consumed a third of a Detoxification Pill. Once your body is completely purged of toxins, your skin will be as pure and fair as ice and snow," the system chimed in. "I told you this body had a great foundation, but you didn’t believe me. You’ll understand once your appearance is fully restored."

As someone who appreciated beauty, Qiao Suluo was delighted to hear this.

Once she was thoroughly washed, she changed into clean clothes and went to the kitchen to prepare the noodles. Que Hongjin and Bai Qianluo were already there. They had finished preparing the Konjac needed for the next day.

When Qiao Suluo entered the kitchen, Que Hongjin got a clear look at her. His picturesque brows twitched slightly, and a subtle, rippling gleam flashed in his eyes. It was like a bird lightly skimming the surface of a tranquil lake, stirring up a faint ripple before the water quickly smoothed over again.

Bai Qianluo suffered from an eye condition, but even through his blurry vision, he could vaguely make out the changes in her. A faint blue luster shimmered in his translucent, glass-like eyes, and the cinnabar mole at the corner of his eye shifted slightly, making him look aloof yet breathtakingly gorgeous.

Due to the dark of night, Qiao Suluo failed to notice their subtle reactions. She smiled and said, "Thank you both for today. You’ve worked hard. I’ll make us some noodles in a bit."

As she looked at them, she didn’t even realize that her gaze had grown much warmer and more intimate. In the past, she might have appeared peaceful, but her eyes had always carried a sense of detachment. She had always maintained a clear, rational mind, constantly reminding herself that they despised her so she wouldn’t lose herself in superficial appearances. But after everything that had happened earlier today, she had developed a genuine sense of trust in them.

"Alright, I’ll assist my wife," Que Hongjin replied.

Qiao Suluo nodded and began kneading the dough and slicing the noodles. Although Que Hongjin had offered to assist her, there was truly nothing for him to help with at the moment. He merely stood quietly, watching her superb knife skills. She moved with incredible speed, yet every single noodle was sliced to the exact same thickness.

Such masterful knife work couldn’t be achieved without years of practice. Yet, according to what he knew of her, she had never stepped foot in a kitchen, let alone learned how to cook. She couldn’t even tell different vegetables apart.

"Did my wife use to cook often?" he asked suddenly.

Qiao Suluo was so focused on slicing the noodles that she didn’t even process his question properly. His sudden inquiry left her mind momentarily blank. Unable to react in time, she simply nodded out of sheer instinct. "Mhm."

The moment she realized what she had just admitted, her heart skipped a beat. She snapped her head up and instantly met his gaze. His eyes were as clear as a cloudless sky, yet they carried a bewitching, captivating aura—as if he had just uncovered her deepest secret.