After that soft buzzing in her head, Lin Wan Yi found herself standing in a strange place.
All around her was a gray mist, making it hard to discern the boundaries, but beneath her feet was a small patch of unimaginably fertile black soil, soft and moist, as if a handful could be wrung out to yield oil.
Not far away, a rustic spring was continuously gushing out clear spring water with a "gurgling" sound, steam rising, carrying a sweet aroma intoxicating to the senses.
Is this... the space inside the jade pendant?
Lin Wan Yi squatted down, extending her finger to dip into the spring water. A warm yet cool flow instantly spread throughout her entire body. The fear and exhaustion from yesterday seemed to be cleansed away in this moment.
Seeing the crystal-clear water, a thought arose in her mind: It would be wonderful to take a sip.
The next second, something magical happened.
A cup naturally formed by the flowing water appeared out of thin air, filled to the brim with spring water, hovering steadily in front of her.
Lin Wan Yi's heart skipped a beat.
She tentatively reached out, grasped the cup; it felt real and cool to the touch. She brought the cup to her lips and took a cautious sip.
The spring water was sweet and refreshing as it entered, seemingly infused with vitality, sliding down her throat into her stomach, transforming into a gentle warm current that quickly spread to every corner of her body.
She could clearly feel her body, like parched land meeting nourishing rain, every cell leaping with joy to absorb this energy. The blood vessels beneath her skin felt as though the blood flow had accelerated, carrying away all the heavy fatigue.
This is simply a divine thing!
Lin Wan Yi drank the entire cup in one gulp, feeling much lighter, her skin seemingly replenished with water, radiating a dewy glow.
She recalled the last scene before the space was activated — her calf resting on Gu Yanshen's leg, the jade pendant on her chest suddenly heating up.
Could it be that... the activation and maintenance of this space requires him?
Thinking about this, she concentrated her thoughts and silently said, "Exit."
The scene before her eyes instantly changed, the magical land and spring vanished, and the dim bedroom and the steady breathing of the man beside her pulled her back to reality.
She really returned.
Lin Wan Yi turned her head, examining the man beside her in the faint light seeping in through the window.
He slept very deeply, lying on his side, a sturdy arm resting between them. The army green vest outlined his broad shoulders and pronounced chest muscles, exuding a sense of power.
Is he the "key" to activating the space?
Gu Yanshen did not react.
Lin Wan Yi grew bolder, her fingertips tracing along his muscular lines, slowly drawing the contours of his beautiful deltoids.
The man's arm tensed instantly at her touch, becoming as hard as a rock.
He did not wake, but his body's reaction was unmistakably honest.
Lin Wan Yi found it extremely amusing, just as she was about to withdraw her hand, her wrist was suddenly gripped firmly by a large, iron-like hand.
"!"
Gu Yanshen had at some point opened his eyes, hawk-like sharp eyes locked onto her, even in the dim light, intimidating her.
"Don't move."
His voice was hoarse, filled with a lazy yet dangerously taut tension from just waking up.
His palm was scalding, incredibly strong, gripping her wrist painfully.
Lin Wan Yi was startled by him, but seeing the flush spreading from his neck up to his ears, the bit of fear in her heart quickly turned into mischief.
She blinked her innocent big eyes and softly said, "I... I just saw you seemed to be sleeping uncomfortably, so I wanted to help you move your arm."
Gu Yanshen stared at her for a few seconds, as if trying to discern the truth of her words.
Finally, he released his grip as if struck by electricity, swiftly got out of bed, moving with such speed that it created a breeze.
"I'm going to wash up."
Leaving these words behind, he almost fled into the bathroom.
Lin Wan Yi watched his tall yet slightly awkward retreating figure, laughing so hard under the covers that her shoulders shook.
This man, truly innocent and cute.
When Gu Yanshen reemerged, he was already tidy, wearing a trim military uniform, back to his usual "living Yama" demeanor.
He walked to the desk, took out a stack of cash and some vouchers from his briefcase, placing them with the ones from yesterday, pushing them to the center of the table.
"If there's anything lacking at home, you buy it yourself." He spoke succinctly, avoiding meeting her gaze, "I have a meeting at the regiment today."
With that, he opened the door and strode out.
The room returned to silence.
Lin Wan Yi looked at the considerable household fund on the table, recalling the blunt statement from last night: "From now on, this home... is for you to manage," she suddenly felt a sense of warmth.
This man, though not good with words, exudes the responsibility of a soldier through his actions.
She put away the money and vouchers, a plan forming in her mind.
First, she retrieved some spiritual spring water from the space with her mind, mixing it into the hot water in the basin. As the warm spring water caressed her cheeks, the subtle nourishment made her close her eyes in comfort.
Then she carefully washed her hair with the diluted spring water.
After finishing tidying up, she walked to the only cracked vanity mirror in the room, and was stunned.
Is the person in the mirror still her?
The skin, previously sallow due to malnutrition, now appeared porcelain white and delicate, like the finest white jade, exuding a radiant glow. Her moist eyes now shimmered with vibrant brilliance. Her long hair had turned silky and glossy.
The effect was more astonishing than any premium skincare product she had used in her past life!
"Knock, knock, knock—"
A series of urgent knocks interrupted her shock.
"Wanyi! Wanyi, are you there? Open the door!" It was Gu Lan's voice.
Lin Wan Yi walked over and opened the door.
Gu Lan rushed in with a whirlwind, still carrying a look of concern and indignation: "Wanyi, I didn't sleep well all night, the more I think, the angrier I get! My brother is just a living Yama, you married..."
Her words stopped abruptly.
Gu Lan's eyes widened like saucers, staring straight at Lin Wan Yi, her mouth forming an "O" large enough to fit an egg.
She circled around Lin Wan Yi twice as if she had seen a ghost, reaching out her hand yet not daring to touch.
"You... you..." She pointed at Lin Wan Yi's face, stammering unable to form a complete sentence, "What happened to your face? Your skin... is glowing?"
Gu Lan leaned closer, carefully examining her face, and touched her hair.
"Oh my God! Just one night, how do you look like a completely different person!"
Lin Wan Yi just smiled with her eyes, saying nothing.
Seeing her natural charm and radiant appearance, an absurd thought suddenly popped into Gu Lan's mind.
She slapped her thigh, a shocked yet pained expression on her face.
"I know!"
She grabbed Lin Wan Yi's hand, lowering her voice with a tone of exasperation: "They say... they say men are the soil, women are the flowers; the more diligently the soil is tilled, the more splendidly the flower blooms... but this is too..."
Looking at Lin Wan Yi's face, supple enough to pinch water from, Gu Lan stomped her foot in distress.
"My brother is too much! Did he plow you like a field all night?"