NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 13 - The Sleep Game
Chapter 13 The Sleep Game
“Welcome, Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu!”
Zhao Pan’er hadn’t expected to be the one speaking and hastily blurted out a greeting as she stood up. Song Yinzhan and the others found it amusing to see Zhao Pan’er feeling nervous for once.
“Good!”
Gao You enthusiastically concluded the matter. The feast officially began.
“Dear husband!”
Zhao Pan’er picked out a piece of West Lake Vinegar Fish, carefully removing the bones before placing it in Gao You’s bowl. Such a gentle and caring wife.
In his past life, she would have been hard to find. Gao You, satisfied, picked up the fish and put it in his mouth. Soft, tender texture—sweet, sour, and fragrant!
Sun Sanniang’s culinary skills were truly impressive. At the very least, Gao You had never met a chef who cooked better than her. The Zhao family’s teahouse was adorned with colorful lanterns, naturally attracting the attention of the surrounding neighbors.
Meanwhile, in his newly purchased residence, Ouyang Xu was reading when he received news of the lively event. He immediately tossed aside his book and stepped out. Before long, he arrived outside the Zhao family’s teahouse.
Through the fence, he could see Gao You and the others laughing and chatting while eating and drinking. From time to time, Zhao Pan’er would pick out fish bones and feed Gao You herself. Even when he had been with her, he had never received such treatment!
“So lively!”
Ouyang Xu pushed open the courtyard door and walked in. The moment they saw him, the previously joyful atmosphere turned cold.
“Ouyang Xu!”
Sun Sanniang glared at him with disgust.
“Can you stop being so shameless?”
“You and Pan’er have already severed ties. Just stay out of each other’s lives!”
“Do you think your wife from the Gao family knows that you keep running over here?”
Although Ouyang Xu lived nearby, he had not hidden his visits from Gao Hui. He had already come up with excuses, sweet-talking her into allowing it.
Forcing a smile, Ouyang Xu said, “I never said we severed ties completely!”
“Are you having a family feast?”
“I should be considered part of the Gao family too, right?”
As he spoke, he thick-skinnedly walked into the teahouse. This kind of shamelessness made him truly difficult to deal with.
“Am I not welcome?”
Zhao Pan’er and the others frowned, unwilling to respond. Uncle Fu, as the Gao family’s steward, naturally prioritized their interests.
After all, this was the newly appointed Tanhua (third-place scholar in the imperial examination) and the Emperor’s future son-in-law. Offending him would not be beneficial to Gao You.
So, Uncle Fu stood up and politely said, “Welcome!”
“Uncle Fu?”
Gao You looked at him.
Uncle Fu whispered, “Young master, it’s better to resolve feuds than to create them!”
Since Uncle Fu had spoken, Gao You said nothing more. Ouyang Xu shamelessly took a seat next to Uncle Fu, making the atmosphere even heavier.
“Sister!”
Song Yinzhan turned to Zhao Pan’er to break the silence.
“There’s a temple fair in the eastern city tomorrow!”
“Shall we go for a stroll in the evening?”
Before Zhao Pan’er could respond—Ouyang Xu quickly chimed in, “I’m free tomorrow. We can go together!”
“The last time we went to a temple fair together was for the birthday of Mazu, wasn’t it? Back then—”
“Enough!”
Zhao Pan’er coldly interrupted him.
“If you came here to talk about that, then please leave!”
Seeing that she was genuinely angry, Ouyang Xu fell silent. Song Yinzhan noticed the awkward atmosphere and quickly looked to Sun Sanniang for help. Sun Sanniang turned to Xiao Lingdang.
“You must have encountered a lot of things on your trip to Dengzhou!”
“Why don’t you tell us about it?”
Finally, the spotlight was on her. Xiao Lingdang cleared her throat and began recounting her so-called legendary journey. Many stories from historical figures’ biographies were conveniently appropriated as her own adventures. Everyone listened in amazement.
Through this, Gao You gained a deeper understanding of this little girl, who hadn’t appeared in the original storyline. Clever and mischievous—a classic extroverted socialite.
Thanks to Xiao Lingdang’s lively storytelling, the atmosphere relaxed, and everyone managed to enjoy the meal. After eating and drinking to their hearts’ content, Gao You naturally reached out and took Zhao Pan’er’s hand.
“Let’s go look at the lanterns!”
Zhao Pan’er obediently let herself be led outside to admire the colorful lanterns used for the Lantern Festival. They were already holding hands so naturally!
Ouyang Xu gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with jealousy and rage.
Oh? Already mad?
Seeing Ouyang Xu’s expression, Gao You found it amusing.
If you’re mad now, let’s make you even madder!
With this thought, he quickly ran back into the teahouse and grabbed a cloak. Then he returned to Zhao Pan’er and, from behind, gently wrapped the cloak around her, securing it in place. Now they were practically embracing.
Ouyang Xu felt like his lungs were about to explode. Zhao Pan’er, however, had little reaction. After all, Gao You was very gentlemanly—though he wrapped the cloak around her from behind, he didn’t press against her. He was just standing very close.
“Such a loving couple!”
Yinping patted Xiao Lingdang on the shoulder, smiling.
“Now this is truly Pan’er Jie’s fated match!”
“Mm!”
Xiao Lingdang nodded in agreement, finally accepting Gao You.
“Uncle Fu, is there more wine?” Ouyang Xu turned to ask.
Uncle Fu nodded and retrieved a jug of fruit wine from the back kitchen. The fruit wine of this era had a very low alcohol content—similar to modern beer.
Trying to drown your sorrows in alcohol?
Why bother?
Wouldn’t it be better to just go home and sleep?
Seeing Ouyang Xu chugging his wine, Gao You decided to strike the final blow.
“Wife!”
Zhao Pan’er turned to him.
“What is it?”
Gao You grinned. “It’s late!”
“Let’s go home! Time for the sleep game!”
The words left everyone momentarily stunned.
Xiao Lingdang blinked in confusion.
“What’s the sleep game?”
“Well…”
Sun Sanniang hesitated, unsure how to explain.
After thinking for a moment, she simply said, “You’ll understand when you’re older!”
Impossible!
Ouyang Xu felt like his world was crumbling!
Last night, he had spent the entire night wandering outside Gao You’s bridal chamber, unable to sleep. He had only left when the morning sun rose. The whole night, he hadn’t heard a single sound from the room!
Yet now this fool was saying they were going home to play the sleep game?