A Day in the Mortal World

Jinjiang Exclusive First Release 10.

“Had the kitchen prepare yam and red date porridge. Try it.” Wen Xiaoran handed her the food box. “After you finish eating—I’ll take you out for a walk.”

Yan Yi took the box, her eyes lighting up instantly. “Your Excellency, where are you taking me?”

Wen Xiaoran ignored the question and nodded at the box. “Eat first.”

Yan Yi nodded repeatedly, then stepped aside to let him in. “Your Excellency, can you cook?” she asked casually.

“I can’t.”

A trace of disappointment appeared on her face. She muttered softly, “A villain who can’t cook… no bonus points.”

“What did you say?”

Yan Yi quickly raised her head. “Your Excellency, in my hometown, if a man can’t cook, he has no value. No one would marry him.”

Wen Xiaoran frowned. “The husband your father chose for you—can he cook?”

Yan Yi froze. That nonsense she made up ages ago—she had almost forgotten, but he still remembered.

“Your Excellency, I haven’t met him, so I don’t know. But judging by my father’s standards, if he can’t cook, he probably wouldn’t approve.”

Wen Xiaoran’s expression turned complicated. “Your cousin… can he cook?”

This had a standard answer.

In the original novel, Su Can was portrayed as a perfect all-rounder—skilled in both domestic and cultivation matters, surrounded by admirers.

“Of course. He can cook many dishes. Back when I was at home, people almost wore down our doorstep proposing marriage.”

She spoke so convincingly it sounded real.

After all, in the original plot, Su Can avenged his cousin and rose through countless encounters, living up to every “protagonist” title imaginable.

Wen Xiaoran looked displeased. “You seem to know him very well.”

Yan Yi sat down, opening the box. “We grew up together. Of course we know each other.”

“If you understand each other so well, why didn’t your father let you marry him?”

Her hand paused mid-air. “Close relatives can’t marry. It’s against the law.”

Wen Xiaoran showed interest. “Mortal laws govern that?”

Yan Yi nodded confidently. “Of course. Otherwise chaos would follow. Close-relative marriage—meaning blood-related people marrying—often leads to children with serious illnesses or defects.”

Wen Xiaoran asked, “You know this so well… did you ever consider marrying your cousin?”

Yan Yi was speechless. His logic was unbelievable.

She burst into laughter. “Your Excellency, I studied medicine. If I didn’t understand this, wouldn’t I harm others?”

He studied her carefully, as if weighing her truthfulness.

Yan Yi took out the porridge and dumplings, placing them neatly. “Your Excellency, will you eat with me?”

“I don’t like mortal food.”

Her hand trembled slightly, almost spilling the porridge.

She swallowed nervously, recalling how demonic cultivators absorbed essence.

In the novel, Wen Xiaoran had even devoured his father’s essence to rise to power.

Seeing her hesitation, he asked, “What are you thinking? Don’t you like the food?”

Yan Yi shook her head quickly, blowing on the porridge. “Your Excellency… do you usually not eat?”

“I have never consumed others’ essence.”

Yan Yi secretly sighed in relief. “I didn’t mean that. I was just curious… won’t you get hungry?”

Wen Xiaoran ignored it. “Eat before it gets cold.”

After breakfast, Yan Yi cleaned up and asked again, “Your Excellency, where are we going?”

“The market.”

Yan Yi blinked.

After transmigrating, she had almost forgotten what a normal place felt like.

After getting dressed, she looked at him carefully. “Your Excellency, you dressed up today… you look—”

Since she once said she was charmed by his looks, Wen Xiaoran had been paying attention to his appearance ever since.

He interrupted her, “We will act as an ordinary couple. Don’t call me ‘Your Excellency’ or reveal my identity.”

Yan Yi nodded eagerly. “Understood.” Then she grabbed his sleeve. “Your—”

He pulled it back slightly. “What will you call me?”

She pouted internally but smiled sweetly. “Husband—”

She dragged out the word teasingly.

Wen Xiaoran seemed unaccustomed to it.

Soon, they appeared outside a small town.

Entering the city, the lively atmosphere overwhelmed Yan Yi.

“Hu—husband!” she corrected herself loudly. “Is there a festival today? It’s so lively!”

Hearing her call him that so naturally, Wen Xiaoran was momentarily stunned.

When he didn’t respond, Yan Yi poked his waist. “Husband, why aren’t you answering me?”

Nearby elderly women laughed, commenting on how affectionate young couples were.

Yan Yi pretended to complain, “Husband, it’s all your fault—they’re laughing at me.”

Wen Xiaoran coughed lightly. “You don’t have to call me that all the time.”

Yan Yi frowned. “Husband, do you not want me to be close to you?”

Wen Xiaoran: “…”

Before he could answer, the sound of galloping horses approached.

Dust filled the air.

“Ow!” Yan Yi stumbled forward as someone bumped into her.

Wen Xiaoran quickly caught her in his arms.

Five young cultivators on horseback stopped before them.

One of them sneered, “Watch where you’re going. If you get trampled, it’s your own fault.”

Wen Xiaoran’s expression darkened, but Yan Yi tugged his sleeve.

“Husband, no need to bother with them.”

“Oh?” The man smirked, pointing his whip. “Young lady, what’s your name?”

Yan Yi rolled her eyes internally.

Before she could answer, he dismounted and approached. “Your weak husband can’t protect you. Why not follow me? Oh—this pendant looks interesting—”

He reached for her red crystal.

Wen Xiaoran moved instantly, flipping him onto the ground and crushing his wrist with his foot.

A sharp crack sounded.

The man screamed in agony.

The others surrounded them, drawing swords.

In a blink, they were all defeated, crying in pain.

Yan Yi looked around—no one cared.

She recalled rogue cultivators seeking shortcuts.

These must be them.

She tugged Wen Xiaoran’s sleeve. “Husband, no need to dirty your hands.”

His expression softened slightly. “It doesn’t matter. Better dead.”

The cultivators scrambled away in terror.

“Husband, were they rogue cultivators?”

“Yes.”

Yan Yi shivered. “So arrogant.”

Wen Xiaoran turned her to face him. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “No… just frightened.”

Then she added thoughtfully, “They seemed interested in my pendant… could it be something special?”

Wen Xiaoran replied calmly, “Rogue cultivators behave erratically. Don’t mind them.”

Yan Yi nodded—but she couldn’t ignore it.

The matter of the red crystal still hung over her.

Seeing her distracted, he asked, “Are you tired?”

She shook her head and pointed ahead. “Husband, there’s a candied hawthorn stall. I want to try it.”

Wen Xiaoran looked at her but didn’t move.

“Your—”

“What did you call me?”

She smiled sheepishly. “Husband, my mistake.”

Then she held his arm naturally.

“Husband, I want candied hawthorn. Buy me one, okay?”