12 Frogs Have Fetish.

Tang Yu peeked her big lustrous eyes out of the thin quilt. He waited for her response, and only turned to leave when she nodded obediently. Her eyes followed Mu Yunsheng out of the door, then she pulled down the embroidered quilt, sat up, and looked around.

The king-size bed was made out of oak wood, it had a simple, and elegant design carved on the edges. The headboard and footboard were only a few inches apart in height. Its polished finish was shining in the orange glow of fire. Beside the bed, a long study table flanked up by bookcases was situated against the wall. It also had a row of drawers on the left side of the table with copper handles to open and close them.

A tall, wooden cupboard was erected against the west wall a meter away from the footboard of the bed. The fireplace was providing light and warmth from beside it, at a distance of two feet. On the left wall, there was window with iron bars and a double-paneled door; in the middle was a vertical stripe of mirror, lying flush against the plain earthen wall. It occupied no space on the floor, being incorporated and fixed firmly into the wall.

The room was abiding by an utilitarian decoration scheme, featuring the only necessary furniture. And, it cosied her. All of a sudden, a gust of cool rainy breeze sneaked inside through the ajar door. Tang Yu's ears perked up. The cicadas robbed the night of its silence with their odious singing. It kinda sparked a chain of superstitious thoughts in her head. She couldn't but strain her eyes in the darkness through the ajar door. If soul transmigration was a real thing, good chance ghosts did exist as well! She got down, sliding her feet in a pair of slippers, and fleeing to her husband.

Just as Tang Yu opened the doors, light spilled into the backyard outside in a rectangular shape. She halted her steps, luminous eyes ogling at a chorus of frogs sitting still on a ring of red toadstools around a cluster of stones. They appeared to be staring off absentmindedly, but their vocal sacs were distending and shrinking non-stop. They were croaking with their mouths closed. Wait a second! All of them were males in mating heat, and calling for females? Why in a group though?! Frogs with fetish!

Tang Yu squinched up her face. It was a cringe that trembled down her whole body. Goosebumps pebbled her skin. The mottle-patterned skin with disruptive coloration and rough texture…! She hurried her steps, followed the path to her destination, aka her husband.

The kitchen was built in the backyard, five feet away from the main house. The dancing flames from the fireplace couldn't illuminate all the way. She traced the walls in the shadow, stepped on the rocks placed at intervals on the slushy rain-soaked ground, and materialized herself in the bamboo shack.

Mu Yunsheng stuffed some dry crunchy leaves, barks, and twigs in the clay stove. Tang Yu leaned against the bamboo woven wall. She forgot to announce her presence, and couldn't but feast her eyes on the real eye candy. What a beautiful piece of work! He blew on the mouth of the stove through a bamboo pipe, and it belched out some smoke, before the flickering flames slowly flared up. The orange glow shed by fire lit up his handsome face. Oil and broth in the pot started sizzling, wafting out an aroma. The entire intention of outhouse kitchen was to keep the smoke, peppery cooking smells, and pungent burning smells out of the main abode.

Mu Yunsheng swiveled his neck right away, as if he sensed her presence. "What brought you here?" His wrist stopped stirring the fish.

Tang Yu straightened up, embarrassed. "Ah...I was getting bored." She couldn't confess her just found ghost fear, which might totally spoil her image! She scanned the place, and found her target—a low stool. She remembered they all ate their three square meals here, regularly, in the kitchen. Only the times when there would be guests at home, they would carry the dishes to the dining table, in the living room. "Why don't I eat here?" She asked. The kitchen was bigger than any individual room of the main house; and that was how villagers usually planned their construction.

"Okay." Mu Yunsheng reached out for two shreds of rugs, grabbed the handles of the cauldron-like pot, and took it down from the brazier. He stared at her for twenty seconds. "There is no meat for this meal." His voice stiffened slightly, placing a wok on flames.

"I like fish and veggies as well." Placing the wooden stool closer to him, Tang Yu dropped on it. As they lived super close to the river, fish and rice were their staple food. There were also fresh veggies culled from farms! She was cool. It reminded her how 'uncool' the host had been. Since she was now living in the body of the previous Tang Yu, all the latter's mistakes were now hers to rectify. She needed to clean the slate. "Hubby," She couldn't help blushing at her own word. Two blobs of rosiness rose, exploded and spread on her cheeks. The corny endearment!

Mu Yunsheng's eyes twinkled; his face bloomed pink.

Tang Yu avoided making eye contact with him, long eyelashes trembling. She coughed inwardly, before oiling the business at hand. "I'm sorry for my past behavior. I regret all my silly words and antics that caused you to be upset." She said sincerely. Although it earned her a dubious glance from him, that wasn't enough to derail her guilt. "I'm ready to adjust with everyone. The whole house seems to be sleeping now. I'll apologize to them all in the morning. Will you forgive me?" She waited for Mu Yunsheng's answer with bated breath under his probing gaze that was weighing her words.

His expression was inscrutable. "May I know what does your 'I'm sorry' really imply?"

Tang Yu nodded immediately. She was aware of the truth and feelings that her words carried. "It implies that I recognize my mistake and deeply regret it. Therefore, I won't repeat it and promise to appreciate the chance you give me."

Mu Yunsheng didn't smile, but his eyes did. A gentle glow melted the edge from his face. "I'll believe you unless you prove me wrong. It might be a little hard to melt my mother's heart, however, she is a kind woman. I want you to win her heart, and be patient with her. Will you do that?"

"I will." She had to fix the sour relationship with the hitler mother-in-law. After all, any equation with this woman would ultimately trickle into her conjugal relationship.

"Good." Mu Yunsheng took a plate from the pile of clean earthenwares. He ladled out rice, a big fish tail, a big spoon of broth and some cabbage fry. "Eat." He pushed a round bowl of clean water towards her. "First, wash your hands." He parted his lips, perhaps wanted to say something more. But, in the end, he let the words evaporate from the tip of his tongue.

Tang Yu's pearl teeth descended on her plump lip; no chopsticks and no spoons rendered the use of her hand necessary. She dipped her hand in the water, rubbing her fingers on the palm, cleaning it. Neither she nor the host had ever eaten rice with their bare hands. But, she couldn't do away with the custom. That was how farmer households ate. She spared Mu Yunsheng a glance, and caught him putting the flickering oil lamp on a wooden stand. The elevation spilled brighter light on her plate.

"Debone the fish tail carefully." Mu Yunsheng reminded.

"Hmm." Tang Yu supported the weight of the plate with the palm of her left hand, dunked the fingers of her right hand in the heap of rice and scooped up some. However, as her fingers emerged from it full vertically, most of the rice slipped away from them. By the time she flew the morsel into her mouth, two third was lost in the journey; half of the rest jumped out in the delivery process. The only saving grace was she didn't have to chew on air, three grains were still there!

'Someone please tell me, this hunky has seen nothing!' It was a small blow to her image. She willed herself to flap open her eyes, and check on the sitch. Damn! He was staring at her all along! Her cheeks crimsoned. Out of embarrassment, she wanted to become a weasel and burrow in the ground.

"Do you mind me feeding you with my hand?" Mu Yunsheng awaited her answer with anticipation.

Tang Yu opened her mouth in response. It was a much better choice to let him feed her than amuse him with her shabby eating style. Being a quick learner, she was also hoping to pick up a hack or two from him.

Mu Yunsheng's lips crinkled into a smile. He took the plate from her hand, deboned the fish. He took some fry, tucked it into a morsel, then fed it to her.