Su Chen felt a chill run down his spine as Su Meiling's fingers lingered on his cheek. Her touch was soft, but the way she looked at him felt like a predator watching its favorite snack. He needed to get a handle on this situation before things got even weirder.
'I need to know what I'm working with here,' he thought.
He tried to focus his mind on his internal energy. In all those novels, the protagonist could usually feel their cultivation level. He closed his eyes for a second, searching for a spark or a pool of energy.
Deep within his chest, he felt a faint, swirling mist of blue light. It felt stable but not particularly powerful.
'Qi Condensation Stage, or something i don't really know but I'm sure a beginner!'
Su Meiling giggled, leaning in closer. Her chest pressed against his arm as she tilted her head. She was so close that he could see the long, dark lashes of her eyes. She looked incredibly cute, like a harmless little sister, if you ignored the crazy look in her eyes.
"What are you thinking about, brother? You look like you're trying to calculate how to run away again."
Su Chen forced a smile. He didn't want to give her any reason to get violent.
"I was just hungry. My head is still a bit fuzzy."
Her eyes brightened. She hooked her arm through his, pulling him toward the door. The way her body pressed against him was clearly intentional. She was teasing him, enjoying the way he stiffened up.
"Then let's go eat. I cooked everything myself. I even made sure to use the herbs that help with memory."
They walked down the hallway of the Su estate. Every servant they passed immediately bowed their heads and hurried away. None of them dared to make eye contact.
'The original owner of this body... did he die because of her?'
The thought popped into Su Chen's head and wouldn't leave. Maybe the previous guy couldn't handle the pressure. Or maybe she "accidentally" fed him something too strong.
They arrived at a small, private dining room. The table was covered in dishes that smelled amazing. There was roasted spiritual poultry, steamed jade-leaf vegetables, and a bowl of fragrant rice.
Su Meiling pushed him down into a chair and then sat right next to him instead of across the table. She picked up a pair of chopsticks and held a piece of meat to his lips.
"Say ah, brother."
Su Chen hesitated. He looked at the meat and then at her wide, expectant smile.
"I can feed myself, Meiling."
Her smile didn't fade, but her grip on the chopsticks tightened.
"But I want to do it. Unless you'd rather I use my mouth to feed you instead?"
Su Chen's eyes widened. He quickly opened his mouth and took the meat. It tasted delicious, but he could hardly enjoy it with his heart hammering against his ribs.
"Good boy," she whispered, leaning over to pat his white hair.
She leaned in so far that her robes dipped low, giving him a very clear view of her curves. She knew exactly what she was doing.
'If I don't increase my cultivation soon, I'm never getting out of this house.'