Painting Enchantment - chapter 2

My Husband has come down with a strange illness.

Every time we make love, his pulse disappears, and he stops breathing altogether.

He says it’s because King Yama has invited him for tea.

Once he’s finished drinking, he’s allowed to come back.

I don’t really understand.

The first time it happened, I thought I’d killed him.

I clung to him, crying and wailing, until I was too exhausted to shout anymore. Sniffling, I grabbed a little iron shovel, ready to bury him.

Halfway through the burial, Lu Yanzhi came back to life.

“Zhou Yan, stop.”

I was so scared I screamed, thinking he’d come back as a corpse.

“Husband, a-are you human or ghost?”

“…Does it matter if I’m human or ghost? If you’re afraid, maybe you shouldn’t make love with me anymore!”

I lowered my gaze, biting my lip, torn with indecision-

I couldn’t do it.

It’s not my fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Lu Yanzhi. He’s just

Too alluring.

Eyes dark as ink at night, skin smooth as polished jade.

How could a man be so beautiful?

Especially at night, with only candlelight-the more I look, the more captivating he becomes.

Just lying beside him, I can’t help but feel restless.

“Husband-”

“What?”

“You’re so handsome.”

Before he could give me that bewitching smile, I pounced on him.

I kissed those tempting lips, pried them open, and tangled with him desperately.

“Zhou Yan.” He called my name, eyes smiling: “You still can’t resist.”

Sweaty and breathless, my gaze landed on his high, straight nose, and I couldn’t help but peck it.

“Husband, I like you.”

Lu Yanzhi was right-I couldn’t resist.

With such beauty, who could?

I curled up in his arms, letting him move beneath my waist. When it was over, I cupped his cheeks and couldn’t help but ask:

“Husband, are you a fox?”

Lu Yanzhi smiled, hooked my chin, and pressed his lips to mine, possessive and demanding.

I could barely breathe before he finally let me go.

“Do I look like one?”

Hmm, not really. I’d heard foxes were supposed to be seductive, but Lu Yanzhi didn’t have that kind of scent.

“Then are you a ghost?”

I had a reason for asking.

At the entrance of Huanxi Village, there’s a long-standing, mysterious legend about a beautiful Female Ghost.

Every night, she slips into the rooms of strong young men, seduces them, and devours their souls.

Lu Yanzhi-could he be that Female Ghost, changed into a man for a new taste?

Has he become a male ghost to tempt me?

But I waited a long time, and the person beside me gave only a vague reply.

“Are you afraid?”

I stared at him for a while.

“No.”

He’s so good-looking-even if he’s a ghost, so what?

Old Mrs. Xu even lived with a snake for years.

I’m willing to be lost in beauty.

“Husband, I’m not afraid.”

Footnote:
1. King Yama(阎王爷): King Yama is the ruler of the Netherworld in Chinese folk religion and Taoism, similar to the Grim Reaper or Hades in Western culture. He is responsible for managing the souls of the dead, judging their actions during their lifetime, and determining their punishment or reward in the Netherworld.