My Wife Came From A Thousand Years Ago

Chapter 169: Not every jade pendant has a grandfather

"This is gaming."

Whenever Jiang He encountered a question, that was always her answer. It wasn’t that she wasn’t moving—her hands were definitely active, and her eyes were glued to the screen. At first glance, the screen seemed static, but after watching for a while, you’d notice she was alive and well.

This was what set her stream apart from others. Most other streamers filled their rooms with nonstop chatter, background music, and booming game sound effects, creating a lively atmosphere. But here, Xu Qing had forgotten to add background music. Both of them preferred peace and quiet, so the only sounds were the crisp clashes of combat in the game. It gave the impression of focused gameplay, with hardly any talking.

A new viewer with the ID "Lan Qiu Da Da Da" went silent.

Who the hll doesn’t know this is gaming?!*

On the screen, two characters were fiercely battling. One unleashed a dramatic combo called "Fury Blossom Sword," only for every move to miss. The female gunner fired a few rounds mid-air before gliding away.

But the real question was…

"The background, huh…"

Hu Da Tongshu replied, "That’s Zhong Kui."

"Yeah, it’s Zhong Kui," Jiang He echoed mid-PK, agreeing without much thought.

Slam!

Lan Qiu Da Da Da exited the stream.

Two minutes later…

Lan Qiu Da Da Da re-entered the stream.

They couldn’t resist—they had to figure out what was going on.

No incessant chatter, no background music—just one person gaming, with Zhong Kui looming ominously in the background alongside another figure in an awkward pose… It seemed human, but if it were a wax figure, it was eerily lifelike.

Wait, did it just blink?

Lan Qiu Da Da Da: "Did you see that? The person in the background just blinked!"

Hu Da Tongshu: "No way. It’s a wax figure. How could it blink?"

Lu Renjia: "Exactly. You’re seeing things. It couldn’t have blinked."

Lan Qiu Da Da Da: "???"

Suan Nai Mei Shao Nu: "Hahaha, you’re going to drive them crazy!"

"It’s a person," Jiang He clarified between matches, glancing back earnestly.

Hu Da Tongshu: "Streamer, stop messing around. Get the person in the background to move!"

"He’s being punished. He can’t move," Jiang He said, shaking her head. She turned briefly to look at Xu Qing, who shot her a sidelong glance before resuming his focus on the news.

In the tiny stream, with just a handful of viewers, people were free to banter.

"How long is he standing there for?" Lan Qiu Da Da Da couldn’t help but ask. It was all too strange, like he was a bodyguard.

"I told you, it’s a wax figure. Why don’t you believe me?"

"From my analysis, this must be the lost Huo Family Fist technique."

"Nonsense! The Huo Family Fist technique is all about breaking stone slabs. This is clearly the Immovable King Technique!"

The quirky viewers treated the stream like a chatroom, turning it into a lively debate. Jiang He pursed her lips, recalling Xu Qing’s advice to let them be. She didn’t engage and let them chatter away.

"Streamer, play some music!"

For some, streaming was about watching; for others, it was about leaving the stream on as background noise, enjoying the chatter or music while doing other things.

While PK battles were more entertaining than grinding, they could still get monotonous. The chat demanded some tunes.

Jiang He noticed the requests, glanced back at Xu Qing still engrossed in the news, and didn’t bother him. When the match ended, she refrained from queuing up for another.

"I’ll figure out how to play music—just give me a sec," she said, fumbling to set up background audio.

"…"

"…"

The chat went silent, save for Suan Nai Mei Shao Nu typing out instructions.

When the stream had few viewers, it felt cozy—less chaotic and more like hanging out with friends, chatting and gaming.

‘Rain brushes frost leaves, brushing away bygone days.

Clouds shield autumn geese, hiding a decade of moonlight.

I push open the window, hands full of rustling memories,

A cold pillow, a flickering candle, filling me with melancholy~’

The soft, flowing melody filled the stream. Surprisingly, it perfectly suited the quiet atmosphere, instantly enhancing the viewing experience.

"66666!"

"Now this is a vibe!"

Hu Da Tongshu gifted an "Ice Cola" to the stream.

Jiang He’s in-game gunner, wearing a silly Christmas hat and default attire, continued to dominate the PK arena.

The young girl, the bizarre figure, Zhong Kui, and the sounds of "Hey-ha! Clack-clack!" created a peculiar tableau.

If you listened closely, you could even catch snippets of news about poverty alleviation efforts in the background.

An hour flew by. Xu Qing finished his breathing exercises as Jiang He ended her stream, stretching lazily in her chair.

Today, the stream hit a peak viewership in double digits—a big step forward.

"Someone gifted me something today—an Ice Cola!" Jiang He gleefully removed her jacket, pulling her hair free and letting it fall loose. It felt strange to keep it tied for too long.

"Good omen. Congrats on earning a few cents," Xu Qing teased, stretching before grabbing two colas from the fridge, handing one to her. "Here, my treat too."

"But everyone seemed more interested in you than my gaming," Jiang He pouted.

"That’s normal. You’re not in a high rank yet. No one likes watching low-level stomps. I’m helping draw viewers and keeping them around. Just keep saying I’m being punished if they ask."

Xu Qing didn’t mind. If it were him, he’d also be curious about a bizarre stream like this.

"Next time, record your matches. Post the gameplay videos later. If you keep this win streak and hit 1,600 points, people will start digging up your old matches for replays."

Jiang He was already at 1,000 points. Xu Qing had checked—1,500 was a decent rank. At that level, stomping noobs would be tough, but if she could do it in shabby gear, her skills would shine.

As for maintaining the streak? Xu Qing didn’t even entertain the thought. Money could overcome skill—other players could bulldoze through matches in their Ferrari skins, and she’d only have one chance to avoid a mistake.

"If you run into any big-name streamers and take them down, though, that’d be huge," he mused, stroking his chin as he considered whether to buy her some gear.

"Sure, I’ll take them down," Jiang He responded confidently, sipping her cola through a straw—more ladylike that way.

"It’s eight o’clock. Wanna cuddle up and watch a movie?" Xu Qing asked.

Jiang He hesitated before slowly rising from her chair. "We can watch a movie, but why do we have to cuddle?"

"We could lie down instead. This sofa folds out…" Xu Qing demonstrated, pulling a lever to flatten the old sofa into a bed.

"..."

Jiang He was dumbfounded. She’d never realized the sofa had this feature.

"I don’t want it. Put it back!"

"Alright, alright. That’s why I’ve never replaced it—it’s multifunctional," Xu Qing said, reluctantly returning the sofa to its original state.

"Should I turn off the lights?" Jiang He asked.

"Of course."

"I want to shower first."

"Sure," Xu Qing agreed readily.

Jiang He chose a two-piece pajama set to avoid any wardrobe mishaps—she still remembered the time Xu Qing playfully lifted her chin with a finger and teased, "What a lovely young lady."

She suspected he’d realized she wouldn’t actually hit him for that, so she had to stay on guard.

As for the shower? It wasn’t to avoid being sniffed again. It just felt better to watch a movie feeling fresh and clean.

Jiang He finished her shower, carrying two damp pieces of clothing back to her bedroom to hang up. When she returned to the living room, she was wearing a new pale-yellow pajama set embroidered with falling leaves. It was short-sleeved with matching shorts, leaving her fair arms and legs exposed. She immediately regretted her choice—it felt even less modest than her old sleepwear.

What if Xu Qing suddenly licks me…

Jiang He glanced down at her legs, conflicted. Xu Qing had joked about licking her before, and now, freshly showered and squeaky clean, she wondered if he might actually try it.

"Why are you just standing there?" Xu Qing, who had been using pliers to fiddle with a metal ring, noticed her pause. He set the tool aside.

"I was deciding whether to bring Winter Melon to cuddle with us." Jiang He pointed at the cat, feigning thoughtfulness. She picked up the fluffy creature, turned off the living room light, and handed Winter Melon to Xu Qing.

"For you," she said.

"...Why are you giving it to me?" Xu Qing asked, baffled. "Wasn’t this for you to hold?"

"No, it’s for you," Jiang He insisted, pushing Winter Melon into his arms before plopping down beside him on the sofa. She slipped an arm behind Xu Qing, mimicking the way he had held her before, and leaned her head cautiously against his shoulder.

"What’s this about?" Xu Qing looked at Winter Melon, thoroughly confused.

"Would you prefer I hug your leg instead?" Jiang He asked innocently.

"..."

Xu Qing sighed. Alright, fine—she’d preempted his playful antics by turning the tables. So sly.

Although they were already engaged, and she’d even entrusted him with her mysterious jade pendant, Jiang He still wasn’t used to physical intimacy beyond a kiss here and there. Xu Qing knew it was his fault for getting too handsy before, and now she had her own ways of preventing "weird things" from happening.

The movie started as planned, the cuddling continued as planned, but Xu Qing knew better than to entertain any interest in her legs tonight.

"What are we watching?"

"Jianghu Er Nv" (Ash Is Purest White). "It’s about the ‘jianghu’ of a bygone era."

"Jianghu?" Jiang He asked curiously.

"Not the jianghu you’re thinking of. It refers to a set of rules and a way of life outside ordinary society—a small world of its own. Things like loyalty and courage are what define their jianghu."

The so-called "jianghu" was more of a thematic undercurrent in the film. The "er nv" (children of the jianghu) were just a group of small-time gangsters drinking cheap liquor, worshipping Guan Yu, and dancing to disco. The film, with its distinct Jia Zhangke style, told the story of ordinary people caught in the tides of changing times.

Jiang He sat like a boyfriend would, with one arm around Xu Qing, occasionally reaching out to pet Winter Melon with her free hand. The cat looked extremely aggrieved but had no choice but to endure their attention.

"Do you think this jade pendant is why you ended up here? Maybe one day during a thunderstorm, I’ll show up in your village with it," Xu Qing speculated, fiddling with the pendant and adjusting its position when it pressed uncomfortably against his chest.

Jiang He froze. "How could that be possible? It’s just an ordinary jade pendant."

"That’s how it always is in novels. The pendant either contains a hidden master, a secret technique, or the power to cross worlds. If my gums start bleeding, I’ll try biting it to see if it recognizes me as its owner."

"Then… maybe you shouldn’t wear it. What if it actually does something?" Jiang He’s tone grew serious. What if there’s some truth to those stories?

"You don’t want it back so you can go home?" Xu Qing asked, pressing the jade pendant to his forehead in mock experimentation.

"I…"

"Relax, I’m just joking. There’s no way it’s that magical," Xu Qing chuckled, slipping the pendant back under his shirt. "And even if it were, it’s mine now. No take-backs."

Jiang He didn’t respond. She was lost in thought. When she’d arrived in Xu Qing’s world, it had been like walking straight out of the Peach Blossom Spring. She’d simply wandered into a grove, and before she knew it, she was in this steel jungle of a city, with no way to return.

The pendant had nothing to do with it… probably.

As the movie played, Jiang He grew more introspective. Meanwhile, Xu Qing stepped away briefly to use the restroom. Winter Melon took this opportunity to escape Jiang He’s grip, scampering off into the darkened room.

By the time Xu Qing returned, Jiang He was leaning against him, visibly drowsy. Her head rested close enough to his chest that she could hear his steady heartbeat. Slowly, her breathing evened out as she drifted to sleep.

Xu Qing noticed and gently jostled her arm, but she didn’t stir.

"Some martial artist," he thought with a smirk. "Where’s all that vigilance now?"

He pulled her closer, catching the faint fragrance from her freshly washed hair. As he held her, he felt a calm contentment settle over him.

The night was quiet, peaceful, and ordinary—a perfect evening for a martial hero and her companion.

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