TMLSG -Chapter Extra 1

Five years later.

In the spacious master bedroom, Tang Zhen lazily turned over, listening to the familiar announcement in her mind: 【Mission 89: Send the male lead to the study to sleep—Completed.】

Life Points +1.

Not long after completing the mission, she felt the mattress sink beside her. The next moment, she was enveloped in a warm embrace.

Tang Zhen pushed at Ren Yanjing’s face with her hand, pouting, “You only went to the study for five minutes.”

Ren Yanjing tilted his head slightly to avoid her hand and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Wife, five minutes is already a long time.”

Over the years, the two had an unspoken understanding about the missions. Every mission had been completed seamlessly with Ren Yanjing’s cooperation. Sometimes Tang Zhen wondered if he had guessed the existence of the missions, but due to certain restrictions, she could never ask aloud.

Since gaining the Female Lead aura, missions appeared far less frequently. In five years, she had only accumulated fifty more missions.

Currently, missions appeared on a near-fixed schedule—roughly one every month and a half.

For example, today’s mission was to send the male lead to the study to sleep.

Ren Yanjing indeed went to the study, where he laid a mattress, and Tang Zhen helped bring a blanket. But he only stayed there for five minutes before returning.

111 couldn’t help but comment, 【Zhen, you and your husband have completely mastered how to complete missions quickly.】

【I, Santiao, am now merely part of your little play.】

Tang Zhen: …

Over the years, Santiao had become increasingly playful with her.

After a few moments, Tang Zhen softly said, “Husband, I’ll be busy tomorrow.”

“I know. I’ll just hold you while you sleep.” With that, Ren Yanjing gave her a goodnight kiss, and the two of them fell asleep in each other’s embrace.

The next morning, Tang Zhen woke promptly to the alarm.

This year marked her first solo art exhibition since returning to the country. It was extremely important to her, both for its unique significance and in other respects.

After freshening up, Aunt Yu had prepared a lavish breakfast.

After eating, Tang Zhen and Ren Yanjing drove to the gallery hosting the exhibition.

On the way, Tang Zhen felt both excited and nervous—excited because it was her first exhibition, nervous about potential mistakes.

At a red light, Ren Yanjing took her hand, interlacing their fingers, and began talking about their honeymoon. “Wife, after the exhibition, let’s go on our honeymoon.”

It should have happened a year earlier, but Tang Zhen had just been a few months pregnant at that time, so the trip had been postponed.

Now, their little one was a year and a half old, usually cared for by Tang Zhen and Ren Yanjing. But recently, since Tang Zhen had been busy with the exhibition, they had left the child with the grandparents for a while.

At the mention of the honeymoon, Tang Zhen’s nervousness eased. “Where are we going for our honeymoon?”

After finishing their studies a year ago, they had returned to the country and held their wedding.

But the honeymoon destination had never been decided.

Maldives, Tahiti, Norway… or somewhere else?

Ren Yanjing had already made plans—not the Maldives, not Tahiti, nor other typical honeymoon destinations.

He chose a place that held more personal significance to him.

Soon after arriving at the gallery, attendees began trickling in.

Many were art enthusiasts.

“This Tang Zhen… she seems to have gained quite a reputation in the past two years?”

“Studied abroad at H University, now a big artist, and apparently a fairy.”

“A fairy? What do you mean?”

“Just that she’s extremely beautiful.”

Tang Zhen’s former classmates—Tian Tian, Ye Zi, Zhu Zi, Wen Wen, and others—also came to support her.

In addition, members of the Ren family, including Ren Yanfeng, Ren Yanli, and Ren Yan’en, sent their congratulations and blessings.

Ren Yanli couldn’t help praising her the moment he arrived: “Sister-in-law, you’re amazing!”

Tang Zhen’s eyes curved into a smile. “Thank you.”

Today’s exhibition displayed her work from the past several years. Tian Tian remarked wistfully, “I predicted this day would come many years ago.”

Back then, they already felt that someone in their dorm would one day hold a solo exhibition as a great artist.

And sure enough, a few years later, the great artist had arrived.

Tian Tian tugged on Tang Zhen’s arm and told Ren Yanjing, “Brother-in-law, we need to borrow your wife for a bit.”

Ren Yanjing nodded slightly. “Ten minutes.”

Ten minutes?

Ye Zi couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Brother-in-law, you’re being way too clingy.”

“Mm, I’ll come find you in ten minutes.”

Tian Tian couldn’t resist teasing, “Zhen Zhen, your husband is way too attached to you.”

Tang Zhen could only smile helplessly.

111, however, found it perfectly reasonable. It said, 【Zhen, think about it—your husband’s name is Ren Yanjing. If you slightly tweak the order or pronunciation of the three characters, doesn’t it sound a lot like ‘clingy little bug’?”】

Tang Zhen paused for a moment.

Hmm… maybe it does?

111 continued with dramatic emphasis, 【Ren Yanjing, Ren Yanjing, clingy little bug, clingy little bug. So is there a problem with Ren Yanjing being a clingy little bug? No!】

【Therefore, Ren Yanjing should absolutely be a clingy little bug!】

Tang Zhen was completely dizzy from 111’s reasoning.

As the host of the exhibition, Tang Zhen personally guided her former classmates through the gallery.

After only a few steps, Tian Tian couldn’t help but gossip about Li Ran. “Li Ran seems to be marrying Song Zhiqing next month.”

Hearing the name of the original female lead again, Tang Zhen felt a brief moment of disorientation.

After all the twists and turns, Li Ran had ultimately chosen Song Zhiqing.

Ye Zi commented, “But I’ve seen them before—it seems like they’re a bit mismatched emotionally.”

Tian Tian snorted, “Li Ran probably hasn’t completely let go of Brother-in-law yet. Once someone sees such an outstanding man like Brother-in-law, someone as proud and ambitious as Li Ran wouldn’t really be able to fall for anyone else.”

“Just settling for second best, really.”

Clearly, Song Zhiqing was Li Ran’s second choice.

Tang Zhen smiled faintly, choosing not to comment.

Neither Li Ran nor Song Zhiqing mattered anymore—they were strangers in her and Ren Yanjing’s lives, not worth paying attention to.

Whether they genuinely loved each other or were only superficially compatible, it was no longer her concern.

Near the end of the exhibition, Zhou Xusi sent an assistant with a flower basket and well wishes.

The assistant left shortly after delivering them.

In fact, Tang Zhen hadn’t seen Zhou Xusi in five years.

Not long after she and Ren Yanjing married, Zhou Xusi had wed a wealthy heiress from a family of comparable status.

Tang Zhen hadn’t attended his wedding. By then, she and Zhou Xusi were no longer even nominally siblings, and Zhou Wan didn’t welcome her. So she simply sent a monetary gift and present.

Rumor had it the heiress had been a longtime admirer of Zhou Xusi, and given his steady, reliable nature, his married life would likely be smooth.

111 couldn’t resist commenting, 【Zhen, after all these years, everyone has their own life now.】

Exactly.

Everyone has their own path; no one stays in the same place forever.

It’s good that everyone moves forward. Life’s meaning lies in constantly exploring new scenery.

After the exhibition, Tang Zhen and Ren Yanjing didn’t drive home. Instead, they went on another city walk.

Hand in hand, they strolled through the bustling streets, enjoying the peace and happiness that followed the exhibition.

At one intersection, Tang Zhen couldn’t help but ask, “Husband, where exactly are we going for our honeymoon?”

Ren Yanjing stroked the back of her hand with his right hand. “To Antarctica. How does that sound?”

Antarctica?

So far away?

He explained, “Besides research teams and a few tourists, very few people go there. The environment is well-protected, and it’s still pristine.”

“There are glaciers that have remained unchanged for ages.”

“Even though temperatures have warmed over the years, the area still holds magnificent, icy landscapes.”

Tang Zhen understood his words but still didn’t see how this related to their honeymoon.

She blinked her beautiful eyes and asked, “And then, husband?”

Then—

Ren Yanjing smiled and scooped her into his arms.

Holding her close under the starlight, he whispered, “That world is pure and pristine, just like my love for you.”

Pure and untainted.

His love for her would be like the glaciers of Antarctica—

Timeless, unchanging, and never melting.