MY HUBBY IS TOO CLINGY!

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE

~♡~

Yan Ling opened her eyes and immediately knew something was wrong.

The bed beneath her was too hard and the sheets feels too rough. The air smelled of incense and wood instead of the familiar scent of her cramped apartment. she sat up quickly, her heart pounding, and looked around.

This is not her room.

The walls were made of dark wood, decorated with silk curtains and painted screens. A low table held an oil lamp, it's flickering light casting shadows across the floor. She was wearing a soft sleeping robe, her long hair loose over her shoulders.

"What the hell...?" She muttered, pressing a hand to her forehead.

Then, like a flood, memories rushed into her mind, memories that weren't hers.

She is still Yan Ling, but not the Yan Ling from the modern world. This Yan Ling was the daughter of a noble family in ancient China , forced into an arranged marriage with a powerful general named Aoshu. They had been married for months, but they might as well have been strangers.

On their wedding night, the original Yan Ling had been so exhausted from the ceremonies that she collapsed onto the bed as soon as she entered the bridal chamber. Aoshu never came to the room. Since then, they barely spoken. He was always away with the army, and when he was home, he treated her like she didn't exist.

Yan Ling groaned. "Did I really transmigrate into some historical drama?"

Just then, a strange voice echoed in her mind.

[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]

[QUEST: RETURN TO YOUR WORKD BY REACHING 100 POINTS INTIMACY WITH YOUR HUSBAND, GENERAL AOSHU]

[CURRENT INTIMACY: 0/100]

Yan Ling's jaw dropped. "What kind of joke is this!?"

She had read enough transmigration novels to know what was happening, but she never expected it to happen to her. And of all things—she had to get close to that cold general? The one who ignored his wife?

Well I mean, his own wife is also ignoring him.

A knock at the door startled her. "Madam, are you awake?" A soft voice called.

Yan Ling hesitated before answering. "yE-" Her voice cracked. "Ohok!" Yan Ling cleared her voice, "Yes."

The door slid open, and a young maid entered, bowing deeply. "This servant is here to help Madam prepare for the day."

Swallowing her panic, Yan Ling nodded. "Alright."

As the maid helped her dress in layered robes and pinned her hair up with delicate ornaments, Yan Ling's mind raced. She needed a plan. If she wants to go home, she had to raise her intimacy with Aoshu. But how? The man didn't even look at her.

After she was dressed, the maid led her to the main hall for breakfast. The house was large and elegant, filled with silent servants who moved like shadows. It is clear that General Aoshu is wealthy and respected.

But where is he?

"Where is my husband?" Yan Ling asked.

The maid bowed again. "The General left at dawn for military drills. He will return by evening."

Of course he's not here.

Yan Ling sighed, she had the whole day to figure things out. Maybe could learn more about this world, about Aoshu and find a way to get closer to him.

But first, she needed to survive this place, which means,

FOOD!

As she sat down to eat, she made a promise herself. She would get back home—no matter what it took.

After breakfast, Yan Ling paced around the manor, trying to think of a way to raise her intimacy with Aoshu. The system's words echoed in her mind.

100 Intimacy

How is she supposed to do that when they barely spoken? Then an idea hit her.

Isn't food the way to a man's heart? Even a cold general like Aoshu had to eat. If she cooks for him, maybe he will see her effort and soften toward her.

Determined, she march to the kitchen. The moment she stepped inside, the servants froze. The head cook, a plump woman with sharp eyes nearly dropped her knife.

"Madam!" The cook bowed quickly. "Is there something you need?"

Yan Ling rolled up her sleeves, "I'm going to cook for my husband."

The servants exchanged nervous glances. The last time the young mistress had tried to cook, she nearly set the kitchen on fire. And the dish she made...well, even stray dogs refused to eat it.

"Madam," the cook started, "there's no need to trouble yourself. The kitchen staff can prepare anything you wish for the General."

Yan Ling waved her off. "No no. I want to do it myself. It's more meaningful this way."

The servants hesitated. One of the maids bit her lip. "But Madam—"

"I know what I'm doing." Yan Ling said confidently.

She doesn't.

Back in her world, her cooking skills are questionable. Instant noodles were her speciality. But surely, how hard could it be? She had watched enough cooking shows.

Ignoring the worried looks, she grabbed an apron and scanned the ingredients. Meat, vegetables, spices—everything was fresh and high quality.

"Alright." She muttered to herself. "Let's make something impressive."

She decided on braised pork belly. It was a classic dish, rich and flavorful. If she nailed this, Aoshu would have no choice but to acknowledge her effort.

The servants huddled at the edges of the kitche, watching her like she was handling live explosive.

Yan Ling ignored them at firs, but their nervous whispers and exchanged glances started to grate on her nerves.

"Could you all stop staring?" She snapped, wiping sweat from her brow. "Don't you have work to do?"

The servants flinched but didn't leave.

A maid stepped forward, "Madam, perhaps let me help with the—"

"I said I've got it!" Yan Ling turned back to the pot, stirring aggressively.

The pork sizzled, the smell filling the kitchen. So far, so good. Then she reached for the spices.

She wasn't entirely sure which one to use, so she grabbed a handful of what looked familiar and tossed them in. The servants gasped.

"Madam, that's—!"

"Too much?" Yan Ling frowned. "No it's fine. It needs flavor." She added more, and then more.

The cook covered her mouth, looking faint. Yan Ling tasted the sauce, her face twisted.

"Okay that's too salty."

She dumped in water to dilute it. Then, realizing it was now too bland, she added more spices.

The cycle repeated.

By the time she was done, the dish was questionable. The pork was unevenly cooked, some pieces were tender, others were tough. The sauce was strange brown color, too thick in some places, too watery in others.

The servants looked like they wanted to cry.

Yan Ling wiped her hands, "There, done."

The servants stared at the dish in horror. Yan Ling arranged the pork belly neatly on a plate, garnished it with some herbs and stepped back to admire her work.

★

The sun had already set by the time General Aoshu returned to the manor. His boots were dusty from the training grounds, his expression as unreadable as ever. He expected the usual, a quiet meal alone in his study, another night of silence between him and the wife he barely knew.

But when he stepped into the dining hall, he froze.

The table was covered in dishes, steaming bowl of soup, glistening Vegeta, and a large plate of braised pork belly sitting right in the center. The smell was rich, almost overwhelming. And there, standing beside the table was Yan Ling, smoothing out her sleeves with a satisfied smile.

Aoshu blinked.

This is... unusual.

In the months since their wedding, they had never shared a meal. She always ate in her chambers, and he preferred solitude. Now she's looking at him with bright eyes.

"You're back!" She said, stepping forward before he could react. She grabbed his arm, actually touched him and pulled him towards the table.

Aoshu stiffened, but before he could say anything, she pushed him into a chair and sat across from him.

"You must be tired." She said. "I made all of this for you." She gestured to the food.

Aoshu stared at the dishes, then at her, then back at the dishes.

His wife had never shown the slightest interest in him before. Why now?

"You cooked this?..." he asked slowly, his voice flat.

Yan Ling nodded eagerly. "Every single dish. Go on, try it!"

Aoshu hesitated, his instincts screamed at him to leave, but her expectant gaze pinned him in place.

Slowly, he picked up his chopsticks. He decided to start with the safest option, a simple stir fried vegetable and took a bite.

He immediately regretted it.

Too salty. Burnt in places, and was that too much ginger?

He chewed slowly, forcing himself to swallow.

Yan Ling leaned forward, "Well? How is it?"

Aoshu set down his chopsticks. "... It's good."

Yan Ling's face lit up. Before he could stop her, she grabbed the serving spoon and plopped a large piece of pork belly into his bowl.

"Here, try this one too!"

Aoshy looked at the meat, the sauce was an unnatural shade of brown.

"I've already eaten..." He said. "I'm full."

Yan Ling's smile faltered. "But you barely—"

"I have work to do." He turned and walked out before she could argue.

She stared at him, baffled. He didn't even try the other dishes.

DING

[INTIMACY LEVEL: -2/100]

Yan Ling's jaw dropped. 'What?!'

'It dropped?!! He said it was good!'

Frustrated, she picked up her chopsticks and stabbed the pork belly, shoving a piece into her mouth. The second the flavor hit her tongue, she gagged.

She spat it back onto the plate and coughed.

'No wonder he left!!'

Her face burned with embarrassment, she had been so proud of herself but the food was terrible. And Aoshu, that liar had pretended it was fine just to escape!

Yan Ling groaned, dropping her head on the table