Tong Huanyou took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to curse.
Turning around, she revealed a perfectly professional smile.
“These past few days, I’ve troubled Brother Xie greatly on my behalf. I prepared a small gift merely to express my gratitude.”
As she spoke, she stood up and picked up the jade hair crown from the wooden tray, secretly glancing at Song Yingyue’s darkened gaze.
I’m sorry, Lady Heroine! I’m being forced into this!
Meanwhile, Yu Qingci curled his lips into a mocking smile at the sight.
Xie Zhili replied with a conflicted expression,
“Miss Tong, there’s really no need to be so courteous—”
Before he could finish speaking, he abruptly rose and retreated several steps.
Righteously refusing, he said,
“I cannot accept this, Miss Tong. Everything I’ve done is simply my duty. There is no need for such a valuable gift.”
Seeing how flustered he looked, Tong Huanyou hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“I’m someone who repays kindness! It’s not just you—I prepared gifts for everyone.”
“Today, I even dragged Young Master Yu out shopping with me and carefully picked a gift for Sister Song too.”
Song Yingyue froze slightly and glanced toward her junior brother.
Yu Qingci still wore his usual smile, though it appeared somewhat stiff as he nodded lightly.
Only then did Song Yingyue’s disappointment recede slightly.
She smiled faintly, warm as spring sunlight.
Not giving them a chance to continue the conversation, Tong Huanyou quickly added,
“Could it be that you all think my gifts are too crude?”
As she spoke, she lowered her eyes with fake grievance.
Meanwhile, internally—
This lifetime’s acting skills are all being wasted here. I swear I’m not actually a manipulative green tea girl.
“No, no, not at all!”
Xie Zhili instantly panicked.
Tong Huanyou immediately pressed the advantage, eyes lighting up.
“Since you don’t dislike them, then please allow me to personally help you and Sister Song try them on! Let’s see whether my taste is good!”
“Uh…”
Xie Zhili became speechless.
Desperate to finish the task as quickly as possible, Tong Huanyou strode forward, grabbed his sleeve, and forcefully pushed him back into his seat.
Then she placed the hair crown atop his head and picked up the horizontal pin—
Only to realize she had absolutely no idea where it was supposed to go.
After fumbling with it several times unsuccessfully…
She internally despaired.
I’m a modern person! How would I know how to wear ancient hairpieces?!
Still, technically putting it on his head should count as completing the mission… right?
“Hiss!”
Suddenly, Xie Zhili felt a sharp pain on his scalp and involuntarily sucked in a breath.
“Uh…”
Tong Huanyou stared awkwardly at the few strands of hair she had accidentally ripped out.
Then she gave Song Yingyue an embarrassed smile.
“Perhaps… I should do it instead.”
Song Yingyue covered her lips with her sleeve, clearly understanding Tong Huanyou’s intentions.
She accepted the hair crown from her hands, walked behind Xie Zhili, repositioned it properly, and gently fixed it into place.
Beneath the flowering tree, the heroine’s slender fingers moved gracefully through the hero’s hair.
The scene resembled a breathtaking painting of a heavenly couple.
Tong Huanyou nearly screamed internally—
Watching CPs up close really is the best!
Some people rejoiced.
Others suffered.
“Miss Tong truly has excellent taste.”
A warm, magnetic voice suddenly sounded behind her.
Tong Huanyou’s smile instantly froze.
Her neck stiffly turned toward Yu Qingci, who was smiling at her.
Yet hidden within those smiling eyes was a viciousness only the two of them could detect.
Crap!
I forgot this black-hearted guy likes Song Yingyue!
Didn’t I just unleash the ultimate attack right in front of him?!
Nervously turning away, Tong Huanyou quickly grabbed Song Yingyue’s sleeve again.
“Sister Song! Young Master Yu and I also picked out a gift for you. Please see whether you like it!”
Song Yingyue turned back toward Yu Qingci.
Her phoenix eyes curved gently like autumn water.
“Come to think of it, I feel somewhat ashamed. I’ve never taken A-Ci out to stroll through the marketplace before.”
Meeting her gaze, Yu Qingci’s expression became crystal clear and calm.
“I know Elder Sister carries many responsibilities, so there’s no need to concern yourself with such trivial matters.”
Then he pulled out the begonia hairpin from his sleeve.
“I wonder whether this hairpin suits Elder Sister’s tastes.”
Tong Huanyou wiped sweat from her forehead.
She truly had to admire how quickly this black-hearted man could change expressions.
As though the murderous look from earlier had merely been her imagination.
“Of course I like it.”
Song Yingyue accepted the begonia hairpin.
After examining it carefully, she placed it into her hair.
“Does it look nice?”
“It does.”
“It does.”
“It does.”
All three answered in unison.
Their synchronized praise made Song Yingyue burst into laughter like blooming flowers.
Nearby, Ling’er walked over to Tong Huanyou and bowed slightly.
“Miss, then Ling’er shall take her leave first.”
Tong Huanyou was about to nod when she suddenly remembered something.
Quickly grabbing Ling’er’s wrist, she pulled her aside.
“Ling’er, do you remember whether I ever searched for something called the Wish Immortal before?”
Ling’er thought carefully for a moment.
“The Wish Immortal? I think there really was such a thing. Back when Master fell ill, Miss kept insisting on going to find some Wish Immortal—and you even forbade me from accompanying you.”
Tong Huanyou sank into thought.
The storyline seemed to be developing in an entirely new direction.
Once she obtained the answer she wanted, she waved her hand.
“Alright, it’s nothing. Go ahead and get back to work.”
“Yes, Miss.”
By evening, after Xie Zhili and Song Yingyue carefully gave Tong Huanyou several reminders, it was finally time for dinner.
Night descended silently like spilled ink.
Pear blossom petals swayed gently in the breeze, accompanied by soft rustling sounds as they drifted down leisurely.
After dinner, Tong Huanyou was hurried along to wash up before climbing onto the bed in a flustered rush.
She peeked toward Yu Qingci, who sat not far away with one hand lazily propping up his temple.
Feeling nervous, she blew out the lamp.
Some time later—
Tong Huanyou tossed and turned restlessly, unable to fall asleep.
Even counting sheep inside her head brought no drowsiness whatsoever.
In fact, she kept losing track midway through counting and irritably kicked the blanket.
Yu Qingci lifted his eyes.
Those pitch-black pupils resembled deep obsidian stones.
“Still not asleep?”
Tong Huanyou froze briefly before replying bitterly,
“I can’t sleep. The moment I think about definitely having nightmares tonight, my brain becomes extra awake. Do you know any hypnosis methods?”
Yu Qingci: …
After a moment of silence—
He rose and walked toward her bedside.
“Huh?”
Tong Huanyou instinctively shrank backward.
Yu Qingci frowned unhappily.
“What are you hiding for? Weren’t you the one asking for hypnosis?”
Tong Huanyou looked suspicious.
“Huh? There’s actually a hypnosis spell?”
Yu Qingci narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, a playful smile curving his lips.
The next second—
He swiftly chopped the back of her neck with perfect precision.
Tong Huanyou’s body instantly went limp, her eyes losing focus.
“Mhm… hypnosis…”
Then everything went black as she collapsed heavily onto the bed, unconscious.
Looking at the deeply sleeping Tong Huanyou, Yu Qingci snorted coldly with raised brows.
“So troublesome.”
He casually grabbed a corner of the blanket and tossed it onto her body without caring whether it covered her properly.
Then he returned to the soft couch and closed his eyes once more.