Zhou Chen immediately noticed and instinctively stepped back half a pace, keeping a respectful distance from Su Tiantian and bowing his head.
“Master!”
Su Tiantian, as if just realizing him, tightened her hold on the jade scrolls and softly called out,
“Brother Qingzhi…”
Song Qingzhi’s expression was as usual calm and unreadable but his aura seemed colder than normal.
He didn’t glance at Zhou Chen. His eyes fell on the jade scrolls in Su Tiantian’s arms, his tone neutral:
“Studying formations?”
“Yes…”
Su Tiantian nodded, speaking softly.
“Just looking… Junior Zhou was helping me explain a few things.”
Only then did Song Qingzhi shift his gaze toward Zhou Chen, still emotionless.
“Finished explaining?”
Zhou Chen’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied,
“Yes, I was only showing Madam the way and giving a brief introduction.”
“Mm.”
Song Qingzhi responded lightly.
“Go on with your tasks.”
“Yes, I take my leave.”
Feeling as if pardoned, Zhou Chen bowed and quickly left.
Song Qingzhi then looked at Su Tiantian.
“Let’s go back.”
His voice remained calm, but Su Tiantian keenly noticed that the way his sleeve brushed as he turned was slightly stiff different from usual.
She hurried to follow, trailing him like a little shadow just a step behind.
All the way, he remained silent.
She didn’t dare speak rashly, instead secretly tracing his tall, cool figure with her eyes.
Her inner scheming went off: [System! Was he jeAlous just now?! He interrupted us! And he even sent Zhou Chen away!]
[System: Target behavior analysis: Interruption of host’s contact with opposite-sex disciple and removal from location. Preliminary “territorial” trait detected. Emotional fluctuation detected: abnormal. Probability of jeAlousy: 68%.]
Su Tiantian grinned to herself, deciding to test further.
Back at the Meditation Garden, Song Qingzhi walked straight to the study.
Su Tiantian quickened her pace, stepping in front of him, tilting her face up with a look that was just innocent enough, with a trace of worry.
“Brother Qingzhi… am I disturbing your handling of sect affairs? I just… just wanted to learn a little more…”
Song Qingzhi stopped, lowering his eyes to look at her.
His gaze was deep, like a quiet cold pond, but now it seemed to ripple with hidden currents.
“Formations are profound, not mastered in a day,” he said, his voice slightly deeper than usual.
“If you have questions, you may come to me.”
Su Tiantian’s heart skipped; she took the chance to step just a little closer.
Close enough to sense the clean, crisp aura emanating from him.
She lifted her hand, and her fingertips “accidentally” brushed the back of his hand resting at his side.
Cool skin, brief contact.
Both froze for a moment.
Su Tiantian, startled by the brief touch, instinctively tried to pull back.
But her wrist was gently held by a warm, dry, large hand.
He didn’t grip hard; it was a subtle hold, yet his fingertips carried undeniable presence.
She felt the warmth of his palm and sensed his breath seeming to pause for a moment.
He looked down at her, his gaze falling on her slightly parted lips from surprise.
His Adam’s apple moved as if he wanted to say something, but he pressed his thin lips together and released her hand.
“Go on.”
He averted his eyes, his voice returning to its usual calmness.
Yet Su Tiantian clearly saw a faint, almost imperceptible blush at his ears.
[System: Alert! Target shows brief limb stiffness and abnormal physiological indicators! Ear capillaries slightly dilated! Analysis: suspected intimate impulse, forcibly suppressed. JeAlousy probability reassessed: 85%!]
Su Tiantian watched his slightly rushed retreat, touching her wrist where he had held her.
It still felt as if his warmth and that moment of tension lingered.
She exhaled slowly, leaning against a pillar, feeling her cheeks burn.
Pulling out her notebook, her pen trembled slightly:
“Major development!!! Target shows ‘intimate impulse’! Though restrained… he held my hand! His ears are red! He told me to come to him with questions! This possessiveness! This awkward concern! JeAlousy probability 85%! Relationship line solidly heating up! Mission line… hidden passages… need to calm down, heart racing too fast…”
Su Tiantian practically floated back to her room.
Her wrist seemed to still carry his fingertip warmth and that fleeting tension.
Her mind replayed his slightly red ear and the way he forced himself to look away.
She collapsed on the soft bed, burying her flushed face in the blankets, kicking her legs slightly in the air.
“System! Did you see that?! His ears were red! He held my hand! He told me to come to him! That basically counts as a confession!”
She screamed excitedly in her head.
[System: Data recorded. Target’s ‘intimate impulse’ and ‘physiological reaction’ confirmed. Based on current data, host’s progress greatly increased. Note: target’s psychological defense activation probability simultaneously increased to 70%.]
“Defense or not,”
Su Tiantian rolled in the blankets, unable to suppress a grin.
“This proves his heart is unsettled! He cares! The iceberg is cracking!”
She felt like a miner who had just struck treasure, full of energy.
Pulling out her notebook, she solemnly added: “‘Warm Water Melts the Iceberg’ plan initiated! Core tactic: remain calm, continue radiating charm, wait for the iceberg to fall into the trap!”
That night, when Song Qingzhi returned to the Meditation Garden, it was already late.
Su Tiantian had washed up and was in a simple, soft nightgown.
She sat by the window on the cushioned bench, flipping through the Atlas of Spiritual Plant Care of a Hundred Flowers.
Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall; her profile looked serene and gentle in the lamplight.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
Seeing him, her face immediately bloomed into a soft, slightly dependent smile.
“Brother Qingzhi, you’re back.”
No deliberate approach, no unnecessary movements.
Just a glance, a casual greeting but it carried an invisible hook.
Song Qingzhi paused slightly in his steps, giving a soft “Mm.”
His gaze lingered on her a moment longer than usual.
He could feel the subtle ripple in his heart, disturbed earlier that day by their brief contact.
A tiny wave formed again.
He didn’t go straight to meditate as usual, but walked to the table to pour himself a cup of cold tea.
Su Tiantian set down her book, walked barefoot over, and naturally took the teapot from him.
“The tea is cold. I’ll get you a hot one.”
Their fingers inevitably brushed.
This time, Song Qingzhi neither immediately pulled away nor held her hand.
He simply allowed the brief contact, then spoke softly:
“No need.”
Su Tiantian didn’t insist, returning the teapot and looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
“Then Brother Qingzhi, you rest early. I’ll go to sleep too.”
She obediently returned to bed, tucking the blanket high, leaving only her clear eyes peeking out at him.
Her behavior obedient but slightly sly, intimate but maintaining proper distance left Song Qingzhi somewhat flustered.
He silently sat by his meditation mat, closing his eyes, but for the first time, found meditation slightly difficult.
A faint, sweet scent belonging to her seemed to linger at his nose.
The next morning, Su Tiantian woke refreshed.
She went outside and saw Song Qingzhi already seated at the table, breakfast laid out.
Hearing her footsteps, he glanced up.
In that brief instant, Su Tiantian keenly noticed after their gaze met, his eyes diverted within a fraction of a second.
Though he immediately returned to normal, she had caught that moment of avoidance.
There’s a chance!