On her face, she feigned nonchalance, greeting him softly as usual.
“Good morning, Brother Qingzhi.”
“Mm.”
He responded, his voice sounding no different from normal.
But when he picked up his jade chopsticks, Su Tiantian noticed something.
The first thing he took today was the spirit mushroom she had recently shown a preference for.
And, naturally, he placed it on the small plate in front of her.
Su Tiantian looked at the tender mushroom on her plate, her heart skipping a beat.
[System: Target performing “serving dish” behavior. Database comparison… this action exceeds basic “responsible” behavior; intimacy index significantly increased.]
She lowered her head and nibbled the mushroom, finding it more delicious than ever before.
Breakfast passed in a quietly understood, tacit atmosphere… until:
“Master.”
Bai Weiwei’s voice rang from outside the hall, breaking the silence.
She carried an exquisite food box, smiling as she entered.
Her gaze paused imperceptibly when it fell on the simple congee and side dishes on the table, then her smile softened further.
“Junior prepared your favorite Snow Lotus Porridge and brought it specially for you.”
As she spoke, she stepped forward to place the box on the table right between Song Qingzhi and Su Tiantian.
Song Qingzhi’s brows knitted ever so slightly, but he didn’t speak.
Su Tiantian, however, suddenly put down her jade chopsticks and picked up the communal serving chopsticks.
She took a piece of the bamboo fungus cake that Song Qingzhi usually tasted a bit of, and gently placed it on his plate, her voice soft enough to seem like it could drip water.
“Brother Qingzhi, try this. The kitchen cooked it perfectly today.”
She completely ignored Bai Weiwei and the Snow Lotus Porridge, her movements natural and fluid.
It was as if a wife were simply caring for her husband’s meal.
Song Qingzhi lowered his eyes, looking at the small cake on the plate.
Then he looked up at Su Tiantian’s pure, innocent, expectant expression.
After a brief silence, he actually picked up his jade chopsticks and took a bite.
“Acceptable.”
He said lightly.
Bai Weiwei’s smile froze completely; the fingers holding her food box tightened slightly.
Her master… actually ate the snack Su Tiantian offered, while completely ignoring her Snow Lotus Porridge!
It seemed that Su Tiantian only now noticed Bai Weiwei was still standing there.
She lifted her eyes, giving a perfectly measured smile, tinged with “wifely” concern.
“Junior Weiwei, thank you for your thoughtfulness. But recently, your master’s diet needs to be light; the Snow Lotus Porridge is too rich in spiritual energy, not suitable. You should keep it for yourself or share it with other juniors.”
Her words sounded considerate but effectively shut Bai Weiwei’s attentiveness out.
And they subtly indicated that Su Tiantian understood Song Qingzhi’s current state better than she did.
Bai Weiwei’s face paled slightly, forcing a smile.
“Yes… Junior didn’t consider carefully.”
She hurriedly took the box, bowed, and withdrew.
Her retreating figure was much stiffer than when she arrived.
In Su Tiantian’s heart, a tiny triumphant figure hummed a little tune.
Trying to compete with me?
[System: Successfully fended off “Bai Weiwei’s” probe. Target accepts host’s “serving dish” behavior well and shows cold attitude toward Bai Weiwei. Relationship balance further tilts toward host.]
Meanwhile, in the Demon Realm, Jin Chuan, watching through the water mirror Su Tiantian’s “virtuous little wife” demeanor and Song Qingzhi’s tacit approval, nearly solidified his dark, murderous intent into substance.
The jade cup in his hand turned to dust again.
“Having fun, are we?”
He murmured, a cold, cruel curve appearing at the corner of his lips.
“I want to see… how long your happiness can last.”
A faint dark light gathered at his fingertips, silently merging into the ripples of the water mirror.
Su Tiantian, gloating privately, suddenly felt a faint, pinprick-like sting at her chest.
It vanished in an instant but made her shiver.
[System: Warning! Unknown energy interference detected, source strongly linked to Demon Lord Jin Chuan! Host please remain vigilant!]
Su Tiantian’s smile dimmed slightly as she instinctively touched her chest.
Jin Chuan… he really has been watching all Along.
After the prickling sensation passed, Su Tiantian sipped the last of her spiritual congee.
She used her peripheral vision to quietly observe Song Qingzhi across from her.
He remained sitting upright, expression calm, as if the earlier silent confrontation had never occurred.
Yet Su Tiantian could sense that his cold aura was just slightly softer than before Bai Weiwei arrived.
Finishing her congee, she set down the bowl and spoon, picking up the warm wet wipe beside her.
But instead of using it on herself, she naturally offered it to Song Qingzhi.
“Brother Qingzhi, here.”
Song Qingzhi paused slightly, lifting his eyes to meet hers.
Su Tiantian returned his gaze with clear eyes and a gentle smile, making it seem like an ordinary gesture.
He silently accepted it, their fingertips brushing for a brief instant.
[System: Target accepts host’s “caring” behavior well. Naturalness score +5.]
Su Tiantian’s heart bloomed again.
Excellent the “warm water” strategy is showing results!
That morning, Su Tiantian carried her Illustrated Basics of Formations and strolled outside Song Qingzhi’s study.
She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
His clear, cold voice came from within.
Su Tiantian pushed the door open, seeing him bent over reviewing documents.
Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, haloing him; his profile was focused and handsome.
“Brother Qingzhi,”
Her voice was very soft, tinged with slight embarrassment.
“I… I was looking at this formation diagram, and I don’t understand a part. May I trouble you for a moment?”
Song Qingzhi lifted his gaze from the documents, his eyes falling on the book in her arms, then on her pleading little face.
“What part is unclear?” He set down his pen.
Su Tiantian immediately brought the book closer, pointing to the simplest spirit-gathering formation pattern.
“Here why does the spiritual energy circulate this way? I feel like it could work the other way too…”
She positioned herself not too close, not too far, just enough to catch the clean, ink-like scent from him.
Her hair occasionally brushed against his arm resting on the desk, subtly with her gestures.
Song Qingzhi explained in his usual calm, clear voice, but Su Tiantian noticed:
When she leaned in, the rhythm of his page-turning slowed ever so slightly.
[System: Target shows slight body stiffness and distracted attention when host is near. Analysis: experiencing conflict between “comfort zone invaded” and “not rejecting.”]
Just as Song Qingzhi patiently finished explaining the basic principles and Su Tiantian feigned realization, looking up happily to thank him…
The study door was knocked again.
“Master.”