On the way to the Xianyin Pavilion, Liu Liu had flown off to goodness knows where. When it finally returned, it was carrying a cluster of plump, glistening purple grapes in its beak.
With great difficulty, it landed on Sang Nian’s palm, released the grapes, and began dividing them up with grand authority:
“One for you, one for me; one for Chun’er, one for me; another one for you…”
Amused, Sang Nian asked, “Where were you off to? It took you so long to come back.”
“I went to the back kitchen to look for food, but I ended up seeing two exceptionally ugly crows, so I stared at them a little longer,” Liu Liu said with an exaggerated tone. “I’ve never seen such ugly birds in my life, and they smelled weirdly stinky, too.”
Sang Nian flicked its head. “No speaking ill of other birds behind their backs.”
Liu Liu fluttered its wings, stubbornly shoving her finger away while looking thoroughly indignant.
“How dare you hit the world’s greatest Liu Liu, the supreme leader of the Primordial God’s direct-line system chick sect! I’m going to send you to go dig coal!”
Picking it up, Sang Nian shook it back and forth, making a motion as if to throw it up into the sky.
It shrieked in protest.
Once it finally behaved itself, Sang Nian asked, “Can Xie Chenzhou and I choose not to go to the Xiaoyao Sect?”
A row of floating stars popped up over Liu Liu’s head as it slumped dizzily against her shoulder. “N-not possible.”
Fine, then.
With a soft sigh, Sang Nian walked into the Xianyin Pavilion.
Beneath the rose trellis in the courtyard, the youth was sitting by the stone table, slightly lost in thought as if pondering something.
Sunlight filtered down through the gaps in the leaves, casting a warm golden halo over his profile. The dark eyes that usually looked so gloomy were clear and luminous at the moment, lending his entire person a rare, youthful vitality.
She paused to watch him for a moment before strolling over.
Hearing footsteps, Xie Chenzhou snapped out of his trance and turned his head sharply with guarded vigilance.
Seeing that it was Sang Nian, his tense body relaxed as he drawled lazily:
“Chuyao told me to pack my things, saying you’re taking me to the Xiaoyao Sect.”
Sang Nian: “…”
That walking megaphone, Chuyao.
No wonder he looked to be in such a good mood; so that was why.
Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, he let out a short scoff and stood up.
“As expected, it was fake.”
Sang Nian pressed a hand down on his shoulder.
“We’re setting off early tomorrow morning. Don’t oversleep.”
With that, she casually placed the obnoxious cluster of grapes right into his palm. Just as she was about to turn away, she thought better of it, spun back around, plucked a single grape, and jammed it into Liu Liu’s frantically protesting beak. She let out a small yawn.
“I’m heading back to my room to rest. I have a headache.”
Behind her, Xie Chenzhou frowned as he stared at the grapes that had suddenly been thrust into his hands.
Why would she give him these?
He turned his gaze toward the two crows perched on the tree branches to consult them.
Crow One shook from head to toe. “Young Master, don’t eat them! They’re definitely poisonous!”
Determined and resolute, Crow Two took flight. “Allow your subordinate to taste-test the poison for the Young Master!”
With a single sweep of his hand, Xie Chenzhou batted it aside and plucked a single grape.
Crow One and Crow Two chorused: “Young Master!!!”
He calmly popped the grape into his mouth and ate it.
Unlike the unapproachably sour and astringent orange from before, the moment his teeth broke the skin of the grape, a pure, sweet juice flooded his mouth.
Anxiously, Crow One asked, “Young Master, do you feel any discomfort?”
Wobbling as it took flight, Crow Two squawked, “I’m going to kill her right now!”
Xie Chenzhou batted it away once more. “There is no poison in them.”
Puzzled, Crow One asked, “Then why would she give you grapes?”
Crow Two chimed in: “She’s offering courtesies for no good reason—she must harbor ill intentions!”
After a moment of contemplation, a flash of realization crossed Xie Chenzhou’s eyes. The corners of his mouth tightened into a straight line as he gave a firm nod.
“She has a crush on me.”
Crow One wore an expression of absolute horror. “Hah?”
Crow Two: “I told you she had ill intentions… Hah???”
Its horror deepened exponentially.
To actually dare covet the Young Master of the Asura Palace—this girl wasn’t just bold beyond belief.
She had completely lost her mind.
A trace of disdain flickered through the depths of Xie Chenzhou’s eyes.
“Hmph. Does she really think a mere cluster of grapes is enough to win my favor? Wishful thinking.”
Ding! Xie Chenzhou’s favorability +20
As the system prompt chimed in, Sang Nian, who was just about to drift off into a blissful sleep, thought:
“?”
What on earth was that about?
The next day.
As the first rays of morning light broke through the dawn, Wen Buyu and the others were fully geared up and ready to go beside the flying ship specially prepared by Sang Qiyan.
Chuyao cupped a hand over her forehead and gazed far into the distance. “Why isn’t Sang Nian here yet?”
Su Xueyin offered, “Perhaps she was delayed by something.”
Chuyao turned to look at Xie Chenzhou, who was leaning against a tree nearby. “Didn’t you come together with her when you left?”
Xie Chenzhou swept a cold glance over the flying ship and indifferently spat out two words: “No.”
After waiting a little longer, Chun’er trotted over in a flurry and relayed the message truthfully:
“Lady Chuyao, Young Mistress says she is no longer going. Suddenly, an urgent matter has come up that requires her attention, making it inconvenient for her to come and see you off. On behalf of the entire manor, she wishes you a safe journey and a smooth arrival at the Xiaoyao Sect.”
Hearing this, Chuyao said indignantly:
“How can someone just back out after saying they’d go? That is completely devoid of honor and trust! And to think we sat here waiting for her.”
Wen Buyu said gently, “Lady Sang has never traveled far from home before; having reservations is only natural.”
“Then what about this guy?” Chuyao jutted her chin toward Xie Chenzhou. “Is he coming with us or not?”
Chun’er nodded rapidly without a single moment of hesitation. “That’s right!”
Chuyao curled her lips in a pout. “I came here for her. Now that she isn’t going herself, this pretty boy is tagging along with us instead. What kind of sense does that make?”
Su Xueyin tugged gently on her sleeve. “Senior Sister, stop talking.”
“I know, I know.”
Chuyao leaped onto the flying ship first, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Pass along a message to your young mistress: we’re leaving.”
At that, she intentionally weighted her tone.
“Also, I will not forgive her for breaking her word!”
Chun’er forced a dry, awkward laugh. “Have a safe journey, young heroes.”
One by one, the group boarded the flying ship, with Xie Chenzhou walking leisurely at the very tail end.
Chun’er could hardly resist the urge to physically shove him forward, her entire face practically screaming impatience.
Xie Chenzhou silently sneered to himself as he stepped onto the deck alongside them.
The sails caught the wind, and the flying ship slowly lifted into the air.
Down below, the City Lord’s Manor gradually shrank into the size of an ant before being swallowed up by banks of clouds, vanishing completely from sight.
The group turned and stepped into the cabin.
Back within the City Lord’s Manor, Chun’er couldn’t contain her bubbling delight. “Wonderful! That vixen has finally left!”
She ran all the way back to the Xianyin Pavilion to report in:
“Young Mistress! They’ve already gone. Please don’t be too up—”
The door swung open to reveal an empty room—there was no trace of Sang Nian anywhere.
A single letter rested upon the table. Picking it up, Chun’er gave it a hasty skim. Her face instantly drained of color as she bolted out of the courtyard and cried out at the top of her lungs:
“This is terrible! The Young Mistress has run away!”
Inside the cabin.
The group sat facing one another, discussing their upcoming route.
Suddenly, Chuyao brought her hand down hard upon the table in a furious smack:
“How could Sang Yunling just stand me up like that?! And to think I was excited all night long—I am never forgiving her again!”
Knowing that the other girl was still simmering with anger, Su Xueyin offered soothing words: “Sang Nian surely must have had her compelling reasons.”
Wen Buyu gave a light, easy smile. “Our junior sister seems quite fond of Lady Sang, caring about her so deeply.”
“Nonsense, I don’t like her at all!” Chuyao averted her gaze, letting out a heavy, defiant huff.
Right at that moment, Xie Chenzhou plucked a single grape from the fruit platter and drawled coldly:
“Aren’t you going to come out yet?”
Everyone turned their heads in unison, utterly bewildered as to why he would say such a thing.
Xie Chenzhou glanced sideways at a cabinet in the corner used for storing miscellaneous items:
“Sang Yunling, how much longer do you plan on staying in there?”
A faint rustling sound drifted from inside the cabinet. The partially ajar door pushed open just a fraction, and a pale, ghostly white hand reached out.
Following right behind it was a head covered in a messy cascade of disheveled hair.
Chuyao’s eyes widened to the size of saucers.
Crawling out of the cabinet, Sang Nian brushed the strands of hair away from her face and offered a sheepish, shy smile:
“Haha, are you surprised? Did you expect this?”
Everyone except Xie Chenzhou: “…”