"No!"
Shen Yu refused without hesitation.
Chi Yao didn't notice the panic in his tone, assuming he was angry with her over the matter of applying medicine.
But the more he acted this way, the more determined Chi Yao became not to leave.
Otherwise, once she went back, her Senior Brother might change his mind and not let her take care of him anymore.
More importantly, she still harbored thoughts of stealing a kiss.
She had waited outside for half a day, and her mind was filled with nothing but her Senior Brother's flustered expression and those delectable thin lips of his.
She hadn't kissed him enough last night, so tonight she wanted to continue.
"Senior Brother, you're still weak and can't be left without someone to care for you. Besides, I already took care of you for one night last night, so please just let me stay."
As she spoke, Chi Yao's gaze remained fixed on Shen Yu's lips, her eyes growing ever more fervent.
Only then did Shen Yu finally grasp Chi Yao's meaning.
He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, the panic on his face vanishing as he returned to his usual cold, aloof demeanor.
But when he saw Chi Yao's burning gaze, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.
"In that case, I'll trouble you, Junior Sister."
With that, Shen Yu waved his hand, and a soft couch appeared in the room.
"Junior Sister, you can rest here tonight."
Shen Yu's sudden change in attitude surprised Chi Yao, but when her eyes fell on the soft couch, she nodded happily.
"Alright, thank you, Senior Brother."
Night soon fell. Chi Yao lay on the small couch Shen Yu had prepared for her, her excitement impossible to conceal.
She felt no drowsiness at all; her attention was entirely focused on Shen Yu on the bed.
She knew that with Shen Yu severely injured, his alertness would be diminished—otherwise she wouldn't have had the chance to do as she pleased last night.
So she waited for her Senior Brother to fall into a deep sleep, after which she could once again linger on those lips.
As time passed minute by minute, the breathing on the bed gradually became steady, and Chi Yao finally opened her eyes.
By the moonlight, she looked toward the bed and indeed found Shen Yu sleeping deeply, just like last night, his breathing still very faint.
Excitement and obsession surfaced in Chi Yao's eyes. She quietly climbed off the couch and slowly approached Shen Yu's bed.
Gazing at Shen Yu's pale lips, Chi Yao's eyes grew ever more fervent.
Just like last night, she slowly leaned down and drew close.
This time, Chi Yao's movements were much more fluid, without the slightest hesitation.
But just as she was about to kiss him, a wave of drowsiness suddenly struck her, making her eyelids extraordinarily heavy.
Chi Yao struggled to keep her eyes open, trying to resist the drowsiness, but the next moment it grew even stronger, and her whole body fell uncontrollably toward Shen Yu before she dropped straight into sleep.
Only then did Shen Yu on the bed slowly open his eyes. He rose and carried Chi Yao back to the soft couch at the side.
After tucking the blanket around Chi Yao, his fingers paused for a moment, then moved upward, gently brushing across her cheek.
When his gaze fell on those full red lips, Shen Yu's eyes darkened, and even his breathing grew somewhat heavier.
"Junior Sister, if you kiss me again, I'm afraid I truly won't be able to hold back."
Shen Yu's voice was exceptionally husky.
Only he himself knew how much self-restraint he had used last night, when Chi Yao kissed him, to resist kissing her back.
And then there was the moment earlier today when Chi Yao applied medicine to his wounds—every touch of hers was an immense test for him. Even though he forcibly endured it, he still couldn't stop himself from trembling.
Especially that final touch—the sensation of pain mixed with tingling numbness gave him an unprecedented thrill.
Originally, he had been able to hold back his reaction, but when Chi Yao's gaze landed on that spot, he could no longer control himself, and he was completely exposed before her.
It had taken him nearly half a day to barely suppress that restlessness, only for Chi Yao to push open the door and ask if she could stay the night.
He had almost thought Chi Yao had finally come to her senses and was preparing to seduce him.
Fortunately, Chi Yao had only wanted to steal a kiss in the night. Otherwise, faced with her seduction, all his restraint and pretense would have crumbled completely.
Shen Yu's eyes grew ever deeper, and his fingertips slid downward, tilting up Chi Yao's chin.
He slowly drew close to those red lips, but just as he was about to kiss them, he suddenly stopped, a trace of struggle surfacing in his eyes.
In the end, he did not kiss her. He merely closed his eyes and inhaled the sweet fragrance lingering around him, then released Chi Yao's chin.
…
Ji Yunshang still had not given up on her plan to conquer Shen Yu.
After being frightened away that day, she had only stayed quiet for one day. On the third day, she dressed up carefully and, carrying pastries she had made herself, came to Shen Yu's residence.
The moment Ji Yunshang stepped into Shen Yu's chambers, she saw him sitting quietly by the window, reading.
That cold, handsome face made Ji Yunshang's heart beat faster and faster.
Back when she was still in her original world, she had fantasized countless times about becoming the female lead of a world and conquering the handsome male lead.
What she had never expected was that one day she would truly be bound to a System, and would transmigrate into this world of Cultivation.
Even the male lead's identity and appearance were exactly what she had once dreamed of.
Although her status as the female lead had been stolen, she now possessed the female lead's Destiny Fate, so the male lead was destined to be hers.
"Senior Brother, I made some pastries for you."
Ji Yunshang concealed her determined gaze and flashed Shen Yu an innocent smile.
Shen Yu finally put down his book and looked toward Ji Yunshang, though his expression grew even colder.
"No need."
"Senior Brother, how is your injury recovering? I also brought some healing medicine."
Ji Yunshang paid no mind to Shen Yu's cold attitude. She took out a bottle of healing medicine on her own, then continued to approach him.
"Not needed."
Shen Yu seemed to be in a fairly good mood today. Although he still showed Ji Yunshang no warmth, at least he wasn't as terrifying as he had been two days ago.
This greatly boosted Ji Yunshang's confidence. Her eyes darted around, and she spoke again:
"Master is very worried about your injury, Senior Brother. It was he who sent me to look after you, so please don't refuse."
This time, Shen Yu said nothing. He merely glanced up at Ji Yunshang before lowering his eyes again to his book.
Ji Yunshang mistakenly took this as agreement, and happily carried the pastries forward.
But just as she drew near, a wisp of white light appeared at Shen Yu's fingertips and flew toward the soft couch nearby.
Chi Yao, who had been sound asleep, suddenly woke. She instinctively glanced toward the bed, and finding that Shen Yu was no longer there, quickly sat up to look for him.
Only to meet Ji Yunshang's gaze head-on.
The smile on Ji Yunshang's face instantly froze, and she looked at Chi Yao with disbelief in her eyes.
"Senior Sister? Why were you sleeping in Senior Brother's room!"
Surprise was evident in Ji Yunshang's tone, but it carried a clear note of accusation, as if a wife had just caught an unspeakable mistress.
Chi Yao greatly disliked that tone.
"I was taking care of Senior Brother last night."
At these words, Ji Yunshang's expression grew even worse.
However, after glancing at Shen Yu, she quickly reined in her emotions and flashed Chi Yao a smile.
"Oh, I see. Thank you for taking care of Senior Brother for me, Senior Sister. But Master has already ordered me to look after him, so you should head back and rest, Senior Sister."
Ji Yunshang's words were rather subtle—not only did she claim credit for Chi Yao's care of Shen Yu, she was also trying to drive Chi Yao away.
Chi Yao naturally saw through Ji Yunshang's little scheme and clearly knew she was lying.
She would not be fooled by the same trick twice.
Chi Yao remained seated on the soft couch, showing no intention of leaving, and met Ji Yunshang's gaze directly.
"Did Master really instruct you to take care of Senior Brother, Junior Sister?"
As expected, a trace of panic flashed through Ji Yunshang's eyes, but given the situation, she could only grit her teeth and admit it.
"Of… of course."
The moment she finished speaking, Chi Yao took out a Transmission Talisman.
"Then how about I ask Master right now?"
Now Ji Yunshang was thoroughly panicked. Seeing that Chi Yao was about to activate the Transmission Talisman, she hastily stopped her.
"Wait!"
"There's no need to trouble you, Senior Sister. Perhaps I misunderstood Master's intentions. I'll go ask Master right away."
Ji Yunshang cared deeply about her image in Shen Yu's eyes. She couldn't let him know she was lying, so she had no choice but to leave in a sorry state.
Watching her scurrying away, Chi Yao couldn't help but feel a hint of satisfaction at her revenge.
That day, when Ji Yunshang had blocked her outside the palace, she had been left in the same sorry state.
Jealousy and unwillingness had nearly drowned her, but what she felt most of all was fear.
Because Ji Yunshang's words always gave people the impression that she and Shen Yu were very close.
Blocked from entering that day, Chi Yao had had no way to tell truth from lie, and had instinctively believed Ji Yunshang's words.
She still remembered the despair and suffocation she felt standing before the mirror that night.
So now, seeing Ji Yunshang in the same wretched state, the satisfaction in her heart was impossible to suppress.
Even a trace of smug delight appeared on her face.
What Chi Yao failed to notice was that Shen Yu, though holding a book, had his gaze fixed on her the entire time.
Especially when he saw her look of quiet glee, a slight curve tugged at the corner of Shen Yu's mouth.
…
After leaving Yuheng Palace, Ji Yunshang's face turned completely dark, and she trembled with rage.
Just as her anger had nowhere to go, a Transmission Talisman suddenly flew past her, heading toward Chi Yao's residence.
Ji Yunshang's mind stirred, and she immediately raised her hand and intercepted the talisman.
The moment the Transmission Talisman fell into her hands, Ji Jiusi's voice came from within:
"Young Martial Aunt, why didn't you attend morning classes these past few days? Have you been feeling unwell?"
Concern was clearly audible in Ji Jiusi's tone.
Ji Yunshang narrowed her eyes slightly, and as she pocketed the talisman, her figure vanished from where she stood.
Soon, Ji Yunshang's figure appeared at the foot of the mountain, and at the same time, a figure that had been waiting there for a long time came up to greet her.
"Young Martial Aunt, you…"
Upon seeing that it was Ji Yunshang, Ji Jiusi's voice cut off abruptly, and a trace of disappointment appeared on his face.
"Is Martial Nephew Ji waiting for my Senior Sister?" Ji Yunshang stepped forward with a smile.
Ji Jiusi hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, Young Martial Aunt hasn't come to morning lessons these past few days, so I wanted to ask if something was wrong."
"Oh, I see." The smile at the corners of Ji Yunshang's mouth deepened. "Martial Nephew Ji is so concerned about my Senior Sister—could it be that you're smitten with her?"
"No! Martial Uncle Ji, please don't tease me."
Though Ji Jiusi didn't admit it, his nervous expression had already given him away.
Seeing this, a hint of calculation appeared in Ji Yunshang's eyes. "Really? Because my Senior Sister is quite fond of you as well."
At these words, Ji Jiusi's eyes lit up instantly, and Ji Yunshang seized the opportunity to continue:
"How about I help you out, Martial Nephew Ji? I can absolutely make sure that you and my Senior Sister, two people in love, end up together."
A flicker of temptation immediately appeared on Ji Jiusi's face, but after a moment, he shook his head.
"I am not smitten with Young Martial Aunt. I ask that Martial Uncle Ji speak cautiously and not damage Young Martial Aunt's reputation."
Having said this, Ji Jiusi bowed to Ji Yunshang, then turned and left.
"How ungrateful!"
Watching Ji Jiusi's departing figure, the smile vanished from Ji Yunshang's face, and her gaze turned dark and gloomy.
After a long while, as if she had thought of something, the corners of her mouth curled up as she called out to the System in her mind:
"System, get me some aphrodisiacs. I want to lend Martial Nephew Ji a helping hand."
"Understood, Host."