A warm touch brushed lightly against Xie Jue’s neck, and the shallow scar there faded away almost instantly.The knuckles of Xie Jue’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, twitched slightly as he restrained the urge to reach out—or to step back.Caught between two conflicting impulses, that was the truest reflection of his current state.Yet the other party seemed completely unaware. The hand that had been resting on Xie Jue’s neck shifted upward with her gaze, the gentle sensation moving from his neck to his face.The golden-hued sunlight, shifting with the sun’s movement, spilled into the room, blurring the already narrow distance between them.The room was quiet, with tiny particles suspended in the air, drifting slowly in the warm light.Had Yun Miao glanced up just then, she would have easily seen her own reflection mirrored in those amber-colored eyes—the only figure within them.Unfortunately, Yun Miao’s attention was entirely focused on the faint mark beneath her hand, everything else fading into the background.And so, she missed the reflection of herself at the very center of those eyes.Watching the faint mark gradually disappear from sight, Yun Miao finally withdrew her hand.Her gaze swept up and down, as if confirming there were no other wounds on him, before she looked up at the person before her. “All done.”Yun Miao’s movement was like a small stone dropped into the center of a lake, rippling the tranquil amber waters.Seeing Yun Miao look up, Xie Jue took the opportunity to avert his gaze first, pressing his lips together. “Thank you… Miss Yun.”“Shimei.”But before Xie Jue could finish, his words overlapped with a male voice from another direction.It was a clearly more familiar and intimate form of address.The unexpected voice disrupted the atmosphere in the room entirely.Yun Miao immediately took half a step back, her gaze sweeping past the shoulder of the person before her to the figure reflected on the door.“Knock, knock—”Just as Yun Miao’s eyes fell upon the figure, the sound of knocking echoed through the room.“Shimei, I heard noises from next door just now. Are you awake?”Hearing the voice, Yun Miao turned slightly, about to walk toward the door.But as she passed by the man, she felt a hand grasp her arm.Yun Miao glanced sideways at the distinct, bony fingers resting on her arm, then followed the hand to its owner, her eyes filled with confusion and inquiry.However, his response soon reached her ears.“Change your clothes before going out.”As he spoke, the man’s gaze swept over Yun Miao’s damp clothing as if to remind her, but it didn’t linger long before shifting elsewhere.Yun Miao followed his gaze to her own clothes, belatedly noticing the damp, cool sensation against her skin. She nodded. “Oh, alright.”“I’ll step out first. Call me if you need anything.”The man picked up the basin he had placed on the table earlier and turned to leave.“Xie Jue.”Yun Miao called out to him once more, and he stopped again, turning to look at her.“What is it?”Xie Jue’s gaze met hers directly.“Don’t call me Miss Yun next time. Call me by my name, or call me…”Meeting Xie Jue’s unwavering gaze, Yun Miao’s thoughts suddenly stalled, and the words she hadn’t yet fully formed lingered on the tip of her tongue.Yet the other party responded with a naturalness that seemed rehearsed countless times: "Miaomiao."Unprepared for the address coming from the other's lips, carrying a strange sense of familiarity, Yun Miao felt as though she had lost the ability to think in that moment.Her thoughts drifted along that thread of familiarity, only to be pulled back by the other's gaze. Looking into those beautiful amber eyes, as if bewitched, she nodded and accepted this overly intimate form of address.Seeing Yun Miao nod in agreement, Xie Jue curved the corners of his lips like a child who had just been given candy.Meanwhile, the person outside knocked on the door again due to the prolonged lack of response.Xie Jue glanced toward the door at the sound, then turned back to look at Yun Miao."I'll go out first.""Alright."As soon as Xie Jue opened the door, he met the probing gaze of the man Yun Miao called "Senior Brother."Holding the washbasin, Xie Jue subtly blocked the man outside and, under his gaze, closed the door once more.He lifted his eyes and looked expressionlessly at Shen Qingliu: "Miaomiao is changing clothes. Please wait a moment."With that, he said no more, brushing past the other directly.Shen Qingliu watched the retreating back of the unfamiliar youth who had just passed him, then turned his gaze to the door that had been closed again before him.He quickly sensed something unusual in the air. Combined with the youth's subtly sharp words just now, he couldn't help but smile.Shen Qingliu tilted his head and stood outside a while longer before the door was finally pushed open from within."Sorry to keep you waiting, Senior Brother. Come in first."Yun Miao stepped aside, making room for Shen Qingliu to enter."Alright."Shen Qingliu nodded and moved forward through the space Yun Miao had cleared, walking with her into the room.Once inside, the two sat on wooden chairs on adjacent sides of the same table. Yun Miao took a teacup from the table, poured a cup of tea for Shen Qingliu and placed it before him, then poured one for herself.However, Yun Miao noticed that from the moment they entered the room, the other's gaze had been leisurely appraising her.Yun Miao took a sip of tea, turned her head to meet Shen Qingliu's gaze, and spoke first."If Senior Brother has something to say, just say it directly. Don't keep staring at me like that—it's rather unsettling."Shen Qingliu rested his hand on the teacup Yun Miao had placed before him, gently stroking it, though he seemed to have no intention of drinking. Seeing Yun Miao speak first, the smile on his face deepened."It seems our little junior sister's trip was not in vain.""What?"Hearing Shen Qingliu's seemingly random remark, Yun Miao almost instinctively asked in return."To descend the mountain just once and awaken to matters of the heart—isn't that a fruitful journey?" Shen Qingliu's teasing tone grew even more pronounced. "Why not tell your senior brother which young man has caught our little junior sister's eye?"Hearing this, even the slowest person would understand, let alone Yun Miao.She quickly realized Shen Qingliu was referring to Xie Jue."Senior Brother, what happened between him and me was actually an accident."Yun Miao took another sip of her tea and briefly recounted to Shen Qingliu how she had been drugged and followed by Li Zhongzhou after descending the mountain, and how Xie Jue had rescued her.However, she appropriately omitted some of the details—such as Xu Zhongzhou having used the Spring Gu on her, and how in her dazed state she had inadvertently shared a spring breeze with Xie Jue."What? That Li Zhongzhou is truly shameless and despicable, resorting to such underhanded tactics. Once we return to the sect, I will definitely seek justice for you." Shen Qingliu's initially smiling expression darkened upon hearing Yun Miao's account. "And what is the situation between you and that young man now?"Hearing Shen Qingliu's question, Yun Miao couldn't help but pause.What was the situation between her and Xie Jue?At first, she only felt she should take responsibility for what she had done. She hadn't considered any other solutions for herself, so she hadn't dwelled on it further.Later, he had accompanied her to Peach Blossom Village, where they experienced events involving the Azure-Tusked Beast and the Jade-faced Fox. And on the underground altar beneath the ancestral hall, it was most likely him who had brought her and her senior brother back to this inn.Though she and Xie Jue were not yet familiar, she seemed to have unconsciously grown accustomed to his presence.Lost in thought, Yun Miao's mind suddenly recalled the way he had just called her "Miaomiao."It was like a sudden burst of wild fire appearing too close before a traveler stumbling in the dark of night. The flames swept across the wilderness, instantly illuminating everything and encircling her, the overwhelming heat rushing toward her face.The blaze jolted Yun Miao back to her senses. Meeting Shen Qingliu's gaze again, she blinked in a daze before fully regaining her composure."Seeing you like this, it seems you've already made your own decision." Shen Qingliu patiently waited for Yun Miao to collect herself. When she did, he lightly lifted his chin, a smile returning to his lips. "But I can tell that kid really likes you."Yun Miao was never good at handling such matters and had no desire to discuss her relationship with Xie Jue further with her senior brother. She quickly changed the subject."Senior brother, about the Jade-faced Fox…"Before Yun Miao could finish, another knock sounded at the door.Shen Qingliu turned to look outside, then glanced back at Yun Miao with a raised eyebrow. "Speak of the devil.""Miaomiao."The restrained knock was followed by a tentative, soft call.Hearing this, Shen Qingliu's gaze grew even more teasing.Yun Miao turned her head away, deliberately avoiding Shen Qingliu's eyes, and spoke up before the person outside could say anything more."Come… come in."Almost as soon as she finished speaking, the creak of the door opening followed.Xie Jue placed the wooden tray in front of Yun Miao, subtly blocking Shen Qingliu's figure behind him.Yun Miao looked at the bowl of medicinal-smelling broth placed before her and glanced up at Xie Jue in confusion."What is this?""A few days ago when you fainted, Doctor Xiao Lin said your qi and blood were deficient. This is a tonic he prescribed.""Oh."Yun Miao nodded, reaching to take the bowl. Just as she picked up the porcelain spoon to bring a sip to her lips, she met Shen Qingliu's knowing gaze from behind Xie Jue, where he rested his head on one hand.She couldn't help but pause her movement.Xie Jue followed her gaze and looked behind him, his expression unconsciously darkening slightly upon seeing Shen Qingliu's eyes fixed on Yun Miao.Under the simultaneous stares of both Yun Miao and Xie Jue, Shen Qingliu decided not to linger. He withdrew his hand from the table and turned his gaze to Xie Jue."Junior Sister, weren't you just asking me about the Jade-faced Fox? I wasn't awake that day either, so why not ask him directly?"Shen Qingliu then rose from the wooden chair, even raising an eyebrow at Xie Jue in passing, before heading toward the door.However, as he reached the doorway, with one foot already out, Shen Qingliu suddenly seemed to recall something important and turned back. Not one to shy away from stirring up trouble, he tossed another remark into the room: "Junior Sister, you should really think carefully about what I just told you." Only then did he leave, thoroughly satisfied.Yun Miao certainly hadn’t expected Shen Qingliu to bring up their earlier conversation—which involved Xie Jue—right in front of the person concerned. Feeling somewhat guilty, she glanced toward where Xie Jue stood, only to unexpectedly meet his probing gaze.The moment Yun Miao caught his eyes, she instinctively wanted to look away, but fearing she would only draw more attention, she didn’t dare shift her gaze immediately.Fortunately, her peripheral vision caught sight of the bowl of medicinal broth placed before her."Xie Jue, thank you for preparing the medicine for me."Xie Jue sensed Yun Miao’s attempt to steer the conversation elsewhere, but this time, unlike before, he didn’t let her have her way.He took another half-step forward, closing the distance between them, his gaze firmly fixed on Yun Miao."Miaomiao, didn’t Senior Brother just say you wanted to know what happened to the Jade-faced Fox? Shall I tell you?"Yun Miao stared at Xie Jue, whose reaction she found somewhat inscrutable, and replied blankly, "Mm.""That Jade-faced Fox seemed to have damaged its cultivation base and fled in its original form, but it shouldn’t be able to cause trouble again anytime soon.""Alright, I’ll discuss with my senior brother later how to handle this matter."Yet this almost habitual remark from Yun Miao chipped away further at Xie Jue’s already cracked facade of gentleness, revealing the deeply concerned truth beneath. Before Yun Miao could even finish speaking, Xie Jue’s voice interjected."I’ve already explained the matter of the Jade-faced Fox to you. As for whatever else he mentioned that requires careful consideration, Miaomiao, could you perhaps share that with me as well?"
Chapter 13
Mistakenly Believing I Was Given the Substitute Lover Script