Enduring the pain, Yu Qing climbed down from the bed and stumbled to the bathroom door.
She froze momentarily upon seeing the scene inside.
The man stood tall and graceful like the clear wind after rain, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers with his sleeves half-rolled up as he stood by the sink.
Her gaze shifted to the small piece of fabric in his hands.
Her mind exploded with a “boom——”.
!!!!!
..
Why was he washing her panties!?
She wanted to rush over and snatch them back, but her legs were too weak to move properly.
Shocked and furious, she yelled at Xie Qing Ci, “Put that down! I’ll wash it myself!”
Only when she spoke did she realize how hoarse her voice was, with a tone that sounded almost coquettish.
Yu Qing: …
Xie Qing Ci had his back to her and the running water prevented him from noticing the girl’s arrival.
He only turned to look at her when she spoke.
Just as he was about to respond, his eyes caught sight of her pale jade-like feet on the floor.
He immediately put down the small garment, wiped his hands, and walked toward the girl standing at the doorway.
Yu Qing watched as the man approached step by step. The warm yellow bathroom light behind him made his cool, elegant features appear even gentler.
And he would always prioritize her, no matter what he was doing.
Just like now.
When he saw she had come,
He immediately put down the clothes he was washing and walked toward her.
Then…
Huh?
( . )
Xie Qing Ci walked up to her and directly lifted her upright, supporting her bottom with one hand.
He turned and carried her toward the bedroom.
Though her legs still hurt, Yu Qing had no choice but to wrap them around the man’s waist in this position.
Xie Qing Ci raised his hand and gave her bottom a light spank.
!!!!!
What was he doing!!!
He actually! Spanked! Her! Bottom!!
_
Xie Qing Ci found it amusing to see the little darling looking both angry and spoiled.
But he maintained a lecturing expression and said, “Just try running around barefoot again next time.”
Feeling justified, Yu Qing retorted boldly, “What will you do then?”
Xie Qing Ci had already carried her to the bedside.
He bent down and gently placed her on the bed with freshly changed sheets.
After sitting down, Yu Qing looked at the new sheets and recalled the day’s wild activities.
Those sheets had ended up almost completely soaked…
At this thought, her face grew warm and flushed again.
Seeing her blush, Xie Qing Ci knew exactly what she was thinking.
He didn’t expose her.
Instead, he knelt on one knee before the bed, his slender fingers grasping her delicate white ankle as he first put on clean socks, then carefully slipped on her slippers.
“The nights are cold, and the old residence has no underfloor heating. You mustn’t run around barefoot anymore, understand?”
After putting on her shoes and socks, Xie Qing Ci didn’t rise immediately but remained half-kneeling, maintaining eye level with her.
This was the first time Yu Qing had seen him lecture so seriously.
Feeling somewhat at a loss, she gently swung her newly shod feet.
She glanced cautiously at the man before quickly lowering her eyes.
Anxiously biting her lip.
What to do?
Whenever he looked so stern, she would be reminded of the Emperor Lord…
So scary.
﹏
Xie Qing Ci had intended to speak seriously, hoping the girl would pay more attention to her health.
But this delicate creature started feeling wronged after just a few words.
Sigh.
Never mind.
He’d just have to keep a closer watch on her himself.
He might as well install underfloor heating in the old residence another day.
His little darling only needed to live freely and happily as herself.
He could handle everything else for her.
“Alright, my treasure, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been harsh with you, hmm?”
He stood up and gathered her into his arms, soothing her gently.
After all, she was the apple of his eye – if he upset her, he’d be the one feeling heartache.
“I understand now—I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Yu Qing naturally knew the man was concerned about her, though his attitude had somewhat frightened her.
Xie Qing Ci’s heart melted completely seeing her so soft and obedient like this.
He couldn’t resist turning to kiss her.
But he restrained himself after just one brief kiss.
His little girl was still hungry.
With a slight exertion of his arms holding her, he lifted her up.
Yu Qing, whose legs had almost lost their function: …
Xie Qing Ci didn’t put her down even after sitting at the dining table, and she had grown accustomed to this, letting him have his way.
Dinner consisted of four dishes and one soup, all relatively light in flavor.
Upon closer inspection, Yu Qing noticed they were almost exactly the dishes she had ordered that time at Jinyun Pavilion, or similar variations.
Once again, she was struck by the man’s attentiveness.
He spoke little, but every word was fulfilled.
Every promise he had made to her, he had kept.
That time, he had told her he wasn’t yet familiar with her tastes, but if she ordered once, he would remember for the future.
Not just this meal—every single dish she had eaten since coming to the old residence had suited her preferences perfectly.
At first she hadn’t noticed, thinking it mere coincidence.
But when every meal consisted of her favorite dishes…
Xie Qing Ci didn’t know what random thoughts were swirling in the little girl’s mind.
He fed her bite by bite while she spaced out, obediently accepting each mouthful.
After dinner, Xie Qing Ci took her for a walk in the backyard to help her digest.
But the little delicate one started complaining of tiredness after just a short while.
Xie Qing Ci had no choice but to carry her back to rest.
Seeing the man heading toward the master bedroom, Yu Qing protested: “My bedroom isn’t that way!”
What a joke!
She would never agree to share a room with him!
Every part of her body still ached!
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything tonight.”
Was that what she meant?!
Though it was somewhat close to her meaning.
[Go for it, A Li! The Emperor Lord’s favorability has reached 90%!]
???
[How did it suddenly increase so much?]
[Probably because he’s finally obtained you, so his love surged dramatically.]
[I paid a huge price too, you know! Wuwuwu—]
[Only 10% left! A Li, you need to live with him to increase the favorability quickly!]
In the brief moment Yu Qing was chatting with Little Milk Candy, Xie Qing Ci had already brought her to the master bedroom.
He hadn’t lied to her.
After turning off the lights and lying in bed, the man simply held her in his embrace.
His chin rested against her hair, his palm gently stroking her slender back.
“Does my treasure have anywhere she’d like to go? After I finish this busy period, shall I take you out to play?”
Yu Qing’s eyes immediately brightened upon hearing this.
“Really? What are the options?”
She hadn’t experienced any recreational activities since coming to this world and didn’t know what fun things were available.
“My treasure can go anywhere she wants. Hot springs? Skiing? Amusement park?”
Xie Qing Ci, ever perceptive, noticed the little girl seemed somewhat hesitant and offered several choices.
Remembering what happened in the bathtub earlier today.
The man’s voice grew husky as he added: “How about I take my treasure to the hot springs?”
“The Xie family has a hot spring estate in the suburbs, with natural hot springs. Soaking in them would be good for your health, my treasure.”
The man’s deep, magnetic voice was particularly alluring in the darkness of the night.
It enticed the innocent young girl to step by step walk into his “trap.”
Sure enough, the moment Yu Qing heard about the hot springs, she was immediately captivated.
Back in Li Jing Immortal Palace, there used to be an immortal spring.
Since the immortal palace only had the two of them, and Di Zun rarely visited the immortal spring,
Xiao A Li often bathed happily in the immortal spring by herself.