“Host, why aren’t you playing the push-and-pull game today?”
Early in the morning, seeing the path her Host was taking, Little Cabbage felt a bit puzzled.
Previously, the Host would avoid the Demon Lord, not out of shyness—she called it “ambiguous push-and-pull.”
Anyway, it didn’t quite understand, but the favorability rating did indeed skyrocket because of it.
The more the Host avoided the Demon Lord, the more he wanted to get close to her.
“Hmm? What’s the current favorability rating?”
“80%! He really likes you a lot now~”
Little Cabbage fluttered its tiny wings, happily reporting the data.
“Exactly, so why bother with push-and-pull? Let’s just go for it!” But as soon as the words left her mouth, Luo Li paused and then changed her route again.
“Huh??” Little Cabbage looked utterly confused.
“Who was it that got us schemed against yesterday?”
Hearing this, Little Cabbage was taken aback. After thinking for a moment, it tentatively replied, “Because of the Demon Lord?”
Luo Li gave it an approving look. “That’s right, it was because of his unwanted admirers. Since we know it’s because of his ‘rotten peach blossoms,’ isn’t it okay to throw a little tantrum?”
“Oh, wait—this should be called ‘jealousy.’ Only by letting him know I’m jealous can he understand my feelings.”
Little Cabbage nodded as if it had grasped something, and then it saw the Host pause when she ran into Gu Xuanjing, as if she were unhappy, and quickened her pace.
Gu Xuanjing was clearly taken aback, looking both startled and confused.
Before, he could tell she was too embarrassed to face him, but today she seemed to be carrying some anger.
He couldn’t think of anything he might have done to upset her.
For the next two days, it was the same. Even when he called out to her, she would speed up and run away. Gu Xuanjing, who had never experienced anything like this before, was completely bewildered.
The little girl who used to seize every opportunity to cling to him had suddenly changed her attitude, and it was truly unsettling.
Strangely, he even felt a sense of panic.
…Ever since Luo Li made an appearance in front of everyone, the Gu family suddenly received a lot more invitations.
Some were invitations for Luo Li to attend poetry gatherings or flower-viewing events, while others were for birthday parties of various young ladies, inviting her to small gatherings.
In truth, everyone understood—these people hadn’t given up on the idea of arranging a marriage, and now they were just looking for opportunities for their children to meet.
After all, Uncle Gu had said to let the children choose freely, so getting to know each other first would make it easier to decide, right?
“Taozi, take good care of the young miss.”
However, Uncle Gu and the others didn’t refuse these invitations. He felt his little girl was perfect in every way and didn’t necessarily have to be tied down to his worthless, cheap son.
It wouldn’t hurt for her to go out and see more of the world. Besides, he had secretly increased the number of guards, so no one could harm his little girl in the slightest.
“Yes.”
Luo Li didn’t refuse either. When she went out, she ate and played to her heart’s content.
When she returned, she saw Uncle Gu, Grandma, and Grandpa looking at her with eager anticipation.
“Little one, how was it? Did you have fun today? Did you make any friends?”
In truth, Luo Li hadn’t spoken much during her outings and hadn’t made any friends at all.
But glancing at Gu Xuanjing, who was standing nearby looking confused and unaware of the situation, she still “sincerely” nodded.
“Mhm.” As if feeling a bit uncomfortable under their intense gazes, her cheeks flushed slightly.”Well, that’s good. Tomorrow the Huang family will also have some, why don’t you go take a look then?”
Seeing through his little niece’s thoughts, Uncle Gu laughed heartily, deliberately teasing.
Luo Li also nodded in perfect agreement.
“Alright.”
Hearing this, Gu Xuanjing understood everything—the family was arranging matchmaking for her. At this thought, his hand clenched tightly.
After dinner, everyone returned to their own courtyards, with Gu Xuanjing being the first to leave.
Luo Li stayed to chat with Grandma for a while, so she returned a bit later.
Just after sending her maid to prepare bathwater, the door to her room was suddenly shut. Before she could react, a familiar figure pressed against her, pinning her to the corner of the wall.
“Ah…!” Her startled cry was muffled by his large hand.
Her damp, peach-blossom eyes looked at the person before her with slight panic, her small mouth slightly agape.
The warm, slightly ticklish sensation in his palm, along with her gaze, made Gu Xuanjing inexplicably lose control. He released his hand.
Suddenly, he leaned down and covered those cherry lips that had appeared in his dreams many times since the lantern festival.
The soft, warm, and moist sensation made him tremble. Gu Xuanjing tentatively sucked on her lips, clearly feeling the delicate figure beneath him stiffen.
Yet, having tasted sweetness, he greedily sought more, exploring clumsily.
Turning, lingering.
He distinctly felt her breathing grow rapid, her body trembling and softening. His hand rested on her slender waist, supporting her.
Her seemingly boneless little hand weakly scratched at the hollow of his waist, instantly making his mind go blank.
“Mmm…”
The assault, far more intense and fervent than before, was something she couldn’t withstand.
Realizing something was wrong, she hurriedly snapped back to her senses and pushed against him.
Gu Xuanjing finally regained his composure, releasing her and letting her lean against his chest, panting heavily.
Her moist, swollen lips invited wild thoughts.
He had to turn his head away, not daring to look any longer.
“You… you’re bullying me.” Her soft, trembling voice suddenly carried a sob, making his heart race.
It choked back the questions he had intended to ask when he came.
“I…”
Clearly, she was the one who had bullied him first.
Seeing him at a loss for words, Luo Li gave a light humph and turned her head away, as if both angry and wronged.
Gu Xuanjing paused, then raised his hand to pinch her cheek, turning her face back toward him as he lowered his head slightly.
“Then… shall I admit my mistake?” he asked tentatively.
Hearing this, Luo Li was taken aback, her eyes filled with surprise, as if to say, “So soon? So understanding?”
“It’s my fault.”
“But could you tell me what I did to upset you, so I can correct it next time?”
He hadn’t forgotten how she had seemed to be in a bit of a temper these past few days.
His apology was sincere.
Hearing this, Luo Li’s anger instantly vanished, though her little face remained puffed up.
“Just now!”
Wasn’t it his fault just now, bullying her?
Gu Xuanjing’s ears flushed slightly at her words, but she was clearly avoiding the question. He knew what he wanted to ask wasn’t about “just now.”
“Just now was indeed my fault, but… is there anything else?”
Luo Li turned her head back, looking at him seriously, her eyes seeming to say, “Don’t you know?”
Gu Xuanjing was bewildered but didn’t dare say much, simply waiting for her to continue.
“I know all about what happened at the city lord’s mansion the other day.”
“You were flirting around!”
Hearing the young girl’s accusation, Gu Xuanjing was stunned for a moment before realizing who she was referring to.Thinking about Li Zhaohua’s matter… upon careful consideration, it indeed had something to do with him, and it almost implicated her as well.
This was truly his fault.
“It was my mistake, and it will never happen again.” With that thought, he immediately admitted his wrongdoing.
No, he had also made her sulk. Later, he would have to deal with that person again.
Hearing him say this, Luo Li’s expression softened, though she still seemed a bit uneasy.
Gu Xuanjing was taken aback for a moment but quickly understood, a smile spreading across his face.
So, she had been angry these past few days because she was jealous over this matter.
He knew that jealousy stemmed from caring.
So, she cared about him.
The thought inexplicably made him very happy.
Lost in his thoughts, he even chuckled foolishly a few times, looking a bit silly.
…Luo Li couldn’t bear to watch, but when she thought about the reason he had come looking for her tonight, she felt a little guilty.
She quietly shifted her feet, but Gu Xuanjing quickly reacted and pulled her back.
“Not angry anymore? Li’er, are you trying to run away now? Were you very happy during today’s matchmaking?”
Ah, his questions came one after another, making Luo Li want to flee.
But it was clear she couldn’t escape.
Seeing the increasingly dangerous look in his eyes, Luo Li decisively stood on her tiptoes and kissed his thin lips, pulling away immediately after.
“Then I was wrong too. You forgive me as well.
Besides, I wasn’t happy at all. I didn’t even interact with them. I was just teasing you.” As she spoke, she planted two more quick kisses.
He was stunned by her kisses, and when he regained his senses, he immediately reached out to hold her and kissed her back, much longer than hers.
“Alright,” he murmured softly, the sound lost between their lips.