It was only after Shen Qingchen stepped out the door that she realized she shouldn’t have left.
Granted, being caught in that situation by Jiang Qianxun was incredibly mortifying, but looking at it from another angle, it would have been the perfect opportunity to test the waters. If the other girl truly were the author of those storybooks, she wouldn’t have been able to hide her flaws.
But by running out like that, Shen Qingchen had instead given her time to buffer.
Now, even if she went back inside, she wouldn’t be able to question her effectively.
Besides, it was awkward for her to return at all.
The matter had already been thoroughly botched. If she went back right now, what could she possibly say, and what kind of expression was she supposed to face her with? Though she could technically shift all the blame onto her Martial Senior Sister if pressed, that was merely a reactive, defensive tactic. If Jiang Qianxun didn’t bring it up, taking the initiative to explain would only look like a clumsy attempt to cover things up.
And knowing her, she probably wouldn’t ask.
If she didn’t ask, Shen Qingchen would have no way to clarify.
Thus, the situation had fallen into a total deadlock, it felt wrong to go back, yet wrong to stay out; explaining felt inappropriate, but leaving it unexplained felt just as bad.
Standing under the eaves, the burning sensation on Shen Qingchen’s face gradually faded, replaced by a deep sense of helplessness. How had she allowed herself to get so utterly flustered over such a trivial matter?
What was Jiang Qianxun doing right now?
Could she… could she be studying those storybooks?
The window lattice was right behind her back, yet she inexplicably lacked the courage to turn around and peek. She had a lingering feeling that if she were to witness such a scene, she would never be able to face this disciple of hers again.
Jiang Qianxun didn’t dare look.
Even though she could tell at a single glance that these books followed the exact same formula as The Domineering Disciple, meaning they were almost certainly novels written by You Caiwei, the location where they had appeared was simply too bizarre. This was her Master’s study, not a shady, makeshift stall under an overpass selling pornographic booklets. Even if she saw them, she had to act as though she hadn’t.
But while she could control her actions, she couldn’t control her thoughts.
She sat respectfully behind the small desk, yet a question couldn’t help but pop into her mind. Could it be that Master also enjoys reading this kind of stuff?
Jiang Qianxun was someone who was incredibly dense when it came to romance.
Back in junior high, when everyone else was experiencing their first stirrings of love, sending love letters, and dating all over the place, she spent her days focused entirely on studying, staying up late to make vocabulary flashcards just to improve her grades.
In high school, when others were sneaking into hotels and making a dramatic, life or death fuss over romance, she was busy attending cram schools, grinding through practice exams, and revising her error logs.
By the time she reached college, she was swamped with part time jobs, studying for the English proficiency exams, her Mandarin certification, and computer qualifications. She started looking for internships in her junior year, and her graduation year was busier still, as she prepared for the postgraduate entrance exam, the civil service exam, and the grassroots community service programs.
When she finally passed the civil service exam and thought she had successfully made it ashore to a stable life, she discovered that her true misery had only just begun. Contrary to the rumors, being a civil servant didn’t mean an easy, leisurely life or at least, it certainly wasn’t that way for her.
Everyone in her unit had connections. Those with backing could secure relaxed positions that came with extra stipends. Meanwhile, someone like her could only be transferred around from department to department, driven like a beast of burden, used wherever she was needed like a common brick.
Right up until the day she died, she hadn’t stopped to rest for a single day.
Much less had she ever been in a relationship.
She couldn’t comprehend why people would tear themselves apart for the sake of love, nor did she have any idea what was supposedly so pleasurable about that kind of experience. On the rare occasions she caught You Caiwei giggling like a maniac while clutching her phone and leaned in to sneak a peek, she felt nothing but a wave of revulsion.
To her, these storybooks were just cheap pulp fiction straight from You Caiwei’s hands, entirely incapable of stirring any sense of shame in her. Although it was a bit unexpected for a pristine, celestial figure like her Master to read such things, it wasn’t something to make a massive fuss over.
Compared to this little interlude, the spilled tea was far more vexing to her. She thoroughly cleaned the floor, brewed a fresh pot of tea, and waited for her Master to return and teach the second half of the lesson.
Yet even after a long while, she saw no sign of her.
Why isn’t Master coming back?
She glanced toward the door and noticed her Master standing just outside the window. Thus, she went out to invite her back in, her words and tone still perfectly respectful.
Shen Qingchen had never expected her reaction to be so utterly mundane.
The scenario where both of them would blush furiously, trapped in an unbearable awkwardness, never materialized. Jiang Qianxun was like an old monk deep in meditation, not a shred of panic or discomfort could be detected on her. It was as if absolutely nothing had happened, and everything from moments ago had merely been a figment of Shen Qingchen’s own imagination.
Is she just being considerate, acting this way so I won’t feel embarrassed?
It certainly seemed like it. But no matter how superb someone’s acting skills were, it was impossible to have an ocean of inner turmoil while maintaining a perfectly calm, stone like exterior. Actions could lie, but the eyes never could. Yet the reality was that there wasn’t the slightest trace of emotion in Jiang Qianxun’s eyes either.
She truly didn’t seem to care about what had just happened at all.
Seeing her like this, the last remaining knot of tension within Shen Qingchen completely dissolved. Human nature was funny that way, when one’s emotions received a matching reaction from the outside world, they would surge violently and become uncontrollable but if no one else found it awkward, one would begin to feel as though it really wasn’t a big deal after all.
Naturally, she wasn’t going to bring it up or ask any questions now. This outcome was the best possible resolution. By the time she walked back inside, those few storybooks had already been neatly organized by Jiang Qianxun and placed properly on the bottom shelf, neither overly conspicuous nor hidden so deeply that they would be impossible to find.
Jiang Qianxun had achieved absolute perfection within the scope of her abilities.
Yet, a faint shadow of doubt quietly surfaced in the depths of Shen Qingchen’s heart.
The reason was simple. Jiang Qianxun’s reaction was simply too bizarre. In her imagination, the girl should have been just as panicked and lost as she was, or at the very least, putting on a front of nonchalance after fiercely adjusting her mindset.
She wasn’t saying that being calm was wrong.
But this was far too calm. It was so calm that it made one feel she was either a complete block of wood who understood absolutely nothing about these matters, or someone who understood them so thoroughly that she didn’t view a minor incident of this caliber as anything worth noting.
Which one was it?
While Shen Qingchen recited the principles of the Dao with her lips, her mind was tangled in an absolute knot. She realized that she fundamentally did not understand the disciple standing before her. What the girl liked, what kind of past she had, everything was a complete blank.
How could she allow such a stranger to remain by her side?
Setting aside the possibility that the girl might harbor improper intentions toward her, even if she didn’t, she still ought to understand her a bit better. After all, the two of them had to live in close quarters day and night for the next half a month. At such a close distance, any minor action the other made could easily spiral into a hidden danger, a total disaster.
Yes, it was for that reason.
It was solely to guarantee her own safety that she needed to learn more about her. Holding onto this justification, Shen Qingchen intentionally brought up the topic in a seemingly casual manner after their afternoon healing session.
A spiritual node in Jiang Qianxun’s arm had just been cleared. Her internal spiritual energy had taken a hit, and she was currently lying flat on the floor, waiting for the chaotic currents to set themselves right. Hearing her Master express a desire to hear about her past, she replied, “Actually, there isn’t much to tell. It was pretty much the same back in the real world. During the day I’d attend classes, and after school I’d find ways to improve my grades. Once I started working, it was just a daily grind at the job. After work, I’d barely have time to recharge my batteries before it was time to clock in again.”
“Working?” Shen Qingchen asked. “Were you already capable of holding your own in the real world?”
“I wouldn’t say I was holding my own, but I could manage to put food on the table.” Jiang Qianxun let out a sigh. “I lived for over twenty years, rushing about busily every single day, and honestly, I don’t even know what I was doing it all for…”
As she rambled on with her complaints, Shen Qingchen was secretly astonished. Given the relatively short lifespan of mortals, someone in their twenties should have long since married and borne children. Could it be that in that other world, she had already become someone’s wife, raising children of her own…?
For some reason, Shen Qingchen’s heart gradually sank.
She couldn’t quite pinpoint why she felt so despondent. Perhaps it was because she had failed to participate in the girl’s authentic life, perhaps it was the stark realization of how different they were; or perhaps it was because the minor incident from earlier was completely insignificant in the eyes of someone who had already experienced so much.
She was the only one whose heart was fluttering with anxiety, while the other party was already a seasoned veteran of the world.
…Forget it.
At this point, the last remnant of Shen Qingchen’s bashfulness vanished without a trace. Those few storybooks were sitting right behind her, but they no longer felt like a row of thorns pressing against her back.
“…Ever since I arrived here, my sole focus has still been on cultivation. It sounds a bit pathetic, but I don’t have family or romance here, and my friends all have their own lives to lead. In this world, the only person who is truly willing to run around for me and help me through my hardships is Master.”
Shen Qingchen snapped out of her thoughts and looked over. She saw that within Jiang Qianxun’s pure, innocent eyes, the reflection of her own face had shifted from cold detachment to utter astonishment.
No romance… is it?
She felt her heart suddenly grow light and buoyant once again.