Fairy, please have some self-respect. I am not the reincarnation of your deceased husband.

"?"

This familiar scene made Chen Lianshu's heart skip a beat.

Why does this sound like something I've heard before?

Also, Mu Qianxue's nose is just too sensitive.

"The aura of my master?"

However, he still showed doubt.

I looked down and sniffed myself, but I didn't detect the lotus scent that the other person had mentioned.

It seems that they had shared a bed for too long last night, so much so that he could no longer smell the fragrance.

"That's true to some extent."

He pretended to have smelled it, his mind racing, and explained:

"It must have been from when Master came to the side hall earlier."

"What are you here for?"

Upon hearing the words "Master has come to the side hall," Mu Qianxue asked very quickly, almost instinctively.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had lost her composure.

But since it's already beyond repair, and her husband had already probed into the matter yesterday, she couldn't get it back.

So she simply stopped caring.

"They came looking for Little Snow Flame."

Chen Lianshu answered naturally, her tone even carrying a hint of helplessness, demonstrating superb acting skills.

"I don't know how that little thing ended up at my place last night."

"Master searched for it all day and finally found it in the side hall this morning."

"But it just wouldn't leave, so I had no choice but to let it stay with me for the time being."

Who would have thought that Xiao Xueyan would be the scapegoat again?

"I see…"

Mu Qianxue lowered her eyes and gave a faint reply.

She didn't look at her husband's face again, but instead looked at his collar, shoulders, cuffs, and waist...

Without exception, the fragrance of lotus blossoms is strongest in these places.

It was an intense scent that couldn't be left behind by sharing a room.

It was more like being very close, so close that they were whispering sweet nothings and their skin was touching...

She didn't notice the faint fragrance of lotus blossoms in the side hall early in the morning.

But now that she's in her own room, the fragrance has nowhere to hide, so how can she not care?

As for what the other party said about "coming to see Xueyan"?

That little thing used to disappear frequently, and Master almost never looked for it, much less cared about it...

Clearly, the other party's visit to the side hall was probably the same kind of "personal guidance" he had seen before.

"..."

"Senior sister?"

Seeing that he was lost in thought, Chen Lianshu called out softly.

"fine."

Mu Qianxue snapped out of her reverie, picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and tried to conceal the turbulent emotions surging within her.

But his gaze still involuntarily drifted to his junior brother beside him.

That lingering fragrance of lotus blossoms is like a thorn...

The less you care, the more you care;

The more you care, the stronger the fragrance seems to become.

Unable to put her mind at ease any longer, she finally asked:

"How...did Master find Xueyan?"

Then, as if feeling that his expression was not clear enough, he added another sentence:

"What I mean is—"

Was there anything amiss when she entered your room?

The question was phrased subtly, but the meaning was quite clear.

Upon hearing this, Chen Lianshu paused slightly as he was about to pour tea.

What's wrong with it?

There are too many problems with that.

I woke up to find my fingers intertwined with hers, our legs pressed together, her soft, warm body in my arms. Is that inappropriate?

Is it inappropriate to snuggle into his blanket and press yourself tightly against him?

Is it inappropriate for your apprentice to catch me in the act?

But these things obviously cannot be said aloud.

"There is nothing wrong with it."

"Master just came in to take a look, confirmed that Xiao Xueyan was with me, and then went back after realizing that he couldn't take her with him."

"Yeah…"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The only sound was the soft rustling of bamboo leaves in the breeze outside the window.

Neither of them spoke, and neither knew what the other was thinking.

After a long silence, Chen Lianshu suddenly spoke.

He felt it was time to get some things cleared up.

"Senior sister."

He called out softly, but his tone was noticeably more serious than usual.

"Hmm? What is it?"

Mu Qianxue followed his gaze.

They also sensed the seriousness in the other person's voice and became a little nervous, roughly guessing what the other person wanted to ask.

"My junior brother is quite curious—"

"Yesterday... what caused you such distress, Senior Sister?"

"..."

Mu Qianxue did not speak.

Or rather, she didn't know what to say.

Deny it?

But she already admitted it yesterday.

Explain?

But how can I bring myself to explain it?

He said she was his future Daoist partner?

Is it true that she was flustered because he touched her?

Is it true that she has inappropriate feelings for her junior brother?

"you…"

"You really want to know?"

Mu Qianxue's voice was very soft, with a touch of gentleness.

When she was exposed yesterday, she was indeed in a state of panic and even wanted to run away.

But after her husband returned home, she tossed and turned all night, thinking about it.

Since it can't be hidden, then let's not hide it anymore.

We should at least be more honest.

In this way, she would have a reasonable excuse to get close to her husband.

"Um."

Chen Lianshu nodded in acknowledgment.

"I…"

Mu Qianxue opened and closed her mouth repeatedly.

But he found that he couldn't utter a single word of the confession he had been preparing all night.

It's not that I'm embarrassed, but rather that I'm worried...

I worry that the other party doesn't believe me.

Would my husband believe me if I said those words?

After all, the other party knows nothing and remembers nothing.

If you say it rashly, the other party will not accept it.

What if you even think she's talking nonsense or has ulterior motives, pushing her further away?

Can…

Indecisiveness leads to disaster.

"!"

Mu Qianxue took a deep breath.

Those eyes, always cool and composed, seemed to hold both honesty and a willingness to face death.

She actually took Chen Lianshu's hand.

This time there was no shyness, only a resolute determination to burn one's bridges.

"It's because of you..."

All the words I conceived last night were ultimately less direct and concise than this one.

"Because you are mine—"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a "meow".

The two of them looked in the direction of the sound at the same time.

At the doorway, a small, snow-white dumpling was peeking inside.

Seeing the two looking at it, it not only didn't hide, but instead swaggered in.

It jumped straight onto the windowsill, lay down on the windowsill, and found a comfortable spot to settle down.

That posture seemed to say:

You guys continue, I'll just take a look.

"..."

The delicate atmosphere was instantly shattered.

Looking at the little thing, Mu Qianxue was unsure whether to be angry or amused.

What's infuriating is that I finally mustered up the courage to confess, only to be stopped by this little guy.

What's funny is that she acted impulsively just now.

After being interrupted, upon reflection, it seems that it might not be such a bad thing after all.

Because she wasn't prepared for the consequences if her husband didn't trust her, pushed her away, or even ignored her...

Chen Lianshu was also taken aback.

Finally, he sighed helplessly, shook his head, and went over to rub the little one's belly:

"You little rascal, you certainly know how to pick your time."

But Xiao Xueyan squinted her eyes, enjoying the warm breeze, and purred contentedly.

He had no idea that he had just ruined anything good.

"Oh--"

Mu Qianxue watched as her husband kneaded the snow flame.

A helpless smile appeared on that cool and aloof face.

That's it.

There is ample time.

There will always be an opportunity for me to be honest.

[Ding! The tribulation is being repaired...]

[The correct path: 23%]

Current progress: 12%

"You should practice your inner cultivation first; I'm going to practice my sword in the courtyard."

"If you have any questions, feel free to come and find me in the courtyard."

Mu Qianxue immediately stood up, pausing slightly as she walked to the door.

She didn't turn around, leaving behind only a profound statement:

"...Now is not the time."

"I will explain when the time is right."

After saying that, he turned and went into the courtyard.

"..."

Chen Lianshu did not press the matter further.

After finishing the mental cultivation technique, he went to practice swordsmanship with his senior sister.

However, the other party's words just now were enough to confirm his suspicions.

That is to say, the relationship between the two is indeed unusual.

It's just unclear to what extent it has developed.

And his hesitant manner clearly indicated that there was something else going on.

"..."

Even after Chen Lianshu went to the courtyard to practice his sword, Xiao Xueyan remained nestled on the windowsill.

Seeing that neither of them mentioned what had just happened again, it tilted its head.

It did interrupt on purpose.

After all, it still leans more towards its own owner.

only…

Those two are incredibly stupid.

but--

It glanced at the Calamity Bell that was slowly being repaired at Chen Lianshu's waist, and then recalled its master's audacious behavior last night.

It seems... not everyone is stupid?

"whispering sound--"

Suddenly, Xiao Xueyan sneezed.

As a spirit beast, it naturally wouldn't catch a cold.

But why do I always feel like something big is going to happen?

……

Meanwhile, somewhere in the void.

The space rippled like water, and a petite figure leaped out from it.

It was a small, pure white fox with bright, star-like eyes and light pink markings.

Moreover, its fur is fluffy and soft, and its appearance is petite and cute, making it very endearing.

But what's most eye-catching is the nine tails swaying behind it.

Nine fluffy tails swayed gently with her movements, making them quite eye-catching.

"Hmph~"

Realizing she had arrived in the human realm, she let out a soft snort and wagged her tail smugly.

Sure enough, following the route I remembered, I actually made it out!

She looked around curiously at this world, so different from the demon realm, and felt a surge of excitement.

But this excitement only lasted a moment before she suppressed it.

Because there are more important things waiting for her right now!

My lord! Your humble servant has arrived!