One of my fairy-like friends

"You seem to lack confidence in yourself. I imagine it would be hard for anyone not to like you at first glance, right?" Mingyan said with a smile.

"But this isn't the first time you've met me. You understand me now. I know that in many people's eyes, I'm the kind of scheming woman, even one who'll stop at nothing to achieve her goals." Yu Mudan said, pursing her lips. "I don't deny it. In fact, for a long time after we met, I also wanted to use you to attack someone..."

Yu Mudan didn't mention Gu Hanshuang's name directly, perhaps because she didn't want to, or perhaps because the two had already reconciled on the surface and there was no need to bring up the name again.

"In your heart, at least for a while, you must have been wary of me, right?" Yu Mudan pursed her lips, her expression somewhat complicated. "So I don't know what you really think of me?"

"You said it yourself, that was before. You've changed, and my opinion of you has changed too," Mingyan said with a slight smile, acknowledging that he had indeed viewed Yu Mudan that way before.

"..." Yu Mudan was not disappointed, but smiled, a very happy smile, "Thank you for believing in me."

She knew Mingyan had seen through her thoughts long ago. It seemed her gamble hadn't been wrong; by being honest, she had gained Mingyan's trust. If she had acted the way she always had, Mingyan might never have liked her...

“...Actually, I like you quite a bit too,” Mingyan said. “I always thought that being with you was a very pleasant thing. However, you used to have too many worries, and our friendship wasn’t that pure.”

"...Things are different now. I simply like you a lot, and...I don't want to just be friends..." Yu Mudan looked at Ming Yan, her cherry lips slightly pursed. "You...don't need to rush to give me an answer...because I also think it's a bit too hasty. We should spend more time together...get to know each other better, and then make a decision..."

Mingyan reached out and took Yu Mudan's hand, smiling slightly, "Who says you have to like each other to the point of obsession before you can talk about love?"

"...It seems there's no such rule..." Yu Mudan's face flushed slightly as Ming Yan held her hand, and she said somewhat shyly.

“That settles it then,” Mingyan said with a smile. “We can build a closer relationship while continuing to get to know each other better.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Mudan felt something was off, but after thinking about it, she realized that Ming Yan probably wasn't saying anything strange. Besides, wasn't this exactly what she wanted?

Both Mingyan and Mingyan took the initiative...

And this behavior wasn't exactly out of line...

Yu Mudan's face flushed slightly. "So...you're willing to accept my feelings?"

"Why should I refuse when the number one fairy of the demon race is pursuing me?" Ming Yan said with a smile, "Don't you know? I've always been a lecherous man, the kind who can't walk past a beautiful fairy."

Upon hearing this, Yu Mudan chuckled, "If that's really the case, then do I still need to pursue you?"

“Perhaps this is just a trap I set for you?” Mingyan blinked, hinting, “I’m using this as a pretext to make you think I don’t like you, so I’m forcing you to pursue me.”

"..." Yu Mudan tilted her head, blinking her jewel-like eyes. "If that were really the case, I would step in without hesitation right now..."

"So you're just doing this willingly?" Mingyan asked with a smile.

"...Probably..." Yu Mudan was silent for a moment, then nodded. "This is the first and last time I've ever liked anyone before, so I'll give everything for it..."

Before, Yu Mudan might have hesitated, but after hearing Ming Yan say, "Who says you have to like each other to the point of obsession before you can fall in love?", her thoughts changed.

Since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, might as well throw myself into it wholeheartedly, putting the pros and cons out of my mind...

She trusted her own judgment.

Chapter 263 Isn't it much more enjoyable than competing with Gu Hanshuang?

Put aside the pros and cons, and simply experience the emotions...

Yu Mudan had never thought of it this way before, but now she unexpectedly felt very relaxed.

Although this was one of the very few experiences she had ever had...

Mingyan held Yu Mudan's slender hand and exclaimed, "You're bolder than I imagined..."

"Do you like it?" Yu Mudan stared at Ming Yan and asked tentatively.

“As long as you don’t feel pressured, of course I won’t dislike it,” Mingyan said with a smile.

"So... that means from now on... we're already considered Daoist partners, right?" Yu Mudan blinked, her expression cautious, as if worried that she might say the wrong thing.

"Mm." Mingyan nodded with a smile.

"Well..." Yu Mudan said somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, I want to try some things... I don't know if you'd be willing."

"Hmm? For example?" Mingyan responded.

“For example…” Yu Mudan’s right hand was being held by Ming Yan, so she raised her left hand and slowly ran her index finger across her delicate cherry lips. “I want to… try the feeling of kissing…”

Yu Mudan's face flushed, and her heart raced. Was she being a little shameless? Was she being a little too hasty?

Mingyan looked at Yu Mudan and said seriously, "Of course I can grant your wish, but Mudan, you need to think carefully. Do you really want to do this?"

If the goal is simply to quickly build a closer relationship, there's really no need for that. After all, if Yu Mudan isn't mentally prepared, the experience won't be very pleasant for her...

Although she took the initiative to suggest it, whether it was from her heart or because she was eager to get closer to someone is different.

"Of course it was my own idea to do this... Was I too hasty...?" Yu Mudan's face flushed slightly. "If you don't want to... then forget it... After all, our relationship has suddenly changed, and I guess... I guess you feel a little strange... It's okay, just pretend I didn't say what I just said..."

Yu Mudan felt a slight disappointment; it seemed she had indeed been a bit too hasty. But she wasn't impatient for quick results; she was simply curious... about what that feeling would be like...

It was really just pure curiosity, plus... wanting to try it out with Mingyan.

Yu Mudan had no prior experience in this area, but the demon race actually had quite a few novels about love and romance. Every time she read those scenes of passionate love and death, even though she knew she would never be like that, she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like...

She was born to be a favored daughter of heaven, and she had her own pride. If she were to have a partner, he or she would have to be someone who surpassed her.

Mingyan has already achieved this... Yu Mudan admires Mingyan... In her eyes, Mingyan is the only one qualified to be her partner, so she can't wait to try it out and see if this kind of thing is as comfortable and as unforgettable as described in the book?

Mingyan looked at Yu Mudan, hesitated for a moment, then released Yu Mudan's hand and cupped Yu Mudan's pretty face in his hands.

Yu Mudan has an oval face, a very beautiful face shape. When Mingyan holds her in his hands, she is more like a precious treasure.

A rosy blush rose to her fair face. She was slightly surprised by Mingyan's sudden action, but she still let him cup her face in his hands...

Mingyan's palms were warmer than her face. Holding her in his hands, Yu Mudan felt an indescribable feeling... like... being cared for?

Actually, Yu Mudan didn't really like this feeling, because her true form is a peony flower, which is a delicate ornamental flower.

But in reality, she is not fragile, so she doesn't need to be pampered.

She even slightly disliked people giving her those kinds of looks, but when Mingyan actually cupped her face in his hands, she didn't know if it was because Mingyan was so much stronger than her or what, but she genuinely felt like she was very weak and needed to be cared for...

Humans are always hypocritical, and so are demons... Yu Mudan suddenly realized this, and then she didn't care so much anymore...

Now that she and Mingyan are partners and Daoist companions, what's wrong with him cupping her face like this?

"So I kissed him?"

"Huh?" Yu Mudan was still lost in thought when she heard Ming Yan's voice, but didn't hear it clearly at first. "What did you just say?"

"I said, then I kissed her?" Mingyan found it a little funny to see her looking confused. Could such a shrewd Yu Mudan really look so dazed?

"Oh...you...kiss me..." Yu Mudan's face flushed. She put her hands behind her back, her fingers intertwined nervously, her heart pounding with anxiety...

She had never been so nervous before... because this was something she couldn't control; Mingyan held the initiative...

She clearly hated the feeling of not having control over the situation, but... for some reason, this feeling made her dizzy and gave her an indescribable feeling that made her think that it wasn't so bad to feel this way sometimes?

Mingyan slowly leaned closer, and Yu Mudan nervously closed her eyes. But then she felt she should open them, otherwise she wouldn't know when Mingyan would kiss her.

But even though she tried to open her eyes, Yu Mudan found her eyelids too heavy to open...

She felt Mingyan's hot breath on her face, making her breath quicken. When would he kiss her? How should she respond to him to avoid losing her composure?

She pursed her lips, and after a while, feeling hot, she pouted again. But then she wondered if she was being too forward or too promiscuous. Maybe she should just accept it honestly?

Yu Mudan felt that Ming Yan's kiss lasted exceptionally long, making her feel uneasy...

Finally, Mingyan's lips touched Yu Mudan's cherry lips.

The warm touch made her realize in an instant... So this is what a "kiss" feels like?

It doesn't seem as wonderful as those stories portray...?

It's pretty ordinary...

Yu Mudan was somewhat disappointed, but she soon sensed something was different...

It turns out that their simple lip-to-lip kiss escalated into a deeper, more passionate kiss...

Yu Mudan closed her eyes, but her delicate body trembled slightly. So this is what it feels like?

This...this...light and airy feeling...

It seems... it really does evoke the feeling described in those stories...

Isn't this much more enjoyable than competing with Gu Hanshuang?

Chapter 264 Jade Peony's Magnanimity

Gu Hanshuang stood by the window, her hands behind her back, silently looking at Yu Mudan's room.

Of course she knew that Mingyan had entered Yu Mudan's room. In fact, she had been waiting for Mingyan to come out ever since she went in, but she had not seen him come out yet.

Mingyan's attitude towards Yu Mudan was quite different from what Gu Hanshuang had imagined. Originally, Gu Hanshuang thought Mingyan and Yu Mudan were merely going through the motions, but now it seemed their relationship was truly worrying...

She had no confidence in Yu Mudan. She could refrain from actively causing trouble for Yu Mudan, but Yu Mudan... However, since they had already agreed to reconcile, Gu Hanshuang wouldn't say anything more.

It's Mingyan's freedom to choose who he goes to; there's no point in her getting nervous about it if she has an opinion.

Gu Hanshuang was feeling irritable and restless. She took a deep breath, reached out and beckoned, and the two swords beside her flew into her hand. She walked out of the room and began to practice swordsmanship to vent her frustration.

In Yu Mudan's room, Mingyan and Yu Mudan had just parted ways. Yu Mudan raised her hand and touched her still slightly moist cherry lips. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were moist and dreamy. So this feeling really is so good.

While it didn't reach the point of ecstasy, it was certainly somewhat addictive. And, in the book, the most addictive element wasn't the kissing; kissing was merely the most basic form of contact in the intimate moments...

Thinking about the many more possibilities that lie ahead, Yu Mudan's delicate body couldn't help but feel a little hot.

Hmm... what am I thinking...?

Mingyan probably didn't realize that Yu Mudan had already thought of certain things...

"Do you like this feeling?" Mingyan asked, looking at Yu Mudan.

"Hmm..." Yu Mudan nodded slowly. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and turned her rosy face to the side. "...I quite like this feeling."

Although she felt somewhat ashamed, she was, after all, Yu Mudan (Jade Peony), and quickly composed herself, looking at Mingyan, "It's like discovering a new world..."

Mingyan was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this, as it was the first time he had ever heard such a comment.

At this moment, both of them sensed the sharp sword energy outside the house. Only then did Mingyan realize that Gu Hanshuang was practicing her sword outside.

Yu Mudan narrowed her eyes and smiled slightly. She suddenly felt that it was meaningless. After being with Ming Yan, she might have a chance to defeat Gu Hanshuang, but that was no longer her main goal.

"Why don't you go see her? She probably knows you came to see me. She's probably feeling down, which is why she went to practice her sword alone. Go keep her company and comfort her, so she won't be jealous." Yu Mudan stood gracefully with her hands behind her back, smiling brightly.

"Jealous?" Mingyan smiled.

“Yes, she gets jealous. Don’t let her upright appearance fool you, she’s actually quite petty. I’m not saying anything bad about her; I grew up with her, and I don’t think many people know her better than me,” Yu Mudan said with a smile.