Ningguang paused slightly, this answer once again taking her by surprise. She quickly connected the "Qilin" with Gan Yu, her eyes flashing...
"So, you and Miss Gan Yu... are of the same race?"
Yi Chen gave him a look that said, "You've finally got it."
"I see..."
Ningguang exhaled softly, her furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and her tense heartstrings instantly eased.
It turned out to be the case.
Yes, Gan Yu is a Qilin, and Yi Chen is also a Qilin.
It's perfectly normal for people of the same ethnicity to be attracted to each other and take care of one another.
Bringing them home to live is probably just out of the affection of elders in the same clan for the cubs.
I was just overthinking things. My momentary sense of crisis was just that—an overreaction.
She even mentally reassessed Gan Yu's threat level.
He was immediately downgraded from "a potential, cunning rival" to "a dutiful and caring elder of the same kind."
Indeed, Ningguang thought to herself. Given Gan Yu's passive and easily embarrassed personality, if she really had romantic feelings for Yichen, how could she be so proactive and direct in bringing him home?
I'm afraid even a glimpse of them from afar would make them blush for ages.
It's highly likely that he really does see this clueless blockhead as a younger brother who needs taking care of.
Having figured this out, Ningguang's mood instantly brightened, and even Yichen's serious face, which seemed to say "I'm going to cultivate immortality," became much more pleasing to the eye.
At least one threat has been eliminated.
Ningguang sat upright in her high position, her mind racing as she weighed the pros and cons.
It seems there's absolutely no chance with Keqing; that blockhead has given up on herself.
Gan Yu? Ah, so she's a cousin. Nothing to worry about.
Looking at it this way, isn't Ningguang the only one in the entire Liyue Harbor who can see through the enormous potential and pure essence hidden beneath his reckless exterior?
I was always the one who discovered the treasure.
Since that's the case, there's no need to rush.
It's a good thing that your child is ambitious and wants to pursue spiritual cultivation; it doesn't mean they're going to be promiscuous or cause trouble.
Moreover, given his innate talent and his outrageous learning ability, what if he really made a name for himself on the path of immortality and became one of Liyue's rightful immortals in the future...
Ningguang's eyes brightened slightly, as if she could already see the future.
A powerful immortal who has close ties with the Seven Stars, especially with the Heavenly Power Star. The long-term returns of this "investment" are simply immeasurable.
The only cost is that she won't see this interesting and beautiful "wooden piece" dangling in front of her for a while, which will reduce the fun and temporarily prevent her from carrying out her "dimensional reduction attack" plan.
But investments always come at a cost.
Ningguang could easily afford the time and emotional cost of loneliness.
Only by casting a long line can you catch big fish.
With her mind made up, Ningguang's smile regained its dignified and elegant air.
“Since that’s the case, your ambition is commendable, then I grant your request.”
"Alright! Thank you, Lady Ningguang! I'll be going now!"
Upon achieving his goal, Yi Chen beamed with joy and readily agreed. He then turned and strode away without a backward glance.
Ningguang did not immediately look away. She remained seated, watching the tall, somewhat boyish figure disappear into the magnificent corridor of the Jade Pavilion.
The hall fell silent again, with wisps of incense smoke rising from the burner.
After a long while, a very soft whisper, tinged with amusement and anticipation, finally drifted through the empty hall:
"Cultivating immortality...that's good."
"It's best to cultivate oneself in a state of blissful ignorance, unaware of the ways of the world..."
In that way, when she returns, this "unpolished jade," untouched by the world, will fall more perfectly into the palm of her hand, which she has already prepared.
Ningguang gently closed her eyes, as if she was already looking forward to the "reunion" that was destined to be even more interesting in the future.
Chapter 36 What a pervert!
It was time to leave work, and Gan Yu left Yuehai Pavilion almost right on time, her steps unusually light for days.
As I opened the door, a warm and enticing aroma of food wafted over, instantly dispelling any fatigue or chill that clung to me.
She looked up into the kitchen and saw Yichen standing in front of the stove, busy with his back to her, under the warm yellow light.
He was wearing a light-colored apron that was clearly a size too small and looked somewhat comical, with the straps tied in a knot at the back, outlining his upright back and lean waist.
Hearing the door open, Yi Chen turned around and saw Gan Yu. A bright, untroubled smile immediately bloomed on his face.
"You're back? Go wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon!"
As he spoke, he untied the apron straps behind him, took off the apron that was completely out of character for him, and casually draped it over the back of the chair.
Gan Yu stood there, momentarily stunned.
The person in front of me was bathed in warm light, with gentle eyes and a faint aroma of freshly cooked food.
An extremely strong feeling called "husband" struck Gan Yu's heart without warning.
This feeling... is awful.
She could even clearly feel her cheeks and ear tips suddenly heat up, her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and then started beating faster again. A strange, burning sensation quietly spread from her heart, making her fingertips feel slightly numb.
Gan Yu watched his back as he turned to get the bowls and chopsticks, watched his wrists revealed when he rolled up his sleeves, watched him naturally set out the tableware for the two of them...
What was clearly just an ordinary home scene was now filled with an indescribable impact in her eyes.
It's as if you've just been out working all day, and when you come home, there's someone wearing an apron, washing your hands and cooking for you, greeting you with the warmest smile.
Gan Yu subconsciously brought her legs together, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes helplessly.
She felt herself becoming a little strange, as if a small flame had been lit inside her body, making her feel faintly... hot.
An unprecedented, intense, and unsettling sense of possessiveness and satisfaction quietly began to grow.
She walked briskly and somewhat stiffly toward the restroom, the cool water washing over her burning palms and wrists, but it seemed unable to suppress the inexplicable, scorching heat rising in her heart.
After Gan Yu used cold water to calm the heat on her face, she came out of the bathroom to find three dishes and a soup neatly arranged on the small dining table.
Although they are all home-style dishes, they are brightly colored and have a wonderful aroma, showing that the person who made them put a lot of care into them.
Yi Chen was placing two bowls overflowing with white rice on the table when he saw her come out and invited her to sit down.
Gan Yu sat down as instructed, but her gaze was still somewhat unfocused, and she didn't dare to look directly at the source of the strong homey atmosphere opposite her.
Yi Chen looked at her, blinked, and suddenly leaned closer, asking with concern.
"Gan Yu, you look a little strange. Your face is a bit red... Are you feeling unwell because you were too tired from work today?"
"Huh? No, no!"
Gan Yu seemed to have her secret exposed, and hurriedly shook her head, subconsciously picking up the rice bowl in front of her, almost burying her face in it.
"Fortunately, I'm not very tired."
She picked up her chopsticks and silently began to shovel rice into her mouth, chewing the sweet grains, but finding them tasteless, her mind completely elsewhere.
Everything around her was so beautiful, like an unreal dream—warm, peaceful, and with a touch of sweet unease that made her heart flutter.
She was afraid that if she made any sudden movements, she would wake up from the dream.
Just then, a pair of chopsticks placed a piece of stewed vegetarian meat, tender, flavorful, and with an enticing color, steadily onto the tip of her bowl of white rice.
Gan Yu looked up blankly, and met Yi Chen's gaze, which was filled with a mixture of helplessness and concern.
Why are you just eating rice and not picking at your food?
"How can you get enough nutrition if you only eat rice? You work so hard, you need to eat more good food."
His movements were so natural, as if taking care of her was a matter of course, something that required no thought.
Gan Yu looked at the extra piece of meat in her bowl, then at Yi Chen's earnest face that seemed to say, "How can you be so bad at taking care of yourself?" The softest part of her heart felt like it had been gently bumped by something, leaving her with a sour and numb feeling.
The heat that had been forcibly suppressed suddenly surged back, even more intensely than before.
She hurriedly lowered her head and replied in a voice barely audible, "...Yes, thank you."
Carefully using chopsticks, he put the piece of vegetarian meat and rice into his mouth and chewed slowly.
The aroma of meat mingled with the fragrance of rice, melting in my mouth. The taste... seemed to be a thousand times better than I had imagined.
Gan Yu felt her heartbeat was unusually loud beside the quiet dining table.
Dinner took place in a subtle and warm atmosphere.
Gan Yu ate exceptionally slowly, savoring each bite as if she wanted to firmly etch the food, cooked by Yi Chen and carrying the warmth of "home," along with the overflowing happiness in her chest, into the depths of her memory.
She ate the vegetarian meat he had picked out for her in small bites, almost with a kind of reverence.
At first, it was just a small, anxious flame in her heart, but with Yichen's natural care, his focused eating habits, and the occasional untroubled smile he gave her when he looked up at her.
The flame, far from being extinguished, instead absorbed the excessive sweetness and satisfaction, spreading silently until it transformed into a raging fire burning intensely in her heart.
The fever made her feel warm and soft all over, and her eyes became increasingly watery and dreamy.
This feels...too dangerous.
Yet she became addicted to it, finding it sweet and delightful.
After finally finishing the last bite of her meal, Gan Yu almost forced herself to remain calm as she helped Yi Chen clear away the dishes.
Watching Yichen wipe the stove, she couldn't help but stare at his slender waist and the smooth lines of his forearms after rolling up his sleeves for a while.
It wasn't until Yi Chen finished tidying up and said he was going to wash up that Gan Yu seemed to be suddenly awakened, her eyes quickly glancing towards the bathroom.
A bold idea, tinged with a secret longing, burst forth like a spring bud breaking through the soil, and could no longer be suppressed.
Her heart suddenly raced, and her cheeks flushed uncontrollably again.
While Yichen was still listening to the sound of water in the bathroom, Gan Yu sneaked away like a thief to the laundry basket in the corner of the bathroom.
Her gaze precisely locked onto the few pieces of clothing that Yichen had just changed out of that day.
Almost without hesitation, Gan Yu swiftly reached out and snatched the clothes into her arms, almost as if she were grabbing them.
The fabric was soft, and it seemed to still retain Yi Chen's body temperature and his unique, clean scent, a mixture of sunshine and a very faint trace of sweat.
The scent instantly enveloped her, making her gasp for a moment. The clothes in her arms felt like scorching hot irons, burning her fingertips so much that they trembled, yet she couldn't bear to let go even a little.
What do you need to do?
She doesn't know either.
There was just an incredibly strong thought in my subconscious.
They wanted to possess this aura exclusively.
This thought drove her, making her feel like a little animal that had stolen a treasure. Her heart pounded, she held her breath, tiptoed, and slipped back to her room as fast as she could.
With a soft "click," the door was tightly closed, and even instinctively locked.
Leaning against the cold door, Gan Yu finally dared to breathe heavily. She clutched the clothes in her arms tightly to her chest, and the familiar scent lingered even more intensely around her nose.
It must have a very, very important use.
For example... when it's late at night and everything is quiet, you can hold him and fall asleep?
For example... when you miss someone, you can take it out and smell it?
The thought made her so embarrassed she almost evaporated on the spot, yet it also carried a forbidden, dizzying sweetness.
With a blush, Gan Yu carefully folded the clothes neatly, as if they were rare treasures. Then she opened the bottom drawer of the bedside table and solemnly and secretly hid them inside.
After doing all this, she felt as if she had accomplished something earth-shattering. She sat on the edge of the bed, completely exhausted, but her fingers couldn't help but quietly stroke the drawer handle, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.
Tonight, perhaps I can have a sweet dream... imbued with his presence.
Chapter 37 Shen He
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