Chapter 28: The Perceptive Robot and the Flushed Cheeks

If Lidoa’s combat had exuded an air of elegant composure from start to finish, akin to a meticulously choreographed ballet.

Then Qin Jinxuan’s conclusion to the fight…

“Ow!”

Her legs buckled beneath her as she landed, sending her sprawling onto the ground with a soft thud.

Cheng Lan burst into laughter at the sight.

“Don’t… don’t laugh…” Qin Jinxuan, who had initially moved to push herself up, suddenly had an idea. Her eyes darted, and she swiftly changed her mind, instead beginning to vigorously rub her own legs.

“My legs feel a bit weak… Could you give me a hand?” She glanced at Cheng Lan, a hint of guilt in her eyes.

“Surely not?” Cheng Lan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his gaze. “I felt the combat intensity was rather moderate, or are you implying your stamina is truly that abysmal?”

“Oh, just give me a straight answer! If you can’t pull me up, I’ll just ask Lidoa to help me instead!” She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, resembling a bristling hamster.

“Alright, alright, seeing as your performance wasn’t too bad just now.” Cheng Lan walked over with a sigh of resignation, extending his hand.

Qin Jinxuan immediately clutched Cheng Lan’s hand with the desperation of someone grasping a lifeline.

“Do you really need to grip so tightly?”

“Well, I was just holding my sword, so I’m a bit out of practice with my grip strength.” She offered a casual excuse, her gaze slightly evasive.

Cheng Lan cast a suspicious glance at the girl still seated on the ground, feeling an unsettling sensation that he was somehow being manipulated by her.

“What, you don’t believe me?” Qin Jinxuan met his gaze unflinchingly, her expression brimming with righteous indignation.

“It’s nothing.” Cheng Lan shook his head, offering no further words, and with a strong pull, he hoisted her directly from the ground.

Qin Jinxuan took the opportunity to lean gently against him, half her body resting against Cheng Lan’s back. With her other hand, she secretly rubbed her backside, which still smarted from the fall, a mischievous, triumphant smile playing on her lips.

“What are you doing?” Cheng Lan turned his head, observing the girl who was practically draped over him.

“I can’t help it, my legs are truly a bit weak, so I’ll have to trouble you for a while.” Qin Jinxuan playfully stuck out her small pink tongue.

“Sigh.” Cheng Lan let out a resigned sigh, yet he still reached out to steady her, slowly guiding her towards the nearby wall.

“If you’re truly that tired, lean against the wall and rest for a bit.” Upon reaching the wall, Cheng Lan adopted a look of disdain, gently “peeling” Qin Jinxuan off himself and supporting her until she leaned against the cool surface.

“I still have some things to attend to. Wait for me here for a moment.”

“What is it?” Qin Jinxuan responded softly, settling against the wall. Her fingertips subtly tightened around the corner of his clothing, then quickly released, a fleeting hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Cheng Lan offered a mysterious smile before disappearing back into the weapon storage area.

Meanwhile, Lidoa had been continuously observing Qin Jinxuan’s subtle actions, her thoughts a mystery.

As soon as Cheng Lan vanished, Lidoa scurried over to Qin Jinxuan, tilting her small face upwards to look at her.

“Jinxuan-jiejie~” Her voice was as sweet as if steeped in honey.

“What is it, Lidoa?” Qin Jinxuan lowered her head slightly, gazing at the adorable little girl.

“Why did you lie to Master about your legs being weak just now?” Lidoa blinked her clear, sky-blue eyes, her expression utterly innocent.

Upon hearing these words, Qin Jinxuan felt as though she had been struck by five bolts of lightning, her entire body stiffening instantly.

“No, no! My legs really were weak just now!” She frantically waved her hands in denial, her voice wavering slightly.

“Hmph hmph~” Lidoa triumphantly lifted her small face, extending a slender, jade-like finger and wiggling it before Qin Jinxuan’s eyes.

“Jinxuan-jiejie, it’s fine for you to trick Master, but I’m a high-performance robot, you know~! Right now, your eyes are darting, your heart rate is accelerating, and your tone is nervous; you’re clearly lyi—”

“Stop! Don’t say another word!” Qin Jinxuan frantically extended both hands, pressing against Lidoa’s soft cheeks and vigorously rubbing them, effectively cutting off her next words. The tips of the older girl’s ears were crimson, almost to the point of bleeding, a faint pink flush spreading down her neck.

‘I… I’m doomed!’

‘Lidoa, this robot, is far too perceptive. My little scheme must have been completely exposed.’

‘No! I absolutely cannot let her tell Cheng Lan that I faked my weak legs!’

With this thought, Qin Jinxuan offered a gentle smile, softening her tone. “Lidoa, Jiejie wants to discuss something with you. Could you please not tell Cheng Lan that I tricked him?”

“Mmmph!” Lidoa, her cheeks still pressed, couldn’t utter a single word she wanted to say.

Only then did Qin Jinxuan realize her hands were still pressing against the girl’s cheeks, and she hastily released them.

“Okay~” She nodded her head.

‘Eh? She’s surprisingly agreeable.’

Qin Jinxuan let out a long breath, her suspended heart settling slightly.

“However…” Lidoa’s demeanor shifted abruptly. “Jinxuan-jiejie must first answer a question for me.”

“What question?”

“Does Jinxuan-jiejie like Master?” The silver-haired girl tilted her head.

“No!” Qin Jinxuan retorted instantly and unequivocally, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, yet her cheeks flushed an even deeper, uncontrollable red.

“But Jiejie, your face is very red right now…”

“That’s because… because the battle just now made me hot!” Qin Jinxuan hastily explained, her voice growing progressively softer. “He spends all day just being sarcastic to me and making fun of me! How could I possibly like… like him…”

The last few words were barely a whisper, almost like a mosquito’s hum.

“Then why did you lie just now—”

“Because I wanted Cheng Lan to pay more attention to me!” Qin Jinxuan blurted out.

‘Yes! That must be it!’

‘She just wanted Cheng Lan to look at her a few more times, to care about her a little more! It wasn’t any other kind of intention!’

“Oh~” Lidoa nodded obediently. “I understand now!”

‘What exactly do you understand?!’

‘No! Just in case, I can’t let her reveal what we just talked about!’

“Ahem!” Qin Jinxuan cleared her throat, feigning composure. “Lidoa, let’s not tell Cheng Lan about what we just discussed, okay~”

“Okay~” Lidoa nodded once more, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Some time later…

“How was your rest?” Cheng Lan strolled back with a relaxed gait, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips, though it was unclear what he had been busy with. He radiated an air of contentment.

“Hmm?” Observing the two girls standing together, Cheng Lan’s gaze swept back and forth between them, sensing a peculiar atmosphere hanging in the air.

Qin Jinxuan’s cheeks were faintly flushed, her eyes occasionally darting away; Lidoa, meanwhile, had her lips pressed together, as if guarding a secret.

“Did you two just argue?” He inquired.

“Not at all~” Qin Jinxuan waved her hand with a smile. “We were just chatting a bit with Lidoa. It’s a topic only beautiful girls discuss, so you absolutely mustn’t pry~”

“Mhm mhm!” Lidoa vigorously nodded in agreement beside her.

“Oh.” Cheng Lan responded indifferently, having no desire to inquire about such trivial matters that wouldn’t contribute to his strength.

“Alright, pack up. It’s time for us to head back.” He announced, then turned to retrieve the backpack and weapons he had tossed aside earlier.

Lidoa and Qin Jinxuan exchanged a knowing glance, a silent understanding passing between them, and then began to gather their respective weapons and items from the ground.