Chapter 41: Stubborn as a Dead Duck’s Mouth

“Stubborn as a dead duck’s mouth.”

Bai Yue let out a scoff, leaning forward slightly as she stared into Su Qingyan’s eyes.

“You think because she wears that ring every day, she must have known there was an old monster inside all along?”

Su Qingyan gritted her teeth, not retorting, but her red-rimmed eyes had already betrayed her.

“Foolish.”

Bai Yue spat out the word without mercy.

“If she had known she was carrying an ancient great being on her, would she have let someone destroy her spiritual roots?”

Su Qingyan froze.

“Think about it carefully.”

Bai Yue settled back into a comfortable position against the chair.

Su Qingyan’s pupils contracted sharply.

“You mean…”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“Yueluo had no idea there was something in the ring?”

“Obviously.”

Bai Yue rolled her eyes.

“How many years has she worn that ring?

Since she was a child, right?

Did it ever show the slightest hint of spiritual energy before today?”

“No…” Su Qingyan murmured.

Indeed, it hadn’t.

It was just an ordinary black iron ring.

When they were children, Su Qingyan had even teased her about how ugly it was and suggested she replace it.

“Exactly.”

Bai Yue spread her hands.

“She didn’t even know it was a magical artifact.

How could she possibly know someone was living inside it?

What was she supposed to tell you?

That she had a piece of scrap metal hanging around her neck?”

After hearing this blunt, even mocking analysis, Su Qingyan felt a tremendous weight lift from her chest.

The sense of loss and grievance that had been suffocating her vanished in an instant.

Su Qingyan turned her head to look at Xiao Yueluo, fast asleep on the bed.

The girl on the bed had her brows slightly furrowed, not sleeping very peacefully.

Su Qingyan tiptoed to the bedside.

She bent down slightly, her hand hovering in mid-air, wanting to smooth out the furrow between Xiao Yueluo’s brows.

But afraid of waking her, she could only freeze there.

Her gaze turned incredibly soft, a thin film of moisture even forming in her eyes.

Watching Su Qingyan’s emotional transformation—like a Sichuan opera mask-changing act—Bai Yue clicked her tongue inwardly.

That’s more like it.

As long as the misunderstanding was cleared up, she could avoid any trouble from this girl later on.

“Alright, stop playing the tragic heroine.”

Bai Yue stood up.

“Want something to eat?”

With that, she produced an exquisite box and placed it on the table.

She opened it and invited Su Qingyan to try some.

A faint floral fragrance wafted through the air.

The moment she caught the scent, Su Qingyan’s craving was instantly awakened.

“Growl…”

A very faint sound echoed in the quiet room.

Su Qingyan’s face turned crimson in an instant.

She had always been powerless against sweets, especially flower cakes.

But after Xiao Yueluo’s fall from grace, she hadn’t tasted one in ages.

“This is a specialty of the Du Xian Sect.”

Bai Yue pretended not to hear the stomach growl, casually picking up a flower cake and twirling it between her fingers.

“Not only is it delicious, but it’s also infused with some Spirit-Nourishing Herb—great for the skin.”

“N-No thanks.”

Su Qingyan refused, but her gaze remained locked on the flower cake.

She was clearly unable to resist the tempting pastry.

Watching her conflicted expression, the corner of Bai Yue’s mouth curved upward.

“Oh, I see.”

Bai Yue drew out her tone, feigning regret with a sigh.

“Since you don’t want any, I’ll just have to eat them all myself.

They lose their spiritual essence and flavor if left out too long.”

With that, she slowly brought the flower cake in her fingers toward her own mouth.

“Mm…”

Su Qingyan let out a tiny whimper, turning her head away.

She closed her eyes.

Out of sight, out of mind.

But then—

The moment she turned, a gentle breeze brushed past.

Before she could react, something cool and soft pressed against her lips.

At the same time, that intoxicating floral fragrance rushed straight into her nose.

Su Qingyan’s eyes flew open.

She was stunned.

Bai Yue had somehow appeared right in front of her, even bending down slightly.

The distance between them was so close she could count the other’s eyelashes.

The flower cake that was supposed to go into Bai Yue’s stomach was now being held by those two fingers, gently pressed against her own lips.

“You—”

The moment Su Qingyan uttered a single word, she heard Bai Yue’s teasing chuckle.

“Oh dear, it’s touched your lips.

It’s dirty now.”

Bai Yue’s fingers didn’t retreat; instead, they pressed forward slightly.

A few crumbs from the soft pastry clung to the corner of Su Qingyan’s mouth.

“I can’t eat it now.

If you won’t have it, I’ll just have to toss it into the mud outside.”

Toss it?!

Toss something this delicious?!

Su Qingyan’s brain short-circuited in that instant.

She opened her mouth, almost unconsciously.

Bai Yue moved her wrist slightly and slid the flower cake into Su Qingyan’s mouth.

Her fingertip accidentally brushed against Su Qingyan’s soft lower lip, sending a faint, tingling sensation.

The pastry entered her mouth.

Su Qingyan’s eyes went wide.

Delicious!

It melted on the tongue with no sticky residue whatsoever.

The fragrance of a hundred flowers exploded on her taste buds, transforming into a sweet, clear, warm current.

As she swallowed, the warmth slid down her throat.

Then it spread through her abdomen, splitting into countless threads of gentle spiritual energy that raced through her limbs and bones.

Every pore seemed to open wide.

Su Qingyan couldn’t help but squint her eyes in bliss.

The corners of her eyes reddened from sheer satisfaction.

Her cheeks puffed out like a hamster guarding its food as she chewed rapidly.

After swallowing the last bite, she unconsciously licked the crumbs from the corner of her mouth.

Then she looked up.

Her eyes met Bai Yue’s, who had been watching her all along.

Bai Yue was still half-bent, standing very close.

Moonlight from the window mingled with the dim candlelight, casting a soft glow on Bai Yue’s elegant, striking face.

Those eyes—usually carrying a hint of nonchalance and mockery—were now curved into a beautiful arc.

There was something in that gaze that she couldn’t ignore… affection?

Su Qingyan’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Just that one glance.

The air around them seemed to thicken.

The urgent craving Su Qingyan had felt for more pastries suddenly became very strange.

Bai Yue had only kindly invited her to share some pastries—it should have been warm and kind.

But the atmosphere had turned so intimate…

The other was too close.

Close enough that, besides the floral scent of the pastries, she could also catch a faint, crisp fragrance like pine in snow.

Her ears began to burn.

“I…” Su Qingyan panicked, wanting to step back.

But her gaze drifted back to the food box.

The allure of those flower cakes was simply too strong.

Even though her mind was telling her something was wrong—

Her body had already turned obediently, pulled out a chair, and sat down primly at the table.

Her fingers, as if they had a mind of their own, reached for the food box.

She picked up a second piece.

Her movements were a little stiff, even carrying a guilty urgency, as she greedily stuffed it into her mouth.

Watching this adorable, gluttonous girl whose mouth said no but body said yes, Bai Yue straightened up, crossed her arms, and struggled to suppress her smile.

So cute.

Those puffed-out cheeks reminded her of the little hamster she used to keep.

“Of all things to learn, you had to learn Xiao Yueluo’s tsundere act.”

Bai Yue couldn’t help but laugh.

“You love them, yet you said no.”

She picked up the teapot, poured a cup of warm tea, and pushed it toward her.

“Eat slowly.

No one’s fighting you for them.”

Su Qingyan paused, still holding half a flower cake in her mouth, and mumbled indistinctly: “You… not eating?”

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