Chapter 70: Beyond the Icy Facade

With the first blush of dawn, Mu Wanqing had been lying awake for a long time.

Beneath her lay a bed meticulously crafted by Su Liyue using earth magic.

Its surface was covered with velvet grass, magically accelerated to grow, and its softness rivaled the plush mattresses back in the dormitory.

Yet, even with such comfort, the incessant hooting of owls echoing through the forest, coupled with the distant murmur of a babbling brook, made it impossible for the young girl, camping outdoors for the first time, to find sleep.

She turned onto her side, her gaze unconsciously settling on the adjacent bed.

Su Liyue was entirely clinging to Ye Xingchen, much like an octopus.

Her cheek was pressed tightly against his chest, and a faint dimple graced the corner of her lips.

Ye Xingchen, in turn, had one arm wrapped around the girl’s waist, while his other hand cushioned her neck, maintaining a protective posture even in his slumber.

The morning light, filtering through the gaps in the vine-woven curtains, cast a dappled glow upon their intertwined forms.

Mu Wanqing’s gaze softened, quite unconsciously.

The Su Liyue of her memories, except when with her, typically presented a cold, unapproachable demeanor to other students.

Her spine was always straight, her chin slightly raised, and her eyes perpetually devoid of discernible emotion.

Whispers circulated through the academy, suggesting that her aloofness and arrogance stemmed from a lack of interest in anything beyond magic.

This had once led Mu Wanqing to wonder if Su Liyue had endured some past experience that had molded her into such an icy character.

After all, save for the genuine smiles she shared with Mu Wanqing, Su Liyue almost never initiated conversations with other students.

Over time, a strange, protective instinct had blossomed within Mu Wanqing, a desire to safeguard that gentle smile.

It wasn’t until yesterday that she first encountered Ye Xingchen in the library.

He had been unconsciously gazing at the perpetually aloof Su Liyue.

Noticing her best friend engrossed in a book, Mu Wanqing had intended to teach Ye Xingchen a lesson, only to be stopped by Su Liyue herself.

In that moment, a flicker of strangeness had crossed Mu Wanqing’s mind.

After all, Su Liyue had always shown a distinct lack of interest in men, yet this time, she had actively spoken up on someone else’s behalf.

However, she hadn’t delved deeper, concluding that her best friend must have had her reasons for doing so.

Then, during the familiar summoning ceremony, when Ye Xingchen had suddenly appeared and embraced Su Liyue, Mu Wanqing could no longer remain still.

She knew Su Liyue’s character all too well: even a slight proximity from any male student would instinctively make her uncomfortable, let alone being openly embraced in such a manner.

Yet, afterward, Su Liyue had candidly revealed that Ye Xingchen was her fiancé.

Amidst her shock, Mu Wanqing couldn’t help but speculate.

Perhaps her coldness toward outsiders was precisely because of this pre-arranged engagement, decided at birth?

Consequently, Mu Wanqing had immediately offered to help her escape the marriage.

Regardless of the repercussions, she was determined to protect Su Liyue’s smile.

However, after witnessing the two of them interact firsthand, that notion had been dispelled.

Su Liyue was remarkably relaxed in Ye Xingchen’s presence, and he, in turn, was exceptionally tolerant and caring toward her.

Standing together, they seemed like a match made in heaven, even inspiring a sense of envy in others.

Perhaps, this relationship had long transcended the constraints of a family alliance, and truly stemmed from a genuine love between them.

No wonder Yueyue had always dismissed her suitors with disdain…

It wasn’t that she couldn’t act spoiled… she simply hadn’t met the right person yet.

In the soft morning light, Ye Xingchen unconsciously tightened his embrace, drawing the girl in his arms even closer.

Su Liyue let out a kitten-like murmur, nuzzling against his chest.

This utterly intimate scene stirred a strange warmth within Mu Wanqing’s chest.

It wasn’t jealousy, but rather a touch of profound reassurance.

Now, gazing at their intertwined figures in the dawn light, Mu Wanqing finally felt certain: the spontaneous gestures of affection, the unspoken, intuitive exchanges, and the increasingly radiant glow in Su Liyue’s eyes, no political marriage could ever cultivate such genuine and moving love.

Especially when Ye Xingchen adjusted his sleeping position, the unconscious movement of shielding the back of the person in his arms spoke more eloquently than any solemn vow.

She suddenly understood why Su Liyue had always given off a sense of incongruity.

The top student who performed flawlessly like a magical automaton in class, the girl affectionately nicknamed ‘Ice Beauty’ by her classmates, had, in truth, always been clumsily guarding a sweet secret.

And now, this girl curled up in her fiancé’s embrace, who could act spoiled and giggle foolishly, was perhaps the most authentic Su Liyue.

***

“Ugh… Qingqing, you’re up so early…” A voice heavy with sleep suddenly broke the silence.

Mu Wanqing hastily averted her gaze, only to see Su Liyue rubbing her eyes as she propped herself up from Ye Xingchen’s arms.

The morning light gilded her disheveled silver-white hair with a golden edge, and her slightly open neckline revealed delicate collarbones.

“B-because… I smelled grilled fish!” She hastily spun around, pretending to examine the magic runes on the wall, even as Ye Xingchen’s amused whisper drifted into her ear: “Peeking, you know, costs an admission fee…”

“Grilled fish?” Su Liyue feigned confusion, stifling a yawn, and recalled drowsily,

“Didn’t the three of us each eat one last night? We finished them all, didn’t we?”

Though she did have some stored in her spatial ring for breakfast, “Qingqing, you must be hungry, aren’t you?”

Mu Wanqing stammered in response, “W-well, I suppose so, after all, those compressed biscuits can’t compare to your secret grilled fish…”

Deciding to ignore Ye Xingchen’s teasing remark, Mu Wanqing turned to tidy herself with a cleansing spell.

Magical radiance, like rippling water, swept over her sky-blue hair, completely removing the dew and grass bits accumulated during the night.

Even in the wilderness, a girl’s upkeep could not be neglected.

Moreover, basic magic like cleansing spells was practically invented for such occasions.

At least it was far more dignified than washing up in the stream…

Just as she secured the last strand of hair with a clip, her peripheral vision caught a breathtaking sight: Ye Xingchen was expertly untying the sash of Su Liyue’s sleeping robe, while Su Liyue herself, holding her magic staff, lazily cast cleansing spells on both of them in turn.

The morning sun rendered the curves of the girl’s shoulders and neck subtly visible.

“Yueyue!” Mu Wanqing’s shriek startled the morning birds from the treetops, “At least pay attention to your surroundings!” Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.

Both of them froze simultaneously.

Su Liyue’s magic staff remained suspended in mid-air, Ye Xingchen’s fingers still hooked around the last tie of the sleeping robe.

The air solidified for three seconds.

“Ah…” Su Liyue blinked, only then, as if awakening from a dream, looking at her beet-red best friend.

She had actually completely forgotten Mu Wanqing’s presence, for in their shared consciousness space, Ye Xingchen’s body and hers were essentially one, rendering the act of changing clothes for each other as natural as tying one’s own belt.

Ye Xingchen cleared his throat and released his fingers, allowing the tie to fall back onto Su Liyue’s shoulder:

“My apologies, it’s a habit.” His tone was as calm as if he were discussing a breakfast menu, yet the tips of his ears were suspiciously red.

Su Liyue gave a sheepish laugh, grabbing her outer robe to cover herself:

“Um… Qingqing, would you like to try Xingchen’s special breakfast later?” She attempted to change the subject, though her inner guilt was clearly evident in her voice.

Mu Wanqing sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.

She now fully understood why Su Liyue always said, ‘Xingchen is like my right hand.’

Such innate understanding was probably beyond even true twins.

But changing clothes in front of an unmarried woman…

Did this engaged couple have any common sense at all?