Mentor Yu Xuan couldn’t stand it any longer.
She had assumed Huangfu Wenqing, as a refined young lady from a great family, would at least maintain some composure when visiting her fiancé—maybe hold hands at most. But no sooner had Wenqing arrived than she threw herself at him. That was one thing, but then she even tried to kiss him. Even an uncle could tolerate that, but an aunt could not!
So Mentor Yu Xuan spoke up to stop her.
Though Huangfu Wenqing was a reincarnator, in her previous life she had only harbored a one-sided crush, never acting on it. Now her face burned crimson, and she was at a complete loss. With a flustered stammer, she blurted out, “I-I’ll head back to my room first,” before fleeing the scene.
The room fell quiet once more.
Mentor Yu Xuan sat back down on the bed, a touch of disappointment in her eyes.
If Huangfu Wenqing hadn’t shown up, she would have loved to get a bit more intimate with Yan Zhen. But now the mood was utterly ruined.
Before boarding the ship, she had devised a plan: during Yan Zhen’s cultivation breaks, she would use the excuse of “relaxation” to take their relationship to the next level.
She had thought letting Yan Zhen share her room was already half the victory. From there, a few charms and sweet gestures should win him over completely. But Huangfu Wenqing had charged in like a rival contender.
From the looks of things, she’d be dropping by to see Yan Zhen frequently over the next few days.
Sigh. Her plan might be doomed.
Mentor Yu Xuan turned a resentful gaze toward Yan Zhen.
“Uh…”
Yan Zhen scratched his head awkwardly, unsure how to begin. After a long pause, he finally said, “Sorry, Mentor. I’ve caused you trouble.”
This only made Mentor Yu Xuan feel worse.
“Don’t say such distant words. If you really feel bad about it, then… just give me a hug.”
With that, she turned her head away, as if refusing to acknowledge him.
Yan Zhen rubbed his cheek, then extended his arms from behind, wrapping them around Mentor Yu Xuan’s slender waist and pulling her into his embrace.
Mentor Yu Xuan’s waist wasn’t as slim and delicate as a young girl’s; it was softly plush instead. Though not the least bit flabby, it had always bothered her—until Yan Zhen plainly told her, “Actually, the feel of it is great,” after which she stopped fretting.
As Yan Zhen took the initiative to hold her, Mentor Yu Xuan’s mood gradually brightened. She rested her head on his shoulder, savoring this rare moment of tenderness.
After holding her for a bit, Yan Zhen suddenly spoke. “Mentor, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Mentor Yu Xuan intertwined her fingers with his as she asked, “Is it about Miss Huangfu?”
“No, it’s about me.” Yan Zhen felt it was necessary to come clean before they crossed that final threshold. “Actually, it’s not just this fiancée, Wenqing. There are others I have to take responsibility for.”
Mentor Yu Xuan tensed up. “Is it Shopkeeper Ji Ya? Because you dual cultivated with her, so you feel obligated?”
“Ahem, you’re right about that, Mentor. But Sister Ji Ya is just one of them. There’s another.”
“Another one?”
Truth be told, there was more than one other, but explaining the rest would get complicated, so Yan Zhen decided not to mention them.
“It’s the Myriad Snake Queen from the City of Water.”
Mentor Yu Xuan let out a sigh upon hearing this. “I figured as much.”
“You… figured?” Yan Zhen blinked in confusion. “You’re not shocked at all, Mentor?”
Realizing she’d let something slip, Mentor Yu Xuan pretended to huff in annoyance. “Everyone says that Myriad Snake Queen is enchantingly seductive. A little flirt like you could never escape her grasp. Hmph.”
“It’s not like that.” Yan Zhen felt deeply wronged. “You might not believe me if I told you, but in the future, the Myriad Snake Queen and I will have a daughter. That daughter traveled back from a distant future and reunited with me in this era. That’s why I have to take responsibility for both her and her mother.”
“A daughter?!”
Mentor Yu Xuan’s voice rose an octave, her expression one of utter shock.
A daughter who traveled back from the future… That was too outrageous!
But Yan Zhen had no reason to lie to her like that. Besides, she herself was a reincarnator.
Speaking of Yan Zhen and the Myriad Snake Queen’s daughter—was that girl Yan Yan?
“Mentor, I swear everything I’ve said is true. If there’s even a shred of falsehood, may my lifespan shorten by an inch— Mmph.”
Before he could finish, Mentor Yu Xuan covered his mouth with her hand. Her cheeks flushed as she said softly, “Don’t make vows like that. I believe you.”
Yan Zhen blinked, lowering his hands.
Mentor Yu Xuan withdrew her own hand as well and murmured, “Truth is, I’ve already prepared myself mentally. After all, you’ve already settled things with Meng’er and Ruyu. Even if there are a few more, I could accept it—as long as I have a place in your heart. You can’t treat me like some disposable woman and toss me aside. I’ve… chosen you, Yan Zhen~”
Her sudden heartfelt confession left Yan Zhen flustered, but Mentor Yu Xuan’s expression was utterly sincere. He couldn’t brush it off lightly.
“Someone like me… is that really okay?” Yan Zhen lowered his head. “I don’t have the confidence to make everyone happy.”
After all, he was just a mere protagonist’s side character, not the true protagonist.
Mentor Yu Xuan took hold of both his hands and smiled gently. “Silly, happiness is something we create together, not a burden on you alone… Besides, just being with you would make me happy enough.”
“You’re the silly one, Mentor.”
“Hmph, then it’s a perfect match of sillies~”
“That’s such a weird way to put it. It sounds like—”
“Don’t ruin the mood.” Mentor Yu Xuan cut him off at once, then gazed at him with shy affection. “Kiss me~”
“A-again?”
“You idiot. After a confession between a man and a woman, you have to kiss. That’s what all the books say.”
“Is that how it works? Alright then… here goes.”
Mentor Yu Xuan closed her eyes and tilted her lovely face upward, awaiting Yan Zhen’s kiss.
Yan Zhen took a deep breath, then leaned in and pressed his lips softly to her lush, rosy ones.
Unlike their usual passionate exchanges, this was a light, lingering kiss.
After a long moment, their lips parted. Mentor Yu Xuan cupped her burning cheeks, turning away to compose the overwhelming surge of joy bubbling within her. She didn’t want to let him see her grinning like a fool and ruin her image.
Though her plan for intimate roommate fun had fallen through, she’d gained an unexpected windfall—a massive surprise, no less. Once she cleared the hurdles of family and disciples, she could be with Yan Zhen openly~
Yan Zhen rubbed his cheek, feeling bashful at this newfound sense of being lovers.
Meanwhile, in Room Four, Huangfu Wenqing had no idea that mere moments after she’d left, Mentor Yu Xuan had one-upped her once more—this time striking straight at her heart.
She lay on the bed, watching the recording her grandfather had given her.
It was footage from a gathering between their two families. Two infants still in swaddling clothes reached out their tiny hands toward each other, hooking fingers and refusing to let go. The baby boy even grinned toothlessly at the girl, as if deliberately trying to tease her.
Huangfu Wenqing smiled faintly, her resolve strengthening further.
—She would conquer Yan Zhen, make him join Cloud Heaven Palace as her consort, and then live happily ever after with him and her master.
But first, she needed to cultivate some feelings between them.
Of course, there was no time for a slow build-up. She’d have to use slightly more aggressive tactics.
She touched her lower abdomen. The Desire Pattern was still there.
