Watching the spatial rift slowly seal shut, Shui Bailan found her heart unable to settle for a long time.
“From now on, I’m his woman… not just betrothed…”
Yu Shizun’s meaning was clear: she should prepare herself to offer her body, in whatever form Yan Zhen required.
Or perhaps, she could even take the initiative?
As a follower. A maidservant. A concubine. Even a minor wife.
Originally, Shui Bailan had only planned a brief indulgence, intending to return to her role as a proper elder guardian for him and Xuan’er once things settled. But the Yu Shizun’s words had stirred ripples in her heart.
Lost in her daze, a commotion erupted from the bathroom.
Shui Bailan turned to look and saw the three of them hurrying out. Yan Zhen led the way, as if trying to shake off the two women—one tall, one small—trailing behind him. With a face full of disgust, he said, “I was changing clothes! Why did you barge in like that? You scared the hell out of me!”
Long Ying’s small hands covered her eyes, though the gaps between her fingers were wide open. Her emerald eyes sparkled with excitement, as if she had just spotted a great treasure. Her palm-sized face was flushed red, and the corners of her mouth curved in a cheeky grin—she was the very picture of a mischievous little dragon.
Dean Yu Qing stood with her arms crossed under her chest, propping up her already impressive curves. Her cheeks were pink, her gaze wandering, occasionally darting toward a certain spot on Yan Zhen. But her voice was haughty as she huffed, “Who was looking at you? I should be the one saying your… your ugly thing ruined my eyes! So big and lumpy—what’s that supposed to scare?”
Yan Zhen’s eyes widened in outrage. “You definitely saw it! And you describe it as ‘a lump’? That’s too much!”
Dean Yu Qing grew flustered. “I-I only glanced once. It’s not like it’ll fall off if I do. Why are you getting all worked up?”
“My body’s fine, but my spirit’s taken a serious hit.”
“It’s not that dramatic. You fool around with a bunch of women every day, and now you’re playing innocent virgin boy in front of me? As if I’d care!”
Dean Yu Qing rolled her eyes, radiating disdain.
Yan Zhen hurried to defend himself. “Those are all proper relationships.”
“Who knows? If you ever dare let Xuan’er down, just see how I deal with you.”
“Ahem, Little Aunt, don’t make wild guesses.”
Listening to their aunt-and-nephew-in-law bickering, Shui Bailan shook her head helplessly. “Alright, alright. Stop quarreling all day like little kids.”
Both of them huffed and lifted their chins in unison, looking every bit the tsunderes.
Shui Bailan smiled knowingly. “I’m a bit hungry. I’ll make something to eat. What do you all want?”
Long Ying shot her hand up first. “This one wants twice-cooked pork, crispy pork knuckle, pork belly chicken stew, sauerkraut-fried intestines…”
Long Ying rattled off a string of dish names, remembering every single one clearly. It seemed the smart parts of her brain were fully occupied by thoughts of food.
Shui Bailan smiled wryly. “I can’t make that much in a short time. How about we order delivery? Or just head to the dining hall?”
The dining hall had chefs dedicated to cooking for deans and other academy leaders, along with private rooms not open to the public. Delivery or dine-in was always an option.
Dean Yu Qing said coolly, “Going to the dining hall would draw too much attention and cause a scene. Better to have someone deliver here.”
Yan Zhen had no objections. His eyes scanned Dean Little Aunt’s room, taking in the girlish decor that didn’t quite match her age.
—Though she was a lightly mature woman in her early thirties, holding the position of Outer Court Dean, deep down she was still that spoiled young miss of the Yu Family~
As that thought crossed his mind, darkness suddenly fell over his eyes. A pair of soft, tender hands covered them, and Dean Little Aunt’s shy, annoyed voice whispered in his ear, “No peeking! You can’t just look around a girl’s room willy-nilly!”
With his eyes blindfolded and a cloud-soft sensation pressing vaguely against his back, Yan Zhen didn’t dare move. “Fine, I won’t look. Little Aunt, let go of my eyes.”
“Let go and you’ll peek again.”
“I’ll close my own eyes.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“…One more glance wouldn’t hurt, right?”
Would it explode or melt?
“No means no.” Dean Yu Qing rolled her eyes mischievously. “For now, follow my directions. I’ll let go once we’re out of the room.”
Yan Zhen pursed his lips, thinking his mischievous Little Aunt was up to her tricks again. He drawled lazily, “Whatever.”
Dean Yu Qing covered Yan Zhen’s eyes from behind, her ample chest pressing against his broad back. Her red lips drew close to his ear as she murmured, “Take three steps forward.”
The warm, moist breath tickled his ear, making it itch. Yan Zhen complied, stepping forward three paces and stopping. Then he heard Dean Little Aunt’s next instruction.
“Turn left, two steps. Then right, one step.”
Yan Zhen followed along.
“Three more steps.”
Yan Zhen moved like a puppet on strings, following the precise counts. As he took his final step, he suddenly heard Mentor Aunt—who had just finished ordering delivery—say, “Wait, Yan Zhen, that’s the wardrobe!”
Eh? Yan Zhen realized too late. His leg had already swung forward, and his front slammed right into the wardrobe door with a loud bang.
“Ow!”
Dean Yu Qing released her hands at once and stepped back, feigning innocence as if nothing had happened.
Yan Zhen rubbed his forehead. With his Body Realm physique, the bump didn’t hurt at all, but being played like that? No way he’d let it slide so easily.
“Little Aunt~~~”
Yan Zhen’s voice dragged out like a vengeful ghost, his eyes turning gloomy.
Dean Yu Qing whistled nonchalantly, acting as if it had nothing to do with her.
Yan Zhen snorted but decided not to press the issue. Beside him, Long Ying waved her little arms excitedly. “That looks fun! Yan Zhen Zhen, this one wants to play too! This one wants to play!”
Yan Zhen was in no mood and flicked her forehead with a knuckle rap. “Play with your head.”
Long Ying clutched her forehead, gazing up at him with teary, aggrieved eyes.
What a handful. Shui Bailan smiled and said, “Let’s go sit in the outer room. The food should arrive soon.”
Less than half an hour later, the meal arrived in two full food boxes.
Normally, Shui Bailan and Dean Yu Qing couldn’t finish that much between them—this was extra for Yan Zhen and Long Ying.
The dishes ordered by a dean were naturally top-notch, made with Tier 4 Mystic Beast meat and vegetables brimming with Mystic Qi from Tier 3 and 4 sources.
Throughout the meal, Shui Bailan kept serving food to Yan Zhen. Though her expression remained as calm as ever, Dean Yu Qing sensed a subtle shift in her best friend’s attitude toward him.
After they had eaten their fill, Yan Zhen checked on Mentor Aunt’s condition again. Once assured she was fine, he and Long Ying headed back to the Inner Academy.
Without the flying skiff, the boy and dragon flew back on their own.
Dean Yu Qing watched their departing figures, then glanced at her gently waving best friend. Unable to hold back, she asked, “Bailan, what happened between you and that brat in the bathroom?”
Shui Bailan replied without batting an eye, “Nothing happened. He just held me, that’s all.”
Dean Yu Qing said sourly, “Didn’t he also squeeze it? Even tugged on it.”
Shui Bailan’s face flushed crimson in an instant. “Th-that was just emergency treatment. Don’t make it sound so weird.”
“But you had that blissful look on your face.”
“I-I did not.”
“You totally did. I saw it clear as day.” Dean Yu Qing whispered, “Does tugging there feel that good?”
“…”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll go tell Xuan’er.”
“N-no, Yu Qing, don’t!”
“Then spill.”
“It… hurt a bit, but also tingled. Like the whole body was under his control.”
/（/ /o/ω/o/ /）/
