In the following days, Deng Tianyu, in the name of fulfilling his filial duties, was naturally inseparable from Aunt Rong.
He not only taught her the [Cloud Carved Stone Carving] hand in hand but would also occasionally tell her interesting stories.
While obtaining Filial Piety Water Drops, the bond between elder and junior also constantly warmed.
As for the little fox Yingying, ever since arriving at Xiaoxiang Elegant Garden, she had been having such a good time she’d forgotten about home.
Relying on her utterly adorable appearance, she was deeply loved by Aunt Rong, Ling’er, and Qing’er.
Because of this, they constantly fed her favorite spirit items, even taking many treats beloved by spirit beasts from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to give her.
Naturally, the little fox couldn’t carry so many things, so Aunt Rong specially procured a Storage Ring for her, turning it into a jade pendant that hung around her fluffy little neck.
In this way, the little fox was so blissful she didn’t know north from south. Whenever she felt peckish, she’d just wave her little paw, and delicious food would instantly appear before her.
“If she keeps going like this, sooner or later she’ll be fat as a pig!”
Looking through the window at the little fox sprawled on a warm rush mat, snacking, and occasionally stretching out a fluffy little paw to tease the koi in the water, Deng Tianyu sighed.
Before, when the little fox Yingying’s cravings got unbearable, she’d always find ways to curry favor with him.
But now, all she had to do was act cute and coquettish with Aunt Rong and the two Maidservants, and she’d get everything she wanted. She looked every bit like a creature being kept by a rich woman!
Truly, not only are humans fickle, but so are foxes.
“Tianyu, take a look—is this carving I did alright?”
Qu Qirong held a stone slab in her hand and had just finished using the carving knife to carve the image of a young man.
This young man was none other than her junior—Deng Tianyu!
To make the Cloud Carved Stone Album complete, Qu Qirong had spent most of these days immersed in the [Cloud Carved Stone Carving].
“Aunt Rong has improved very quickly. You’ve more or less mastered it!”
Deng Tianyu, who had been holding Qu Qirong’s delicate hand, smiled faintly and loosened his grip slightly.
“But I still feel like it’s lacking something.”
Qu Qirong, however, shook her head, seemingly dissatisfied.
Deng Tianyu was a little puzzled. “Is it the same as before?”
“Mm.” Qu Qirong’s jade countenance flushed slightly as she responded with a soft, gentle tone!
In his view, Aunt Rong should be ready to graduate from his teaching by now; why did she still say it was lacking?
But since Aunt Rong had said so, Deng Tianyu naturally continued holding her soft, boneless hand.
Because controlling the force used in stone carving was very important, the two were now practically pressed together.
Qu Qirong sat on the sandalwood chair in front of the desk, the stone slab placed on the desk, her delicate hand gripping the carving knife.
And Deng Tianyu sat beside her, his right hand covering the soft back of her hand, their faces mere inches apart.
The tip of his nose was surrounded by the rich, fragrant scent of Aunt Rong. Even through their clothes, he could feel the fullness and firmness of her figure.
As for Qu Qirong, she was half-leaning into her Tianyu’s embrace. Every time she spoke, his hot breath would drift onto her profile.
As a result, not only was that flawless jade face tinged with a layer of peach-pink, but even her translucent, jade-like earlobes were intensely red, temptingly alluring.
Ever since the last time they painted the “After Snow Clearing” picture, Qu Qirong had been aware that she and Deng Tianyu were far too intimate.
Time and again, she warned herself not to let it continue.
But whenever she saw that familiar face and heard that gentle voice calling “Aunt Rong,” she forgot everything.
“Aunt Rong, is something on your mind?”
At that moment, Deng Tianyu, noticing she had zoned out, called softly.
These past few days, he had noticed Aunt Rong drifting off more and more frequently.
Sometimes during meals, sometimes when he was teaching her the [Cloud Carved Stone Carving].
Deng Tianyu guessed that Aunt Rong might have some matter weighing on her heart.
Hearing this, Qu Qirong’s heart trembled, and she denied it somewhat flustered. “Just now I was… just thinking about the struggle for the Sect Leader position between the two factions!”
“Aunt Rong needn’t dwell on it too much. After all, you’ve already removed the Heart-Controlling Gu from your body.”
“No matter which faction’s person becomes the Sect Leader of the Spirit Treasure Sect, they can’t affect you. At worst, you can just walk away!”
Deng Tianyu pondered for a moment and offered words of comfort.
He knew Aunt Rong had a special constitution. Acquiring her Spirit Nurturing would grant immense benefits.
For a cultivator, this was undoubtedly an enormous temptation.
Add to that the fact that Aunt Rong was a beauty on the Beauty Rankings, her innate noblewoman aura, and the label of former Sect Master’s Wife—regardless of a Cao Cao figure or not, the thought of possessing her for oneself would arise in many.
Qu Qirong’s expression was complex as she spoke quietly, “Tianyu, if Aunt Rong became a vicious, bad woman, would you hate me?”
“No.” Deng Tianyu gave this answer without any hesitation.
Qu Qirong’s carving movements stopped. “Why?”
“Because I trust Aunt Rong!”
“Even if you became ruthless, it would be because you were forced into it.”
Qu Qirong bit her lip tightly and pressed further, deeply concerned. “What if it wasn’t out of necessity, but simply my true nature?”
“Whether gentle and considerate or merciless and ruthless, in my heart, Aunt Rong will always be that same Aunt Rong who dotes on me.”
“The emotion of hatred, even less so, will never exist!”
Deng Tianyu smiled faintly and spoke his heartfelt thoughts.
This question felt somewhat familiar; his Shizun had asked him something similar before.
His answer was the same in both cases.
Gazing at the clear eyes of the young man before her, and his earnest expression, Qu Qirong could tell he wasn’t lying, but was speaking from the heart!
She didn’t know how to describe her current feelings.
There was satisfaction, joy, and many other indescribable, unclear emotions.
These emotions had first begun to sprout when Deng Tianyu taught her to paint.
And now, they had grown so deep that they could influence her very thoughts.
At this moment, their eyes locked, a young man and a mature beauty, their breaths mingling upon each other’s faces. Each could see their own reflection in the other’s eyes.
For a time, the atmosphere gradually became deeply intimate.
Qu Qirong pursed her red lips, remembering that night when she helped him button his collar. A hint of something resembling longing seemed to ripple in her beautiful eyes.
Staring at Aunt Rong’s full, seemingly kissable red lips, Deng Tianyu also recalled the scene of brushing the snowflakes from her hair.
Their breathing grew heavier, and their heartbeats steadily quickened.
Knock, knock!
At that moment, the door was knocked, and Qing’er’s voice came through. “Madam, Qu Yun requests an audience!”
Instantly, the two sprang apart as if shocked by electricity.
Qu Qirong suppressed the intimate feeling in her heart and said calmly, as if nothing had happened:
“Escort her to the main hall. I will be there shortly!”
“Yes, Madam!”
Qing’er acknowledged, the sound of her footsteps gradually fading into the distance.
“Tianyu, you… wait here a while!”
“I’ll come back once I’ve sent them away.”
The mature noblewoman, her face like peach and plum blossoms, left only these words before fleeing the room as if escaping…
