“So, Host, why on earth did you describe Yun Xuechang as someone who dislikes the Demonic Path? Won’t that cause a misunderstanding between her and Hua Yan?”
099’s puzzled voice echoed in Hua Xiangrong’s mind.
“Oh, you just don’t get it, 099.”
Hua Xiangrong replied vaguely while burying her head in a lamb chop, her small mouth covered in grease.
“This move is called generating curiosity! Love often begins with curiosity about the other person.”
“Look at my mother. Every day she just thinks about knocking Mother unconscious and carrying her back. Even though Great-grandmother told her that Mother likes her, she hasn’t thought about romance at all! How can I play matchmaker like this?”
She sighed, lamenting their lack of progress.
“Look at it now. I bet Mother’s heart is full of questions — is Mother faking it? Why did she agree to return to the Valley with me so easily? We’ve read the original novel and know what kind of person Mother is, but Mother doesn’t.”
“Now, her attention will be entirely on Mother. She’ll observe Mother every day. Since Mother is so beautiful, it’ll be hard not to fall for her!”
The girl gnawing on the lamb chop chuckled in her heart, a flash of cunning light in her eyes.
‘It… seems to make some sense?’
“Hmph, of course it does.”
“However, this move has its downsides. After Mother has observed for a long time and discovers Mother’s true personality — realizing she doesn’t actually have any prejudice against the Demonic Path or her — she might start questioning what I said, or even my identity.”
Hua Xiangrong muttered to herself while tilting up her small face. Like a well-behaved kitten, she let a frowning, nagging Hua Yan wipe her greasy little face with a handkerchief.
“Then, then what should we do?”
The data flow of 099 momentarily stalled, its tone full of panic.
“Oh, if you’re going to play, don’t be afraid; if you’re afraid, don’t play! Since we’ve already started this way, why worry so much?”
Hua Xiangrong gave a sweet smile and thanked Hua Yan while replying nonchalantly in her heart.
“If we’re really going to be found out, we’ll worry about it when that day comes!”
/
After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, the private feast came to an end.
“Oh, right, Daoist Friend Hua.”
Qu Linglong stopped Hua Yan with a smile as they were leaving the restaurant.
“Our Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has some properties here in Fulong City. We plan to stay in a courtyard under the pavilion’s name for a few days. Would you like to bring Rongrong and stay with us?”
“There’s no need. We…”
“Okay! Then tonight I want to sleep with Mother and Mother!”
“?!”
Before Hua Yan could finish, Hua Xiangrong cheered first.
“Mother sleeps with me every day! Today will definitely be the same, right?”
[Don’t you dare get carried away!]
Hua Yan glared at her, sending a warning through Telepathy.
[I only slept with you before because I was afraid you’d cry and make a fuss at night. Now that your mother is back, go sleep with her! Leave me out of this!]
As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw the pink-haired girl’s eyes instantly fill with tears. Her small hand even clutched a very familiar cloth Amulet.
‘Since you said that, I’ll really show you some tears!’
“Hey, wait, wait! My little ancestor! Is it okay if I sleep with you both?”
Hua Yan hurriedly picked her up, forcing a smile onto her face.
“I’m willing to sleep with you, but I don’t know about your mother.”
As she spoke, she looked at Yun Xuechang with a slight challenge in her eyes.
‘Hmph, even if we sleep in the same bed, I, Hua Yan, shouldn’t be the one who’s nervous!’
‘Yun Xuechang, I want to see how long you can keep up this gentle and considerate act!’
“Yes, I am willing too.”
Yun Xuechang nodded gently.
Hua Yan: ???
“Then it’s a promise. We sleep together.”
Hua Xiangrong clutched the Amulet with both hands, her voice carrying a hint of nasal congestion. Tears were about to fall.
“Fine… it’s a promise!”
Hua Yan gritted her teeth and squeezed the words out. The smile on her face was incredibly stiff.
/
So why on earth did things end up like this!
That night, inside the bedroom with its embroidered couch and brocade bed, Hua Yan wore a silk nightgown, huddling under the covers with her knees pulled to her chest.
Why did Yun Xuechang agree so readily?!
She quietly turned her head to look at her side — the white-haired beauty, also dressed in a nightgown, was sitting cross-legged in silence, closing her eyes to regulate her breathing.
The warm light from the oil lamp in the bedroom washed over her cool profile, possessing a breathtaking beauty.
‘Could it be… she’s still thinking about me? Is she craving this body of mine?’
‘After all, I was born with such an exquisite appearance. It’s only natural for Yun Xuechang to be captivated by me…’
The red-haired girl became more and more proud as she thought about it, the corners of her mouth curling up secretly.
‘Wait, no!’
She shook her head vigorously, tossing the ridiculous thought aside.
‘I’m a man! This appearance of a daughter is only temporary! So what if it looks good?’
‘Even if Yun Xuechang is someone who likes women, what does that have to do with me!’
**[Daoist Friend Hua, are you troubled by tonight’s matter?]**
An ethereal voice suddenly rang in her mind.
Hua Yan composed herself and looked over. She saw that Yun Xuechang, who had been meditating with closed eyes, had opened them.
Those crimson eyes were staring at her without blinking.
[Heh, what do I have to be troubled about? On the contrary, do you really plan to sleep with me like this?]
[No.]
Yun Xuechang shook her head gently.
[I know you certainly wouldn’t want to sleep in the same bed as me, Daoist Friend Hua. I also have no intention of disturbing your quality time with Rongrong.]
[After Rongrong falls asleep, I will go to the side room to rest. Don’t worry, I will wake up early tomorrow to practice my sword. When Rongrong wakes up, just say I got up first.]
The white-haired girl blinked understandingly.
This answer left Hua Yan stunned.
“Mother, Mother, I’m done washing up — “
A pink little ball wearing pajamas with wet hair came running over with a *pitter-patter*.
“How many times have I told you? You aren’t allowed to rub against the bed with wet hair!”
Hua Yan frowned and flicked her finger. A strand of gentle Spiritual Power dried the ends of the girl’s hair.
“Honestly, why can’t you ever learn to be obedient…”
“Hehehe…”
Hua Xiangrong just giggled. She climbed onto the bed in a few moves, dove into the middle spot between the two, and took the opportunity to grab their hands.
“I’m so happy to be able to sleep with Mother and Mother today!”
The girl snuggled into the bedding, hugging the two women’s arms and rubbing against them, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
“All right, it’s getting late. Let’s get to sleep quickly.”
As Hua Yan spoke, she flicked her finger again, extinguishing the candle by the bed.
The surroundings instantly fell into a quiet darkness.
[And you — you sleep with us too! No sneaking away in the middle of the night!]
Hua Yan’s voice suddenly rang in Yun Xuechang’s mind, carrying a hint of imperceptible awkwardness.
[Since you promised the child, you still want to slip away? Do you want to be an untrustworthy mother?]
[I didn’t…]
[Then lie down properly! You aren’t allowed to leave!]
‘Honestly, I haven’t even shown any distaste for her, yet she’s thinking about keeping her distance. What kind of logic is that!’
In the darkness where Yun Xuechang couldn’t see, a thin layer of faint red quietly crept up the red-haired girl’s ears.
[…] Good.]
Yun Xuechang was slightly startled, then obediently lay down.
Thus, the bedroom fell into complete silence.
In the darkness, only a few interwoven sounds of breathing remained, along with a heartbeat that might have quickened by a few beats.