Actually, in this life, Ye Qingyi was two years younger than Zhao Yuan.
Calling her “big sister” was something she had forced him to do after saving him from someone else and taking advantage of his young age when he couldn’t resist.
But Zhao Yuan had remembered it ever since.
Even after she fell from grace, he still willingly called her that.
Hearing Ye Qingyi’s distant words and self-deprecating thoughts, Ye Chu was stunned.
‘A weird auntie teasing a little boy? Even my host can’t escape that cliché.’
‘But this Zhao Yuan has always remembered. When everyone else is stepping on her, he still persists. At least his surface manners are solid… or is it genuine…?’
‘Pfft! Ye Chu, Ye Chu, have you forgotten the lessons from those scumbags in your past life?’
‘The more perfect, gentle, and deep a man appears, the more likely he is to stab you in the back!’
‘They not only hurt the woman you love, but they also make it harder for you to pursue her!’
‘Otherwise, you would have already caught true love, why would you be let down?’
‘These people who hurt others for no benefit are simply terrible!’
He immediately imagined countless conspiracy theories.
Scumbags are best at being meticulous in the early stages and ruthless in the later stages!
He must protect his host’s pure heart.
Zhao Yuan seemed not to hear the distance in Ye Qingyi’s words, instead stepping half a step closer.
Close enough for Ye Qingyi to smell the faint scent of pine resin on him.
A thin layer of red flushed his fair ears, but his voice was clear and firm:
“Sister Qingyi said that no matter when, where, or what situation, I must call you sister.”
“I have always remembered. I also believe that Sister Qingyi will surely stand up again and shine even brighter than before.”
He paused, his eyes burning as he gazed at her, the blush spreading from his ears to his cheeks.
“Moreover, my feelings for Sister Qingyi have never changed, nor will they ever.”
Here it comes! The classic confession!
“My feelings have never changed!”
A scumbag confessing when you’re at your lowest is nothing but taking advantage of your vulnerability, not genuine support in times of need.
Kid, which type are you?
I’ll be watching you!
Host, you have to hold on!
Don’t be fooled by sugar-coated bombs!
Even if the host and I are fated to be apart, I have a duty to protect every innocent and naive young lady!
Ye Chu’s target-seeking radar was running at full capacity.
He focused on analyzing every subtle expression and word from Zhao Yuan, trying to find the hidden malice.
He felt a slight tremor in Ye Qingyi’s soul from those words, which made him even more annoyed.
Ye Qingyi’s heart stirred.
Was Zhao Yuan serious?
Or was he just pitying her?
No, she couldn’t be moved.
She still had to go home.
She wouldn’t stay here.
She couldn’t form too deep a bond with anyone.
Otherwise, when she left… it would be too painful.
But… her cultivation had stalled, the halo of a former genius had shattered.
At this moment, receiving such firm support and confession from an outstanding young man, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t touched.
Yet the deeper memories and obsessions overpowered that tremor.
She wanted to go back, back to that hometown called “Blue Star.”
If she couldn’t break through in cultivation, romantic affairs and even everything else were but empty illusions.
So, facing the boy’s burning gaze, Ye Qingyi turned her head away somewhat flustered.
Looking at the cloudless sky, she squeezed out a stiff line:
“Haha, the weather is really nice today, not a single cloud…”
After saying that, Ye Qingyi immediately regretted it.
How awkward… What exactly was she saying?
Nice weather, not a cloud—that was so forced.
Would Zhao Yuan think she was weird?
Oh well, weird is fine, as long as it prevents any misunderstanding.
Ye Qingyi’s reaction left Ye Chu a bit puzzled.
‘Host’s reaction… Is that a gentle refusal? Or does she really just see him as a little brother?’
‘But such an awkward reaction at least shows she’s not interested in that way for now!’
‘Good! Wait, why am I happy?’
‘I need to find a way to keep her away from suspicious characters like him…’
Ye Chu just breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately got tangled up again.
…
“I have things to do. I’ll go back to cultivate. Zhao Yuan, feel free to wander around on your own. Don’t worry about me.”
Compared to Ye Chu’s wild thoughts, Ye Qingyi reaffirmed her resolve again.
Handsome, understanding, considerate, and a younger guy who likes to call her “big sister”—
What girl wouldn’t be moved?
Moreover, she and Zhao Yuan were practically childhood sweethearts, and they even had an engagement.
But!
Ye Qingyi really only saw Zhao Yuan as a younger brother.
She had already told Zhao Yuan she would dissolve that engagement.
Nothing was more important than going home.
So Ye Qingyi decided to go back and cultivate.
If she could only stay at the Qi Refining stage forever,
then what was the point of talking about going home?
Gotta go.
….
“Engagement?! And that kind of relationship?!”
“Wait, the host only wants to go home? Isn’t this her home? She mentioned Blue Star earlier… Could she also be a transmigrator…?”
Ye Chu, who had only focused on the beautiful girl right after waking up, finally caught the key point.
He instinctively felt things were getting complicated.
A transmigrator like him, who had been dead for who knows how long, suddenly reincarnated and possessed the body of a fellow transmigrator girl.
And this girl had a “don’t bully the youth” phoenix girl script.
With a suspicious fiancé eyeing her from the start.
…
This kind of plot development always felt like falling into some twisted script.
“Forget it.”
Ye Chu shook his head.
“I don’t care about this or that. If I don’t like it, I’ll fight.”
Ye Chu strengthened his resolve.
No matter what, surviving well and finding a way home were the must-dos.
Even if those bad women came back to life and begged him, he wouldn’t agree.
In his past life, he almost succeeded.
Starting over, there was no reason to give up.
Anyway, no one loved him here, and he had to fight and kill all day, worried and sleepless.
Wouldn’t it be better to go back to a harmonious society and sleep all day!
….
Zhao Yuan, having been rejected, had a flicker of gloom in his eyes, but it was quickly covered by tenderness.
He wanted to catch up to Ye Qingyi and say more.
“Master Zhao Yuan,” a steward of the Ye family hurried over and said respectfully, “the Great Elder requests your presence for an important discussion.”
Zhao Yuan frowned slightly, glanced at Ye Qingyi’s retreating figure, then at the steward.
He had no choice but to let out a light sigh.
“Sister Qingyi, I’ll come find you later.”
After saying that, he turned and followed the steward away.
Ye Chu saw that Zhao Yuan had originally wanted to chase but didn’t, and he chuckled.
“Hmph… The Great Elder. Looks like this kid is highly regarded in the Ye family.”
“But… the Great Elder is clearly the type to compete for power with the clan head.”
“…Feels like the situation just got a little more complicated.”
“Qi Refining ninth level. A fake suitor with good talent, good looks, good personality, and an engagement…”
“This opening is quite tough for the host.”
“But for me, an experienced and battle-hardened old grandpa who shares her honor and disgrace, it’s a piece of cake~”
“Before that, let’s think about how to meet my fellow countryman with tears in our eyes.”
Just as Ye Chu’s gaze was about to leave Zhao Yuan, he inadvertently caught sight of the light purple girl who had come to the Ye family.
“Wait, is that… Mu Qingge?”