Peach tree branches?
Chen Xiaoyan stared silently at the peach tree by the pond; now, only a bare stump remained.
A light breeze blew past.
The beautiful scene from before—of peach blossoms dancing in the wind and covering the ground—was gone. Now, there was only endless desolation.
‘Good grief, she actually stripped the peach tree in her own courtyard bare.’
‘She even used the branches for firewood and the flowers for garlands. I wondered why I hadn’t seen her weaving any lately; it turns out she ran out of materials.’
“It’s ready.”
Shen Qingqing walked over, carrying a Small Green Jade Bowl filled with porridge—no, it was Peach Blossom Porridge. As she walked, she kept blowing on it, trying to cool the scalding Peach Blossom Porridge.
This gesture made Chen Xiaoyan freeze for a moment. The doubt that had long lingered in her heart grew stronger.
‘Perhaps this Xianjie isn’t just a game.’
‘Are these NPCs not just lines of code, but living, breathing people?’
Chen Xiaoyan had suspected this for a long time, but she still lacked strong evidence to prove her theory.
“What’s wrong with you, girl? Take it already.” Shen Qingqing’s voice was very gentle, carrying a hint of maternal care.
Chen Xiaoyan snapped out of it at the sound of her voice and realized the jade bowl was already being held out in front of her. She quickly took the Peach Blossom Porridge and was immediately surprised.
The bottom of the jade bowl was ice-cold; if she hadn’t seen the steam rising from the Peach Blossom Porridge, she would have thought it had already cooled down.
‘This Small Green Jade Bowl isn’t ordinary either.’
“Thank you, Sister Shen.” Chen Xiaoyan gave Shen Qingqing a sweet smile.
“Alright, there’s no need for such politeness between us. Have a taste and see how it is.”
“Okay.”
Chen Xiaoyan nodded, scooped up a spoonful, and put it in her mouth. Instantly, the rich aroma of peach blossoms, glutinous rice, and coconut milk exploded across her taste buds. The intense sensation rushed to her head, and that ethereal feeling of her soul drifting away almost made her feel like she was flying.
“Mm~ It’s delicious!”
Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t help herself; she tilted her head back and downed the Peach Blossom Porridge in one go. Because of her Body Tempering, the scalding temperature didn’t cause her any harm at all. If this were the real world, her mouth would likely be covered in blisters.
Seeing the girl enjoy the food she had personally prepared so much, Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but smile, feeling genuinely happy.
“Don’t rush, savor it. There’s still more in the pot.”
Shen Qingqing scooped a bowl for herself and sat on the stone platform by the pond, savoring it slowly. In this way, the two presented a clear contrast of extremes: one devouring her food like a beast, the other elegant and quiet.
Not ten minutes had passed before the porcelain pot was empty. Chen Xiaoyan held the porcelain pot and shook it upside down, but not a drop remained.
“Sigh.” She was a bit disappointed.
She hadn’t even eaten her fill yet.
‘I must ask her to cook more next time. How can one small pot be enough? We need at least a large cauldron.’
Normally, delicious food might taste amazing at first, but once you eat too much, it becomes mediocre. But Shen Qingqing’s Peach Blossom Porridge was different; it was like an addictive drug—the more she ate, the more she wanted, and she simply couldn’t stop.
“You silly girl, why don’t you just lick the bottom of the pot clean?” Shen Qingqing rolled her eyes and teased her as she watched Chen Xiaoyan act like a starving ghost reincarnated.
Chen Xiaoyan looked at the small opening of the porcelain pot and replied seriously, “It’s too small, Sister Shen. I can’t fit my head inside.”
Shen Qingqing’s face darkened with frustration.
Putting down the porcelain pot, Chen Xiaoyan scurried over to the stone platform and stood behind Shen Qingqing, massaging her shoulders.
“Sister Shen, can you use a bigger pot next time?”
“Eh? This much wasn’t enough for one sitting? Aren’t you afraid of bursting?”
Of course it wasn’t enough. Here, Players didn’t have hunger or Satiety simulations; even if they ate for seven days and seven nights straight, there wouldn’t be any issues.
“Well, it’s not that I eat too much, but rather that Sister Shen’s Peach Blossom Porridge is too delicious. It’s the best lunch I’ve ever had in my life.”
These words were spoken from the bottom of Chen Xiaoyan’s heart, without a hint of falsehood.
Shen Qingqing hesitated for a moment, looking at the porcelain pot on the stove. She felt that she might have truly made too little, so she would make more next time.
“Sister understands. I’ll make more next time, but you must remember to be moderate, do you hear me?”
“Yay! Long live Sister Shen! =V≤”
Chen Xiaoyan threw her arms around Shen Qingqing’s neck and cheered excitedly.
“Alright, let go.”
“Okay.”
“Come here.” Shen Qingqing pulled her to stand in front of her and retrieved a Tianxiang Bandeau Dress from her Jiezi Bag. “Put this on.”
Chen Xiaoyan took the bandeau dress and shook it out. Looking at it closely, although the style was identical to her old one, the scent was slightly different.
“Sister Shen, is this my dress?” She put the bandeau dress down, her face full of confusion.
Shen Qingqing’s eyes darted away, looking a bit shy. “Your dress was ruined during the Medicinal Bath.”
“Then what is this?”
“This is what I wore when I first joined the sect. I have no use for it now, so instead of letting it gather dust in my Jiezi Bag, I might as well give it to you.”
“Ah, this…”
Chen Xiaoyan stared at the bandeau dress in her hands with a complicated expression.
‘No wonder the scent is different. It’s Shen Qingqing’s old clothes.’
‘In that case…’
Suddenly, a peculiar thought rose in her mind. Seeing Chen Xiaoyan’s hesitation, Shen Qingqing immediately became displeased.
“You brat, don’t tell me you’re looking down on this dress because I’ve worn it before?”
“Eh?” Chen Xiaoyan was stunned. She hurriedly shook her head in denial. “No, no, I’m not looking down on it at all.”
‘Looking down on it? You’ve got to be joking. I’m excited, okay?’
‘I was thinking of going to the Zongmen to get a new set, but this one… Hehehe.’
‘Stop, stop, stop. Hold it. Chen Xiaoyan, since when did you have such a fetish?’
“I wasn’t hesitating. I was just thinking about when to wear it, since it’s a gift from you, Sister Shen.”
“It’s just an old dress. Why do you need to pick a time?” Shen Qingqing complained, but her eyes were filled with joy.
“You only gave me one; I have to cherish it.”
“Are you complaining that it’s not enough?” Hearing this, Shen Qingqing immediately pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes narrowing as they flashed with a sharp light.
“No, no!” Chen Xiaoyan waved her hands frantically.
The corners of Shen Qingqing’s mouth curled up. She stood up, walked over, and tilted the girl’s chin up.
“It’s not impossible to get more. As long as you’re a good girl and listen to me, I can give you anything.”
Chen Xiaoyan’s expression turned blank. She swallowed hard, and her gaze subconsciously drifted toward the other woman’s chest.
Shen Qingqing noticed the girl’s gaze, but instead of feeling offended or angry, she felt a sense of anticipation. However, she knew it was still too early.
‘If you want to get a good pot of soup, you have to simmer it slowly over a low flame.’
“Absolutely anything,” Shen Qingqing whispered softly into Chen Xiaoyan’s ear.
It was as if she were giving her a reminder.
Chen Xiaoyan stiffened, her eyes widening. These words felt like a devil’s whisper, frantically stirring her heart.
If it were Chong Chong or Mu Qingxue, she might not be this excited. But who was Shen Qingqing? She was the Vice Sect Master of Tianxiang—a singular woman who possessed status, strength, and beauty all at once. She was the dream of every man.
‘Yet here she is, whispering temptations in my ear?’
‘Anything… anything…’
Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t help but hallucinate a scene where a blushing Shen Qingqing covered her snowy-white peaks and handed her a camisole.
A surge of heat rushed to her head, and a drop of blood fell to the ground with a soft *drip*.