From that night on, Ao Chi’s smile became a facade.
And this was felt not only by Chu Fan and Shen Yuying, but even by the ordinary students in the classroom.
“Little Chi, are you really okay?” her friends all asked with concern.
But Ao Chi’s reply was always the same: “I’m fine, I’m perfectly fine, see?”
As she spoke, she even patted her own sturdy muscles.
“If you have any difficulties, you must tell us.”
“Mhm, I know.”
From the lectern, Shen Yuying watched Ao Chi’s back and couldn’t help but look up to ask Chu Fan:
“Master, what’s wrong with Little Chi?”
Chu Fan could only shake his head.
“You all don’t know, so how could I, a social-climbing opportunist, know anything?”
Watching Ao Chi’s retreating figure leave the classroom, Chu Fan lowered his head and began sorting the thick stack of papers in his hand.
As he sorted, he said: “But if you’re worried, go check on her. Just make sure you’re back at the inn on time.”
Shen Yuying hesitated for only the blink of an eye before shaking her head and refusing:
“No, I’d rather stay with Master.”
Seeing her clingy demeanor, Chu Fan gave a bitter smile and said helplessly:
“Well then, how about we go together?”
Shen Yuying’s eyes instantly lit up. “Really!?”
“Mhm.” Chu Fan nodded.
“Yay! Master is the best!”
Shen Yuying took a big leap, about to jump up and give Chu Fan a kiss, but he nimbly dodged it.
Angered, Shen Yuying landed with her cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish, her face flushed red.
“Hmph!”
Shen Yuying stomped ahead, fuming, while Chu Fan ambled slowly behind her.
……
“I’m really fine, Yuying, you don’t need to worry.”
Even after catching up to Ao Chi in the marketplace, she was still the same, unwilling to say anything.
Left with no other choice, Shen Yuying could only smile and reply:
“Well then, didn’t you say you were going to treat me to some baked flatbread? Shall we go eat some together?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
Ao Chi completely ignored Chu Fan, took Shen Yuying’s hand, and started jogging through the marketplace.
What Shen Yuying had to admit was, Ao Chi was really rich.
The silver on her seemed to multiply like rabbits; no matter how much she spent, it was never exhausted.
They played with and bought lots of food, accessories, and toys—too many to count.
Finally, they reached that baked flatbread shop, bought two flatbreads.
After taking a bite, Shen Yuying couldn’t help but tremble all over.
“Ohohohohohoho~~~~”
“How is it? Delicious, right?”
“Mhm mhm, delicious, delicious!”
Shen Yuying nodded repeatedly.
“Hey, what about mine?”
Chu Fan, standing to the side, asked as a matter of course.
Hearing this, Shen Yuying immediately tried to hand her own flatbread to Chu Fan, but Ao Chi pulled her hand back.
“It’s your first time eating it, have more,” Ao Chi said.
Then, she shot Chu Fan a glare, sighed, broke her own flatbread in half, and reluctantly handed one piece to Chu Fan.
“Eat it,” Ao Chi said impatiently.
Chu Fan took it, took a small bite, and clicked his tongue:
“Mediocre.”
“Then throw it away.”
“That won’t do. This was given by the young lady of the Ao Manor. I must keep it carefully, enshrine it on an altar tablet.”
Chu Fan said with a roguish grin.
Ao Chi looked at him, her gaze growing increasingly disdainful.
It even seemed this feeling had overcome the fear of the three days hence, returning her to her usual self.
Shen Yuying watched from the side, unable to help but marvel at her master’s superpower of controlling emotions.
It seemed she still had a lot to learn.
They played until evening.
Although Ao Chi paid for everything the entire time, her money was truly inexhaustible.
Chu Fan even took the opportunity to slip another two taels of silver into his own pocket.
Even if Ao Chi noticed, she couldn’t be bothered to care.
She wasn’t short on money, and she didn’t want to let a social climber like Chu Fan affect her mood while having fun with her friend.
She began to enjoy herself happily, smiling all the way until they parted and she returned home.
……
But the next day, when Shen Yuying thought she had finally cheered Ao Chi up, she was still the same.
So Shen Yuying tried the same trick again, taking Ao Chi out to play.
Only this time, it wasn’t as smooth.
No matter what they played or how delicious the food was, Ao Chi never truly smiled.
Until Chu Fan said he was a bit hungry, suggested going for a meal, and led them into a restaurant.
Because the restaurant was too busy, Chu Fan took on the role of a waiter, carrying a large platter of dishes to their table.
Then he picked up a large jar of wine and staggered over with it.
Until his left foot tripped over his right, and he stumbled forward.
Although he didn’t fall, the entire jar of wine spilled perfectly onto Ao Chi, from head to toe, without exception.
Splash
Ao Chi, drenched in wine, closed her eyes with a weary expression.
She snorted through her nose, spraying out a few droplets of wine.
The sight was hilarious, making Shen Yuying desperately purse her lips to keep from laughing out loud.
Ao Chi wiped the wine from her face and opened her eyes.
When she saw Chu Fan on the floor, who had fallen headfirst, feet up, into the wine jar like a potted plant, she laughed.
“Pfft!”
Whether it was a laugh of exasperation or because she was truly at a loss, Ao Chi laughed again.
“Hehehe… Are you an idiot? Can’t even hold onto a jar of wine?”
Hearing this, Chu Fan shot up from the floor, but the wine jar was still stuck on his head, making him look like a big-headed doll as he complained:
“How was I supposed to know the floor is higher here and lower there? Can you blame me for construction flaws!?”
Seeing Chu Fan like this, Ao Chi tightly covered her mouth, trying hard to hold back her laughter.
“Pfft hahahaha! Master, you look like a wine jar monster! Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!”
Shen Yuying roared with thunderous laughter. Hearing this laughter, Ao Chi finally couldn’t hold back either, slapping the table as she burst into loud laughter.
“Pfft hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
At the same time, Chu Fan, whose face was hidden inside the wine jar, also curled the corners of his mouth slightly into a smile.
However, he didn’t know at that moment that his score in Ao Chi’s heart had warmed up a little.
Although there were many twists and turns, they had still succeeded in making Ao Chi happy today.
Until the third day.
This day was the most severe.
Chu Fan noticed that Ao Chi even had dark circles under her eyes for some reason, as if she hadn’t slept all night.
And when Shen Yuying extended her invitation this time, Ao Chi flatly refused.
When Chu Fan kindly reminded her, she even gave him the cold shoulder.
“If you have any difficulties, you can tell me. For Yuying’s sake, I’ll help depending on the situation.”
“I don’t need it. My affairs… are none of your concern.”
Before the words had fully left her mouth, Ao Chi turned and ran out of the classroom.
Only as she left, the few glistening drops scattered in the air were keenly caught by Chu Fan.
Looking in the direction Ao Chi had fled, Chu Fan furrowed his brow.
For some reason, an ominous premonition stirred in his heart.
He hoped he was overthinking it.
……
Until the fourth day.
This time was even stranger.
Ao Chi didn’t come to school on time.
Even after class ended, Chu Fan and Shen Yuying hadn’t seen any sign of her.
“Master…” Shen Yuying tugged at Chu Fan’s sleeve with a worried expression.
“I know, I’ll look for her right now.”
After saying that, Chu Fan snapped his fingers.
Several birds and beasts of various colors shot out from his storage ring and began to scatter in different directions.
“Master, what are these?”
“Spirit beasts. You’ll have them in the future too.”
“Animals are spirit beasts? Then I’m an animal too, am I also Master’s spirit beast?”
“Of course not,” Chu Fan said with a smile.
“I knew it~” Shen Yuying smiled sweetly.
“Not that useful.”
“Ah! Master, what did you say!? Say that again!?”
“Alright, quiet now.”
Bringing the index and middle fingers of his right hand together, Chu Fan pressed them against his temple, closed his eyes, and began sharing the vision of the birds and beasts.
After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he slowly opened his eyes. Shen Yuying beside him tugged his sleeve again.
“Master…”
But Chu Fan was pinching his chin, muttering in confusion:
“Where exactly is that…”
In the vision of one bird, what Chu Fan saw was an altar, and Ao Chi shackled to a cross, unable to move.
She appeared to be in no immediate life-threatening danger.
“An altar… a life-and-death cauldron… an An Yan barrier… and a scorpion demon…? Where exactly is that…”
Combining all the items he saw, then dissecting Ao Chi’s abnormal behavior these past days and her refusal to accept help…
Suddenly, Chu Fan’s mouth began to slowly fall open, his pupils shrinking smaller and smaller.
An impossible yet the only plausible answer surfaced in his mind, sending a chill down his spine.
He abruptly crouched down, placing both hands on Shen Yuying’s shoulders, speaking with unprecedented seriousness:
“Yuying, do you want to prove you’re more useful than a spirit beast?”
“Of course I do. I’m not Master’s burden,” Shen Yuying nodded, stating it as a matter of fact.
“Then there’s a mission now. Only you can do it, and you must succeed. Do you dare to go?”
Seeing her master’s extremely serious expression, Shen Yuying suddenly felt a bit timid.
But she swallowed hard and nodded.
“This disciple dares to go.”
“Good. Then right now………..”