Chapter 116
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This unexpected system prompt left Xue Yao with countless question marks. His round deer-like eyes sought answers from Lu Qian, as if demanding an explanation.
The disheveled collar cast intriguing shadows in the clavicle hollow under this imposing posture. It formed a sharp contrast with the delicate and fair skin of the shoulders, like a little secret inviting exploration.
The pure gaze and the ambiguous shadows coexisted in the little reading-in-waiting, creating a strange clash. In an instant, the script that Lu Qian had never found interesting became vivid and intriguing.
It made the strange plots in the script where men and women broke societal norms and were willing to die to flirt with each other seem convincing to His Highness.
Lu Qian wanted to linger with such a gaze for a long time, then spend a considerable amount of time exploring the secret beneath the little reader-in-waiting’s clavicle shadow that inexplicably stirred his entire being.
However, looking at the script from before, it completely skipped the series of events leading to a man and a woman staying together. This left His Highness, without a reference point, unsure how to proceed with the current situation. He could only ask the little reader-in-waiting, “And then?”
At this point, Xue Yao had already figured out that this ordeal was indeed the start of the tyrant’s fluttering heart quest.
The system indicated one percent progress, indicating that the sect master’s daughter was on her way to find Lu Qian!
For some reason, the formal notification, hinting that Lu Qian had entered the love stage, made Xue Yao feel a hint of heartache.
Xue Yao seemed to have been anticipating this day, looking forward to Lu Qian’s true maturation.
But subconsciously, the emotionally challenged chubby cub seemed distant from his expectations.
He thought he still had a long, long time to accompany Lu Qian in experiencing the familiarity of this world.
Suddenly coming to his senses, he found that the present Lu Qian was already seventeen years old, about to embark on the first steps into mature love.
From now on, Lu Qian’s life would be shared with one or maybe several lovers, and the attention from Xue Yao would gradually shift to the various relationships that adults have.
This meant he had to learn to gradually get used to losing a bit of Lu Qian.
“And then…” Xue Yao, using strong reasoning, desperately tried to relax the grip on his reluctance to let go of Lu Qian, encouraging the final step of Lu Qian becoming a man. “And then, tease her, bully her.”
The book Lu Qian was an emotionless, highly intelligent little iceberg, rebellious and mischievous.
The sect master’s daughter in this particular scenario seemed to particularly enjoy this, as every time she was bullied by Lu Qian, she bloomed with joy.
In fact, the teasing in Xue Yao’s eyes and the teasing that Lu Qian thought of were not the same kind of teasing.
Lu Qian’s way of speaking often carried a very realistic sarcasm or self-deprecation. This was his personality trait. He didn’t see it as bullying.
In the girl’s eyes, this was a bit rebellious, with a naturally charming sense of humor.
To Xue Yao, who didn’t understand how to pursue a girl, this seemed like bullying the young lady…
Xue Yao was still unaware of the enormous cognitive error that was about to lead to a big misunderstanding.
“Bully her?” Lu Qian showed a puzzled expression. “Didn’t you just say to comfort her?”
“Bullying her is comforting her!” Xue Yao, with a negative dating experience, earnestly taught Lu Qian how to comfort a young girl, “Deliberately go against what she wants. Do the opposite of what she asks you to do.”
Lu Qian frowned, took a moment, and then spoke seriously, “Dealing with your gangster girl is very different from coaxing your grandpa’s righteous Mother Consort.”
If he “go against” Mother Consort, in less than two days, His Highness would become a dutiful son without ears.
Xue Yao squinted mysteriously, leaning closer to the chubby cub. “You don’t understand women.”
He said it as if he understood women.
Lu Qian didn’t argue with this fact. He lowered his head in embarrassment.
“It’s alright.” Xue Yao raised his hand, supporting Lu Qian’s shoulder. “We can practice a bit first.”
He stood upright, cleared his throat, immediately getting into character. His body went limp as he fell into Lu Qian’s arms. Following the original plot, he raised an eyebrow, bit his lip, and in a slow, melodious voice, said, “It’s stuffy here, this servant feels dizzy. Young Master, please lend a hand.”
Lu Qian lowered his head, looking at the little reader-in-waiting in his arms. His eyelashes trembled with confusion as he reached up to support Xue Yao’s lower back.
Xue Yao immediately swatted away Lu Qian’s hand. “What did I just say! Sing a different tune, don’t go along with her! Start over!”
After saying this, he gently buried his head against Lu Qian’s chest.
【Tyrant’s Fluttering Heart quest progress: 5%.】
“Oh! Something’s happening again! She’s about to come!” Xue Yao quickly straightened up, looking up and noticing a few strands of hair on Lu Qian’s forehead. He hurriedly licked his finger and used saliva to pat down the loose hair for His Highness.
Lu Qian furrowed his eyebrows.
【Tyrant’s Fluttering Heartquest progress: 4%.】
Huh? Why did the progress go backward?
Xue Yao blinked, thinking that the sect master’s daughter probably went back to touch up her makeup.
She should be coming soon.
Xue Yao hastily helped the chubby cub adjust his clothes, instructing him to stand tall with his back facing the door. “Remember, when she tries to get close, push her away, tease her.”
Lu Qian nodded.
“Practice a few more times,” Xue Yao lifted his arm and embraced Lu Qian. “Young Master~”
Lu Qian raised his hand, pressing against Xue Yao’s face, rejecting the approaching figure as instructed.
With his face covered, Xue Yao muffledly said, “Put a bit more effort into it.”
Lu Qian: “Someone’s coming.”
Xue Yao: “Huh?”
The door creaked open.
A charming girl entered with two maidservants. She looked up and saw a man in white with his back turned, and opposite him, a man in blue embracing the man in white’s neck, while the man in white resisted with a push to the face…
The three girls: “? ? ?”
“You are the disciples of the Sword Saint?” the leading girl coldly asked.
Xue Yao quickly let go of Lu Qian and looked at the newcomer. The girl seemed only sixteen or seventeen, but exuded a maturity of someone in their twenties.
“He is the Sword Saint’s disciple.” Xue Yao pointed to Lu Qian beside him, helping the girl confirm her target.
The girl squinted with hatred in her eyes. “Your senior brother abducted my Sixth Uncle.”
“Is that so?” Xue Yao, with a cold expression, nudged Lu Qian, reminding him it was time to confront the girl.
Lu Qian glanced at the little reader-in-waiting, questioning with a look that said, “Does your grandpa really have to wait for her to call out ‘Young Master’ before turning and going ‘aiya aiya aiya?'”
“Stop pretending!” The girl took a step closer, glaring angrily at the only one willing to talk to her. “If you want to live, write a letter immediately and have your senior brother release my people.”
Xue Yao urged Lu Qian with his eyes to start responding, but the only response he got was Lu Qian’s bewildered gaze.
Unable to wait any longer, Xue Yao took the initiative and coldly said to the girl, “It seems like the one not interested in staying alive is you.”
The girl paused, then quickly showed a curious expression. “Big talk. Do you think you can escape our heaven’s net just because you know some lightness techniques?”
Xue Yao furrowed his brow, using an urgent look to prompt Lu Qian to respond.
However, following his pre-rehearsed plan, Lu Qian, still patiently waiting for the girl to call him “Young Master,” remained unresponsive.
Xue Yao vividly remembered this part of the plot occurring later in the dungeon. It definitely didn’t match the current situation.
But rehearsals were already done, and Lu Qian, who wasn’t skilled at dealing with female gangsters, decided to strictly follow the guidance of the little reader-in-waiting, maintaining his posture with his back turned to the girl.
Xue Yao’s forehead was already sweating. He licked his dry lips and tried to recall the original dialogue. Taking the lead for Lu Qian in this scene, he coldly snorted, “Heaven’s net? It depends on whom it’s cast upon.”
The sect master’s daughter paused, looking at Xue Yao with suspicion. “If you really have the ability and don’t care about us, why are you still here instead of escaping?”
“Because the cooks here make pretty good food,” Xue Yao said, glancing at Lu Qian as he spoke.
In this back-and-forth banter, Xue Yao, acting on behalf of Lu Qian, engaged in a verbal duel with the sect master’s daughter.
Feeling a bit thirsty, Lu Qian glanced at the tea table a few steps away. Since he couldn’t turn around freely, he crab-walked to the table, maintaining the angle with his back facing the girl, and poured himself a cup of water.
The sect master’s daughter couldn’t ignore this man who refused to look at her directly. Her eyebrows rose as she demanded, “Why won’t you turn around to respond?”
Lu Qian acted as if he hadn’t heard, lifting the teacup and taking a sip.
The sect master’s daughter was stunned. She hurriedly approached, attempting to go around Lu Qian to face him directly.
However, Lu Qian seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, turning left and then right, always keeping his back to her.
In frustration, the sect master’s daughter took a quick step forward, reaching out to grab Lu Qian’s shoulder, trying to force him to turn around.
Unexpectedly, this man reacted quickly. He slightly dodged her hand, grabbed her wrist, and threw it aside!
Caught off guard, she fell backward, but Xue Yao quickly grabbed her arm, preventing her from colliding with the furniture.
Xue Yao, sweating in anxiety, couldn’t help but remind Lu Qian, “You can’t push her so hard, just make a gesture…”
The sect master’s daughter, feeling wronged, glanced at Xue Yao upon hearing his words, thinking that although he spoke impudently, deep down, he seemed to have a tender side.
When Xue Yao came to his senses, he realized he was still holding the girl’s shoulder. Awkwardly, he let go. “Excuse me.”
The girl, amused by the sharp contrast in his behavior, raised an eyebrow and asked, “Weren’t you quite arrogant just now?”
Xue Yao quickly regained composure, lifting his chin defiantly. “I’m still quite arrogant now!”
The girl covered her mouth and laughed. “Then why are you blushing?”
Xue Yao solemnly explained, “This is a healthy complexion. I’ve always been like this since childhood!”
The girl found this shy young man very interesting. Different from the men in her gang who constantly made lewd jokes and cast lecherous glances, he aroused her playful interest. She playfully asked Xue Yao, “So, it’s a healthy complexion? Your Sword Sect’s techniques must be particularly nourishing. Everyone who comes out of there is so handsome. No wonder your skin is fairer than some women. I envy you so much.”
Xue Yao couldn’t understand why the sect master’s daughter suddenly switched to a coquettish mode with him. Shouldn’t this be Lu Qian’s exclusive privilege?
Regardless, Xue Yao, who hadn’t interacted with girls in two lifetimes, was somewhat swayed by the praise of this stunning girl. He modestly responded, “It’s just right. Miss’ skin is much better than mine. I haven’t really relied on any special techniques. This region in the north is too dry, took me a while to get used to it. I often use milk for facial masks. It’s very moisturizing. Miss might want to give it a try.”
The sect master’s daughter was on the verge of teasing this shy young man to death.
She couldn’t believe there could be such a likable young man in this world. Thinking about the tough words he pretended to say just a moment ago, it was simply…
“Hahaha… Young Master, you’re really amusing!” The sect master’s daughter and her two attendants burst into giggles, covering their mouths.
The term “Young Master” finally activated Lu Qian’s switch. He turned to look at the sect master’s daughter with an expressionless face, and began, “Aiya aiya aiya.”
Puzzled, the sect master’s daughter turned her head and was astonished to find that the impolite person was an exceptionally handsome young man.
Her previous anger immediately dissipated. She awkwardly asked, “What’s with your ‘aiya aiya aiya’?”
Xue Yao, feeling utterly defeated, closed his eyes and hurriedly explained to the girl, “He thinks the method of using milk for a facial mask is unique—’Aiya, why didn’t I think of that’ kind of thing.”
The sect master’s daughter burst into laughter. “Young Master, you’re quite the joker. I thought everyone traveling with Gu Qingyuan must be as old-fashioned as him, looking down on us from the evil faction.”
“Actually, we don’t know Gu Qingyuan at all,” Xue Yao admitted honestly. “He doesn’t know us either. We just happen to know the Sword Saint, and that’s why we were captured. Miss, no need to belittle yourself. Whether righteous or ruthless, it’s just a matter of a person’s mindset. If your sect is willing to follow the righteous path, it will undoubtedly become a renowned and righteous sect mastering the art of healing.”
The sect master’s daughter giggled. “Enough with the ‘Miss’ and ‘Young Master.’ Call me A’Zhu. How should I address the Young Master?”
“I…” Xue Yao was about to answer when he felt a chilling gaze beside him.
Instinctively seeking survival, he turned to look and met Lu Qian’s extremely fierce eyes…
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