This time, Qian Renxue didn't push Dai Chengfeng's hand away.
Feeling the warmth of his palm, different from her own, her fingertips unconsciously curled slightly before she silently accepted this intimate gesture.
At the same time, she tilted her head slightly.
With a hint of curiosity and concern, she softly asked, "What about your body?"
"Why is it so weak?"
"Uh…"
The smile on Dai Chengfeng's face froze instantly, replaced by a hint of awkwardness. His thumb, which had been gently caressing the back of her hand, paused abruptly for half a beat.
After all, although his body was weakened after using the Exploding Ring technique, it wasn't this weak.
And the reason for his current state… it was all Bibi Dong's fault.
Unbidden, scenes flashed through Dai Chengfeng's mind.
Dim lighting, intoxicating scents—like the most potent poison…
In the end, although Bibi Dong had managed to hold onto the last three lines of her "bottom line," women don't necessarily have to rely solely on…
Cough cough~
Anyway, it was all Bibi Dong's fault. Her hands were just as soft as Qian Renxue's.
Thinking this, Dai Chengfeng's gaze instinctively fell on Qian Renxue's small hand, now enveloped in his own.
The similar yet distinctly different softness of mother and daughter…
However, Dai Chengfeng naturally couldn't explain this to Qian Renxue, nor could he even mention Bibi Dong's name.
Thus, he forcibly suppressed the awkwardness in his eyes, relaxing his shoulders slightly against the back of the chair. "When I used the soul skill, I exhausted all my strength and sustained serious injuries."
"My internal organs were shaken. Although the Great Rejuvenation Pill protected me, my inner energy was depleted, making me appear weaker than I actually am."
"I see."
Qian Renxue didn't doubt his explanation—it made perfect sense.
Instead, a wave of emotion welled up in her heart, and her nose tingled faintly:
"Dai Chengfeng endured such severe injuries and traveled thousands of miles to Tian Dou City just to see me…"
Thinking this, she unconsciously lowered her eyelids. Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and then, quite naturally, she leaned her head slightly against Dai Chengfeng's shoulder.
The soft golden hair of the young girl brushed against his neck, and the warmth of her body mixed with a faint fragrance enveloped him completely.
Dai Chengfeng froze.
The weight and softness on his shoulder felt so real, and a pure joy rose within him.
Little angel…
He didn't speak further but carefully adjusted his posture to make Qian Renxue more comfortable.
For a while, Dai Chengfeng and Qian Renxue sat quietly on the wooden chair in the corner of the courtyard. The surroundings became utterly silent.
As twilight descended, the distant chirping of insects faded into the background, leaving only the sound of their breathing and heartbeats intertwining in the still air.
It wasn't until much later that the night sky was completely drenched in deep indigo.
"Oh, right."
At this moment, Qian Renxue seemed to remember something and suddenly lifted her head.
She straightened her posture, her face still tinged with a faint blush. She waved her hand over her storage soul-guidance ring, and a flicker of light passed.
A palm-sized, pitch-black box of indeterminate material appeared in her hand.
Qian Renxue extended the box toward Dai Chengfeng, her fingertips trembling slightly with nervousness.
"Dai Chengfeng, this is for you," Qian Renxue said as she handed him the box. "Thank you for the Great Rejuvenation Pill you gave me last time."
"A gift?"
Dai Chengfeng's gaze was drawn to the small box, curiosity evident in his eyes.
Qian Renxue nodded. "Yes, a gift."
Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment before shifting slightly. She added, "I prepared it especially for you."
"Is that so?"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled softly and naturally took the small box.
"To be honest, when I gave you the Great Rejuvenation Pill, I didn't expect anything in return."
Dai Chengfeng looked at Qian Renxue, his gaze focused.
But soon, his tone shifted, and his smile deepened with teasing intimacy. "However, between us, there's no need to be so meticulous. So I'll gladly accept it."
Dai Chengfeng's almost blatant words caused Qian Renxue's cheeks to flush red.
"Hmph!"
She lightly spat, feigning anger as she glared at him. "What do you mean, 'between us'? Just now…"
Her voice trailed off, lacking confidence. "Just now… I was simply moved, overwhelmed by emotion, so I let you… take advantage."
She quickly turned her face away, as if trying to hide her flustered state, and deliberately hardened her tone:
"There's nothing between us."
"Oh?"
Dai Chengfeng found great amusement in Qian Renxue's embarrassed expression.
Instead of backing down, he leaned in closer, lowering his head. His sharp yet smiling eyes locked onto hers as he pressed, word by word:
"Really… nothing?"
Instantly, Qian Renxue's heart quivered. She looked at Dai Chengfeng, her eyes filled with internal conflict.
Qian Renxue had to admit that Dai Chengfeng was like a ray of light piercing through the icy barriers of her heart.
Strong, determined, and willing to protect her at all costs…
Everything about him perfectly matched her ideal image of a partner.
However, another cold voice reminded her that she bore the future of the Spirit Hall on her shoulders. Now, she was even hiding in the heart of the Tian Dou Empire's power structure under the guise of Xue Qinghe, enduring years of restraint…
Romantic entanglements?
If she indulged in them, how would she maintain the plans and responsibilities she had labored over for more than a decade?
Thus, Qian Renxue firmly pursed her lips. "There's nothing… really."
Then, she abruptly changed the subject:
"Dai Chengfeng, open the gift I gave you first. Tell me if you like it."
At this moment, Dai Chengfeng easily caught the flicker of struggle and conflict deep in her eyes. He understood her burdens and concerns.
He didn't press further.
After all, the little angel wasn't going anywhere!
Therefore, Dai Chengfeng smoothly backed off, quickly reining in his overwhelming presence.
The sharpness in his eyes was replaced by lazy, gentle laughter, as if the previous pressure had been nothing more than her imagination.
Leaning back comfortably in the chair, he weighed the heavy black box in his hand.
"Let me see," he said casually, full of curiosity. "What's this gift you've given me?"
With deft fingers, Dai Chengfeng flipped open the tiny mechanism on the side of the box, silently lifting the obsidian-like lid.
Resting on a velvet lining lay a jade stone the size of a pigeon's egg.
Under the moonlight, its luster was soft and pure, an almost translucent milky white. Its texture was peculiar—not quite jade, but rather like the essence of some condensed energy.
Even stranger was the way the surrounding soul power slowly yet stubbornly gravitated toward it, only to be quietly absorbed.
Dai Chengfeng's pupils contracted sharply.
"This effect… it's definitely not something from this world! But what exactly is it?!"
Moreover, Dai Chengfeng couldn't shake the feeling that he recognized this jade. It felt familiar, as if he'd seen it somewhere before, but he couldn't recall where.
In the end, Dai Chengfeng stopped dwelling on it.
After all, since it was a gift from Qian Renxue, why not just ask her directly?
Thinking this, Dai Chengfeng looked at Qian Renxue. "Xue'er, what is this jade?"
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