"But you already have a fiancée..."
Xiao Wu sounded utterly aggrieved, like someone abandoned.
"I have a fiancée, and I don't want you—aren't those two completely different things?" Ye Qiu spread his hands, as if unaware of what shame meant. He just wanted to coax his little bunny first.
"…"
Hearing Ye Qiu's words, Xiao Wu, whose brain didn't always keep up, froze in place, blinking.
"Is that... really the case?"
"Of course. Who said I don't want you? I never said that—I can't bear to."
Ye Qiu nodded solemnly, looking completely serious.
"You really didn't say it..."
Xiao Wu sniffled, her sobs gradually ceasing. Her red lips parted but it took a long while before she whispered something, her face flushed with shyness.
"T-Then… will you still… eat Sister Xiao Wu?"
Seeing the fear and grievance in her eyes, Ye Qiu smiled softly. He hadn't expected such a question. With a teasing grin, he slowly leaned in closer to her lovely face and asked in a gentle voice:
"Of course I want to eat you. Will you give yourself to me?"
Xiao Wu's tearful eyes met Ye Qiu's black pearl-like gaze. Gradually, her face turned bright red, unable to speak. She simply looked down and carefully picked some food from her bowl and placed it into Ye Qiu's.
Then, feeling uneasy, she slowly picked a few grains of rice into her mouth, without answering.
Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow, a little puzzled:
"What's that supposed to mean, little bunny? You're unwilling?"
"N-No, it's not that!"
Caught off guard by his question, Xiao Wu lifted her head in panic and shook it.
Seeing this, Ye Qiu smiled faintly. He naturally understood what her actions meant. Scooting a bit closer, he leaned in next to Xiao Wu's ear and said seriously:
"Actually, it's okay either way. If you're willing to let me eat, then I will. But if you're not... I'll just have to put in more effort and eat you by force!"
Xiao Wu was startled. She nearly dropped the food in her hands. Her eyes blinked rapidly, and her cheeks flushed red as she turned her head away. Her watery eyes reflected Ye Qiu's warm smile.
Her mood began to brighten.
Ye Qiu didn't reject her. He still wanted her. He didn't abandon her!
Watching Xiao Wu's eating speed, Ye Qiu couldn't help but roll his eyes. He teased her:
"With the way you're eating now, if you don't grow up properly in the future, I might not like eating you anymore."
"Hmm?"
Xiao Wu looked up and noticed that Ye Qiu's gaze was focused on her small, developing body. Her face turned scarlet, and she quickly lowered her head and shoveled food into her mouth.
The tears she had held back for so long finally spilled from the corners of her eyes. But her face was filled with joy, her eyes held laughter. As she ate, she occasionally peeked at Ye Qiu.
"Heh… what a silly girl."
Watching the little white bunny eat while sneaking glances at him, Ye Qiu couldn't help but laugh. She really was silly—silly enough to make his heart ache.
"Eat slowly, don't drop anything on the bed."
Ye Qiu quickly finished the remaining food in his hand. He gently rubbed Xiao Wu's soft long hair, his eyes full of affection and indulgence.
"Mmhm..."
Xiao Wu nodded while eating, like a little hamster stuffing food into her cheeks.
Ye Qiu sighed helplessly. He took a kettle out from his soul guide and hung it around Xiao Wu's neck.
"Drink some water. Don't choke."
After a few reminders, Ye Qiu got up and returned to his own bed.
Xiao Wu had tidied it up very well—the quilt was perfectly smooth. Who knew how long she had been fiddling with it.
Ye Qiu glanced at Xiao Wu, who kept looking at him. He shook his head again, amused, and began pulling out his spare clothes.
After being dragged around in the sky by Dugu Bo for so long, and then walking a considerable distance, he really needed to freshen up.
As Ye Qiu left with his toiletries, Xiao Wu quickly finished the rest of the food. Then she picked up the kettle Ye Qiu had hung around her neck and took a few small sips.
But sensing something strange, she pursed her red lips and frowned at the kettle.
The spout of this kettle… didn't seem like it only had Ye Qiu's scent on it.
Even though Ye Qiu had only "bullied" her a few times, she remembered clearly… that breath, the one that left her blushing and heart-racing—it definitely wasn't just his.
...
A quarter of an hour later.
Freshly washed, Ye Qiu returned to Dorm Seven.
Tang San still hadn't come back, and Xiao Wu was sitting obediently at the bedside waiting for him.
"Are you full?" Ye Qiu asked, casually tossing his clothes into the bucket and pushing it under the bed.
Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly.
"Uh, I'm already full—hic!"
"Haha, I told you to eat slower. Eating that fast, now you've got the hiccups."
Ye Qiu sat beside her and gently rubbed her back, even applying a bit of soul power.
Xiao Wu returned the kettle to him.
Maybe because she was too embarrassed, just two pats from Ye Qiu had stopped her hiccups.
"Ye Qiu, let's cultivate together," Xiao Wu said, blushing, as she held Ye Qiu's hand tightly in hers.
"Eh? When did you get so motivated?" Ye Qiu looked at her strangely.
"I… I just want to help you more," Xiao Wu said, averting her eyes. Her red-rimmed eyes looked tired, and she nervously stiffened her neck.
"Help me?" Ye Qiu snorted. There was no way he believed that excuse. Cultivating with him was a cover—what she really wanted was to pry into his secrets. Lying back on the bed, he teased:
"Just be honest. I'm a bit tired today. I don't feel like cultivating right now."
Xiao Wu hesitated, then gently nodded. Holding Ye Qiu's hand tightly, she asked nervously:
"I just want to know… where you went. And if you really do have a fiancée."
"I already said it earlier, didn't I? I wasn't lying. I really do have a fiancée." Ye Qiu answered directly, without hiding anything.
"But… why? Is it because I wasn't obedient enough?" Xiao Wu's expression dimmed. She looked at him in confusion, then down at her small body. Her voice was full of sadness:
"Even if I'm still small now… I'll grow up! You just have to wait for me… Didn't we agree before? You'd only stop liking me if I grew up ugly."
"Alright, alright. Then let's take a quick look." Ye Qiu rolled his eyes and sat up again. He was honestly getting a little headache from this little bunny with a million questions.
Ye Qiu grabbed Xiao Wu's hand, interlocking their fingers. With his other hand, he gently pinched her soft cheek and wiped away her tears, speaking softly:
"Okay now, don't cry. Just in time—I want to see whether you've been disobedient these past two months."
"I-I've been obedient for sure…" Xiao Wu's eyes darted nervously, a little unnatural.
"Hmm?"
Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow and looked at her suspiciously.
Soul power gathered in his palm and completely enveloped Xiao Wu's hand. Their memories and mental connection intertwined.