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Big Sister Himeko once said: Only those who bravely explore every possibility, face challenges head-on, and possess an adventurous spirit beyond the ordinary can truly embody "The Nameless."
Tonight, this young lady shall inherit the will of Akivili, the Aeon of the Trailblaze, and boldly take a crucial step forward.
After all, I'm just dreaming; within dreams, anything is possible...
At 2:30 AM, March 7th, fully dressed, glanced back at Stelle sleeping beside her.
That guy was deeply asleep; she hadn't disturbed him.
March 7th tiptoed quietly out of her bedroom, shivering slightly as a cold breeze greeted her face.
The vivid realism of this Dreamscape made her mutter under her breath:
"I'm just a bit curious, there's nothing wrong with that."
Thankfully, it's only a dream; otherwise, my reputation would be utterly ruined!
In the dimly lit room, Stelle blinked her captivating golden eyes, and a faint smile gradually spread across her lips.
"Hmph, how bold you are, little March.
"Sneaking away from your best friend in the dead of night - what mischief do you have planned? With that guilty air about you, could it be a nocturnal raid?"
Inside Su Jinyan's room.
Blushing, March 7th slipped off her small leather shoes, revealing delicate, snow-white feet.
Oh please, don't wake up now, you rascal! Even if this is just a dream, I'd still feel embarrassed.
Firstly, we're only very, very good friends; it's not like I have feelings for him.
Secondly, since this is a Dreamscape, among familiar men here, there's only Su Jinyan.
I merely want to experience what kissing feels like, see if it matches the descriptions in books.
Afterwards, I won't owe him anything—it's that simple.
With her resolve set, she cautiously approached Su Jinyan, gazing intently at his face.
What's this? Up close, he actually looks pretty handsome, doesn't he?
March 7th's heart raced uncontrollably.
Calm down, March, stay calm. There's nothing to be nervous about when it comes to kissing.
Her sweet, youthful breath brushed against Su Jinyan's cheek.
Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around the girl beside him.
March 7th froze, too tense to move.
How did this happen? Did I accidentally give myself away?
Fortunately, Su Jinyan didn't awaken from his dream. Instead, he simply held March 7th closer and gently nuzzled her soft cheek.
March 7th remained silent.
You rascal, daring to scare this young lady! Unable to resist, she clenched her small fists and symbolically waved them, silently showing defiance.
"Little March..."
Just as little March was about to take further action, Su Jinyan's sleep-talking made her eyes widen abruptly, leaving her breathless with tension.
Did he actually realize it, or is he just talking in his sleep?
March 7th pursed her lips, uncertainty flickering in her gaze, once again hesitating.
If Su Jinyan were to wake up now, perhaps she could still explain herself? But if she truly kissed him, there would be no easy explanation, right?
Wait, no! This is clearly my Dreamscape; I am its master, free to do as I please.
Summoning her courage, March 7th prepared to kiss him once more.
As Su Jinyan held her gently by the waist, he murmured in his sleep, "So adorable."
March 7th's cheeks flushed slightly, feeling secretly pleased. Well, duh, you don't need to tell me - I've always been super cute.
Hmph, here's a reward for you. Her moist lips softly touched his slightly dry ones, fleeting like a dragonfly skimming water, barely making contact before parting.
A tingling sensation spread through her, heart racing wildly—it felt incredibly surreal. Is this what kissing is like?
D-do it again, that was too quick.
This maiden barely had a chance to fully experience it!
"March, I really adore you..."
March 7th pursed her moist lips and shyly lowered her head.
"You're so silly, easily deceived."
"Huh?" March 7th's beautiful eyes flashed with embarrassment and annoyance. Who did he think was gullible? She was clearly quite clever, wasn't she?!
Despite himself, Su Jinyan tightened his embrace, pressing their cheeks close together. As if unintentionally, he nuzzled her tender face, making her feel utterly weak.
How clingy can he be? Can't he just stay still even in sleep?
One more kiss, just one more, and then this maiden will leave—no lingering around here any longer.
Yes, that's right.
Little March blinked her lovely eyes, pouted her damp lips, and leaned in for another kiss. However, at that moment, Su Jinyan turned his cheek, causing her to miss her target.
Oops, let's try again. Undeterred, March 7th gathered herself and attempted to kiss him once more.
Yet again, Su Jinyan shifted his cheek away.
March 7th's head spun with wild thoughts.
Could he really be awake now? Did he perhaps wake up as soon as I opened the door? Maybe he pretended to sleep just to observe my reaction and tease me later.
That aligns perfectly with his mischievous image in my subconscious mind.
Honestly, can't you simply prepare yourself for a proper kiss with this lady?
Resolving not to proceed further, March 7th pouted indignantly, determined to stare at him and see how long he would continue pretending.
Su Jinyan gently exhaled and unexpectedly took hold of March 7th's lips with his own.
Huh?
Wh-what...is happening here?
Why did he suddenly kiss back? Wasn't it supposed to be initiated by this lady?
March 7th's eyes widened, her brain momentarily short-circuited, heart pounding wildly, feeling utterly light-headed.
This is what a true kiss feels like.
The sensation wasn't merely the touch of lips; it filled her entire being with immense satisfaction.
It was incredibly comforting and fulfilling, even more exhilarating than described in books.
Eh...
Coming back to reality, March 7th blinked her lovely eyes, looking puzzled at Su Jinyan's wandering hand.
Bad guy, where do you think you're touching? Are you doing that on purpose?!
In a dazed state, Su Jinyan asked, "Shizun, why do you feel bigger somehow?"
So he mistook me for Lady Fu Xuan, no wonder...
For some inexplicable reason, March 7th felt a twinge of jealousy.
Seeing that Su Jinyan was slowing down and showing signs of waking up,
March 7th, don't panic. Before he fully awakens, keep deceiving him—you can do this.
Inspired on the spot, she feigned a deeper voice and huffed, "Hmph, insolent disciple. That's because this venerable one added padding."
Su Jinyan embraced March 7th, gently inhaling her scent. "Hmm, even your fragrance has changed."
Feeling slightly nervous, March 7th responded firmly, "That's because this venerable one used perfume."
"And your lips also—"
March 7th gritted her teeth, irked by his incessant questions, What's with all the chatter?
"Uh—" Su Jinyan fell silent.
Embarrassed, March 7th leaned in to kiss his lips again.
This effectively rendered him speechless, unable to utter another word.
Perfect, I approve of this method of silencing him.
Neither of them noticed a pair of golden eyes secretly observing their intimate scene from the darkness, breath gradually quickening.
A daring plan began to form in Stelle's mind.
Lost in the sensation of their kiss, March 7th completely forgot to breathe.
Only when her face turned bright red and she could no longer hold her breath did she gently push Su Jinyan away, panting heavily.
Despite this momentary lapse, March 7th didn't forget her current identity—that of Su Jinyan's shizun, Fu Xuan.
It must be said that once she embraced this role, it felt incredibly exhilarating.
"O-o-oh, disobedient disciple, can you give this venerable one more kisses?"
Although March 7th's portrayal of Fu Xuan was quite clumsy,
Su Jinyan didn't expose her; instead, he fully cooperated, kissing her cheeks, snow-white neck, earlobes, and lips tenderly.
March 7th reveled in these experiences, cherishing them as valuable encounters for future use. She even had a daring idea: after waking from this dream, she would impersonate Fu Xuan again and surprise him during the night, curious to see Su Jinyan's reaction. If he couldn't tell the difference, it might indeed be quite amusing, right?
Of course, it wasn't because I wanted to kiss Su Jinyan, but rather because playing the role of Fu Xuan seemed genuinely intriguing.
"Let's sleep now, disobedient disciple. This venerable one has official duties to attend to tomorrow."
"Mm-hmm..."
Su Jinyan closed his eyes, pretending to drift off while convincingly releasing March 7th.
March 7th sighed with relief and gave him one last kiss before quietly slipping off the bed, intending to leave.
Her objective was clear from the start—she simply wanted to experience what it felt like to kiss. As for any other thoughts, she hadn't yet entertained them; those could wait until later.
Just then...
Stelle silently opened the door and unexpectedly bumped right into March 7th.
Caught off guard, March 7th fell silent.
Stelle pulled her out of the room, whispering menacingly, "March, I saw everything that just happened."
"You wouldn't want Lady Fu Xuan and the others finding out about this, would you?"
Contrary to fear, March 7th found it somewhat amusing. "So what if they know?" she replied.
"This is my Dreamscape, and you dare to threaten me here?"
"Once I wake up, neither of you will remember any of this."
Stelle cast a puzzled look at March 7th. "Who told you this place is a dream?"
"This is reality, not a dream, not a dream!"
March 7th's expression shifted slightly, forcing a smile. "Well, as expected from my subconscious mind, it sure is interesting here."
"Since you claim this is reality, prove it to me then."
"Don't evade the truth, little March," Stelle said. "Deep down, you've always known this isn't a dream, haven't you?"
"You could have freely done anything within the Dreamscape if it were otherwise."
"Instead, you're secretly trying things you dare not openly attempt, hiding them from us."
"To confirm whether this is a dream or not, simply pinch yourself hard. If it hurts, it's not a dream."
March 7th pinched herself vigorously, her eyes welling up with tears from the pain.
"Ouch, that stings! Seems like this isn't a dream after all."
The corners of Stelle's lips curved upward slightly. "There you go, now you know it's not a dream, right?"
Uncomfortably, March 7th replied, "Yeah, I guess this maiden truly isn't dreaming."
Stelle nodded approvingly. "...But we're trapped in an illusory realm instead."
"Huh?"
"It must be that despicable messenger misleading me again. Messenger, you'd better—mmph!"
Stelle hastily covered March 7th's mouth to prevent waking others.
"Shh, stop fooling yourself. Come quickly, follow me." "If you want today's events to remain secret, cooperate quietly."
As little March tiptoed into the room, Su Jinyan felt somewhat puzzled.
Why has she returned? Is it because she's craving more of that taste? Once is tentative; twice becomes familiar.
This time, March 7th had no lingering mental reservations. Might as well go along with it—I'm being forced anyway.
She quietly slipped off her leather shoes and playfully waved her tender bare feet before him.
Su Jinyan smacked his lips, showing faint signs of waking up.
March 7th hastily blindfolded his eyes with a piece of black silk.
Su Jinyan was taken aback.
Now this is excessive—what's with covering my eyes? Trying out new tricks now?
March 7th decided to drop the act entirely and declared, "Ahem, disobedient disciple, do not open your eyes. This venerable one is Fu Xuan."
"You've been working hard lately, so this venerable one intends to reward you."
Well, at least earlier she tried to disguise her voice; now, she's not even bothering, huh?
Though Su Jinyan couldn't fully grasp what March 7th was attempting, he played along without hesitation.
"Shizun, what do you mean by this?" Su Jinyan asked, genuinely perplexed.
Suppressing her embarrassment, March 7th instructed, "Um, well... Just don't make any noise from here on, and cooperate with me..."
"Ahem, just follow this venerable one's lead," March 7th instructed. "No matter what sounds you hear, do not remove the blindfold from your eyes. Nod if you understand."
Wait, haven't our roles been reversed here?
Su Jinyan desperately wanted to tease her but managed to hold back. Sometimes, when resistance is futile, it's best to quietly go along with things. He was curious to see what little March had planned.
Su Jinyan silently nodded in agreement.
Unable to resist, March 7th leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Such a good boy; Shifu hasn't doted on you for nothing."
Su Jinyan remained speechless.
What, have you become addicted to impersonating my shizun or something?
He couldn't fathom how Shizun would react upon witnessing this scene—someone openly taking advantage of their disciple under a false pretense.
Shortly after,
Stelle entered, holding a wad of white silk. Without hesitation, she stuffed it into Su Jinyan's mouth.
"Eh, what are you doing?" March 7th asked, somewhat disgruntled.
She had already cautioned Su Jinyan to stay silent; wasn't adding the gag redundant?
With unwavering confidence, Stelle replied, "Just as a precaution, of course, March."
"What if he shouts and gives us away?"
March 7th frowned. "Wait, what did you say? Who's 'March'? This venerable one is Fu Xuan."
Stelle responded dismissively, "Sure, sure, Lady Fu Xuan, please try to understand."
March 7th clicked her tongue. "This venerable one can tell—you're brushing me off."
"Just remember, don't go too far with A-Yan later."
"He's this venerable one's beloved—oh wait, I mean, beloved disciple."
"March," Stelle began, "we're the best of friends, right?" she asked. "I've been watching everything you do to A-Yan tonight, you know." She continued, "Imagine if Lady Fu Xuan or Lady Xueyi saw it all—what would they think? And how would Big Sister Himeko regard you if she found out?"
Who threatens their supposed best friend like that? Friendship over!
The corner of March 7th's mouth twitched. "Uh-huh, yes, we're indeed the best of friends."
"Oh, no, you mispronounced my name again."
Stelle dropped the act entirely. "It's fine; his mouth is gagged—he won't hear."
Su Jinyan mumbled indistinctly, as if reminding them:
I'm f*cking mute, not deaf!
March 7th's gaze turned menacing—My flawless disguise, and you just had to expose it, huh?
"Good friends share everything," Stelle said solemnly. "Only by doing so can we truly be considered worthy companions."
"So from now on, your friends will be my friends.
Your assets will be mine as well,
and your lovers will be my lovers too."
March 7th blinked, perplexed.
Su Jinyan echoed her confusion with a silent question mark.
Something felt off to March 7th. "Hmm, that sounds quite reasonable," she mused. "But why does it feel like you're getting all the benefits?"
"And I'm not enjoying any of them."
Stelle smiled slightly. "The same principle applies, March. My friends are also your friends,
and my lovers are likewise your lovers."
"Now, since Su Jinyan is my lover, feel free to enjoy him; I don't mind at all."
March 7th was speechless.
So infuriating! Is there really any difference here? Aren't you still the one enjoying him?
Ultimately, what compelled you to stay up late at night instead of sleeping, just to tail this maiden?
Summoning her courage, March 7th confronted Stelle, "Alright, if you're indeed my best friend—as you claim—let me ask you something. Have you ever heard this saying?"
"What saying?"
"'A friend's wife is not to be deceived!'"
"Oh? Is he your husband?" Stelle queried.
Embarrassedly defending herself, March 7th replied, "No, for March 7th, he is her best friend."
"Beyond that, there's no special relationship between them," she added hastily.
"But I am Fu Xuan, and he is my husband, do you understand?"
"Therefore, 'a friend's husband should also not be deceived.'"
"If you dare touch him, this venerable one will end you with a single strike."
Stelle pondered thoughtfully, "Little March, actually, you've misunderstood the original meaning of that phrase."
"It was initially meant as 'a friend's wife is fair game.'"
"Somehow, over time, it transformed into 'not to be deceived'."
"Sigh, knowledge comes too late when needed; you really ought to read more."
"Huh?" March 7th exclaimed, bewildered.
This girl hasn't been well-read. Was the original meaning truly like that? Are you trying to deceive me?
Su Jinyan fell silent, hissing inwardly at the familiar twisted logic.
With utmost seriousness, Stelle said, "Do you know, little March?"
"In truth, I'm doing this for your own good. Have you noticed something? It seems you've unwittingly fallen under his spell."
"You've fallen into the meticulously crafted trap set by that despicable, shameless, and sleazy scoundrel."
Su Jinyan remained speechless.
March 7th, blushing, protested defensively, "I haven't fallen for him; Su Jinyan and I are just friends."
Stelle blinked innocently. "What kind of friends would sneak over for a midnight ambush?"
"Purely platonic, right?" she teased.
Indignant, March 7th retorted, "I've already told you, I thought it was just a dream!"
Sighing, Stelle responded, "This suggests your subconscious harbors feelings for him."
"Why else would you not approach anyone else but specifically seek out Su Jinyan? March, men can be as voracious as wolves or tigers, eroding one's willpower and corrupting their spirit."
March 7th fell silent.
Stelle continued, "Let me bear this torment on your behalf."
"Don't get too emotional now; we're friends after all, no harm done."
March 7th looked at her suspiciously. "Wait, do you think I'm some naive fool?"
Stelle gasped, feigning surprise. "Oh, how did you figure that out?"
A surge of anger welled up within March 7th, and with a burst of fury, she abruptly pushed Stelle onto the bed. "Fine, fine, fine," she growled.
"Ah, don't be too overwhelmed; we're friends after all, it's no big deal."
***
"I've put up with you for far too long! Tonight is the moment of reckoning!"
Su Jinyan experienced both pain and pleasure as two beautiful girls tumbled and grappled atop him.
Thrilling, absolutely thrilling—what unbreakable friendship!
However, he couldn't help but wonder about Stelle's true intentions. Surely it wasn't all for his sake, was it? He found that hard to believe.
Stelle hastily restrained March 7th, her voice urgent, "Wait, little March, let me explain."
"Actually, I have no romantic interest in Su Jinyan."
"And I certainly didn't mean to disrupt your relationship."
"My goal was to learn social skills from him."
March 7th, puzzled, asked, "Social skills?"
Stelle gently nodded. "Yes, think about it," she said softly.
"Tingyun, Fu Xuan, Xueyi, Sushang... They're either high-ranking members or prodigies of the Roaming Immortal Ark. And you, being one of the train's Nameless passengers, are also a rising star."
"I'm researching a question: Why do you all like Su Jinyan so much?"
Feeling somewhat defensive, March 7th replied, "Who likes him? We just share a pure friendship, okay?"
Stelle didn't argue further. "Let's say that's true. Don't you find there's an inexplicable charm about Su Jinyan?"
"Is there something about him that unconsciously endears people to him?"
"The Nameless seek neither fame nor fortune; embarking on our Trailblazing journey means inevitably interacting with diverse individuals."
March 7th retorted, "I might believe others don't chase fame and fortune, but you? Not for a second."
Stelle explained, "Look, if I could master his social skills, it would resolve many troubles. Whenever encountering characters like Cocolia or Svarog again, having top-notch interpersonal abilities would make handling them effortless."
Still puzzled, March 7th asked, "Why not just learn properly from him then?"
"You could directly ask Su Jinyan, he'd surely teach you."
Blushing slightly, Stelle shifted her delicate feet cautiously, avoiding another potential mishap at Su Jinyan's hands. "It's...it's quite difficult," she stammered.
"Knowledge gleaned from books alone is shallow; true understanding comes through practice." She continued, "I believe such skills can only be deeply learned through personal experience."
"For this reason, I have a bold plan."
"What plan?" March 7th inquired.
"I intend to snatch Su Jinyan away from Lady Fu Xuan and the others," Stelle replied.
"Snatch him away?" echoed March 7th.
Stelle blinked her lovely eyes. "Yes, if successful, wouldn't it prove my mastery of these skills?"
"And if I succeed, there'll be no need to defer him back to you."
"What if it fails?" March 7th asked.
Stelle's eyes gleamed with wisdom. "In life, encountering failure is inevitable." Even the wisest sages, regardless of their age, cannot escape setbacks. "If I fail, then indeed, I might have to compete with you for Su Jinyan."
March 7th couldn't help but chide her, "So ultimately, you just want to toy with Su Jinyan, right?"
"You're not a child anymore; can't you behave more seriously? He's not some rare prize—stop fighting over him like this!"
Feeling guilty, Stelle turned away. "You say don't, so now I definitely will," she insisted. "And when I act, I do it boldly. If I'm going to play, I go all in."
"Aiya, don't worry, it's just for fun—I have no real feelings for him."
Su Jinyan secretly shook his head upon hearing this.
Hmph, you manipulative vixen, trying to toy with me?
Once emotions are invested, one must handle them responsibly. Those who recklessly play with others' feelings inevitably risk being played themselves.
However, it wasn't entirely her fault. Since Kafka hadn't taught her these lessons, let me be the one to impart them.
"You mean you'll return him to us once you're done playing with him?"
March 7th felt deeply uncomfortable, thinking, How could you be like this?
Just moments ago, her best friend Stelle bluntly declared to her face:
"From now on, I'm determined to have some fun with your good friend Su Jinyan."
"You won't stop me; in fact, I'll enjoy it even more."
Had this been any other friend, March 7th would have instantly severed ties.
However, their friendship was unique.
At the Herta space station, they had only known each other for a short time. Yet, without hesitation, Stelle shielded March 7th from harm, taking the Doomsday Beast's breath directly on her face.
This selfless act led them to become inseparable friends, sharing everything openly.
March 7th trusted Stelle implicitly, believing her best friend would never harm her.
In a gentle tone, Stelle said, "Don't make it sound so harsh, little March."
"Have I ever stated that I want to steal your Su Jinyan?"
"From the beginning, I've made clear my intent to win Su Jinyan away from Lady Fu Xuan and the others."
Blushing, March 7th retorted, "What do you mean by 'my' Su Jinyan?"
"We're truly just close friends."
Having already shared kisses, attempting to deny responsibility seemed disingenuous. Su Jinyan inwardly scorned such irresponsible behavior from little March.
Stelle calmly responded, "Then there's even less reason for you to stop me."
"When the time comes, I won't spare you a single drop of soup."
March 7th's expression quickly changed. "No, no, no."
"I'm just joking with you, but how should I put this?" Stelle continued earnestly, "March, originally, I intended to support Miss Tingyun, but she's proven too indecisive."
"From now on, I'll be your Strategist behind the scenes."
"You, on the other hand, will focus on competing for Su Jinyan's affection against Lady Fu Xuan and others."
Confused, March 7th exclaimed, "Wait, wasn't it you who wanted to compete with them?!"
Stelle gently shook her head. "You still don't understand. The wise do not fall in love; I don't have feelings for Su Jinyan."
"Only by serving as your Strategist, working from the shadows, can we lower their guard against me."
"Now do you see? We're good friends, so what's yours is mine."
"If you succeed in winning him, it means I succeed as well."
"When that time comes, your husband will also be my husband. Just temporarily, for the thrill of victory—I'll return him once our goal is achieved."
"Then, you can enjoy having Su Jinyan all to yourself. Isn't that wonderful?"
Su Jinyan was speechless.
I underestimated her. This girl has a similar cunning flair, matching or even surpassing my own prowess.
March 7th fidgeted nervously, twisting her delicate fingers, and asked bashfully, "So, what exactly should I do?"
Confidently, Stelle suggested, "Follow my lead and issue them a challenge. Here's what we'll do: You kiss Su Jinyan while I take photos."
Despite March 7th's extreme shyness and reluctance, under Miss Strategist's urging, she obediently pressed her lips against Su Jinyan's.
Click.
Stelle captured their intimate moment on camera.
"Another shot—this time, a photo of you sleeping next to Su Jinyan."
"Try to look as smug as possible, like right after...you know."
March 7th didn't fully comprehend, but with this cunning strategist's guidance, they took numerous photos together.
In the end, Stelle meticulously selected three images and sent them sequentially to Tingyun, Qingque, Sushang, and Xueyi.
At this hour, they should all be asleep, so the earliest they would see these messages would be in the morning.
She didn't send any to Fu Xuan; what if Fu Xuan hadn't yet retired for the night, turning it into a self-inflicted trap?
Unexpectedly, Xueyi quickly received the three photos and replied with a question mark:
[Xueyi's Cloak: ?]
[Zhao Camera: Do you like them? Aren't my photography skills quite impressive?]
[Xueyi's Cloak: Sneaky cat, is this your way of provoking me?]
Stelle stopped responding to Xueyi and instead changed her profile status to: Unforgettable Night.
Perfect—now Xueyi would surely have a sleepless night.
March 7th was astounded. "I hope this girl won't end up committing suicide someday!"
Finally unable to hold back, Su Jinyan interjected, "Firstly, let's get little March the highest-level personal insurance."
"Excuse me?" March 7th replied, taken aback by his sudden comment.
Su Jinyan's prolonged silence had startled both of them with his unexpected remark.
March 7th wanted to maintain her act, feigning indignation, "Traitorous disciple! Didn't I tell you to keep quiet?"
"Although I'd prefer just watching your performance," Su Jinyan said, "I must warn you - someone is approaching."
Still basking in their brief victory's joy, neither of them had noticed the approaching footsteps outside.
If they left now, they would directly encounter the newcomer head-on.
March 7th asked cautiously, "Who's coming?"
Stelle silently moved to a corner, raised her bat, and flashed a sinister smile. "No matter who it is, after experiencing my 'Great Memory Loss Technique,' they'll forget everything."
March 7th remained speechless.
Su Jinyan wore an enigmatic half-smile. "Are you sure you can overpower Shizun and the others?"
March 7th glanced around uneasily; there was no wardrobe or window in the room. Could they be caught so quickly?
The footsteps grew closer.
Without hesitation, Stelle pulled March 7th under the bed for cover.
Su Jinyan casually removed her black eye mask and pretended to sleep on the bed.
Fu Xuan quietly pushed open the door and tiptoed up to Su Jinyan.
"Undisciplined disciple, are you asleep...?" Fu Xuan whispered softly.
If not for the late hour, she would never have allowed Su Jinyan to stay overnight at Kafka's residence. Fu Xuan didn't want anyone knowing about her midnight visit to surprise him—especially Kafka; just imagining the ridicule if Kafka found out was unbearable.
Underneath the bed, Stelle nudged March 7th, their phone screen displaying:
[See, even if you don't make a nighttime advance, others will.]
[If you don't take initiative, someone else surely will. If even Fu Xuan can set aside her reserve, why can't you?]
March 7th silently nodded, Great Master, I've understood.
Unfazed, Su Jinyan continued pretending to sleep, curious to see what Fu Xuan would do next.
Fu Xuan's eyelids fluttered slightly as she nervously and clumsily lifted the blanket, slipping into Su Jinyan's embrace and gently nuzzled his chin.
Instinctively, Su Jinyan tightened his arms around the curled-up Fu Xuan.
Her delicate body stiffened momentarily, warm breaths caressing his cheek, followed swiftly by the soft press of her lips against his.
"Stop pretending, this venerable one knows you're awake."
Su Jinyan opened his eyes, meeting Fu Xuan's flushed yet exquisite face directly above him.
"Shizun."
"In private moments from now on, you can call me Fu Xuan," Fu Xuan whispered softly.
The corner of Stelle's lips curved slightly as she activated recording mode.
March 7th gave her a thumbs-up.
Su Jinyan gently nibbled on Fu Xuan's lip, murmuring, "I still prefer calling you Shizun; it feels more intimate."
Fu Xuan feigned indignation, playfully scolding, "You insolent, disobedient disciple."
Moments later, she sighed, "This venerable one is starting to regret some things."
Now, Fu Xuan had let down all her defenses, a trace of unrelenting worry etched between her brows. She no longer seemed like the aloof Grand Diviner Fu but rather a vulnerable and helpless young maiden.
Su Jinyan tightened his embrace around Fu Xuan and asked quietly, "Regret what?"
Fu Xuan gently exhaled against him, huffing, "Hmph, pretending not to know? It would have been so much easier if you only loved this venerable one."
"At the end of the day, it was my own reserved pride that prevented me from keeping you close..."
Su Jinyan smiled, "If you truly accepted my confession back then, you wouldn't be Fu Xuan anymore."
"My Shizun carries the pride of being among the six rulers. How could she inexplicably accept a stranger's declaration of love?"
Fu Xuan displayed just the right hint of vulnerability, "Then, will you ever abandon me in the future?"
"As more wicked women discover your exceptional qualities..."
"They covet this venerable one's disciple, yet I can only watch helplessly, unable to intervene."
Su Jinyan couldn't resist kissing Fu Xuan's cheek gently. "Shizun," he murmured, "you should have always known my feelings for you. In this world, there is no one I could ever abandon more than you."
Fu Xuan anxiously bit her lip. "Then, will you stay exclusively with me from now on?"