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In matters of love, a scoundrel's promises were worth next to nothing.
Su Jinyan could unabashedly declare to Fu Xuan, "My favorite person is Shizun."
But if Tingyun were in his arms instead, he would say, "My favorite little fox is Tingyun."
His favorite person was Fu Xuan, and his favorite little fox was Tingyun—these two claims didn't conflict, right?
After all, girlfriends were girlfriends, Shizun was Shizun, and Little Sisters were Little Sisters...
He could effortlessly tell each of them: "My favorite mannequin is Xueyi, my favorite girlfriend is little March, my favorite Little Sister is Sushang..."
Were such promises cheap? Yes, but they were effective.
Girls knew these sentiments were a scoundrel's insincere words, yet their emotional nature made them yearn to hear them nonetheless.
When you refuse to offer even false promises, they begin to believe that you don't truly love them.
However, Qingque had taught him well: "Don't initiate, don't reject, and never commit." Some promises can be given, while others must never be made.
For instance, if Su Jinyan were to genuinely agree with Fu Xuan now, pledging exclusivity with her alone...
Fu Xuan would undoubtedly use this as leverage to dissuade other girls, claiming it was his expressed wish.
Su Jinyan deeply regretted being such a scumbag.
Indeed, scum like me deserve to fall into the Scoundrel Hell, enduring their torment and humiliation.
Trying to evade the question, Su Jinyan mumbled vaguely, "Uh, ah... I heard..."
Fu Xuan's lashes fluttered, gazing at him expectantly, "So, does this mean you accept, my lord?"
With a serious expression, Su Jinyan replied, "You're right, but I firmly believe Nanook is expecting twins."
"The Emperor's Bow of Life and Death and the Calamity Ancestor are actually long-lost siblings."
"Phantylia invaded Xianzhou solely because Aha instructed her to."
"Makabaka's little cart has a small horn; no worries if you don't understand its tune."
"And since today is Crazy Thursday, Venmo me $50 for some roasted chicken."
But these responses weren't what Fu Xuan wanted to hear. She yearned to have Su Jinyan personally utter those specific words.
Fu Xuan tugged at Su Jinyan's sleeve, her moist lips slightly parted, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of sorrow.
"So, your dearest person is indeed this venerable one, isn't it?"
Su Jinyan held Fu Xuan's soft, pale hand tightly. "Of course, my dearest is Shizun."
Fu Xuan looked at him anxiously. "Then can you marry only this venerable one?"
"Will you have just me by your side from now on, chasing away all those other wicked women? Can you do that?"
In that moment, Fu Xuan completely forgot about her recent alliance with Qingque, promising to face their enemies together.
After a brief hesitation, Su Jinyan chose to respond with a kiss.
Flustered, Fu Xuan pushed him away. "Quickly, you disobedient disciple, tell me! Say you will," she urged, exasperated.
"I will!" Su Jinyan hastily replied.
Fu Xuan's small face darkened. "Disobedient disciple, don't play word games with me," she scolded. "You know exactly what I want to hear. I need your promise, please."
Confused, Su Jinyan stammered, "What promise? What 'forever'...?"
Angry, Fu Xuan lifted her delicate white foot and kicked him repeatedly. "Disobedient disciple, disobedient disciple!" she exclaimed. "This venerable one has already humbly pleaded with you, yet you still feign ignorance. You're infuriating!"
"Just who taught you these things?"
Beneath the bed, two giggling girls covered their mouths, nearly rolling with laughter.
Sighing, Su Jinyan responded, "It must have been my life mentor—Qingque."
"I used to be a spirited and virtuous man," Fu Xuan continued. "But then I met Qingque, who told me that for happiness, I should 'neither initiate nor decline, and never take responsibility'."
Fu Xuan clenched her teeth angrily. "Fine, fine, fine, Qingque," she spat. "This venerable one still underestimated you—how could you corrupt such morally upright A-Yan so thoroughly?"
"Hmph, when I see Qingque next, I'll definitely teach her a harsh lesson and dock her pay!"
Su Jinyan silently mourned for Qingque.
May the monk die instead of this humble Daoist; someone must bear the blame after all. Rest easy, Qingque.
In the comfort of her distant home, Qingque suddenly felt a chilling sensation sweep over her as she slept soundly. She smacked her lips, instinctively hugging her pillow tighter before drifting back into slumber.
Hopefully, the Grand Diviner will go at it with A-Yan multiple times tonight, she thought. Best if he tires himself out and skips work tomorrow.
That way, I can effortlessly slack off again.
Just then, footsteps approached from outside once more.
Fu Xuan's small face froze—who could it be at this late hour?
"Shizun, someone is coming," Su Jinyan said gravely. "From the sound, they seem headed straight for your room."
"We can't let anyone catch us in our mischief. Should we take care of them?!" A sense of impending danger surged within Fu Xuan.
"At this late hour, any woman seeking you might not harbor good intentions."
"No, she must be craving your body and planning a nocturnal ambush."
"How could there exist such shameless women?"
From beneath the bed, March 7th couldn't resist typing: [Lady Fu Xuan seems to have inadvertently included herself in that insult.]
[She has no authority whatsoever when alone with Little Su, acting just like a spoiled little girl.]
[Stelle: Lady Fu Xuan is too arrogant, believing only she deserves A-Yan, while none of us are worthy.]
[But the more possessive she gets, the more thrilling it becomes. After all, playing with someone else's spouse isn't illegal.]
[I'm genuinely curious how Lady Fu Xuan's face will look once I help snatch away Su Jinyan.]
[March 7th: You're seriously twisted.]
Su Jinyan, puzzled, said, "It sounds like high heels approaching."
"Here, the only one who wears high heels should be Kafka, right?"
"Hurry, find me a place to hide," Fu Xuan urged.
Her expression shifted; under no circumstances could Kafka discover her midnight visit to her disobedient disciple. The reason was simple—Fu Xuan had already firmly rejected Kafka's matchmaking attempts earlier, aiming to maintain her dignity. If caught by Kafka now, there was no telling how mercilessly she would mock Fu Xuan.
Fu Xuan glanced around frantically but found no suitable hiding spot.
In haste, Su Jinyan lifted the quilt and beckoned to Fu Xuan, "Shizun, quickly hide under the covers. With your petite size, it'll be hard for anyone to notice."
Even if it meant exposing Shizun, Fu Xuan couldn't let her hide under the bed.
After all, little March and Stelle were currently giggling away, hidden beneath it.
Shizun was already furious, with a rather thin face for embarrassment too.
If these three were to unexpectedly meet, it would undoubtedly trigger an epic disaster without question.
Blushing deeply, Fu Xuan huffed indignantly, "Hmph, this venerable one will definitely grow taller someday."
As she spoke, the bedroom door gently creaked open.
Fu Xuan dared not waste any more time and hastily hid under the blankets, holding perfectly still.
"Who's there?!" Su Jinyan feigned being woken by the soft sound of the opening door, quickly sitting up to look towards the entrance.
"It's me, Kafka."
"My apologies, did I wake you?" The corners of Kafka's lips curved into a captivating smile as she gracefully stepped closer to Su Jinyan and sat beside him.
"Kafka, what brings you here at such a late hour, just the two of us alone? Let me warn you, keep your distance—I'm a virtuous young man." Fearfully, Su Jinyan scooted backwards on the bed.
Fu Xuan remained silent, listening intently.
[Stelle: I prefer them pure; it adds more flavor when playing around.]
[March 7th: Something's off about you; stay away from me.]
[Stelle: Just kidding, and Su Jinyan isn't exactly pure either.]
[March 7th: We can no longer tell which of your words are true or false.]
Kafka's voice softened. "What, worried Fu Xuan might overhear?" she asked gently. "Don't concern yourself - this room has excellent soundproofing; nothing we say will be heard outside."
Su Jinyan firmly stated, "Even so, I would never betray my Shizun. She loves me deeply, and I love her just as much. My devotion to her is unwavering."
"If you're trying to tempt me, let me advise you to give up on that thought."
Kafka cast him a suspicious glance. Had he suddenly gone mad? When Fu Xuan was around, he acted more flirtatious than anyone, but now without Fu Xuan present, he's all bashful.
Do you only feel bold when Fu Xuan is watching?
"Hmm, well, regardless, it wasn't my intention," Kafka replied. "I came to ask you something. You have a strong affection for Silver Wolf, don't you?"
Su Jinyan remained silent. He longed to admit his feelings, but with Fu Xuan hiding nearby, it felt inappropriate.
The corners of Kafka's lips curved slightly upward. "No need to say it; I already know you like her."
"I quite like her too," Kafka responded. "Despite her small stature, she has many ideas."
"How about a deal? I'll help you win over Silver Wolf, but in return, you must agree to one condition of mine."
Su Jinyan asked, "You want to help me with Silver Wolf?"
Kafka nodded affirmatively.
"And the price would be my body?" Su Jinyan queried.
Looking slightly puzzled, Kafka replied, "Hmm... No, why would you think that?"
"The price is for you to maintain a reasonable distance from Stelle from now on, treating her solely as a friend."
Stelle raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Feigning ignorance, Su Jinyan said, "We're already friends."
Kafka crossed her slender legs gracefully. "No, I know your intentions well."
"Given your nature, it's only a matter of time before you make a move on her."
"To be frank, I don't wish for you to harbor any thoughts beyond friendship towards her, do you understand?"
Raising his eyebrows, Su Jinyan asked, "Kafka, honestly, I'm quite curious. What exactly is your relationship with Stelle?
"She told me that you were the one who left her at Herta space station."
After a moment of silence, Kafka chose to deceive him. "Genetically speaking, she is my child."
"A quarter of the data composing her body originates from me."
"However, Silver Wolf, Bladie, and Sam aren't really suited for taking care of children."
"So, the responsibility of teaching her fell on me, but this kid is incredibly mischievous, leaving me constantly overwhelmed."
"As soon as I get a chance, I promptly pass her off to the train conductor."
March 7th's lips parted slightly, clearly taken aback by Kafka's words.
Are you two truly mother and daughter? We always thought it was just a joke.
Now, a serious issue confronted March 7th. Having repeatedly denigrated their friend's mother in front of her, how could she make amends? It felt quite urgent.
Stelle couldn't help but shake his head; he knew Kafka's statement was a lie. It starkly contrasted with what she had revealed during their game of Truth or Dare.
Su Jinyan cast her a cold glance. "How unfortunate that she has such an irresponsible mother like you."
Despite Su Jinyan's scornful remark, Kafka seemed rather pleased. "Hmm, thank you for your assessment," she replied. "Indeed, as you said, I am an irresponsible mother."
"But now, having made so many genuine friends who genuinely care for her, she no longer needs me, does she?"
"Does she know about your mother-daughter relationship?" Su Jinyan asked.
"Ah... I haven't actually told her."
"So your answer is...?"
Su Jinyan replied solemnly, "I won't actively pursue her."
Kafka visibly sighed with relief.
But then Su Jinyan continued, "However, if she were to initiate and cling to me, I wouldn't reject it—ah..."
Why is Shizun randomly pinching me? Doesn't she risk giving herself away?
Kafka leaned closer to him, whispering softly, "Oh?"
"Is my offer not enticing enough for you? Or perhaps you don't find the Silver Wolf charming?"
"How about adding another stake?" Kafka suggested.
"Go on," Su Jinyan prompted.
Her slender, ivory-like fingers gently touched his lips as she began, "If...you can maintain a friendship with Stelle consistently and come to her aid whenever she's in danger..."
"I'll give you an unexpected reward."
"For example?"
"My kiss."
"Hmph, not interested. I'm no longer a curious child intrigued by kissing," Su Jinyan said, expression unchanging.
"It won't be a brief, restrained peck."
"But rather, a more intimate, more suggestive kiss. How does that sound?" Kafka's face held a composed smile.
She knew it well; Su Jinyan also harbored desires for her, so he would undoubtedly agree to her request.
Su Jinyan's gaze flickered slightly. "Kafka, suppose I deliberately maintain a friendship with Stelle."
"Even then, she still wants to cling to me and obtain me?"
Kafka chuckled softly. "You're perhaps overestimating your charm too much."
"Not even Credit can make everyone like it, let alone you?"
"Young girls' budding affections are inherently fragile."
"If you intentionally distance yourself from her, she'll naturally understand your intentions and back off accordingly."
Su Jinyan spoke slowly, "Very well, since you have such confidence in Stelle."
"Why don't we make a bet on this?"
[March 7th: Would you dare?]
[Stelle: Hmph, it's time to prove my allure.]
[The more he rejects me, the stronger my desire grows to conquer him, making him bow at my feet.]
[March 7th: Remember our agreement? You can only be my Strategist; you mustn't fall for him.]
[Stelle: We're best friends, haven't I earned your trust by now?]
[Once I help you win over Su Jinyan, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will be yours, while Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays will be mine. Let him rest on Sundays.]
In reality, Stelle was an artificial being created specifically to accommodate the Stellaron.
Her destiny was to receive the Stellaron at the Herta space station.
Until then, Kafka's responsibility was to protect her, treating her like her own daughter, and teaching her basic knowledge, understanding, as well as combat skills.
Although Stelle couldn't recall much about Kafka now, Kafka's affection for her remained profound.
Elio never disclosed what her future would hold or whether she would further intersect with Su Jinyan again.
Currently, Stelle had already displayed ambiguous feelings towards Su Jinyan, and their interactions were remarkably harmonious.
However, faced with an uncertain future, Kafka dared not let things progress unchecked. She did not want to envision a day when the girl she cherished might fall under Su Jinyan's influence.
Therefore, Kafka must find a way to nip this budding ambiguity between them.
Since Su Jinyan wanted to engage in a bet, Kafka was more than willing to play along.
A smile flickered in Kafka's beautiful eyes. "Alright, how do you propose we wager?"
Su Jinyan pondered briefly before responding, "From today onwards, I will deliberately maintain distance from Stelle."
"I'll tell her that I hope we can become very good friends."
"If, after one month, she still shows interest in me and approaches me willingly..."
"Then, as an unfit mother, you must apologize to Stelle and restore your mother-daughter relationship."
"And if I lose, whenever the Stellaron Hunters need assistance, I'll be at your beck and call."
Kafka's gaze sparkled mischievously as her slender, pale fingers gently caressed his chest.
"Oh? That's unexpected," she teased. "I thought if I lost the bet, you'd demand both of us to serve you together~"
Su Jinyan's throat bobbed slightly. "Would you have agreed?"
Kafka's expression turned suggestive, intentionally stirring his emotions:
"Of course I would, even before knowing the stakes," Su Jinyan replied. "But now that you've revealed them, changing your mind won't count anymore, oh~"
Contrary to Kafka's expectation, Su Jinyan did not show any signs of annoyance.
"Hmph, no matter," he retorted. "Even without a wager, I could still make both of you—"
Fu Xuan couldn't bear it any longer and fiercely raised her slender white hand.
Slap!
A crisp sound echoed through the room.
Kafka clutched her plump buttocks, her eyes wide with shock, clearly expressing her displeasure.
She was puzzled as to why their cordial conversation suddenly escalated into physical action from Su Jinyan. This was already the second time. His previous restraint seemed merely feigned; who could believe that Su Jinyan wasn't drawn to her beauty?
"This joke isn't funny at all."
"I demand an explanation," Kafka said sternly, suppressing her smile, arms crossed, drawing attention to her impressive curves.
Su Jinyan spoke earnestly, "Kafka, trust me, I didn't do it."
Shaking her head incredulously, Kafka chuckled, "Not you? And pray tell, should I believe there's someone else hidden here?"
"Are you trying to tell me that someone else was in your room?"
"That slap wasn't from you but someone else instead."
Su Jinyan fell silent.
Fu Xuan remained equally speechless.
Kafka lifted Su Jinyan's chin, leaning closer, her breath carrying a suggestive warmth.
"If this was your attempt at gaining my attention through unconventional means, consider it successful."
"But if you thought such a despicable act would win my favor," she continued, "I'm sorry to say, I have absolutely no interest in you. To me, you're merely a mischievous little brother, nothing more."
Su Jinyan maintained his courteous smile. "Kafka, truly, that slap just now was not mine. I can prove it to you."
A hint of doubt flickered in Kafka's beautiful eyes.
With ill intent, Su Jinyan raised his hand, ready to strike again.
Suddenly, Fu Xuan threw off the covers and seized Su Jinyan's wrist. "Stop!"
Initially taken aback, Kafka's gaze then turned contemplative as she looked at Fu Xuan.
"Why, it's the Grand Diviner himself!"
"It seems my earlier advice resonated with you after all."
"However, you didn't follow my instructions. Was it not thrilling enough for you?"
"How does ambushing your traitorous self feel?" Fu Xuan's captivating eyes showed no hint of embarrassment. "Hmph, Kafka."
"This venerable one had foreseen your nocturnal attack on A-Yan tonight," Fu Xuan continued. "Thus, I arrived early to await your arrival. Now that I've finally caught you, what do you have to say?"
Kafka clapped appreciatively. "Well spoken, Grand Diviner."
"Then could you explain why you chose to hide specifically under his bed covers?"
Fu Xuan waved dismissively, flustered. "No need to dwell on that."
"I must inform you, this venerable one has recorded your attempt to seduce my disciple just now."
"With such irrefutable evidence, even a traitor cannot plead your case. You will be confined to The Shackling Prison."
Kafka sighed softly. "Is that so? If we're truly going to expose our true intentions, there seems to be little choice..."
The tension in the room escalated, as if the air itself had frozen.
"Hold on—!" Struggling from beneath the bed, Stelle emerged with difficulty. "I have something to say. Little March, come out too."
Blushing furiously, March 7th slowly crawled out from underneath the bed.
Kafka looked puzzled.
Fu Xuan's expression mirrored her confusion.
Both their faces subtly shifted, showing hints of unease. Had they been too tense, inadvertently overlooking Stelle and March beneath the bed?
A gleeful satisfaction was evident on Stelle's charming face as she waved her phone. "Didn't see that coming, did you?"
"Like a sparrow lurking behind a praying mantis, I too can foresee and manipulate events."
"In fact, I anticipated Kafka and the Grand Diviner's nighttime ambush on A-Yan long ago."
"So, little March and I positioned ourselves under the bed beforehand."
March 7th proudly puffed out her small chest. "That's right, exactly like she said."
Smiling, Stelle addressed them, "Lady Fu Xuan, Kafka, surely you wouldn't want tonight's incident to be revealed, would you?"
Fu Xuan's cheeks flushed slightly, sounding somewhat flustered, "Y-you...what exactly did you hear?"
Su Jinyan couldn't help but cough discreetly, signaling Fu Xuan not to press further.
As expected, Fu Xuan's question only made matters worse; the eager March 7th could no longer contain herself. In front of everyone, she dramatically began her performance.
Peck—
March 7th gently kissed Stelle's cheek, parting instantly: "Ohh~ Shizun~"
Blushing, Stelle gently pushed her away. "Oh~ you naughty disciple, why still call me 'Shizun'? Call me Sweetie instead."
"Stop teasing, Sweetie~," March 7th replied playfully.
Stelle waved her small, pink-fisted hands, lightly pounding on March 7th's chest. "Disobedient apprentice~ missing you, missing you, miss-miss-missing you~"
March 7th, utterly flustered, responded, "Sweetie~ stop it, stop-stop-stop!"
Gah! Why are you hitting my chest so hard? Are you trying to flatten it?
Kafka's expression grew complicated, unable to resist stealing several glances at Fu Xuan.
Grand Diviner Fu, I never expected such coquettish behavior from you privately—it's truly nauseating.
Su Jinyan remained silent, caught off guard.
Fu Xuan, mortified beyond measure, was more furious than embarrassed, her delicate body trembling with anger. "You two! When—when has this venerable one ever acted that exaggeratedly?!"
Keenly seizing upon the slip in Fu Xuan's words, Kafka retorted, "So you're admitting you've indeed behaved similarly with A-Yan, correct?"
Fu Xuan's charming face froze, and she tugged plaintively at Su Jinyan's sleeve. With him present, she couldn't assert her authority; all she could do was hope for his intervention.
Su Jinyan enveloped Fu Xuan protectively in his arms, his expression stern as he said,
"That's enough! My Shizun has a thin face; you shouldn't bully him like this."
"Agreed on both counts," Kafka responded. "Let's keep today's events strictly between us—no spreading it outside, understood?"
The girls exchanged glances and nodded silently, understanding the unspoken agreement.
Just then, Silver Wolf entered, blowing a bubblegum bubble. "Oh hey, everyone's here. Perfect timing to make an announcement." First, she pulled the dazed Fu Xuan from Su Jinyan's embrace. Then, with swift fluidity akin to drifting clouds or flowing water, she pushed Su Jinyan onto the bed and stepped atop it barefoot.
Silver Wolf glanced at the group, noting their varied expressions. "This guy is mine for tonight—he'll be staying up all night gaming with me. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"
March 7th raised her small hand high. "I disagree!"
With a scoff, Silver Wolf produced footage of March 7th sneaking into Su Jinyan's room. "Now?"
March 7th fell silent.
Silver Wolf calmly stated, "Videos of each of your encounters tonight will remain with me. After tonight, I'll destroy them. However, if any of you refuse, I'll distribute these clips on the Xianzhou Luofu Forum and the Astral Express knowledge bank."
The girls were struck speechless.
Silver Wolf surveyed them assertively. "Now I'll ask again."
"Su Jinyan will accompany me in gaming all night long without any breaks."
"Who agrees? Who disagrees?"
Weakly raising his hand, Su Jinyan asked, "Can I oppose this?"
Unmercifully, Silver Wolf lifted her snow-white foot and pressed it against his face. "Opposition overruled!"