Evening.
"I'm not hungry."
Ye Chuan, seated at the dining table, turned his gaze toward the cold-faced young woman sitting stiffly on a chair not far away. He had prepared a lavish meal the moment he returned home, only for Bai Qianshuang to remain unmoved when he called her to eat.
Bai Qianshuang had changed back into her white robe, her jet-black hair cascading down like an ink painting, her demeanor so ethereal she might as well have been an actual celestial being.
No—she was a celestial being.
"Not hungry?" Ye Chuan asked.
"Not hungry." Bai Qianshuang’s expression remained indifferent, her beautiful eyes devoid of any emotion. She sat quietly, unwilling to say another word.
Even as her stomach growled thunderously.
If I hadn’t seen the logs of you rolling around starving in bed, I might’ve believed you…
Of course, Ye Chuan didn’t voice that thought. Noticing Bai Qianshuang’s frosty attitude, he asked, puzzled, "Did I do something to upset you? Why the sudden cold shoulder? Is it that time of the month?"
"My aunt has long passed away."
"That’s not the kind of 'aunt' I meant," Ye Chuan said.
"I only have one aunt." Bai Qianshuang’s peripheral vision kept drifting toward the fragrant dishes on the table. Her throat moved involuntarily before she muttered,
"You—the scoundrel who stole my undergarments last night."
Huh?
Ye Chuan blinked. Undergarments?
"When did I ever do such a thing?" he asked, baffled. Last night, he had been on the verge of suffocating all night due to his weak heart—when would he have had the time to steal undergarments?
Had a thief broken in?
Bai Qianshuang studied Ye Chuan’s expression and saw no trace of deception. She frowned slightly but still explained, "This morning, you placed my undergarments on the table along with my robe."
With the robe…
Oh, so that wasn’t a belt—it was underwear?
Finally understanding, Ye Chuan realized why Bai Qianshuang had been treating him like a pervert since he got home.
But was it really his fault?
The system had given it as a reward, and he had assumed it was just a belt, so he’d left it with the robe. Even if he had known, he wouldn’t have cared.
I’d rather have gotten another Tiger Strength Pill.
Ye Chuan valued practicality—especially things that could cure his illness.
"I thought it was a belt and washed it with the robe," Ye Chuan said, straight-faced, sensing the tension.
"When I changed into that black dress, I didn’t take it off," Bai Qianshuang retorted coldly, convinced he was just making excuses.
"Are you sure?" Ye Chuan raised his voice. "You were exhausted yesterday, barely conscious—can you really be certain?"
Bai Qianshuang hesitated at his words, seeing the mix of indignation and hurt on his face. "I…"
But she distinctly remembered…
Slap!
Ye Chuan’s palm struck the table with a loud bang, jolting Bai Qianshuang out of her thoughts. Clutching his chest in exaggerated anguish, he cried,
"Not only did I wash your clothes, but I rushed back from school to cook for you because I was worried you’d be hungry—and this is how you repay me?!"
"You passed out multiple times yesterday. If I really wanted to do something, why would I just steal undergarments? I could’ve—ahem—done way worse! And even if I had stolen them, would I have washed them and given them back?"
His words left Bai Qianshuang speechless. Her eyes flickered as she realized his logic was flawless.
Who would steal something only to clean it and return it?
Besides, she had been in no state to resist—depleted of spiritual energy and injured, she had been weaker than an ordinary person.
Realizing she might have wronged Ye Chuan, guilt immediately flooded her heart. "I’m sorry, Ye Chuan. I misunderstood you."
"Too late. You’ve wounded my soul," Ye Chuan said icily, slumping into his chair.
When Bai Qianshuang met his gaze, he deliberately turned away.
Silence. Let her stew in it.
Seeing his refusal to acknowledge her, Bai Qianshuang quickly moved to sit beside him. "Please give me a chance to make it up to you."
Her voice grew quieter, her head bowing in shame.
"Fine, I’ll let it go," Ye Chuan relented after a pause, waving a hand.
"But you’d better give me some legendary immortal cultivation technique as compensation."
Bai Qianshuang looked troubled. "My storage pouch is gone, and the Jade Void Sect’s techniques are only suited for women."
"Then do you have anything that can boost strength or cure illnesses?" Ye Chuan pressed.
"Dual cultivation," Bai Qianshuang suggested after a moment.
"You know it?" Ye Chuan was surprised.
"I grew up training in the Jade Void Sect and have never taken a cultivation partner," Bai Qianshuang admitted. Though many of her fellow disciples kept companions for dual cultivation, she had always relied on herself.
"So you can’t do this, can’t do that—how exactly are you going to make it up to me?" Ye Chuan challenged.
Stumped, Bai Qianshuang fell silent before finally murmuring, "Ye Chuan, I’ll do anything you ask. Consider it my apology."
"Oh? So if I said I wanted to touch you, you’d agree?"
Bai Qianshuang shuddered slightly, her fingers tightening around her robe. "Since I was at fault… yes."
"Then just promise you’ll stay here with me," Ye Chuan said with a grin.
Bai Qianshuang closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling. "Very well."
A second later, her eyes flew open. "You… don’t want to touch me?"
"Did I say I would? You’re the one with the dirty mind," Ye Chuan teased, raising an eyebrow.
Bai Qianshuang’s ears turned red, the flush spreading down her neck. "I—I didn’t mean anything by it," she stammered.
"Just keep your promise—no running off," Ye Chuan said.
Obviously, the daily 2,000 yuan is way better than groping some woman.
His biggest fear was Bai Qianshuang leaving.
The longer she stayed, the better—ideally, forever.
She was like a sunflower that passively generated sunlight, occasionally dropping cultivation tools. If Ye Chuan weren’t so principled, anyone else might’ve just locked her up.
Besides, he needed to build goodwill. Doing something like that would only ruin it.
Ye Chuan wasn’t that stupid.
"Ye Chuan, you’re a righteous man," Bai Qianshuang exhaled softly, clearly moved by his integrity. His actions over the past two days had earned her deep trust, and the sight of the table full of food stirred genuine gratitude.
He had cared for her without expecting anything in return.
The thought of having nearly wronged such a selfless person filled her with remorse.
Grrrr— Another loud growl from her stomach.
Ye Chuan shot her a glance. "Let’s eat first. Your stomach’s about to start a symphony."
Later, he’d have to teach her how to use the shower.