"Hmph, you jerk." Seeing Ye Chuan's smug expression, Luo Xi immediately raised her crab-like pincers to pinch his waist.
Though Ye Chuan's current physical strength made him completely impervious to pain, he still pretended to wince for show.
After a while, the middle-aged man finished his conversation with Luo's father and left. From the way they had been talking, it seemed as though they were old friends who had known each other for years.
"Ye Chuan, take Xiao Xi home first," Luo's father said, as if he had something else to attend to, instructing Ye Chuan to escort Luo Xi away.
"Mm." Ye Chuan had no objections.
Though Luo Xi was curious about what her father was up to, she didn’t ask and simply followed Ye Chuan as they left.
...
The alleyway’s stone pavement glistened under the faint remnants of rainwater, its cracks reflecting the dim ambient light.
Walking away from the bustling food street, Luo Xi’s flip-flops tapped lightly against the bricks, her fair, delicate toes peeking out. Playfully, she wrapped her arms around Ye Chuan’s arm, pressing close.
In the deserted alley, the intimacy of the girl’s gesture made Ye Chuan glance sideways. Feeling the softness pressed against him, he smirked. "This thirsty, huh?"
Luo Xi responded with a cat-like expression, only looking more pleased with herself. "Got a problem with that?"
Then she closed her eyes, shuffling closer until her chin nearly touched his chest, her long lashes fluttering faintly.
Ye Chuan’s gaze flickered to the side, where Lan Xiaoke blinked innocently before turning away, pretending to be completely oblivious.
After a while, Luo Xi finally pulled back, burying her face in Ye Chuan’s chest with a satisfied sigh, though she didn’t forget to swat away his wandering hands—though given the lack of onlookers, she let him have his fun for a bit.
Ye Chuan hadn’t expected Luo Xi to become so clingy after they started dating.
Not that he minded.
After seeing Luo Xi home, Ye Chuan and Lan Xiaoke returned to their place.
The moment they stepped inside, Lan Xiaoke’s outfit shifted back into her maid dress, and she immediately grabbed a broom, humming as she started sweeping. "Xiaoke No. 1 is on cleaning duty. Payment required: 100 yuan."
"Pay you after you finish," Ye Chuan said, pinching her chubby cheek before heading into the living room.
Ignoring Lan Xiaoke’s chaotic sweeping, Ye Chuan was surprised to find Bai Qianshuang lounging on the couch, watching TV at this hour—with the snacks he’d bought spread out in front of her.
Bai Qianshuang hugged a pillow, her hair still slightly damp from a recent shower.
Dressed in loose pajamas, her slender legs stretched lazily.
Noticing Ye Chuan’s return, she glanced back, her lashes fluttering slightly, making the beauty mark under her eye all the more striking. "You’re back, Ye Chuan."
"Took a shower?" Ye Chuan asked. Wasn’t Bai Qianshuang the type to avoid bathing?
"I thought I should adapt to life here. It’s quite pleasant," Bai Qianshuang explained, pulling out her phone to show a saved video extolling the benefits of bathing.
"You’re a cultivator. Do you really need to follow science?" Ye Chuan couldn’t help but chuckle at her earnest expression.
"It feels nice," Bai Qianshuang said, lifting a strand of her hair for him to smell. "Shampoo. It’s fragrant."
"True enough."
Time to introduce this ancient-minded woman to the wonders of industrial-strength artificial scents.
But Ye Chuan also noticed Bai Qianshuang’s loose attire—and from his standing position behind her, the view was… generous. Whether she was simply unaware or unused to modern clothing, he couldn’t tell.
Ye Chuan suddenly spoke up. "Qianshuang, do you need pocket money?"
Money?
Bai Qianshuang looked up, then shook her head. "No need."
She had no use for material wealth or even food (snacks excluded). A simple place to stay was enough.
Extremely low maintenance.
"Pocket money?" Lan Xiaoke’s head popped up from between the couch cushions like a balloon. "I hear the sweet jingle of coins!"
"Work hard on your cultivation, and you’ll get some too," Ye Chuan said, pushing her head back down.
He sat with Bai Qianshuang for a while, watching her preferred educational programs. According to her, they were full of fascinating knowledge.
Admittedly, for someone raised on cultivation, modern science was as mind-blowing as magic would be to an ordinary person. Seeing how engrossed she was, Ye Chuan left her to it and went to shower.
As soon as Ye Chuan disappeared into the bathroom, Lan Xiaoke sidled up to Bai Qianshuang. "Ye Chuan’s really nice to you, huh?"
After all, Lan Xiaoke had to work for her allowance, while Bai Qianshuang got hers without lifting a finger.
Bai Qianshuang nodded softly. She did feel that Ye Chuan treated her well.
Even though she had done nothing for him in return.
"I want to repay Ye Chuan," Bai Qianshuang said. Merely protecting him for life didn’t seem like enough.
Lan Xiaoke’s eyes gleamed mischievously. "Then repay him!"
"How?"
"Listen—Ye Chuan makes me clean. If you help out too, he’ll definitely be happy," Lan Xiaoke suggested. "Take the initiative with chores."
Bai Qianshuang’s hair antenna perked up. That did make sense. She had already been trying, like cooking—though her skills were still… a work in progress.
"Very well. I shall assist you in cleaning this abode," Bai Qianshuang declared.
(●´ω｀●) Lan Xiaoke nodded eagerly like a pecking chick.
...
When Ye Chuan stepped out of the shower, he found Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke missing, assuming they’d retreated to their rooms.
Shrugging, he headed to his own room and sat down.
Opening the "Tenant of Ten Thousand Realms" app, he noticed both Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke—his two little sunflowers—had dropped items for him.
[Item: Revitalizing Pill
Low-grade elixir. Upon consumption, stimulates vitality and repairs damaged meridians and organs.]
[Item: Ghost-Summoning Talisman (10-Li Radius)
Activates to command all low-level spirits within a 10-li radius once (effect varies with user’s strength).]
A Revitalizing Pill?
Well, well.
Finally, Bai Qianshuang had coughed up a proper healing pill. Ye Chuan’s eyes lit up—this meant Luo Xi’s mother could make a full recovery.
Truly, his precious money tree never disappointed.
Holding the emerald-green pill, Ye Chuan opened the alchemy interface and saw that the recipe for the Revitalizing Pill had been unlocked.
Time to brew!