Is this word for you to use

"Indeed, I only recently found out that A-Yun is actually Nangong Xiyun. I was completely fooled."

Since the truth was already out, there was no point hiding it. Su Luo might as well say it outright. He wasn’t afraid of losing face—being deceived wasn’t enough to break his composure.

"No, no, that’s not what I’m focusing on. Did you just say she kissed you?"

Jiang Ningshu was stunned. How could Nangong Xiyun do something like that? She was supposed to be a proud, aloof person—how could she suddenly act so boldly?

The situation should have unfolded like this: Nangong Xiyun’s identity is exposed, Su Luo grows to resent her, their relationship falls apart, she desperately tries to explain but he refuses to believe her, and after exhausting all options, she leaves in disgrace.

That was how it should have gone. That was the scenario Jiang Ningshu wanted to see—and frankly, the only one that made sense.

So why was everything veering off in such a bizarre direction?

And Nangong Xiyun—since when did explanations involve physical actions? That was just underhanded! Was this even a valid way to resolve things?

Jiang Ningshu stared at Su Luo’s lips, wondering—what had Nangong Xiyun been feeling in that moment? Was she really that daring?

Maybe she should try it too, just to understand.

Almost as if possessed, Jiang Ningshu leaned forward slightly.

"What are you doing?"

Su Luo’s voice snapped her back to reality. "Nothing," she said quickly. "Just—what happened after she kissed you?"

Su Luo thought Jiang Ningshu was focusing on the wrong thing. Shouldn’t the fact that Nangong Xiyun had infiltrated his ranks in disguise be the bigger issue?

Since when did a Demon Lord enjoy gossip?

"Yeah, I didn’t expect her to kiss me either. She ran off right after, and now I can’t even find her."

Logically, she hadn’t left—Nangong Xiyun had said she would continue playing the role of the East Extreme Demon Lord, so she must still be around. Su Luo didn’t think she would lie to him or go back on her word.

Jiang Ningshu clicked her tongue. No wonder Nangong Xiyun had been avoiding Su Luo—something like this had already happened.

But speaking of Nangong Xiyun, why wasn’t Su Luo angry at all?

"Aren’t you mad at her?" Jiang Ningshu asked. "She deceived you for so long."

Su Luo shook his head. "Not really. If she managed to fool me for that long, she’s got skill. I can accept losing fair and square."

Mostly, he was just shocked.

Jiang Ningshu sighed in disappointment. Yet again, Su Luo wasn’t reacting the way she’d hoped—no resentment, no fallout.

What was wrong with these two?

"Tch. How boring. Being this magnanimous will only get you taken advantage of."

Then again, Jiang Ningshu could sort of understand. After all, she too had been fooled by Luo Xinlan for a long time.

People formed attachments.

And truthfully, Jiang Ningshu wasn’t all that angry at Luo Xinlan either—just sad.

Of course, the dead should be left in peace.

Besides, Luo Xinlan and Nangong Xiyun were nothing alike.

"It’s not about magnanimity. She just never crossed my bottom line."

Before this, as A-Yun, Nangong Xiyun had never harmed Su Luo. On the contrary, she’d done everything flawlessly—so much so that Su Luo had often thought A-Yun was the perfect subordinate.

"True, A-Yun wasn’t bad," Jiang Ningshu conceded, though she was just stating facts.

"Ah, but she’s Nangong Xiyun now, not my little subordinate anymore. Watch what you say—you’re no match for her in your current state."

"Tch. We’ll see about that when we fight. I’m not scared of her."

"You should focus on recovering to your third stage first." Su Luo really didn’t want Nangong Xiyun and Jiang Ningshu clashing right now.

He had no idea they’d already fought once before.

"Fine, fine, whatever you say. By the way, how did you find out A-Yun was Nangong Xiyun?" Jiang Ningshu had almost forgotten to ask—she was genuinely curious what had given Nangong Xiyun away.

Logically, if she’d hidden her identity for so long, the chances of slipping up should’ve been minimal.

"In the Decaying Maze, the East Extreme Demon Lord attacked me. Nangong Xiyun killed him."

Su Luo kept it brief, but Jiang Ningshu could piece together the rest.

"What was her expression like?"

She must not have wanted to reveal herself, yet had no choice. What kind of face had she made in that moment?

Jiang Ningshu regretted not seeing it firsthand.

Still, if she’d exposed herself to save Su Luo, then at least she’d done the right thing.

Her expression?

Had she looked… apologetic?

Why? Did she actually have feelings for him?

Until he asked her directly, Su Luo couldn’t bring himself to believe it.

"Anyway, I don’t know what she was thinking. All I know is I was completely stunned. You have no idea—it’s been ages since I’ve made that kind of face."

"Hah! Can you recreate it for me?" Jiang Ningshu really wanted to see Su Luo’s dumbfounded expression. Just imagining it made her struggle to keep a straight face.

The contrast must’ve been hilarious.

Su Luo shot her an unamused look. "You already saw it earlier. The diary thing was just as shocking."

"True. This diary… I guess it’s the bond between us now." Jiang Ningshu hugged the diary to her chest, feeling smug. This was a small victory over Nangong Xiyun.

Nothing Nangong Xiyun had done could compare to this diary—it held Su Luo’s greatest secret.

"A Demon Lord talking about ‘bonds’ is just weird."

Was that even a word she should be using?

Jiang Ningshu argued, "We’ve been through a lot together too! We just fought side by side, and now I have your diary. By any measure, our relationship is special."

"Yeah, yeah, we’re ‘special.’ So, about that diary—can you stop reading it?"

"No way." She tightened her grip, as if Su Luo might snatch it away.

Not that he could—even he couldn’t forcibly take back his own diary. He could only control what he wrote in it.

Su Luo shrugged. He was just teasing—he didn’t actually mind her reading it. After all, he decided what went in there.

More importantly:

"Thank you for telling me about the diary." Su Luo meant it.

No matter what, Jiang Ningshu’s honesty had moved him deeply.

Putting himself in her shoes, Su Luo knew he’d never have revealed such a secret.

Yet Jiang Ningshu had chosen to tell him. How could he not feel grateful?

Jiang Ningshu blinked, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected thanks—she hadn’t told him about the diary for praise.

But Su Luo’s words made her smile. This was just like him.

"If you’re really grateful, show it with actions."

"So…?"

"Carry me out. I’m exhausted."

A lie.

But a transparent one wasn’t really a lie at all.

Su Luo saw no reason to refuse such a small request. He crouched down.

With a soft "hmph," Jiang Ningshu climbed onto his back.

Su Luo stood, adjusting his grip, and began walking out with her in tow.

Jiang Ningshu melted against him, relaxed and boneless, like a soft cake, her faint, unique scent lingering in the air.