Qingque repeated those words meaningfully.
"Yeah! So I was thinking..."
"Don't even think about it!"
Qingque immediately spoke up.
"Liuge, have you thought about what it means when someone often works overtime and rarely goes home?"
"Hmm?"
"It means she does go home sometimes! And besides, you and Miss Tingyun aren't a couple. Staying at her house out of the blue would affect her reputation!"
For some reason, Qingque was like a detective now, pinpointing the part that had felt off to Liuge and finally clearing it up for him.
He looked at Tingyun with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, Miss Tingyun. Even though your home is large, men and women should keep their distance. Although you agreed to let me stay at your place, it really wouldn't be appropriate. If others saw a man staying at your house, it would affect your reputation. So... let's forget about it!"
"But..."
Just as Tingyun was about to say something, Qingque spoke again.
"Besides, there's no need to trouble the Amicassador. Liuge's home is right next to mine."
With a smiling face, Qingque grabbed Liuge's hand with her grease-stained barbecue fingers and pulled him toward herself.
Mm, he didn't budge!
Qingque glanced at Liuge and pulled again!
Liuge looked at Qingque helplessly. He really wanted to say something.
Could you wipe the barbecue grease off your hands first?
Still, judging by what Qingque had said, she really did seem to know him—and had known him for a long time.
If that was the case, it explained why Qingque had been so familiar with him from the start.
Listening to Qingque, Tingyun's hand holding the Six-Ribbed Folding Fan tightened imperceptibly before she closed it.
"If that is the case, then that would be for the best."
Tingyun was smiling as well, and there was nothing visibly wrong with her.
Yet her gaze was fixed on Qingque, while Qingque smiled back at Tingyun.
For some reason, Liuge felt as though sparks were flying where their gazes met.
What a strange illusion!
"Alright, alright, now that you know where I live, let's head home and rest!"
After finishing the meal, Liuge felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him.
So he suggested that they part ways here.
Of course, Liuge and Qingque would go together, while Tingyun would head off alone.
At that moment, it was as though some battle had just determined its victor.
Qingque looked absolutely delighted, while Tingyun showed little reaction, though the tail behind her seemed to droop slightly.
"In that case..."
Just as Tingyun was about to say something, Liuge took a pendant from his clothes. It was shaped like a cross.
He handed the pendant to Tingyun.
"Miss Tingyun, this is for you. I hope it brings you good luck!"
"Huh, for me?"
In an instant, Tingyun's slightly drooping tail sprang upright, and there was a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Mm!"
Liuge nodded. After all, Phantylia was still in hiding. There was no telling whether something might happen and Tingyun would be replaced midway through.
This cross was the first tangible light orb he had obtained at Herta Space Station.
That was right—the magical cross outfit that had instantly changed Liuge into a school swimsuit.
"Oh, right. This thing has a special ability too, something like the effect of a Word Spirit. After you recite it, it can improve your body in every aspect!"
As he spoke, Liuge handed Tingyun the paper containing the incantation for the magical outfit.
Looking at the note in her hand, Tingyun instinctively wanted to read it aloud.
The moment Liuge saw that, he stopped her.
"Ahem, Miss Tingyun, you shouldn't recite that here. Wait until you're truly in danger and can't deal with it before you say it..."
Liuge was genuinely afraid that Tingyun would recite it here, change into a school swimsuit, and kill him with one embarrassed punch!
"So that's how it is. Then this little lady shall thank you for your gift, benefactor~"
"Ahem..."
Liuge awkwardly had no idea what to say...
P.S. Ahem, please bookmark, vote, and donate, QAQ.
Good Luck Bell
Watching the somewhat excited Tingyun leave, Liuge let out a small sigh of relief.
When he turned around, however, he found Qingque staring blankly at Tingyun's departing back.
Seeing her like this, Liuge was rather puzzled.
He waved a hand in front of Qingque's face, signaling for her to come back to her senses.
"Ah, oh!" Qingque snapped out of it, but there was something strange in the way she looked at Liuge.
That look made Liuge uncomfortable.
"So, where are we going now?"
Liuge asked somewhat awkwardly.
But Qingque simply stared straight at him without saying a word.
Her expression seemed to say that she was unhappy.
"W-what's wrong?"
Honestly, Liuge was completely confused.
Hadn't Qingque been fine just now? What was going on now?
Seeing Liuge's cluelessness, Qingque could only sigh.
"Forget... forget it!"
As though she had accepted her fate, Qingque, who had seemed rather smug before, now looked like a defeated rooster, utterly dejected.
She slowly walked ahead to lead Liuge, with no intention of speaking at all.
Liuge fell silent. Thinking of Qingque staring at Tingyun's back earlier and then looking at how she was now, he seemed to arrive at an answer.
After looking around, Liuge's eyes lit up.
There seemed to be an accessory shop up ahead on the right.
Looking at Qingque's dispirited figure as she walked ahead without a care, he smiled.
He entered the accessory shop and stopped to take a look around.
The clerk was a Xianzhou native who looked as though she had just turned eighteen.
However, on the Xianzhou, one could not judge Xianzhou natives by appearance alone. After all, the people here had received Yaoshi's blessing and belonged to the long-life species. This woman might look barely eighteen, but she could very well have just turned eighty.
"Sir, is there any accessory that catches your eye?"
The woman stepped forward with a professionally polite smile on her face.
After giving the displays a quick look, Liuge fixed his gaze on an antique bronze bell. It was finely crafted, yet carried an aged look.
"You have a good eye, sir. This is the last Good Luck Bell in our shop. Its meaning is that every ring brings good fortune, so we rarely have any in stock. The one I have here happens to be the last one in the store."
The woman smilingly took down the bell and showed it to Liuge.
The moment he received it, a trait dropped out of the bell.
However, Liuge had no time to see what the trait was.
He merely looked at the bell in his hand and gently shook it a few times.
The crisp, pleasant chime was soothing to hear.
"I'll take it. How much Stellar Jade?"
Liuge nodded and looked at the woman.
"Well, since this item is in high demand, so..."
"So how much?"
"999 Stellar Jade!"
Liuge frowned when he heard the clerk's price.
"99 Stellar Jade!"
"Deal!"
Liuge tentatively tried haggling, but the moment he finished speaking, the clerk immediately agreed to the transaction.
The instant deal left Liuge dumbfounded.
Damn, I offered too much!
Watching the clerk package the bell and hand it over to him,
Liuge could only sigh and silently take out Stellar Jade to pay.
Come to think of it, the Stellar Jade in his possession had been given to him by Tingyun and Jing Yuan.
Thinking of it that way, it did not hurt quite as much anymore.
Holding the gift box containing the bell, Liuge turned and walked back toward Qingque.
After watching Liuge leave, the clerk silently took out another identical bell from behind the counter and hung it back in its original spot. Then she began counting the Stellar Jade she had just received at the counter.
"Hehe, a net profit of 69 Stellar Jade!"
Meanwhile, Liuge returned to Qingque.
By now, Qingque had realized Liuge was no longer behind her and was looking around for him.
When she saw Liuge returning with something in his hand, she turned back around, preparing to continue leading him home.
Right now, she really did not want to talk to Liuge.
—She had decided to ignore this idiot for an entire day!
However, Liuge, who had already returned behind her, reached out and patted her head.
The touch on her head made Qingque turn around in displeasure, ready to glare fiercely at Liuge and express her dissatisfaction.
But the moment she turned around and saw Liuge handing her a small gift box, she was no longer angry. She even became a little happy.
"For me?"
Her deliberately reserved manner made Liuge want to laugh.
But he maintained his expression and calmly nodded.
The moment she received confirmation, Qingque eagerly took the box and quickly opened it.
Inside was a small but exquisitely crafted bell.
"This..."
Qingque looked at the bell, and a flicker of joy flashed through her eyes.
Before you continue