Warmth

Yaoye leaned against the bed and patted her shoulder, signaling Xiao Shuang with her eyes.

Seeing Yaoye's gesture, Xiao Shuang could only step closer and gently massage her shoulders.

Yaoye let out a comfortable moan and said pointedly, "It does feel nice. No wonder you always had that little maid massage you."

Xiao Shuang gave a bitter smile. He had known this massage came with ulterior motives, but he did not expose them, merely increasing the force of his hands slightly.

"Hey, what are you doing? Don't tell me you got embarrassed and angry just because I said a few things?" Yaoye narrowed her eyes and looked at Xiao Shuang teasingly, a faint smile still on her lips.

"Oh? How could that be?" Xiao Shuang feigned surprise, blinking innocently. "I simply thought this would make the Princess more comfortable. It seems I only made things worse."

The two looked at each other for a long while, then burst out laughing together.

"Hahaha, you're much more likable like this. That cold, icy look of yours is far too hard to approach!"

"Whatever way the Princess likes me, that's what I'll be." Xiao Shuang had shed his former indifference. In truth, he was quite cheerful inside, though for some unknown reason, he now disliked talking and socializing.

Yaoye closed her eyes and focused on enjoying Xiao Shuang's massage as she asked, "Are you still going to Jia Nan Academy? If you lack cultivation resources, then just return to the Royal Family with me."

"If the two of us can marry, all the Royal Family's resources will be at your disposal."

Though Yaoye's offer was extremely tempting, Xiao Shuang's answer was equally decisive. "No. I'm the one who will marry you and take you home. What would it look like if you kept me in the Royal Family? Never mind what others would think—you'd be the first to look down on me, wouldn't you?"

"Besides, I promised that old man I would become a Dou Wang within ten years, then come and marry you in glory."

Yaoye was highly satisfied with Xiao Shuang's ambition. Princess Yaoye herself was exceptionally ambitious. If she had a true powerhouse by her side, the Jia Ma Empire would begin expanding its territory. She had no intention of being content with one corner of the world.

Judging from Xiao Shuang's current potential, he possessed such qualifications. In Yaoye's eyes, even his claim of becoming a Dou Wang within ten years was not impossible.

"I'm truly looking forward to that day. Perhaps by then, even my Royal Family will have to act according to your wishes." Yaoye glanced at Xiao Shuang, a trace of feigned reproach on her face, though the amusement in her eyes came from the depths of her heart.

"How could that be? To me, you'll always be Her Highness the Princess." Xiao Shuang's usual cool demeanor had vanished, and as he spoke with Yaoye, he could not help teasing her a little.

"Oh my, you certainly know how to please me. Don't tell me you're trying to get more Dou Techniques from me? Let me make this clear: if you satisfy me, it's not as though I don't have any Xuan-class Dou Techniques." Yaoye looked at Xiao Shuang with a radiant smile, her expression full of temptation as though waiting for his response.

Naturally, Xiao Shuang did not disappoint her. Spreading his hands, he said, "How would you like me to please you, Your Highness? I'm only ten years old. What bad intentions could a child possibly have? Yet you're bullying someone smaller than you. That really is beneath your dignity."

Yaoye showed great interest in this sort of banter. She directly pushed aside Xiao Shuang's massaging hands and sat upright.

"A ten-year-old child? Does that make me an old cow eating tender grass?"

This topic was a little dangerous. No girl wanted to hear about her age, and if he answered poorly, he would probably lose points with her.

"Of course not. If it's you, Sister, then I'm more than willing." Xiao Shuang avoided the sensitive subject, directly reframing the issue of her being older than him. That single "Sister" pleased Yaoye immensely.

"Hm? Then Sister will reluctantly give you two Dou Techniques. Just remember Sister's kindness." Clearly, Yaoye was also very satisfied with Xiao Shuang's answer. Upon hearing him call her Sister, some peculiar preference within her seemed to awaken subconsciously.

She lightly brushed the storage ring on her left hand, and two scrolls appeared in her palm.

But when Yaoye saw the storage ring on Xiao Shuang's hand, obvious disdain flashed across her face. This was the husband she had chosen—how could he use such a low-grade storage ring?

With a turn of her hand, an azure storage ring appeared in Yaoye's palm. Even Yaoye's face showed a trace of pained reluctance as she looked at it. This storage ring seemed even more precious than Xuan-class Dou Techniques.

Xiao Shuang was startled as he accepted the storage ring. He tried to probe the items stored within it with his soul perception, only to find his senses blocked by another soul force. He asked in surprise, "No way. Did calling you Sister make you that happy?"

"Yes, Little Brother did very well. Sister is giving up something she dearly loves. Even among the Royal Family's treasures, this Azure Sea Storage Ring is one of the most precious items." Yaoye gave the ring one last lingering look, and the soul mark she had left on it dissipated as well.

Xiao Shuang put the storage ring on his ring finger and solemnly promised, "Xiao Shuang will never betray the Princess's affection. Should I ever do so, may heaven and man alike condemn me!"

Yaoye nodded, then lazily lay back on the bed, extending one slender leg and giving Xiao Shuang a look.

Understanding her meaning, Xiao Shuang sat at the edge of the bed, placed Yaoye's lower leg across his lap, and began to massage it slowly.

His strength was perfectly controlled. Yaoye stretched comfortably, then narrowed her eyes, looking as though she wanted to take a short nap.

Yaoye's jade-like leg felt wonderful in his hands, soft and warm like fragrant jade, carrying the sweet scent of a young girl. Xiao Shuang did not feel tired at all.

Watching the girl fall asleep before him without the slightest guard up, Xiao Shuang smiled helplessly. Logically speaking, shouldn't a Princess of the Royal Family be extremely cautious? Yet she had fallen asleep right in front of him like this. What kind of giveaway plot was this?

Yaoye's trust warmed Xiao Shuang's heart even more. He gently set down her leg, pulled over a thin blanket from the side, and covered her body.

After finishing all that, Xiao Shuang sat on a stool. Seeing that his bed had been occupied by someone else, he could only smile bitterly.

"Uh, am I supposed to sit on this stool the whole time? I'm worried if I leave her here alone. Seriously, why can't she be a little more guarded? Though this does feel rather warm." As soon as Xiao Shuang finished speaking, the window Ping'er had already closed was opened again, and the hemp-robed old man jumped in without a care.

"Hey, hey, do people from the Royal Family not like using doors? Why do all of you have to come in through windows?"

Seeing the familiar hemp-robed old man, Xiao Shuang covered his head and could not help complaining.

Jia Xingtian actually showed a trace of embarrassment. With a wave of his hand, he closed the window again.

"You're a fine child. Yaoye truly has good taste." Jia Xingtian coughed lightly, and there was more approval in his gaze as he looked at Xiao Shuang.

"Since that is the case, you may call me Elder Jia."