On her birthday, Jin Lingfeng had spoken up for Bibi Dong and helped them reconcile. Now, with the matter of the "gift," Qian Renxue knew they must have coordinated beforehand, but she did not expose them...
About ten minutes later, the gates of the Papal Palace opened once more.
Jin Lingfeng and Qian Renxue turned around and saw a young woman in a short palace dress approaching, a white veil covering her cheeks.
The simple short palace dress outlined her tall, flawless figure, carrying the unique charm of a mature woman.
Her long legs, wrapped in flesh-colored stockings, were slender and flawless, without a trace of excess fat. Her full breasts and alluring curves were enough to make women everywhere pale in comparison.
A white veil covered the woman's exquisite face. Though her features could not be seen clearly, her curved brows and joyful eyes revealed the overwhelming happiness flowing across her cheeks...
"Jin Lingfeng, Xue'er, let's go."
Bibi Dong came before the two of them and spoke slowly.
"Mm... all right, Your Holiness."
"Xue'er, let's go."
Bibi Dong's current attire stunned Jin Lingfeng for a moment. After coming back to himself, he spoke gently to Qian Renxue beside him.
Qian Renxue nodded slightly. Without the papal robes, Bibi Dong seemed much more approachable and no longer gave her such an overwhelming sense of distance. It felt very comfortable...
And so, Jin Lingfeng held his beloved Qian Renxue's hand in his left hand, while Bibi Dong walked on his right.
The three walked side by side, leaving the Papal Palace for the temple fair on the eastern side of Spirit City, drawing countless passersby to stop and stare...
No one spoke along the way, each carrying their own thoughts.
Bibi Dong appeared to be looking around, but all her attention was on her daughter, Qian Renxue.
With two great beauties at his sides, Jin Lingfeng racked his brain for a way to help them reconcile.
Qian Renxue knew Bibi Dong had been secretly watching her the entire time. She was excited, but also at a loss, and could only turn her head away and look around aimlessly.
For a moment, the atmosphere became exceedingly delicate. No one dared break the silence.
Suddenly, Qian Renxue tugged Jin Lingfeng's hand and jogged toward the left.
She cried out excitedly:
"Lingfeng, look!"
"Candied hawthorns! Let's go!"
"Xue'er, slow down..."
Jin Lingfeng followed her over and secretly gave Bibi Dong behind them a meaningful look.
Bibi Dong understood. Her gaze fell upon the candied hawthorns in the vendor's hand, and she silently remembered that her daughter liked these things.
"Boss, three skewers of candied hawthorns."
"Coming right up, honored guest. Here you go."
"My candied hawthorns are authentic. I guarantee you'll come back for more after trying them!"
The vendor was a middle-aged man. Seeing that these people were no ordinary customers, he spoke excitedly.
After Jin Lingfeng paid, Qian Renxue snatched one of the candied hawthorn skewers and happily took small bites. She completely relaxed, looking exceptionally adorable.
Jin Lingfeng quickly lowered his voice and said:
"Xue'er, give that skewer of candied hawthorns to Her Holiness."
Qian Renxue stopped chewing, and her gaze became tense and complicated once more.
But when she met the encouraging look in the young man's eyes, she hesitated for a long time before nodding heavily. Taking the candied hawthorn skewer, she walked up to Bibi Dong, lowered her head, and stiffly forced out, "Here..."
"Xue'er, thank you."
Bibi Dong smiled excitedly and reached out with her right hand to accept the candied hawthorn skewer her daughter offered.
Then, she lifted her veil slightly and began taking small bites, as though it were the most delicious thing in the world.
Qian Renxue raised her head and saw Bibi Dong eating the candied hawthorns she had given her. An indescribable joy surged through her heart, and she felt a rare warmth...
Beside them, Jin Lingfeng smiled sincerely at the sight.
Thanks to Qian Daoliu's well-intentioned lie, Qian Renxue's hatred for Bibi Dong had now vanished.
It was clear that although this little girl was thin-skinned, she still deeply wished to acknowledge Bibi Dong. All he had to do was guide them well and give things a little push...
At that moment, Qian Renxue noticed that the hateful fellow beside her had been secretly laughing the whole time, and she flew into a rage from embarrassment.
"Laugh! Go on, laugh!"
"What's so funny? Hmph!"
With both hands on her hips, Qian Renxue stormed up to Jin Lingfeng and raised her right foot, ruthlessly stomping her high heel onto his shoe.
"Hiss!"
"Xue'er, are you trying to murder your husband?"
"Hurry up and move! It hurts, it hurts..."
Jin Lingfeng was on the verge of tears as he cried out in pain.
Qian Renxue's cheeks reddened slightly. She smiled smugly, snatched away Jin Lingfeng's candied hawthorn skewer—the one he had already eaten one from—and happily began eating it.
Jin Lingfeng looked at the high-heel print on his white shoe, feeling utterly aggrieved.
But when he saw the grateful look Bibi Dong gave him, he instantly felt that all this suffering was worth it...
"Xue'er, call her... Aunt Dong'er. Let's go take a look over there."
After a long while, Jin Lingfeng held the girl's delicate hand as he spoke, only to discover Bibi Dong looking at him resentfully.
He could not help it. Calling Bibi Dong "Your Holiness" outside would reveal her identity, but he could not exactly call her "Sister Dong'er," could he? Not with Qian Renxue around.
"Let's go, Lingfeng."
Qian Renxue was in a good mood and spoke with a smile.
Bibi Dong nodded and said, "All right."
Next, Jin Lingfeng deliberately held Qian Renxue's hand from the right side, making her walk beside Bibi Dong.
For a moment, the expressions on both women's faces became extremely unnatural, and the atmosphere turned oppressive once again.
Qian Renxue shot a fierce glare at the hateful fellow beside her. She knew he had done it on purpose.
But when Qian Renxue turned her head away and wanted to sneak a glance at Bibi Dong, she discovered that Bibi Dong had been gazing at her all along, joy flowing through her beautiful eyes.
In an instant, the two women's gazes met, and Jin Lingfeng tensed up as well.
Fortunately, their eyes only met briefly. Though it was faint, there was a trace of warmth and tranquility within it...
Today was Spirit City's grand temple fair, held once every three years, and it was exceedingly lively.
The streets on both sides had long been filled with all kinds of vendors. An endless stream of visitors came to sightsee and have fun, making the place a sea of people.
Dragon dances, lion competitions, acrobatics, food—every kind of interesting attraction could be found there.
After an hour of wandering around, Qian Renxue had completely opened up. Though she and Bibi Dong had not spoken, they could now meet each other's gaze calmly.
Soon, the three arrived before a carving shop.
"Boss, I'll take this pair of wooden bracelets."
"Please engrave some characters on them. Money is no issue."
Jin Lingfeng picked up a pair of wooden bracelets from the stall, showed them to Qian Renxue, and asked with a smile.
The shopkeeper was overjoyed, realizing that he had encountered wealthy customers today. He smiled ingratiatingly and said:
"Honored guest, what characters would you like engraved?"
Jin Lingfeng handed over the wooden bracelets and said:
"Engrave the character 'Xue' on one bracelet."
"Engrave the character 'Feng' on the other. Please be as quick as possible. We'll wait here."
The shopkeeper eagerly called for chairs and said:
"Three honored guests, please sit and rest for a moment."
"I'll go engrave them now. They'll be ready in about ten minutes."
Then Jin Lingfeng and Qian Renxue sat together, while Bibi Dong sat across from them, watching them with a smile in her eyes.
"Xue'er, let these wooden bracelets be our tokens of love."
"I'll wear one, and you'll wear the other. I want you to remember me forever."
Jin Lingfeng held the girl's delicate hand in his palm and spoke affectionately as he looked into her eyes.
Qian Renxue's cheeks reddened. She glanced at Bibi Dong across from them, then rolled her eyes at him.
"Hmph, you think you can win me over with a wooden bracelet? I don't care for it at all!"
"Besides, I don't even like a hateful fellow like you!"
Qian Renxue pouted unhappily, but joy was clearly hidden in her eyes, along with a touch of shyness...
Jin Lingfeng chuckled. Stretching out a hand, he wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulders and spoke in a domineering tone:
"Xue'er, that isn't up to you."
"You have to wear the bracelet later, and you can't take it off for the rest of your life!"
Qian Renxue's cheeks were rosy. She wore a look of disdain, but inwardly she was delighted and even faintly expectant...
Before long, the engraved wooden bracelets were brought out. Jin Lingfeng paid two Gold Soul Coins, and the shopkeeper immediately beamed with delight.
"Xue'er, come on. I'll put the wooden bracelet on you."
Jin Lingfeng held a wooden bracelet in one hand and the girl's delicate hand in the other as he spoke softly.
Qian Renxue's cheeks were crimson as blood, her brows and eyes full of spring. She was unbearably shy, and her heart pounded wildly at that moment.
She struggled slightly, but still obediently allowed Jin Lingfeng to put the wooden bracelet engraved with the character "Feng" on her wrist. A blissful smile rose at the corner of her lips.
The simple wooden bracelet came without vows of eternal love or sweet words, yet it moved the girl's heart. Silently, she swore to spend the rest of her life protecting him...
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