As Your Good Godfather, I Simply Can't Refuse!

She clung to Lin Shuang as though she never intended to let go.

That left Lin Shuang feeling a little embarrassed too.

What was going on today? Hadn't everything been fine before?

Why did Tingyun seem determined to stick to her after just a few days apart?

Seeing that people nearby had already noticed Tingyun's bold behavior and were leaning in to listen, Lin Shuang felt even more awkward.

"Tingyun... what are you...?"

"Could it be that my benefactor has grown tired of this little woman? This is clearly all your fault."

Tingyun blushed faintly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lin Shuang with a gaze so syrupy that Qingque beside them broke out in goosebumps.

"Eugh—Lin Shuang, what on earth did you do to her?!"

"I didn't do anything! I really only gave her tail some care. What did I even do?"

"..."

The only response Lin Shuang received was Qingque's piercing stare.

Clearly, Qingque did not believe a single punctuation mark of what Lin Shuang had said.

That was some tail care, all right. Did she think Qingque had never seen a Foxfolk get their tail groomed?

What kind of decent tail care could turn someone into this?

This wasn't some storybook setting where tails were sensitive areas.

Tingyun said nothing from the side, merely leaning against Lin Shuang. She seemed more than happy to fan the flames and watch the show.

Only after Lin Shuang finally cast her a pleading look did Tingyun snap open her folding fan and gently fan her.

"Isn't it because my benefactor's care was so good? Whenever this little woman returned from a business trip, I would visit Lady Bailu for a massage and relaxation. But this time, even Lady Bailu's little hands were no use. I couldn't eat or sleep properly every day, and I finally waited until my benefactor had time today~ Of course I had to come and beg you."

"...Talk normally. It was just a massage. Why make it sound so strange?"

Tingyun's voice was not loud, but Lin Shuang still wanted to cover that silver-tongued mouth of hers.

Yet Tingyun was not flustered in the slightest. Instead, she countered aggressively.

"Did this little woman say anything wrong? Or does my benefactor think her technique is perfectly proper~?"

"..."

Lin Shuang was left speechless.

Before she could respond, Qingque hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"Exactly, exactly! Lin Shuang, what you do really isn't proper at all! You even lied to me and said it was just a massage!"

After saying that, she did not forget to glare at Lin Shuang with flushed cheeks and a puffed-up face.

But compared to before, perhaps because Tingyun had suffered the same thing, it no longer felt quite as embarrassing.

Then Qingque quickly turned to Tingyun and added fuel to the fire.

"Miss Tingyun, this woman bullied us so badly. Hurry up and interrogate her properly!"

In Qingque's eyes, Tingyun had clearly come to "take revenge" after falling victim to Lin Shuang's methods.

Perfect. Qingque was not as eloquent as Tingyun, so cheering from the sidelines was enough.

Tingyun covered her mouth with her fan and chuckled, then looked at Lin Shuang.

"Miss Qingque wants me to interrogate my benefactor thoroughly~"

"..."

Helpless, Lin Shuang reached out and flicked Qingque on the forehead.

"Ow—!"

Qingque cried out in pain, clutching her forehead as her small body shrank back at once.

"I fear Miss Qingque will be disappointed. This little woman truly came to ask my benefactor to return with me and massage my shoulders, massage my legs, and tend to my tail."

Qingque, still holding her forehead, widened her eyes in disbelief as she looked at Tingyun.

"No way, Miss Tingyun. Her, her hands are so... so... Why would you still invite her?"

"Although my benefactor's skills are indeed somewhat strange and somewhat embarrassing, it truly feels wonderful afterward. Didn't Miss Qingque just receive a massage too? After chatting for so long, you should have recovered by now."

"Uh..."

Only when Tingyun mentioned it did Qingque realize that her feet, which had been sore earlier, were now much better. Even the swelling ache in her calves had eased considerably.

It had only taken a few moments. Was the effect really that good??

One look at Qingque's expression made it clear that she had realized just how effective the massage was.

Tingyun had had enough fun by then. With a faint flush on her face, she released Lin Shuang's arm, though her tail still occasionally swatted Lin Shuang on the rear.

"So, when is my benefactor free? This little woman will host and treat you to Luofu's delicacies, and perhaps you can give me a massage while you're at it?"

"Any time works. I don't have anything important to do. How about tomorrow? Qingque still has to work overtime under the Grand Tutor's watch tomorrow, and I'll be bored alone."

"Ow—We agreed not to mention that! Now I won't even be in the mood to watch opera."

Before Tingyun could say anything, Qingque threw out her hands and gave up.

"My benefactor, what is this?"

Tingyun's ears twitched in curiosity, while Lin Shuang explained with a grin.

"Qingque skipped attendance at the Divination Department today to slack off and play tiles, then the Grand Tutor caught her red-handed and ordered her to make up today's missed work tomorrow right in front of her."

"This little woman has heard that the diviners of the Divination Department are so busy their feet barely touch the ground, while only Miss Qingque can be a regular at the tile parlor and still receive such favor from the Grand Tutor. It seems Miss Qingque is quite an interesting person."

After hearing the explanation, Tingyun looked at Qingque with greater curiosity and scrutiny.

Naturally, Tingyun knew the Divination Department well, and Fu Xuan, the current Grand Tutor, was even more of a workaholic.

Qingque went to the tile parlor every day without being expelled from the Divination Department. Fu Xuan even wanted to keep her close by.

Either Qingque had an extremely powerful connection, or she possessed something the Grand Tutor valued greatly.

But if it were only connections, there would be no need to put her through so much. After thinking it over, Tingyun concluded that Qingque was probably exceptionally gifted at divination.

"Sigh—I slack off that much, so why won't the Grand Tutor let me go?"

Qingque had no idea what Tingyun was thinking. As she rolled her head around on the table, inspiration suddenly struck.

"I've got it! I know how to escape overtime tomorrow!"

As she spoke, Qingque shot upright, grabbed Lin Shuang's other arm, and stared at her with shining eyes.

"Lin Shuang!"

"..."

Alarm bells immediately went off in Lin Shuang's mind, and she hurriedly pulled her arm away.

"What are you trying to do? I won't do anything illegal or against the rules."

"What are you saying? What are you saying? I'm doing this for your sake! Lin Shuang, use your massage skills to help the Grand Tutor relax properly tomorrow!"

"I refuse!"

Without even thinking about it, Lin Shuang flatly refused.

Listen to that. Just listen to that.

Was that even a terrible idea a human could come up with?

Give Fu Xuan a massage? How could Qingque even think of that?

Lin Shuang's icy gaze stabbed at Qingque's conscience. Qingque gripped Lin Shuang's arm tightly with both hands and pressed it against her own chest.

Her eyes were filled with expectation, as though insisting that she truly did have a conscience.

"Don't! Think about it. If you serve the Grand Tutor well, won't you rise through the ranks in no time? Once you know the heads of two of Luofu's six commissions, won't you be able to strut around Luofu without fear?"

"Heh. I'm afraid the Cloud Knights will haul me away before I get the chance to strut around Luofu. Qingque, Qingque, I kindly helped relieve your fatigue, and yet you want to harm me. My heart aches."

"How could I? How could I? With me here, there's no way the Grand Tutor will send you away. You have to trust me."

Seeing that Lin Shuang looked ready to flee, Qingque completely abandoned her dignity and clung desperately to Lin Shuang's arm. Her warm, soft body pressed tightly against Lin Shuang without relaxing in the slightest.

"The Grand Tutor works overtime every day and never rests. Even if she's long-lived, she can't handle working without a day off all year. Lin Shuang, you're so amazing. You can definitely help the Grand Tutor relieve her stress. Once she's happy, I won't have to work overtime anymore."

Lin Shuang admitted that she was tempted for a moment.

If she could catch Fu Xuan's eye and raise her favorability a little, perhaps she could draw something good later.

However, reason told Lin Shuang that if this went badly, the outcome would not simply be Fu Xuan's little feet in white stockings stepping hard on her.

Just then.

Tingyun, who had been watching the excitement for quite some time, suddenly spoke.

"I think Miss Qingque makes a great deal of sense."

"??"

Hearing that, Lin Shuang forgot all about arguing with Qingque. She abruptly turned around and stared at Tingyun in horror.

This little fox was rotten to the core! Lin Shuang had already agreed to massage her, and she still wanted to set her up.

If Lin Shuang got sent away, who would massage Tingyun's tail then?!

"Oh, my benefactor, allow this little woman to explain."

Tingyun's ears twitched, and she lowered herself slightly as she leaned closer to the two of them.

"The Grand Tutor handles countless affairs every day. The Xianzhou has been spared many calamities thanks to her, and our merchant groups have repeatedly escaped danger because of her efforts. We have all seen how exhausted the Grand Tutor is. If someone could help her relax, I believe many people among the five great commissions would raise both hands in support."

That was reasonable. Lin Shuang nodded, then mercilessly retorted.

"I understand the reasoning, but is that what we're discussing? We're discussing whether Grand Tutor Fu will kill me immediately after the massage."

"Oh, let this little woman finish first~"

Tingyun lightly tapped Lin Shuang on the forehead with her folding fan before continuing.

"Today, this little woman will write a letter to the Grand Tutor in the name of the Sky-Faring Commission, saying that we wish to express our gratitude to Grand Tutor Fu by recommending a talented person skilled in massage therapy."

"Then Qingque can take the letter and make the introduction. As long as Qingque can persuade her, someone as serious as Grand Tutor Fu will not blame my benefactor no matter what."

The more Qingque listened, the brighter her eyes became. Especially after hearing that last sentence, she thumped her chest and promised that she would definitely succeed!

After all, she had a firm grasp on the Grand Tutor's preferences! She could not speak for anyone else, but with her involved, it would definitely work!

Lin Shuang, meanwhile, began to think it over.

How should she put it? What Tingyun said did seem somewhat feasible.

More importantly, this would allow Lin Shuang to approach Fu Xuan naturally, giving her a chance to raise their favorability.

Damn it, she actually seemed to have been persuaded.

Seeing Lin Shuang's wavering gaze, Qingque hurriedly struck while the iron was hot.

"Miss Tingyun handles things as beautifully as she looks. This way, the Grand Tutor gets to relax, Lin Shuang gains the Divination Department's protection, and I avoid overtime. Everyone has a bright future! Right, Lin Shuang?"

"...That is true."

Lin Shuang could not help but fall into deep thought. Since everyone won, who exactly lost?

"Good! In that case, the 'Qingque Doesn't Work Overtime Plan' is officially underway! So, shall we adjourn for today?"

Qingque's "wolfish ambitions" had been completely exposed, but Lin Shuang could not be bothered to call her out.

Tingyun merely smiled and nodded.

"Then this little woman shall prepare the letter early and have someone deliver it to Miss Qingque tomorrow."

"Hehe, then thank you, Miss Tingyun. Miss Tingyun is so beautiful and kindhearted~"

After waiting for a while, Lin Shuang realized Qingque had nothing more to say. Somewhat incredulous, she lifted her foot and nudged Qingque.