"Don't be nervous. I'm here. No one will ever hurt you again." Xiangyi continued soothing her. Muning tried to take deep breaths, but she still clung tightly to Xiangyi.
The people around them watched curiously, seeming eager to see how things would play out between the two. Their presence made Muning's body tense up again. Xiangyi's gaze turned a little colder as she gave an order to the two still chatting inside her mind.
Xiangyi: Get them to leave. Muning is scared right now.
Only then did the two Flower People stop talking and use their own methods to drive the people away.
Shaoyao resorted to simple, blunt intimidation, while Hua Nu used drugs capable of controlling humans. In an instant, there wasn't another person around. Xiangyi continued coaxing Muning. "Now try not to think about that. Think of something happy instead."
Xiangyi continued to comfort her as Muning tried to drive away the frightening memories. Her breathing began to steady, but when she opened her eyes again, her face had turned a little red.
After meeting Xiangyi's gaze, the blush spread further, eventually reaching the tips of her ears. Her expression had returned to calm, but she seemed even more embarrassed now.
"I'm sorry, Xiangyi. I made you worry again."
She slowly stood up. Remembering how she had just reacted, she felt terribly embarrassed in front of Xiangyi. Xiangyi shook her head, apology on her own face.
"No, this isn't your fault," Xiangyi replied, remembering that she was the unscrupulous author who had caused all of this. If she hadn't followed the trend and written such a bizarre plotline, even going so far as to claim that post-traumatic stress disorder was a great way to advance the story, things wouldn't have come to this.
"How could it be your fault? If I hadn't let my guard down, none of what happened afterward would have happened, and you wouldn't have suffered so much." Muning disagreed, insisting that it was her fault.
Their relationship had certainly grown closer, but things still felt awkward. Realizing they couldn't go on like this, Xiangyi changed the subject.
"I'm suddenly a little hungry. How about we talk over a meal?"
Only then did Muning realize she had seemed a little worked up. She nodded, then took Xiangyi by the arm. The gesture showed just how much she relied on her.
It was still summer vacation, but since it was a weekday, there weren't many people around. Xiangyi also noticed that whenever a man came toward them, Muning immediately grew wary. She stayed on guard until he had passed and she was sure no one else was nearby, only then relaxing.
Xiangyi pretended not to notice. They browsed the shops nearby and eventually settled on a barbecue restaurant.
First, Xiangyi had just been there the day before, so she knew the place. Second, since they'd have to grill their own food, she could use that as an excuse to say less.
Muning didn't object to the suggestion, but she was still very nervous after they entered. Xiangyi picked a quieter spot, and Muning relaxed a little only after seeing that their server was a woman.
There weren't many customers in the restaurant, and with Muning being so beautiful, she naturally drew everyone's attention. Xiangyi lowered her head to look at the menu and reordered the meats she'd tried the day before and enjoyed.
Muning had also completely calmed down and began telling Xiangyi about other people. Xiangyi didn't know any of them, and the barbecue hadn't arrived yet, so she could only ask, "By the way, what makes you happiest?"
The sudden change of topic left Muning bewildered. She was holding a teacup, confusion written across her pretty face, as if she couldn't understand how they had been talking about their classmates one moment and Xiangyi had abruptly asked that the next.
Xiangyi felt awkward, too, but could only keep up the stilted conversation. She added, "I just noticed that you seemed to think of something and suddenly blush. I was curious what you were thinking about."
Xiangyi successfully redirected Muning's attention. The hand holding the cup trembled slightly, and her emotions stirred again. But unlike before, she seemed even more embarrassed now. She pressed her lips together, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn't.
"Sorry to interrupt you both. I can bring out the meat now." The server appeared just then and set the plates of meat on the table.
The conversation was interrupted again, and Xiangyi breathed a sigh of relief. Now she could get started on the barbecue. Once she got going, she could use her focus on cooking as an excuse to avoid talking more with Muning.
"Would you like me to grill the meat for you?" Seeing that they both looked quite young, the server asked.
"No need."
"All right. Just call me if you need anything." The server politely reminded them, then went to stand off in the distance and chat with another server.
Xiangyi turned her gaze back, ready to grill the meat, only to find that Muning had already started. Her movements were quick and practiced, as if she grilled meat all the time.
But Muning's family circumstances clearly didn't allow for eating something as expensive as barbecue on a regular basis. Xiangyi looked puzzled, and Muning explained, "I happen to work at a barbecue restaurant, too. It's just closer to my home."
"Oh," Xiangyi said. With her barbecue duties taken from her, she didn't know what to do with her hands. But simply staring at the meat wasn't an option, so she had to find something to talk about.
"You still haven't answered my question from earlier," Xiangyi pressed her luck. Muning's hand trembled, but she soon regained her composure, carefully laying out the meat as she asked, "You really want to know?"
Xiangyi nodded seriously. Worried that Muning might be afraid she'd blab, she added, "I absolutely won't tell your brother."
Muning burst into laughter, and the tense atmosphere dissipated. She looked at Xiangyi and said in a very quiet voice, "I was thinking about how you saved me."
After saying that, Muning couldn't meet Xiangyi's eyes. She nervously busied herself with the barbecue, as if watching the meat cook would somehow fill her up.
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Chapter 30, Strategy Two: Relentless Hints
Xiangyi froze for a moment, remembering everything that had happened that day, including the words she'd used to fool Muning in the bathroom. She hadn't expected any of it to become a happy memory for Muning.
Could it be that Xiangyi and Muning had actually been in love all along? Was that why the original Xiangyi had risked everything to save Muning, only to be beaten to death by Prince Qin?
Xiangyi's imagination began to run wild as Muning finished grilling the meat and placed some in her bowl.
"Eat. I think I'm pretty good at grilling."
"Mm... okay. You eat, too."
Xiangyi answered in a hurry, but the barbecue tasted like nothing in her mouth. She wanted to give it to Shaoyao, that glutton, but Shaoyao hadn't appeared. She was probably still angry.
Xiangyi had no choice but to keep eating. Muning continued grilling, apparently so embarrassed by what she'd just said that she didn't say another word. Xiangyi had achieved her goal of getting Muning to grill, and they spent a quiet stretch of time eating.
A little over an hour later, when the two of them went to pay, the employee who had grilled their food the day before recognized Xiangyi.
"Miss, did you come here with another beautiful woman yesterday? Did you leave an umbrella behind?" As she spoke, the employee pulled a sun umbrella out from beneath the counter.
"Yes, that's ours." Xiangyi confirmed that it belonged to Shuxuan. But after they'd left the day before, the weather had cooled down, and they'd both forgotten about the umbrella. By the time they got home, neither of them had remembered it.
"Xiangyi, you came here with someone yesterday?" The remark made Muning curious. She seemed unable to understand how Xiangyi, who had only just been released from Baichi Sanatorium the day before, could have already gone out and had such a good time with someone.
"Oh, it was an older sister I know," Xiangyi answered vaguely. She didn't know whether Muning knew Shuxuan and worried she'd give herself away if she said too much.
"An older sister you know? That's the first I've heard of her." Curiosity showed on Muning's face. She unconsciously straightened up, as if she were on guard against something.
The gesture struck Xiangyi as odd, but she didn't dwell on it and explained, "We don't see each other often, so I haven't really mentioned her."
Muning nodded, and the tension in her body eased again. Seeing that they had left the barbecue restaurant, she instinctively took Xiangyi by the arm. Xiangyi glanced up and saw a man approaching them. They could have simply walked straight ahead, but instead, they went all the way around him.
The gesture seemed to put Muning even more at ease, and her face brightened with a smile again.
"So, where are we going next?"
As they had agreed the day before, Xiangyi would decide everything today, and Muning would just go along with her.
"Of course we're going to the movies. I heard there's a really good romance out right now." Xiangyi took the initiative, acting so eagerly that even she felt as if she were dating someone.
"A romance?" Muning looked bewildered, as though she found it incredible that Xiangyi would suggest one.
"What's wrong?" Xiangyi asked, puzzled. Muning shook her head. "It just surprises me. I always see you reading mysteries and suspense novels, so I thought you'd choose a horror movie. Still, if it's a romance, I think I can handle it."
Xiangyi had once again broken the original Xiangyi's character, but the choice clearly earned her more of Muning's affection. By the result, Xiangyi had gotten it right again, even though she hadn't chosen the romance to be considerate of Muning. She'd only picked it to achieve her goal.
"I didn't want to scare you, so I picked a romance. I heard it's really sweet," Xiangyi said with a smile. In truth, she'd chosen it because it was the movie with the most kisses in history. She was dropping one obvious hint after another that she wanted to kiss Muning.
"Really? I'm looking forward to it." Muning showed some interest, and both of them looked forward to the movie.
But...
There were couples scattered around the cinema. Whenever the movie reached a kissing scene, those couples would start showing off their affection in their own way. By the end, Muning had gone from awkward to closing her eyes and covering her ears every time a kiss appeared.
Even so, her face was red. She clearly wasn't used to the adult world.
Xiangyi, on the other hand, was doing all right. She was, after all, an author who had read plenty of strange things while writing her wrestling novel. Such childish scenes couldn't stir up any intense emotions in her. Even with couples being lovey-dovey all around her, she remained unmoved and happily watched to the end.
When the movie ended, Muning practically sprinted out of the theater. Her face was even redder, like an inviting apple someone might want to bite into. She looked even more bashful now. The scenes from the movie replayed over and over in her mind, overlapping with the memory of Xiangyi's kiss. Finally, she covered her face. Her mind was so muddled that she no longer knew how to look at Xiangyi.
Seeing Muning react that way, Xiangyi couldn't help laughing.
Only in a fictional world could there be a girl as innocent as Muning. Xiangyi laughed brightly, and Muning grew even more bashful. Seeing Xiangyi laughing at her, she complained, "Why are you still laughing? That was so awkward!"
"Isn't it normal? Everyone will meet someone they fit together with someday." Xiangyi made a little suggestive joke. Muning seemed to catch the implication and looked a little unhappy.
"But we're still young."
"It's fine. This movie is rated for seventeen-year-olds, which means kissing is within the bounds of what's acceptable." Xiangyi started fooling her, trying to make Muning think this sort of thing was normal.
When it came to dating, Xiangyi's experience was absolutely zero. But when it came to writing romance, she knew exactly what she was talking about. Unexpectedly, it seemed to be working.
Muning seemed to believe her. She even asked in confusion, "Could it be that I'm the one who's abnormal?"
"No. You just understand love better than other people."
"What do you mean?"
"Only those who know how to love can take better care of themselves."
Xiangyi replied with a smile, but Muning still didn't understand. Xiangyi offered no further explanation. Instead, she took Muning's hand first this time and changed the subject again.
"It's already past four. Shouldn't we head back to meet the family?"
Muning's face turned bright red in an instant, and she struck Xiangyi on the arm in protest.
Xiangyi was a little confused, but she soon realized she'd overlooked something. Muning had only one brother who wasn't related to her by blood, Ye Fan, as well as an elderly grandmother. Saying it that way might have struck a nerve.
But why had Muning blushed when she should have been upset?
Xiangyi understood Muning less and less. Muning seemed to realize that her reaction had been strange, so she hurried to explain, "Don't say such weird things. It makes it sound like something's going on between us."
Xiangyi immediately promised, "Sorry. I won't say that again."
But when she said that, Muning seemed unhappy. Xiangyi was even more unable to understand what Muning was feeling.
The more important thing was that she had indeed grown closer to Muning. Otherwise, why would someone as quiet and refined as Muning reach out and hit her?
Xiangyi relaxed. The two of them got on the bus. It was nearly empty, and they sat down as their conversation continued.
"By the way, my grandmother asked about you last time. She wanted to know why you hadn't visited in so long."
Xiangyi hummed. Unsure what expression she ought to make without seeming out of place, she simply asked Muning, "What did you tell her?"
Muning replied quietly, "I said you were traveling during summer vacation, so if she asks what you've been doing lately, make sure you don't give yourself away."
Saving Muning wasn't shameful, but it had been too dangerous. If Muning's grandmother learned all the details, the elderly woman, who was already in poor health, might not be able to handle it. So Xiangyi completely understood why Muning wanted her to tell that lie and nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Xiangyi." Muning thanked her again, a hint of apology in her eyes as she leaned against Xiangyi's shoulder.
"I know you don't like lying, but when you're alive, you still have to tell some lies." At that moment, their roles had begun to reverse. Muning had clearly suffered emotional trauma, but she had also grown much more mature.
"I know. And you've had it hard, too... You have to overcome your fear as well." Xiangyi hinted that although the experience had been terrifying for an ordinary woman, if Muning couldn't get past it, she would only end up suffering more.
"I know." Muning pursed her lips and reached for Xiangyi's hand. Her face was full of reluctance, but she still said nothing more.
Xiangyi continued acting as if she knew nothing, too. Compared with cleverness, some people preferred those who played dumb at the crucial moment. That way, things didn't feel quite so sad.
Muning was clearly hiding the fact that she was about to move to Heaven City with other people, and that was exactly what Xiangyi intended to make use of. If she could create an atmosphere of parting, Muning might be willing to kiss her. Then she could use their impending separation as an excuse for a three-minute kiss.
It was still a little suggestive, but once she achieved her goal and brought out the Top-tier Flower Person inside Muning, Xiangyi's task for the day would finally be complete. She carefully managed the pace of their time together and was once again glad she'd read so many novels.
Of course, these tricks weren't guaranteed to work. The main reason Xiangyi had such a good opportunity was that Muning was already so close to her.
Xiangyi recalled the plan in her mind. She could also see Shaoyao standing in the bus, curiously staring at everything around her.
To the Flower People, this new world was fascinating. Hua Nu was sitting in a seat, too, curiously watching the city grow darker.
The bright lights reflected all kinds of colors. Hua Nu looked impressed; of the group, she seemed the most at home in human society.
Just then, the weight on Xiangyi's shoulder suddenly increased. She looked back and saw that Muning had fallen asleep against her shoulder. Fortunately, Xiangyi already knew roughly where Muning's family lived. She only needed to wake Muning when she heard the bus announce their stop.
Of course, to make Muning more comfortable, she shifted her posture. Muning didn't react at all. It seemed she'd had another nightmare the night before and hadn't slept well.
Hua Nu, wandering nearby, watched Xiangyi and Muning leaning together with interest. There was a mischievous look in her eyes.
Hua Nu: Flower Master, do you really not need help tonight?
Xiangyi: No. You know too little about this world right now. Learn more before you do anything. Also, don't kick advertising boards again. Do you know how much it costs to replace a damaged one?
Xiangyi gave her a gentle reminder. This world wasn't the immortal realm Hua Nu and the others had imagined. It needed more order to maintain a balance between ordinary humans and the Chosen Ones.
Hua Nu: Yes. If possible, please apologize to this girl for me. I really didn't expect humans to be this fragile.
Hua Nu's words were ambiguous. It was hard to tell whether she was mocking humans or genuinely meant what she said.
Xiangyi: Yes, humans are fragile now. If someone's a good person, it's better to treat them gently.
She thought for a moment, then gave a sincere answer. Now that she had become the Flower Master, she ought to teach this group the right values.
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