"Then how should I address you?" Now that she had her answer, Xiangyi thought of how she addressed Zhang Mou. If she kept calling her "Madam," Zhang Mou would probably find it awkward.
"Just call me Madam." Reality promptly slapped Xiangyi in the face. She froze, finding it unbelievable.
"Heh. We have to keep this under wraps. Who would imagine an old woman having an affair with a pretty young girl? If you call me Madam, no one will suspect what's going on between us." Zhang Mou explained with a laugh, reminding Xiangyi that she hadn't gotten involved with her on a whim.
Maybe Zhang Mou had wanted a lover for a long time but never found anyone suitable. Now Xiangyi clearly fit the bill.
She was straightforward and pretty, and most importantly, Zhang Mou knew who had cut off that Qin family uncle's hand. Though Xiangyi had never shown off her Chosen One abilities, Zhang Mou had sensed there was more to the story.
All these things made Zhang Mou even more enthusiastic. Of course, she also wanted to see whether she and Xiangyi really got along.
"Wouldn't it be even less suspicious if I called you Mom?" Xiangyi took the idea a step further. Zhang Mou laughed harder, as if she thought Xiangyi would say anything.
"That would work, but it would remind me of the daughter my husband left behind. So just call me Madam." Zhang Mou spoke frankly. She clearly disliked Xiangyi, and couldn't hide her revulsion.
Even so, she had developed an incurable fondness for the other face Xiangyi showed when she took off her glasses—Hua Linglong. Xiangyi found it deeply ironic, but still just smiled without saying anything more.
The two continued chatting about other things, and naturally ended up talking about the haunting, too.
"I'm really scared, but I live alone now, so I've had to stay at a hotel." Zhang Mou described her fear, revealing her vulnerable side. Her voice even had a hint of coquettishness, and she seemed to be enjoying her conversation with Xiangyi.
Xiangyi knew this was her chance. Her mind worked quickly, and she came up with another plan.
"This happened at our hotel, too, but we took care of it pretty quickly."
"Really? How did you deal with it?"
"It was supposedly a ghost called Shaoyao..." Xiangyi was about to launch into a straight-faced lie when Shaoyao, beside her, kicked her. Shaoyao looked so furious that it was almost entertaining.
Xiangyi didn't care. She shifted over a little and continued, "This ghost called Shaoyao is terrified of Chosen Ones. Just have a Chosen One stay at your place for one night, and the paranormal activity will be gone by morning. And even if it isn't, you can ask the Chosen One to help."
Zhang Mou seemed tempted. She immediately thought of Xiangyi, who had only recently become a Chosen One.
"But what if it doesn't work?"
Seeing Zhang Mou wavering, Xiangyi smiled. "But you wouldn't lose anything, would you?"
Zhang Mou fell silent. Xiangyi's words had completely convinced her. Besides, letting Xiangyi have a taste of defeat wouldn't be a bad thing for Zhang Mou.
"Too bad I'm on the night shift lately, or I could help you out. How about I stay at your place in a few days?" Xiangyi continued to suggest, knowing Zhang Mou didn't like having strangers around.
"N-no need. My stepdaughter is a Chosen One. I can ask her to help. If it really doesn't work, I'll call you then." Zhang Mou answered at once. Xiangyi suppressed her excitement, knowing Zhang Mou had taken the bait.
As long as Zhang Mou agreed tomorrow, Xiangyi could use helping Zhou Muning as an excuse to stay at the Zhang home. There were no cameras inside, so she could do whatever she wanted and get the top-tier Flower Person hidden inside Zhou Muning.
"Flower, why are you smiling?" Xiangyi clearly hadn't managed to hide her grin. Zhang Mou looked at her, puzzled by it.
"Nothing. I just think you're really great—independent and strong." Xiangyi smiled as she answered. And she genuinely admired Zhang Mou for that.
Zhang Mou pursed her lips and bashfully played with her hair. Her voice gradually dropped.
"Actually, I'm not as strong as you might think. I need someone to cherish me, too." Her eyes burned with desire, and it came through clearly even over video.
Xiangyi couldn't take it. She didn't know what to say, so she could only stare at Zhang Mou.
Perhaps realizing she'd gotten too flirtatious, Zhang Mou smiled and continued, "It's getting late. Don't you have work? You should get some sleep. We can talk again tomorrow."
She controlled the pace of their interactions, wanting to keep Xiangyi in the palm of her hand. Xiangyi couldn't help admiring Zhang Mou's skill. She nodded and smiled. "All right. You should get to bed early, too."
Then she hung up herself and saw that two new characters had appeared on the screen: "Good night."
Xiangyi got up, changed out of her hotel uniform and into her pajamas, then opened the curtains and pretended to head toward Shuxuan's room.
When she glanced inside, a small light was still on. Judging by the situation, Shuxuan didn't seem to care that Xiangyi had been sneaking around that night. Xiangyi looked at Hua Nu, who was still there, and asked what had happened.
Xiangyi: Did Shuxuan not react at all just now?
Hua Nu: She did. She watched you walk out, then turned over and tried to get up a couple of times, but eventually lay back down. Oh, and she kept checking the time. She only pretended to fall asleep after you came back in.
Leaving Hua Nu behind to watch Shuxuan had clearly been the right choice. Hua Nu recounted everything she'd noticed, and Xiangyi understood that Shuxuan did care about what she was doing. She simply hadn't come to bother her out of politeness.
Unfortunately, Shuxuan was too guarded. She was clearly not as easy to fool as Xiangyi's current targets, Zhou Muning and Zhang Mou.
Xiangyi sighed inwardly, realizing she was getting a little impatient. She tiptoed into bed, planning to rest with her eyes closed for a while before sneaking into the Flower God Ring to practice. But Shuxuan suddenly spoke from beside her.
"Did you video call Zhou Muning just now?"
Xiangyi froze, finding the misunderstanding rather amusing. But video-calling Zhou Muning sounded more natural than video-calling Zhang Mou, so she didn't deny it.
"Yeah. Muning couldn't sleep, so I chatted with her for a while."
"Oh."
Shuxuan gave a brief reply and still didn't turn around. It seemed like she'd only asked as a guardian. Xiangyi thought nothing of it and dimmed the bedside lamp. Suddenly, Shuxuan turned her head.
"Sister Shuxuan, are you cold?" Xiangyi's mind went blank, and that was the first thing that came to her. It was the hottest part of August, and the air conditioner was on, but Xiangyi's cultivation made her less sensitive to temperature. Shuxuan, an ordinary person, might feel differently.
"A little."
"Then you can have my blanket."
As she spoke, Xiangyi considerately draped her air-conditioning blanket over Shuxuan, then stayed lying down.
Shuxuan was silent for a few seconds. In the end, she moved a little closer to Xiangyi and pulled both blankets over her. "Let's share. We won't feel so cold together."
Her fragrance drifted over, and her soft warmth worked its way into Xiangyi's nerves. Xiangyi felt a little dazed, sensing that something had suddenly changed in Shuxuan's mood.
But she thought she might just be imagining it. With her eyes shut, she could still feel Shuxuan watching her.
There was something complicated in that gaze. Xiangyi asked the Flower People what it meant. Shaoyao couldn't explain it, but after thinking for a few seconds, Hua Nu decided Shuxuan was probably jealous of Zhou Muning.
Hua Nu: And what you said tonight about being close to Zhou Muning definitely got to her. Flower Master, try a little harder. Get your first kiss first. A first kiss is really nourishing.
Hua Nu began egging Xiangyi on, practically wishing she could step in herself.
But Flower People couldn't make more Flower People with Flower Fairies. It had to be done through the Flower Master, so Hua Nu could only hope Xiangyi would try harder and give them some new companions soon.
Xiangyi: It's not like I want to. The conditions are just a little tricky. Both people have to agree. If I could just force a kiss, I'd have made Flower Person number forty-eight by now!
Hua Nu's tone grew even more scornful as she murmured, "You used to be pretty fierce."
Xiangyi was exasperated. "When was I ever fierce? I don't know who you think I am, but I'm Xiangyi, not the person you made up in your head."
Xiangyi was a little displeased. Hua Nu fell silent, seemingly with no intention of responding.
Shaoyao had been about to say something, but seeing the tension between them, she obediently stood in front of Shuxuan, trying her best to understand human emotions.
Ten minutes passed...
Half an hour passed...
Just as Xiangyi was wondering whether Shuxuan had fallen asleep in the silence, Shuxuan seemed to move closer again. Now their arms were touching. Shuxuan lifted her head slightly and asked, "Xiaoyi, are you asleep?"
Xiangyi kept her eyes closed and didn't answer. She pretended to be asleep to see if anything interesting would happen. Maybe something like the secret-kiss scenes that were so common in novels.
"Xiaoyi?"
Shuxuan called her a few more times. Xiangyi only furrowed her brow slightly, still making no move to open her eyes.
"Really fell asleep... Sigh..."
Shuxuan sighed, sounding a little disappointed. She looked at Xiangyi, then fixed her gaze on her lips.
"Xiaoyi, there are too many bad people in this world. A face like yours is dangerous. You know that, right? Zhou Muning must have kissed you because she saw you looking like this." Shuxuan began voicing her thoughts, and her voice sounded a little angry.
"No one in this world is kind to you for no reason, and no one dislikes you for no reason." Shuxuan continued softly. This time, it sounded as if she were talking to herself, yet she still seemed to be trying to teach Xiangyi.
"But this will all be over soon. You're going to Heaven City, so you won't run into Zhou Muning anymore—that person who put you in such a predicament."
Shuxuan sighed, her voice tinged with even more reluctance.
"But I can't bear to part with you, either."
Shuxuan's voice trembled. She had even deliberately tried to bring Zhang Mou and Xiangyi closer, hoping to improve their relationship. Unfortunately, her attempt hadn't worked. They were still on bad terms, and Xiangyi's move to Heaven City had already been set in stone.
Xiangyi remained silent, offering no response. Shuxuan sighed, moved closer, and gently kissed Xiangyi on the forehead.
"Good night."
She wished Xiangyi good night just as Xiangyi had wished her good night earlier. But in that moment, Shuxuan's thoughts turned wicked. Or perhaps she simply wondered why Zhou Muning could do something with Xiangyi that she couldn't.
She had felt jealous, even angry. But the boundaries of her feelings were blurred, and Shuxuan wasn't sure what she was feeling. She only knew she was uncomfortable, as if she couldn't get a breath out, and that was why she'd acted the way she had.
Now, seeing Xiangyi completely off guard, there was nothing in the way of her lips. If she wanted, she could softly press hers to them. Shuxuan's resolve wavered. She slowly leaned closer and carefully brushed Xiangyi's hair aside.
Closer... closer...
Shuxuan's lips met Xiangyi's, and she achieved her goal. The kiss was as light as a dragonfly touching the water. At the same time, the system chimed.
System: Received the Flower Fairy Shuxuan's first kiss. Reward: 1,000 Spiritual Power.
They parted almost immediately, so the conditions for activating the flower seed weren't met. But those thousand points of Spiritual Power were enough for Xiangyi to make a ten-pull on Flower Fairy Huangquan.
Xiangyi comforted herself with that thought. Then she sensed that Shuxuan had been startled by what she'd done. Shuxuan hurriedly pulled away and turned her back.
Shaoyao: Flower Master, Shuxuan's expression is really strange. She looks kind of happy, but also terrified. Is she going crazy? Should I protect you?
Shaoyao seemed unable to understand Shuxuan's feelings. Xiangyi felt helpless, but she couldn't explain those complicated emotions to Shaoyao, so she made up an excuse.
Xiangyi: You'll understand when you fall for someone.
Shaoyao: Why would I like a human? Humans are so filthy.
Xiangyi gave her a gentle reminder. "Say that in front of me if you want, but if you say it in front of other humans, they might punch you and crush your petals."
Shaoyao understood even less. She could only ask Hua Nu why. Hua Nu didn't answer either, which annoyed Shaoyao so much that she went back to find Flower Fairy Huangquan.
Xiangyi's head finally grew quiet, and she closed her eyes to rest again. Shuxuan's breathing gradually settled behind her, and she eventually managed to fall asleep.
Seeing that, Xiangyi asked Hua Nu for some incense. Once Shuxuan had entered a deep sleep, Xiangyi entered the Flower God Ring and resumed her practice, continuing until dawn broke in the real world...
A new day began. After her alarm rang, Shuxuan got up and went to work.
Shuxuan was even more careful than usual, afraid she'd wake Xiangyi and make things more awkward. Xiangyi was actually already awake, but waited for Shuxuan to leave before beginning her busy day.
She cleaned Shuxuan's home and washed their clothes. She'd thought Zhang Mou would be eager to contact her about "exorcising the ghost," but it was nearly noon before a message from Zhang Mou arrived on another phone.
Xiangyi couldn't help smiling. She knew her chance had come again...
WeChat, Zhang Mou: Meet me. I have something to discuss with you.
WeChat, Xiangyi: Sure. Where?
Their exchange was brief and straightforward. They agreed to meet at a hot pot restaurant near Xiangyi's home.
It was hard to imagine that a refined lady like Zhang Mou would choose a place so unlike her usual style. Xiangyi was surprised, but readily agreed.
It was still a workday, so the restaurant wasn't busy. When Xiangyi went inside, she saw plenty of empty tables. She picked a seat and patiently waited for Zhang Mou to arrive.
They'd agreed to meet at twelve, but Xiangyi had already spotted someone who looked like Zhang Mou at the café across the street. She seemed to have been sitting there for a while, enjoying her coffee. Unless Xiangyi was mistaken, Zhang Mou had chosen the hot pot restaurant because she thought Xiangyi would like it. That considerate gesture suggested she was eager.
Only when it was noon did Zhang Mou leisurely leave the café. She pretended to stroll around for a bit, then entered the restaurant and sat across from Xiangyi. They kept a little distance between them, nodded when they saw each other, and exchanged a few polite greetings.
When the server saw that they were ready to order, she hurried over. Zhang Mou glanced at the menu, then handed it to Xiangyi. Xiangyi didn't hold back: she ordered five portions each of beef and lamb, then added a plate of crispy pork.
Zhang Mou had hoped Xiangyi would make the decision for once. She frowned slightly, but eventually daintily ordered lettuce and crown daisy.
The hot pot was split into two broths. Xiangyi ate the spicy one by herself, while Zhang Mou daintily ate her lettuce and crown daisy, as though she couldn't understand the behavior of a meat lover.
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