Qian Renxue: This Was Too Exciting

In the midst of adversity, he had found the simplest and most effective way to break the deadlock.

It resolved the urgent crisis while balancing the interests of every faction.

Such skill was more than a hundred times better than those old ministers at court who only knew how to prattle on!

"Brother Chen Fan, this method is brilliant!"

She praised him sincerely.

"However, I'd still like to hear your thoughts on the details of this coordinated training."

Xue Qinghe rose and walked to a massive sand table depicting Heaven Dou City's defenses, naturally beckoning Chen Fan over.

Chen Fan had no choice but to follow.

The two stood side by side before the sand table, and the distance between them instantly narrowed.

Xue Qinghe extended a slender finger and lightly traced it across the sand table as she discussed the details of troop deployment.

Her gentle voice sounded beside his ear, while a faint fragrance slipped into his nose.

Chen Fan's body stiffened slightly.

"Look here," Xue Qinghe said, pointing at a pass. "If we deploy Control System Soul Masters here and coordinate them with heavily armored infantry..."

As her fingertip moved, it inadvertently brushed lightly across the back of Chen Fan's hand.

The contact separated at once.

Like a feather skimming across water, it sent tiny ripples spreading outward.

Xue Qinghe's fingers curled almost imperceptibly before quickly withdrawing, yet her heart skipped a beat.

She knew perfectly well that she was merely taking advantage of the opportunity Na'er had created, greedily savoring this brief time with him.

Na'er's pure, innocent face involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

Na'er regarded Chen Fan as more important than her own life.

Xue Qinghe shook her head gently within her heart, and the light deep in her eyes dimmed for an instant.

No matter how much she admired him or how moved she was, she absolutely could not... steal someone else's lover.

That would be far too unfair to Na'er.

Xue Qinghe withdrew her hand and continued explaining the defenses as though nothing had happened, though her speech was slightly faster than before.

Chen Fan listened silently, but his mind had drifted somewhat.

Just then.

Creak—

The heavy wooden door of the Government Affairs Hall was gently pushed open a crack, making little sound.

A slender figure quietly entered, her steps light as though afraid of disturbing the two people in the hall.

It was Na'er.

Seeing Chen Fan and Xue Qinghe standing side by side before the sand table, intently discussing something, she did not make a sound.

She merely set the exquisite food box in her hands quietly onto a nearby table.

When the lid was opened, the mellow sweetness of dessert mingled with the savory aroma of roasted meat and spread through the room.

Na'er took out two bowls of steaming lotus seed soup, along with a plate of golden, crispy meat patties.

Only after Xue Qinghe finished a section of her explanation and paused did Na'er approach with a faint smile.

"You've been busy all morning. Have something to tide you over first."

Her voice was gentle, like a warm breeze on a spring afternoon.

Xue Qinghe nodded and returned her smile.

Chen Fan also walked over. Just as he was about to help himself, Na'er had already lifted a bowl of lotus seed soup, scooped up a spoonful with a small white porcelain spoon, and brought the pale, silky soup to his lips.

"It was just stewed. It's not hot."

Her eyes were filled with soft light, as if they held an entire sky of stars—and those stars shone for him alone.

Chen Fan unconsciously opened his mouth and took the spoonful of lotus seed soup.

It was sweet and soft, its warmth spreading from the tip of his tongue all the way to his stomach.

Yet his heart suddenly stirred.

Back when he had been with Ning Rongrong, it seemed that he had always risen earlier.

He would prepare all kinds of pastries that the Little Princess liked, changing them up constantly, then patiently coax her out of bed.

Taking care of her had seemed like his duty.

But now...

With Na'er, he had become the one who only needed to reach out for clothes and open his mouth for food.

Even when eating, someone fed him with such care.

Looking at the tenderness in Na'er's eyes, the softest part of Chen Fan's heart was gently touched.

He reached out and took hold of her slender wrist, stopping her from scooping up a second spoonful.

"Next time, let me do it," he said very softly. "I can't keep making you work so hard."

Upon hearing that, Na'er smiled and shook her head.

With her free hand, she picked up a meat patty and placed it in Chen Fan's hand.

"You focus on doing your work well, and I'll focus on taking care of you," she said, tilting her head as though it were only natural. "That's how it should be."

Watching this utterly uninhibited scene, Xue Qinghe paused slightly with the bowl of lotus seed soup in her hand.

She silently turned around and looked out the window.

Here it came again.

This nonstop display of affection.

The shifting light outside the window cast mottled shadows across Xue Qinghe's handsome profile.

She turned back, her gaze calm, as if that momentary lapse had never happened.

Na'er truly did not disturb them again. She simply found a chair and sat quietly in a distant corner, resting her chin in both hands, her eyes never leaving Chen Fan for even a moment.

Her gaze was focused and gentle, as though the entire world contained only the person before her.

The discussion of government affairs continued.

Yet the atmosphere had ultimately changed somewhat.

Xue Qinghe's voice remained clear, but while explaining a City Defense Pass, her outstretched finger once again "inadvertently" brushed over the back of Chen Fan's hand.

The warm, smooth touch vanished in an instant.

Chen Fan's movements paused almost imperceptibly.

But Xue Qinghe's heart skipped a beat.

An inexplicable irritation and unwillingness grew wildly in her heart like weeds, driving her, as if possessed, to make an even bolder move.

The two moved to the writing desk and began drafting the specific government decree.

"The wording of this decree concerning the Newly Formed Legion still needs careful consideration," Xue Qinghe said.

Chen Fan picked up his brush, about to write.

A hand wrapped around him from behind.

A warm, soft body pressed against his back, carrying a faint, elegant fragrance.

It was not the scent of a man.

Xue Qinghe braced her left hand against the desk, while her right hand covered Chen Fan's hand holding the brush, enclosing his entire body in her embrace.

It was practically a hug.

Chen Fan's body instantly stiffened.

He could clearly feel the body temperature and softness coming from behind him. He could even hear the faint, warm breaths beside his ear.

"Here," Xue Qinghe said beside his ear, her voice carrying a deliberately lowered steadiness, "the word 'rectify' is more forceful than 'reorganize.'"

As she spoke, she held Chen Fan's hand and wrote those two words on the paper stroke by stroke.

Yet tumultuous waves surged within her heart.

Exciting!

This was too exciting!

She could even feel her heartbeat accelerating.

She was holding him like this, yet Na'er—the one who had unleashed icy killing intent at her in the forest—had no reaction at all?

Had this gone a little too far?

Would he notice that I have a female body?

Xue Qinghe's thoughts raced.

But even if he noticed, so what? At most, he would think I was a woman disguising my identity in order to participate in government affairs. He would never guess my true identity.

This forbidden thrill of walking along the edge was unexpectedly addictive.

She raised her eyes and looked toward Na'er in the corner with a trace of provocation.

Yet Na'er did not reveal the hostility Xue Qinghe had expected.

Instead, a sweet smile blossomed upon that breathtakingly beautiful face. Her eyes curved into crescent moons, brimming with relief and approval.

Xue Qinghe froze.

She suddenly understood.

Na'er should be thanking me!

In this Silver Haired Girl's eyes, everyone in the world ought to value Chen Fan this much.