But when Bailu raised her little head and saw the troublemaker's face wearing a gentle smile, her gaze went blank for a moment. Then, a smile like white blossoms in early spring bloomed across her delicate, adorable face. "Bai Jun! Hello! It's really been so long!"
Her anger and irritation from moments ago vanished without a trace. Bailu spread her little arms and jumped into Bai Jun's embrace, happily rubbing her face against his chest.
"Lady Bailu, I missed you too!"
Bai Jun bent down and opened his arms without hesitation, tightly hugging the girl in his arms as well. He happily buried his face in her hair, the tenderness and heartfelt joy in his smile utterly genuine.
If anyone familiar with Bai Jun saw this scene, they would probably first question whether something was wrong with their eyes, then wonder whether the person before them was really Bai Jun. After all, what they usually saw was his listless, lazy demeanor. Forget smiles—even expressions of disgust or helplessness were rarely seen. Much less a smile as gentle and happy as this one.
"Why did Lady Bailu run from the Alchemy Commission to the Starcruiser Sea Hub this time?" After carrying the girl in his arms around in a few circles and replenishing the Bailu energy his body had lacked lately, Bai Jun finally asked curiously.
"This young lady's escape... Ahem, how can you call it an escape? I left the Alchemy Commission for an officially approved house call! It wasn't an unauthorized escape!" Bailu coughed twice in displeasure and lightly smacked Bai Jun's cheek a few times with her beautiful pale dragon tail.
Then, as though she had suddenly realized something, Bailu raised her head. Her thin, soft lips pressed into a straight line, and her delicate little face grew strangely serious and tense. "Wait, Ah Bai, why are you at the Starcruiser Sea Hub on a workday? Don't tell me the Earth-Balance Commission sent you to catch me again!"
Because Bailu always secretly slipped out of the Alchemy Commission, the higher-ups would often send Earth-Balance Commission officers to keep watch and bring her back. Bai Jun was the one assigned to catch her.
After going back and forth so many times, the two gradually became close. In fact, purely in terms of familiarity, Bailu was probably the first person Bai Jun had grown close to after arriving on the Luofu, and also his closest friend. After all, who could refuse a soft, sweet-smelling, adorable, and kind Lady Bailu?
Under the accusatory stare of Bailu's beautiful eyes, Bai Jun immediately raised both hands and cried injustice with an innocent look. "How could I? Bai's body is Lady Bailu's body, yours to command as you please! I have no second thoughts!"
"But you swore the same thing last time, and then you turned around and carried me back to the Alchemy Commission."
"That's unfair, Lady Bailu! Last time, we clearly agreed that after I played with you until you were happy, you would obediently return to the Alchemy Commission. How could you call that betrayal?"
Ignoring Bai Jun's near-tearful expression, Bailu turned her head and gave a light snort. "I don't care. I didn't have enough fun last time, so your punishment is to keep playing with me this time! Oh, and you have to buy me a cup of Immortal's Joy Tea!"
"Alright, alright. We'll do whatever Lady Bailu says." Bai Jun rubbed her little head like an older brother and smiled gently.
"Stop touching this young lady's head! I heard it'll keep me from growing taller!" Using her tail to brush aside Bai Jun's troublesome left hand, Bailu planted her hands on her little hips and spoke with feigned seriousness. "Ever since I grew my horns, six or seven whole years have passed and I haven't grown at all. I seriously suspect it's because you touch my head every time!"
The moment the subject came up, Miss Bailu seemed to have endless grievances. At first, she merely talked about her height, but later it became pure dissatisfaction toward the Dragon Master elders in her clan.
"Sigh, am I even a dragon? I can't leave the confines of the restricted residence, every word and action has to follow the clan's rules, and even my meals are nothing but cheese pastries, oat spring rolls, and things like that... Isn't this life just like being a fish raised in an aquarium?"
Normally, whenever Bailu complained about the Dragon Master elders, Bai Jun would definitely join her in cursing them out. But seeing her utterly dejected expression now, he did not know what comforting words to say. He could only habitually place his hand on her little head and rub it soothingly.
Wait, hadn't Bailu just said he wasn't allowed to touch it?
The moment that thought appeared, Bailu, who had been looking downcast, froze for a moment. Then she instantly bristled, bared her teeth, and jumped up to grab Bai Jun's left hand before chomping down on it.
"Idiot Bai Jun, you really weren't listening to me just now!"
P.S.: Please vote with monthly passes~
Principles Are in My Hands
"Anyway, listen carefully when this young lady talks from now on, understood?" Satisfied, Lady Bailu wiped the glistening residue from the corner of her mouth and lifted her little face like a victorious fledgling. She only remembered to emphasize the issue of listening, completely forgetting about him touching her head.
"Understood, understood. Please forgive this arrogant and rude one, Lady Bailu." Bai Jun rubbed his left hand while nodding submissively like a pecking chick.
Once her anger had faded, Bailu saw the faint teeth marks still left on Bai Jun's hand. She stepped forward and gently rubbed his left hand with concern. "...Does it still hurt?"
Hearing Bailu's concern, Bai Jun could not help marveling that she really was an angel. She had supposedly bitten him, but it did not hurt at all. It was even a little ticklish. Compared to punishment, it felt more like a way of expressing affection, like an adorable little puppy.
"A little Vidyadhara like Lady Bailu was born to be eaten! Hehehe..."
"Wah—!"
Unable to suppress his delight, Bai Jun hugged Bailu again and vigorously ruffled her for a while. Only after absorbing enough Bailu energy did he reluctantly let her go.
First of all, I'm not obsessed with Vidyadhara.
Second, I forgot. Anyway, Bailu is really cute—small, soft, and sweet-smelling...
"Honestly, Ah Bai, you're never serious." Blushing, Bailu rehung her medicine gourd. After giving a light snort, she suddenly stretched out her little hand and ordered, "I've decided. Your punishment is to go buy me Immortal's Joy Tea right now. Make it hot!"
So she was looking after her idiot big brother, and even had to emphasize it again... Bai Jun smiled and nodded. "As you command."
Feeling around in his pocket, Bai Jun was just about to take out money to buy Immortal's Joy Tea for Bailu when he felt the emptiness inside. His smile instantly stiffened, and cold sweat seemed to slide down his cheek.
Oh no. I forgot there's no money in my pocket.
Gulping with difficulty, Bai Jun ignored the cold sweat on his forehead and quietly glanced at Bailu.
"Mm, what is it?" Bailu tilted her little head, clear confusion shining in her beautiful eyes.
Seeing her adorable smile and those clear eyes, Bai Jun heard the string of reason in his mind snap. Bailu only wanted a cup of Immortal's Joy Tea. A mere cup of tea did not cost much. He had already promised her. Yet... he could not even fulfill such a simple wish? The guilt overflowing in his heart nearly shot into the heavens!
His right hand began moving uncontrollably to the saber at his waist. Looking at its exquisitely carved hilt and the sheath engraved with flame patterns, Bai Jun had already started calculating how much money he could get from selling it.
Just as Bai Jun's thoughts were in fierce turmoil, an anxious female voice suddenly came from the street not far away.
"L-Lady Bailu! I finally found you! I told you that you had to follow my arrangements on this outing. Why did you secretly run off on your own again?"
Turning his head instinctively, Bai Jun saw a Foxkin woman with fox ears, dressed in the Alchemy Commission's standard shirt, her face full of worry.
She looked as though she had been running hard for a long time. Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her face was flushed an unusual red. But the instant she saw Bailu, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, as if she wanted to grab her and eat her alive.
"Wah, sh-she found us! Bai Jun, run, run! At least... at least let me have one steaming cup of Immortal's Joy Tea first—!" Bailu immediately burrowed into Bai Jun's arms, wrapping her little arms around his neck and urgently pushing him to flee with her.
Bai Jun knew that running would be useless in this situation, so he simply held Bailu and stood where he was.
When the Foxkin woman hurried over and reached out to seize Bailu in an instant, Bai Jun directly slapped her hand aside.
"Don't joke around! No one can separate me from Lady Bailu, not even you, Dan He! Come any closer and I'll bite you!" Bai Jun hugged Bailu tightly and bared his teeth at the Foxkin woman before him, growling in warning as though ready to fight for his life.
"Huh? Uh... Oh, what? So it's Bai Jun."
Dan He, startled at first, quickly withdrew her hand. But after taking a closer look and realizing it was Bai Jun's utterly nonthreatening face, she completely let down her guard. With a helpless sigh as though looking at a kitten, she said,
"Alright, alright. Hurry up and give Lady Bailu back to me. I'm exhausted from looking for her."
"No!" Bai Jun pressed his cheek tightly against Bailu's. Their two pairs of lake-blue eyes stared straight at Dan He as they refused in near-perfect unison.
Other Alchemy Commission healers had talked with Dan He about Bai Jun before. First, they said his work efficiency was incredibly high, that he could casually catch the Dragon Lady whom so many of them could not find.
Second, they said he was very cold, always wearing that expressionless face whenever they saw him. And then there was praise for how handsome he was, especially those pale eyes of his, like glass immersed in ice and snow—cool and clear, almost as beautiful as Lady Bailu's.
Dan He had no objections to the earlier points, but she had some doubts about the last one. She felt that Lady Bailu's eyes were the most beautiful. Bai Jun might be prettier than the vast majority of women, but in that regard, he should not compare to Lady Bailu.
Now, as Bailu's and Bai Jun's eyes appeared together before her and could be compared, the doubt long hidden in Dan He's heart finally received its answer.
Speaking as a woman, she thought Bai Jun's eyes were prettier. If she were looking at him as a man... Well, she was not a man, so how could she know?
All sorts of thoughts flooded her mind. Realizing she had gone off-topic, Dan He bit her tongue hard, threw the messy thoughts to the back of her mind, and crossed her hands before her chest with flushed cheeks. "N-No, this kind of thing is a matter of principle—"
Before she could finish, Bai Jun pinched Bailu's soft cheek and interrupted her with a mischievous smile. "Don't misunderstand. The principle is in my hands right now."
That so-called principle was naturally the pitiful Lady Bailu in Bai Jun's arms, who looked like a little beast.
It was also Dan He's first time encountering something like this. But looking at Bai Jun's resolute gaze and Bailu's hopeful eyes, she pressed her lips together in conflict. A complicated expression flashed across her face before she finally rubbed her fox ears helplessly and let out a short sigh. "I really lose to you two..."
Before Bailu could celebrate, Dan He grabbed Bai Jun and pulled him to a nearby corner. The two began whispering, leaving Bailu standing there alone in bewildered silence.
"Sigh, I'll leave Lady Bailu to you this time. Take her out and let her relax for a while." Since Bai Jun was an old acquaintance, Dan He did not explain much. Only when it came to certain matters did her tone grow serious. "But you absolutely have to bring her back before sunset! Otherwise, not only will I be punished, even Lady Bailu's weekly day off will be revoked!"
"Sunday leave?" Bai Jun focused on the latter half of her words. He remembered that Bailu had never had any time off before.
"Oh, right, you don't know yet. The Dragon Masters in the clan felt that Lady Bailu constantly escaping was not a solution, so they decided to let her arrange her own time every week on her afternoon off. Lady Bailu originally wanted to go to Exalting Sanctum to find you today, but she encountered many patients seeking treatment on the way, so she changed her mind and came to the Starcruiser Sea Hub instead."
"Is that so... Looks like those old fossils finally did something decent." Bai Jun nodded. At the same time, he silently repeated the words "weekly day off" several times in his heart.
On the Xianzhou, a year was likewise divided into twelve months, with each year ranging from 365 to 366 days. A week likewise had seven days.
Monday through Friday were normal work and school days. Saturday and the weekly day off were the beloved days off. Students were the most common beneficiaries, while among working people, aside from certain special professions and government offices such as the Earth-Balance Commission, most could rest one day a week.
People on official duty like Bai Jun were basically unrelated to weekly days off. Being able to rest for one day at the end of a month was already pretty good.
"Shh! N-No, don't say something so divisive, at least not out here!" Hearing Bai Jun's outrageous term for the Dragon Master elders, Dan He was so frightened that her face turned pale. She hurriedly gestured for him to stop saying things that harmed unity.
"Calling them old fossils is giving them too much credit." Bai Jun curled his lips, completely unconcerned with such taboos.
Dan He greatly envied Bai Jun's bearing in looking down on the powerful, but she could not imitate it. First, she did not have the nerve. Second, she did not have the ability.
For some unknown reason, whenever the Dragon Master elders discussed Bai Jun secretly taking Lady Bailu out to play, their faces would always show thirty percent anger, thirty percent resentment, and the remaining ninety-four percent wariness, as if Bai Jun possessed something they feared.
Dan He did not understand, nor could she be bothered to be curious. She only knew that for the sake of her future and her life, she truly could not let Bai Jun keep saying such treasonous things here!
"R-Really, stop talking!"
Seeing Dan He look as though she were about to cry, Bai Jun sighed and waved his hand reluctantly. "Fine, I won't say any more."
"That's good. Oh, there's one more thing!" Dan He secretly glanced at Bailu nearby. Seeing that she was boredly playing with her own tail and was not paying attention, she slowly said, "This time, you absolutely cannot take the Chimu Restraint off Lady Bailu's tail again. You broke one last time, and the Dragon Masters in the clan flew into a rage. If it comes off again this time, the consequences will probably be just as unbearable..."
"Why?"
Bai Jun's voice suddenly sounded farther away. Dan He looked closely and saw that he was already squatting beside Bailu, fiddling curiously with the Chimu Restraint on her pale tail. He had not taken her words to heart at all.
"You can't touch it!" The smooth fur on Dan He's fox tail instantly stood on end. She wailed and quickly leaped forward to pull Bai Jun away, shaking his shoulders hard as she begged, "Please, really don't do this! The Chimu bears the Dragon Masters' marks. The moment anyone tries to remove it, they'll notice immediately. Even for Lady Bailu's sake, you can't touch it!"
"Alright, I know what I'm doing. No need to get so worked up."
Bai Jun helplessly patted the hand she had placed on his shoulder. His head was a little dizzy from being shaken. All he heard was something about Dragon Master marks and being detected. The rest was just crying shouts. He wondered whether Dan He was a little too sensitive.
No one understood the so-called Chimu Restraint better than he did. It was said to protect Bailu, but in truth it was a shackle voluntarily placed upon her to suppress Vidyadhara power. He had only moved closer just now to observe it better.
Fortunately, the newly replaced Chimu Restraint had not increased the strength of its suppression. It had merely raised its safety factor. Otherwise, Bai Jun really would have gone to pluck the fur from those Dragon Masters' tails.
"Sigh, as long as you know. Go on, go on. Hurry and take Lady Bailu out to play. Don't talk to me anymore." Dan He was so mentally exhausted that she wanted nothing more than to lie down on the ground. She felt that the ups and downs of one afternoon had nearly surpassed the total of the first half of her life.
And aside from being genuinely a little too handsome, Bai Jun did not match his coworkers' praise at all. Especially that scheming, bad-hearted side of him! She had no idea who had taught him that.
"Before I leave, I have one more request."
Bai Jun's expression suddenly turned serious. His lazy, gentle demeanor faded, replaced by a special aura that made Dan He's heartbeat suddenly quicken. Coupled with the faint lime scent wafting from him, Dan He's face instantly reddened, and even her voice trembled unconsciously. "Y-You, what do you want?"
"I want to obtain something very important from you."
Such words would definitely sound unbearably greasy coming from anyone else. Yet spoken by Bai Jun, they did not feel out of place at all. Instead, they made Dan He's hazy eyes begin to show infatuation. Perhaps this was the power of a pretty face.
"I-I agree..."
"Really?" Delight entered Bai Jun's voice.
"It's true! I agree to everything! You can do anything you want to me!" Driven by an inexplicable desire, Dan He's courage suddenly became absurdly great. Gathering her courage, she spoke shyly without holding anything back.
At that moment, she only felt that Bai Jun was truly a very charming person.
Let me recommend a senior's Honkai: Star Rail novel, Starting an Alt Account in the World of Honkai: Star Rail. Those interested can check it out~
Synopsis: I transmigrated into the world of Honkai: Star Rail. First, I should board the Astral Express. As long as I board the Astral Express, everything will be fine. Wait, where did the Xianzhou Alliance go? The Interstellar Peace Company hasn't even been founded. You're asking who the Aeon of Destruction is?! What era of Honkai: Star Rail did you send me to?! Wait, who's that masked person? Damn it, I ran into Aha!!! ------- To witness the wonderful stories in the universe, to witness the laughter of life, I created one version of myself after another. I became close friends with Herta and explored the truths of the universe with that genius. I took a spaceship to Jarilo-VI and helped them restore their planet's ecosystem. I worked like a corporate slave in the Ten Lords Bureau, while also looking after a timid Foxkin junior. I caused trouble for the company together with Boothill, only to make another version of myself working at the company put in overtime. I put the prank-loving Sparkle over my knee and spanked her. ... I took part in everyone's stories and experienced those beautiful and not-so-beautiful memories with them.
Molting Scales
Bailu, who had been neglected to the side, watched the two still whispering over there and puffed up her cheeks in anger. Her already soft, dumpling-like little face looked even cuter now.
Hmph, as if she cared what they were whispering about!
Turning her head away sulkily, Miss Bailu found a nearby bench. Without even wiping it down, she sat directly on it, wrapped her arms around her dragon tail, and thought that Bai Jun would definitely have to come comfort her later. If he failed to cheer her up, she would bite him!
She absentmindedly stroked her tail for a long while, but Bai Jun still had not come over. Just as Bailu began to wonder why, she heard an embarrassed, angry scream.
Looking toward the source of the sound, she saw Dan He angrily pinch Bai Jun's cheeks with all her strength. After saying something to him, Dan He left in a huff, not forgetting to toss him a stack of something before leaving.
Because of the distance, Bailu did not know what it was, nor was she curious. The only thing worth paying attention to was Dan He. To be honest, it was Bailu's first time seeing her so furious. She had no idea what Bai Jun had whispered to her just now.
"Dan He... is she alright?" Bailu worriedly covered her chest with one hand, stepped forward, and tugged Bai Jun's sleeve with her little hand. A hint of curiosity hung in her clear eyes.
"Rest assured, Lady Bailu. Adults are very resilient. Besides, I didn't do anything, did I?" Bai Jun rubbed his cheeks, which had been pinched red, in confusion. Then, seeing the roll of banknotes in his hand, he could not help revealing a bright smile.
But it did not matter. At least he had applied to Dan He for public funds, and now he had money to take Lady Bailu out for a proper meal. It was all worth it.
There were a little over thirty banknotes, dark blue with a yellowish tint. In simple terms, they were Credits—the currency used by the Interstellar Peace Company when settling accounts with clients. They had long become hard currency for space travel, usable even in obscure corners of the universe. On the Xianzhou, they were practically as widely circulated as Xun Di.
The company's trade coverage was extremely broad, and whenever a new planet was discovered, it always managed to bring it into its market and assign prices to its new goods. The resulting monopoly economic system was called the Credit system.
Ten Xianzhou Xun Di were worth roughly 2,000 Credits. Bai Jun unfolded the Interstellar Peace Credits and estimated that there were around 100,000 Credits in total. In other words, this stack of banknotes was worth about... 500 Xun Di!
For some reason, as Bai Jun thought of that, he caught a very faint, special scent of ink—this was the smell of money!
Perhaps because he had been worrying about food lately, or perhaps because he could fulfill Bailu's small wish beside him, Bai Jun felt that he truly fell in love with these little things at that instant.
Look! How exquisite were the markings on them, how solemn the watermark looked beneath the afternoon sun, how vast and mysterious the cosmos in the background was! Even the patterns plated along the edges looked so adorable that Bai Jun could not help admiring them for over ten seconds.
"Alright, there's nothing else now. From here until sunset, it's our time. What does Lady Bailu want to eat?" Bai Jun folded the Credits neatly and carefully tucked them into the inner pocket of his coat so he would not accidentally lose them in the flowing crowd. Then he bent down and asked.
Before you continue