Why am I the one being won over?

She stared blankly for a moment, then smiled.

Ignoring her long hair that was ruffled by the wind as she ran, a bright and cheerful smile appeared on her face, and Tingyun's delicate lips blossomed like a beautiful white flower.

As if drawn by Tingyun's smile, a gust of wind soon blew past them, first causing their delicate skirts and beautiful long brown hair to sway, and then the smiles spread across the young man's face.

Seeing his smile, Tingyun felt her chest suddenly skip a beat, and her cheeks felt hot.

Perhaps it was the longing and emotions from not seeing each other for several days that made Tingyun, who shouldn't have been in a passive position, blush in front of the person she liked, just like a young girl in unrequited love.

That's unfair! That's unfair! That's unfair!

And something felt off. Staring intently at the composed young man, Tingyun experienced for the first time the feeling she had felt for Bai Jun. So this was what it felt like to be teased? But surprisingly, it felt pretty good? No, no, no...

Seemingly to ease her nervousness and to let the other person experience her shyness as well, Tingyun mustered her courage and walked to Bai Jun's side, wanting to regain the initiative as she always had, but she didn't realize that her voice was trembling slightly:

"Hmph, my benefactor, after our brief reunion, the first thing you said was 'I'm back'? There must have been something else, right? Something you wanted to say—'You changed your hairstyle? You seem to have lost weight? You've matured a bit...' or 'I want to hear your voice,' or 'I want to see you...' or 'I want a hug,' 'I miss your scent,' 'The days and nights without you were so lonely I almost collapsed,' or 'And... and other things... and...'"

Tingyun didn't realize that her teasing had unwittingly turned into an unconscious outpouring, as if she were revealing all the desires hidden deep within her heart.

In contrast, Bai Jun maintained a calm smile on his face, looking at her with eyes so gentle they almost melted Tingyun, quietly listening to her continue speaking.

"Your hairstyle looks great today, it's super pretty!"

"Ooh, ooh!?"

Bai Jun suddenly reached out his hand. Tingyun, who had not expected this at all, instinctively let out a shy gasp and closed her eyes tightly with trembling hands. Then, she felt as if a breeze was gently brushing her cheek, and the man gently brushed the strands of hair that had fallen onto her cheek.

Something just doesn't feel right.

This is the most direct feeling I have about Tingyun.

She never expected this to happen.

--The key question is, why did it turn out this way!?

—Isn't this too strange? Doesn't my benefactor find this odd?!

Why have you become so composed!?

She really wanted to shout those words out loud.

Because this is really too strange! Bai Jun usually blushes and seems to avoid her whenever he's around her, but today he's acting unusually manly and even calmly handling all her advances!

What kind of conspiracy is this? I won't fall for it! And I won't let my heart race because of it! Tingyun silently chanted this in her heart like a fool, while feeling utterly disappointed in herself for almost fainting from being tricked.

He had promised to make him shy too, but tragically, he almost became a prisoner of the intense emotions in his heart. However, Tingyun gradually forgot about everything else, as if he wanted to immerse himself in this moment forever.

Ugh, I feel so hot all over.

Ugh, I can feel it on my cheeks too.

For some reason, Tingyun suddenly became very worried that her thoughts would be seen through, so she desperately tried to appear calm and collected, spouting incoherent excuses in a delirious manner, unaware of how effective her efforts were.

Ah, I can hear the strangely dressed Outworlders passing by the Starskiff Haven Dock saying things like, "Her face is so red!", "Are they a couple who have been separated for a long time?", "That's incredible!", "Youth is so wonderful!"

Wrong!!!

Absolutely not! Please don't look at my face right now! Ugh, I've really had enough...

The young man, whom she hated to the core, still smiled at her.

Tingyun tried desperately to calm down, frantically thinking about how to deal with the situation. After Tingyun, she had never anticipated such an unusual situation. However, her wavering emotions prevented her from calming down.

Hmm, your expression is strange, and your face is so red. Are you feeling unwell?

Bai Jun noticed that her face was unusually red, and her beautiful, fluffy fox tail was swaying behind her. He asked her with some concern.

"N-nothing! Really..."

Tingyun's eyes were a beautiful green, with a natural turquoise quality. The calm and relaxed look in her eyes had disappeared. Now, Tingyun looked like a kitten caught by its owner after causing trouble, soft and cautious with a rare cuteness, shyly avoiding its owner's gaze.

"But your face is very red, do you have a fever?"

The young man, with a worried expression, forcefully grabbed her wrist, pulling them closer, and then gently placed the back of his hand on her forehead.

Normally, Tingyun would have been overjoyed by such contact, but now, already tense, she couldn't withstand such stimulation—whether it was Bai Jun's handsome face so close to hers, his pleasant, faint scent, or his warm yet strong hand...

Miss Tingyun, who was desperately trying to calm down, broke down under such an offensive, and the string that kept her rationality in her mind finally snapped.

"Ah, ah, ah, I'm sorry, my benefactor, I have other things to attend to!!!"

Emerald's eyes gradually welled up with tears, Tingyun's face was completely flushed. She covered her burning cheeks with her hands and could no longer hold back, Tingyun fled in embarrassment.

Leaving Bai Jun frozen in place, Tingyun quickly fled the scene, but no matter how far or how fast she ran, she couldn't hide the pounding in her chest.

Her face was flushed as she ran alongside the gentle breeze that carried the city's hustle and bustle.

Once again, the passersby on the Starcruiser Sea Hub were stunned. Tingyun quickly ran back to the Minghuo Merchant Guild, ignoring the shocked looks from her other colleagues. She returned to her seat like the wind, buried her head in her hands, and slumped onto her desk. Her fox tail shook wildly behind her, emitting a mournful wail of self-pity.

"Ugh, am I an idiot?!" "Such a perfect opportunity!" "But it's his fault too!" "Waaaaaah!"

For the first time in their lives, employees were seeing their boss act like this, some spitting out their tea, some staring in astonishment, some clutching their hearts with heartbroken expressions, and some even taking out their cameras to try and capture their boss's appearance, only to be interrupted by their colleagues.

In short, today is destined to be an important day to remember our feelings.

P. S.: This chapter seems to be in good form?

Chapter 114 Differential Treatment is Undesirable

I didn't understand it, but I was deeply moved.

That's roughly what the current situation is like.

Bai Jun was still astonished by what had just happened, and wondered if he had done something wrong.

After much contemplation, Bai Jun temporarily gave up trying to understand the saying "a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea."

Tingyun had thought it would be great to see Tingyun upon arrival, but things had turned out differently. However, the stark contrast between Bai Jun Yun's usual demeanor and his own had left a deep impression on him. Could Tingyun be the kind of person who responds better to force than gentleness?

Bai Jun silently kept this in mind, recalling her adorable expression just now, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Sigh, she just never lets things rest. Next time, bring her some good food and explain this to her properly."

Bai Jun still remembered his promise to Tingyun when he left, and didn't forget to bring her some delicious food. However, there weren't any special snacks on the space station, so he had to put that aside for the time being. He couldn't very well bring her energy supplements, could he?

Giving gifts to girls is never a trivial matter, and Bai Jun kept this principle in mind. It wasn't that he had made any major mistakes in the past, but rather that the subtle changes in their eyes the moment they received the gifts were too noticeable, so Bai Jun always put a lot of effort into this aspect.

Don't give too many gifts at once, otherwise it will seem unspecial; the gifts don't need to be too expensive, otherwise people will think you have ulterior motives. As for whether they are cheap or not, it doesn't matter, since Tingyun is not short of money at all. The gifts just need to be just right, so that they can express your feelings and make the recipient feel comfortable.

So the answer is quite simple -- take her out for a nice meal.

Inside the flagship of Luofu, the temperature was just right, the sunlight was neither too strong nor too weak, the clouds obscured the sky, casting huge shadows on the street, and the wind was cool, carrying a faint sense of detachment, blowing from the distant horizon and disappearing the moment it was felt.

Bai Jun gently rubbed his stiff shoulders, gazing at the familiar streets, a sense of nostalgia welling up from the bottom of his heart, as if from another world.

"Finally back! It really feels more like home here... Phew, time to get down to business. Let's head to the Shence Mansion first."

Upon arriving in Luofu, Bai Jun's first task was to go to the Shence Mansion to report back to Jing Yuan. However, after Jade Omen restored communication, the various messages that popped up almost overwhelmed the program's chip, so he had to postpone replying to others until things were settled at home.

As for why we responded to Tingyun first?

It was probably because just as Bai Jun opened Jade Omen, she sent a "Good afternoon" message.

The streets of Starcruiser Sea Hub were still bustling with activity. Bai Jun followed the flow of people at a leisurely pace, just like the other Outworlders looked around curiously. He seemed to be very interested in everything in front of him. After a little while, he finally arrived at the Shence Mansion of Exalting Sanctum.

Upon seeing Bai Jun, the guards at the gate all showed expressions of surprise. One of the Cloud Cavalry, who appeared to be the leader, suddenly asked:

"Lord Bai Jun, why haven't we seen you visit the Shence Mansion lately?"

"You went out for a while. What happened? Did something happen during this time?" Bai Jun suddenly stopped, raised his eyebrows slightly, and turned to look at the group.

"Not really, well, how should I put it... I guess I've just missed you a bit, since I haven't seen you for days."

With one hand behind his head, the leader of the Cloud Knights frankly expressed his thoughts.

Upon hearing his reply, Bai Jun smiled faintly, but his tone was irritating as he reprimanded, "What are you saying, you grown man? Don't you find it cheesy?"

"Haha, I also think it's a bit too sentimental... but we're really happy to meet you."

The Cloud Knights opened the gate and let Bai Jun pass through until his figure gradually disappeared from sight. Only then did they turn around and resume their normal work.

The office in the Shence Mansion remained the same as before, so quiet that only the hum of the air conditioner and the slight rustling of paper and pen could be heard, filled with a gloomy atmosphere and someone's intense resentment.

Even if a few well-placed breezes blow in through the open windows, they can't dispel the gloomy mood in the office.

In front of him was a desk cluttered with various documents, contracts, and other miscellaneous items. Jing Yuan buried himself deeply in the files and manuscripts, casually tossing newly signed documents onto it, gradually transforming the mountain of documents into a crooked mountain range.

The fresh flowers arranged in the vase on the coffee table, bathed in the soft, bright afternoon light, seemed to refract a hazy, dreamlike quality, like the finest silk. Even after a month, the bouquet still exuded vitality, a testament to the meticulous care it received.

"Just put the new documents on the coffee table. While you're at it, could you also organize these stamped reports and deliver them to the relevant departments? Also, the tea's gotten cold; could you please refill it with hot water... Qing Yan? When did you get back?"

With a listless Jing Yuan mechanically repeated the most frequent instructions he had given in recent days, almost instinctively. However, he soon noticed Bai Jun's aura. That aura was undisguised, scorching and powerful, dazzling and eye-catching, completely different from the weak life force he used to have.

Jing Yuan suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot, tired eyes widening in surprise. His gaze met Bai Jun's, who immediately understood everything, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

"I see... It seems your troubles are almost resolved. Although I don't know exactly what happened, you really are dazzling right now!"

He rubbed his sore and swollen eyes. His brain, which hadn't had much rest for two weeks, was still feeling fatigued even after just a moment of relaxation. Jing Yuan couldn't bear the fatigue that came back.

"How many days have you not rested?"

"It's been about eleven days, I think? I don't remember exactly. I just remember that there's still a long way to go in terms of work, and it's not my turn to rest yet."

Jing Yuan forced a smile, cleared a small space on the desk piled high with documents, then took out a new teacup from the drawer and poured half of his unfinished tea into the cup for him.

"Let's not dwell on these trivial matters. My body is fine; even Divine Monarch could protect me. So sit down and have some tea. Don't mind the cold temperature; I think it's quite delicious. Tell me about your story this month. As your listener, I'm really looking forward to it."

Bai Jun did not respond to Jing Yuan's request, but walked straight up to him and extended his hand.

"Don't panic, relax."

Bai Jun gently pressed his fingers against Jing Yuan's forehead, and a slight coolness followed. A green flame then rose from his palm. In Jing Yuan's astonished gaze, the green flame swept past, dispelling his initial dizziness. It was as if even the depths of his soul were filled with vitality under the nourishment of this life force.

"This is..."

For once, Jing Yuan's usually calm and languid face showed a hint of bewilderment. He clenched his fists tightly, his mind clear and bright, and the strength surging through his body seemed genuine.

"What happened this month is rather complicated, and I can't explain it to you clearly."

After thinking for a moment, Bai Jun decided not to reveal the matter of Path to Jing Yuan.

He simply took the flowers out of the water bottle. Although the bouquet had survived well under Jing Yuan's care, the tips of the leaves and petals were more or less withered. However, when the bouquet came into Bai Jun's hands, it burst forth with new vitality in the next second. Not only the flowers and green leaves, but even the bouquet itself became more lively.

When considering the imbuing of life with vitality and the activation of life, combined with changes in the body, Jing Yuan could only think of the power of "Abundance."

However, Jing Yuan, who had dealt with the Abominations of Abundance for many years, was quite certain that this power was completely different from "Abundance." It could be said that they were similar in many ways, but also very different. To be more precise... Bai Jun's power was more comprehensive and gentler than "Abundance."

"It seems you've acquired considerable power, but you haven't told me the details. In other words... even you don't understand what it is?"

Seeing Bai Jun nod hesitantly, Jing Yuan didn't press further, but emphasized, "Qing Yan, I'm sure you have your own reasons. I understand, but I still hope you can confide in me when you have any troubles. After all... we're friends."

"Friend... yes, friend."

Hearing Jing Yuan speak to him as an equal, Bai Jun felt a surge of emotion, so he felt it necessary to ask, "Then, can you tell me what has happened recently?"

"Let me ask you this first: how did you know that something had happened recently?"

Jing Yuan sat up straight, placed his hands on the table, and looked at Bai Jun curiously.

"If there wasn't anything going on lately, you wouldn't be able to spend more than ten days a week buried in the office working."

"Honestly, Qing Yan, you're always so perceptive in the wrong places..." Jing Yuan paused for a moment, then sighed with a wry smile, "The theft of several dragon eggs from the Scalegorge Waterscape, you should be able to understand what that means, right?"

The Lunarescent Depths and the Scalegorge Waterscape are the sacred realms of the Vidyadhara.

Because the Vidyadhara cannot reproduce naturally, they can only rely on returning to special bodies of water to form pearl-like eggs, waiting for them to hatch and emerge from the water as juveniles. The significance of these dragon eggs is self-evident.

"And it's not just the dragon eggs that have been stolen; recently, people have been disappearing without a trace... What's even more coincidental is that without exception, all of them are children of the Vidyadhara. No, even disregarding the Vidyadhara children, the very act of harming children is an unforgivable sin."

Jing Yuan frowned, his expression so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it, and his tone was terrifyingly cold. It took him a long time to calm his anger down a little.

"In short, the grievances and protests from the Vidyadhara have become an urgent matter that must be addressed. The Dragon Master has also been putting pressure on the Shence Mansion. These multiple factors have led to an excessive workload recently."

"I have a general idea now. Do you have any leads on the mastermind behind this?"

Bai Jun's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, the sound, neither too loud nor too soft, seemed to reveal the anger beneath his calm exterior.

"I once thought this was another masterpiece of the Medicine King's Legacy teachings, but since the last concert, the Shence Mansion has not been able to track them down again. Therefore, I don't believe they have the ability to evade the guards of the Vidyadhara and the Shence Mansion's arrest and freely enter the Scalegorge Waterscape..."

Jing Yuan calmly picked up the cold tea, but didn't drink it. The calm water surface rippled slightly with his movements.

"You mean to say that the Vidyadhara is behind this sabotage?"

Bai Jun frowned slightly, his thumb unconsciously touching the corner of his lips.

Jing Yuan didn't answer this time. He just sighed and shook his head slightly, implying that they shouldn't continue discussing this topic for the time being.