Not Giving It to Me Is Fine, Too

"But you already have a fiancée." Xiao Wu looked as if she'd been abandoned, her hurt plain to see.

"I have a fiancée, and I don't want you—those are two different things, aren't they?" Ye Qiu spread his hands, as if he had no idea what shame was. He just wanted to soothe the little rabbit first.

"..."

Hearing Ye Qiu's words, Xiao Wu, whose brain couldn't quite keep up, was instantly stunned. She blinked.

"Is that how it works?"

"Of course. Who said I didn't want you? I never said that. I couldn't bear to."

Ye Qiu nodded solemnly.

"You... I guess you never did say that."

Xiao Wu sniffled, her sobs finally stopping. Her red lips parted and closed, but it took her a long while to speak. She looked terribly embarrassed.

"Then... then are you still going to eat Sister Xiao Wu?"

Seeing the fear and hurt in her eyes, Ye Qiu smiled. He hadn't expected her to ask him something like that. With a teasing smile, he slowly leaned toward her, gazing with interest at her lovely face as he asked softly,

"Of course. If I want to eat you, will you let me?"

Xiao Wu's tear-bright eyes met Ye Qiu's black-pearl eyes. Gradually, her face turned red, and she couldn't get a word out. She only lowered her head and carefully transferred some of the food from her bowl into Ye Qiu's.

Then, looking anxious, she slowly picked up a few grains of rice and put them in her mouth without answering.

Ye Qiu raised his brows, puzzled. "What's that supposed to mean, little rabbit? You don't want to?"

"N-no, that's not it."

At Ye Qiu's question, Xiao Wu hurriedly lifted her head and shook it.

Seeing this,

Ye Qiu smiled faintly. He naturally understood what Xiao Wu meant by that. He shifted closer to her and leaned beside her ear, speaking earnestly. "Actually, it's fine either way. If you're willing to let me eat you, then I will. If you don't want to, I'll just have to... put in a little more effort and eat you by force!"

Xiao Wu's expression went blank, and she nearly dropped the food in her hands. She blinked, her face quickly turning crimson, then turned away. Her rippling eyes reflected Ye Qiu's warm smile.

Her mood began to brighten.

Ye Qiu didn't want to leave her. He still wanted to eat her. He didn't want to leave her!

Seeing how slowly Xiao Wu was eating, Ye Qiu rolled his eyes helplessly and leaned toward her, teasing, "At this rate, if you don't grow up, I might not want to eat you anymore."

"Hm?"

Xiao Wu glanced up and noticed Ye Qiu's gaze fixed on her small, budding figure. Her face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head, shoveling the food into her mouth.

The tears that had been on the verge of spilling finally streamed from the corners of her eyes. But her face was full of delight, and there was a smile in her eyes as she ate, stealing occasional glances at Ye Qiu.

"Heh. So silly."

Watching the little white rabbit eat while still finding time to sneak looks at him, Ye Qiu couldn't help laughing. She really was silly—so silly it made his heart ache.

"Take your time. Don't drop any on the bed."

Ye Qiu quickly finished the rest of his food, then gently rubbed Xiao Wu's smooth hair, his eyes filled with affection and a hint of amusement.

"Mmm."

Xiao Wu nodded as she shoveled in her food, looking just like a little hamster.

Ye Qiu sighed helplessly, took a water flask from his Soul Tool, and hung it around Xiao Wu's neck.

"Have some water. Don't choke."

After a few quick reminders, Ye Qiu got up and returned to his bed.

Xiao Wu had done a good job. She'd smoothed the blanket until there wasn't a single wrinkle. Who knew how long she'd been fussing with it?

Ye Qiu glanced at Xiao Wu, who was still watching him, and shook his head with a laugh. He began taking out some clean clothes.

Dugu Bo had carried him around in the sky for ages, and afterward he'd walked for quite a while. He needed to clean himself up properly.

After watching Ye Qiu leave with his toiletries, Xiao Wu used the time to quickly finish her food. Then she picked up the water flask he'd hung around her neck and took several small sips.

Noticing something strange, Xiao Wu pursed her red lips and frowned at the flask.

There seemed to be more than just Ye Qiu's scent on its mouth.

Although Ye Qiu had only bullied her a few times, she remembered that feeling clearly—the one that had made her blush. It wasn't like this at all.

A quarter of an hour later,

Ye Qiu returned to Dorm Seven after bathing.

Tang San still hadn't come back, and Xiao Wu was sitting obediently by the bed, waiting for Ye Qiu.

"Are you full?"

Ye Qiu asked as he casually stuffed his clothes into a bucket, then temporarily slid it beneath the bed.

Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly.

"Uh, I'm full. Uh...!"

"Ha! I told you to eat slowly. You ate so fast you've started hiccupping."

Ye Qiu sat beside Xiao Wu and gently rubbed her back, adding a little Soul Power.

Xiao Wu returned the water flask to Ye Qiu.

Perhaps because she was too embarrassed, two rubs from Ye Qiu were enough to stop her hiccups.

"Ye Qiu, let's cultivate together."

Xiao Wu blushed as she took Ye Qiu's hand in hers.

"Huh? Since when did you get so diligent?" Ye Qiu gave Xiao Wu a strange look.

"I-I just want to help you more." Xiao Wu's eyes darted away. Her red-rimmed eyes looked tired, and she was so embarrassed she held her neck stiffly.

"Help me?" Ye Qiu scoffed. There was no way he believed that excuse. Cultivating with him was just an excuse; what she really wanted was to pry into his private affairs. Leaning back against the bed, Ye Qiu teased, "Just say what you want to say. I'm a little tired today, so I don't feel like cultivating right now."

Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod. Her fingers tightened nervously around Ye Qiu's hand. "I want to know where you went. I want to know if you really have a fiancée!"

"Didn't I tell you already? I wasn't making it up. I really do have a fiancée." Ye Qiu spoke frankly, without hiding anything.

"But... why? Was I not obedient enough?" Xiao Wu's face fell, and she looked at Ye Qiu in confusion. Then she lowered her head and looked at her small frame, her voice turning sad. "Even if I'm still little now, I'll grow up! You just have to wait for me. Didn't we agree? You'd only stop wanting me if I grew up ugly."

"All right, then let's take a quick look." Ye Qiu rolled his eyes and sat up again. This little rabbit, with her endless questions, was giving him a headache.

Ye Qiu took Xiao Wu's hand and laced his fingers with hers. With his other hand, he gently pinched her soft cheek and wiped away her tears, speaking gently. "All right. Don't cry. As it happens, I want to find out whether you've been listening to me over the past two months."

"I-I've definitely been listening." Xiao Wu's eyes flickered, and she looked a little uneasy.

"Hmm?"

Ye Qiu frowned and looked at her strangely.

His hand liquefied, completely enveloping Xiao Wu's palm. Their memories and minds connected.

Wishing everyone a happy life!