"Xueqi." Lu Jiuyuan moved closer.
"Don't say anything."
"You smiled."
"I didn't. You must have seen wrong." Lu Xueqi hurriedly shook her head.
"I saw it." Lu Jiuyuan looked at her with a firm gaze.
Lu Xueqi finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Her smile was like spring snow melting, like the moon emerging from behind the clouds. It was so beautiful that Lu Jiuyuan forgot to breathe.
Lu Jiuyuan suddenly reached out and took her soft little hand.
Lu Xueqi stiffened, but didn't pull away.
"Xueqi."
"Hmm?" Lu Xueqi looked at him in confusion.
"You should smile more from now on. You look prettier that way." Lu Jiuyuan reached out and gently tapped her nose.
A flicker passed through Lu Xueqi's gentle, limpid eyes. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and softly murmured, "Mm."
Just then, the fishing rod suddenly dipped.
"A fish!"
Lu Jiuyuan frantically reeled in the line, pulling a large, shimmering fish out of the water. It landed on the bank with a slap.
Lu Xueqi quickly reeled in her own line too, and caught one as well.
The two of them looked at the fish on the ground, then exchanged glances.
"Wife, how about we make grilled fish for dinner tonight?" Lu Jiuyuan asked with a smile, pointing at the fish flopping on the ground.
Lu Xueqi's lips curled slightly, and she blinked her big eyes.
The setting sun slanted westward, tinting the lake a soft golden red.
They sat side by side on the bank, with a bamboo basket for the fish between them.
Now and then, they exchanged a few words, but most of the time they sat quietly together.
They didn't feel awkward, even when they weren't talking.
It was as if things were meant to be this way.
Lu Xueqi gazed at the lake, lost in thought, her eyelashes casting faint shadows in the setting sun.
He couldn't help reaching out and gently brushing her cheek.
Lu Xueqi came back to herself and looked at him.
"Senior Brother?"
"Wife, have you forgotten what you're supposed to call me in private?" Lu Jiuyuan smiled. "If you have, I can remind you."
Lu Xueqi shot him a look, her voice soft. "Husband."
"Mm!"
"Today... I was really happy."
Lu Jiuyuan paused, then his smile deepened.
"Me too, Wife."
The sun sank below the horizon, and their shadows stretched long across the ground, overlapping until it was impossible to tell them apart.
Night.
Lu Jiuyuan had just reluctantly parted from Lu Xueqi and returned to his room. Before long, a group chat notification appeared before him.
[ Ding! ]
[Medusa has joined the Peerless Beauty Group!]
[Yun Yun has joined the Peerless Beauty Group!]
Lu Jiuyuan looked at the two names on the screen, paused in surprise, then broke into a delighted smile.
Those two, huh? Excellent!
Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect Master, and Medusa, queen of the Snake-People Tribe, were both stunning beauties. They were also powerful, and both had the cool-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside temperament of devoted wives and mothers.
[Feng Qing'er: Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome to our new sisters!]
[Bibi Dong: Welcome to the group, new sisters!]
[Medusa: What's going on here?]
[Yun Yun: What is this?]
[Lu Jiuyuan: Welcome to the group, new sisters! I'm the group owner. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime! (Adorable)]
[Feng Qing'er: @Lu Jiuyuan, you shameless scoundrel! I'll settle the score with you in three months. Once I become the group owner, I'm kicking you out! (Angry)]
[Medusa: What's going on?]
[Yun Yun: I'm curious too?]
[Bibi Dong: New sisters, the group owner is a man, so you should be careful!]
[Bibi Dong: Don't casually post your pictures in the group. I learned that the hard way! (Helpless)]
[Medusa: What!!! (Shocked)]
[Yun Yun: I didn't expect the group owner to be a man. But isn't this the Peerless Beauty Group? (Confused)]
[Feng Qing'er: New sisters, whether we can escape the group owner's clutches is all up to you! (Hopeful)]
[Medusa: What do you mean?]
[Feng Qing'er: You can challenge the group owner. If you beat him, you can become the group owner and kick him out!]
[Feng Qing'er: I'm counting on you two! (Encouraging)]
Lu Jiuyuan looked at the messages in the group and couldn't help smiling.
[Lu Jiuyuan: You two, don't take it to heart. They're just joking!]
There was no way he could win an argument against all of them by himself. He needed to find an ally.
Lu Jiuyuan privately messaged Bibi Dong.
[Lu Jiuyuan: Bibi Dong, if you don't want your pictures spreading around, you'd better cooperate with me. Otherwise, you can deal with the consequences!]
[Bibi Dong: You... you wouldn't dare!]
[Lu Jiuyuan: Of course I would. Don't believe me? Try me!]
[Bibi Dong: Hmph, you win. I'll cooperate.]
After Lu Jiuyuan and Bibi Dong had worked things out, Medusa and Yun Yun were taken in. They assumed Feng Qing'er was just jealous that Lu Jiuyuan was a man.
[Feng Qing'er: You... Aaaaaah!!!]
Lu Jiuyuan looked at his handiwork and chuckled.
He had to keep Feng Qing'er in check. If she pulled this with every new member who joined, it would become a real hassle.
He opened his private chat with Feng Qing'er.
[Lu Jiuyuan: @Feng Qing'er, let's talk!]
[Feng Qing'er: We have nothing to talk about!]
Her tone was icy, devoid of any feeling.
[Lu Jiuyuan: Heh. If I say we do, then we do!]
Lu Jiuyuan looked at the Youth-Preserving Pill in his hand, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan had long lifespans, but even the longest life couldn't withstand the ravages of time.
Especially for women. Especially beautiful women. Especially proud, beautiful women like Feng Qing'er!
How could she possibly turn down eternal youth?
[System notification: You sent a red envelope to group member [Feng Qing'er].]
[Red envelope message: Open it and see.]
The other side was silent for a few seconds.
[Feng Qing'er: A Youth-Preserving Pill?!]
Her shock was palpable even through the screen.
Lu Jiuyuan could picture her expression: she wanted it but couldn't bring herself to ask, and was frantically torn up inside.
He struck while the iron was hot.
[Lu Jiuyuan: Take it. It's no use to me, but it should be pretty useful to you.]
[Feng Qing'er: What do you mean?]
[Lu Jiuyuan: Nothing in particular. I just think it'd be a shame if all the beauties in the group got old one day.
Try it first. If it works, I can arrange more for the others later.]
[Feng Qing'er: ...]
[Feng Qing'er: Don't think you can buy me off with a single pill.]
[Lu Jiuyuan: I know. This isn't a bribe; it's a partnership between us.]
[Feng Qing'er: A partnership?]
[Lu Jiuyuan: Exactly. Behave from now on, and don't go against me in the group. There'll be benefits in it for you. Otherwise...]
He paused, then typed the final words:
[Lu Jiuyuan: Deal with the consequences!]
The private chat fell silent for a long time.
Lu Jiuyuan wasn't in a hurry. He simply waited quietly.
He knew Feng Qing'er would accept it.
Not because the Youth-Preserving Pill was especially precious, but because she was too proud.
Proud people feared growing old more than anything.
Especially a peerless beauty like her.
Before you continue