Gu Yuena smiled and naturally took Lin Chen's hand. "Let's go. I haven't had those beef skewers in ages."
The girl's warm palm pressed against his as he led Gu Yuena to the familiar barbecue stall.
The vendor swiftly sprinkled on the secret seasoning. Soon, the glistening red beef skewers were packed into a bag.
Lin Chen took it from the vendor and pulled out three skewers, handing them to Gu Yuena. She pinched the sticks and took small bites of the tender beef. Her violet eyes curved into delicate crescents as the savory aroma spread across her lips and teeth. "So good. It still tastes just like it used to."
The two walked side by side as Lin Chen slowly recounted the previous day's arena match in detail.
Gu Yuena listened as she walked, her violet eyes blinking softly. Even the pace of her bites slowed.
The evening breeze carried a faint, fresh scent of grass and trees. The two sat side by side on a stone bench in the park. Night blanketed the sky, and scattered stars adorned the dark heavens.
Gu Yuena gazed up at the starry river above, its glimmers reflected in her violet eyes. She spoke softly. "Lin Chen."
"Mm?"
"Will you fall for someone else someday?"
At her words, Lin Chen turned to face her. His blue-green eyes rested on her face, his voice firm. "No."
The corners of Gu Yuena's lips lifted into a faint smile. "Good."
The evening breeze stirred the hair by her temples, making her high ponytail sway gently. Lin Chen looked up at the dazzling sea of stars. "Come to think of it, the night sky really is beautiful tonight."
Gu Yuena followed his gaze and looked up at the night sky, then took a sip of QQ Milky Miepu Tea. "It really is. It's rare to get to admire a sky like this."
Lin Chen spoke softly. "It's getting late. I'll take you back to the Spirit Pagoda."
Gu Yuena held her milk tea and nodded lightly. "Okay."
The two walked side by side along the stone path. The evening breeze was cool. They reached the roadside and waited for a Soul Guidance taxi. When one pulled over, Lin Chen shielded the girl as she climbed inside.
The Soul Guidance taxi stopped in front of the towering Spirit Pagoda. The two got out in turn.
Gu Yuena turned around, her eyes curving into a lovely smile. "So, has your wounded heart recovered?"
Lin Chen smiled. "Of course it has."
"Good. Bye-bye, then." As soon as Gu Yuena finished speaking, she suddenly took half a step forward and gently wrapped her slender arms around Lin Chen's waist. She buried herself against his warm chest, her silky hair brushing his clothes.
Gu Yuena's soft, muffled voice came from against his chest. "I had a lot of fun today."
Lin Chen stiffened, his handsome face flushing red. Gu Yuena's voice came again. "Don't move. Let me hold you for a while." After hesitating for a moment, he slowly raised his hand and gently rested it on the girl's back. The night lamps in front of the Spirit Pagoda blended their shadows together.
After a long while, Gu Yuena finally released him, reluctant to let go. The tips of her ears and her fair cheeks were flushed. She stepped back and looked up at him. "Good night. I'm going back."
Watching her silver figure gradually disappear, Lin Chen remained rooted to the spot, the pleasant fragrance of Na'er still lingering against his chest.
His blue-green eyes were slightly dazed. His fingertips unconsciously brushed his chest, and only after standing there in a stupor for a long while did he chuckle and shake his head, temporarily suppressing the tumult in his heart.
Gu Yuena had barely stepped into her room, her cheeks still flushed and the warmth of their embrace lingering on her fingertips.
Leng Yaozhu lounged on the sofa, her elbow propped on her knee and her chin resting on her fingers. She quietly studied her disciple. "Nana, I saw everything that happened downstairs just now. How did it feel?"
The girl lowered her eyes to avoid her teacher's teasing gaze. Her ears warmed again as she murmured, "It... it was pretty nice."
Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips. "Don't be shy, Nana." She leaned back slowly against the sofa cushions. "You still haven't made it official? You didn't look the least bit shy when you took the initiative to hug him."
Gu Yuena's cheeks burned. Her violet eyes drifted toward the floor as she quietly protested, "Teacher, we're still young. We can talk about making it official later... Cultivation is what matters."
"All right, all right, whatever you say." Seeing her disciple like this, Leng Yaozhu looked utterly delighted. "He's yours anyway. You can talk about it later."
Leng Yaozhu's expression grew a little more serious, and her voice took on a note of gravity. "Nana, you're my only disciple. You're certain to inherit my position someday, and you might even become the Spirit Pagoda Master."
"And that child, Lin Chen, is even more talented than his father, Yun Ming. He'll probably take over Yun Ming's position one day."
She lightly tapped the armrest, her gaze falling on Gu Yuena's flushed face. "Perhaps the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek, at odds for so many years, could use the two of you to restore the relationship they had ten thousand years ago."
Leng Yaozhu laughed softly. "All right, get some rest early. You have to learn how to make Soul Spirits first thing tomorrow."
Gu Yuena bowed, then turned and went back to her bedroom. She flopped onto the bed, savoring the feeling of their embrace as she wondered, What does a kiss feel like?
She rubbed her head. "I'll think about that later. We've made a huge step forward. Keep it up."
Lin Chen pushed open the villa door. The interior was quiet. He closed it behind him and lay on the bed, the image of the girl throwing herself into his arms replaying in his mind again and again.
It was as if Gu Yuena's faint, pleasant scent still lingered beneath his nose. His heart thumped, and the warmth in his ears refused to fade.
Lin Chen raised a hand to his rapidly beating heart. His blue-green eyes fixed on the ceiling as he silently asked himself, Do I like Na'er?
From their first meeting, to their daily cultivation, to sitting side by side in the park beneath the stars, and finally to the sudden warmth of the girl throwing herself into his arms when they parted, one tiny scene after another unfolded through his thoughts.
The unbidden joy he felt every time they met, the concern that stirred whenever she furrowed her brows, the comfort and ease of being together, the longing that lingered after they parted.
In his previous life, he had always been alone. He had never been in a relationship.
"Maybe Dragon Valley can help Na'er."
No longer dwelling on his doubts, Lin Chen quieted his restless thoughts and sat cross-legged. Pale blue Soul Power slowly circulated around him.
Yet even in the pauses between cultivation, the smiling image of the girl in white would drift into his mind. He cultivated all night, his heart wrapped in a faint sweetness the entire time.
Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window and into the bedroom. After a night of meditation, Lin Chen slowly drew in the Soul Power circulating around him and let out a long breath. His fatigue had vanished, and his Soul Power had improved slightly since the previous night.
The phone on his bedside table buzzed. It was Yali calling. He tapped the screen to answer.
Yali's gentle voice came through the phone. "Lin Chen, come to Shrek Academy. I need to talk to you."
"Okay, Mom. I'll get ready and come over." Lin Chen ended the call, took a shower, and made breakfast before heading toward Shrek Academy.
The staff on duty at the Shrek entrance already recognized him and let him through without delay.
When he reached the inner courtyard, Ya Li was already waiting. As soon as Lin Chen arrived, she took him up into the air and flew toward Sea God Island.
Curious, Lin Chen asked along the way, "Mom, what is it?"
Ya Li smiled, putting on an air of mystery as she slowly shook her head. "Don't rush. You'll find out when we get to Sea God Pavilion. Your father, Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, and the others are all there."
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