I Have No Romantic Feelings for Him

"My treasure!"

"Hmm?"

"So you admit you're my treasure now?"

"Speak if you have something to say."

Bai Yuji was a bit speechless; Qin Muye always liked to use such an incredibly natural tone to utter such incredibly mushy endearments.

When she first heard these, she felt as if ants were crawling all over her skin.

But after hearing them time and again, she grew accustomed to it, simply assuming he was starved for affection and not bothering to refute him.

Qin Muye took a bite of a sesame flatbread, his face contorting from the heat as he gasped repeatedly: "The Puppet Assembly is tomorrow. Auntie has already taken leave, and I've booked a private room at the restaurant next to the Weapon-Forging Platform. The view is exceptional; shall we go watch it together tomorrow?"

"That is exactly my intention. Spending all day out with you just wandering and eating, there is finally something interesting to do."

Bai Yuji did not refuse. Among the Nanzhao Remnants, there were many young experts traveling abroad, including a genius puppeteer. If he could take the crown at this Puppet Assembly, he would surely become a bargaining chip for negotiations with the Ganbian Nations.

Moreover, securing two thousand spirit stones was equivalent to sixty thousand taels of silver; for a long time to come, the Nanzhao Remnants would not lack funds.

At this thought.

She suddenly felt someone watching her. She leaned out the window to look down at the street, her gaze meeting that of He Xifeng, who was dressed as a Taoist.

Qin Muye glanced out the window, his face dropping instantly: "Are you all preparing to scheme against me again?"

Bai Yuji rubbed her fair, delicate brow: "Can you stop assuming that everyone is plotting to harm you at every moment? We are human too, and we have normal lives to lead. I am going out for a moment; don't let your imagination run wild, just sit here and don't wander off."

With that.

She walked quickly downstairs.

She called out to her master affectionately in front of passersby; in any case, only a few people in the Capital City knew their true identities.

He Xifeng, wearing the kindly expression of an elder, took Bai Yuji to the teahouse across from the tavern.

As they walked, she lowered her voice.

"Princess, Luo Qing has returned."

"When did he return?"

"Yesterday."

"How is his craftsmanship?"

"Advancing by leaps and bounds. A master refiner once commented that in the field of puppets alone, he has already touched the threshold of a master."

"Truly? That is wonderful!"

Bai Yuji could no longer suppress the smile on her face. Refining was not like cultivation; although it relied on the foundation of essence, energy, and spirit, it lacked clear-cut realms. Sometimes, a very ordinary blacksmith could, through a flash of inspiration, forge a magical artifact comparable to those of a great master; it relied heavily on insight and luck.

To be only twenty years old and already evaluated by another master as having touched the threshold meant that becoming a master-level refiner was a certainty.

One must know that even within the Gongshu Clan, a great family of refiners, those who could be called master refiners could be counted on one's fingers!

She finally felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the moon: "Where is he?"

"Waiting for you."

"Take me to him!"

"This..."

He Xifeng suddenly hesitated.

Bai Yuji frowned slightly: "What happened?"

He Xifeng whispered: "When Luo Qing returned yesterday, he happened to see you strolling through the streets with Qin Muye. Had he not noticed experts protecting the perimeter, he might have already attacked Qin Muye. He flew into a rage after returning."

"Did you not explain it to him?"

"I did, but seeing how agitated he was, I only dared to say that you were holding Qin Muye hostage to make him work for us; I dared not mention the matter of seizing the Qin Family bloodline."

"And that didn't calm him down?"

"He did calm down, but just now he saw you strolling with Qin Muye again. Today was even more intimate than yesterday, just like a truly newlywed couple. He feels you are indulging in pleasure and have completely forgotten your original intent. Had I not stopped him, he might have already left the Capital City."

"..."

Bai Yuji was somewhat stunned. Even more intimate today, just like a truly newlywed couple?

Have my acting skills become that good?

She couldn't help but knit her brows tightly: "Take me to see him!"

"Princess!"

"Take me to see him!"

"..."

He Xifeng had no choice but to lead Bai Yuji into a private room and quickly set up soundproofing.

Inside the room, a table of wine and food was laid out.

Yet the tall, upright young man before the table sat with his arms crossed, showing no intention of picking up his chopsticks. Seeing the two enter, a look of joy instantly appeared on his face: "Yu..."

"Please address me as Princess."

"..."

Luo Qing's smile froze on his face, and a surge of indignation welled up in his heart. "That useless piece of trash can call you Yuji, so why must I call you Princess? Could it be that you have truly been corrupted by this life of luxury..."

Bai Yuji interrupted him with a cold expression. "I heard from the Great Elder that you want to leave the Capital City?"

Luo Qing looked into her icy eyes and felt a chill run down his spine. His indignation was instantly extinguished, and his voice dropped significantly. "That was just talk born of anger."

"Using the future of all Nanzhao Remnants as fodder for your temper?"

"I—I just don't want to see you fall, Princess."

"What defines a fall? Is risking my life to infiltrate the Qin Mansion and seek a path of survival for Nanzhao considered a fall?"

"But you..."

"For the sake of Nanzhao! Never mind being taken advantage of, what would it matter even if I lost my life? You arrived in the Capital City yesterday; have you not heard that I already died once not long ago?"

"..."

Luo Qing was left unable to lift his head, yet he still insisted, "Princess! It is only a matter of time before I become a master artifact refiner. You don't need to demean yourself in the Qin Mansion. Even if it is just an act, you are so beautiful—what if that trash..."

Bai Yuji retorted, "Are you saying that you alone can shoulder the entire Nanzhao?"

"As long as I become a master artifact refi—"

"Do you know how much money you spent while traveling the world during this time?"

"..."

"Where do you think that money came from?"

"..."

"Then do you know how many people like you Nanzhao must support just to cultivate a single master artifact refiner?"

"..."

"Can one master artifact refiner provide for all the Nanzhao Remnants?"

"..."

"Even if all the Nanzhao Remnants truly relied on you, how much certainty do you have that you could cultivate the next master artifact refiner?"

"..."

Luo Qing was left speechless and ashamed by these sharp questions, finally bowing his head. "Princess, your subordinate was wrong!"

Only then did Bai Yuji's expression soften slightly. "Do your best at the Puppet Assembly tomorrow. Even if you lose, do not let it affect your state of mind. Our path is still long."

"Yes!"

"Eat well. I am leaving now."

"Princess!"

"Is there something else?"

"Do you truly have no romantic feelings for Qin Muye?"

"None."

Bai Yuji's tone allowed for no questioning.

Because that was indeed what she thought.

At the very least, she felt that her feelings for Qin Muye could only be described as sympathy at most.

After saying this, she turned and left.

"Why were you gone so long?"

"The flatbread hasn't even cooled yet, and you say I was gone long?"

"I mean, the time you were gone was terrifyingly short, as if you were afraid I would discover some clue. You wouldn't have gone to see another man, would you?"

"..."

Bai Yuji's heart skipped a beat. Thinking back, she had indeed hurried back because she was worried Qin Muye would overthink things, but that had ended up being the very reason for his suspicion.

No!

What if this matter were discovered?

She suddenly smiled. "I have too many subordinates; it's inevitable that there are a few handsome young men among them. You aren't jealous, are you?"

"I am jealous."

Qin Muye looked into her eyes, his tone incredibly serious.

Bai Yuji choked, her heart rate inexplicably quickening.

Qin Muye suddenly grinned. "You didn't actually think I was jealous, did you? Why are you so narcissistic?"

A nameless fire instantly ignited in Bai Yuji, and she subconsciously grabbed the flatbread on the table, preparing to smash it into his face.

On second thought, there was no reason for him to be angry.

He shoved it ruthlessly into his own mouth.

Qin Muye glanced at the young man hurrying out of the teahouse.

[Main Fate: Fierce Dog]: A Fierce Dog without a Dog Leash leads to mutual destruction.

[Fate Grade]: Rank 5 (310/320)

[Annotation]: Where love leads, reason vanishes. Unable to bear the woman he admires playing out a fake romance with his enemy, he acts with increasing radicalism, inciting unrest within his own clan and ultimately perishing alongside his enemy.

[Hint]: When Fate fluctuation exceeds 500, you may acquire the Fate Skill Dog Leash.

The woman he admires playing out a fake romance with his enemy?

Does that refer to me and Bai Yuji?

Damn it!

This woman isn't satisfied with just taking my body by force; she actually wants to swindle me out of my feelings too?

No wonder Bai Yuji's current annotation says she is at a loss; it turns out she's being pressured by this guy.

Qin Muye looked thoughtful.

Suddenly, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

In truth, he had always wanted to test whether killing someone to alter their Fate could actually yield any benefits.

He just hadn't found a suitable target until now.

But now...

He had one!