Eng... Engaged?

He looked at Ah Yin, joy rising in his eyes. With a sweep of his hand over his storage ring, an exquisite gift box appeared in his palm.

"You left too quickly earlier. This is a small meeting gift from your uncle. Take it!"

"How could I accept this?" A hint of panic flashed across Ah Yin's face, her voice as gentle as a breeze.

"Sister Ah Yin, just accept it."

A smile appeared on Dugu Chen's face as he reached out, took the gift box from Dugu Bo's hand, and placed it in Ah Yin's hands.

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Holding the gift box, Ah Yin bowed once more. The blush on her face swiftly spread to her neck and the tips of her ears, making her look all the more radiant and captivating.

"How wonderful. Such an innocent girl!"

Dugu Bo looked at Ah Yin, growing more satisfied the longer he looked. He stroked his beard and secretly thought to himself.

"Father, did you come looking for us because something happened?" Dugu Chen asked.

"Oh, it's this. I wanted to ask when you two planned to get engaged?" Dugu Bo glanced at them, an ambiguous smile in his eyes.

"Engaged?"

Dugu Chen's eyes widened in shock. Ah Yin was similarly stunned, but a shy blush quickly rose on her pretty face, while her eyes sparkled like stars.

"Mm? What, do you think it's too soon?" Dugu Bo asked, his tone somewhat strange as he looked at them.

Dugu Chen's lips twitched. Covering his forehead, he sighed softly. "Father, let's discuss the engagement later. There's no rush right now."

Dugu Bo glared. "What do you mean, no rush? Your elder brother was married at sixteen. I'm still waiting to hold my grandson..."

"Pfft."

Dugu Chen nearly choked on his father's words, his face instantly filled with speechless disbelief. Didn't Yanyan give you grandchildren to hold?

"Well, we'll talk about that later. We're leaving first!"

Dugu Chen shuddered inwardly. After an awkward laugh, he grabbed Ah Yin's hand and quickly fled as though running for his life.

There was not the slightest hesitation, clearly showing that he was already used to Dugu Bo's impatient temperament.

"You brat!"

Dugu Bo blew his beard and glared, but a brilliant smile spread across his face. He laughed heartily several times before turning and leaving.

"Um, Sister Ah Yin, should I prepare a room for you to rest in?"

Dugu Chen led Ah Yin to the rear courtyard. Leaning against the railing with both hands, he smiled at her.

A coquettish look appeared on Ah Yin's face. She wrapped her arms around his broad waist from behind and said in a tone both resentful and alluring:

"Little Chen, are you tired of me?"

"Of course not." Dugu Chen turned and pulled Ah Yin into his embrace. Lowering his head, he kissed her lightly between the brows and said earnestly:

"You only absorbed the Qiluo Tulip today. You still need time to digest its medicinal power, and I don't want to disrupt your cultivation because of me."

"So that's how it is... Don't worry. The immortal herb's medicinal power has fused with me very smoothly. I can cultivate at night after you fall asleep."

Ah Yin smiled brightly, wrapped her arms around Dugu Chen's neck, and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

"In that case, I won't hold back!"

Dugu Chen licked his lips, a wicked smile appearing in his eyes. Amid Ah Yin's startled cry, he scooped her up and dashed toward his room.

Inside the room.

Dugu Chen placed Ah Yin on the bed. A scorching heat filled his gaze as his hand wrapped around her alluring body.

Her soft body pressed against his. Even through their clothing, he could still feel her astonishing elasticity and softness.

The temperature in the room swiftly rose as well, and a tender, intimate atmosphere spread through the room like a gentle breeze.

A hazy layer of mist also rose in Ah Yin's almond-shaped eyes. Waves shimmered within them, ripples lapping against her lashes like lake water striking the shore, glinting in fractured light.

"Sister Ah Yin!"

Dugu Chen's soft call instantly stirred the longing in Ah Yin's heart. She wrapped her arms around his neck, lifted her head, and sealed his lips with hers.

They lingered together for a long time. Only after Dugu Chen fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion did Ah Yin straighten her long dress and settle the distracting thoughts in her heart.

Her waterfall-like green hair fell straight down behind her. Looking down at the soundly sleeping Dugu Chen, her eyes were filled with tenderness.

"Good night!"

Ah Yin gently kissed his brow, moving with such careful tenderness as though afraid of waking him.

Then, she sat cross-legged on the bed and began circulating her soul power, merging it with the medicinal power of the immortal herb.

In the blink of an eye, daylight had fully arrived!

Dugu Chen slowly opened his eyes and immediately saw Ah Yin sitting upright, absorbing the immortal herb's medicinal power.

His heart was full of guilt. How had he become so consumed by lust yesterday?

But when he thought of Ah Yin's soft figure, the rich tulip fragrance wafting from her cherry lips, and that sweet taste that bewitched the soul and melted him to the bone...

He simply could not resist. He really could not...

Tomorrow, we have to sleep separately. Otherwise, Ah Yin won't be able to calm herself and cultivate every night.

Dugu Chen secretly thought to himself. The next moment, he arranged his robes in front of the mirror and then walked out the door.

Cultivation knew no passage of time; in the blink of an eye, the sky had changed.

By the time the golden radiance around Ah Yin gradually withdrew into her body, she looked outside the window and found that dusk was already approaching.

A trace of surprise appeared on her face. Was it already so late?

"Creak."

The room door was slowly pushed open. Dugu Chen entered from outside carrying a bowl of hot porridge. Standing before the table, he looked at her gently.

"You're awake? Come have something to eat."

Ah Yin smiled and nodded. Sitting across from Dugu Chen, she looked at the steaming bowl of porridge on the table. A faint fragrance drifted toward her, carrying a touch of sweetness.

"Candied fruit porridge. Try it. I made it especially for you. You've always been the one cooking, so now let me show you my skills too."

Resting his chin on one hand, Dugu Chen gently pushed the candied fruit porridge before Ah Yin and spoke warmly.

"You made this?"

Ah Yin blinked, her eyes bright and brilliant like stars flickering for an instant.

"Of course!"

Dugu Chen smiled and nodded. The tenderness in his voice seemed enough to melt a person. "Hurry and eat. It won't taste as good once it gets cold."

"Mm!"

Ah Yin nodded happily. She picked up the spoon and gently stirred the bowl. The rice grains blossomed in the thickening broth, like moonlight spilling down.

The first taste was sweet, carrying the mellow richness of fruit sugar. With a slight chew, the fragrance of rice seeped through the sweetness.

"Mmm... It's delicious. I never thought Little Chen's cooking would be this good!"

Ah Yin's smiling cheeks puffed up like a little hamster hiding food. Her two dimples had become round from the food in her mouth.

Very quickly, Ah Yin finished it all in one go. The fragrance lingered in her mouth, and warmth filled her from throat to stomach.

"If you like it, I'll make it for you every day!"

Dugu Chen's voice was soft, yet it was filled with tenderness and doting that could not be dissolved.