Your master needs only you

His movements were practiced; clearly, he had done plenty of laundry.

What could he do? His master might possess formidable magic power and look radiant and ethereal outside, but back on Thirteenth Peak, he was a hopeless wreck who could not even take care of himself.

Xiao Qinghe wanted to cry, but had no tears.

Other people transmigrated, leveled up, fought monsters, and built harems. Why did he not only have to push girls away, but also wash a man's clothes, cook his meals, and wait on him hand and foot?

If he had so much as a washing machine, he would not be this miserable.

Xiao Qinghe suddenly remembered the system's points scheme. "System, how many points have I earned from reader tips?"

The system was online and replied promptly.

[8,633 points.]

"How many points do I need to redeem a reward?"

[10,000 points.]

In other words, he was still 1,367 points short.

Excellent. Victory was in sight.

"Once I reach 10,000 points, can I ask for a washing machine?"

The request was so bizarre that the system did not want to speak. It merely displayed a message on its electronic screen:

[Yes.]

Xiao Qinghe said, "You're finally reliable for once!"

[But the world inside the novel has no electricity.]

Xiao Qinghe: "..."

Xiao Qinghe shut down.

"Senior Brother Xiao?" Ouyang Susu approached gracefully, her red lips pouting. She was about to complain that Xie Jun had snapped at her again when she noticed the garment in Xiao Qinghe's hands. "Master Yu Qing's white robe?"

She crouched beside Xiao Qinghe, looking envious. "You're so lucky, Senior Brother Xiao. You get to wash Master Yu Qing's clothes."

You want this good fortune? Take it.

Speechless, Xiao Qinghe suddenly remembered that Ouyang Susu should not be here. "Junior Sister, where's Junior Brother?"

Wasn't she supposed to be inside applying medicine to Xie Jun, with the young couple sweetly nurturing their relationship?

"Hmph!" Ouyang Susu puffed out her cheeks. "Senior Brother Xie didn't appreciate it at all. He even snapped at me! I refuse to help him apply medicine!"

Why couldn't that girl get a clue?

Your future wife was delivered right to your doorstep, and you still managed to drive her away?

You've got a long road ahead if you want to win your wife over.

Xiao Qinghe was worrying himself sick when he noticed Ouyang Susu staring at the white robe, looking as though she wanted to say something.

The corner of Xiao Qinghe's mouth twitched. "Don't tell me Junior Sister wants to help wash Master's clothes?"

If it had been any other garment, Ouyang Susu would not have spared it a second glance.

But this was his master's white robe, and his master was Xie Jun's greatest romantic rival in the original novel!

"Your serious injuries haven't healed yet, Senior Brother. You ought to rest more." Ouyang Susu pulled Xiao Qinghe aside, then crouched down and gazed dreamily at the white robe, her pretty face flushed. "Let me wash this robe for you."

Girl, your intentions are written all over your face.

Xiao Qinghe pressed a hand to his forehead, thinking that Xie Jun's road to winning her wife had just become even rougher. The female lead had yet to give up on his master.

Unaware of the thoughts tumbling through his mind, Ouyang Susu cradled the white robe like a priceless treasure and washed it with the utmost care.

When she hung it up to dry, she even thoughtfully sprinkled scented powder over it.

Xiao Qinghe noticed that the scented powder seemed to be the same kind Ouyang Susu used.

Was she secretly trying to make Master smell like her?

Xiao Qinghe sighed helplessly. "Junior Sister, anyone can tell this is your scented powder just by smelling it. Aren't you afraid Master will notice?"

"How do you know this is the scented powder I use?" Ouyang Susu stamped her foot petulantly. "You're awful, Senior Brother! You've been secretly sniffing me!"

Xiao Qinghe: "..."

I'm not!

I haven't!

Don't make things up!

Ouyang Susu, however, was imagining what expression would appear on Bai Yuqing's peerlessly handsome face when he discovered her scent on his white robe.

The thought filled her face with bashful delight. She poured more scented powder onto the robe, almost emptying the entire bottle, before telling Xiao Qinghe, "You have to keep this a secret, Senior Brother Xiao. Don't tell Master Yu Qing!"

Xiao Qinghe: "..."

With this much scented powder, unless he washed it again, people could smell it from a kilometer away. How was he supposed to keep that secret?

In the end, Xiao Qinghe did not wash it again. Instead, he frantically shook off the scented powder until most of the fragrance had dissipated, then carried it to his master.

The moment Bai Yuqing touched the white robe, his brows furrowed. "Why does this outer robe have such a pungent fragrance? Why didn't you use the usual incense?"

Xiao Qinghe groaned inwardly.

He had only himself to blame. To avoid dying beneath his master's sword in the future, he had spent three years frantically raising his master's favorability, going far overboard in his attentiveness. Not only had he taken charge of all his master's daily needs, but he had also catered to him in every possible way, even finding fragrance-seeking herbs and grinding them into incense pellets specifically to perfume his freshly washed clothes.

And now, all it took was a different fragrance to displease his master.

"You've been using the fragrance of fragrance-seeking herbs for three years, Master. I was afraid you might be tired of it, so I took it upon myself to change it."

But Bai Yuqing was not easily fooled. He saw at once that Xiao Qinghe was hiding something. "This is a woman's fragrance, and it matches the scent on Ouyang Susu. How do you explain that, Qinghe?"

Xiao Qinghe: "..."

Master's powers of observation were ridiculously overpowered, practically on par with a man holding the script. Who could possibly hide anything from him?

Seeing his silence, Bai Yuqing knew he had guessed correctly. He coldly tossed the white robe back. "You should know my habits. I'll allow it this once, but never again."

Xiao Qinghe felt utterly frustrated.

His master's habits were simply too exacting.

He was not used to anyone else attending to him. Only Xiao Qinghe would do.

He would not wear clothes prepared by anyone else. He was only accustomed to Xiao Qinghe preparing them.

Even the fragrance on his clothes had to be prepared by Xiao Qinghe.

How could this possibly work in the long run?

His master was a man, after all. One day, he would marry and have children. Xiao Qinghe could not wait on him for the rest of his life.

Xiao Qinghe said cautiously, "I can't serve you for the rest of my life, Master."

Bai Yuqing abruptly looked over, his gaze sharpening. "You intend to leave me?"

"You'll have to marry and have children someday, Master. Naturally, your future wife will take care of your daily needs then."

"I have no need to marry." Bai Yuqing looked at Xiao Qinghe, privately wondering what his disciple was really asking in such a roundabout way.

Could he be worried that marriage would make me grow distant from him?

Bai Yuqing searched his own heart. Would he?

No.

There would never be a woman who could come between him and Qinghe.

Bai Yuqing raised a hand and rested it on Xiao Qinghe's head, gently ruffling his hair. A hint of tenderness softened his handsome features. "There's no need to worry, my disciple. Your master needs only you. I have no need for a wife."

Xiao Qinghe: "...???"

Although he and his master had always depended on each other, there seemed to be nothing wrong with those words at first.

Yet the more he thought about them, the more something seemed off.

"Why won't you marry, Master?" Xiao Qinghe frowned.

By the later stages of Every Handsome Man Spoils Me, the serial had exceeded a million words, yet the female lead, Ouyang Susu, was still wavering between Xie Jun and his master. Meanwhile, throughout the story, his master seemed to have only ever fallen for Ouyang Susu.

If he kept matchmaking Xie Jun and Ouyang Susu until Ouyang Susu ultimately chose Xie Jun, wouldn't his master remain a bachelor forever?

A wave of guilt washed over him, and Xiao Qinghe hurriedly said, "If you never marry, Master, I'm willing to serve you for the rest of my life."

After all, his master was hopeless at taking care of himself, and Xiao Qinghe had stolen his future wife away and pushed her into Xie Jun's arms.

The moment Xiao Qinghe finished speaking, he felt an icy, piercing stare strike his back.

It was Xie Jun.

Her face was dark as her gaze shifted between Xiao Qinghe and Bai Yuqing. The aura around her grew colder and colder. "Am I interrupting you two?"

She forced out each word through gritted teeth.

Xiao Qinghe was utterly bewildered.

What was with this inexplicable Shura Field atmosphere?