Even if he wanted me

The air in the room nearly froze.

Suddenly, Gao Shiqi burst into sobs. "I didn't steal them. I just remembered I was going to shower today, and I hadn't brought any pants. I was afraid you'd say I wasn't clean, Little Cake, so I hid a pair. I-I really wasn't stealing."

Seeing Gao Shiqi cry so bitterly, Xue Ruigao sighed and gave Wen Xiancheng a helpless look. "Chengzi, let's leave it at that. Qiqi isn't some pervert. Why would she deliberately steal my pants?"

As she spoke, she gently patted Gao Shiqi's shoulder. "All right, Qiqi, stop crying. If something's wrong, just tell me. Why do this? It's okay, I don't blame you anymore. Stop crying."

Gao Shiqi lifted her head, her eyes blurred with tears. "You really don't blame me anymore?"

"Really!" Xue Ruigao said.

Only then did Gao Shiqi wipe her eyes, looking like pear blossoms drenched in rain. "Don't lie to me. If-if you blame me, I-I'll go home right now."

Xue Ruigao laughed. "Go home? It's already night. Where would you go? I said I don't blame you, and I mean it. If you'd told me sooner, things wouldn't have gotten so awkward."

Gao Shiqi pouted. "I was just afraid you'd look down on me."

Wen Xiancheng rolled his eyes at Gao Shiqi's affected display.

What a fucking fake-innocent bitch.

Still, let's see what waves you can stir up next!

This time, Wen Xiancheng sat in the living room instead of going into his room to play games.

Meanwhile, his Mouse Clone had quietly crept into a corner of the bathroom.

Ahem, don't get the wrong idea.

Wen Xiancheng had no sleazy intentions whatsoever.

He only wanted to hear what else that bitch Gao Shiqi might say to Xue Ruigao to slander him.

Fortunately, Gao Shiqi said nothing of the sort.

The two women finished showering, changed, and came out.

"Chengzi, your turn," Xue Ruigao told Wen Xiancheng.

Wen Xiancheng pointed to the chairs opposite him. "I'll go in a bit. Um, there's something I want to talk to you about."

Wen Xiancheng had never discussed anything with such solemn seriousness before.

Xue Ruigao and Gao Shiqi sat down opposite him.

Xue Ruigao smiled sweetly. "Go ahead, Chengzi. What is it? Since coming back this time, I've noticed you've changed so much. You hardly seem like your old self anymore."

A sudden wave of sadness welled up inside Wen Xiancheng.

Wen Xiancheng forced a smile. "Everyone has to grow up eventually, right? I was immature before, so I let the years slip away. Lately, I've figured things out. I need to become stronger. Otherwise, you'll always have to look after me, and that's too exhausting for you."

Xue Ruigao froze.

Her eyes reddened, and tears filled them.

Although she had always ignored what others said and insisted on honoring her engagement to Wen Xiancheng,

it still hurt to watch him shut himself up at home all day, doing nothing but playing games, eating, and sleeping.

She had even wondered how the two of them could possibly go on together in the future.

She had never expected Wen Xiancheng to say something like this today.

Gao Shiqi felt thoroughly sickened.

Sniffling, Xue Ruigao suddenly stood and threw herself into Wen Xiancheng's arms. "Chengzi," she choked out, "you've finally grown up. If you hadn't, I don't know how much longer I could have held on."

Wen Xiancheng gently patted Xue Ruigao's back. "I'm sorry."

Silently, he added, I'm saying that on behalf of the real Wen Xiancheng.

Xue Ruigao looked up and shook her head, smiling through her tears. "It's okay. You don't need to apologize. You've grown up now, and it's not too late. Anyway, what did you want to discuss so seriously?"

Wen Xiancheng nodded. "I want to go with you to Li City, the imperial capital, tomorrow. There are plenty of outstanding cultivators there. I can work to earn money while cultivating, and I can look after you too."

Xue Ruigao hesitated. "Chengzi, there's no problem with you going there. We can rent a room when we arrive. If we're close by, I can visit you every day. But there's no need to become a cultivator. There are three hundred and sixty trades, and every one can produce a master."

"I understand," Wen Xiancheng said with a smile. "Then can I come with you tomorrow?"

"Of course!" Xue Ruigao said, as though it went without saying. "I'd actually considered it before, but I was afraid you wouldn't want to leave Yecheng. Now that you're willing to leave, I couldn't ask for anything better!"

Only then did Wen Xiancheng stand. "All right, I'll go shower now."

Gao Shiqi sneered as she watched Wen Xiancheng head to the bathroom.

Still thinking you can stay with Little Cake?

Keep dreaming your broad-daylight dreams!

Once Little Cake sees the paper under her pillow, your dreams will shatter!

Turning to Xue Ruigao, Gao Shiqi pulled her toward the bedroom. "Little Cake, let's go to bed. It's getting late. We spent most of the day flying, and I'm a little sleepy."

Only then did Xue Ruigao tear her gaze away from the bathroom door. "All right," she said with a smile.

She was truly happy today.

She had already forgotten everything Gao Shiqi had done earlier.

The two entered the bedroom and were just about to close the door.

Then a little gray mouse swaggered inside.

Gao Shiqi screamed in fright.

Seeing this, Xue Ruigao cupped the little gray mouse in her hands and reassured Gao Shiqi. "Don't be scared. This is Chengzi's pet. He's very well behaved. Chengzi bathes him every day, so he isn't dirty, and he doesn't bite."

Gao Shiqi was still terrified.

The Mouse Clone looked at Gao Shiqi with a faint sense of triumph.

This bitch.

So scared of mice, huh?

If you rein yourself in from now on, fine.

Otherwise, sooner or later, I'll scare you to death!

Seeing how frightened Gao Shiqi was, Xue Ruigao did not force the issue.

She put the Mouse Clone on a table well away from the head of the bed, then went to the kitchen refrigerator for a box of cookies, opened it, and left him there to eat.

She then lay down on the bed with Gao Shiqi, ready to sleep.

With the Mouse Clone so far away, Gao Shiqi's fear eased considerably.

Her gaze landed on the pillow beneath Xue Ruigao's head, and the corners of Gao Shiqi's mouth lifted slightly.

She deliberately picked up her own pillow and swung it at Xue Ruigao, laughing loudly. "Little Cake, come play with me!"

Xue Ruigao picked up her pillow and hit back.

Standing on the distant table, the Mouse Clone held a cookie in his forepaws and nibbled it, watching Gao Shiqi as though she were an idiot.

When Gao Shiqi saw Xue Ruigao lift her pillow to hit her, delight flooded her face, and she was about to point at the note beneath it.

But in the next instant, her expression froze.

The note she had put beneath the pillow was gone!

Xue Ruigao brought her pillow down on Gao Shiqi's head. When she failed to dodge, Xue Ruigao asked curiously, "Qiqi, didn't you want to play? Why aren't you dodging?"

Only then did Gao Shiqi come to her senses.

Forcing a laugh, Gao Shiqi muttered and grabbed Xue Ruigao's pillow. "Ruigao'er, do you think Chengzi might often sneak through your things and take them?"

Xue Ruigao's smile quickly vanished.

At the sight, Gao Shiqi's heart gave a jolt.

She knew Xue Ruigao was angry!

After spending two years with Xue Ruigao at the Royal Academy, she knew her every gesture very well.

Gao Shiqi squeezed out an awkward smile. "Little Cake, I don't mean anything by it. I'm only wondering. After all, only the two of you live here. When you're away, he's the only one at home. A man and a woman alone together, and you're so pretty. You know boys his age always have fantasies about pretty girls."

Xue Ruigao brushed aside her bangs, then looked at Gao Shiqi seriously. "Qiqi, I consider you a friend, so I won't get angry today. But next time, I hope you won't say that again."

"Chengzi and I are husband and wife. We've been together for eleven years."

"I know what kind of person he is better than anyone."

"Not only would he never do something like that, even if he wanted me, I'd agree in a heartbeat."

"In fact, I wish he'd be a little bolder."

At this point, a smile appeared on Xue Ruigao's face. "Still, he used to be rather clueless, but he seems to have changed a lot since I came back this time. Maybe it won't be long before he finally catches on."

(End of chapter)