Chapter 386 - 0243 Confession

Zhu Pingniang deserves to be called "Senior" and thanked by Xu Chang’an, not to mention that she really treats Xu Chang’an well. Just think, when he killed the Cyan-eyed Tiger, the first person he thought to seek help from was Miss Zhu, who agreed to help without any hesitation.

Though Zhu Pingniang never mentioned these things herself, does Xu Chang’an still not know?

Therefore, he always regards this Miss Zhu, who seems full of flaws, as a senior worthy of respect and gratitude.

Now, knowing she is the sister of his teacher, the senior directly becomes an elder.

That’s why... Xu Chang’an feels a peculiar sensation akin to reporting his cultivation progress to his family when he’s planning to bring Yun Qian back to Beisang City to meet Zhu Pingniang. It’s very subtle.

Hmm.

Xu Chang’an carefully lets out a breath, then turns his head to continue watching her, thinking that when he takes Miss Yun to meet Senior Zhu, perhaps she should put on some light makeup, because in the Flower Moon Building, it’s considered a show of respect among women to slightly adjust one’s makeup before meeting.

"..."

Xu Chang’an gazes at Yun Qian as if trying to imprint her appearance in his mind. But... looking closely, one can see his gaze slowly moving downward, following Miss Yun’s neck and her loose pajamas, transforming into cloud-like mist, almost feeling like it’s about to dive in.

Don’t misunderstand.

He has just experienced an almost perfect dream, and right now he doesn’t have a shred of desire.

Xu Chang’an is merely curious about one thing: didn’t he measure Miss Yun’s data in his dream yesterday? Typically, he wouldn’t deliberately pay attention to such things, so he’s curious how much the numbers he imagined in his dream differ from the real Miss Yun’s numbers.

Guided by some invisible force, Xu Chang’an actually reaches out a hand towards Yun Qian.

"..."

He has mentioned before that Miss Yun is very alert when she sleeps.

Thus, Yun Qian opens her weary and dry eyes, then looks down at her familiar wrist, and her eyelashes tremble slightly.

She really can’t handle it; it’s not an act.

At this moment, Yun Qian nostalgically remembers the youth who had once said to her, "Eyes tender like pools, steadfast yet gentle, not swayed by beauty, seeing only purity." A young man untempted by beauty.

Because of Xu Chang’an’s unreserved behavior in the dream, Yun Qian deeply understands how weak her body truly is and realizes how gentle Xu Chang’an usually is with her.

In contrast, she does not appreciate his affection, often acting arrogantly and overestimating herself, leading only to an outcome of her own making.

——

Outside the window, light rain washes the window sill.

Yun Qian feels pain throughout her body and lethargically glances at Xu Chang’an’s hand without making any move, simply speaking in a calm tone, "I’m very tired, don’t..."

The tone can’t hide the girl’s frail appearance.

Xu Chang’an meets Yun Qian’s gaze and hesitates, sheepishly retracting his hand.

Thinking perhaps although he hadn’t measured accurately, his subconscious understanding from the dream wasn’t wrong; indeed... he still knows Miss Yun very well deep down.

"Ahem, Miss, I didn’t do anything," Xu Chang’an explains.

"Hmm." Yun Qian nods; since Xu Chang’an says so, she naturally believes him.

The weather is quite cold.

"Haah..."

The girl yawns without any regal grace, then tightens her collar and cuddles up to Xu Chang’an for warmth.

Yet her hands... remain soft, and her voice is weak, prompting Xu Chang’an to ask, "Miss, you just walked a bit yesterday, but today... are you that tired."

Doesn’t cultivation improve the constitution?

He prepared such an expensive herbal bath for her, but why does her physical condition seem worse than before?

Does she need to use the Yin Yang Dual Cultivation technique to improve her constitution?

——

Yun Qian: "..."

Yawning and about to close her eyes to sleep a bit more, Yun Qian hears his words and suddenly opens her eyes, staring at him silently.

Their gazes intersect, and they remain speechless, only the rain falling on the window sill fills the silence, with strands of chill and Yun Qian’s nearly tangible gaze keeping the atmosphere active so time doesn’t freeze.

Xu Chang’an: "?"

"Miss, why are you staring at me like this?" Xu Chang’an wonders in confusion.

"I had a dream yesterday, so I’m a bit tired." Yun Qian says.

"A dream?" Xu Chang’an feels guilty upon hearing this, instinctively asking, "What kind of dream."

"Is my dream hard to guess?" Yun Qian asks.

The girl’s face is pale, her tone weak, and her lips slightly cracked... but her words bring Xu Chang’an an overwhelming sense of pressure, instantly waking him up.

Indeed.

The real Miss Yun and the dream version of Miss Yun exert pressure on completely different levels.

If this Yun Qian commands him to enter the room and sit on the bed, Xu Chang’an believes he wouldn’t be able to utter a single word of refusal, let alone delay or divert the topic. It would take real courage.

Thankfully, such a weak yet dignified Yun Qian is rarely seen; it’s merely an illusion from not being fully awake and being too tired.

Xu Chang’an swallows, immediately saying, "Miss’s dream, is easy to guess."

How could it not be?

What Yun Qian cares about is none other than him, so whatever Miss Yun dreams of... it definitely concerns something about him. Whether it’s eating pastries, strolling, or reading and writing, so on and so forth.

"Did I tire Miss out?" Xu Chang’an cleverly avoids asking in detail.

Yun Qian tilts her head to glance at him, then shakes her head, "It’s my own inadequacy, has nothing to do with you."

"I see." Xu Chang’an falls silent.

His words merely stall to buy time to think and prepare for self-disclosure; in truth, what Yun Qian truly dreamed of, he isn’t particularly concerned because it’s usual for the girl to dream of him.

Being tired... it’s already mentioned that it results from her excessive activities before sleep, losing her physical strength.

"Miss, I... also had a dream yesterday." Xu Chang’an lowers his eyes.

At this moment, he resembles a criminal awaiting the noble judgment of a judge.

Yun Qian hears him and seems puzzled, "Just one dream?"

Should be two.

After all, she was pulled into such a dark dream just as she caught her breath, initially quite astonished.

But since she is tired yet in good spirits, she decided not to bother the system.

Not remembering dreams doesn’t matter; one dream is enough.

Remembering a beautiful dream is good enough, otherwise, it would be a pointless "suffering" ——

As she is pondering.

Xu Chang’an speaks, "Hmm... it wasn’t a very good dream."

Not good?

Yun Qian pauses, her gaze turning somber; her white fingers gradually regain strength, unconsciously clutching the fabric under the quilt, but her tone remains eerily calm, "... Tell me."

"I betrayed Miss, couldn’t control myself."

"..."