Zhu Pingniang spat once, then sat upright and spread her hands: "I originally thought, with the trust youâve gained at the Flower Moon Building among the girls, you could restore Miss Aqingâs Half-Demon identity, and have her perform a dance or a tune for you... Then, show that you donât mind the Half-Demon identity, creating an atmosphere where not all Immortal Sects are wary of Half-Demons."
If Young Master Xu from a popular sect takes the lead, it will be easier to resolve.
"Just think about it."
Zhu Pingniang pointed at Xu Changâanâs face: "If someone showed discontent with Miss Aqingâs Half-Demon identity, and the girls responded with, [Young Master Xu doesnât mind her being a Half-Demon], wouldnât that settle the matter?"
Xu Changâan: "..."
He didnât know what to say.
The fact was, the senior before him was not only a powerful member of an Immortal Sect but also immensely popular, yet she needed to borrow his influence.
It could only be said that things in the world always remain unpredictable.
Xu Changâan recalled previously holding Miss Aqingâs waist, and the trusting smile of the young girl. He shook his head: "Now, they donât need me anymore."
"They still need you; itâs just that I didnât expect that without any arrangements from me, these girls would handle things neatly themselves." Zhu Pingniang placed a candied fruit into her mouth and sighed: "It makes me feel useless."
She could trust these children more.
Clearly, any woman she brings back, even if a Half-Demon, they would treat her as a sister.
Even if she didnât coordinate the exposure of Miss Aqingâs Half-Demon identity, the girls wouldnât strongly oppose her status. Thus, Zhu Pingniang wonders if her efforts are futile.
Hearing this, Xu Changâan couldnât help but smile.
Suddenly, Zhu Pingniang felt dissatisfied and kicked Xu Changâan under the table with her embroidered shoe.
"You little brat, how dare you mock your sister."
When a woman shares her troubles with a man, itâs not necessarily seeking comfort, but she certainly doesnât want to be ridiculed.
"Sister Zhu." Xu Changâan coughed, "I sometimes feel that way too."
"What do you mean?" Zhu Pingniang looked at him: "Iâm Refining Heart and trying to look out for each girl individually. What trouble are you creating around me?"
"A few years ago, at home watching a Miss, I would occasionally wonder if my efforts were useless, if I couldnât help her even a little." Xu Changâan smiled.
"Yun Qian?" Zhu Pingniang pouted, feeling she was about to be shown off again.
"But later, I figured it out." Xu Changâan said: "If what we do makes people like us more, then itâs not a waste. What do you think?"
"..."
Making people like us more, thus not a waste?
Zhu Pingniang was stunned.
She stared at Xu Changâan for a moment, then blushed and spat.
"You little brat, what does it matter to you that the girls like me, why are you happy?"
"Naturally, it doesnât matter." Xu Changâan said seriously: "I just realized itâs just as Junior Master Qin said."
"Qinling, what bad words is she saying about me again?" Zhu Pingniang instinctively asked, but quickly regained her composure: "Never mind, donât tell me. Sheâs just spouting nonsense."
Xu Changâan quietly thought it was indeed as Qinling said.
The senior before him was a very charming woman.
Moreover, even though sheâs single, she has a hidden maternal side, and likes to care for the younger generation.
If not, how could he have had the chance to join the Immortal Sect through Zhu Pingniangâs introduction?
Her sense of responsibility contrasts greatly with her flippant appearance.
"What are you smiling at, so annoying."
Although Zhu Pingniang was somewhat displeased with being laughed at by a younger person, the habit she developed from being mocked by the girls made her unable to truly get angry at Xu Changâanâs smile, and she adapted to it.
Really donât want to get used to such a thing.
"Anyway, regarding Miss Aqing... you should show a good attitude tonight." Zhu Pingniang said, moving on to important matters: "Thereâll be plenty of girls at tonightâs banquet; be clear with your stance, so I can follow up afterwards."
Xu Changâan blinked.
Sure enough.
He knew there would be plenty of girls at the banquet today.
Fine.
Might as well take Miss Yun along for the experience.
"No problem, but are you sure you want a good attitude?" Xu Changâan asked.
"...That might not work." Zhu Pingniang shook her head.
Indeed.
If Xu Changâan, who seldom shows favor to anyone, suddenly showed a good attitude, people might think he intended to take a concubine.
"Just handle it the way you want." Zhu Pingniang said.
Neither favor nor dislikeâlike her attitude towards Yun Qian.
"Understood." Xu Changâan said.
Afterward, Zhu Pingniang informed him of the painted boat they were to visit that evening, and the general banquet arrangements.
He was also told he only needed to prepare enough dinner for himself, Yun Qian, and Zhu Pingniang.
ââ
Later.
Zhu Pingniang looked at Xu Changâan and suddenly remembered something: "Actually, I really like your Miss Yun."
Actually, she neither dislikes nor holds no opinion towards Yun Qian.
Maybe, she likes her a lot.
"Eh?" Xu Changâan was momentarily confused by Zhu Pingniangâs abrupt words, but then nodded.
Normal.
Not liking Miss Yun would just be abnormal.
"Wonât you be jealous?" Zhu Pingniang blinked, pointing at herself: "You see, as your sister, Iâm quite capable of charming young girls."
"Young girls..." Xu Changâan thought about his familyâs Miss, and sighed lightly.
Rather, heâd be glad if Zhu Pingniang could truly charm Miss Yun into becoming her first friend.
"Tsk."
Zhu Pingniang smacked her lips: "Changâan, if you disappoint a girlâs expectations, youâll turn into a dull, uninteresting man."
She quite wanted to see Xu Changâanâs expression of jealousy or apprehension towards her.
"Perhaps so." Xu Changâan responded.
"Lame." Zhu Pingniang pouted: "I thought that you dressed that Yun sister so ordinarily and cheaply out of concern she might catch my eye."
"...?"
???
Question marks arose in Xu Changâanâs mind.
Turns out she saw when he took Yun Qian out?
"How? Isnât it?" Zhu Pingniang looked at him.
Not fearing her, yet Yun Qian was so beautiful - why did he let Yun Qian dress so ordinarily, and go out without makeup?
He clearly bought rouge to take home.
"..." Xu Changâan didnât dare speak.
Could he really tell Zhu Pingniang he worried Teacher would be jealous of Miss Yun?
Thus, Xu Changâan silently said: "She applied makeup in the car, not as ordinary as you said."
His Miss Yun was quite beautiful now.
"Applied it in the car? Oh." Zhu Pingniang thought she hadnât noticed Yun Qian afterward and thus didnât know how she had transformed.
Nonetheless, Zhu Pingniang had given up on expecting Yun Qian to be "stunning," and resigned herself.
So even losing terribly in terms of feminine charm doesnât matter.
Sheâs used to it.
Zhu Pingniang thought about Yun Qian, looked out the window at the slight drizzle, listened to the "crackle" from the fire basin, and felt the lazy warmth spreading from her feet.
"I do genuinely like Miss Yun a lot." She stated earnestly.
"Mm."
Xu Changâan recalled Li Zhibai.
His teacher very much liked Miss Yun, even though theyâd barely met.
Zhu Pingniang, after all, had been looking after Yun Qian for so long; her liking was more normal compared to his teacherâs.
Perhaps not telepathically connected, but at this moment Zhu Pingniang was also thinking about Li Zhibai.
"Ah Bai doesnât like going out, much like your Miss Yun." Zhu Pingniang reminisced: "Back when she opened a cave, if I didnât frequently visit under the guise of needing Elixirs, sheâd probably grow plants on her."
Thus, seeing Yun Qianâs dislike for going out, gave her a good impression of this girl.
Xu Changâanâs eyelashes trembled upon hearing this.
Is this liking Miss Yun?
Isnât it more about liking his teacher?
Xu Changâan silently said: "You like Teacher."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Oh, then itâs all right."
Zhu Pingniang nodded: "I definitely care a lot about Ah Bai; if anyone likes Ah Bai... though jealous, Iâd still have a good impression and think she has good taste."
Xu Changâan was about to speak when Zhu Pingniang gave him a somewhat inexplicable glance.
"But as things seem now, you donât seem to care much about Ah Bai." Zhu Pingniang looked at Xu Changâan dangerously: "You probably didnât pay attention to what she said."
If Xu Changâan couldnât pay attention to Li Zhibaiâs words, then she wouldnât be fond of him.
For instance.
Zhu Pingniang believed that Ah Bai must have told himâ
Donât use Spiritual Power to shield from rain on a rainy day.