Chapter 685 - 0393 Feeling Bad (Two in One)_2

It seemed like there was some mysterious trajectory hidden within.

Dao Rhyme?

That can’t be right.

How is that possible?

Even if he truly is an Immortal, what could he gain Enlightenment from just cracking an egg?

Zhu Pingniang felt a twinge of unbearable shame for actually trying to gain Enlightenment from Xu Chang’an’s egg-cracking motion.

"Zhu Tongjun, oh Zhu Tongjun, what are you thinking."

"Slap! Slap!"

Zhu Pingniang slapped her cheeks twice in front of Xu Chang’an and perked up.

"Let me try." Zhu Pingniang lowered her head, looking at the small egg in front of her as if facing a formidable enemy.

Then.

She looked up with a bit of confusion.

"Chang’an, you said to use just a little force to tap the eggshell, how much is ’a little’?"

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Alright.

Confirmed, our Senior Zhu is not cut out for cooking.

Seemingly noticing Xu Chang’an’s helplessness, Zhu Pingniang put the egg away and stretched lazily: "Forget it, I give up... what’s the point of cooking? Anyway, I can have you and Lu’Er make food for me, why should I do it myself."

Listening to Zhu Pingniang’s lazy words, Xu Chang’an began to doubt if the woman who was so serious just now was just his illusion.

"Don’t look at sister like that." Zhu Pingniang made an innocent face and spread her hands: "Ah Bai wouldn’t force herself to do things she’s not interested in, nor would she do things she can’t do, and I’m the same."

"?"

Faced with Xu Chang’an’s questioning gaze, Zhu Pingniang said earnestly: "Sister just remembered, I’m not really interested in cooking, I just wanted to see you looking helpless yet unable to do anything about me."

She was here to tease him, not to crack eggs, almost mistaking the means for the end.

Zhu Pingniang felt at ease.

What do you call a bad woman?

That’s what this is.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Upon discovering Zhu Pingniang had admitted she was here to stir things up, Xu Chang’an was momentarily lost for words. He could vaguely sense Zhu Pingniang harbored some vengeful thoughts, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out how he had offended this Senior.

Could it be that this Senior had a hard time with Miss Yun?

Blinking his eyes.

Probably not.

Even Li Zhibai got along well with Yun Qian, so Zhu Pingniang should have an even easier time.

Forget it, he wasn’t good at guessing the minds of girls, so he continued to prepare dinner peacefully.

This time, Zhu Pingniang didn’t cause any disturbances, merely watching his busy figure quietly, pondering if it was time for her to go back.

Truth be told, after coming over to "tease" Xu Chang’an, she found her mind was a lot clearer now.

But Zhu Pingniang knew for sure, after doing something bad, facing Yun Qian alone afterward would only make things worse.

She especially ran over to tease someone else’s husband, she’d probably feel even more guilty.

"...Well, it doesn’t matter." Zhu Pingniang shrugged.

At this moment, Xu Chang’an seemed to be preparing something similar to shrimp dumplings, with the aroma of a bit of meat filling wafting through the air.

Zhu Pingniang took off her apron from her waist, tilted her head, and watched the young man making dinner earnestly under the lamplight.

Is he always this serious?

Even with herself, who was clearly causing trouble, still here.

Zhu Pingniang looked out the window, seeing a storm outside, while inside it was so warm one might want to hum a tune.

Xu Chang’an was busy when his hands paused for a moment, having heard Zhu Pingniang behind him softly humming something.

Just as he was about to show a helpless expression, he paused.

This time, Zhu Pingniang wasn’t deliberately trying to distract him.

Though it was just a little tune, it was filled with smooth, tranquil notes, slow and lingering, gradually soothing his somewhat unsettled heart.

’The Senior is in a bad mood.’

Xu Chang’an suddenly realized this fact.

He wasn’t sure if Zhu Pingniang herself was aware, but her voice carried hints of unavoidable fatigue.

Did something unpleasant happen?

But such things weren’t for him to ask, so Xu Chang’an quietly continued doing what he was supposed to.

"Chang’an."

"Mm."

Zhu Pingniang’s eyes shimmered with a touch of moisture, and she softly asked, "Are you going to such lengths to please and accommodate sister for Miss Yun’s cultivation?"

"..." Xu Chang’an didn’t know how to respond.

He wouldn’t really call it accommodation.

After all, she was a family elder, even without the issue concerning Miss Yun, he would have still behaved the same.

Zhu Pingniang knew his thoughts and simply added, "Ah, cultivation, used to think there was nothing bad about it, but now it’s different."

Zhu Pingniang stomped her foot in dissatisfaction, not at all embarrassed discussing such things with Xu Chang’an.

"Look, the girls at the Flower Moon Building hesitate to talk to me as soon as I show a bit of my Immortal Sect presence." Zhu Pingniang pouted in displeasure, "It’s really annoying. If I revert to Zhu Tongjun’s appearance, would they not acknowledge me as their sister anymore?"

That’s why she was in a bad mood.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Fine.

He thought of Qinling, realizing he had turned into an emotional dumping ground again.

A bitter smile.

Do I really look like a confidant sister so much?

However, Xu Chang’an was also a bit surprised, as he hadn’t expected Zhu Pingniang to be so upset just because the girls didn’t dare to approach her. It was almost as if she were throwing a tantrum like a child.

As someone from the Immortal Sect’s upper echelons, the things that could upset her were actually just such simple matters?

Zhu Pingniang could probably guess some of Xu Chang’an’s thoughts. She smoothed her slightly messy long hair and asked, "Chang’an, do you think... those things that could make sister unhappy should be something more accomplished."

"..."

"Alright, no need to respond, maybe you’re right." Zhu Pingniang revealed a hint of reminiscence in her expression.

In fact, the longer you live, the less you get unhappy about big things, and what really gets you are the little things.

Perhaps I’m getting old.

Saying she felt lonely would be putting it strongly, it’s just that she often found herself out of place amidst the lively gatherings at the Flower Moon Building, which is why she rarely attended the banquets.

Just now, she watched from afar as Miss Lu and Yun Qian chatted "happily", and as the women in the Flower Moon Building giggled and played poker in the banquet hall, hugging each other and laughing, she desperately wanted to leave that place.

Standing alone at the railing, with no girl approaching to chat with her, surely they like pretty women the most, right?

And isn’t she pretty?

Following her thoughts to the end of the deck adorned with colorful lanterns, Zhu Pingniang wasn’t sad, but a sense of loss filled her palms.

"Chang’an, sister is probably... just lonely." Zhu Pingniang murmured.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Hiss.

Is this really a topic to discuss with me?

He really didn’t know how to respond, but he could feel that Zhu Pingniang was waiting for him to say something.

"Ms. Zhu, were you... imitating the teacher?" he said helplessly.

"...You’re always so perceptive, this child." Zhu Pingniang glanced at him, smiled, and nodded: "Yes, that’s right."

Obviously, Li Zhibai can endure solitude very well, clearly, her Ah Bai could live alone for a long time.

But when it’s her turn, she just can’t do it.

She truly differed too much from Ah Bai. To think she’d feel lonely even in such a bustling place, indeed, compared to Ah Bai’s Mental Realm... she’s just an inadequate woman.

"Actually, I kind of miss Qin’Er." Zhu Pingniang sighed.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

At this moment, he found himself contemplating what role he was playing, and... Junior Master Qin, your efforts were not in vain.

Zhu Pingniang reminded, "When you go back, don’t tell her, or she’ll get a big head."

"Got it, got it." Xu Chang’an nodded.

Zhu Pingniang shot Xu Chang’an a glance, "You and Qin’Er have a pretty good relationship, huh."

"Master is a really good person."

"I raised that girl, of course she’s good." Zhu Pingniang thought of Yun Qian and felt puzzled.

"Chang’an, why do the girls think that joining the Immortal Sect somehow implies a distinction between mortal and immortal?"

After all, entering the Immortal Sect, doesn’t she remain their sister?

"Chang’an, how does Miss Yun view your cultivation?"