Below the stage, a womanâs jade-like hands lightly brushed the zither, as if gentle wisps moving, followed by waves of zither music like clear spring pearls flowing from the girlâs hands, refreshing the soul, the melody resembling a stream leaping through the valleys and cliffs. The girls stopped what they were doing and quietly enjoyed the piece.
The atmosphere on stage, however, froze.
The music was so beautiful, yet it failed to flow into the hearts of these two women.
Zhu Pingniang and Miss Lu both fell into silence.
For two single older women, especially for one who believed herself to be older than all the girls present combined...
There was nothing more damaging than Yun Qianâs calm tone flaunting their affection.
Zhu Pingniang was used to Xu Changâanâs flaunting, but Miss Lu was truly unfortunate, she almost lost her breath, her eyebrows twitching slightly, her fingers covering her heart.
One must know that compared to Zhu Pingniang, Miss Lu was quite ordinary; she yearned greatly for affection, otherwise, she wouldnât occasionally eavesdrop on the maids.
Miss Lu: "..."
She exchanged a glance with Zhu Pingniang, then quietly looked away, both of them understanding each otherâs thoughts.
[Such great harm, hiss... so painful.]
"...?"
Yun Qian was somewhat bewildered as to why these two women were stunned after she spoke.
Could it be that she misspoke?
Yun Qian thought for a moment and felt she wasnât wrong.
After all, whether her husbandâs dishes or snacks, they were truly treasures.
In every sense they were.
Even when viewed with mortal eyes, they could be deemed the supreme of treasures.
Yun Qian believed, and she was not wrong.
Simply put... it was something made by "Yun Qianâs" own husband.
Even without this identity, Xu Changâan was still the Child of Heaven... huh? If not admitting it, then letâs phrase it differently.
ââ
At this moment, Xu Changâan was preparing to proceed with the next dish, placing a completed plate into the pre-constructed array nearby to maintain freshness.
He just paused slightly.
With a slight motion of his eyes, an illusory system panel opened before him.
Xu Changâanâs gaze fell on the warning red words recorded by the system.
"Strange... is there any danger?"
With Yun Qian not by his side, his Celestial Dao Points had inexplicably increased by tens of thousands, along with the systemâs warning, leaving Xu Changâan a bit confused.
Is danger approaching?
Where is it?
He walked to the window, looking outside.
The wind was gentle, the rain fine, the cool breeze and warm light, in the distance he could vaguely hear the laughter of the lively girls.
Xu Changâan shook his head.
Where is the danger, knowing Zhu Pingniang is not far away.
Xu Changâan continued his work, casually saying, "System... you have your merits, but why are your warnings always so bizarre..."
Not inaccurate; the dangers encountered are minor, such as the precise timing on the platform, but when the awarded Celestial Dao Points exceeded a hundred, the warnings were never accurate.
The fifty thousand in Beisang City, now tens of thousands, Miss Yunâs countless zeros...
Tsk.
Xu Changâan swiftly and neatly sliced the ingredients with the point of his knife, his hands seeming to trace a divine pattern, his hand pausing, saying: "System, care to explain?"
After speaking, Xu Changâan continued preparing dinner earnestly, as if he had already predicted the systemâs silence.
He never expected the system would respond, but Xu Changâan also found that while he remained vigilant, ever since the system began issuing inexplicable tasks, Xu Changâan faintly perceived that the system seemed... quite accommodating.
In summary, differing from what he understood as tasks.
From beginning to end, the system never issued him any mandatory tasks, he could even scheme against the system...
Shaking his head.
The talent he held today was indeed graced by the system.
Thus, when Xu Changâan was in a good mood, his attitude towards the system improved significantly, for instance... when Miss Yun wasnât by his side, heâd greet the system with a "good morning" at dawn, which had become quite the habit.
Smiling, continuing cooking.
Heavenly Dao System: "..."
For the system, it never foresaw maintaining existence under the concept of "being alive" would be such a difficult matter.
Xu Changâanâs identity as Child of Heaven was no longer usable.
Yet if he became Heavenly Daoâs father, the system would inevitably usurp the unborn childâs position, which it couldnât bear.
Thus, for the system... living itself required its utmost effort.
As for the powers the system ought to have... donât joke, just manifesting some presence in trivial matters was already the limit.
For instance, right now.
"?"
Xu Changâan noticed a task suddenly appearing before him.
"Prepare a table of delicious dinner? What kind of task is this, system, youâre acting up again." Xu Changâan lifted his head helplessly.
And like before, it was a task with neither penalty nor reward.
Seeing the system still not responding, Xu Changâan helplessly smiled, storing the matter in his heart for later observation, then proceeded to ignore it for now.
Even without the system, he would earnestly prepare dinner.
Heâd try to avoid listening to the system, but if the system sought to use such apprehensions to influence what he truly wished to do, like if he wanted to cook, and then abandoned it due to a system task...
Impossible.
He always knew what he ought to do, trying not to let anyone other than Miss Yun influence him.