The sword's clear and piercing sound made the desolate night seem even colder and lonelier.
Xu Yuan and Lin Qingque's movements both involuntarily paused.
"Tian Liuli!"
Lin Qingque said bitterly, "Senior brother, it must be her who has come."
"Que'er, you see..."
Xu Yuan coughed lightly and said, "Is it convenient for you to hide for a moment?"
If Tian Liuli came in and saw Lin Qingque's flushed face, it would be strange if the two did not start fighting immediately.
But by then, he would have to step in to maintain his good guy image to prevent the fight.
Therefore, he could not let the conflict erupt here.
"Hide for a moment?"
Lin Qingque was stunned, her eyes gradually losing their sparkle, "Why should I hide? I was here first."
She was already dissatisfied with Tian Liuli arriving suddenly, interrupting what was to happen between them.
And now, her senior brother was actually suggesting she should hide?
Why should she hide?
It was she who came first, whether it be to spend time with senior brother, to confess her love or to nurture her feelings for him.
Why should she now be the one to step aside?
The one who should be stepping aside was surely that other person!
Anger from the interruption and hatred born from incomprehension made Lin Qingque forget about appearances, and she was ready to fight the demoness for three hundred rounds right there and then.
If she did not kill her tonight, she would no longer consider herself this junior sister!
"No, I am worried about you."
Seeing things going south and her emotions at the brink of exploding, Xu Yuan quickly spoke up to soothe her.
"Worried about me?"
With just those words, the murderous aura rising from Lin Qingque suddenly vanished without a trace.
"What do you mean by that, senior brother?"
She turned around and asked.
"Que'er, haven't you realized by now?"
Xu Yuan said softly, "To me, Miss Tian is merely someone I'm engaged to, but the person I truly like is you."
"Senior, senior brother."
Faced with his sudden confession, Lin Qingque was taken aback, blushing once again covering her fair face.
"Is, is this true?"
As she spoke, mist rose above her head.
"Of course."
Xu Yuan nodded, speaking with utmost sincerity.
"In my heart, the engagement with Miss Tian is a last resort, but in reality, it's you whom I like."
"Then, why did you, you just now ask me to hide?"
Lin Qingque lowered her head, occasionally looking up at him to gauge his expression.
"Because I don't want you, junior sister, to be subjected to rumors and gossip. Think about it, in the middle of the night, a man and a woman together alone, what would others think? Especially when I already have an engaged Dao Companion, it's not good for your reputation."
"I, I don't care."
Lin Qingque mustered her courage and said, "As long as I can be with senior brother, I'm completely happy."
"But I care."
Xu Yuan's eyes were filled with tenderness.
He stroked her head and said softly, "I don't want you to suffer any harm or censure, do you understand?"
"Senior brother..."
Lin Qingque's gaze had already become infatuated.
"So, Que'er will hide away nicely, right?"
"I..."
Lin Qingque was still hesitating.
"This morning, haven't you just reflected? Didn't you say you would listen to everything I say? I didn't expect you to forget so quickly. It seems that my words don't mean much to you anymore."
Xu Yuan sighed, disappointment evident in his eyes.
"Well, if that's the case, then I'll be the bad guy. If anyone asks, you can say that I called you to my room in the middle of the night. Since you wish for it to be so, then let it be. No matter what, I can't let you get hurt!"
"No! I was wrong! I'm sorry, Senior Brother, please, don't be mad!"
Lin Qingque immediately panicked, hastily tugging at his sleeve with a pitiable expression, "But Senior Brother, it's too late to hide now. If we run out, we won't make it in time, and even if we hide, that person will find us as soon as they enter and sweep the room with their Divine Sense."
"It won't happen."
Petting her head, Xu Yuan took Lin Qingque's hand and led her to the seemingly plain wardrobe.
"This wardrobe has a concealing Array and a Soundproof Formation applied to it because I like to keep some treasures inside. You just hide in here."
"Treasures?"
Lin Qingque thought of something, and her face turned slightly red.
But in the end, with a blush on her face, she obediently entered the wardrobe that Xu Yuan had already laid the Array on, like a rabbit jumping into the pot on its own.
Watching her enter and as the wardrobe door slowly closed, the warmth in Xu Yuan's smile gradually faded away.
He hadn't expected that in less than two days, Lin Qingque would show signs of an attack.
If it weren't for his timely reaction just now, the situation would have been out of control.
What a pity, even if she was already in the pot, it wasn't a good time to start the fire.
If it were only Lin Qingque, he might have tried to trap and kill her in there right now.
But, even if he could kill her,
Without Lin Qingque's assistance, it would not be easy for him, with his current strength, to deal with Tian Liuli, who was not as easily fooled as her.
...
If Lin Qingque's beauty was like that of a Moon Palace Fairy, aloof and cold in its light charm, then Tian Liuli's beauty was akin to the majestic grandeur of a sun goddess' radiant splendor.
When Tian Liuli pushed open the door, Xu Yuan was sitting on the bed, cultivating in a meditative posture.
It wasn't until the red-dressed girl with frost in her brows opened the door that Xu Yuan pretended to be oblivious and confused as he opened his eyes, asking, "Miss Tian, what brings you here all of a sudden?"
"You didn't know I was coming?"
Stepping into the room, Tian Liuli first glanced around briefly before a slight curve appeared on her lips as she responded with a question.
"What do you mean by that? Indeed, I didn't know."
Xu Yuan kept his composure, feigning ignorance.
"Is that so."
Tian Liuli stood with her hands behind her back, her demeanor stern yet imperious, "Know or not, let's not discuss that for now. Mr. Xu, I'd like to ask you something."
"What is it?"
Xu Yuan felt a surge of apprehension.
"We are Dao Companions, aren't we?"
"Yes."
"Then... what did I do wrong? From seeing you this morning until now, you haven't even been willing to call me Liuli!"
"..."
Xu Yuan paused for a moment, took a shallow breath, and then reluctantly said, "Miss Liuli, did you come here in the middle of the night for this matter?"
"Otherwise?"
Tian Liuli's smile was ambiguous as she looked at him intently, and even he, familiar with the plot, couldn't decipher her thoughts in those eyes.
"Miss Liuli, is there anything else? It's late, and for a young lady to stay here too long might not be proper, don't you think?"
"There's one more thing."
The faint smile on Tian Liuli's lips vanished like morning mist.
"What is it?"
"Come here, lie down, open your mouth."
Tian Liuli pointed at him as she lightly tipped her toes.