Chapter 55: Playing Hard to Get, Toying with a Maiden's Heart

Chapter 55: Playing Hard to Get, Toying with a Maiden's Heart

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Qing Ning returned, swaying her slender waist. Wherever she passed, a fragrant breeze lingered.

She carried the other shore mandara flower, which was suffused with medicinal potency, and stirred it with a spoon. Seeing Qin Xuan sit up, she hurriedly reached out to stop him, chiding, "You don't need to get up; I'll feed it to you."

"Cough, cough—"

Qin Xuan covered his chest and coughed violently, pretending that the backlash was severe. After pausing for a moment, he took a light sniff and stared at the porcelain bowl, saying, "The smell is a bit strange?"

There was a pleasant surprise in Qing Ning's eyes. As if seeking praise, she replied, "The other shore mandara flower has a foul smell, and the medicinal soup made from it is even harder to swallow. I added lime flowers, perilla stems, and more... to balance the taste without affecting the medicinal efficacy."

"It's not hot anymore." Qing Ning scooped up a spoonful, brought it to Qin Xuan's lips, and fed him mouthful by mouthful.

Watching Qing Ning's delicate figure lean in to wipe his mouth, Qin Xuan leaned back slightly, a smile playing on his lips as he praised, "I originally thought you were intolerant of evil and had a carefree personality. I didn't expect you to have such a thoughtful side."

Qing Ning took a half-step back, her peachy cheeks flushing red as she chided, "What are you talking about?"

In the past, the fellow disciples who saw her were either wary of her father's authority, avoided her, or offered endless, empty flattery.

This was the first time someone had praised her for being thoughtful.

She set down the porcelain bowl, tucked the corners of the blanket for Qin Xuan, and sat by the bed, grasping his large hand. Looking at him earnestly, she said, "After you finish the medicine, get some sleep. I'll be right here watching."

Her cheeks flushed even deeper. Staring at her own hand gripping Qin Xuan's, she explained, "This way, I can better sense the changes in your internal Yuan Qi. If there is anything amiss, I can run errands for you in time."

As Qin Xuan opened and closed his eyes, he asked with some curiosity, "Did you treat Ye Feng like this in the past too?"

He figured that villain points were one thing, but if Qing Ning wasn't 'clean,' there was no need to engage in this ambiguity. In this regard, he had a germaphobic tendency.

Qing Ning shook her head nervously, "How could that be? That traitor and I were just fellow disciples before. It was Father who said Ye Feng had a promising future and asked me to interact with him more to build a bond of goodwill. Who would have thought he was so despicable and shameless, attempting to kill me and make the Yaochi Sacred Land attack you?!"

"You didn't even hold hands?"

Facing Qin Xuan's question, Qing Ning tilted her head, asking curiously, "Why would one need to hold hands to build a bond of goodwill?"

His suspicions fading, Qin Xuan muttered to himself, "Where I used to live, there is an old saying about holding hands: 'To hold your hand and grow old with you.' A man and a woman alone in one room... that only becomes natural after marriage."

Qing Ning's hand, which was holding Qin Xuan's, trembled slightly.

She lowered her head, not daring to meet Qin Xuan's gaze. She didn't know what to say at this moment either.

Qin Xuan stared intently at Qing Ning, watching the crimson flush spread from her fair neck to her earlobes. He said, with ambiguous intent, "Are you sure you won't go, you won't leave me?"

Qing Ning shook her head subconsciously, "I won't leave."

When she raised her eyes and met Qin Xuan's burning gaze, she immediately retracted her look, her heart skipping a beat. She seemed to have said the wrong thing!

Qin Xuan hadn't just asked if she wanted to go; he had asked if she wanted to leave him! Combining this with what Qin Xuan had said earlier, Qing Ning felt that his question had a deeper meaning. It seemed he wanted to confirm if she would keep holding his hand from now on.

"To hold your hand and grow old with you?" This seemed like Qin Xuan was professing his love to her!

Many chaotic thoughts suddenly popped into Qing Ning's head. She felt she might be overthinking it; Qin Xuan had a fiancée, and she had previously shared a life-or-death enmity with him. How could he profess his love to her in such a short time?

But then she thought again: Qin Xuan had suffered so much injustice. Even the Qin Princes Mansion had attempted to take his Supreme Bone and had framed and slandered him. Perhaps Qin Xuan appeared incredibly strong, but in reality, he was fragile inside. He might have never been treated this kindly by anyone before!

He needed recognition from others. He also needed someone's trust, and even more, he needed a warm little nest where he could let down all his defenses, speak freely, and vent his inner emotions to his heart's content.

Qing Ning's heart tightened, feeling a sour ache for Qin Xuan's experiences. Her beautiful eyes overflowed with even more tenderness.

She had treated Qin Xuan so poorly in the past, yet Qin Xuan had disregarded past grievances and repaired her shattered Divine Soul. Since Qin Xuan had spoken like this today, why couldn't she be the one to become the owner of that little nest where Qin Xuan could let down his defenses?

She had hurt Qin Xuan and already felt guilty. From now on, she would certainly devote herself wholeheartedly to healing the wounds in his heart. She would absolutely not be any worse than some Mu Qingxue.

Qing Ning raised her eyes, wanting to tell Qin Xuan that as long as he was willing, she would never let go and would never leave. But before the words could leave her mouth, she looked at Qin Xuan, who had already fallen into a deep sleep, and pouted resentfully, muttering in disappointment, "How could you just fall asleep like that!"

...

The next day, amidst a yawn, Qin Xuan stretched his body, his eyes bright and his spirit refreshed.

The yin-yang nirvana pill only compressed Yuan Qi and had no adverse effects on the body. After a night of adjustment, combined with the circulation of the other shore mandara flower's medicinal power, his Realm had returned to the fourth level of the Supernatural Realm. Compared to yesterday, his Yuan Qi was nearly ten percent more abundant!

Don't look down on just ten percent. One must know that he possessed the Chaos Hongmeng Body; within the same Realm, he was already an invincible existence, and the abundance of his Yuan Qi was unprecedented. This ten percent increase was even thanks to the stacking of three minor Realms.

The greater effect of the yin-yang nirvana pill for Qin Xuan was the rapid advancement to the Yin-Yang Realm. Based on the current trend, within seven days, he would surely break through to the Yin-Yang Realm!

"You're awake. I've brewed some medicinal porridge for you."

Qing Ning carried the porcelain bowl, walking with lotus steps to Qin Xuan's side. There were slight dark circles under her eyelids. It was evident she hadn't slept all night and had been trapped in mental self-torment.

After feeding Qin Xuan the medicinal porridge, Qing Ning gathered her courage, wanting to ask about the meaning of Qin Xuan's words. She had struggled with it all night. She realized that if she didn't ask for clarity, she would be tormented to death by herself!

She wanted to know if Qin Xuan truly had feelings for her. She wanted even more to know how Qin Xuan viewed her in his heart.

Before Qing Ning could speak, a knock sounded at the door. Qin Xuan hurriedly pulled away.

The words he said last night were intentionally meant to pique Qing Ning's curiosity. The beginning of a woman falling for a man was curiosity. As for professing love? As a major villain, he hadn't fallen so low as to confess to a Daughter of Luck. Of course, if Qing Ning took the initiative, it wasn't that he couldn't accept it.

Dressed, Qin Xuan opened the door. Outside, a pair of ample breasts, ready to burst forth, came into view. Even Qin Xuan was quite stunned to see breasts of such scale.