Get those stones going boys and tomboys, we need to get those numbers up!
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*****
{Chapter: 368: Snake!}
Qiu Wanxi could hardly focus anymore.
Her heart was fluttering like a delicate butterfly trapped inside her chest, and her whole body felt strangely warm. Lin Yuan's breath—hot, soft, and so close—brushed against the side of her neck and ear, making her shiver slightly in place. It was as if his voice alone had stirred something deep inside her, something she couldn't suppress even if she tried.
Her cheeks had already turned a beautiful shade of crimson, but now her ears were blushing too, glowing red like rose petals under light.
Both physically and mentally, she felt itchy, tingling with a mix of embarrassment and expectation.
And then, as if moved by some instinct, her soft, slender fingers began to move.
Carefully, quietly, Qiu Wanxi reached out and hooked her index finger around Lin Yuan's.
It was a small gesture—delicate and subtle—but it held all the innocence and affection of a girl silently declaring her attachment.
Seated beside her, Lin Yuan felt the faint pull of her touch and glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her face was turned downward, pretending to focus on the television, but her little finger curled tightly around his as though afraid he might let go.
Chen Yu, who sat next to Qiu Wanxi on the other side, noticed everything.
She heard the light whispers between the two, saw the shy but brave act of Qiu Wanxi's affection. Still, she remained quiet, her cold expression unchanged, acting as though she hadn't seen or heard a thing. She simply continued watching the screen with stoic indifference—like an outsider who understood everything yet chose not to interfere.
Across the room, Jiang Rou sat at some distance, far enough that she couldn't make out the whispered words, but close enough to sense the atmosphere. Her expression was slightly complicated.
She wasn't jealous—at least, not exactly.
But there was a small twinge in her chest, a quiet stirring of emotion she couldn't quite define.
She lowered her gaze, pretending to be focused on the cup of warm tea in her hands, but her thoughts were scattered.
Before any more tension could build, the peace of the moment was abruptly shattered by two lively voices.
"Young Master, what's in that black bag on the table?" Xiao Lian asked, pointing curiously.
"Yeah! You brought it with you when you came to the villa earlier, right? You set it down and didn't say anything about it!" Xiao He added, equally eager.
Their timing couldn't have been worse.
Qiu Wanxi's eyes widened slightly, and her pink cheeks turned redder. She quickly released Lin Yuan's finger, her hand retreating as if caught doing something mischievous. Her heart pounded faster.
Feeling her sudden movement, Lin Yuan let out a soft chuckle and gave her a glance that said, we'll finish this later.
Then, turning his attention to the two nosy girls, he narrowed his eyes playfully.
"Oh, the black bag?" he repeated, nodding toward the table. "That one contains two poisonous snakes. I caught them to make medicinal wine. I plan to soak them in alcohol for a few days. You two will help me later."
"AHHHHHH!!!"
Xiao Lian and Xiao He screamed in unison, their faces instantly turning pale.
They had just been standing near the bag, curiously eyeing it and even contemplating opening it a few minutes ago. But now, at the mention of poisonous snakes, both of them jumped back like cats startled by cold water.
They scrambled away from the table as fast as they could, almost tripping over each other in their haste. Within seconds, they were a dozen meters away from the black bag, clinging to each other like frightened kittens.
"Y-Young Master! That's not funny!" Xiao Lian squealed, her voice trembling.
"W-Why didn't you say anything earlier! I almost touched it!" Xiao He stammered.
Their expressions were priceless—full of shock, fear, and betrayal.
Lin Yuan leaned back on the sofa, clearly enjoying their reaction.
He wasn't the least bit surprised.
He knew very well that Xiao Lian and Xiao He were terrified of snakes. Even pictures of snakes would send them squealing, let alone the mention of live ones inside a bag so close by.
Qiu Wanxi bit her lower lip, trying not to laugh, though a soft giggle escaped her lips.
She turned to look at Lin Yuan, her eyes full of affection. "Young Master… were you serious? Are there really snakes inside?"
Lin Yuan shook his head with a calm smile. "No. I was just messing with those two troublemakers."
Everyone let out a soft sigh of relief.
Chen Yu gave him a side glance. Jiang Rou looked visibly more relaxed. Even Qiu Wanxi softly patted her chest as if to calm her racing heart.
"The bag actually contains samples of facial mask essence," Lin Yuan continued. "Our company is working on a new formula. I brought back several types to let you all try them out first."
He gestured toward the black bag casually.
"I want to see how different skins react to them—check for irritation, allergies, or anything unusual before we mass-produce. Don't worry, I've tested them in labs and on myself already."
"Facial masks?!" Xiao Lian and Xiao He blinked, slowly processing the new information.
Their expressions shifted from horror to sheepish embarrassment.
The two girls exchanged looks and, as if on cue, sulked their way back toward the sofa—this time walking with exaggerated slowness and mild resentment.
"Hmph! You scared us to death," Xiao Lian said with a pout.
"Right?! I knew something was fishy, but I still ran away!" Xiao He grumbled.
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Didn't you want to know what's inside? Since you two were so curious, you can open the bag yourselves."
He gestured toward the black bag, which still sat innocently on the table.
The two girls immediately backpedaled.
"N-No need. It's just facial mask essence, right? Nothing interesting about that," Xiao Lian said, suddenly uninterested.
"Y-Yeah! I'm not into cosmetics anyway. Xiao Lian, you go ahead and open it," Xiao He said, nudging her partner.
"Me? You were the one who was more curious. You open it!"
The girls went back and forth, pushing the responsibility onto one another like a game of hot potato. Their excuses became more ridiculous with every sentence.
Lin Yuan just sat there, watching them with a lazy grin.
Everyone else chuckled softly.
For now, the tension in the room was gone—replaced by laughter, teasing, and a sense of cozy harmony.
Even though Lin Yuan had already confessed that the bag didn't contain any poisonous snakes, Xiao Lian and Xiao He still kept their distance, their eyes wary as if the snakes might leap out at any moment despite his reassurances.
Their bodies stiffened every time Lin Yuan even looked at the bag.
With an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips, Lin Yuan walked over to the black bag resting on the coffee table. "Come on, you two," he said, chuckling. "Look for yourselves."
He slowly untied the bag, letting the mystery unravel.
As the flap opened, everyone leaned in slightly—even those who had pretended not to care were now curious.
To no one's surprise—except maybe Xiao Lian and Xiao He—there weren't any wriggling snakes or fangs waiting inside.
Instead, the bag contained several sealed jars. Within them were finely minced herbs—soft, moist, and green. Each jar was filled with a different hue and texture, though all of them had a similar earthy, herbal quality to them.
There was absolutely nothing threatening about it.
Lin Yuan had deliberately left the essence in its raw herbal form, without blending it into a final facial mask sheet yet. That way, he could observe the texture and skin compatibility more directly during the trial.
Xiao Lian took a tentative step forward, squinting at one of the jars. "Young Master? This is the facial mask essence you mentioned earlier? But… it just looks like… mashed up grass."
"And this one..." Xiao He leaned closer, wrinkling her nose as she peered into another jar. "It looks like green poop. Seriously, Young Master, you expect us to put this on our faces?"
Lin Yuan burst into laughter.
"Yes. This is the raw form," he explained. "You two were going to be my test subjects, but I need to start with Wanxi first."
Then he turned his eyes toward Qiu Wanxi and softened his tone. "Wanxi, lie down for me. You've just come out of the hospital not long ago, and I've noticed some light eye bags forming. I'll apply some essence on you."
Qiu Wanxi immediately obeyed with a sweet smile, her cheeks slightly pink with joy.
"Okay!" she replied cheerfully and gently laid herself on the sofa like a trusting kitten awaiting pampering.
Lin Yuan dipped his hand into one of the jars and scooped out a thick layer of green herbal essence, gently spreading it across Qiu Wanxi's soft, flushed cheeks with a firm yet careful touch.
*****
Get those stones going boys and tomboys, we need to get those numbers up!
If you want to discuss the story or just meme about join my discord server:
*****