When their eyes met, Yun Xi—usually unperturbed regardless of her company—felt her heart suddenly thrown into disarray.
Her pulse quickened without warning, forcing her to break eye contact.
This abrupt shift left her momentarily disoriented as a faint warmth crept across her cheeks.
As the True Disciple of the Moon Essence Palace Master and the Young Miss of the Yun Family, Yun Xi still managed to mask her shyness with admirable grace.
She quietly circulated her cultivation technique to suppress the flutter of panic in her chest, swiftly reclaiming her composure.
Yet, she dared not meet Ye Qian's gaze again, fearing that another exchange would shatter her carefully maintained calm once more.
She inclined her head ever so slightly—a gesture so faint that only Ye Qian could truly discern it.
He smiled.
It seemed his cousin was not as aloof as she appeared on the surface. It all depended on whom she faced.
"Sister Xi, what brings you here today?"
Curiosity colored his tone. He wondered why Yun Xi had suddenly thought to visit him.
What Ye Qian didn't know was that over the past half month, Yun Xi had already come three times before.
Each time, however, he had been in secluded cultivation, and no one dared disturb him.
Each time, she arrived brimming with anticipation only to return home disappointed.
Today marked her fourth visit, and she had finally seen him.
Originally, Yun Xi had planned to depart two days ago, but because she hadn't seen Ye Qian, reluctance gnawed at her heart.
She made this special trip today because of that lingering regret.
As fate would have it, she caught him just as he emerged from cultivation.
Knowing she would leave soon, Yun Xi felt a pang of sadness twist inside her chest, mingled with an unwillingness to part.
Her gaze—clear as autumn water—fixed on Ye Qian, and she exhaled softly, her breath fragrant as orchids.
"Brother Qian, I... I have been here for quite some time now.
It's time I prepared to return home."
She and Ye Qian hadn't seen each other in years, yet the affection that had bloomed in childhood had never withered.
Instead, it had taken deeper root with each passing season.
Ye Qian raised an eyebrow at the unexpected news. Yun Xi had come merely to say goodbye?
He had already decided to claim her for himself. How could he possibly allow her to slip away so easily?
Absolutely unacceptable.
His mind worked quickly, racing through possibilities and strategies until a solution crystallized.
He would accompany Yun Xi. Visit the Yun Family for a time. And while he was at it, he would meet the so-called Second Prince of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty—the Child of Destiny, Li Fei.
However, Ye Qian couldn't depart immediately just yet.
First, there was Yue Qingshan to consider. That upstart would be dealt with soon enough.
Ye Qian refused to grant him any more opportunities to grow stronger. Within a mere half month, Yue Qingshan had successfully broken through to the Enlightenment Realm Peak.
Though a considerable gap still existed between their cultivations, who could guarantee the wretch wouldn't truly catch up in the future?
Before his opponent developed, Ye Qian would strip away every scrap of his Luck, then kill him to claim the Villain Treasure Chest.
A perfect plan, elegant in its simplicity.
He had no intention of overlooking an enemy who would haunt his every step.
With his plan solidified, Ye Qian reached out and gently placed his hands on Yun Xi's shoulders.
Yun Xi—who never permitted contact with any man—felt the weight and warmth radiating from where his hands rested.
She startled like a frightened bird, her eyes widening as she stared at him with visible disbelief.
Her two smooth, jade-like hands clenched reflexively, betraying her extreme nervousness.
"My dear Sister Xi… I know I've neglected you."
Ye Qian said, his tone even, unhurried.
"Still—you've only just arrived. I won't let you leave so soon.
Wait a little longer, just a day or two. Then I'll return with you to the Yun Family.
It will be our chance to make up for all the lost time."
When he spoke again, his voice dropped to a low, confident whisper that curled heat along her skin.
"You've felt it too, haven't you? This… connection between us."
A wave of warmth radiated against her, and Yun Xi felt a strange, electric tingling sensation where his breath met her ear.
Her porcelain earlobe flushed red, and color bloomed across her face like spring flowers.
At that moment, she realized she hardly recognized this cousin anymore.
When they were young, her cousin had been terrified of her, never daring to make a bold move in her presence.
She had bullied him relentlessly throughout their childhood, and strangely, she had grown fond of his meekness back then.
But now that he had matured, he seemed utterly transformed. Confident. Powerful. Domineering.
He had grown into a real man—no longer the cousin she once knew.
Gulp~!
Yun Xi's throat felt parched.
Her two small hands had somehow found their way to Ye Qian's chest, pressing against him in a half-hearted attempt to push him away.
Though she possessed considerable cultivation and could easily shove him aside with a fraction of her strength, Yun Xi didn't know why her body refused to obey.
She wanted to push him away—at least, her mind insisted she did—but her body remained honest in its reluctance.
[Ding! Detected that Yun Xi is currently deeply moved by the Host. Affection increased by 3 points. Current Affection: 75 points.]
Oh, wow.
Merely speaking at such intimate proximity had stirred Yun Xi's heart, which should have remained as still as an ancient well.
Of course, this privilege belonged to Ye Qian alone.
If anyone else attempted such audacity, they would swiftly discover just how fearsome the Young Miss truly was.
Before another man could so much as brush against Yun Xi, she would have already taught him a brutal lesson.
Therefore, this exception existed solely for Ye Qian.
Affection had climbed to seventy-five points. If he proposed a relationship with Yun Xi now, she certainly wouldn't refuse.
However, Ye Qian felt no urgency. Plenty of time stretched ahead of them. No need to rush this singular moment.
After delivering those words, Ye Qian stepped back from Yun Xi, observing her flushed face with an appreciative smile curving his lips.
"It's decided then. Sister Xi will remain with me.
I'll accompany you back to the Yun Family after a short while."
Yun Xi, pinned beneath his intense scrutiny, shyly lowered her head. A smile—sweet and endearing—graced her perfect features.
At that moment, she found herself completely unable to meet Ye Qian's eyes directly.
His gaze seemed capable of drawing people in, swallowing them whole. Those eyes were far too captivating, and Yun Xi didn't dare look.
With an almost imperceptible nod, Yun Xi responded softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Mm."
She had never been so bashful before. If others witnessed Yun Xi in this state, they would find it utterly unbelievable.
In the past, when they were younger, she had dominated Ye Qian effortlessly, bending him to her whims with childish tyranny.
Now the roles had reversed completely. He held her firmly in the palm of his hand.
And the most damning part? She loved every second of it.
Was this truly the same True Disciple of the Moon Essence Palace Master? Why did she appear so submissive now?
It was perplexing. Incredible, even.
Yun Xi had initially prepared countless things she wanted to say to Ye Qian, rehearsed them in her mind during her journey here.
Now everything remained unspoken, trapped behind her lips. She didn't know what words to offer him.
Her heart overflowing with shyness, Yun Xi—who no longer dared look directly at Ye Qian—turned quickly and prepared to flee.
At this moment, she desperately wanted to prevent anyone from witnessing this vulnerable side of herself.
It felt truly shameful, this loss of composure she couldn't seem to control.