Every journey has its end, just as streams eventually merge into rivers and seas.
No matter how splendid the scenery, it will one day become a frozen memory.
Yet the meaning of a journey never lies in the moment of arrival.
After several hours of travel, Yunxiao and Shui Wu You finally arrived at the Frozen Forest.
"Sister Wu You, we've reached the Frozen Forest."
As the man, Yunxiao had taken on the role of coachman for this trip.
Meanwhile, Shui Wu You had been inside the carriage, admiring the passing scenery.
Hearing Yunxiao's voice, she drew back the curtains and stepped out from the carriage's sleeping quarters into the open air.
"Heh, Clan Leader."
"As a gentleman, shouldn't you be a bit more chivalrous?"
With these words, Shui Wu You extended her slender, delicate right arm, her fingers slightly curled.
It was clear—she wanted Yunxiao to help her down from the carriage.
Yunxiao: "..."
"Seriously?"
Witnessing Shui Wu You's maneuver, Yunxiao's lips twitched slightly.
His mouth opened as if to say something, but the words died on his tongue.
After all, this was a gesture straight out of aristocratic etiquette.
Not only that, but it was typically followed by the act of kissing the back of the hand.
Come to think of it, how did Shui Wu You even know about such things?
Could it be... Qian Renxue had taught her?
"Seems like Xiao Xue still needs a good scolding."
"Always teaching the others these strange little customs."
No doubt about it—this had to be Qian Renxue's doing.
Otherwise, how would Shui Wu You have any clue about the trivialities of noble etiquette?
Though these thoughts ran through his mind, Yunxiao still took Shui Wu You's delicate, slightly curled hand.
"Huh... Sister Wu You's hand feels surprisingly nice."
"Unlike Xiao Xue's sacred warmth, hers is cool to the touch."
Indeed, he had to admit—Shui Wu You's hand was pleasant to hold.
The moment their skin met, he felt a refreshing coolness.
Soon, with Yunxiao's support, Shui Wu You descended gracefully from the waist-high carriage onto the ground.
But at that moment, when she noticed Yunxiao made no further move, she didn't withdraw her slender hand.
"Hmm?"
"Clan Leader, is that all?"
"What about the rest? Nothing else?"
Clearly, Shui Wu You was dissatisfied with his performance.
Yunxiao's face darkened.
"Sister Wu You, if you know what comes next..."
"Then you must also understand its meaning."
"Are you sure you want this? No regrets?"
"Remember, I already have Xiao Xue."
"I may not be your best choice, nor can I offer you exclusivity."
"Even so, would you still be willing to become sisters with Xiao Xue?"
"Or, to put it bluntly—would you share me with her?"
His stance remained the same as before!
Like is like, dislike is dislike.
He could admit—Shui Wu You was exactly his type.
Mature, composed, elegant, with long legs.
Not only was she intelligent, but she was also deeply empathetic.
And her figure? Slender and graceful.
Even if they had children someday, there'd be no worry about them going hungry.
Truly, Qian Renxue had seen right through his weaknesses.
As for Su Xiaoli, she wasn't quite his type yet.
At just under fifteen years old this year, Su Xiaoli was not only young but also didn't fully understand her own feelings. From beginning to end, she had approached everything with a mindset of repaying kindness. That was why she had agreed to Qian Renxue's suggestion of becoming his Bed Warmer.
Unlike Su Xiaoli, Shui Wu You knew exactly what she was doing. When it came to matters of love and romance, he had always believed in free will. If Shui Wu You liked him and had those kinds of feelings for him, he would immediately cast aside all hesitation. After all, with Qian Renxue's scheming and encouragement, combined with Shui Wu You's feelings for him—and his own feelings for her—there was no reason for him to reject the affections of these two beauties.
Shui Wu You: "..."
Hearing Yunxiao's near-confession, Shui Wu You was flustered by his words. At that moment, the tips of her ears burned crimson, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt, her lashes trembling faintly. But her mind was in complete chaos.
"The Clan Leader's behavior is off—very off!"
"This is completely different from what Xiao Xue said!"
"What should I do, what should I do, what on earth should I do now?"
"Should I just agree outright, or follow Xiao Xue's script step by step?"
"But if I reject the Clan Leader's feelings now…"
"Will I lose my chance forever?"
"Yet, if I agree right away…"
"Would that make me seem too forward?"
"Ah, this is so frustrating!"
Compared to humans or other races, Shui Wu You—who had once been part of the Soul Beast race—had simple criteria when choosing a male partner: extraordinary talent, formidable strength, and the potential to ascend to Deity status. Of course, the most important thing was that he had to catch her eye. Not only that, she also had to feel something for him, to genuinely like him.
Clearly, Yunxiao met all these conditions. Moreover, as her savior and the leader of her new clan, Shui Wu You naturally harbored some small intentions toward him. Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to Qian Renxue's proposal in the first place, nor would she have consented to the script Qian Renxue had prepared for her.
Yunxiao: "..."
Good. Now he could confirm it without a doubt.
Shui Wu You did indeed like him.
The blush on the young woman's cheeks couldn't hide her thoughts, and the starlight shimmering in her eyes couldn't deceive anyone. Her hesitant, unspoken words, the flush of youthful infatuation on her face, the restless unease in her feigned panic—all of it was irrefutable evidence.
As the saying went, the blush on a maiden's cheeks spoke louder than a thousand words.
"Heh, Sister Wu You, I've only just realized something."
"You're actually quite easy to read."
"Honestly, you've lived for tens of thousands of years."
"But when it comes to matters of the heart…"
"You can't keep a single secret."
"Sister Wu You, don't you know?"
"That blush on your face has already betrayed you?"
With that, Yunxiao wrapped an arm around Shui Wu You's slender waist.
Seeing that she showed no signs of resistance…
Yunxiao gently pressed his lips against Shui Wu You's rosy ones, their warm and cool breaths intertwining.
For a moment, Shui Wu You trembled slightly in his arms.
Then she softened, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of Yunxiao's robe.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze in that instant, with only the rapid beating of two hearts composing a fervent melody in the silence.
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