Mu Xi instinctively looked up the moment she heard Li Chang'an's voice. What she saw was a thoroughly disheveled Li Chang'an, drenched in sweat and panting heavily. Her already tear-reddened, almond-shaped eyes welled up again.
That was just the kind of girl she was—easily flustered, but even more easily moved. In her heart, Li Chang'an was far more important than she was. Seeing him so disheveled and out of breath, her sadness was momentarily forgotten and replaced by a rush of concern.
"Y-You… why are you here…" Mu Xi's delicate face twisted into a mix of confusion and distress. She didn't know how to face Li Chang'an at all. With her limited life experience, she felt completely lost—helpless and unsure.
Without a word, Li Chang'an strode up to her and pulled her into a tight embrace. His voice choked as he murmured, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"
Mu Xi froze, unsure where to place her hands. But deep down, she didn't want to push him away. Eventually, her hands found their way to his back, where she gently patted him in silent comfort.
"D-Don't be like this. Y-You should go to the Saintess… I-I'm fine…" she said softly, her voice tender and heartbreaking in its fragility.
"Mu Xi, I'm sorry. I lied to you. I still have feelings for Hu Liena. Go ahead—hit me." Li Chang'an didn't try to deny Hu Liena's place in his heart. Instead, he gently took Mu Xi's hand and placed it on his head, inviting her to strike him.
Mu Xi blushed. Her raised hand hovered over his head, but instead of striking, her fingers slowly uncurled and began softly stroking his hair.
"You big meanie," she whispered as she caressed his head. She could feel his genuine affection for her—and that was her greatest weakness.
Girls like Mu Xi, who saw their beloved as their entire world, were the most vulnerable. As long as the one they loved showed even a hint of emotion or regret, they simply couldn't resist forgiving them. They would rather hurt themselves than bring pain to someone they loved.
Seeing that Mu Xi had calmed down, Li Chang'an led her to sit down by the lakeside. That was when he noticed a drawing in the dirt.
It was a crude figure of a faceless man, with the words "Li Chang'an" written across the figure. Beside him was a female figure holding a small stick, pointed threateningly at him.
"What the heck is this?" Li Chang'an blinked in confusion. Was this how the shy girl vented her feelings? This was… incredibly childish.
"This is you! And this is me! I'm going to beat you up!" Mu Xi huffed, stabbing her finger at the drawing of Li Chang'an as though that were punishment enough.
Li Chang'an couldn't help but laugh, though his heart ached a little. His shy girl couldn't truly stay mad at him—this was how she expressed her discontent. So foolish… and so adorable.
"So, how exactly were you planning to punish me? Poke me with that little stick?" he asked, smiling.
Mu Xi nodded solemnly, her tiny head bobbing in all seriousness.
Li Chang'an pulled her into his arms again and gently stroked her silky hair. "Alright, I'll accept the punishment. But you better be ready for my big stick poking you next time…"
Mu Xi blinked in confusion, not catching the innuendo. Her innocent peach blossom eyes stared up at him, uncomprehending.
Li Chang'an: …
"Ahem. That's not important right now. Let me explain myself. Hu Liena and I aren't actually a couple. We're the Holy Son and Saintess of the Spirit hall. If we really got together, do you think you wouldn't know about it?"
Mu Xi wasn't dumb. She realized that made sense. If the Holy Son and Saintess became an official couple, it would've been impossible to keep it a secret.
"You know… Hu Liena and I are both disciples of His Holiness. We attend all the same lessons. Spending so much time together, things were bound to get a little complicated…"
"But remember the first time we met? I had just arrived at the academy back then. I didn't even know Hu Liena yet. The first person I connected with… was you."
What Li Chang'an was really trying to say was: I never confirmed anything with Hu Liena. The first girl I fell for was you.
And every word of his had a logical basis, a carefully prepared backup plan. Just one of the tricks from the playbook of a seasoned heartbreaker.
"Mu Xi, don't leave me, okay? If I lost you, I'd seriously lose my mind… please, don't go…"
Mu Xi pouted again and poked at the ground-drawing of him with her finger. Then, hesitantly, she asked, "B-But… what about the Saintess? Will she accept me?"
Li Chang'an patted her gently on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll talk to her and make everything clear. Even if she doesn't accept you… my choice is still you."
"Don't… don't say that. I don't want you to feel torn or sad…" Mu Xi was genuinely touched by his words. But, thinking from his perspective, she didn't want to put him in a difficult position either.
To a girl like her, persuading someone like the Saintess to share was… nearly unthinkable.
"Don't worry. I'll do my best—for you," Li Chang'an said, patting her shoulder again, his expression solemn… though inside, he was practically jumping for joy.
The groundwork with Hu Liena had already been laid. Now Mu Xi was on board too. This little emotional crisis had blown up out of nowhere, but thankfully, he'd managed to navigate it safely.
Having both girls meet and reach some level of understanding was a crucial step. Whether it led to cuddling on both sides, sharing a bed, or even… the infamous "threesome"—it was all within reach now.
The only question was: when that day finally came, how would his sultry senior and his shy girl will react?
___
Three Days Later – Private Room, Restaurant Near Spirit Hall Academy
Li Chang'an, Hu Liena, and Mu Xi sat together at a private table. The atmosphere was undeniably awkward.
Today was the day of the long-awaited "Queen Meets Queen" moment—a pivotal milestone in the history of Li Chang'an's romantic endeavors.
"Hi, I'm Hu Liena. You can call me Nana," Hu Liena said with a smile, extending her hand politely toward Mu Xi.
"H-Hi, I'm Mu Xi…" the shy girl responded meekly. Her breathtakingly delicate face was now fully visible to Hu Liena.
'So beautiful.'
Even Hu Liena, herself an absolute beauty, was momentarily softened by Mu Xi's fragile aura. Faced with such a gentle and pitiful girl, Hu Liena felt no desire to compete—none at all.
"Let's sit and eat first, shall we?" Hu Liena said, breaking the silence and gesturing for Mu Xi to sit.
Li Chang'an nodded enthusiastically from the side. He had noticed every subtle shift in their behavior. The moment Hu Liena invited Mu Xi to sit down, he knew—
It's done. Everything is settled.
__
T/N:
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