Just as Su Qinglan was groaning into her hands, still mortified over her "mating breakthrough," a cheerful, overly familiar voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
"Congratulations, Host! You have successfully unlocked the proper way to cultivate your ability!"
Su Qinglan froze. Her entire face darkened.
"…Xuyu." Her voice was low and dangerous. "Don't. Tell. Me. You. Knew."
The system went completely silent.
Su Qinglan's eyebrow twitched. "You knew, didn't you?"
In her mind, Xuyu could almost be seen sweating in his little digital space. For a second, he considered pretending to crash again. But then he puffed himself up like a brave soldier about to face execution.
"O-of course not, Host!" he said quickly, voice trembling slightly. "Xuyu absolutely did not know beforehand!"
"Really?" she said, her tone deadly flat. "Are you sure? Because this feels exactly like something you would set up just to watch me suffer!"
