As Lin Dong and Ying Huanhuan played, the sun steadily rose into the sky. Lin Dong also left Ying Huanhuan's room. Today was the day he received his reward after joining Dao Sect: an eleven-day journey to the Dan River.
As usual, he was stopped by his senior brother, but he still won the position by force. Under the watchful eye of the Palace Master, he also entered the Dan River. Of course, that figure was just a clone of his. Rather than spending eleven days at the bottom of the river, it would be better to go with Ying Huanhuan and see what Qing Ye would do next.
After Lin Dong returned to Ying Huanhuan, Ying Huanhuan pulled him out again, saying she wanted to revisit this nostalgic place. Lin Dong, of course, followed her around.
Time quickly slipped away as they reminisced. When they watched the sun set, they realized they had been playing all day.
"Huanhuan, let's go back," Lin Dong said, holding Ying Huanhuan's hand.
"Why go back? The sun just set, it's still early," Ying Huanhuan said.
"Qing Ye might come later. He'll come looking for you. What if you're not here?"
Hearing Lin Dong's words, Ying Huanhuan's eyes widened instantly. She stared at him intently, a long pause before she uttered a single word.
"You're already thinking of asking me to spend the evening with another man, you pervert!"
"Uh, that's not what I meant..." Lin Dong said awkwardly.
"Pfft, look at you like that. Humph, let's go. You're my husband after all." Ying Huanhuan's wide eyes narrowed, a sly smile playing on her lips.
Lin Dong knew he had been tricked by Ying Huanhuan again and immediately lunged at her. Ying Huanhuan had anticipated this, so after speaking, he took off. The two of them, chasing each other, quickly returned to Ying Huanhuan's room.
Some time after the two of them finished eating, Lin Dong checked the time and, figuring Qing Ye would be arriving soon, disappeared. Shortly after he vanished, there was a knock on Ying Huanhuan's door, and she went to open it.
"Huanhuan, good evening," Qing Ye smiled at Ying Huanhuan as she opened the door.
"Why are you here again?" Ying Huanhuan asked knowingly.
"Well, I'm here to bring you tea again. This tea needs to be drunk continuously for a while to take effect, so I'll be coming over every few days," Qing Ye said, handing Ying Huanhuan a teacup.
"Hmm," Ying Huanhuan murmured softly. Although she didn't really want to drink, she reached out to take the cup. As her hand cupped the cup, her fingertips touched Qing Ye's, and she felt a slight warmth build up around her. It wasn't noticeable, just a subtle sensation.
Qing Ye also noticed this and quickly withdrew his hand. His expression remained the same smile from before, but it looked a little unnatural.
Ying Huanhuan carefully felt it, finding no change, so she decided to call it an illusion. Then, she saw the steaming tea in her hand and thought of Qing Ye's toy with her again that evening. Although she had fallen asleep and didn't feel anything unusual when she woke up, she still lowered her head slightly, her face flushing slightly.
Seeing Ying Huanhuan's pretty face, slightly flushed, lowered her head, Qing Ye couldn't help but feel a little distracted. He was stunned for a moment, but when he came to his senses, his heart skipped a beat.
"Could Huanhuan have noticed something? But if so, it shouldn't be like this?" Qing Ye kept asking himself. His eyes were fixed on Ying Huanhuan's face, trying to see something. After all, it was rare to see Ying Huanhuan with such a shy expression, but he still couldn't see anything.
"Could it be that Huanhuan has someone she likes?" After much thought, Qing Ye finally came up with only this answer. Just the thought made her blush. What else could she possibly be but falling in love with? The thought of this outcome sent a turmoil through Qing Ye's heart.
Ying Huanhuan had no idea her blushing face was causing so much thought in her childhood sweetheart's mind. When she came to her senses, she looked up to see Qing Ye's eyes fixed on her, causing her crescent-shaped brows to raise slightly.
"Why are you staring at me?" Ying Huanhuan asked with a slightly hostile tone.
"Ah, well..." Qing Ye was also drawn out of her inner thoughts by Ying Huanhuan's voice. Seeing Ying Huanhuan's somewhat hostile look, though it wasn't at all offensive, it was even slightly endearing.
"Well, I was lost in thought," Qing Ye quickly explained. He wasn't lying; he was indeed preoccupied. His plan had just begun, and he didn't want it to end just yet.
Ying Huanhuan continued to stare at Qing Ye after hearing his words, her brows furrowed in a cute way, clearly dissatisfied with his answer.
"Huanhuan, drink your tea first, or it won't be as effective later. I have things to do later, so I'll be leaving soon." Qing Ye felt a little uneasy under Ying Huanhuan's gaze, and could only ask her to finish her tea quickly so he could leave early. Of course, he was right; he did have things to do that evening.
Speaking of tea, Ying Huanhuan thought of how her body would be toyed with by the man before her without her noticing, and she couldn't help but glance at Qing Ye with resentment.
Qing Ye saw Ying Huanhuan's look. Although he didn't know she already knew what he had done that night and thought she was just looking at him that way because she had a problem with his answer, he could only smile awkwardly, his inner guilt aroused.
Ying Huanhuan glanced down at the tea in her hand. Honestly, she didn't really want to drink it. What girl, knowing that the substance in her hand was laced with drugs and that the person who gave it to her was also eyeing her body, would just drink it as if nothing had happened? But after a brief hesitation, Ying Huanhuan raised her neck and swallowed the tea.
"Then Huanhuan, I'll be leaving first." Seeing that Ying Huanhuan had finally finished her tea, he took the teacup and said goodbye.
Ying Huanhuan didn't reply. After seeing Qing Ye leave, she closed the door. As soon as she turned around, she was hugged by someone.
"Why are you hugging me?" Ying Huanhuan turned her head and saw Lin Dong's smiling face. Her expression remained calm, and she simply rolled her eyes at him.
Lin Dong looked at Ying Huanhuan's expressionless face. He stroked her hair, kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry for putting you through this."
What Ying Huanhuan had just done outside the door hadn't escaped Lin Dong's notice. He saw her hesitation before sipping her tea, but she still finished it, which made him feel a little guilty.
Hearing Lin Dong's words, Ying Huanhuan trembled slightly, her expression shattered. She lowered her head, raised her hands, and tightly grasped Lin Dong's hand, which had been placed in front of her. She leaned back and leaned against his solid chest.
The two of them said nothing, just huddled together in silence.
After a long moment, Ying Huanhuan still lowered her head, but she whispered softly, "Not only me, but the sisters up front have also sacrificed a lot for you..."
"Yes, I know," Lin Dong said softly. He knew what his wife and his beauties had done for him. Although he didn't say it, he was deeply moved.