Meanwhile, Jing Yuan had already changed out of his sleepwear and nightcap, now donning his daytime work attire. The lion-head-shaped bronze armguard reflected a reassuring glow.
"Diviner Fu…" Jing Yuan stood before Fu Xuan and let out a deep sigh.
He wanted to comfort her, but seeing the heart-wrenching expression of grief and self-reproach on Fu Xuan's face—one he had never witnessed before—Jing Yuan found himself at a loss for words. Instead, he straightforwardly voiced his pledge.
"In any case, as the General of the Luofu, I, Jing Yuan, will do everything in my power to resolve this matter properly and will never allow Yu xian to face such peril again. Hmm, let it be today. I will personally go to meet with Yu xian and assess the situation. Diviner Fu, please do not be so distraught…"
Seeing Fu Xuan in such a state, one could say her heart was broken enough that it wouldn't be an exaggeration. Something was truly amiss...
This was definitely not Lord Fu's usual attitude towards talent. She seemed excessively concerned about this person named Yu xian.
Could it be that there was a deeper connection between Yu xian and Fu Xuan? Who was Yu xian to her? Or perhaps... did Yu xian possess some extraordinary quality.
Jing Yuan narrowed his eyes, adjusted his heavy belt, gave an almost imperceptible nod, then shook his head.
'Hah, what's the point of overthinking this.'
Whatever the situation was between Yu xian and Fu Xuan didn't really matter to him, although he wouldn't mind observing a bit of gossip and enjoying the drama—Ahem, getting sidetracked. The important thing was, no matter the circumstances or the secrets, he would find out everything once he saw it for himself!
'Yu xian, just you wait, I'm coming for you!'
...
Logically speaking, due to the simulation accident, Yu xian had been unconscious for several days, had lost an unknown amount of his strength, suffered severe physical trauma, and had even nearly died silently while still comatose. However Yu xian himself wasn't particularly shocked or frightened by this experience.
"After all, I've died who knows how many times in the simulations. I've gotten used to the pain too. So, if something happens to me in the real world, even dying... it doesn't seem that hard to accept anymore..."
In short, Yu xian was accustomed to death.
Therefore, even though in reality, Yu xian was still in a pitiful state – missing both arms, weakened, and confined to a hospital bed – his heart had long since become utterly tranquil.
There was... nothing left to fear anymore.
Thump.
The girl's slender, pale hand drew closer and closer to Yu xian's forehead. Then, with a thump, a dull thud sounded, and a faint pain began to bloom on Yu xian's forehead.
It was only then that Fu Xuan slowly retracted her hand. Clearly, it was the esteemed Diviner Fu who had just given Yu xian's head a light, deliberate knock.
"Hey, why are you spacing out again?"
She was puffed up with irritation now, her cheeks rounded like steamed buns, her pair of dark golden eyes glaring at Yu xian. It seemed like dissatisfaction with his inattention at this moment, but more than that, Fu Xuan seemed displeased with Yu xian's seemingly indifferent, resigned attitude towards his own physical condition.
Fu Xuan was gesticulating wildly, as if she wanted to devour this ungrateful subordinate of hers whole.
But Yu xian could see that her eyes held a distinctly moist shimmer. There wasn't much fierceness in them; instead, they faintly revealed a touch of tenderness.
Hmm.
Seeing this expression on Fu Xuan's face, Yu xian was momentarily at a loss for how to react. After all, in Yu xian's memory, ever since he entered a relationship with Qingque, Fu Xuan had never shown him a pleasant expression, let alone smiled.
It was completely different from her current demeanor.
"Lord Diviner, why are you acting so strange today? Are you possessed?"
He really wanted to say that, but ultimately decided against it.
As this thought crossed his mind, Fu Xuan's next words already reached his ears.
"Open your mouth."
An extremely brief imperative sentence, delivered in a tone so cold it seemed ready to freeze into ice.
Could anyone really switch their tone so drastically in such a short time? Yu xian wondered.
"Tch. I said open your mouth! Why are you just sitting there? Hurry up, or I'll dock your pay."
"Oh, okay."
Urged by Fu Xuan, Yu xian opened his mouth. Immediately, a hot, thick liquid assertively filled his mouth!
Congee. It was congee.
Across from him, Fu Xuan sat demurely on a chair, her white-stockinged legs pressed tightly together, squeezed to the point of slightly deforming.
In her hands, she steadily held a bowl of still-steaming congee. The rising steam blurred her features slightly, lending this typically aloof young woman a sudden, unique beauty—ethereal like a mirage, yet also resembling a young, lovely wife attending to her husband, full of domestic charm and an oddly captivating allure.
Whether it was due to the heat from the congee or not, Yu xian noticed a faint blush spreading across Fu Xuan's fair, delicate cheeks.
Without a doubt, moments ago, Fu Xuan had been the one feeding Yu xian.
"Hoo—hoo—" Seeing Yu xian swallow the mouthful of hot congee, Fu Xuan withdrew the spoon and retracted her hand holding the bowl. She lowered her lashes, focusing intently on the remaining congee in the bowl. As she stirred it with the spoon, she gently blew cool air onto it to help it cool faster.
"Hoo—hoo—"
"Would you like another bowl?"
Fu Xuan was always like this, wholly absorbed in whatever she did. Once her attention fixed on one task or object, she neglected everything else. But today, she was noticeably less sharp than usual.
With her blushing cheeks, feeding Yu xian spoonful after spoonful of hot congee, she didn't seem particularly clever; instead, she appeared rather silly. Her head was bowed so low it almost dipped into the congee bowl, yet she seemed completely unconcerned about the decreasing amount of congee.
It wasn't until a clink sounded, the spoon touching the porcelain bowl's bottom, producing a clear sound, that Fu Xuan suddenly realized she had, unknowingly, fed Yu xian an entire bowl of congee.
Only then did Fu Xuan let out a soft hum, barely audible, then lifted her eyes to look at Yu xian and asked in a small voice,
"Another bowl? This one will serve you one..."
To be fair, on the second morning after waking from the simulation, when his spirit and body had reached their limit and he felt utterly miserable, being attended to by the esteemed Diviner of the Luofu and drinking a bowl of hot, filling congee was undeniably a kind of comfort.
However, Yu xian's nerves did not relax because of the hot congee or Fu Xuan's unnaturally good attitude. On the contrary, he grew increasingly tense.
Abnormal. This was far too abnormal.
Just look at this meek, wifely demeanor. Was this still the Fu Xuan that Yu xian knew?
"Ahem, no, no, thank you for your kindness, Master Diviner but I've had enough."
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Life Simulator: Starting in Genshin Impact!
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober