Hearing this, Chu Ge answered with a completely unconcerned expression.
"What's wrong with that? If it can please Martial Aunt, then it's simply being put to good use."
When Shui Qianrou heard this, shyness surged through her heart once again. Her delicate body couldn't help but tremble, and it felt as though something was about to burst forth from her chest—her heartbeat reaching an intensity it had never known before.
'What nonsense about pleasing one's martial aunt—he's truly a little scoundrel. Holding my hand and saying such shameless words, not the slightest bit like someone who treats me as his martial aunt at all…'
Yet despite thinking this, Shui Qianrou felt no rejection toward Chu Ge's words. On the contrary, she found them rather pleasing, a faint sweetness rising in her heart.
After finishing his words, Chu Ge directly placed the ring—condensed from the Dao-derivation aura and a wisp of his own origin—onto Shui Qianrou's middle finger.
The people of this world naturally did not understand the meaning of wearing a ring on the middle finger.
But Chu Ge did.
Thus, after placing it on her, a smile with a hint of deeper meaning appeared on his face.
Shui Qianrou keenly caught that trace of a smile, yet she did not understand the meaning behind it, so she did not think much of it.
Feeling the Dao-derivation aura contained within the ring on her middle finger, as well as that wisp of origin power, Shui Qianrou's emotions became exceedingly complicated and difficult to sort out.
Only after putting on the ring did she realize that this trace of origin was actually the origin of Chu Ge's Myriad Laws Sacred Body.
'It was just a casual remark from me, yet he's willing to give up even his origin power…'
Looking at the ring on her finger, Shui Qianrou was momentarily dazed.
Dao-derivation aura + Myriad Laws origin—this tiny ring alone possessed effects great enough to drive any Great Power expert mad with desire!
Yet Chu Ge gave away such a supreme treasure the moment he said he would, without the slightest hesitation.
Previously, Shui Qianrou's feelings toward Chu Ge had only been gratitude, appreciation, curiosity, and a senior's care for a junior.
But now, with Chu Ge unconditionally gifting her this ring, those feelings began to quietly transform.
As for the Dao Enlighten tea leaves from before, Shui Qianrou could still regard them as Chu Ge's return gift.
But this ring…
'Could it be that he feels something for me…? But I am his martial aunt!'
Her thoughts began to spiral, and she vaguely understood Chu Ge's intentions.
But understanding was one thing—she could not possibly rely on that affection to accept such an unconditional gift as a matter of course.
"Nephew… Chu Ge, I am your martial aunt… you mustn't…"
She spoke softly, her gaze complicated.
Shui Qianrou's series of emotional changes, as well as the shift in how she addressed him, were all naturally noticed by Chu Ge.
"Hm?"
He looked at her with apparent confusion, as if he did not understand what she meant.
And that very expression only caused Shui Qianrou to overthink even more.
'Could it be that he doesn't have those kinds of thoughts at all? Am I just overthinking?'
She began to doubt herself, and even felt a faint sense of disappointment because of it.
Chu Ge naturally took all of this in.
"Martial Aunt, what do you think—does this gift please you?"
Meeting Chu Ge's gaze, Shui Qianrou nodded seriously.
Then she temporarily suppressed the chaotic emotions in her mind and spoke solemnly:
"I like this gift very much. In the future, if you ever need any pills, you may come to me at any time, and I will…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Chu Ge directly interrupted her.
"Martial Aunt!"
Shui Qianrou stopped mid-sentence. Toward Chu Ge's abrupt interruption, she felt not the slightest displeasure. Instead, she looked at him seriously, waiting for his next words.
"Martial Aunt, I am not the kind of person who repays favors with conditions. I hope this is a gift that brings you joy, not a burden on your heart. Do you understand?"