Chapter 110: The Butterfly Effect
To be honest, Chen Yin was a little taken aback by Luo Luo’s action.
Such an intimate gesture would make even lovers blush.
For Luo Luo, such a naive and innocent girl, to do this so naturally…
He didn’t know what to make of it.
But then he thought he might be overthinking things.
…They were close, sharing meals and spending time together. It was practically second nature.
Luo Luo was a glutton. She probably just saw the crumbs on his lips and didn’t want to waste them.
Besides, a kiss without tongue didn’t really count as a kiss, right? That was the scumbag’s rule.
“You,”
Chen Yin flicked her nose playfully. “It’s dangerous to do that to a man.”
“If you meet a bad guy, he might eat you up!”
“Mmm.”
Luo Luo’s nose twitched, and a shy smile appeared on her youthful face.
“Luo Luo is not afraid. Young Master is not a bad guy.”
“How do you know I’m not a bad guy?”
“If Young Master was a bad guy and wanted to eat Luo Luo, you would have done it already.”
“Maybe I’m just waiting for you to grow up a little, to fatten you up before eating you.” Chen Yin made a face at her.
Luo Luo paused, then smiled faintly.
“Luo Luo is not small anymore. It’s almost my sixteenth birthday.”
“Ah, speaking of which…”
Chen Yin said seriously, “I need to think about what to get you for your birthday.”
Luo Luo waved her hands frantically. “Young Master doesn’t need to get Luo Luo a gift.”
“But it’s important to celebrate. It’s a ritual.”
“What should I get you…” Chen Yin pondered.
Luo Luo sat quietly on his lap, her gaze soft.
“Ah, I have an idea.”
Chen Yin snapped his fingers and, after rummaging through his pocket, produced a pair of small bells.
“These will look great on you.”
The small bells were tied together with a red string, their gentle chimes echoing in the air as they collided.
Luo Luo took them in her hands, her eyes lighting up with delight. She carefully attached them to her hair, near her fox ears.
“Young Master, do they look good?” Luo Luo asked, turning to him with a smile, the bells chiming softly.
Chen Yin nodded with satisfaction. “They look great. I have such good taste.”
They laughed and chatted, enjoying the view of Qinglian City in the gentle rain. Time flew by quickly.
As dusk approached, Chen Yin lifted her from his lap, patting the dampness from his clothes.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s go back and get some rest.”
They had only taken a few steps when a small hand grabbed his.
“Young Master,” she looked at him with pleading eyes. “Will you come play with Luo Luo again tomorrow?”
“Didn’t you ask me that yesterday?”
“Luo Luo just wants to hear Young Master say it again.” She swayed his arm playfully.
Chen Yin couldn’t resist and gently ruffled her hair and ears, his voice soft.
“Don’t worry.”
“I’m not going anywhere. If you want to play, you can find me anytime.”
Luo Luo finally smiled and nodded.
“See you tomorrow, Young Master.”
After Luo Luo skipped away, Chen Yin scratched his head, puzzled.
“This girl… is acting really strange.”
“Is she up to something?”
Inside the main hall, Qingmei Niang was studying a scroll when she saw Luo Luo skipping towards her bedroom, humming a tune.
“My, you seem to be in a good mood today.”
Qingmei Niang teased, “Has our little fox fallen in love?”
“Mother!” Luo Luo said with a playful glare.
“I went to eat Rainflower Cakes with Young Master by the Azure Lotus Tower today.”
Hearing this, Qingmei Niang lowered her eyes and, after a moment of silence, suddenly said:
“Luo Luo.”
Luo Luo stopped in her tracks.
“What is it, Mother?”
“…Your birthday is approaching. It’s almost time for the Lotus Birth Ceremony.” Qingmei Niang’s voice was soft.
Luo Luo’s smile froze on her face.
It slowly transformed from surprise to shock, then to fear, and finally to a quiet despair.
“…So soon?” She whispered, her eyes downcast.
“It should still be a few years away…”
“The seal is weakening.” Qingmei Niang’s alluring eyes looked away. “Mother can’t reinforce it anymore.”
“It’s almost time for you to awaken your bloodline.”
Luo Luo stood there in a daze for a long time, then looked up at her mother with pleading eyes.
“Mother, can’t we… wait a little longer?”
“If I could, I would let you stay like this forever.”
Qingmei Niang’s eyes were filled with a mixture of love and sadness.
“But you’re my daughter, Qingmei Niang’s daughter.”
“This day will come eventually.”
Luo Luo’s spirit seemed to crumble, the light fading from her eyes.
She bit her lip and, after a long silence, covered her mouth with her hand and ran back to her room.
Qingmei Niang didn’t stop her, just watched her leave with a worried expression.
Then she sighed softly.
“Alas.”
“I’m sorry, my child.”
Back in her room, Luo Luo sat on the bed, hugging her knees.
She buried her face in her arms.
“System,” she said after a long silence.
“Why is this happening? According to the records, it should still be a few years away.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to tell you.” The System’s voice was serious. “The plot has changed.”
“The current plot requires you to awaken your bloodline at the upcoming Lotus Birth Ceremony and inherit your mother’s duty of maintaining the void seal.”
Luo Luo’s eyes widened slightly, and she murmured, “Why…”
“I don’t know the exact reason.”
The System explained, “But I suspect it’s because another Chosen One has deviated from the plot. The butterfly effect has affected our storyline as well.”
“But in any case, the time for your bloodline awakening has indeed been moved forward.”
“But…”
Luo Luo buried her face in her arms again, her voice choked with tears. “I don’t want to leave Young Master…”
The System was at a loss.
It wasn’t good at comforting people. Seeing Luo Luo’s tearful expression, it could only say awkwardly:
“Well, you can look at it this way.”
“Maybe your Young Master doesn’t even like you? Maybe he just sees you as a little sister?”
“Think about last night. He was hugging and kissing that other woman. They seemed to be having a lot of fun. Maybe he prefers cold and aloof beauties?”
“Doesn’t that make you feel better?” it asked tentatively.
But its words only made Luo Luo cry even harder.
The System: “…”
…Did I say something wrong? Why is she crying even more now?
Luo Luo ignored it.
She just hugged herself, her eyes red and swollen, her body shaking with sobs.
After a while, the System sighed softly. “I told you, didn’t I?”
“Don’t get too close to your Young Master. You knew this day would come eventually.”
“You knew you would lose him, yet you still greedily clung to him. I don’t understand you humans.”
Luo Luo bit her lip and remained silent.
“I say, just don’t tell him. Make up an excuse, say you need to go into seclusion or something. After a few years, he’ll forget about you.”
The System said nonchalantly, “Or just tell him the truth.”
Luo Luo’s sobs gradually subsided. After a long while, she looked up, her eyes red-rimmed.
“System, do you think Young Master will miss me?”
“That’s… hard to say.”
The System said with frustration, “I’m not human, how would I know what you’re thinking? Humans are so troublesome.”
“If you like him, confess. If you’re afraid he doesn’t like you, then don’t. What’s there to be conflicted about?”
Luo Luo didn’t answer. She lowered her ears, her long eyelashes fluttering, and stared at a corner of the room.
She sat there, lost in thought, for the entire night.
“…She didn’t come?” Chen Yin asked in surprise.
“No.” Ya Ya pouted regretfully. “She said she wasn’t feeling well and was resting at home.”
That girl, she’s pushing herself too hard. Chen Yin couldn’t help but worry.
“Can I go see her?”
“I don’t know… But since she’s not even seeing us, she must be really unwell.”
Ya Ya said worriedly, “Brother Chen, let’s not bother her today. We can visit her another time when she’s feeling better.”
Chen Yin nodded.
It was a pity. He had wanted to chat with her before leaving.
If she wasn’t feeling better by tomorrow, he would have to leave.
He returned to his room. As he was about to enter, he saw Qingying’s figure flicker beside him.
“Huh? Where were you?”
“Gathering information.” Qingying said nonchalantly. “It’s always good to be prepared when entering an unfamiliar place.”
…There’s no need to be so cautious in Luo Luo’s home. Chen Yin couldn’t help but think.
Of course, it was an occupational hazard for Qingying, and he didn’t bother correcting her.
“And I found something interesting.”
Qingying suddenly said mysteriously, “Did you know there’s a celebration happening here soon?”
“Yes.” Chen Yin blinked. “That’s why Madam Qingmei asked me to leave. She said the mountain would be sealed off during the celebration.”
“Do you know what this celebration is for?”
“No.” Chen Yin answered honestly.
Qingying smiled triumphantly, a smile that made Chen Yin uneasy.
“What are you smiling about? What did you find out?”
“…I’m not telling you. Just to spite you.”
She didn’t even realize how childish she sounded, like a little girl arguing with a boy.
There was even a hint of smug satisfaction in her smile.
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