Chapter 17: Maybe, I’m Already Reluctant to Leave
Upon returning to the inn, Yu Xiang didn’t find Chen Yin.
Unsure of his whereabouts, she sat in her room, patiently waiting. As thirst crept in, she poured herself cup after cup of tea.
She was suddenly reminded of how this was a familiar scene. Back at home, she would prepare a meal and wait for Chen Yin to return, often sitting at the table until the food turned cold, his figure still absent. When he finally arrived late at night, he would reek of alcohol and exhaustion.
…And the lingering scent of other women.
Yu Xiang had always been acutely sensitive to scents, particularly those of women. She could distinguish the unique fragrance of each woman, from their natural body scent to the perfumes and powders they used.
Every time Chen Yin returned with an unfamiliar feminine fragrance clinging to him, a wave of unhappiness would wash over her. She would sit there silently, finishing the cold food without a word.
During those times, Chen Yin would sit and eat with her, seemingly unbothered by the cold food. He would complain about Master’s antics, mentioning how she had dined and dashed at another restaurant, leaving him to apologize and settle the bill.
But Yu Xiang didn’t want to hear his explanations.
She felt she had no right to pry into her Senior Brother’s affairs. Even if he was out indulging in pleasure, she felt she had no standing to stop him.
Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling of grievance and unhappiness. There was no clear reason, or perhaps the reason was simple and straightforward: she didn’t want to smell other women’s scents on Chen Yin.
Lost in her thoughts, the inn door creaked open, and Chen Yin walked in, grumbling, with a paper bag full of steamed buns and snacks.
“Those damned merchants are outrageous, raising prices right before the Fairy Conference. They’re asking for a tael of silver for a single bag of buns!”
“Luckily, I’m a skilled negotiator. After three hundred rounds of haggling, I managed to get them at the original price.”
He approached Xiang’er, pulled out a bun with a smile, and said, “Xiang’er, want to try one? They’re expensive, but they taste fantastic.”
Yu Xiang accepted the bun but hesitated before taking a bite, her eyes fixed on it.
“Senior Brother, you… went to buy buns?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yes,” Chen Yin replied, puzzled by her expression. “Since you were out shopping, I was bored, so I thought I’d wander around too.”
“I didn’t just buy buns; I got a bunch of snacks too, look!”
He excitedly emptied the bag, spreading out a variety of snacks, sweets, and pastries on the table. But Yu Xiang’s mind was elsewhere.
…He’s lying.
The scent of other women lingered on Senior Brother. More than one.
It must have been from close contact.
“Why did Senior Brother come back so early?”
Yu Xiang quietly put the bun back and whispered, “Xiang’er isn’t afraid to be alone in the room.”
“You could have stayed out and enjoyed yourself for a while longer. Don’t keep those women waiting.”
Chen Yin, who was halfway through his bun, almost choked. He coughed a couple of times and said awkwardly:
“Cough… What are you talking about, Xiang’er? I didn’t go out to enjoy myself with anyone—”
“Still lying,” Xiang’er pouted and turned her head away.
Chen Yin placed his half-eaten bun on the table and cautiously moved closer to Xiang’er. “Are you jealous, Xiang’er?”
“Why would I be jealous of you, stinky Senior Brother?”
There was a hint of grievance in Xiang’er’s tone, but she tried to hide it, sulking and refusing to look at him.
“Then do you mind if Senior Brother goes out to have fun with other women?”
“Of course I… who cares about you.”
Seeing that Xiang’er was getting harder to appease, Chen Yin gently patted her head and said in a doting voice:
“Alright, little vinegar jar, stop being grumpy.”
“On my way back, I ran into our Senior Sister from the main sect. She was arguing with Silk-Robe Fairy from the Heavenly Net Sect.”
“As a disciple of the Mist Spirit Sect, I couldn’t just ignore it, so I stepped in to mediate.”
“As for having fun with other women… Xiang’er, do you really think that I, who sees the beautiful Xiang’er every day, would be interested in those ordinary women?”
Yu Xiang turned her head, her eyes hesitant. “Really?”
“If you don’t believe me, we can ask Senior Sister to verify it after the Fairy Conference.”
Chen Yin smiled and pinched Yu Xiang’s cheek. “So, little vinegar jar, you can put the lid back on. The sourness is already making the buns taste weird.”
“Who’s a little vinegar jar!”
Yu Xiang puffed up her cheeks angrily, picked up a bun, and took a vicious bite, as if she was biting her annoying Senior Brother.
Seeing Xiang’er finally appeased, Chen Yin felt relieved and was about to continue eating.
But when he looked down, the bun he had half-eaten had mysteriously vanished.
Not only that, but the snacks in the bag seemed to have dwindled as well.
He glanced out the window and, sure enough, a fluffy fox tail was swaying gently.
Chen Yin: “…”
…That damned Luo Luo, couldn’t she have waited? Did she have to steal food in front of Xiang’er?
Helplessly, Chen Yin said, “I’m going downstairs to order some dishes. Let’s have a proper meal when I get back.” Then he left the room.
Going around to the back of the inn, Chen Yin stood behind a certain little fox who was happily devouring a meat bun, her cheeks puffed out, and grease stains around her mouth.
“Enjoying yourself, huh?” The sudden voice almost made Luo Luo choke.
“Cough, cough…” She quickly hid the food behind her back and turned around with an awkward smile. “Y-Young Master.”
“Don’t bother hiding. With so much food, you can’t possibly hide it all.”
Luo Luo grinned sheepishly.
“Seriously,” Chen Yin said, rubbing his temples. “Couldn’t you wait? Stealing food in front of Xiang’er, how am I supposed to explain this if she finds out?”
He had finally managed to soothe the little vinegar jar. If she discovered that he had such a charming little fox by his side, calling him “Young Master” so sweetly…
Chen Yin didn’t even want to think about it.
Luo Luo pouted, her fox ears and tail drooping dejectedly.
“Young Master, I’m sorry… Luo Luo knows she was wrong.”
Seeing the little fox’s teary eyes, Chen Yin couldn’t bring himself to scold her any further. He sighed softly.
As Luo Luo hung her head, bracing herself for a reprimand, she felt a hand gently caressing her cheek.
Another hand held a handkerchief, carefully wiping the grease stains from her mouth.
“Why eat so fast? Wouldn’t it be better to take your time?”
Chen Yin said softly, “I’ll give you some silver. You don’t have to follow me around for the next two days. If you see something delicious, go ahead and eat it.”
Luo Luo looked up, her eyes sparkling with joy.
“Thank you, Young Master!”
She threw herself into Chen Yin’s arms, rubbing her furry ears against his chest happily:
“Young Master is the best!”
Seeing her change from a wronged expression to a bright smile in an instant, Chen Yin couldn’t help but chuckle and pet her little ears:
“You little rascal…”
You foxes truly have acting skills ingrained in your very nature.
“Right.”
Chen Yin reminded her, “While you’re out and about, keep an eye out for any demonic branch altars similar to the one in Flowing Cloud City.”
“If you find anything, don’t act rashly. Notify me immediately.”
Luo Luo nodded obediently, but with her mouth full of food, it was unclear how much of his words she actually absorbed.
However, despite her seemingly silly nature, this little fox had been quite helpful so far and hadn’t caused him any trouble.
And with her around, even if he was abducted by Luo Qiaoqiao, he would still have a chance to escape.
Seeing the little fox eating with such gusto, Chen Yin couldn’t resist petting her soft ears again and carefully wiping her mouth:
“Pay attention to your eating manners. Look at the mess you’ve made.”
Luo Luo stayed still, obediently letting Chen Yin wipe her mouth. A faint blush flitted across her cheeks, and she murmured softly.
“It’s okay, Young Master will wipe it for me.”
“Hey! Who’s the servant here, you or me? Why would a Young Master wipe his servant’s mouth?”
Luo Luo giggled, stuck her tongue out at Chen Yin playfully, and then, with a bag full of food, vanished into the void.
Chen Yin shook his head with a wry smile and went back upstairs.
After Chen Yin left, a fluffy little head slowly emerged from the void once again.
Luo Luo peeked into the inn window, watching Chen Yin go upstairs, then looked at the snacks in her arms.
Her face was filled with happiness and contentment.
“System,” she said to herself.
“Do you think Mother would like a man like Young Master?”
“I don’t know about liking or not liking.” A teasing voice replied, “But if you waste any more time here, I doubt you’ll ever see your mother again.”
Luo Luo pouted unhappily. “Why are you in such a hurry? There’s plenty of time, five whole years.”
“Five years should be enough for me to awaken, right?”
“Who knows?” The System scoffed. “You little fox only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun. You haven’t completed any of the System’s missions. Who knows when you’ll awaken your bloodline.”
“Anyway, pay more attention. I don’t need to remind you again what the consequences will be if you don’t awaken within five years.”
A hint of loneliness flashed in Luo Luo’s eyes, and her fox tail drooped low.
“I… I know.”
“Don’t worry. I’m just spending some time with Young Master. Maybe while he’s investigating the demonic path, he’ll find the culprit who killed Ya Ya and the others.”
“After I avenge Ya Ya and the others, I’ll obediently go back and awaken my bloodline. I won’t run around anymore.”
“You say it so nicely.” The System couldn’t help but sneer. “Who knows if you’ll still be willing to leave your ‘Young Master’ by then.”
Luo Luo made a face playfully, then looked up at Chen Yin’s room with a wistful expression.
“Maybe,” she murmured, her eyes lowering.
…I’m already reluctant to leave.
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