Shen Jianxi discovered for the first time that Qiu Tao was someone who truly did as he said.
At least, she hadn't realized it when he said he would go to Beichangzhou to find her but returned to Mingxin Sect instead.
After stating he would let Fu Zi know about the matter, Qiu Tao dragged her to find Fu Zi.
Fortunately, Fu Zi wasn't there, gone somewhere unknown.
Instead, they encountered Lin Xinglan halfway. Perhaps sensing he was her junior brother, Qiu Tao restrained himself a little, only pulling her along and subtly boasting in his words.
For example:
"What is Junior Brother doing here? Senior Brother has nothing else to do, just saw you and came over to say hello." Su Dan Fiction Network
If one ignored the gesture of holding their clasped hands up to the sky, the greeting was indeed quite simple.
Shen Jianxi: ...
This man was so childish.
However, Lin Xinglan did not seem as heartbroken as he was the last time he saw her with Cheng Wenyu. He appeared somewhat calm about Qiu Tao's boasting.
He simply gave a soft "Mm" and then looked at Shen Jianxi, offering the hairpin he had made.
"I couldn't find any to buy, so I had to make one myself."
Shen Jianxi was slightly taken aback. She had casually remarked that day, "This hairpin seems to have been worn for a long time." This was an unintentional slip of the tongue, as she had realized she might have been in this world for quite some time.
She hadn't expected Lin Xinglan to hear it and take it to heart.
She reached out to take it, but someone was faster.
Qiu Tao snatched it before her, his hand clutching it as he looked at Lin Xinglan with a forced smile. "I'll thank Junior Brother on behalf of Xiao Ci'er. However, such things are things I prepare for her, so Junior Brother need not trouble himself."
His words only earned him a faint glance from Lin Xinglan. He quickly looked back at Shen Jianxi, his lips moving as if to say something, but in the end, he only uttered, "I'll take my leave now."
"Oh, alright. Bye-bye."
Watching Lin Xinglan depart, Shen Jianxi snatched the gift meant for her from Qiu Tao's hand and glared at him, stopping his encroaching 'magic claws.'
"Don't touch it! Xinglan, whom you were just talking about, hasn't even said anything yet."
Qiu Tao looked aggrieved. "He's got feelings for you!"
"What's it to you? He doesn't have feelings for you."
Qiu Tao was momentarily choked. If Lin Xinglan had feelings for him, he wouldn't be so bothered. The crucial point was that his junior brother had feelings for her!
But he knew that continuing this would displease her, so he sullenly shut his mouth, only looking at her with a pitiful gaze.
Shen Jianxi coughed lightly and turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
She wouldn't soften up; don't even think about it!
She was Shen, the Nicholas, Jian, the hard-hearted, Xi!
...
After that day, Fu Zi did not appear. She had assumed he would continue to hide for a while longer, but unexpectedly, he showed up while Shen Jianxi was cultivating.
His face was contorted with anger, and his first words were accusatory: "What's going on between you and that Qiu Tao?!"
He glared at the woman before him through gritted teeth.
After what happened between them, she was still with other men... Did she really think he was dead?!
These past few days were meant to give her time to think things through, but what was the result?
He had just finished dealing with matters outside and returned to hear this news. In the eyes of outsiders, he, the Demon Lord, was wearing a towering green hat!
Shen Jianxi was silent for a moment. Her lovely face remained as cute as ever, but her words sent an inexplicable chill down one's spine.
"...But we don't have any relationship, do we, Fu Zi?"
Fu Zi let go of her in disbelief, taking two steps back.
He felt a sour sensation welling up in his heart, his whole body growing cold. The next moment, he gritted his teeth, his fury almost making him laugh.
"Heh!"
"You say we have no relationship, and so it is? Do you really think this is up to you?"
"He's just a man; I can end his life in an instant. It all depends on your choice."
As he spoke, he lowered his gaze to Shen Jianxi on the bed, lifted her chin, and forced her to meet his eyes.
Meeting his dark, deep gaze, Shen Jianxi intended to struggle, but then—
77: "Beep! Random task issued: Host is always too assertive. Please act like a cute, whimpering girl and reluctantly accept Fu Zi's advances within two hours."
Shen Jianxi: ???
Damn it, is this task system getting more perverted?
She quickly changed her expression.
Her hand landed on Fu Zi's wrist, gently pushing.
"I, I didn't."
"But, we really don't have any relationship," she said, her eyes welling up with moisture, tears on the verge of falling. "And, and that day, *whimper*, you, *whimper*, you forced me."
77: "Host, that's enough. I'm disgusted."
"...Don't disturb me. This is a comedic performance I've been practicing recently. See? Fu Zi won't be able to resist."
77 shifted its attention to Fu Zi. Indeed, his expression was a little strange now, his lips twitching slightly.
He looked like he wanted to laugh but felt the current atmosphere was inappropriate.
Fu Zi coughed heavily, startling both the person and the system. Then he forced himself to look dignified and angry. "I, cough, how did I, cough, force you?"
Shen Jianxi looked at him speechlessly.
If you want to laugh, just laugh, why cough.
There were many ways to insult someone, but he had to mock her acting.
"...Fu Zi."
"W-what is it?"
The seriousness in her tone made Fu Zi's heart skip a beat.
"Do you know?"
"Mm?"
"You can insult my character, but you can't insult my acting."
Fu Zi looked at her speechlessly. He had thought something serious had happened with that tone. "Then I'll try insulting your character?"
He tested tentatively.
"...No." Shen Jianxi's tone was stern. "If you insult my character, I'll beat you up."
"..."
However, after this ordeal, Fu Zi's initial anger had subsided.
He sighed helplessly and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her with amusement.
He wasn't blind to these little tricks, but he was just indulging her.
Shen Jianxi knew that with Fu Zi's intelligence, he would definitely see through her true intentions.
But that didn't matter.
She had appeased him, after all.
She didn't need to keep whimpering and acting coy.
She just needed to wait for two hours to pass.
Watching this scene, 77 berated Fu Zi for his lack of backbone and perseverance, yet it was also proud that its host had grown up. Her ability to exploit loopholes was now extremely adept.
Just like with the task involving Qiu Tao, her host had subtly guided Qiu Tao to ask questions in every sentence during their interactions, thus creating room for her to maneuver.
The evening breeze was cool. Fu Zi didn't leave, and Shen Jianxi didn't ask him to.
Until a knock sounded at the door—
"Are you asleep, Xi Xi?"
Shen Jianxi was startled. Why was he here at this time?