Tsk, tsk. How can my wife look so beautiful even when she’s choking on water? And she recovered so quickly, too. Chu Ruo hurried over to rub her back. "Slow down now~" She couldn't stop laughing even as she patted her. "Hahaha... Surprised? Unexpected?"
Nan Muxue gave her a miffed look, but seeing the girl laughing so uncontrollably, she couldn't help but let a smile slip through. Still, she reached out and pinched one of Chu Ruo’s ears. "Is it really that funny?"
"Mm, no, no... Hahaha..."
Chu Ruo continued to giggle, but Nan Muxue had already turned away to lie down. Chu Ruo followed her to the bed, finally stifling her laughter after a long while, though her face was still visibly strained from the effort of holding it in. "Why are you going to sleep already?"
"I was only waiting for you. Now that you are back, it is time to rest."
Chu Ruo obediently lay down beside her, immediately pulling the other woman into an embrace. "That’s it? That’s all you have to say?"
Nan Muxue replied calmly, "What else is there?"
"I mean, Lin Jianghong likes you! Aside from that moment of surprise just now, you... you have no reaction at all???"
"What reaction should I have?"
...This little scorpion. Her words could always choke a person to death. "You!"
"She has feelings for me, but I do not like her. Why should I react?"
Chu Ruo was momentarily speechless. "But... it’s Lin Jianghong! Isn't that shocking? Isn't it unexpected?"
"Mhm." Seeing the dazed look on the idiot’s face, Nan Muxue felt a surge of amusement. Finally, she played along and nodded. "I suppose it is, a little." It wasn't entirely expected; she had noticed Lin Jianghong’s lingering gazes throughout the journey, but she had assumed the girl’s attention was fixed on Chu Ruo. In that moment, she actually felt a sense of relief. Her Ruo’er was not allowed to love anyone else, nor would she allow anyone else to covet her.
"Exactly! I’m telling you, no wonder she kept looking at us the whole way. Bah, I mean, looking at *you*." Once Chu Ruo started, she couldn't stop. "I should have realized sooner. What else could make her so persistent? She kept challenging you even after losing so many duels. And when you asked her to help propose to me at the Hundred Flowers Palace, she agreed without a second thought. She didn't even get that angry when she found out we had the command token. And last time at the palace, she insisted on going back to save you—I thought she was just being loyal! Man, this is just the classic trope of a spoiled young lady falling for a black-bellied ice beauty. I have to add this plot point into *Master, Spare Me!*"
"You seem very happy today."
"Am I?"
Nan Muxue took the initiative to nestle into Chu Ruo’s arms. Although Chu Ruo hadn't made a scene these past few days, she had been subtly prickly and awkward. Seeing her in such high spirits now allowed Nan Muxue to finally relax. "Ruo’er~"
"What is it? Why the sudden change in tone?"
"As long as you are happy."
Chu Ruo was a bit stunned. "Why are you talking like that? Are you hiding something from me again?"
"No."
"Nan Muxue, let me tell you, that last time was the *last* time. If you dare try it again, I’ll..."
Nan Muxue cut her off. "You'll what?"
Chu Ruo gazed into her eyes for a long moment before answering, "I don't know. But I definitely won't forgive you."
Nan Muxue brushed a hand over those eyes. "Fine."
"That’s more like it." Chu Ruo pulled her tighter. Mm, with such warm, fragrant beauty in her arms, who would ever be willing to let go? "You, always lecturing me... you’re the one who attracts all the butterflies and bees. First there was that Qian Tong, and now there’s a Lin Jianghong. I think you appeal to everyone, you little scorpion..."
"And you and your—"
"You’re going to say me and my Miss Zhier are always making eyes at each other, and since you haven't said anything about it, I shouldn't either, right? I knew you’d say that."
"Presumptuous."
"Hey, let me remind you, I’m still mad at you, and here you are flirting around."
The other woman didn't bother responding further, offering only two words: "Go to sleep."
Dissatisfied—highly dissatisfied! Chu Ruo puffed out her cheeks. "What kind of attitude is—mmph~" Hehe, not important, not important. Nothing else matters~
***
The next morning...
When Chu Ruo woke up, Nan Muxue was already gone. She washed her face and headed out, finding Duan Ning and the others having breakfast. As soon as Duan Ning saw her, she began to tease, "Oh, look who’s late. We’ve already finished eating."
"You really can't keep a single nice word in that mouth of yours, can you?"
"Tsk, spineless."
"How am I spineless?"
Duan Ning threw an arm over her shoulder. "You won't even admit it? You stopped being cross with Xue’er so quickly. You really are easy to coax."
"I wanted to stay mad!" Chu Ruo argued. "But if I stay mad at her, I don't get her feeding me, or hugging me, or kissing me, and I don't get to sleep with her. Wouldn't I just be making myself miserable? Anyway, I can be angry when I need to be, but when there’s nothing going on, I can still hold her hand. Isn't that better?"
"You lecher. You even make your depravity sound refined."
"Hey! I’m not even going to talk to you. Where’s my Xue’er?"
"That... do you really want to know?"
"What? Obviously!"
Yin Liuli shook her head. "You’re teasing her again."
"I’m just worried she’ll be unhappy in a moment."
"Are you going to tell me or not?"
"Since you’re so dying to know, listen up. Xue’er is currently giving Lin Jianghong some pointers on her martial arts. They went out early this morning."
!!! This little scorpion! She ditched me first thing in the morning because she knows that girl has a crush on her? "Giving pointers"? Does she think I’m a toothless tiger? This is outrageous! Fuming, Chu Ruo rolled up her sleeves to go find them, but she ran straight into Bai Zhier on the way.
"Ruo’er."
"Zhier." Chu Ruo wanted to find her little scorpion and didn't stop, offering only a quick greeting as she tried to push past.
Bai Zhier stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Are you... planning to keep avoiding me like this?"
Chu Ruo’s eyes were fixed on the distance—wasn't that the little scorpion and Lin Jianghong? It was infuriating. "Huh? No, I just have something to do right now..."
"Are you no longer even willing to humoring me?"
"I..." Chu Ruo snapped out of it, finally pulling her attention back. "No."
Bai Zhier’s silhouette had always been thin enough to evoke pity, but now there was an indescribable loneliness and sorrow in her eyes. "In your heart, you no longer consider me a friend, do you?"
"That’s not true." She didn't want to be angry with this woman. "I have always considered you my very best friend."
"You don't have to lie to me. These past few days..."
"These past few days everyone has been busy traveling. I was actually planning to find a time to talk to you."
"Really?"
"Of course, Zhier." Chu Ruo sighed. "Actually, no matter what, I hope we can always be friends. Not to mention, you are Xue’er’s sister now."
The other woman tilted her head. "Only because I am her sister?"
"No, because you are Zhier. I will always remember how we first met, how you helped me, and how you treated me throughout this journey. The happiness we shared in the Demon Realm... I won't forget any of it."
Bai Zhier looked at her, her eyes shimmering. "So, we won't become enemies? You won't hate me, right?"
"I don't hate you. But I’ll say it again: I won't let anyone hurt Xue’er. Not even you."
"Then... the matter with the Love Flower Drunk... are you still angry about that?"
"I..."
"Ruo’er, you promised me. We will always be friends."
"Mhm."
"Then, let me help you."
Chu Ruo asked in confusion, "Huh?"
Before she could follow up, she was suddenly pulled into a hug. "Zhier, let go..."
But Bai Zhier actually let go quite quickly, giving her a mischievous wink instead. "Don't thank me, Miss."
"You..." Over there, Nan Muxue was already approaching with a face like ice. She walked straight past Bai Zhier, grabbed Chu Ruo by the collar, and hauled her away.
Lin Jianghong came running up from behind. "Hey, you guys—"
Bai Zhier reached out and snagged her. "Little thing, don't be so restless."
"Let go of me, you!"
"Beat me first, then we'll talk."
"Fine! Who’s afraid of you?" Lin Jianghong snapped her whip. "Bring it on."
On the other side, Nan Muxue, who hadn't looked this sour in a long time, shoved Chu Ruo back into their room. *Bang!* The door slammed shut with a deafening thud.
"You think you’re in the right?" Chu Ruo looked at her defiantly. "Running off in the morning to teach someone martial arts!"
Nan Muxue stared at her. "And so, you went to hug Bai Zhier?"
"How are your eyes even working? She hugged me, I didn't hug her!"
"Is there a difference?"
"Her hugging me was unexpected! But you—you went out of your way to give her 'pointers.' What exactly is the relationship between you two?"
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow. "What? You were laughing so brightly last night; I thought you weren't jealous."
Chu Ruo muttered under her breath, "Then why did you have to teach her?"
"You go around embracing others, yet you come to lecture me?"
Chu Ruo stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the woman. "Yes, and I’m going to lecture you for the rest of our lives."
"I have been indulgent with you these past few days. It seems you have forgotten your place."
"What? You were the one in the wrong to begin with!"
"Is that so?" Now that her eyes were healed, she naturally wouldn't hold back anymore. "Whoever wins gets the final say."
*Clatter, crash, bang!*
Outside, Duan Ning clicked her tongue. "Fighting again. *Sigh*~"
***
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 198 | Lessons in Jealousy | Novela.app | Novela.app
