Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 243 | A Gift of Presence | Novela.app

When the others arrived, Nan Muxue was in the middle of feeding Chu Ruo, prompting a round of mockery from Duan Ning. "Oh, look at that. Reconciled and all lovey-dovey already? Muxue, you really have no backbone when it comes to her." "I say, are you just incapable of seeing me happy or something?" Chu Ruo countered. "How could I be?" This time, even Nangong Yan agreed with Duan Ning, chiming in, "She’s right. You were gone for days without a single word. Muxue, you’re far too easy on her, letting her off with just a few sweet words. Usually, she at least remembers to buy something on her way back, but this time she returned empty-handed." "Who says I didn't bring anything? I just can't show it to you lot, that's all..." The two women immediately perked up. "What is it?" "Oh? What could you possibly have that we aren't allowed to see?" "I can't be bothered with you two. Wifey, come on, let's go back to our room." To their surprise, Nan Muxue was exceptionally cooperative. Without a single word, she allowed Chu Ruo to take her hand and lead her away. That evening, Nan Muxue had not yet retired for the night. She stood by the window, gazing at the gradually brightening full moon, her expression unreadable. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Chu Ruo pulled her close. "What’s wrong? Are you not happy that I’m back?" Nan Muxue didn't speak. She simply reached up and stroked her lover's cheek. This made Chu Ruo a little nervous. Everything had seemed fine after she returned yesterday. "Weren't we doing great last night? Don't tell me you actually listened to Duan Ning and Nangong Yan today and decided to be mad at me after all?" Fortunately, Nan Muxue finally responded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "So, you do know fear?" "I only fear you not wanting me anymore." "Stay with me and watch the moon for a while." "Mm," Chu Ruo nodded. "Do you have something on your mind?" "You are my heart. If you are well, what could I possibly have on my mind?" "Wow, my little viper has learned how to coax people," Chu Ruo couldn't resist planting a kiss on her cheek. Then, the two fell silent, quietly enjoying the moonlight by the window. After a while, Nan Muxue led her toward the bed. Chu Ruo asked, "Done watching?" "Mm." "It’s nice to hold you like this and look at the moon occasionally. It feels quite cozy." As they sat down, Nan Muxue finally asked, "Is this the thing you bought?" Chu Ruo looked at the rug beside the bed and smiled. "Not bad, right? I bought it from a traveling merchant while I was at the branch sect. Pure wool, incredibly soft." "Oh? And where did the money come from?" "Where would I get money these days?" Chu Ruo leaned in ingratiatingly. "My wifey paid for it." Seeing her like this, Nan Muxue suppressed a smile and said, "Let me see the receipt." Hearing that her "wife" wanted to inspect the books, Chu Ruo hurriedly handed over the bill. And then... there was no "then." The smile that had been in Nan Muxue’s eyes just a second ago vanished. She brandished the slip of paper and asked, "You spent this much?" "No, no... besides, I... I bought it in the name of the Hundred Flowers Palace." Nan Muxue pinched her ear. "Is there a difference? Buying such useless things..." "This... this has a special use!" But Nan Muxue wasn't listening. She looked at her. "So this was your real reason for wanting to go out alone?" "I..." "I truly cannot keep a leash on you. Even without giving you silver, you manage to spend this much." "Muxue..." "Go to sleep." *Whoosh!* "...Well then, goodnight, wifey." Frightened into submission, Chu Ruo lay down obediently. However, as Nan Muxue listened to the movement behind her, an involuntary smile touched the corners of her mouth. Yet, she had forgotten that Chu Ruo’s "obedience" never lasted more than a second. In the middle of the night. "Muxue, are you asleep?" Nan Muxue wasn't sleepy at all, but she refused to turn around. "What are you doing in the middle of the night?" "I'm hungry. I want a midnight snack. Let's go sneak into the kitchen like we used to..." "Sneak?" "I mean 'fetch.' Come on, let's go get some..." "No." Chu Ruo leaned in stubbornly. "Muxue, come with me." "No." "Really?" Seeing no response, she could only sigh. "Fine then, I'll go by myself. What do you want to eat? I'll get yours while I'm at—" "Come back." Two soft words were enough to make Chu Ruo lie back down, perfectly still. "Don't even think about going anywhere." But as soon as Nan Muxue turned over, she was pulled into a tight embrace. "Muxue, I never want to leave you for this long again." "Is that so? How long do you plan to go for next time?" "Nowhere. Wherever you are, I am." She pressed herself against her firmly. "I won't stay away so long next time. I won't leave you. When I was over there, I missed you so much at night." Nan Muxue countered, "Only at night?" "Wifey, don't start nitpicking my words now..." "You..." Chu Ruo’s voice began to grow soft and drowsy. "Missed you... haven't slept well these past few days... *yawn*..." Nan Muxue didn't say anything more. She simply patted the other woman's head gently, softly coaxing her beloved to sleep. "Sleep now." By the next day, she finally understood what the "special use" Chu Ruo had mentioned was. "This is your 'special use'?" "Exactly." Chu Ruo was sitting on the floor by the bed, account books in hand. It turned out the so-called special use of the wool rug was simply to make it comfortable for her to sit there. She grabbed Nan Muxue’s hand and kissed it. "I can stay right by your side, and if I get sleepy, I can hop up whenever I want. Isn't it great?" "Boring." "How is this boring? I'm right by the bed and I can watch you. Otherwise, usually when I get up, you get up too. The study is so far from here; from now on, I'll move most of the Palace affairs over here. That way, I can be with you every morning." Nan Muxue ruthlessly exposed her. "I think it's just convenient for you to crawl back into bed whenever you feel like idling." "Hehe, well, that's just a side benefit. The main thing is being with you." Nan Muxue snorted in disdain, but Chu Ruo remained delighted. Holding her beloved's hand, she said with intoxication, "Mm, this is wonderful. I just want to stay in this room and never leave." Seeing her like this, Nan Muxue leaned in, a rare initiative. "Fine. Then I shall stay with you, and we won't leave for a lifetime." "Muxue~" Nan Muxue smiled. "Ruo'er, I want to..." Despite her apparent disdain for Chu Ruo’s antics, the result was that after Nan Muxue got up, she ended up sitting on the wool rug as well. As she handled the Palace affairs, she would occasionally look up at her beloved. She suddenly felt that this arrangement... wasn't so bad after all. "Muxue~" "You're awake?" "Sleepy..." Chu Ruo didn't even open her eyes. She fumbled around until she could lean over and kiss her. "Why did you get up so early and get dressed so fast? Why are you sitting here too?" "Go back to sleep." Chu Ruo refused to leave, her head bobbing as she muttered dizzily, "Back when you were sick, I'd get pinched just for entering your room. Now, hehe, I can walk in whenever I want..." Faced with this person, Nan Muxue was always caught between exasperation and love. "Do you want me to kick you out?" "Mm... one kiss, and I'll go back to sleep." As always, she got exactly what she wanted.