517. Only Drawing

After a short while, Ye Lingling appeared before Qian Renjue with a flushed face, looking a bit shy and uneasy.

"Lingling."

Qian Renjue looked up and noticed the faint glow emanating from behind her veil. Though curious, he refrained from asking further, not wanting to embarrass her.

"Mm~"

Ye Lingling nodded slightly, her gaze evasive. She walked over quickly with graceful steps and sat beside him, speaking apologetically:
"Jue, please don’t take my mom’s words to heart..."

"Don’t worry, I know how to keep things in place."

Qian Renjue set down his tea and gently held her delicate hand, smiling warmly. Based on her mother’s earlier behavior, it was clear she had a fiery personality.

"That’s good."

Ye Lingling felt slightly relieved as she covered her hand with his, enjoying the warmth he provided. Though too embarrassed to ask directly, she worried her mother might have said something inappropriate.

"You can take off your veil at home."

Qian Renjue chuckled, playfully pinching her cheek through the thin fabric before gently removing the veil to reveal her blushing face.

"Mm~"

Ye Lingling softly responded, lowering her chin and allowing him to admire her profile. Her cheeks burned as her beautiful eyes darted nervously toward the door, afraid her mother or servants might walk in. Her heart pounded wildly.


---

Qian Renjue didn’t stay long at the Ye family residence.

After tasting his mother-in-law’s cooking and gifting a millennium-old ginseng as a meeting present, he politely declined her invitation to stay overnight.

The mother and daughter escorted him to the gate.

With a gentle swish, Qian Renjue lifted the curtain of the carriage door, revealing a captivating sight: a round, peach-like figure bent over inside.

Startled, Qian Renjue hesitated briefly.

Inside the carriage, Ling Yuan was sprawled out, focused on something as her waist swayed slightly and her peach-like hips shifted with her movements.

When the curtain opened, light spilled into the carriage, casting familiar shadows across the space. Ling Yuan froze mid-stroke, her pupils dilating slightly.

Oh no!

She had been so absorbed in her work that she hadn’t noticed the Holy Son approaching. Usually, her keen senses would never fail her, but she had let her guard down.

"Sister Ling Yuan."

Before Qian Renjue could finish, Ling Yuan turned toward him with a flustered expression.

"Ah, Your Highness! W-What’s wrong?"

Hurriedly, she began gathering her things, flipping over to face him as she knelt on the ground. Her cheeks were rosy, and her legs were tightly pressed together.

"..."

Qian Renjue raised an eyebrow as he stepped into the carriage. Curious, he asked,
"Ling Yuan, what were you writing while lying like that?"

As he spoke, he reached out to help her up.

"Ah, n-nothing important!"

Ling Yuan waved her hands dismissively, avoiding his gaze. Despite her flustered demeanor, she let him support her shoulders, her face tinged with awkwardness.

"I just got tired writing on the seat and stretched out, that’s all."

"..."

Qian Renjue studied her carefully. Noticing her flushed face and nervous, shy expression, he seemed to understand something but chose not to press further.

Instead, he offered a subtle reminder:
"Sister Ling Yuan, once we’re back home, there are certain things better left unsaid. Understood?"

"Don’t worry, Your Highness! I promise I won’t say a word!"

Ling Yuan replied with utmost sincerity, her dark eyes steadying. Clearly, he hadn’t realized what she’d been doing earlier.

I won’t say anything—I’ll just draw!

"That’s good, then."

Qian Renjue assumed she was referring to reporting to Bibi Dong and didn’t think much of it.

"Let’s head back to Spirit Hall now."

"Mm."

Ling Yuan nodded as he wrapped an arm around her slender waist. Her heart softened, and a sweet warmth spread through her chest.


After all, she had just finished warming up.

Qian Renjue was about to raise his hand to store the carriage in the system space.

Ling Yuan clung to Qian Renjue’s clothes and timidly asked,
"Your Highness, aren’t you going to visit Dean Liu at Blue Tyrant Academy?"

"Next time."

Qian Renjue gently shook his head.

At this time, it was better not to bring back Er Long's scent home.

Lest he suffer at the hands of his mother.

As his words fell, Qian Renjue extended his dark, long Evil God Hook and started to leap through the void.

Whoosh!

The carriage in front of the Ye Mansion vanished without a trace, leaving only a faint black glow behind for onlookers to see.