494. Calling Mother-In-Law

Ling Yuan quickly stepped forward, pulling the screen into place to block the bed from view.

The scene of a "plump cat clinging to a thin branch" disappeared from sight.

Ning Rongrong finally snapped out of her daze, hurriedly turning her head toward Qian Renjue.

Seeing only the back of his head, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Luckily, Brother Holy Son didn’t see anything. Otherwise, if he were to compare her to Zhuqing in the future...

How could she allow him to think of someone else while being with her?

“Haha. Your Highness, you can turn around now,” Xiao Wu said with amusement, clearly not overthinking the situation.

“Ahem, ahem!”

Qian Renjue cleared his throat and turned back, feeling awkward under Qian Renxue’s intense gaze.

“I-I didn’t see anything just now.”

Qian Renxue opened her mouth to speak but, recalling Qian Renjue’s relationship with the person involved, decided not to press further.

She gave him a sidelong glance, confident that he must have seen something.

Perhaps, by accident, he had even perfectly captured it with his Eye of Insight.


---

Behind the screen, Zhu Zhuqing paused, hearing Qian Renjue’s voice.

Her eyes showed a trace of disappointment as she bit her lip.

Did this mean she’d need to create another “accident” next time?

Why didn’t Teacher look at her?


---

Outside the screen, Ning Rongrong clung to Qian Renjue’s arm, asking,
“Brother Holy Son, where will you and Sister Xue be staying tonight?”

“Uh… we’ll just stay in this room,” Qian Renjue replied, suppressing his awkwardness.

He pointed to the ring on Qian Renxue’s hand and explained,
“Or rather, we’ll be inside that ring.”

“Oh, I see. Then, can you bring Rongrong along? Rongrong can warm the bed for you~”

Ning Rongrong’s face turned pink as she smiled sweetly.

Hearing this, Xiao Wu looked at her with admiration but carefully glanced at Qian Renxue.

Qian Renjue, however, shook his head.

“Better not. You, Xiao Wu, and Zhuqing should stay in the room.”

“Exactly. It’s safer that way, so no one notices you’re gone,” Qian Renxue added with a smile, nodding in agreement.

“Alright then~” Ning Rongrong reluctantly agreed.

If it were just Qian Renjue, she might have been able to wheedle and cling to him, but with Big Sister Xue here, she decided to restrain herself.


---

Before long, Zhu Zhuqing emerged from behind the screen, now dressed, accompanied by Ling Yuan.

“Teacher~”

“Hmm.”

Qian Renjue acknowledged her greeting but avoided eye contact, feeling somewhat guilty.

Zhu Zhuqing’s eyes brightened, her blush deepening as a wave of joy welled up inside her.

It seemed Teacher definitely saw something!

“Ahem… Zhuqing, get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll take you into the Life Ring to get used to the Eight Spider Lances.”

Qian Renjue awkwardly smiled as he arranged their schedule.

“Okay~ Zhuqing understands.”

Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently, her cat-like eyes reflecting Qian Renjue’s image.

“Well then, let’s leave it at that for tonight,” Qian Renjue said, deciding not to linger and risk further awkwardness.

Turning to Qian Renxue, he added with a smile,
“Sister, let’s go back and rest.”

“Alright~”

Qian Renxue sipped her tea, finished it in one go, and removed the ring from her hand.

She tugged a strand of golden hair and looped it playfully around Xiao Wu’s neck.

“Ling Yuan, let’s go.”

With that, she spoke no more and departed.


Under Qian Renxue's urging, Qian Renjue and the others turned into streaks of light and disappeared.

A purple-black glow followed closely, entering the Life Ring.

"That's amazing~"

Ning Rongrong leaned close to Xiao Wu, her eyes sparkling with wonder. Zhu Zhuqing’s gaze was also full of admiration.

"It is! The space inside is huge!" Xiao Wu said proudly, holding the ring in her hands.

For once, she felt that Miss Xue didn’t dislike her anymore.


---

Inside the manor within the Life Ring, the lights were bright.

Qian Renxue strolled along the corridors, arm in arm with Qian Renjue, while Ling Yuan followed closely behind.

With a sly smile, Qian Renxue narrowed her phoenix-like eyes.

"Jue, what do you think of the Zhu sisters? Which one do you find more beautiful?"

"..."

Hearing this, Qian Renjue fell silent, unsure of how to respond.

"Don't play dead! Speak the truth!"

Qian Renxue demanded, her tone firm.

"Uh... Sister, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t see anything!"

Qian Renjue forced a smile, his eyes pleading for mercy.

"If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then why would you say you didn’t see anything? Hmm?"

Qian Renxue stopped in her tracks, a teasing glint in her eyes. She released Qian Renjue’s arm and began cracking her knuckles.

"Looks like your sister needs to help jog your memory!"

"Sister, don’t do anything rash, or I won’t go easy on you!"

"Good! Let your sister see how strong you’ve become!"

"Wait—Sister, hold on!"

Bang!

Ling Yuan covered her mouth, laughing softly as Qian Renjue bolted, only to be tackled to the ground by Qian Renxue, pleading for mercy.

She murmured to herself, "It seems His Highness will be bossed around by these two women his entire life."

Then, as if reminded of something, she added,
"By the way, Miss Lingling's birthday is just a few days away. After that night, I should prepare to do something big—enough to make her call me ‘mother-in-law.’"

Ling Yuan's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she watched Qian Renjue being repeatedly pinned to the ground, her gaze soft and warm.

After all, she had watched him grow up.


---

The Next Morning

Qian Renjue climbed up from the grassy field, shoe prints covering his clothes and stamp marks on his face.

Looking around, he realized no one was nearby.

Scratching his head, he walked toward the washroom on his own.

Outside the Life Ring, Zhu Zhuqing had already finished her morning practice of the Purple Demon Eyes.

In her room, she practiced controlling the retraction of her Eight Spider Lances under Qian Renxue's supervision, ensuring there would be no more accidents in front of Qian Renjue.

Qian Renxue wasn’t about to let Zhu Zhuqing get away with any sly tricks. Using her body to climb the ranks? Not on her watch.

When Qian Renxue saw that the training was sufficient, she set down her morning tea and said softly,
"Alright, Zhuqing, leave them extended for now. I’ll take you inside. Jue should be awake by now."

"Yes, Master," Zhu Zhuqing replied obediently, though a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes.

Her plan to exploit a wardrobe malfunction and evoke sympathy from her teacher was dead on arrival.

Still, it didn’t matter—her teacher had already seen everything the night before!

"Rongrong, Little Bunny, you two stay here and keep watch."

"Understood, Sister Xue (Miss Xue)," the two responded in unison.


---

Time flew by, and night quickly fell.

Just before midnight, Qian Renjue brought Qian Renxue and the others into the Life Ring.

Using the Evil God Hook, he crossed back into Spirit City.

The moonlight poured down like water, casting a serene glow over the quiet courtyard.

The flowers under the moonlight appeared cold and lonely.

In the left room, Xiao Fei Die sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by flickering butterfly shadows.

On the right, Hu Liena had long since burrowed into her blankets. Despite being over 18, she still hadn’t kicked her childhood habits.

A golden figure appeared directly in Hu Liena’s room.

Looking at her sleeping posture, Qian Renjue couldn't help but shake his head.

She always went to bed lying down straight but woke up sprawled across the bed. If this continued, wouldn’t she end up kicking her child out of bed in the future?

Qian Renjue slowly approached her, frost forming on his hand as he lightly pressed it toward Hu Liena’s neck.