296. Don't Hurt Yourself

Star Luo Empire, Zhu family.

The evening sky was dyed in a crimson red, breathtakingly beautiful.

Inside the luxurious mansion, the maids and servants had already finished their meal. They bustled to and fro under the eaves and in the corridors, each returning to their duties. There wasn’t much noise, but the mansion was still lively.

Amid the many courtyards and rooms, there was one that stood out as special. No one passed by it or even paused nearby.

Dim light filtered through the windows and into the room, adding to the melancholic atmosphere.

The room was simple yet tidy, and the decorations on the bed carried a childlike innocence.

Zhu Zhuqing lay motionless at the table. Her delicate face, black hair, and slender body seemed fragile. She was holding a small, transparent fish tank, where a red carp continuously bumped against the glass, unaware of its entrapment.

Just like she had been in the past.

Zhu Zhuqing’s vacant eyes stared at the fish, her stomach growling, but she remained unmoved.

It had been a month.

In that short time, Zhu Zhuqing had come to fully understand her situation. All the affection she had once enjoyed was gone. Or perhaps, she had never truly possessed those things—they were mere illusions, tools to mask indifference.

Everyone acted respectfully, and everything seemed harmonious on the surface. But this silent coldness was what made her heart ache the most.

They would show concern for her, but when she sought help from her father and mother, exposing her sister’s cruelty, they would look away and make excuses.

They held onto the belief that it was all a misunderstanding, that they should stay uninvolved and let things run their course.

Zhu Zhuqing felt utterly helpless. No one in the Zhu family seemed to be on her side. In all of Star Luo City, perhaps only that so-called fiancé of hers stood with her.

Gurgle~

Her stomach growled again.

Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips, staring at the red carp in front of her, swallowing her saliva. In a daze, she seemed to see that blonde boy once more—the one who had invited her to a meal.

He must be on her side too, right? He was so strong... but why hadn’t he shown up as they had agreed?

Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly at the small fish tank, blinking in confusion.

Had she become so hungry that she was hallucinating? Why was there suddenly a golden light in the tank?

“What’s this? Are you starving again?”

A voice as warm as a spring breeze suddenly filled the room. It was soft, yet carried a comforting gentleness.

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her pale violet eyes and looked toward the other side of the table, where she saw a figure that made her freeze in place.

The blonde boy in white robes stood there, smiling just as warmly as before, his posture upright. Behind him, a dark tail slowly retracted.

Zhu Zhuqing didn’t respond.

Qian Renjue didn’t mind. He sat down at the table, took out a small plate of snacks, and pushed it toward her, smiling. “These are for you.”

Zhu Zhuqing kept her gaze fixed on Qian Renjue, then slowly looked at the steaming fruit-flavored rice cakes.

“Thank you,” she said calmly, far from the panicked state she’d been in the last time. Even though hunger gnawed at her, she gracefully picked up a small piece and ate it slowly, her eyes still fixed on Qian Renjue, filled with an inexplicable hope.

She explained in a quiet voice, “They called me to eat, but I didn’t want to go. I don’t want to see them.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Qian Renjue wasn’t surprised. He noticed the stubbornness in her expression and gently reminded her, “Fasting won’t change anything. This kind of protest only hurts you, and you won’t be able to keep it up for long.”

After a pause, he added, “It’ll affect your growth too, you know.”

“…”

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip in silence. She knew he was right. It was useless, but it was the only thing she could do.

After a moment, Qian Renjue conjured a glass of fruit juice, his palm lightly brushing the cup’s edge. A few droplets of condensation appeared on the glass, and without any visible action from Qian Renjue, the chilled fruit juice floated over and landed beside Zhu Zhuqing.

Looking at the juice, Zhu Zhuqing’s eyes filled with even more hope as she glanced back at him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Qian Renjue gently shook his head, glancing at the darkening sky outside before asking directly, “So, how about it? Have you had time to think things through over this past month?”

“…”

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips against the rice cake in her mouth, not giving an immediate answer. Instead, she gazed at Qian Renjue, eyes wide with expectation.

“I want to eat first before we talk,” she said softly.

“Haha, alright then.” Qian Renjue laughed, amused, and with a wave of his hand, a variety of dishes appeared on the table, all still steaming hot. Some of them had even been specially prepared for him by Hu Liena.

He personally set a bowl and chopsticks in front of Zhu Zhuqing. “Take your time. I’ll wait.”

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Zhuqing had already snatched the chopsticks from his hand, quickly reaching for the meat dishes and shoveling them into her tiny mouth without pause.

“Ahh… thank you…” she muttered, her cheeks puffed out, speaking in muffled tones. She had fasted for a whole day and was starving.

Qian Renjue stared blankly for a moment, then gradually broke into a smile, realizing what was going on. She hadn’t been waiting for him, but for the food from his system space.

“Eat slowly,” Qian Renjue gently reminded her, pouring her a bowl of cordyceps flower ginseng soup and placing it in front of her.

“Mm!” Zhu Zhuqing accepted the bowl with both hands and nodded vigorously. After swallowing the meat in her mouth with the help of the soup, she didn’t forget to feed the small fish in the tank, delicately breaking off pieces of the rice cake and dropping them into the water.

“Heh,” Qian Renjue chuckled, his thoughts guiding the fish tank and the cake to float in front of him. “Let me help you.”

“…”

Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment but then continued eating in silence. As she glanced up, she saw the golden-haired boy patiently breaking off pieces of cake and feeding them to the fish. The agitation in her heart slowly subsided.

This boy… even after the sun had set, he still brought warmth with him.

Before long, the food on the table was reduced to scraps. Zhu Zhuqing’s lips were slick with oil and soup, and she stuck out her tiny tongue to lick the corners of her mouth, unable to stop herself from hiccuping.

“Haha, I told you to eat slower,” Qian Renjue said, laughing as he returned the fish tank to her. Zhu Zhuqing hugged it tightly, as if it gave her a sense of security.

“Thank you for the food.”

“Mm.”

Qian Renjue nodded slightly and smiled, asking, “Now, can you give me your answer? Don’t worry, I won’t force you.”

“I… I want to see your martial soul again, Teacher.” Zhu Zhuqing nervously requested, fearing she would be seen as a bother but even more afraid that what she had seen last time was merely an illusion.

It all felt so unreal.

“Oh?” Qian Renjue raised an eyebrow at her. The way she addressed him made her decision clear, so why was she asking for this?

Noticing the apprehension in her eyes, Qian Renjue understood.

“Of course,” he said.