Fourteen, fourteen.

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Su Xiaoyuan had heard that because Xiahou Che entered the sect a few years late, he missed the chance to be selected among the Four Great Handsome Men of Yunyu, so she assumed he was on the same level as the sect’s F4. When she opened the door, expecting a campus heartthrob type, she was stunned upon seeing him.

Senior Brother Xiahou stood at the doorway holding a spirit stone lamp, but the light seemed to emanate from his very being. His sparkling eyes fixed on her as if the entire starry sky shimmered just for her.

Xiahou Che seemed accustomed to such stunned expressions and amazed gazes, a faint smile curving his lips. In that moment, it felt as though his smile illuminated the entire world.

Unlike the sharp, almost cutting beauty of Fu Tingyun’s puppet-like appearance, Senior Brother Xiahou’s handsomeness was universally appealing, like a gentle warm sun shining upon the world.

In the modern world, he would undoubtedly be a top idol.

She recalled Elder Jiang mentioning in class that Xiahou was a surname from an ancient, long-standing family of sword cultivators.

Among the disciples, there were also rumors that Xiahou Che came from an extraordinary background.

Su Xiaoyuan didn’t know if he was directly related to the Xiahou clan, but judging by his demeanor, he certainly carried the aura of a noble young master.

“Sorry to disturb you so late, Junior Sister Xiaoyuan,” Xiahou Che said, glancing at her small room. “I passed by and saw your light was still on, so I thought you might not have gone to bed yet...”

Only now did Su Xiaoyuan snap out of her shock and wave her hands repeatedly. “It’s nothing, it’s still early.”

Indeed, it was not late—just after seven o’clock, before modern nightlife even begins. She had gone to bed early simply because she couldn’t afford another spirit stone.

“That’s good,” he said.

Seeing he only smiled without explaining his purpose, she cautiously asked, “Senior Brother Xiahou, may I ask what you are here for? Is it about the Wushan Festival?”

His smile deepened as he took something from his sleeve. “I came to give you this tonight.”

Su Xiaoyuan took the object without understanding, then recognized it as a black hairband—something familiar...

Suddenly she remembered—it was the puppet’s hairband!

“This is your item, right?” Xiahou Che said. “I passed by the Mandarin Duck Hot Spring and met Junior Sister Xiuqing, who also serves under Elder Qin. She said to deliver this to you, so I brought it along.”

What a socially embarrassing moment!

Su Xiaoyuan’s face flushed scarlet, wishing she could disappear on the spot.

“Sorry, I made a mistake... Thank you for going out of your way, Senior Brother.”

Xiahou Che showed a hint of surprise. “Junior Sister Xiaoyuan, you didn’t make a mistake. It’s my honor to accompany you to the Wushan Festival.”

“Huh?” Su Xiaoyuan was taken aback.

“When Elder Qin told me today, I was very pleased.” Xiahou Che looked at her with smiling eyes and a voice gentle enough to melt into the night.

“Ah...” Su Xiaoyuan was at a loss, her mind and expression blank.

“Perhaps you’ve never paid attention to me, but this is not the first time I’ve seen you.”

He paused. “Today too, I barely managed to seize this opportunity.”

“Oh, is that so? Haha... I see...” Her mind had completely frozen, entering full awkward chatbot mode.

Back in middle school, boys occasionally confessed to her, but she had no idea what a normal reaction was.

Xiahou Che chuckled softly. “Just teasing you. Elder Qin said you’re shy, so he asked me, someone thick-skinned, to teach you. Did I scare you?”

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Su Xiaoyuan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “A little bit...”

“Junior Sister Xiaoyuan is really adorable, making people want to tease her at first sight,” Xiahou Che said, reaching out to stroke the top of her head. “But I wasn’t lying earlier; this really isn’t the first time I’ve seen you.”

“Huh?” She had just relaxed, but now she didn’t know which part was true or false.

Xiahou Che blinked. “Elder Qin asked me to teach you. The lesson has already started, didn’t you notice?”

He laughed heartily, like an approachable older brother, then reined in all the subtle flirtation. “No more teasing. Junior Sister Xiaoyuan, rest early.”

Su Xiaoyuan was quite confused but remembered basic politeness. Since he had gone out of his way to deliver something, she needed to show her gratitude.

“Please wait a moment, Senior Brother,” she said, rushing inside to open the second drawer of her cabinet to find an appropriate thank-you gift.

After searching, the only suitable choice was an unopened jar of orange candies. She grabbed it and ran out, saying, “Thank you for going out of your way. I wonder if you like sweets...”

Xiahou Che’s eyes widened slightly as he carefully took the jar, treating it like the most precious treasure in the world. “Did you make these yourself?”

Su Xiaoyuan blushed and nodded.

“I rarely eat candy,” Xiahou Che said, “but if it’s from you, of course I like it.”

He paused. “Junior Sister Xiaoyuan, you should go rest now. Looking forward to next time we meet.”

Su Xiaoyuan bade him farewell. “Senior Brother Xiahou, take care on your way.”

Xiahou Che took a few steps forward with the lamp, then suddenly stopped and turned back. “Junior Sister Xiaoyuan, do you have plans after class tomorrow?”

She was momentarily stunned but answered honestly, “I’ve planned to go shopping around Guocheng with a friend.”

“Coincidentally, I also need to go into town tomorrow to buy some things. How about we go together?”

Su Xiaoyuan hesitated.

“Sorry, I was being presumptuous. Would that interfere with your plans?” Xiahou Che asked.

She quickly shook her head. “No, no... It’s just that my friend and I already agreed. I’ll ask her tomorrow...”

“That’s great,” Xiahou Che smiled and took a communication talisman from his sleeve, handing it to her. “When you decide, just send me a message.”

...

Back in her room, Su Xiaoyuan’s heart was still pounding.

A succubus, indeed the pride of the inner sect.

Just then, she spotted a shadow in the corner and jumped in fright.

Then she remembered—it was her puppet, Fu Tingyun. She patted her chest. “Fu Tingyun, you scared me!”

Her voice trembled slightly, with a nasal hint, almost like a coquettish scolding.

Fu Tingyun gave her a cold sideways glance before turning his face away.

Su Xiaoyuan was used to his demeanor and didn’t take it to heart.

Thanks to Xiahou Che’s visit, her earlier drowsiness had vanished.

Since she couldn’t sleep anyway, she bit the bullet, placed another spirit stone into the lamp, boiled a bucket of water, and sat by the bed soaking her feet.

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Chatting casually with the puppet, she said, “Fu Tingyun, did you know? The Senior Brother who just came is amazing—super charming!”

The puppet didn’t say anything, but Su Xiaoyuan thought she caught a look of disdain on his face.

Fu Tingyun’s senses hadn’t fully recovered to half their former strength, but at such close range, he could hear everything clearly.

He also heard when Su Xiaoyuan’s breathing tensed and her heart quickened.

“Oh, by the way,” Su Xiaoyuan pulled out the hairband from her waist. “The hairband you left at the Mandarin Duck Hot Spring, Senior Brother Xiahou brought it back. You can tie your hair with it tomorrow.”

Though she looked beautiful with her hair down.

Fu Tingyun glanced at the hairband in her hand, indifferent. “Don’t want it.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“It’s dirty.”

“It’s not dirty...” Su Xiaoyuan turned it over several times and even sniffed it. “Seems like it was cleansed with a purification spell—no smell at all.”

“It’s dirty anyway,” the puppet said stubbornly.

Su Xiaoyuan never expected her puppet to have a cleanliness obsession. She could only say, “Then should I keep it for you?”

“Throw it away.”

“Such a good item! Throwing it away is such a waste!” Su Xiaoyuan was shocked by her wasteful puppet.

Even she could sense the faint flow of spiritual energy in the hairband—it was clearly a treasure, maybe with hidden attribute bonuses.

“If you don’t want it, then give it to me.”

The puppet gave her a sidelong glance. “Suit yourself.”

Su Xiaoyuan didn’t mind his attitude, washed her feet, put the hairband in her clothes trunk, and lay down dazed, murmuring, “Senior Brother Xiahou must be one of those naturally gifted types. I’ve cultivated for eight hundred years and still can’t learn what he can...”

Fu Tingyun: “Yes.”

Su Xiaoyuan: “...” That puppet really was blunt.

“If someone could sleep with Immortal Lord Lingyue, it would be someone like Senior Brother Xiahou, right?”

“Impossible,” Fu Tingyun said decisively, “More impossible than you.”

“Huh? So I have a tiny chance?”

“No.”

“Alright then...”

Just a moment of false hope.