Chapter 962: So You Want Me After All

“Me?” Ye Wenxin responded uncertainly.

Long Qingyue’s gaze swept over her entire body. She let out a chuckle. “I’m not interested in any part of you that’s already been touched.”

“Then the places that can’t be touched mustn’t be touched either,” Ye Wenxin refused. Even though her cheat was gone and the refined corpse worm core had suppressed her Iceborn Constitution, she was still unwilling to offer herself up as part of a transaction.

Long Qingyue didn’t seem surprised. “I knew you’d answer like that. So, I have a second proposal.”

“What is it?”

“My emperor brother likes his elder sister too much. He gave me another gift today.” Long Qingyue touched her hair, her expression neutral.

Long Qingyue’s wariness told Ye Wenxin something was wrong with the new gift.

“That’s what you get for always bullying your brother. Now, you’ve driven him to desperation.” Ye Wenxin had long suspected Long Qingyue’s younger brother would harbor rebellious thoughts. However, she didn’t expect him to be making another move only two days after the Treasure Pavilion incident.

“I was just afraid he’d rot in a greenhouse. So, how about it? Help me check this gift, and I’ll help you gather intelligence.” Long Qingyue was wary, but her principles compelled her to face the challenge head-on.

Of course, she preferred to pull Ye Wenxin in with her for security.

“Alright, it’s a deal. When do we act?” After mulling it over, Ye Wenxin decided it wasn’t unreasonable to approach Long Qingyue, especially since the peach blossom demon had Liu Churan as an ally.

The peach blossom demon was Immortal Lord Taohua’s number one servant. After inheriting those memories, she had become much more cunning. Ye Wenxin could not afford to be careless.

“I’ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow,” Long Qingyue replied. “Make sure to shake off Han Shanxue.”

The recruitment was in two days. If something terrifying were inside the box, Ye Wenxin would have two days to deal with it.

Once they had settled the arrangements, Long Qingyue quickly left. Ye Wenxin remained sitting in the room, drinking the wine Long Qingyue left behind with Fairy Fengya on her mind.

The more she thought, the more she drank. When a knock sounded at the door, Ye Wenxin realized she’d already drunk half the bottle.

She calmed her mind and called toward the door, “Come in.”

Sister Hong walked in, carrying a tray of food. It seemed she had come over to persuade Ye Wenxin to eat, knowing Ye Wenxin hadn’t had a meal in days.

Sister Hong saw that Ye Wenxin had been drinking.

“Celestial Master Ye, why are you drinking in broad daylight?”

“I just felt like it.” Ye Wenxin felt a little guilty but quickly remembered to act sorrowfully. She lifted her cup again.

Sister Hong stopped her. “Celestial Master Ye, you’ve lost weight.”

“……”

Ye Wenxin said no more. Sister Hong gave a wry smile and set the dishes she had brought in front of her. “Celestial Master Ye, Miss Gu would be heartbroken if she saw you like this.”

Ye Wenxin pinched her thigh, forcing out a few tears. In her mind, Ghost Mother muttered insults at her shamelessness, but Ye Wenxin shamelessly continued her performance.

Sister Hong sighed. Picking up her chopsticks, she tried to feed Ye Wenxin some meat.

“I’m sorry, Sister Hong. I don’t have an appetite.” Although Ye Wenxin felt a little guilty toward Sister Hong, she sensed Han Shanxue’s presence again and committed herself to the act.

“It’s alright, I understand. I’ll leave the food here. Eat it if you’re hungry, Celestial Master Ye.” Sister Hong stood up and left.

The Treasure Pavilion’s destruction was a major blow to the emperor’s faction, and Sister Hong had been extremely busy lately. It was rare that she could spare the time to check on Ye Wenxin.

Ye Wenxin watched Sister Hong leave, then resumed drinking and zoning out like someone truly heartbroken.

Before long, Han Shanxue appeared, her face still hidden behind a veil. Ye Wenxin was curious about what she looked like but never showed it. She glanced at Han Shanxue and silently went back to drinking.

She knew Han Shanxue had come to persuade her, too.

Han Shanxue had died young. Despite being a genius, she knew little about the human heart’s cunning ways. In contrast, Ye Wenxin was a seasoned old fox, so Han Shanxue was oblivious to her act.

Han Shanxue had been observing Ye Wenxin these past few days, mainly out of guilt. Perhaps she had realized she’d killed the wrong person, or she felt uneasy about having taken away Ye Wenxin’s loved one. Either way, it led her to care more for Ye Wenxin.

While Ye Wenxin thought about how kind she was, Han Shanxue suddenly picked up her chopsticks. Because of her veil, she ate slowly but elegantly. Noticing Ye Wenxin’s gaze, she raised her chopsticks and extended them toward Ye Wenxin as if telling her to try the dish.

This tactic was far more effective than Sister Hong’s. Ye Wenxin actually felt her appetite stimulated. Since she’d been pretending to starve herself for two days, Ye Wenxin cautiously leaned forward and gently bit off the meat from Han Shanxue’s chopsticks.

The meat’s rich aroma blossomed on her taste buds. This was one of life’s greatest pleasures for someone who loved good food and sleep, like Ye Wenxin.

Han Shanxue handed the chopsticks to Ye Wenxin, not concerned about an indirect kiss. She watched Ye Wenxin devour every last bite of food.

After eating and drinking her fill, Ye Wenxin gave Han Shanxue a grateful smile.

“Thank you for waking me up, Miss Han.”

Han Shanxue shook her head and lightly patted Ye Wenxin’s before leaving the room. Such tenderness made Ye Wenxin feel even more guilty.

Han Shanxue had walked away quickly but stayed nearby to watch over Ye Wenxin like a true bodyguard.

Ye Wenxin finally remembered hiring Han Shanxue as her bodyguard. Maybe she had overestimated her charm. Han Shanxue had simply been fulfilling a bodyguard’s duty.

Ye Wenxin’s guilt vanished at the realization. After the meal, she moved around a bit and went to bed once the effects of the alcohol kicked in.

Worried that today’s exhaustion might leave her unfocused tomorrow, Ye Wenxin had a dreamless night.