Chapter 197: Chapter 197
After a night of preparation and research, Xianyun felt confident.
She believed that she could easily win over her disciple with her efforts.
Whether she was taking the initiative or being passive didn't matter anymore.
What mattered was that, as the older and more experienced one, she needed to guide her disciple properly.
After all, she was a reliable and responsible adult.
Pushing open her door and stepping into the sunlight, a gentle breeze brushed past her. The strands of green hair hidden beneath her black locks shimmered under the sun.
"Ah, the weather is clear, everything feels renewed. What a wonderful time to be alive."
Xianyun stretched lazily and sighed with contentment.
"Cloud Retainer, did Jiang Ning not come back last night?"
Ganyu asked, looking puzzled.
Xianyun turned around and, seeing Ganyu's question, countered:
"I was about to ask you the same thing. Where is Jiang Ning? Didn't you say he was at home?"
Ganyu also found it strange and shook her head:
"That's odd. He should be at home… Let me ask Eula."
The two of them went to Eula's room.
Eula had just woken up, and Ganyu quickly asked, "Eula, where was Jiang Ning last night?"
Eula, while fixing her hair, replied, "Huh? I'm not sure. I remember asking Jiang Ning to bring me back, and then I was so tired that I fell asleep…"
"What? Jiang Ning wasn't home last night?" Eula also felt something was off.
She had been asked by Ganyu and the others to keep Jiang Ning occupied.
But now, it seemed like something had gone wrong? Had something unexpected happened?
Ganyu frowned, "I'll go look for Jiang Ning…"
As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Ning's voice came from the front hall.
The women exchanged glances and quickly headed to the front hall.
In the front hall, Jiang Ning and Raiden Makoto had returned with breakfast.
On Jiang Ning's shoulder rested a small, adorable fox.
The fox's fur was incredibly smooth, almost shimmering in the sunlight.
It occasionally yawned, looking quite sleepy.
"Is that… Kitsune Saiguu?"
Ganyu was stunned.
Jiang Ning smiled, "Everyone's here? Come have breakfast. I brought it especially for you."
Last night, they had stayed outside and hadn't returned at all.
The area had been cleared, and a barrier had been set up.
But even so, they had spent the night under the stars, the three of them together.
Raiden Makoto, having taken the initiative, was the first to tire out. Compared to Kitsune Saiguu, who had been "busy" until dawn, Raiden Makoto had gotten more rest.
That's why Raiden Makoto was still able to stand and return.
As for Kitsune Saiguu, she had returned to her fox form to rest.
"Hmm, Kitsune Saiguu is a bit tired, so she's resting…"
Raiden Makoto explained.
Ganyu fell silent. Tired? From what?
And Jiang Ning's clothes were different from what he had been wearing yesterday.
What… exactly had happened?
Ganyu wanted to deceive herself.
But as someone who had been through it, Ganyu noticed that Raiden Makoto's movements seemed a bit stiff. Moreover, her usual gentle demeanor had transformed into the charming aura of a mature woman.
Such a drastic change in one night—if Ganyu couldn't figure it out, it would mean all those times with Jiang Ning had been for nothing.
Glancing at Xianyun, Ganyu sighed.
All that preparation, only for Raiden Makoto to swoop in at the last moment.
And looking at her master, who was happily taking the breakfast bag, it was clear she had no idea what had happened.
This was really…
Though it felt somewhat disrespectful, Ganyu couldn't help but feel that her master was a bit… clueless.
Someone had stolen her "crystal," and all it took was some soy milk and fried dough sticks to win her over?
No, that wasn't quite right. It was more like she had been completely fooled.
She hadn't noticed a thing.
Raiden Makoto, seeing Xianyun's demeanor, felt a bit guilty.
After all, she had essentially cut in line.
But last night, Kitsune Saiguu had arranged everything, and it just so happened to clash with Xianyun's plans.
Besides, if she had waited for Xianyun to make the first move, she might not have had the courage to do so later.
Raiden Makoto said to Jiang Ning:
"Jiang Ning, I'll take Kitsune Saiguu back to rest. You should rest too, or… you can spend some time with your master."
This was a clear hint, and also Raiden Makoto's way of showing goodwill to Ganyu and Xianyun.
After all, she might be settling down in Liyue in the future.
As the saying goes, a strong dragon shouldn't provoke a local snake.
But this wasn't just any local snake—it was the dragon that ruled over the abyss of Liyue.
Ganyu understood and quickly said, "It's fine, Makoto. You go rest. I'll handle things here."
Raiden Makoto smiled, took Kitsune Saiguu from Jiang Ning's shoulder, and headed to her room.
Ganyu pulled Jiang Ning and Xianyun aside, saying, "You two have breakfast. Master, do your best. I'm off to work."
With that, she left without another word.
Jiang Ning felt a bit confused but said to Xianyun, "Master, let's have breakfast…"
"Have you eaten?"
Xianyun suddenly asked.
Jiang Ning was taken aback, then replied, "Me? I've already eaten…"
To be honest, he had eaten some coconut milk pudding and cake made by Ganyu…
It tasted great and even helped him grow stronger. Truly a wonderful thing.
Xianyun said, "Hmm, are you sure you're full?"
"I'm full, Master." Jiang Ning was puzzled.
"Are. You. Sure. You're. Full?"
Xianyun emphasized each word.
Jiang Ning said, "I'm full… no, I'm not full."
Seeing the look in his master's eyes, Jiang Ning immediately understood. Even if he was full, he had to say he wasn't.
Xianyun smiled with satisfaction and said to Jiang Ning, "Good, sit here."
Jiang Ning obediently sat down.
Xianyun shifted closer to Jiang Ning, picked up a piece of fried dough stick, tore off a small piece, and brought it to Jiang Ning's mouth:
"Here, say 'ah'…"
"Huh?" Jiang Ning was shocked. Had his master taken the wrong medicine today? Why was she acting like this?
Wasn't this usually the other way around?
Jiang Ning looked at his master, wondering if she had been replaced by someone else.
Xianyun, seeing Jiang Ning's stunned expression, frowned, "Say 'ah'!"
Jiang Ning quickly opened his mouth.
Xianyun shoved the food in. Perhaps because it was her first time doing this, or maybe because she was too shy, she accidentally pushed it too far, almost choking Jiang Ning.
For a moment, Jiang Ning almost gagged.
But despite the strangeness, Jiang Ning realized that this was how his fiancées must have felt…
"Master, slower…"
Jiang Ning chewed the food in his mouth and said.
Xianyun, however, was undeterred and continued to feed Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning had no choice but to keep eating.
Xianyun was very pleased with her performance.
Good, just as the books said, this kind of interaction could strengthen the bond between two people.
Look, Jiang Ning was so obedient now.
Jiang Ning, looking at Xianyun, felt something was off. What was going on? Why was his master acting like this?
Was this his last meal? But no, he hadn't done anything wrong, right?
Well, except for thinking that his master smelled really nice and that her black stockings were amazing.
By the end, Jiang Ning was forcing himself to swallow the food.
Even for him, there was a limit to how much he could eat.
If he kept going, he'd have to use his divine power to digest it.
That just felt weird.
"Master, I'm full. Really, I'm full."
Jiang Ning quickly said.
But Xianyun knew Jiang Ning's usual appetite and didn't realize he had already eaten breakfast.
So she continued, "You've barely eaten anything. Keep going…"
There's a kind of hunger called "your elders think you're hungry."
In the end, Jiang Ning had to use his divine power to digest the food.
Fortunately, the food was finally finished.
Only then did Xianyun realize that the breakfast was meant for three people, and now it was all in Jiang Ning's stomach.
"Master, haven't you eaten yet? Let me make something for you."
Jiang Ning said to Xianyun.
It would also help him digest.
Xianyun said, "This master isn't hungry. Just sit here."
Jiang Ning had no choice but to sit back down, though he felt a bit uneasy under Xianyun's gaze.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and asked, "Master, why are you looking at me like that? If I've done something wrong, just tell me…"
This was torture, both mentally and physically.
Xianyun shook her head, "It's nothing. It's just… I don't know how to bring it up."
Jiang Ning quickly said, "It's fine, Master. Just say it. Maybe talking about it will make you feel better?"
Xianyun thought for a moment and decided this might be a good way to express herself.
"Well, I have a friend…"
Jiang Ning was stunned. Why did this sound so… familiar?
So he paused and said, "By the way, Master, when you say 'friend'… are you talking about yourself?"
Xianyun's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm, "Of course not. I already said it's just a friend."
Jiang Ning nodded, "Alright, go on…"
Xianyun continued, "Well, she has a disciple. After spending so much time together, this disciple is the first to care for her in such a detailed way."
"And when it comes to things other disciples wouldn't dare to interfere with, for the sake of her master, this disciple keeps advising her. Sometimes, he even uses more forceful methods to stop her from bad habits."
"As a result, because it's the first time she's felt such direct care and concern, she's started to develop feelings for her disciple… What should she do?"
Jiang Ning fell silent, but inwardly, he was ecstatic.
Hehehe, my plan of subtle influence and gradual change has worked!
Now Jiang Ning was certain that the "friend" Xianyun was talking about was herself.
Jiang Ning said, "About this, I think it's best to confess your feelings. If it's mutual, then it's a happy ending."
"But what if the other person doesn't feel the same? And again, this isn't about me. It's about my friend." Xianyun quickly added.
Jiang Ning said, "If that's the case, it's fine. After all, you can always explain it as a master's concern for her disciple."
"Besides, I think the disciple would be pleasantly surprised."
Jiang Ning was practically telling his master, Just confess, and I'll accept you.
Xianyun pondered, "I see…"
"Should I prepare something, like flowers or something else, to make the confession more special?"
"I heard people in Liyue value sense of ceremony these days…"
Xianyun's words made Jiang Ning chuckle.
"Master, that's old news. sense of ceremony? Honestly, among adepti, we're already family. Getting together would only make us closer."
"If you're talking about sense of ceremony, it's not even necessary. Who's qualified to advise adepti? No one. So there's no need for sense of ceremony. I think you should just say it directly."
Jiang Ning kept adding.
Finally, Xianyun nodded, "I see…"
Xianyun's gaze grew distant.
The reason was simple. She had just spent the last few minutes talking about "a friend."
This really is my friend.
And she had kept insisting it wasn't her.
But now, if she suddenly admitted it was her, it would be incredibly embarrassing.
But thinking about Madame Ping's expectations, Ganyu's help, and her own feelings…
More importantly, after being coaxed into it, Xianyun actually felt like she had wronged Jiang Ning.
So, Xianyun decided that, as a reliable adult, she needed to guide her disciple!
Thus, Xianyun abruptly changed her tone, "Alright, the friend I was talking about is me. So, you should understand what I mean."
Seeing Xianyun's resigned expression, Jiang Ning couldn't help but laugh.
"Master, you're really cute like this."
Xianyun glared at Jiang Ning, "Don't call me cute."
Jiang Ning apologized, "Sorry, sorry. It's just that Master is really cute… Your reactions and slightly tsundere behavior—I've noticed it for a while now. I really like you, Master."
Since Xianyun had already laid it all out, Jiang Ning decided to be straightforward too.
Xianyun looked at Jiang Ning with anticipation, "So, your answer is…"
Jiang Ning said, "Having a stunning beauty like you favor me is an honor. I look forward to your guidance in the future, Master~"
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