Chapter 133: The Male Lead, This Innocent White Lotus

At this moment, Xiao Jihan looked like a delicate little white flower swaying in the cold wind of a vast wilderness.

Even though he kept his eyes lowered, the look of desolation, hurt, and loneliness in his expression struck straight at the heart. Hearing him say, "You have your senior brothers, but I only have you," Yan Shu’s defenses instantly crumbled.

It was true. She still had her senior brothers, but for Xiao Jihan, who was defined by his beauty, strength, and tragic past, she was indeed the only one he had.

The male lead had always been sensitive, especially regarding matters of the heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't be as possessive and childish as a kindergartner the moment he categorized someone as a friend. It was she who had aggressively and unreasonably approached him to build up his favor, only to then... when he had finally accepted her and seen her as someone close to him.

"Forget it."

Xiao Jihan’s voice echoed hollowly through the grand hall. "In any case, being abandoned by you is not the first or second time it has happened."

Yan Shu: ...

When had she ever abandoned him?

Seeming to perceive her confusion, Xiao Jihan gave a self-deprecating laugh. "As expected, that was your subconscious action, yet it reflected your true heart and choices."

Yan Shu blinked, humbly asking for enlightenment. "Could you elaborate?"

"The first time, just after we left the Fantian Secret Realm, when we were in the valley, you saw your senior brothers arrive and didn't look at me again."

Yan Shu thought back; it seemed that had happened. When she finally came to her senses, she realized his favorability had dropped. So that was why.

"The second time, while I was undergoing the tribulation, the moment your senior brothers arrived, you immediately let go of my hand and ran straight toward them, leaving me—drained of all spiritual power—standing there alone, watching you."

Yan Shu recalled the scene. After blocking two heavenly thunderbolts, her spiritual power should have been exhausted. It was Xiao Jihan who had given her his own power, allowing them to survive. After surviving the thunder, he had kept a tight grip on her hand—presumably because he was depleted and needed something to lean on. Yet, in her excitement at seeing her senior brothers, she had shaken him off without considering his plight, and without asking, she had even withdrawn the Karmic Fire Red Lotus that had been supporting him.

"The third time was yesterday. I woke up after only one day of meditation, and seeing you had entered the Breathing Soil space, I didn't disturb you. I just sat to the side, closing my eyes to cultivate, thinking that when you came out, I would cook for you."

"But I didn't expect that when you woke up, you only glanced at me once. Seeing my eyes closed, you didn't even check on me before deciding I was still in meditation, and happily left me behind to go to the main hall. And... you didn't return all night."

Yan Shu... Yan Shu had nothing to say.

She felt like a scumbag woman who had deceived an innocent young man and then ruthlessly abandoned him! She even despised her own behavior from last night!

Xiao Jihan took a deep breath, his phoenix eyes filled with hurt and grievance. Looking at Yan Shu, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Am I really just an outsider to you?"

"Of course not!" Yan Shu shook her head hurriedly, coaxing words spilling out instantly. "How could you be an outsider? You are clearly an insider! In my heart, no one is more important than you!"

Xiao Jihan was slightly shaken by these words, his phoenix eyes watching her quietly. "You..."

Favorability: 31 (Favorable)
Favorability: 32 (Favorable)
Favorability: 33 (Favorable)
Favorability: 34 (Favorable)
Favorability: 35 (Favorable)

Watching the favorability rise, Yan Shu pressed her advantage. "What about me? Everything I said is true. You say you only have me, but I only have you as well. Although my four senior brothers dote on me and I am very close to them, they are, after all, my elders."

Favorability: 36 (Favorable)
Favorability: 37 (Favorable)
Favorability: 38 (Favorable)
Favorability: 39 (Favorable)
Favorability: 40 (Favorable)

Yan Shu suppressed the wild joy in her heart and feigned a serious tone. "Am I wrong?"

Xiao Jihan looked at her deeply, pursed his thin lips, and finally uttered a single sentence: "I am not a 'wife'."

Yan Shu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized that the term she had used could be interpreted as "wife" in both her previous modern life and the current cultivation world!

Yan Shu immediately became flustered. "Yes, yes, yes, you aren't that! I am the one who is!"

As soon as these words left her mouth, Xiao Jihan raised an eyebrow. Yan Shu wished she could slap herself for her slip of the tongue.

She hurriedly explained, "No, no, that's not what I meant! I didn't mean to take advantage of you. I meant that calling you an 'insider' was just a contrast to the word 'outsider.' I didn't mean anything else by it, and I certainly didn't mean to belittle you or treat you like a woman!"

Having finally explained herself, Yan Shu let out a long breath, carefully observing his expression and the favorability status above his head.

Fortunately, Xiao Jihan only frowned slightly, and his favorability did not drop.

Yan Shu quietly relaxed and changed the subject. "You waited for me all night; you must be tired. How about you rest, and I’ll make some porridge?"

She didn't know how to cook, but boiling porridge shouldn't be a problem, right? It was just adding rice and water and watching the fire. She wasn't some incompetent, useless heroine; surely, such a small task wouldn't stump her.

"No need."

Xiao Jihan shook his head. "Although you have a mutated spirit root and can cultivate autonomously, you withstood two of the most powerful heavenly thunderbolts and haven't fully recovered yet. Your spiritual power clearly hasn't returned to its peak. Let me handle the cooking; you should focus on recovering your strength. Once it’s dark, we will leave the Xuantian Sect quietly."

At the mention of this, Yan Shu remembered their agreement to go pay respects to Xiao Jihan's mother.

"But why do we have to leave quietly under the cover of darkness?" Yan Shu asked, puzzled. "Can't we just leave tomorrow morning?"

Xiao Jihan looked at her. "In the eyes of your senior brothers, returning to Hanzhou to pay respects to my mother is my business alone. Do you think they would agree to let you leave with me?"

Of course they wouldn't!

When they were drinking last night, they had warned her repeatedly that she was still young and should prioritize her cultivation, and that she must not be deceived by mere appearances. Every word was filled with the fear that she might fall for Xiao Jihan or be seduced by him. It could be said that her senior brothers guarded against Xiao Jihan as if he were a thief.

"Of course, if you are unwilling to accompany me, I won't force you. Even though... I only have you."

Xiao Jihan’s low voice sounded in her ear. Yan Shu looked up and saw him lowering his eyes, his long lashes casting shadows on his eyelids.

He looked so desolate and lonely that it made her heart ache, making her want to offer him the very best of everything and grant his every wish.

The male lead’s "little white flower" act was getting better and better.

Yan Shu smiled at him. "It's not that. I'm overjoyed that you want me to accompany you; how could I be unwilling? It was my oversight before. I'll go cultivate now, and we'll leave tonight!"