Chapter 36

Qu Panyan couldn’t fathom the meaning behind Su Lingyu’s sudden question. Moreover, she was secretly in love with Su Lingyu, which made her emotions quite complicated, leading to sensitive and wild thoughts to such inquiries.

She didn’t know whether Su Lingyu had feelings for Yue Xiaomeng. If she did, looking at it from a different angle, it would indicate that Su Lingyu had a broad and accepting attitude towards same-sex love. At least when she found out about it, she didn’t reject her or Yue Xiaomeng. That was something to be happy about.

However, if Su Lingyu truly liked Yue Xiaomeng, Qu Panyan couldn’t help but feel bitter. Despite being closer to Su Lingyu, she was still overlooked…

Qu Panyan tightly gripped the pen and silently cursed the unreliable nature of destiny—why didn’t it mention that there was someone else ahead of her?!

Even though I’m already this close to her, yet you tell me to ‘wait in line, there’s someone ahead of me‘?!

Qu Panyan composed herself and replied, “I don’t know.”

She really didn’t know if Yue Xiaomeng had someone she liked or not. She only knew that Yue Xiaomeng was rather naive, constantly looking up to her as a proud senior, and wanting to address her as “Grand Master.”

In response, she received Su Lingyu’s indifferent “Oh.”

With her head hanging down, Qu Panyan gloomily played with the ink-soaked brush in her hand, thinking, Why didn’t she ask me…

“Then, what about Panyan?” Su Lingyu asked.

Qu Panyan suddenly widened her eyes, and a glimmer of light appeared in her gaze. Just four simple words, yet they felt like a powerful force pouring into her body, sweeping away all her desolation.

She asked… she actually asked!!!

Qu Panyan no longer cared that Su Lingyu asked about Yue Xiaomeng. Nervously clutching the brush, her heart was in turmoil. 

How should she answer?

Yes? Or no?

She suddenly couldn’t figure out why Su Lingyu had asked this question. Did Su Lingyu genuinely become interested in women now? Could she honestly say, ‘I’ve always had you in my heart’?

Or was it just a casual question, like an elder sister asking a younger sister if she had a boyfriend?

If she said yes, would Su Lingyu ask who it was? And if she couldn’t resist and revealed everything, would Su Lingyu feel awkward and distant from her?

She didn’t dare to dwell on it too much, so she raised her head and smiled while saying, “No.”

Just like most boys and girls in modern society, when they like someone, they would go and ask, ‘Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?’ If the other person is also interested, they would smile and say, ‘No.’

The implication is: You can pursue me.

That was what she meant too. She hoped that when Su Lingyu liked her, she would come and pursue her directly. She didn’t even need to chase her; as long as Su Lingyu opened her arms and gently said, ‘Panyan, come here,’ she would immediately walk into her embrace.

She would willingly fall into her trap.

Su Lingyu was very satisfied with this answer. She didn’t expect Qu Panyan to have feelings for her now; she only hoped that Qu Panyan would have feelings for her in the future. She didn’t even plan to ask more questions like, ‘Will you like women?” She was afraid that asking too much would make Qu Panyan suspicious and that it might give away her intentions.

With destiny guiding them, Su Lingyu believed that her name would eventually be etched in Qu Panyan’s heart. There was no need to rush things.

She was determined to cherish her feelings for someone for a lifetime, but since they were both women, she had to give Qu Panyan some time to accept it. Let things take their course, and with time, affection would naturally grow.

Su Lingyu held Qu Panyan’s hand and looked at her ink-stained palm, gently smiling, “So clumsy?”

It’s not clumsiness, it’s just that I was nervous—I almost broke the pen!

Qu Panyan blushed and smiled shyly. “I apologize for my clumsiness in front of Sister Lingyu.”

Su Lingyu took out a delicate handkerchief from her pocket and patiently wiped the ink from Qu Panyan’s hand.

She lowered her eyes and looked at Qu Panyan’s hands. Qu Panyan quietly observed Su Lingyu’s meticulous care and noticed that she was still wearing the plum jade hairpin she gave her. This sight made her heart burst into a brilliant fireworks display once again.

Help! This fairy-like sister is flirting with me again!!!

Qu Panyan was staring blankly when Su Lingyu suddenly raised her eyes, and their gazes accidentally collided, reflecting each other’s figures.

Qu Panyan hurriedly lowered her head in panic, but she still heard Su Lingyu ask, “What are you looking at, Panyan?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she instinctively pulled back her hand to cover her face, “I was looking while thinking how beautiful Sister Lingyu is…”

However, Su Lingyu was surprised and took her hand, with a mixture of amusement and exasperation while looking at her face, half of which was stained with black ink, making her look like a painted cat. “It hasn’t been cleaned thoroughly yet.”

Qu Panyan was shocked, looking at the ink on her palm, and for a moment, she was speechless—What kind of fool am I?

Love indeed clouds people’s minds and turns them into fools.

Su Lingyu felt a bit helpless, shaking her head indulgently. She called the servant to bring water and then personally cleaned Qu Panyan’s face.

Qu Panyan tilted her face upward with her eyes closed, feeling a cool sensation spread across her face. She could feel Su Lingyu’s tenderness, like a gentle spring breeze caressing her.

She’s so wonderful.

A happy smile formed at the corner of Qu Panyan’s lips. “Sister Lingyu is truly wonderful.”

The tenderness on Su Lingyu’s face paused for a moment, then slowly returned, like a gentle spring rain.

Su Lingyu asked, “In your heart, is Sister Lingyu like an older sister to you?”

Qu Panyan replied, “No.”

Su Lingyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thank goodness.

“She’s a celestial being,” Qu Panyan beamed and gently added, “In my heart, Sister Lingyu is a celestial being descended to the mortal world.”

Su Lingyu gazed down at this junior who wholeheartedly trusted her, and in that moment, her heart was stirred beyond measure, surging like tidal waves. With her eyes tightly closed, Qu Panyan’s eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, a radiant smile gracing her face. She appeared innocent and endearing, constantly tugging at Su Lingyu’s heartstrings, melting the frost between her brows and eyes. Her gaze softened like a pool of spring water, reflecting only the figure of the one who stirred her heart.

Su Lingyu chuckled and couldn’t resist poking her cheek gently while sighing softly, “You…” A mixture of helplessness and joy.

How did she become so skilled at making people happy?

Qu Panyan sensed the joy in her tone and cautiously opened one eye, whispering, “Sister Lingyu… There’s something I want to report to you.”

Su Lingyu said, “Go ahead.”

Qu Panyan continued, “It’s about Martial Niece Yue’s second brother. He likes my sister, but I can’t leave Xianmeng Sect with the Minor Heavenly Punishment on me. So, I want him to come to Xianmeng Sect just for a visit, to see if he’s qualified to pursue my sister. What do you think… is it possible?”

Su Lingyu listened quietly and paused her movements, then asked, “Do you think Muqiu will like him?”

Qu Panyan shrugged, “It’s better to be prepared; no one can predict matters of the heart”

Just like how I fell for you; I didn’t see it coming.

Su Lingyu pondered for a moment before saying, “Alright.”

“But if he develops feelings for you, you must inform me and leave it to me to handle, understood?”

Anyone who falls for Qu Panyan is no gentleman, so Su Lingyu naturally needed to take precautions. If Second Master Yue turned out to have questionable character, she would take preemptive action to establish her authority and warn him in advance, letting him know that behind Qu Panyan stood not only the Heavenly Gate Qu Clan but also Su Lingyu herself.

Qu Panyan was delighted with her agreement and happily responded, “Got it!”

She excitedly asked, “Can I go talk to Martial Niece Yue now?”

Su Lingyu wiped away the last traces of ink from her face and calmly said, “No, until you’re fully recovered, you can’t set foot outside Tailing Peak.”

As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, Qu Panyan’s smile vanished instantly.

Su Lingyu placed the towel back into the basin, “I will have someone bring her up here. You just wait quietly.”

Qu Panyan regained her smile and said, “Alright!”

After Su Lingyu left, Qu Panyan continued to copy the scriptures while waiting. Before long, she heard Yue Xiaomeng’s voice, barely containing any spiritual power, “Qu Panyan, I’m here.”

Qu Panyan looked puzzled and went to open the door for her, asking, “Why are you talking like this?”

It was so different from yesterday when she was so spirited at the medical pavilion.

Yue Xiaomeng lowered her voice, “This is Tailing Peak; I don’t dare to be noisy or cause trouble. I’m afraid of copying books again.”

Qu Panyan playfully pinched her soft cheek and said, “If you don’t cause any trouble, how can Sister Lingyu still punish you?”

Yue Xiaomeng pouted, thinking: Yes she could, she did punish both of us yesterday…

Qu Panyan gently patted her face, “Speak normally.”

Yue Xiaomeng then returned to her normal tone, “Okay.”

Following Qu Panyan, she entered the room and sat down at the round table, asking, “Why did you call me here?”

Qu Panyan replied, “I’ve obtained Sister Lingyu’s permission; you can talk to your second brother and ask him to come and visit Xianmeng Sect.”

Yue Xiaomeng’s face lit up, “Really?”

Qu Panyan nodded solemnly, and without delay, Yue Xiaomeng sent a message transmission towards the direction of the Yue family’s Kunshan residence.

While waiting for Yue Xiaomeng’s second brother to respond, the two of them had nothing to do rather sitting face to face at the round table and continue copying the《Heart-Calming Sutra.》However, this time, Yue Xiaomeng didn’t dare to curse Ye Lansheng as a big idiot aloud, afraid that Su Lingyu might hear it leading to more repetitions of the punishment.

When they took a break from copying, she noticed the fire jade hanging around Qu Panyan’s neck and curiously asked, “Oh, when did you start wearing a jade pendant?”

Without lifting her head, Qu Panyan replied, “I started wearing it yesterday.” That one was not mine, though.

Yue Xiaomeng said, “I didn’t notice.”

Her hands were sore from copying and she didn’t want to continue. She wanted to do something else, so she moved to Qu Panyan’s side and leaned on the table, staring straight at her jade.

“This piece of jade…” She looked up at Qu Panyan and asked, “Why is it so ugly?”

Qu Panyan picked up the jade and admired it for a moment, “No way, where is it ugly?”

Yue Xiaomeng looked puzzled, “Qu Panyan, did you burn your eyes or something?”

Qu Panyan chuckled, “Of course not, could a hand-carved item by your Grand Master be ugly?”

Yue Xiaomeng was taken aback, silently reaching out to touch the fire jade a few times, and sincerely said, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. It looks really beautiful on you.” Then she slipped back to her position and buried herself in copying the book, looking like she didn’t want to be bothered by worldly matters.

After a while, a message transmission flew in from outside the window, merging into Yue Xiaomeng’s consciousness.

Yue Xiaomeng exclaimed happily, “It’s a reply from my second brother! He said he will come to Xianmeng Sect tomorrow to see me!”

Qu Panyan was stunned at the news, “Tomorrow?!”

Yue Xiaomeng nodded, “Yes, he said he will be free tomorrow.”

And tomorrow, coincidentally, was the day when Qu Muqiu would come to Xianmeng Sect.

Qu Panyan held her forehead, beginning to worry.

Could there be a “love at first sight” scene happening tomorrow?

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: iToon

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