Ye Shu looked at her flustered appearance, as if he already knew her intentions.

"I know you all too well! You didn’t just wander here by chance! You’ve clearly been waiting for a long time!"

"Ah! Junior Brother Ye, you... you actually figured it out!"

Bai Rourou instantly blushed with shyness, covering her face, feeling utterly exposed and embarrassed.

She never expected that just one glance from Junior Brother Ye would see right through her. Now, how was she supposed to explain herself?

Should she tell the truth—that she, as his senior sister, was worried about him going out on a mission and had been waiting here specifically for his return?

Or should she make up another lie? Use one lie to cover up another?

"I already know exactly what you’re thinking!"

Ye Shu strode confidently toward Bai Rourou, getting closer and closer until she could almost feel his breath on her face.

"I..."

Bai Rourou’s face turned crimson as she bit her pink lips, standing frozen in place, her mind completely blank. She had no idea what to do.

Even if Ye Shu were to do something "unscrupulous" to her now, she wouldn’t know how to react.

"Damn it! This man... Could he actually be thinking of doing *that* to me?!" She was on the verge of a breakdown.

Just as her imagination ran wild, Ye Shu flashed a wicked grin: "Senior Sister Bai, isn’t *this* what you were thinking about?"

Suddenly, he reached down, digging deep into his pants...

And pulled out something long, thick, sweet, and glistening!

Round, translucent, and looking utterly delicious.

"*Tanghulu*!"

Bai Rourou’s shocked expression quickly turned to delight—though with a faint trace of disappointment.

"That’s right! *Tanghulu*!"

"And osmanthus cakes! And roasted chestnuts!"

"All the snacks you love—I brought them all back for you!"

Ye Shu pulled out a whole pile of delicious treats from the Qiankun pouch at his waist and handed them all to Bai Rourou, looking every bit the generous spender.

"You... these are all for me?"

Bai Rourou, holding so many delicious snacks, was at a loss for words. Swallowing hard, her big eyes sparkled with unrestrained joy.

"Of course! I promised you before!"

Ye Shu still remembered what Bai Rourou had told him earlier.

She loved good food—wasn’t she just a total foodie?

Tonight’s steamy encounter with their master, Luo Jiuyan, wouldn’t have happened without her help. Fulfilling her wish was just a small favor in return.

"I never thought... you’d remember." Bai Rourou’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, deeply moved.

Her heart was overflowing with emotion: *"To think that even while out on a mission with Master, you still remembered to bring me gifts... Junior Brother, why are you so good to me?!"*

She had assumed that after going on a mission with Luo Jiuyan, Ye Shu would have forgotten his earlier promise.

But even in the midst of his busy schedule, he hadn’t neglected such a small thing—it was enough to warm anyone’s heart.

And Bai Rourou was no exception.

She couldn’t find a single flaw in Ye Shu.

He was just... *too perfect*!

"Senior Sister Bai, is there really a need to be so emotional?"

Yet Ye Shu was just confused.

Hadn’t she known he was going to the Luoyang City Lantern Festival? Bringing back some snacks was just a trivial gesture—was it really worth such a reaction?

But then again, he supposed it made sense.

Women were just impossible to predict.

Sometimes, you could do something earth-shattering for them, and they’d barely react.

Other times, the smallest, most thoughtless act would move them to tears.

"Senior Sister Bai, you can go home and enjoy these slowly. I need to get some sleep."

Having said his piece, Ye Shu yawned.

The Lantern Festival had exhausted him—he needed to catch up on sleep.

"Alright, Junior Brother Ye."

Bai Rourou nodded, ready to leave.

Getting so many snacks was already more than enough to make her happy.

Before leaving, she couldn’t resist adding: "Goodnight, Junior Brother."

"Goodnight."

Frowning, Ye Shu replied anyway.

Then he opened the door, went inside, and flopped onto his bed—all in one smooth motion.

Meanwhile, in the Asura Hall’s bedchamber...

On a luxurious, fragrant bed, a peerless beauty touched her lips, lost in thought as she relived the night’s events.

The memory alone made her smile. *"Asking your master whether she was happy? If I told the truth, wouldn’t you just laugh at me?"*

The truth, of course, was that she *had* been happy.

That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

---

**The next morning.**

**Disciple Peak.**

Early in the day...

"Up and at ’em—*feels great*!"

Ye Shu sprang out of bed, full of energy and vigor, feeling like he could take on a bull.

But the moment he opened the door, a crimson figure stood right in front of him, instantly deflating his enthusiasm.

"Eldest Senior Sister... good morning."

He greeted her awkwardly, unsure what to say.

*What’s going on? Why is she here?*

The person before him was none other than Nie Qing—Ye Shu’s eldest senior sister and Luo Jiuyan’s top disciple!

Remembering the unresolved matter between them, he felt a headache coming on.

"The Lantern Festival is over."

"Have you made your decision?"

Nie Qing spoke calmly, one arm crossed over her chest—though it trembled slightly, betraying her nerves. She wasn’t as composed as she seemed.

*That matter!*

Ye Shu’s legs nearly gave out.

It was about entering *that kind of relationship* with Eldest Senior Sister Nie Qing!

Back then, he had stalled, telling her they’d discuss whether to pursue romance *after* the Lantern Festival.

But she hadn’t forgotten.

In fact, the very next day after the festival, she had shown up at his door—almost as if she couldn’t wait.

"Eldest Senior Sister, um... could you give me a couple more days to think it over?" Ye Shu gulped, looking thoroughly unprepared.

*What the hell!*

Just last night, he had a romantic encounter with their master, and now, the very next morning, his eldest senior sister was pressuring him into a relationship.

These outrageous romantic trials were *way* too intense.

"You’re still not ready?"

Nie Qing was clearly displeased with his answer. She pointed at him accusingly. "What have you been doing all this time?"

*Going on a date with Master!*

Ye Shu almost blurted it out, just to wipe that smug look off her face.

But if he did, it wouldn’t be *her* face that got slapped—it’d be his own corpse being whipped by Luo Jiuyan.

*Can’t say it.*

Struggling, Ye Shu forced a laugh. "Eldest Senior Sister, this is a life-or-death matter! Of course it requires careful consideration. I can’t afford to be careless."

If he agreed to Nie Qing’s demands, wouldn’t he just be breaking sect rules *again*?

*Wait, why ‘again’? It’s the same damn situation as with Master Luo Jiuyan!*

"Eldest Senior Sister understands it’s not easy for you."

Nie Qing sighed, shaking her head as if she sympathized with his dilemma.

Ye Shu’s eyes lit up with hope. "Eldest Senior Sister, I *knew* you’d understand my struggles!"

"*But!*"

"*But* what?"

"But you’re the *only one* who knows my shameful secret!"

Nie Qing suddenly narrowed her eyes, flames of determination burning within them. "As your senior sister, I *can’t* let anyone else find out!"

"So it *has* to be you!"

"Junior Brother Ye, if *you* won’t go to hell, then *who will*?"