Chapter 12: Seductive Beauty
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Shen Qinghe couldn't deny her disappointment, but she also understood why Xiao Chen refused to teach her—it was within reason. She would just have to figure it out on her own, considering her unique situation was quite rare.
Though Shen Zhiyao was angry, for Qinghe's sake and her ability to cultivate normally, she unusually humbled herself and persuaded again, "Qinghe is, after all, the Big Senior Brother's Junior Sister. Normally, my father holds the Big Senior Brother in such high regard. Now that he is in a deep sleep, can't the Big Senior Brother temporarily take my father's place and teach Qinghe a bit?"
Xiao Chen remained unmoved, without glancing to the side, "I'm too busy."
Shen Zhiyao, already irritable, couldn't bear it any longer and slammed the table as she stood up, "Xiao Chen, you have time to accompany Nan Sheng, that flirtatious woman, yet you claim to have no time to teach Qinghe—isn't that blatantly unfair?"
Her roar drew the attention of everyone present, yet Xiao Chen was still unaffected.
Shen Qinghe hurriedly pulled Shen Zhiyao to sit down, "Elder Sister, don't get worked up. I can cultivate on my own."
It wasn't a big deal; she could formally cultivate once Elder Shen woke up. For now, if she researched and pondered on her own, she might find a method of cultivation suitable for herself.
Shen Zhiyao was so angry she was short of breath, her gaze landing on Shen Qinghe's pleading little eyes.
"Could you please not be angry?" Shen Qinghe gripped Shen Zhiyao's hand tightly, afraid that Shen Zhiyao might provoke Xiao Chen.
In the future, Xiao Chen would turn dark, capable of any wicked act, and Shen Zhiyao, who would suffer greatly for offending the male protagonist, would die a gruesome death.
She didn't want Shen Zhiyao to meet such an end, so she had to try her best to prevent Shen Zhiyao from offending any of the main characters.
However, it was because of her that Shen Zhiyao was publicly confronting Xiao Chen, which frightened her.
Shen Zhiyao, with her eyes reddened by anger, still couldn't resist Shen Qinghe's pitiful gaze and nodded stiffly, "I'll find a way to teach you."
With her as a sister and Old Man Shen to protect her when he woke up, Qinghe's cultivation base would certainly not be inferior to Nan Sheng's in the future.
Shen Qinghe sighed in relief, her arm entwined with Shen Zhiyao's as she softly smiled, "Elder Sister treats me the best."
"As long as you know it," Shen Zhiyao pinchingly affectionately onto her face, and couldn't help but make an indirect jibe, "I think you are the most beautiful. You're much lovelier than some white lotus flowers; I don't know if certain men are simply blind."
But Shen Qinghe knew well whom Shen Zhiyao referred to as those certain men—Xiao Chen and Yan Changsheng.
Concerned about further conflict, she quickly changed the topic, "Let's stop talking, so we don't disturb the others."
Only then did Shen Zhiyao realize they were in a classroom, and when she looked towards Dongfang Wuya on the stage, she noticed that Dongfang Wuya was looking at them... or rather, possibly at Qinghe.
She whispered to Shen Qinghe, "Why do I feel like Mr. Wuya is really taken with you? He's been watching you this whole time."
Before Shen Qinghe could reply, Xiao Chen at her side sneered, "Don't flatter yourself."
Shen Qinghe turned to Xiao Chen, but he was looking straight ahead, as if the person who made the cutting remark hadn't been him.
"If ever I have offended the Big Senior Brother, I would apologize to him. I believe the Big Senior Brother is a gentleman of modesty; being cutting doesn't really suit you," Shen Qinghe retorted with neither servility nor arrogance.
Shen Zhiyao, also seething with anger, sarcastically quipped, "Perhaps being cutting is the Big Senior Brother's true nature."
At that moment, Xiao Chen's expression chilled, and he turned his head to look at Shen Qinghe.
Shen Qinghe met his gaze squarely, and suddenly Xiao Chen leaned in close to her, "Junior Sister seems to understand me quite well."
In that moment, Shen Qinghe felt Xiao Chen was akin to a certain type of animal—cold and sinister.
Yes, he was like a venomous snake, always ready to strike, ready to swallow his prey whole.
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Her arms erupted in goosebumps, and she subtly shifted closer to Shen Zhiyao, "I, I'm not good with words, Big Senior Brother, please don't take it to heart."
Because Xiao Chen was too close to Shen Qinghe, close enough to see the fleeting panic in her watery eyes, like a startled little animal, she was clearly afraid of him but still tried to maintain her composure and meet his gaze.
He stood up straight, pushed away the bench, and without turning his head, strode away.
Dongfang Wuya saw everything that happened below from start to finish, and he felt that he must be getting old, unable to understand what these young people were thinking. One after another, they paid him no heed, just up and left, not even grasping the basic concept of respecting their elders and the virtue of propriety.
The Shen sisters were even stranger. If they wanted Shen Qinghe to cultivate, why didn't they come to him, their uncle-master? Instead, they had to seek Xiao Chen and even got snubbed.
Could it be that Shen Qinghe was too fond of him and too shy to approach him?
Upon this thought, Dongfang Wuya stood up and suddenly started walking towards the stage below.
As he walked, he resembled a red cloud, his bearing free and unrestrained, his demeanor elegant and charming, leaving the cultivators watching in awe.
Everyone thought Dongfang Wuya was going to leave Juxiu Hall, but then, out of nowhere, this unattainable figure sat down where Xiao Chen had been sitting just moments before, leisurely fixing his gaze on Shen Qinghe.
The cultivators looked at Shen Qinghe with uncertain surprise while Shen Zhiyao, overcome with excitement, pinched Shen Qinghe's arm forcefully, almost letting out a marmot's squeal.
Because he was close, the man's features appeared even more strikingly handsome. His thin lips were red as blood, his peach blossom eyes deep and captivating—when he focused on someone, it was as if he poured all of his deep affection into the gaze.
Being watched by such a pair of enchanting eyes made it difficult for Shen Qinghe to breathe.
Such beauty was truly distracting, and she didn't understand what exactly the situation was now.
Before, although Dongfang Wuya had been watching her, it was not as direct as it was now. Once he sat beside her, all the cultivators present turned their attention towards them.
She was not used to being the center of so much attention, her face burning hot, as red as a fiery cloud, her earlobes seeming to drip blood, she stammered, "Do you, Mr. Wuya, need something?"
Dongfang Wuya saw how red Shen Qinghe's face had become and secretly thought how much this little girl must like him to turn so shy upon his approach?
Subtly, he moved a bit further away from her, cold and aloof, reminding her, "You have yet to call me uncle-master."
This was his way of reminding her of his seniority—that she couldn't covet his body, and he had no interest in hers.
However, he couldn't bear to see her bullied by others, as her life was saved by him. He had decided to help her this one time, to show Xiao Chen that without him, her future would only be better!
"Uncle-master," Shen Qinghe called out weakly, hoping Dongfang Wuya would leave quickly.
The place was filled with Mr. Wuya's fanboys and fangirls, including Shen Zhiyao. Shen Zhiyao had been pinching her arm the whole time, growing more forceful as her excitement mounted. As soon as Shen Qinghe called out uncle-master, Shen Zhiyao's pinch grew even stronger, which left her speechless.
Dongfang Wuya nodded in satisfaction, "Mm, good child."
Shen Qinghe: ...
Seeing Shen Qinghe's subdued reaction and her lack of initiative in building a rapport with him, Dongfang Wuya kindly reminded her, "You can come to me with any problems or difficulties you have."
Shen Qinghe obediently replied, "Okay."
In fact, she didn't dare to ask Dongfang Wuya for help. He was also one of the male leads, and although this man had saved her life, she couldn't be sure what the future would hold. It was better to keep her distance from Mr. Wuya.
Furthermore, such a lofty figure, how could she dare to bother him with every little issue?