Chapter 99: "Lin’er, Call Me Good Brother"

"You still dare call me a little kid?" Qian Ran felt a pang of irritation. Though he was younger than Xian Lin'er, he didn't take kindly to her teasing.

In response, he flipped her over and gave her a playful slap on each side.

"You—" Xian Lin'er's cheeks flushed deeply, her lips pressed together as she tried to hide her embarrassment.

"Still going to underestimate me?" Qian Ran didn't go too far, but he made his point. The sensation was just too satisfying—soft and bouncy.

"Fine, I won't say it again," Xian Lin'er replied, her face a mix of shame and irritation. To think that she, the formidable Xian Lin'er, would be swayed like this.

"Good girl." Qian Ran gave her a peck on the cheek, coaxing her like a little girl. Oddly enough, she didn't seem to mind.

Going from the revered Valkyrie of Shrek Academy to being held so tenderly by Qian Ran had its own unexpected charm.

"Teacher, maybe you should consider a clean break with Qian Duoduo," Qian Ran said as they rested in each other's embrace. "There's no real relationship between you two. It would be better for both of you to let go."

A woman like Xian Lin'er might enjoy a bit of excitement, but genuine warmth was the key to winning her heart. He wanted to be with her for a lifetime, not just a fleeting moment.

The two lay side by side, their heartbeats gradually syncing.

Xian Lin'er gazed at his handsome face, feeling herself drawn to him more and more. The thought crossed his mind that maybe her feelings were akin to those of mature women for pop idols back in his old life. Could she be nurturing him?

"He would never agree," Xian Lin'er sighed. "And I have no solid reason. Trying to leave him abruptly would only make him suspicious. It's best to wait."

She looked at him with a gentle expression, a softness he hadn't seen before.

Thinking back on her impulsive decision to marry Qian Duoduo just to provoke Yan Shaozhe, she realized how foolish it had been. Not only had she wasted her own youth, but Qian Duoduo's as well.

But perhaps there was an upside. If she hadn't married Qian Duoduo, she might never have ended up crossing paths with Qian Ran in this way.

"I do feel for old Qian. How am I supposed to face him now?" Qian Ran mused, genuinely sympathetic. It served as a reminder to never be overly honest.

Xian Lin'er burst into laughter. "And yet you still went after me? You're all talk." She couldn't help but give him a light kick, her foot wrapped in sleek black stockings. Despite his supposed guilt, Qian Ran was grinning triumphantly, clearly pleased with himself.

"Well, it's hard to resist when Teacher is so stunning. Besides, Qian Duoduo had his chance, and he didn't seize it." He chuckled, admiring her flawless legs. They were truly exquisite, not like those edited images online. There was a natural beauty here that was unrivaled.

"Why are you staring? Do you think I've gained weight?" Xian Lin'er shot him a look, noticing how captivated he was by her legs.

"Not at all. You're perfect," Qian Ran replied, lifting her leg to gently cradle her foot.

"Hmm. You'd better mean that." She huffed, though her heart softened a little.

"Oh, by the way, I have something special for you." Qian Ran remembered a youth-preserving elixir he'd received from the system. Though Xian Lin'er still looked quite young, the effects were due to her cultivation rather than anything magical.

An elixir like this, he imagined, would be precious to her.

"What is it?" Seeing Qian Ran turn serious, Xian Lin'er's curiosity was piqued.

"A pill that grants eternal youth. Interested?" he asked, smiling as he played with her anticipation.

"Yes!" she exclaimed, delighted. The thought of such a miraculous elixir made her eyes sparkle. Among the many remedies she'd seen on the continent, she'd never heard of one that could halt aging altogether.

"Is this really so valuable?" Qian Ran grinned, knowing he still had nine left.

"What do you think? Female soul masters would go wild for this. If such a pill really existed, it would be worth as much as a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone." Xian Lin'er's disbelief melted into admiration. Such an elixir would be considered priceless.

"You're not tricking me, are you?" she asked, her skepticism returning.

"I never lie," Qian Ran said slyly, "but you'll have to call me 'good brother' if you want it."

Xian Lin'er's eyes widened, her first instinct one of defiance, but she quickly relented. Qian Ran seemed serious about having this miracle pill.

"…Good brother, please," she said shyly, avoiding his gaze, her voice a soft tremble.