Chapter 186
by fanqienovelChapter 186: Please Let Me Explain
Second Peak.
“That’s how things stand!” You You blurted out everything in one breath. “I know this is my fault. I’m sorry!”
Yuan Qi rotated his teacup, silently studying her before sighing. He turned with his usual gentle smile and said softly, “I know.”
“I don’t want misunderstandings between us! If you’re upset, you can even hit me! Otherwise… Wait, what did you say?” You You jerked her head up, staring at Yuan Qi in disbelief.
His smile widened as he repeated, “I know.”
“Know… what?” She blinked.
Yuan Qi set down his cup and poured her tea. “Since the day you awakened me without hesitation, I suspected you misunderstood the meaning of Followers.”
“…” You You accepted the cup.
“Later, you kept calling me Yuan Papa after bringing me to the sect.” He chuckled. “That’s when I realized you never held romantic feelings for me.”
“Yuan Papa, I—”
“I know.” He cut her off gently. “You needn’t worry. Even unspoken, I understood you saw me as family—a brother or elder. I stay here willingly, out of gratitude, not because of any Contract. Don’t blame yourself.”
“Really?” Relief washed over her as the tension dissolved. “Thank goodness! I thought I’d…” _Acted like a scoundrel toward a good person._
Reflecting, their relationship had always been familial, never crossing boundaries. Though bound by contract, their bond stayed platonic—exactly why she’d wanted clarity.
“Then should we dissolve the Follower Contract?” she proposed. “There must be a way, right?”
“Unnecessary.” Yuan Qi shook his head. “Celestial maiden Contracts are Heavenly Dao-sanctioned and hard to break. Moreover, my main body awoke through you. Ending it rashly might return me to slumber.”
“That serious?” She eyed the glowing contract mark on his forehead. “But won’t this hinder you? If you meet someone special later…”
“We’ll address it then.”
“Alright.” The weight lifted from her shoulders. “When you’re ready, we’ll solve it together. I’ll explain everything!” She patted his shoulder earnestly.
Yuan Qi’s eyes crinkled. “Instead of my future explanations, perhaps focus on how to explain this to Feng Rong.”
“…” You You froze, dread resurfacing. _Right—the real challenge._
“He won’t accept excuses easily.” Yuan Qi sipped tea, amusement glinting. “Or maybe… no explanation is needed?”
You You missed his last words, already faceplanting on the table in despair.
“What do I do?!” She shot him a desperate look. “Yuan Papa, what if I say _you_ forbade our contract? That’s diplomatic, right?”
Yuan Qi: “…” _Diplomatic? You’re throwing me to the flames!_
“Do you think… Feng Rong cares about my opinions?”
“…” You You paled.
_Doomed._
“Why are you two hiding?” A familiar voice interrupted.
You You nearly knocked over her cup, whirling to see Feng Rong. “F-Feng Rong?!”
“Tea’s boring.” He strode over, scowling at the table. “Come! I’ve got better things.”
He yanked her up, steering her away before Yuan Qi could react.
The courtyard quieted. Yuan Qi gazed at the spilled tea, sighed deeply, and glanced skyward—releasing some unspoken thought.
_Too late. Perhaps this is best._
——————
Feng Rong hauled You You to his courtyard, perching them on a massive phoenix tree’s broad branch.
_Birds and their trees_, she mused.
He sat close, summoning a table between branches. With a spell, a hollow opened in the trunk. He retrieved numerous bags, dumping snacks—roasted nuts, seeds, fruits—onto the table.
“New flavors I roasted. Try them!” He nudged a red bag forward. “Way better than tea!”
You You eyed the stash and tree hollow. _Squirrel tendencies?_
Since hatching, Feng Rong had kept Little Flame’s habit of roasting treats, oblivious to its oddness.
But… _so tasty!_
(ˉ﹃ˉ)
The True Fire of the Phoenix purged impurities, while Zhen Yan Sect’s spiritual vein enhanced even peanuts into semi-Spiritual Plants. Kui Bi once begged samples, claiming they boosted alchemy success rates.
Yet Feng Rong hoarded them, sharing only with her.
“Eat!” He shoved peeled seeds into her palm, then rummaged in the hollow. After hesitation, he thrust something at her. “This too.”
A vibrant bouquet, dewy and fragrant with spiritual energy, filled her hands.
“Found these northside. Looked nice.” His cheeks pinked as he clawed the bark. “Don’t give them to Disciples for pills! Keep them… just a day. Okay?”
You You studied the flowers, then his flustered face. Calm settled over her.
“Feng Rong… do you like me?”
“…”