So that’s how it is, huh?
Under the bright lights of the living room, steam rose from the tea, mist curling in the air and blurring his vision.
Lin Xiangyi closed his eyes. The conclusion he had dismissed not long ago now seemed to have become an undeniable reality.
Shen Ge, oh Shen Ge. For all your wisdom, you ended up falling for a woman in the end.
In the depths of Lin Xiangyi’s memory, the image of that cold and powerful senior brother began to crumble, replaced by a brand-new visage—one with a shy smile that seemed almost impossible to see in real life—taking shape in his mind.
Senior Brother is dating someone.
No way, really?
Holy crap! He’s actually dating!
Lin Xiangyi covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
He’d always thought that senior brother, who looked like the poster child for sexual repression, would spend his whole life holed up on that mountain, alone until the end of his days.
But who would*’ve thought? This time, he’*d been snagged by a spirit being.
Still, don’t worry, my dear senior brother.
Since you and Master have both chosen to trust me, I’ll handle things at my own pace.
From an angle Shen Ye couldn’t see, Lin Xiangyi flashed a quiet, confident smile.
The truth is, I know Master sent this spirit being to me for another reason too—
So that Xiao Meng and I could check out this spirit being—this potential “future sister-in-law”—and see what she’s really made of.
And now, with Master’s intentions unclear and Junior Sister away, the first line of defense for Senior Brother fell to him.
Lin Xiangyi stroked his chin, pondering the situation.
Senior Brother usually kept to himself in the mountains, rarely going out. Even when he took on missions, he was there and back the same day.
Honestly, he could tell—Senior Brother was just socially anxious.
That was just how he was. Warm toward spirit beings, distant from humans. When he and his sister first arrived at the mountain gate, it took them a long time before that iceberg senior brother finally accepted them.
Sometimes he even wondered if Senior Brother might be a spirit being himself.
But well, haha, that’s impossible.
Even if Senior Brother really were one, after over a decade together, there*’s no way he could’*ve hidden it from them.
But if someone tried to exploit Senior Brother*’s kindness—well, don’*t blame him for not being nice about it.
With that thought, Lin Xiangyi cast a glance at the cat-eared girl “Shen Ye” had picked up, his expression turning subtle.
My senior brother isn’t someone just any bad woman can take away.
At the same moment.
Shen Ye sat there dumbly, quietly watching the junior brother lost in thought before he threw a strange look her way.
Huh?
Didn’t I already explain everything clearly?
Junior Brother, what’s with that look?
She hesitated, then carefully asked:
“Um… Junior Brother Lin, since all your questions are done now, can we continue where we left off?”
Junior Brother Lin?
Lin Xiangyi raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the form of address. He spoke:
“No need for ‘Junior Brother.’ Since you*’re Senior Brother’*s friend, just call me Xiangyi.”
“Alright, Xiangyi.”
As she spoke the familiar name, Shen Ye felt the atmosphere loosen, the heavy, suffocating pressure in the air fading away.
A faint smile curled at the corner of her lips as she continued:
“It*’s really fortunate to have your senior brother’*s help. But because of my special circumstances, your master said it wouldn’t be convenient for her to keep me on the mountain for long-term treatment, so the two of them suggested I come to you instead.”
“I heard from your senior brother that you’re also skilled in the life spirit system?”
“Uh, I wouldn’t say skilled. I know a thing or two, just a thing or two.”
Lin Xiangyi’s mouth twitched as he waved his hand, struggling to maintain the cold look on his face.
Damn, why would Senior Brother talk me up like that in front of others?
This, this, this is way too embarrassing.
As if she could see right through the man’s thoughts, Shen Ye pressed her advantage, her smile deepening as she continued to praise:
“Your master’s sect really produces remarkable talents—besides your senior brother being such an expert.”
“To think there’s also a junior brother like you with such deep mastery in the life spirit system. Truly the fortune of the sect~”
Fortune of the sect? Not bad. I like that.
Lin Xiangyi was getting carried away by the compliments, the smile at the corner of his mouth almost impossible to suppress.
Just as his cool facade was about to crack, it suddenly hit him.
Wait a second! This spirit being is bewitching me!
He quickly recomposed his expression, maintaining his usual aloof and indifferent image.
His face changed so fast that Shen Ye was left stunned.
“Cough, cough.”
Lin Xiangyi lowered his voice and spoke in a flat, detached tone:
“Let*’s skip the pleasantries. Since my senior brother and master have entrusted you to my care, I won’*t let their trust down.”
He then extended his right hand toward Shen Ye.
“Give me your hand.”
“Oh, okay.”
Shen Ye obediently reached out and placed her hand before the man. As she did, she secretly stole a glance at him.
So the junior brother’s cold act was all fake.
But he already knows I’m not a bad spirit being, right?
What’s with this serious act all of a sudden?
“By the way, what’s your name?”
As if suddenly realizing a problem, Lin Xiangyi asked out of nowhere.
“Huh… what?”
Like a student suddenly called on in class, Shen Ye’s brain short-circuited for a moment.
What’s my name?
Oh no, after transforming, I never even thought about this!
A storm of thoughts erupted in the girl’s mind.
Ahh, umm, what was my name again?
Oh right, I*’m my friend now. My friend came to see my junior brother. What should my junior brother call me? Senior Brother. No wait, no—I’m my senior brother. No, that‘s wrong. I’*m Shen Ye. No, I’m not Shen Ye. Urgh, aaaaah!
The overthinking overwhelmed her. Shen Ye’s face flushed red, her eyes spinning like little pinwheels. Lin Xiangyi was completely baffled.
“Uh, are you okay?”
“I*’m… I’*m fine.”
She realized this couldn’t be put off any longer.
Shen Ye slapped her forehead, as if throwing caution to the wind, and stammered:
“Just, just call me… Xiao Ye.”
That single short sentence seemed to drain all her strength.
The girl lowered her head, hair falling forward to hide her face, but the blush creeping up her soft, delicate ears still betrayed her feelings.
What am I even saying… How could I let the junior brother call me that…
Meanwhile, Lin Xiangyi also felt something was odd.
Xiao Ye… huh?
That’s a pretty cute name. But why does it feel a little… off?
Lin Xiangyi couldn’t shake the strange sense of familiarity in his interactions with this spirit being.
When she*’d called him “Xiangyi” earlier, if he hadn’t been paying close attention, he wouldn‘t have noticed that he felt no resistance at all—so much so that he’*d even forgotten to ask her name, as if the two of them had already known each other for years.
But thinking about it, maybe this was why Senior Brother had fallen for her trap. That feeling of being drawn in without meaning to—it was like a gentle poison.
No, this spirit being is way too dangerous. I need to be careful. This isn’t just some ordinary bad woman.
Senior Brother never saw real trouble, so he could fall for it. Not me though.
He raised his right hand in a fist to cover his mouth and let out a light cough:
“Cough, cough. Alright then, Xiao Ye. I’ll call you that.”
“You came in such a hurry, so your injuries must be pretty serious, right? Then, without further delay—”
“Let me take a look at your condition.”
He reached out, signaling for Shen Ye to give him her hand.
Shen Ye obeyed, extending her right hand to Lin Xiangyi.
Lin Xiangyi took the girl’s hand in his.
Her fingers were pale and delicate, the softness of her touch making him unconsciously slow his movements.
So small and soft. Guess a spirit being*’s hand feels about the same as a human’*s.
He cleared his throat, suppressing the restlessness in his heart, and continued:
“Just to be clear, I*’ve never treated a spirit being’s ailments before. I‘ll first check what’*s going on inside your body. Please don’t move during the process, to avoid any mistakes.”
“Now then, let’s begin the treatment.”