When Ye Ran opened her eyes again, a knock came at the door.
“Senior sister, are you in there? I went back and studied the formation manual for a long time yesterday. I’ve gained many new insights, so I came specially to ask for your guidance.”
Jing Xing’s voice drifted in, dispelling some of Ye Ran’s drowsiness.
She was about to respond when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her waist.
“Tell him to get lost.”
Lu Li’s voice sounded right by Ye Ran’s ear, startling her into a cold sweat. Any remaining sleepiness vanished instantly.
She hadn’t realized Lu Li was still in her bed.
It was past noon, and he still hadn’t left. If anyone found out, she would be ruined.
“Is junior sister reluctant to say it? Then perhaps I should go chase him away?”
While Ye Ran was still in a daze, Lu Li’s voice came again.
Her heart tightened. She quickly called out to the door:
“I’m not feeling well today, junior brother. Come back another day.”
To her surprise, no response came from outside—but a cold laugh sounded right by her ear.
“So this is how junior sister sees me—someone who can’t be seen in public?”
Well, of course. This wasn’t a proper relationship, so naturally she had to be discreet.
Ye Ran’s expression practically said, “Do you even need to ask?” She was just short of outright agreeing with Lu Li.
But before she could speak, the temperature plummeted. Seeing Lu Li’s face darken, she wisely shook her head.
“Of course not! It’s just that we’re both a mess right now. It wouldn’t look good if someone saw us, so I’m just dismissing him from inside.”
Their clothes were scattered all over the floor, the chairs were knocked askew, and the small couch by the window was especially disheveled.
If she opened the door even a crack, anyone outside would immediately see the chaotic scene and know exactly what had happened inside.
Lu Li’s expression finally softened a bit.
But Jing Xing outside clearly wasn’t willing to leave so easily. Soon, his voice came again:
“What’s wrong, senior sister? Are you sick? Let me come in and take care of you.”
His tone sounded very concerned, as if he genuinely cared about her well-being.
“He seems very worried about you, junior sister.”
Lu Li coiled around her, holding her tightly. His thin lips pressed against her ear as he opened his mouth and bit her earlobe.
“I’ll refuse him right now. Let go of me first.”
The slight pain made Ye Ran’s voice waver.
But Lu Li didn’t budge. If anything, he bit down harder. Only when Ye Ran’s breathing grew ragged did he ease up slightly.
“He can’t see anything anyway. Just refuse him directly.” Lu Li paused, then bit her earlobe again. “Unless… junior sister doesn’t want to?”
Ye Ran felt Lu Li was being utterly unreasonable.
If he weren’t clinging to her like this, she would have sent Jing Xing away ages ago.
“Senior sister? Are you alright?”
More knocks came from outside, Jing Xing’s voice growing even more urgent.
It sounded like if Ye Ran didn’t respond, he might break down the door any moment.
Seeing this, Ye Ran ignored Lu Li nibbling on her earlobe and called out to the door:
“No need. I’ll be fine after some rest. You go back for now.”
“But—”
“I need to rest right now. I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”
Before Jing Xing could finish, Ye Ran cut him off.
Silence fell outside. After a long pause, Jing Xing’s voice came again:
“Then rest well, senior sister. I’ll come ask for your guidance another time.”
His voice sounded deeply disappointed. A softer-hearted person might have been tempted to call him back.
But Ye Ran didn’t dare. Lu Li was still biting her earlobe and refusing to let go, as if warning her that if she dared to keep him there, he would bite down even harder.
When no further response came from inside, Jing Xing stood outside for a long moment before finally leaving in disappointment.
Only after sensing that his presence had completely disappeared did Ye Ran push at Lu Li.
“I’ve chased him away. Now will you let go of me, senior brother?”
Only then did Lu Li finally release her earlobe. But the arms wrapped around her body still refused to loosen.
“Junior sister got rid of him this time. But what about next time?”
That was a question Ye Ran hadn’t considered.
Although she now knew Jing Xing was deliberately trying to get close to her, he had still been entrusted to her by their master. It wouldn’t be appropriate to keep putting him off or refusing him.
“I’ll see him less often from now on. I’ll dismiss him right after each session.”
After that, she would look for other senior or junior disciples who were willing to take Jing Xing off her hands.
This was the safest solution Ye Ran could think of for now.
But Lu Li was not pleased. He let out a cold laugh. “So junior sister still plans to see him in the future.”
“He was entrusted to me by our master. It wouldn’t look good if I refused to see him at all.”
“Then give him back to your master.”
Lu Li desperately wanted Ye Ran to get rid of Jing Xing, but Ye Ran felt this approach was inappropriate.
“No. Our master just gave him to me yesterday. Sending him back today wouldn’t be right.”
After all, Jing Xing hadn’t done anything overtly inappropriate yet. She had no valid reason to send him away.
“Junior sister knows he has ill intentions, yet you still want to keep him by your side? Have my tricks grown so stale that you’re already bored?”
Lu Li’s voice was gritted with frustration. The hand on Ye Ran’s waist slowly slid upward.
Because Lu Li had been so relentless yesterday, Ye Ran was still especially sensitive. The moment his hand moved, her body trembled.
“Of course not!”
Ye Ran grabbed his hand and quickly denied it.
His current repertoire was already more than she could handle. If he added any more, she was afraid he would truly drain her dry.
“In that case, send him back today.”
Lu Li was being completely unreasonable again.
Feeling a headache coming on, Ye Ran decided to drop the subject altogether. She turned over and wrapped her arms around him.
“I’m really sleepy right now. Can I sleep a little, senior brother?”
Her voice carried a hint of coaxing. After speaking, she gave Lu Li a quick kiss on the lips. Then, ignoring his still-dark expression, she closed her eyes to sleep.
Perhaps because she was truly exhausted from the day before, Ye Ran fell asleep not long after closing her eyes.
When she woke again, it was already afternoon. Lu Li was no longer beside her. Only a large fat cat lay nearby, fast asleep.
Ye Ran reached out and poked the system’s whiskers. Every time she poked, the corner of its mouth twitched.
After countless pokes, the system finally woke up, unable to bear it any longer.
“Host, you’re bullying your cute little cat again.”
The system’s voice sounded aggrieved.
After all, it had been sleeping soundly when Lu Li tossed it out. It had been forced to sleep outside all night. Today, it had finally managed to sleep on the bed for a while, only to be woken up by Ye Ran again.
At this point, the system felt utterly wronged.
“I’m sorry, system. Don’t be mad.”
Ye Ran quickly patted the system’s little head. Her skilled stroking technique soon soothed it, turning its initial grievance into gradual pleasure.
“System, can you check if Jing Xing is a side character in the book?”
Ye Ran had been thinking it over. Even though Jing Xing had been sent by her master, if he really was a side character, the danger level would be far too high. She would have to send him away immediately, no matter what.
If he wasn’t, then she could be cautious for now and slowly find a way to get rid of him later.
“Okay, host.”
With that, the system vanished from before Ye Ran’s eyes.
After a long while, its voice sounded in her mind: “Host, I checked. Jing Xing isn’t among the side characters. There isn’t even anyone similar to him.”
With the system’s confirmation, Ye Ran finally felt at ease.
The next day, when Jing Xing came to find her again, she didn’t avoid him. She planned to give him some guidance and then send him on his way.
“These are the steps for this formation. Do you understand?”
Ye Ran finished explaining a formation to Jing Xing and handed the book back.
Jing Xing immediately nodded. “Senior sister explained it very clearly. Of course I understand.”
“Then you should—”
“Senior sister, I heard you’re very interested in swordsmanship. I happen to have a sword manual. Would you like to take a look?”
Just as Ye Ran was about to dismiss him, Jing Xing spoke first and produced a sword manual.
His words did pique Ye Ran’s interest. After hesitating for a moment, she couldn’t help but nod.
“Alright, let me see it.”
“Here you are, senior sister.”
Jing Xing immediately handed over the manual.
But when Ye Ran opened it, she found only a landscape painting inside—no sword techniques at all.
“What is this—”
Before she could finish her question, the image in the book suddenly shifted. The next moment, she was completely sucked inside.
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