Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

Jiang Xiaochuan's mind went blank.

What's going on with them all? They like it or not every day.

He looked at Tian Ling'er, the girl with her face upturned, her eyes red, staring at him stubbornly as if she wanted to pierce him with her gaze.

The fiery red dress shone brightly in the dappled sunlight filtering through the bamboo grove.

Jiang Xiaochuan's throat was dry.

Tian Ling'er is the biological daughter of her master and mistress. She is the junior sister of everyone on Dazhu Peak.

From the age of two or three, she followed him around, crying and running to him when she fell down, giving him the first good thing she got, and hiding behind him when she got into trouble.

He treated her just like a younger sister.

He had to say something. He couldn't just refuse outright.

The young girl was shy and had a strong sense of pride. But she couldn't agree. He really didn't mean it that way.

Perhaps... perhaps Tian Ling'er is just too young to tell the difference?

We grew up together and were used to being inseparable. Did you mistake dependence for affection?

Just like the dream I had the other night...

cough.

No, that dream has nothing to do with Tian Ling'er.

Or perhaps she simply admires him? After all, he himself... well, he's not bad looking?

Jiang Xiaochuan's mind was in a mess, while Tian Ling'er had already taken half a step forward.

"Say something."

Her voice trembled slightly, her fingers clutching the hem of her skirt. "Jiang Xiaochuan, do you...do you like me?"

My chest suddenly tightened.

thump.

The heavy impact nearly knocked Jiang Xiaochuan out of his wits. He looked up sharply, and at the end of the bamboo path, a patch of light blue stood quietly.

Lu Xueqi.

She arrived at some unknown time, standing a few feet away, backlit, so her expression was obscured.

Only the light blue hem of her skirt swayed gently in the wind, and the moon-white tassels at the hilt of the Tianya sword swayed.

She heard it.

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a chill run down his spine.

Tian Ling'er noticed it too, and suddenly turned her head. When she saw Lu Xueqi, her face turned pale, and then flushed with anger.

She gritted her teeth, then suddenly stepped forward and opened her arms to hug Jiang Xiaochuan.

She held him tightly around the waist, her face buried in his chest. The fiery red fabric rubbed against his chin, warm and sticky.

Jiang Xiaochuan froze.

Lu Xueqi's gaze turned cold. It was clear and still, like the surface of a frozen lake.

Her fingertips unconsciously tightened on the cold hilt of Tianya sword.

That night by the Rainbow Bridge flashed uncontrollably through my mind.

Moonlight, night wind, her outstretched arm, which she mustered all her courage to reach out, and his body, which stiffened instantly and then collapsed.

He was stunned. Because of her hug.

But now, Tian Ling'er is hugging him so tightly that she's pressed her whole body against him.

He just stood there, somewhat stiff and helpless, but he didn't... faint.

Why?

The thought, like a tiny ice spike, pierced my heart unexpectedly.

Is it because Tian Shimei's hug felt more natural?

Or is it because he... doesn't actually mind being with Junior Sister Tian?

That night, his own touch was so unbearable that it caused him to be so agitated that he fainted.

The difference. That's the difference.

A mix of bitterness, annoyance, and a barely perceptible sense of grievance quietly crept into my heart.

She looked at the two people pressed tightly together, and at Tian Ling'er's profile buried in Jiang Xiaochuan's arms, and found that splash of red extremely glaring.

"Junior Sister Tian".

She spoke, her voice not loud, but sharp and clear, "This seems a bit inappropriate."

Tian Ling'er didn't look up, but instead hugged him even tighter, her voice muffled in his arms: "What's it to you! Who are you to him?"

"Senior Sister Ling'er, you..." Jiang Xiaochuan tried to pry her hands away.

"Shut up!" Tian Ling'er interrupted him fiercely, her arm squeezing his ribs until they hurt.

Lu Xueqi pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of the Tianya sword. She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, then at Tian Ling'er's hand that was tightly holding him, and something darkened in her eyes.

"I need to speak with Senior Brother Jiang." Her voice was even colder.

"Hmph!" Tian Ling'er turned her head away, ignoring her.

Jiang Xiaochuan finally managed to pry Tian Ling'er's hands off; the girl's fingers were gripping tightly, and it took him a lot of effort. Once free, he quickly took a half-step back to create some distance.

"You!" Tian Ling'er's eyes reddened even more.

"Senior Sister Lu," Jiang Xiaochuan turned to Lu Xueqi, "what brings you here?"

Lu Xueqi glanced at Tian Ling'er, said nothing, but simply turned slightly to the side, gesturing for him to follow her.

"You dare!"

Tian Ling'er suddenly stepped forward, blocking the two of them, glaring at Jiang Xiaochuan, "If you dare go with her, I... I'll tell my father!"

Jiang Xiaochuan was in a real bind.

He glanced at Tian Ling'er's flushed face, then at Lu Xueqi's icy gaze, and finally sighed, softening his voice: "Senior Sister Ling'er, please don't make trouble. Senior Sister Lu really has something to discuss with me. I... I'll come to Yunhai Square tonight to find you, okay? Then... I'll explain everything to you."

He paused, glancing at Lu Xueqi. The man's expression seemed to grow even colder, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

Tian Ling'er bit her lip, staring intently at him for a long while before letting out a muffled "humph" and turning away.

The fiery red figure flashed through the bamboo forest and disappeared.

Jiang Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt a heavy weight in his heart.

As soon as I turned around, my wrist was grabbed.

Lu Xueqi's hands were cold, but her grip was strong. She pulled him around and headed towards the Xiaozhufeng house.

Her steps were quick, and the hem of her skirt billowed in a slight arc.

"Senior Sister Lu?" Jiang Xiaochuan stumbled as she pulled him, almost falling onto her back.

Lu Xueqi didn't stop, nor did she turn around.

She walked quickly, her skirt billowing in the wind. The warmth she felt from his hand was the coolness of his wrist. That familiar coolness, however, stirred her heart.

When Tian Ling'er hugged him just now, was her palm this warm too? Did he... not break free either?

No, he tried, but he couldn't break free.

Just like she was holding his hand now, was he also... half-heartedly letting Tian Ling'er hug him?

This association made her chest feel even tighter, and her fingers unconsciously tightened, almost digging into his wrist.

It was as if by doing so, he could erase what had just happened, and prove that the person who was holding his hand and leading him away was himself.

She is afraid.

She was afraid to hear anything from the person behind her, either defending Tian Ling'er or questioning her actions.

So we can't stop, we can't let him speak. We need to get him away from there, away from where Yutian Ling'er is.

They were led into the courtyard where the female disciples of Xiaozhu Peak were temporarily staying.

Several familiar female disciples were chatting in the corridor. When they saw Lu Xueqi pulling a familiar male disciple in, they were all stunned for a moment. Then they exchanged glances, smiled with their lips pursed, and their eyes were full of gossip.

Jiang Xiaochuan's face flushed, and he tried to pull his hand back, but Lu Xueqi gripped it even tighter, pulling him directly into a room and slamming the door shut.

Lu Xueqi let go of his hand and turned to look at him.

She stood with her back to the light, so her expression was hard to see, but her eyes were incredibly bright, staring straight at him.

"Senior Sister Lu, what's wrong?" Jiang Xiaochuan asked, feeling a little uneasy.

Lu Xueqi didn't answer immediately. She looked at him, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but then she stopped herself.

I can't exactly say, "I felt bad when I saw you hugging Tian Ling'er."

He stood right in front of her, carrying the scent of sunshine and bamboo forest from outside, looking somewhat lost in her clean and simple house.

They were so close that she could see the trembling of his eyelashes and the slight blush on his face.

My heart is beating a little fast.

Unlike the dull, suffocating pain I felt when I saw that scene earlier, this time it was a clear, slightly panicked throbbing.

What reason could he possibly have? What reason could reasonably explain her sudden appearance and her abrupt dragging him here without explanation?

"The six-year promise"... Yes, he couldn't refute that. And the "gift"... He had promised it.

However, even she herself felt that these excuses sounded awkward when she said them.

Will he think she's making a mountain out of a molehill? Or... see through her excuse?

She kept her eyes down, not daring to look at him for long, her gaze fixed on her slightly clasped fingers. She was afraid that he would see the unnatural guilt in her eyes.

Her mind raced. She needed to come up with a reason. What reason?

"...That promise." She finally spoke, her voice a little hard, "The six-year promise is almost up."

Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback: "Huh? But we haven't met in the ring yet."

"There's also a gift," Lu Xueqi added, her words quickening slightly. "You said you'd prepare one for me after you learned martial arts. I thought... I'd ask first, what is it?"

Jiang Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief. So that's what it was about.

He scratched his head and said, "The gift... I haven't decided yet. Didn't we agree to give it to you after the martial arts competition?"

Lu Xueqi pursed her lips. She had nothing to say.

The room fell silent. Only the rustling of bamboo leaves outside the window could be heard.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood there for a while, feeling a little awkward, and tentatively said, "Well... Senior Sister Lu, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now?"

"Wait a minute," Lu Xueqi said again, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

Jiang Xiaochuan stopped and looked at her with a puzzled expression.