Fairy, please don't do this!

Gu Jinchao did not alert anyone.

His gaze fell on Aunt Ruo, who was busy at work, and an indescribable emotion welled up inside him.

There is the relaxation of returning home, the longing of being separated for a long time, and the relief of seeing her safe and sound.

A young apprentice carrying a tea tray passed by, and upon catching sight of the newcomer out of the corner of his eye, his eyes widened in shock: "Sir..."

Before he could utter the word "Young Master," Gu Jinzhao gave him a look, and he swallowed it back.

The young apprentice understood, suppressed his excitement, and hurried towards the back hall.

Gu Jinzhao withdrew his gaze and looked at Si Ruoyu again.

She was focused on taking the pulse of a coughing child, completely unaware of his arrival.

Finally, as dusk settled, it was the last person's turn.

Gu Jinzhao remained silent, simply placing his arm flat on the pulse pillow on the table.

Si Ruoyu kept her head down, organizing the medical records of the previous patient. Her left hand habitually picked up a silk thread, flicked her fingertips, and precisely wrapped it around the outstretched wrist.

The next moment, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

The pulse is steady and healthy, indicating no illness.

Si Ruoyu slightly raised her eyes, her gaze still fixed on the medical table: "I wonder where you feel unwell, young master?"

Gu Jinzhao gazed at her gentle features, her delicate nose, and her slightly pursed rosy lips, a smile playing in his eyes: "The illness is in my heart, and medicine cannot cure it."

Si Ruoyu's pen, which was writing the prescription, suddenly stopped.

She slowly raised her eyes and looked at the person in front of her.

He had a face like jade, a gentle temperament, and smiling eyes.

It was none other than the person she had been longing for day and night.

Si Ruoyu paused, her eyes instantly softening as if they were about to overflow with tears: "Why did you come back without giving me a heads-up?"

"squeak!"

Gu Jinzhao responded with a smile.

"Stop fooling around!"

Si Ruoyu gave him a half-scolding look, then quickly remembered something and said, "There are still patients waiting."

"It's gone."

Gu Jinzhao shook his head.

Si Ruoyu then realized that all the patients waiting in the hall had been seen at some point, and even the young apprentices had disappeared.

She was slightly taken aback, but then she understood.

There are quite a few patients today. At her usual pace, she'll probably be busy until nightfall before she can finish seeing them all.

But it's only dusk, and the hall is already cleared out; Gu Jinzhao must have secretly helped.

Thinking of this, Si Ruoyu felt a warmth in her heart and asked softly, "When did you get back?"

“We arrived around noon,” Gu Jinzhao replied. “Aunt Ruo was busy at that time, so I didn’t disturb her.”

As he spoke, he stood up, walked around the large rosewood examination table, and went behind Si Ruoyu.

His palm landed on her slender, fragrant shoulders and gently massaged them.

Si Ruoyu's delicate body stiffened slightly. Just as she was about to get up, she heard that gentle voice in her ear: "Aunt Ruoyu has worked hard all day and should relax a bit."

Knowing that Gu Jinzhao was worried about her, Si Ruoyu felt a warmth in her heart and did not refuse: "Didn't you say before that the Demon Suppression Division was too busy to get away?"

"I had some free time these days, so I came back."

Gu Jinzhao moved his palms slowly and steadily, a gentle spiritual energy flowing between his fingertips, gently massaging and relaxing her stiff shoulders and neck.

"Hmm~"

When that warmth and just the right amount of pressure came, Si Ruoyu's tense body completely relaxed, and she couldn't help but let out a soft moan.

"I miss Aunt Ruo."

Gu Jinzhao pressed his thumbs together and gently massaged her from the back of her snow-white neck down to the lower edge of her shoulder blades. Wherever he went, the stiff muscles softened, like a tamed wild horse.

Si Ruoyu's lips curved into an extremely gentle smile, her eyes as clear as water: "I miss Chao'er too."

"I always feel empty when you're not around."

Gu Jinchao paused slightly upon hearing this form of address.

Chao'er!

That's what Aunt Ruo called him when he was little.

"what happened?"

Noticing his brief pause, Si Ruoyu turned her head and looked up at him.

From this angle, you can clearly see his well-proportioned and soft jawline.

"It's just that this name... reminds me of my childhood."

Gu Jinzhao gently pressed his hands on her fragrant shoulders one last time before slowly withdrawing them.

However, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he placed his hands on the sides of the chair back and leaned forward slightly, forming a posture that half-encircled her in front of him.

This scene is like a fledgling eagle that has grown up and is now using its wings to firmly protect its mother, who once sheltered it.

Si Ruoyu glanced at him gently: "Do you feel that this form of address is inappropriate?"

Gu Jinzhao shook his head: "How could that be?"

"I prefer this name to 'Jinzhao' (today), it feels more intimate."

Si Ruoyu's gaze softened even more: "If you like it... I'll change it back."

Gu Jinzhao smiled, turned around and walked around to her, then slowly squatted down.

Just like when he was a child, he turned his face to the side and gently leaned against her soft thigh: "I wish I could go back to when I was a child."

Si Ruoyu gently raised her delicate hand and touched his cheek, her fingertips as warm and smooth as jade: "Why?"

"Because that way, I can snuggle up to Aunt Ruo and act cute."

Smelling the familiar, refreshing fragrance, Gu Jinzhao said in a muffled voice.

Humans are just strange like that!

As a child, I longed to grow up; now that I'm grown up, I want to go back to being a child.

Hearing this, Si Ruoyu's heart was touched, and she couldn't help but hug him: "It's the same now."

Gu Jinzhao was instantly enveloped in a gentle embrace. The tip of his nose touched the soft and warm maternal love, and a subtle feeling inexplicably rose in his heart.

It felt both warm and comforting, and also stirred a deep, indescribable emotion within me.

For some reason, she thought of the scenes when Aunt Ruo helped her when her yang energy turned into fire the last two times, and her breathing became a little rapid.

Si Ruoyu noticed his unusual behavior, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she slowly released him: "It's getting dark, we should go back."

"Chao'er must be hungry, having traveled a long way and still helped me with my medical examinations after returning."

She stood up and straightened her clothes: "What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."

Gu Jinzhao also stood up: "I like anything Aunt Ruo makes."

"loquacious."

Si Ruoyu glared at him, but her eyes were full of joy.

She tidied up the lobby a bit, closed the shop door, and then went back to the backyard with him, heading straight into the kitchen.

Before long, plates of delicious-looking home-style dishes were placed on the stone table in the courtyard.

Gu Jinzhao couldn't resist picking up his chopsticks, taking a big bite of a braised lion's head meatball, and exclaiming with satisfaction, "This is the taste!"

"When I was in Yujing, I also tried this dish at Zuixianlou, but it was never as good as Aunt Ruo's."

Si Ruoyu's smile softened even more: "Eat as much as you like."

Gu Jinzhao naturally didn't stand on ceremony and immediately gave Aunt Ruo a demonstration, eating a lion's head in one bite.

"Don't choke."

Si Ruoyu picked up a handkerchief, wiped his mouth, and then ladled out a bowl of hot soup and handed it to him.

Gu Jinzhao picked up the glass, took a sip, and joked, "I have a big mouth. Even if it's a big peach, I can stuff it in one bite."

Upon hearing this, Si Ruoyu couldn't help but recall that night when Gu Jinzhao slept in the same bed with her, but because of his yang energy turning into fire, he took the initiative to snuggle into her arms to absorb maternal love.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and even her crystal-clear earlobes were tinged with a faint pink.

Fortunately, it was already dark by then, and the light was dim, so it was not very clear.

Gu Jinzhao, oblivious to her unusual behavior, looked up and asked, "Why hasn't Junior Sister returned yet?"

Normally, Lin Qingci should have already returned from the sect by this time.

“Qingci has gone out to gain experience.” Si Ruoyu composed herself and explained gently, “She won’t be back for another two days.”

"What realm has Junior Sister reached now?"

"He's already at the seventh rank."

"Seventh rank?"

Gu Jinzhao was slightly taken aback.

He remembered that before leaving the Qingyun Sect, Lin Qingci had just reached the ninth rank of perfection.

In just over three months, he has already broken through to the seventh rank?

Even cheating wouldn't be this fast, right?

Si Ruoyu said softly, "After you left, Qingci devoted herself entirely to cultivation. Even when she came back at night, she would still practice sword techniques in her room. She hardly ever slacked off."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinzhao couldn't help but sigh softly.

He suspected that Lin Qingci was provoked by Mu Yiren, which was why she was cultivating so desperately.

Mu Yiren possesses double pupils, making her cultivation talent truly monstrous.

Lin Qingci would never be able to catch up without putting in a lot of effort.

But now, their cultivation speed is almost catching up with mine.

It seems I'll have to speed up my armor-stacking plan again.

Otherwise, if the fact that he's juggling multiple relationships is exposed one day, he'll probably be in deep trouble.

Gu Jinzhao took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind for the time being, and then took out a few bundles from the [Earthly Branches Mirror]: "By the way, Aunt Ruo, I brought you some things."

"A few medical books, a few pieces of women's clothing, and a box of lip rouge..."

Chapter 172, Passionate Love, the Immoral Si Ruoyu (3K)

"Let's eat first, or it'll get cold."

Si Ruoyu felt a warmth in her heart, smiled as she took the bundles and put them aside, then picked up her chopsticks and served food to Gu Jinzhao.

Medical books, clothes, lip rouge—none of these items were particularly expensive, yet each one revealed a delicate touch of thoughtfulness.

While eating, Gu Jinchao asked, "Has Aunt Ruo's hysteria flared up recently?"

Si Ruoyu gently shook her head: "I haven't done it again since last time."

"That's good."

Gu Jinchao was not surprised.

Although Xuan Yi was Ruo Yi's inner demon, she was ultimately just a remnant soul, and each manifestation required a large amount of divine soul power.

If they cannot take advantage of the situation to completely seduce Aunt Ruo, they can only lie low again and wait for the next opportunity.

"What about your 'yang qi transforming into fire' syndrome?" Si Ruoyu asked softly, "Has it flared up again?"

Gu Jinzhao looked slightly embarrassed: "Yes... but they've all been resolved."