Chapter 9: Affectionate but Heart-Wrenching

Shen Zhiyao's brows furrowed at this scene.

She really couldn't understand how Xiao Chen could be attracted to a white lotus like Nan Sheng. He used to be indifferent to women, keeping his distance from everyone; how had he become so enamored with Nan Sheng?

That white lotus, Nan Sheng, was becoming increasingly irritating to her.

Today was supposed to be Qinghe's big day, but as soon as Nan Sheng arrived, all the cultivators' gazes fell on her. Who still remembered Qinghe?

Shen Qinghe, seeing the color of annoyance in Shen Zhiyao's eyes, gripped her hand tightly and whispered, "Elder sister, don't overthink it."

Shen Zhiyao pursed her lips tightly and turned to meet Shen Qinghe's warm gaze.

By then, Nan Sheng had already approached Shen Qinghe, her smile sweet, "I was in a hurry today and didn't have time to prepare a gift, I hope Miss Qinghe won't mind."

As she spoke, she glanced at Yan Changsheng and quietly clasped his hand.

Yan Changsheng naturally intertwined his fingers with hers, meeting her gaze, leaving no spare attention for Shen Qinghe.

Shen Zhiyao saw Yan Changsheng holding hands with Nan Sheng in front of Shen Qinghe, openly showing off their love. Nan Sheng's move was clearly intended to hurt Qinghe's heart.

Fearing that Shen Qinghe would be upset, she looked over but saw that Shen Qinghe's expression was as usual, as if she had already let go of Yan Changsheng.

"It's the thought that counts," Shen Qinghe said with a light smile on her face.

It was a bit of a surprise for Shen Qinghe to see Nan Sheng deliberately holding hands with Yan Changsheng right in front of her. She thought a Fated Female Protagonist like Nan Sheng wouldn't stoop so low as to provoke her, a mere cannon fodder.

Hearing this, Yan Changsheng looked over.

The instant he clearly saw Shen Qinghe's face, he was taken aback. It had been three months since the Mid-Autumn Festival, and he hadn't seen Shen Qinghe since.

The face before him was both familiar and strange. It was still the same face, yet incomparably different. The young girl's skin was white as snow with a hint of pink, her beautiful eyes clear and bright, and most miraculous of all, the conspicuous gray birthmark had now moved to the middle of her nose, becoming a faint pink color.

Xiao Chen also noticed the qualitative change in Shen Qinghe's appearance. Perhaps this was the initial effect of her Foundation Establishment, which made her whole face look crystal clear.

He couldn't help but give Shen Qinghe another look, but the fluttering in his heart from Mid-Autumn evening surged again, and he hurriedly looked away.

Given Shen Qinghe's successful Foundation Establishment and the fact that she was Shen Zhuo's beloved daughter, this time Sect Master Zuo took the initiative to officially make her Shen Zhuo's Inner Sect Disciple.

Shen Qinghe naturally had no objections.

It was unfortunate that her father was comatose, with no one to teach her cultivation. Later, Sect Master Zuo instructed Xiao Chen to take over Shen Zhuo's duties for the time being.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen frowned, "The Sect Master should find someone else to teach Qinghe; I don't know how."

He didn't want to get too close to Shen Qinghe.

Sect Master Zuo hadn't expected Xiao Chen to refuse; he couldn't possibly ask Yan Changsheng, could he? Yan Changsheng had just dissolved his engagement with Shen Qinghe, and now he was close to Nan Sheng.

"My sister can teach me—that's enough. There's no need to trouble Big Senior Brother," said Shen Qinghe, winking at Shen Zhiyao, "Elder sister, you have to teach me well."

Shen Zhiyao glared at Xiao Chen, thinking that it was because of Nan Sheng that he was unwilling to assist Qinghe in her cultivation.

"Of course, I'll teach you well. With me around, you won't be worse than anyone else," Shen Zhiyao said, casting a meaningful glance at Nan Sheng.

Yan Changsheng was originally hesitant about whether to take on this task, but seeing Shen Zhiyao speak up, he chose to remain silent.

Everyone arrived in a hurry, and no one prepared gifts for Shen Qinghe, not even Sect Master Zuo had brought a gift. Unlike on the day of Nan Sheng's Foundation Establishment, when everyone presented congratulatory gifts.

Compared to the grandeur of Nan Sheng's Foundation Establishment day, Shen Qinghe's Foundation Establishment seemed much more modest.

After everyone had left, Shen Zhiyao finally took out a short sword, "This was the gift father gave me when I underwent Foundation Establishment. It's suitable for a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so make do with it for now. Once you reach Core Formation, you will be able to have your own life-bound magic weapon. Today is your big day for Foundation Establishment, yet you didn't receive any gifts, and father is also in a comatose state. It's all my incompetence..."

Seeing Shen Zhiyao distressed made Shen Qinghe feel uncomfortable too.

But she felt that the grandness of the event wasn't important. What mattered was that their family was slowly changing the fate of being mere stepping stones.

"Elder sister, don't overthink it. Things will get better and better," Shen Qinghe fiddled with the short sword in her hand, her lips curving into a slight smile, "I really like the gift from elder sister."

"It's all because of that stinking cousin Nan Sheng, she's just so disgusting..." Every time Shen Zhiyao mentioned Nan Sheng, she would get angry and rant incessantly.

It wasn't until Shen Zhiyao had vented her emotions that Shen Qinghe tried to console her, "Elder sister can see that Nan Sheng is deliberately trying to provoke me. If I sulked today, wouldn't that just play into her hands? Your anger at this moment only brings pain to those who care and joy to those who hate. Why bother?"

"I'm just worried about you being upset. You've liked Changsheng since you were little, and today Nan Sheng deliberately flaunted her affection with Changsheng in front of you, just to see you heartbroken and to add to your troubles," Shen Zhiyao ground her teeth with hatred whenever she mentioned Nan Sheng.

Shen Qinghe listened quietly to Shen Zhiyao's complaints, her expression unchanged, "Ever since the day father was injured, I stopped liking Yan Changsheng. Today, seeing them so affectionate doesn't upset me at all."

One gets hurt only by caring, but she had already let go of Yan Changsheng.

"Are you sure you've let go?" Shen Zhiyao was skeptical.

"Father was gravely injured that day, and I myself walked on the edge of life and death. What else couldn't I let go of? Please, elder sister, don't go looking for trouble with Changsheng and Nan Sheng on my behalf. My only desire now is to cultivate diligently. Romantic entanglements will only slow down my cultivation," Shen Qinghe's eyes were resolute, "From now on, we sisters should focus on our cultivation and not waste any more time or feelings on any man."

Shen Zhiyao found her younger sister both familiar and strange, but she liked her very much.

She too wished to stop liking Xiao Chen, but the thought of Xiao Chen disregarding her for that flirtatious Nan Sheng made her unwilling to give up.

Shen Qinghe spent a long time trying to persuade her, but seeing Shen Zhiyao's stubborn opinions, she knew that it wouldn't be so easy for Shen Zhiyao, this so-called evil supporting character, to wake up.

Although Shen Qinghe had completed her Foundation Establishment, she still enjoyed the delicacies of the mortal world. She specially prepared a feast to share with Shen Zhiyao, treating it as a celebration of her successful Foundation Establishment.

When Shen Zhiyao left the Simple Residence Courtyard, the sky had already turned dark.

Just as Shen Qinghe began to sit and cultivate, she felt an anomaly in the room.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Dongfang Wuya had arrived at some point.

"Mr. Wuya!" She jumped off the bed and immediately went up to Dongfang Wuya, revealing a radiant smile.

Dongfang Wuya had come because he felt Shen Qinghe's Foundation Establishment was too modest and wanted to bring her a gift, but seeing Shen Qinghe smiling at him in such an infatuated manner made him hesitant.

Noticing Dongfang Wuya's stern expression, Shen Qinghe thought something serious had happened and gradually put away her smile, "Is it my father's health?"

——

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