Leng Shuxue took the cup of tea.
The tea leaves rippled gently in the pale green liquid, unfurling their snow-white tips.
His slightly cool fingertips absorbed a bit of warmth from the hot tea.
He took a sip. His body warmed slightly, making even the blowing mountain breeze feel a touch warmer.
"This tea... is very good."
Not knowing when Yuan Shu would arrive, Leng Shuxue had been sitting and waiting under the crabapple tree for a long time.
In truth, his heart was a bit apprehensive, afraid that Yuan Shu was just all talk.
It wasn't until he saw her actually appear on the bluestone path that he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She said she would come today, and she really did!
Yuan Shu poured herself a cup as well. She took a sip and smacked her lips, but didn't taste anything special.
This tea was a tribute given to her by her subordinates back when she was in the Hehuan Sect.
She didn't actually like drinking tea, but seeing that Leng Shuxue liked it, she had brought some over.
Seeing Leng Shuxue holding the teacup fondly and taking another sip, Yuan Shu's eyes darted around as a thought crossed her mind.
"Do you really think it tastes good?"
Leng Shuxue nodded, giving it a high appraisal. "The initial fragrance isn't too strong, but it leaves a sweet aftertaste. It's a rare and excellent brew."
Yuan Shu stroked her chin.
She figured those people wouldn't dare fob her off with inferior goods!
This tea was naturally top-notch.
She poured herself another cup and tasted it carefully, but still couldn't detect anything special.
"Is my cup different from yours? How come I don't taste any sweetness?"
Leng Shuxue looked up at her in surprise.
He thought that someone who could bring out such premium tribute tea would be a tea connoisseur.
But from what she was saying, she didn't understand tea at all?
"Fourth Senior Brother, you said yours tastes good. Why don't you let me have a taste?" Yuan Shu looked up with a beaming smile.
Leng Shuxue was slightly taken aback. "How do you want to taste it?"
Isn't all this tea the same?
She was the one who brewed it, a whole pot, with nothing else added.
Yuan Shu smiled. She casually tossed her teacup onto the table beside her, stood up, and closed the distance to Leng Shuxue in just a few strides.
Meeting his bewildered gaze, she reached out, pinched his chin, and applied a little pressure to force him to look up.
"Watch closely. This is how I taste it!"
With those words, Yuan Shu suddenly bent down and kissed his lips.
Leng Shuxue's eyes widened slightly in sheer shock.
A faint pear blossom scent mixed with the crisp aroma of tea drilled into his nose, followed closely by Yuan Shu's kiss—one that had already been presumptuous once before.
Leng Shuxue's heart suddenly raced, and his hands gripped the armrests tightly.
Yuan Shu... she kissed him again?
Snapping out of it, Leng Shuxue turned his face slightly, trying to lean back and dodge.
Yuan Shu had only just taken a couple of shallow tastes and hadn't achieved her goal yet. With his turn of the head, her lips landed on the corner of his mouth.
She lifted her head, applied a bit of force with her fingertips to turn Leng Shuxue's face back, and looked at him with a slight frown. "Does Fourth Senior Brother despise me?"
Leng Shuxue raised his eyes, met Yuan Shu's bright and clear gaze, and instinctively looked away. "I... don't."
"Then why are you hiding, Fourth Senior Brother?" Yuan Shu leaned in a bit closer, her lips and face almost brushing against Leng Shuxue's cheek.
Even with a small distance between them, she could feel the scalding heat slowly rising on his cheeks.
"Didn't we agree to let me have a taste?" Yuan Shu blinked. "Fourth Senior Brother just said the tea you're drinking is more fragrant."
Leng Shuxue, "..."
When did he ever say that?
It was clearly her...
As if suddenly realizing something, Leng Shuxue abruptly looked up at her. "Seventh Junior Sister, you... you did this on purpose?"
She intentionally said she wanted to taste his tea.
Exposed, Yuan Shu didn't show the slightest hint of embarrassment. She reached out, hooked her arms directly around Leng Shuxue's neck, and smoothly sat on his lap.
"Isn't it a bit too late for Fourth Senior Brother to realize this now?"
She chuckled softly, leaning close to Leng Shuxue. Her warm, crimson lips gently rubbed against his profile, which he had turned away in embarrassment.
"...Seventh Junior Sister, you... you shouldn't do this. This... this will ruin your reputation!"
Leng Shuxue's heart was beating rapidly; he felt awkward and uncomfortable.
Yet, deep down, there was a faint, indescribable thrill.
But as a senior brother, he had a responsibility to take care of his junior sister, not to... take advantage and bully her!
Yuan Shu laughed when she heard this. She reached out, pulled a lock of long hair draping over his shoulder, and slowly twirled it around her finger. "Is my reputation more important, or is Fourth Senior Brother being able to stand up again more important?"
"Seventh Junior Sister, what... what do you mean by that?"
Seemingly catching the underlying meaning in Yuan Shu's words, Leng Shuxue looked up in disbelief.
"Does Fourth Senior Brother not understand?"
Yuan Shu tilted her head to look at him, and as she leaned in close, she pecked those crimson lips twice more.
Leng Shuxue raised his eyes in disbelief, his Adam's apple bobbing uncontrollably. After a long while, he finally opened his mouth. "Seventh Junior Sister, you... you want me to... marry you?"
Seeing his shocked expression, Yuan Shu smiled. With a sly grin, she followed his words and tapped his legs. "Yes, so... do you want to stand up?"
Leng Shuxue was completely dumbfounded.
Yuan Shu was actually asking him to marry her?
Could it be that she liked him?
But if she didn't like him, why would she do such outrageous things to him?
She had even taken the initiative to kiss him several times!
For a moment, Leng Shuxue was torn by an intense internal struggle.
On one hand, the toxins in his legs could be cured; on the other hand, was he really going to marry Yuan Shu?
But thinking about it carefully, Yuan Shu was so beautiful. If she really was the one to cure his legs...
If he could stand up again and restore his former cultivation talent, then even marrying her wouldn't be unacceptable!
He really, truly wanted to stand up!
After his legs were crippled, he had seen too many ugly faces.
People gossiped behind his back, saying he occupied a spot as a personal disciple of Qingyun Peak but lacked the strength for it, questioning what right a cripple had to such a status.
Those jealous and resentful voices never ceased whenever he appeared in public.
And then there was his Master. If his Master hadn't been partly responsible for him being afflicted with this demonic poison back then, he would likely have been expelled from Qingyun Peak long ago.
His current strength, status, and talent were indeed no longer worthy of being a personal disciple of Qingyun Peak.
If it was only Yuan Shu and he could stand up, it seemed there was nothing wrong with it!
Leng Shuxue looked quietly at Yuan Shu, the struggle in his eyes gradually settling. After a long time, he spoke in a soft tone, "Okay."
Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow, seemingly seeing his innermost thoughts through those cold, calm eyes.
A pair of legs could destroy a fiercely proud person.
And she needed exactly this kind of proud person!
And right now, she was his savior!
The corner of Yuan Shu's mouth curled up. She leaned onto Leng Shuxue's shoulder, reached out to gently stroke his unevading cheek, and spoke slowly.
"Fourth Senior Brother, you will stand up. Just like the other geniuses of the Luoxian Sect, you will once again become that person of outstanding talent and dazzling glory!"
Leng Shuxue's gaze trembled. He lowered his eyes to look at Yuan Shu's beautiful little face so close at hand. "Yes, as long as I can stand up, I will!"
"You definitely will be able to stand up!" Yuan Shu beamed, bringing her face a bit closer.
"So, since Fourth Senior Brother has promised me, then... can you take the initiative to kiss me?"
