Yun Shu froze mid-bite, the candied fruit sticking awkwardly to her lips.
Her gaze sharpened as she stared at the cluster of won now practically swarming Bai Yunxian like moths to fla.
She forced a smile, her voice lilting a little too brightly.
"Oh my, look at that. Bees are buzzing around a flower. But unfortunately for them..." She popped the fruit into her mouth with a crunch. "...this flower’s already been plucked."
The system gasped theatrically.
[Whaaaaat?! Bold harlots approaching my Host’s man?! How dare they! Host, they’re trying to rob you in broad daylight! Crush them! Crush them with your overwhelming charisma!]
Yun Shu clenched her chopsticks. Her disguise demanded she should just go along with it and play the silly chatterbox, but she could feel the heat of jealousy rising in her chest like a wildfire.
Bai Yunxian, of course, remained infuriatingly calm. He neither acknowledged nor encouraged the beauties, rely setting down his teacup with perfect composure.
Which only seed to encourage them further.
One woman leaned closer, her sleeve brushing dangerously near his arm. "Palace Lord, don’t you find it boring to sit here with only one companion? Allow us to—"
Before she could finish, Yun Shu slamd her chopsticks into the picnic basket with a crack!
The won jumped.
Even Bai Yunxian turned his gaze slightly, his brow lifting ever so faintly.
Yun Shu plastered on an exaggerated pout.
"Hmph! You’re all so noisy! Can’t you see that the Palace Lord and I are having a private picnic? What kind of people barges into soone else’s al uninvited? Didn’t your sects teach you manners?"
The system clapped in delight.
[Yes, Host! Perfect! Activate ’Jealous Wife Mode: Level One’! Now flip the table for maximum effect!]
"I’m not flipping the table," Yun Shu muttered under her breath, cheeks puffed.
The won blinked, then glanced at each other, realizing—
Was this little girl... jealous?
Their lips curled in disdain.
So this was the competition? A random chatterbox? How laughable.
One smirked. "Oh my, we didn’t realize. We thought that the Palace Lord might want company beyond a child still wet behind the ears."
Another giggled. "Exactly. Why settle for one silly girl when you could have true won of cultivation and grace?"
They laughed lightly, though their eyes were sharp.
Yun Shu’s face froze, her grip on her chopsticks whitening.
The system shrieked.
[OHHH NO THEY DIDN’T! Host, they called you a child! This is absolutely unforgivable! Retaliation protocol activated! Throw pastries at them! Throw the whole teapot if you must!]
Yun Shu inhaled deeply, willing herself to stay in character. She wasn’t supposed to reveal her true identity.
But her jealousy was a wild beast, refusing to be leashed.
Bai Yunxian, anwhile, finally moved.
He lifted his gaze, those dark eyes cool and steady, sweeping over the won with a glance sharp enough to freeze blood.
The chatter around them stilled instantly.
"You presu much," he said softly, his voice calm yet carrying an edge that sliced through the night air.
The won stiffened, their smiles faltering.
But before they could stamr excuses, Yun Shu leapt to her feet, pointing a finger dramatically.
"Hah! Did you hear that? Lord Bai doesn’t need you! He already has , his picnic partner! His dessert-sharer! His—" She faltered a fraction of a second too long before blurting the first thing that ca to mind. "—his teacup holder! Yes!"
The system howled with laughter.
[AHAHAHA! Host, that’s the weakest claim of dominance I’ve ever heard! Teacup holder?! Oh heavens, I can’t breathe!]
Yun Shu flushed, her ears burning. But she stood her ground, hands on her hips, glaring at the won as though daring them to continue.
The crowd of onlookers whispered furiously, unable to look away.
The cold and untouchable Palace Lord... being fought over by a re woman? And one of them was a ridiculous chatterbox who just declared herself his teacup holder?!
This was better entertainnt than any divine artifact.
Bai Yunxian’s expression didn’t change, though a faint, almost imperceptible curve tugged at the corner of his lips.
Teacup holder? Truly, this girl...
Still, he allowed her antics, watching her puffed-up outrage with sothing dangerously close to amusent.
The won, seeing his lack of support for them, finally wilted.
They muttered excuses, faces stiff, and retreated under the weight of his gaze. Their silks swished angrily as they stalked back into the crowd, whispering among themselves with dark looks.
Yun Shu plopped back down beside him, still fuming, stuffing another pastry into her mouth as though biting into their faces.
"Hmph! Annoying pests."
The system purred approvingly.
[Yes, Host! You defended your territory with pride! Lord Bai is yours and yours alone! Let the world tremble before your jealous wrath!]
Bai Yunxian glanced at her sidelong, watching her sulk with cheeks puffed full of pastry.
He said nothing. But inside, a quiet warmth stirred, unexpected and unbidden.
The thought should have been ridiculous. Yet as he watched her glare into the night sky, crumbs dusting her lips, Bai Yunxian found himself thinking for the first ti in a very long while that perhaps being the subject of soone’s jealousy... was not unpleasant at all.
.
.
.
The crowd of cultivators grew restless long before midnight approached.
All famous cultivators from every major sect, clan, and wandering faction who had spent the entire day at the lakeside, each of them hoping to be the one chosen by fate when the divine artifact revealed itself. But hours dragged on, and the pristine surface of the lake remained as calm as polished jade.
So had tried probing with their spiritual sense, only to be lashed back by the invisible restrictions woven into the place. Others tested the waters with minor techniques, which the lake devoured without leaving a ripple. The growing anxiety bred irritation, and whispered quarrels had already broken out along the banks.
anwhile, on the far side of the shore, a most infuriating sight awaited every pair of envious eyes.
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