Shen Yebai kept murmuring, his voice getting lower and lower, but the emotions in his heart were becoming more and more turbulent. He suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with what seemed like a storm.
"MoMo...is this your answer? Are you willing to become my Daoist partner?"
This time, Shen Yebai no longer whispered, but lingered sweetly on his lips, his breathing gradually becoming heavy, like a traveler dying in the desert, awaiting the final judgment of heaven.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly at that moment, and Shen Yebai's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly sank after Qin Moyu answered.
Yes and no.
Qin Moyu said slowly.
Shen Yebai's enthusiasm was suddenly extinguished as if doused with cold water, leaving only a strange panic, which made him look at Qin Moyu almost pleadingly.
If he was fearless of life and death before, now he is afraid of hearing the words "I don't like it" from Qin Moyu's mouth.
In matters of the heart, Shen Yebai can be said to have suffered a complete defeat.
"Did I do something wrong? Or is it that I..."
"No, Ye Bai is very good. I'm glad Ye Bai likes me, it's just..." Qin Moyu never denied Shen Ye Bai's kindness to her.
"But what?" Shen Yebai waited anxiously for Qin Moyu's answer.
"It just depends on your performance."
Qin Moyu deliberately dragged out the last syllable and winked playfully.
Watch my performance...?
Shen Yebai stared blankly as Qin Moyu stood up with a smile and extended her hand to him: "Let's get to know each other again. My name is Qin Moyu. Although I like you a little bit, it won't be easy for me to agree to be your Daoist partner. I'm super hard to win over!"
Qin Moyu patted her chest confidently, her eyes crinkling with a smile, giving Shen Yebai the best answer.
Starting today, Qin Moyu will no longer treat Shen Yebai as a good brother, but as a pursuer. This not only means that Qin Moyu will no longer choose to run away from this feeling, but also that Qin Moyu will reciprocate Shen Yebai's feelings.
In fact, ever since Shen Yebai confessed his feelings, Qin Moyu had been struggling with whether to treat Shen Yebai as a good brother or as a pursuer. Those intimate actions and sweet words felt awkward to him when he treated Shen Yebai as a good brother, so he kept running away from it, trying not to think about it, and trying to hypnotize himself that Shen Yebai was still the same Shen Yebai.
It's impossible for Qin Moyu to agree so quickly. She can't become a Daoist couple with Shen Yebai until she's sure she can make a lifelong commitment. But Shen Yebai's efforts need a result.
Rather than admitting that she was Shen Yebai's suitor, it was more like the beginning of a tug-of-war between the two.
Shen Yebai tries his best to help Qin Moyu turn her feelings into love, while Qin Moyu is certain that she can accept living with Shen Yebai and that he will be a part of her life from now on.
Shen Yebai did not expect Qin Moyu to give this kind of answer.
Looking at Qin Moyu's radiant smile, he vaguely recalled their first meeting.
When Shen Yebai woke up from his serious injuries and coma, his first reaction to the unfamiliar room was to leave. He forced himself to get out of bed and pushed open the door to leave.
Unexpectedly, there was an old tree outside the door with a swing tied to it. Amidst the falling leaves, Qin Moyu sat on the swing, swinging her legs and staring blankly into the distance. When she caught sight of Shen Yebai coming out, her eyes lit up instantly, and she jumped off the swing.
Just like before, Qin Moyu extended her hand to Shen Yebai, smiling, and said, "My name is Qin Moyu! What's your name?"
It was their first meeting, but perhaps the sunlight was too warm, making him dizzy; perhaps the wounds were too severe, causing his mind to be in turmoil; perhaps Qin Moyu's smile was too pure and gentle, touching his tenderness for a moment, which made the extremely guarded Shen Yebai inexplicably tell Qin Moyu his name.
From there, things spiraled out of control.
Perhaps Shen Yebai fell in love with Qin Moyu earlier than he imagined, but he was unaware of it.
Even though I know I'll continue to treat you well after you reject me outright, you still tell me to try my best—Shen Yebai sighed slightly and took Qin Moyu's hand.
So... adorably silly.
What Shen Yebai didn't know was how gentle his expression was when he thought Qin Moyu was stupid.
"Are you really sure? If you don't refuse now, you might never be able to get rid of me," Shen Yebai said softly.
"I've thought it through." Qin Moyu shrugged and snorted twice. "But don't think you can bully me like that! Let me tell you, I've evolved—no, I mean, I'm stronger now! Your sweet talk won't work on me!"
To prove that what she said was true, Qin Moyu made a face at Shen Yebai.
Shen Yebai's heart softened completely, and he smiled and agreed, "Yes, Momo is the best."
"You just finished speaking and you're already praising me? Ye Bai, you're still using the same old routine." Qin Moyu sat down with a smile.
"Does Mo Yu like it?"
"Of course I like it! Why wouldn't I like it when someone praises me!" Qin Moyu said matter-of-factly.
Shen Yebai suppressed a laugh and sat down as well.
Now that things were out in the open, the atmosphere between the two became even more subtle. Shen Yebai looked at Qin Moyu openly, and although Qin Moyu was still shy, she tried her best to act nonchalant, secretly vowing to resist Shen Yebai's sweet talk.
Yes, it is difficult.
Qin Moyu picked up a piece of pastry, feeling that she would eventually be defeated by Shen Yebai's culinary skills.
"It doesn't seem right to just eat your pastries for free. How about I tell you some stories I read in the library?" Qin Moyu only realized after almost finishing a box of pastries that Shen Yebai hadn't eaten any. He coughed lightly and decided to change the subject.
"The library? Did Momo look at the five wooden slips left by the senior?" Shen Yebai's heart stirred.
"Yes. Huh? Ye Bai also knows about these five wooden slips?"
"Hmm. I want to see if I can find what I'm looking for."
Qin Moyu hadn't expected Shen Yebai to be interested in these five wooden slips, especially since Shen Yebai had never been one to gossip: "What is Yebai looking for? Perhaps I know?"
"I want to know if any of those five wooden slips feature the royal family of the Southern Continent as the main characters." Shen Yebai seemed to have thought of something, and his fingers twitched slightly.