Chapter 78: It’s Raining

“One times one is one, one times two is two… one times three is three… one times four… one times four is twelve…”

“…One times four is four…”

“Oh, oh, oh, one times four is four… one times five is five…”

In the courtyard, the crisp and tender voice of the Little Girl drifted faintly into the room.

On the bed, the curvaceous woman hugged the thin quilt, shrinking into it like a little kitten.

The woman’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and her fox-like eyes slowly opened.

Sitting on the bed in a duck-sit position, she grabbed her right wrist with her left hand and raised it above her head, stretching languidly as her graceful curves were slowly framed by the morning sunlight.

Looking to the side, as expected, Yaya was nowhere to be found.

Putting on her embroidered shoes with cloud patterns, Chu Yaoyao condensed water droplets with her spiritual power to wash her face and then combed her long hair in front of the dressing mirror.

She looked at the rouge on the table, which Lin Xun had won in a shop lottery.

Chu Yaoyao thought about it but decided not to use it; for her charming face, the rouge of the Mortal World was already somewhat redundant.

However, with a shift in her thoughts, two fluffy ears sprouted on her head, and her hair gradually turned from black to silver-white.

Her eyes, originally like black jade, gradually turned into a crimson red like red agate.

From behind her long dress, a fluffy, snow-white tail emerged.

“This should look pretty good, right?”

Chu Yaoyao stood up and spun around lightly, her gauzy skirt fluttering like a rotating floral umbrella.

It had been three days since the day she confessed to Young Master Lin.

During these three days, Chu Yaoyao discovered that Lin Xun had a mysterious obsession with her ears and tail.

Whenever she revealed her ears or tail, his eyes would light up, and the frequency with which he looked at her would increase.

Ordinary humans would be terrified upon seeing the features of the Yao Race, and if they were Cultivators, they would feel repulsed and want to subdue the demon.

But… Young Master Lin seemed to prefer it when she showed some of her monster traits.

Chu Yaoyao wasn’t sure if this counted as seducing Qinger’s husband, but regardless, Young Master Lin had promised to help her take care of her sister. Giving Young Master Lin some benefits didn’t seem like much when she thought about it.

Actually, if one had to say, Young Master Lin was already considered a true gentleman.

Unlike some men who entered her Flower Fox Workshop, who either peeked at her secretly or were wealthy boors who wanted to forcibly take her back as a concubine.

For the former, Chu Yaoyao didn’t feel much; they could just look, as they couldn’t see anything anyway.

But for the latter, they usually died quite miserably.

But Young Master Lin was different. When he looked, he looked openly. Sometimes, when she intentionally pinched her skirt or leaned down in front of him, Young Master Lin would always look away, his cheeks turning slightly red.

Thinking about it carefully, he was actually quite cutely innocent.

“But… it’s time to go.”

Taking a deep breath, Chu Yaoyao, having decided to set off today, walked out of the room.

The moment she opened the door, the morning sunlight poured down, slightly dazzling her eyes and making her vision a bit hazy.

After gradually getting used to it, Chu Yaoyao looked into the courtyard, where a large and a small figure were looking at the Elementary Mathematics book.

The smaller one sat on the larger one’s lap; the Little Girl was learning seriously, and the scholar was teaching earnestly.

In a daze, Chu Yaoyao couldn’t help but think of the story: “A scholar saved a fox demon, the fox demon became the scholar’s wife to repay the favor, the wife bore the scholar a child, and from then on, she assisted her husband and taught the child, living in domestic harmony.”

But it was only a momentary lapse; Chu Yaoyao shook her head, feeling that her thoughts were far too absurd.

Young Master Lin was a scholar and a Cultivator, while she was a fox demon and, moreover, a member of the Old Imperial Family of the Demon Race World, burdened with the mission of reviving the imperial clan.

Furthermore, Young Master Lin was already married. Even if he were willing to take her as a Secondary Wife, as a member of the imperial family—even if fallen—she could not be a concubine.

Finally, Young Master Lin treated her as a friend, and she didn’t dislike him. As for love, it hadn’t reached that Realm yet.

In short, with Lin Xun having a primary wife and her having a mission, they could only be friends for life; their relationship could never go a step further.

But that was fine too.

Perhaps Young Master Lin was her first male friend, and he would also be her last.

But one was enough.

“Good morning, Young Master Lin.”

Chu Yaoyao calmed her heart and stepped forward with her fair, long legs beneath her skirt, placing her hands at her waist and giving Lin Xun a graceful bow.

“Sister~”

Seeing her sister wake up, Yaya jumped off Lin Xun’s lap and opened her small arms to hug her.

“Good morning.”

Lin Xun closed the book and bowed with his hands clasped.

Chu Yaoyao said with a beaming smile, “Yaoyao is setting off today. If you miss this chance, you won’t get another. Does Young Master truly want no reward from Yaoyao?”

“Ahem, Miss, please don’t use such provocative words. I am a Pure Love Warrior!” Lin Xun said righteously.

“Pure Love Warrior?” Having learned what “Pure Love Warrior” meant over the past few days, Chu Yaoyao gave a charming smile.

Stepping forward, Chu Yaoyao cupped Lin Xun’s broad palm with both hands and placed it on top of her head, her soft, fluffy fox ears being pressed down by his palm.

Lifting her silky, charming eyes, the girl’s cherry-pink lips curled up slightly: “Young Master’s gaze often wanders over Yaoyao’s ears and tail. Does that count as being a Pure Love Warrior?”

“Miss, you overstate it. I am merely following human instinct!” Lin Xun talked nonsense with a straight face.

“Then does Young Master wish to follow it a step further?”

Chu Yaoyao stepped forward.

Just as her Alps were about to touch Lin Xun, he quickly pulled back his hand and increased the distance: “Miss Chu, please stop teasing me, otherwise…”

Chu Yaoyao’s eyes were playful: “Otherwise?”

“Otherwise, I’ll assign Yaya more homework every day!”

“Giggle, giggle…” The girl let out a laugh like a hen, but it was crisp and melodious, very pleasant to hear.

Her laugh was different from Qinger’s. Qinger’s smile was reserved yet proud, and within that pride was a touch of sweetness.

But Chu Yaoyao’s laughter carried a silky charm; it was a hearty, seductive laugh.

“Alright, Yaoyao won’t tease Young Master anymore.”

Her fair fingers curled slightly to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Chu Yaoyao knelt down and held Yaya’s small hand.

“Yaya, sister has some things to do and needs to go out for a while. Will you stay with Brother Lin Pei for these few days?”

“Sister… will sister be gone for a long time?”

Hearing that her sister was leaving, Yaya lowered her small head.

“Not for long. Just like before, sister will be back very soon.”

“Mm-hmm.” Yaya nodded. “Yaya will wait for sister to come back.”

Back in the Ten Thousand Demon Sect, besides Cultivating, Chu Yaoyao also needed to go out on missions. Every time, she said she would be back soon, and she always came back.

So in Yaya’s eyes, at most after sleeping through thirty moons, her sister would be back again.

But Chu Yaoyao knew that this time, she would need at least several years, or perhaps, she might never return.

However, Chu Yaoyao did not bring this sadness to Yaya. Instead, she gently stroked Yaya’s head: “Mm, Yaya is so good. You must sleep well, eat your fill every day, and listen to Brother Lin.”

“Mm-hmm-hmm.” Yaya clenched her small fists, her large eyes like red agate looking seriously at her sister. “Yaya will definitely be obedient.”

Chu Yaoyao’s eyes became increasingly gentle, like a mother’s. Her fair hands straightened the small dress on Yaya.

“Yaya is the most sensible. Perhaps by the time sister returns, Yaya will have already grown into a big girl.”

“A big girl?” Yaya’s eyes sparkled. “As big as sister?”

Chu Yaoyao’s eyes curved in a smile, and she stole a glance at Lin Xun. “Yes, as big as sister.”

Lin Xun: “…”

He knew the sisters were talking about height and age, but he really didn’t intend to think the wrong way… “Then what does Yaya want to do when she grows up?” Just as Lin Xun felt he might be a bit weird, Chu Yaoyao asked.

“Yaya… Yaya wants to… Yaya wants to get married!” Yaya happily stood on her tiptoes, her snow-white, fluffy tail swaying back and forth in the air.

“A cute wish.”

Lin Xun looked at Yaya and nodded, picking up a teacup from the stone table and pouring himself some tea.

Many Little Girls’ dreams are to be a bride when they grow up. What a pure and beautiful wish, what a lovely age.

“Wants to get married, huh.” Chu Yaoyao also gave a gentle smile. “Who does Yaya want to marry?”

“Brother Lin~~~”

“Pfft—cough, cough, cough.”

“Yaya wants to marry Brother Lin when she grows up~~~”

“Cough, cough, cough!”

Lin Xun coughed violently, his expression quite embarrassed.

“Hehehe…” Only Chu Yaoyao was on the side, covering her mouth and laughing softly.

“What’s wrong, sister? Is it not okay?” Yaya’s small hands pinched her skirt, her head lowered, and her small tail hung down listlessly.

“It’s okay, of course it’s okay.” Chu Yaoyao wiped away the fragrant tears from the corners of her eyes. “When the time comes, sister and Yaya will marry Young Master Lin together. Then the three of us can always be together.”

“Really? That’s great~” Yaya jumped up happily.

“Cough!” Lin Xun cleared his throat. “Please stop joking, Miss Chu. Yaya is still young.”

“Bleh.” Chu Yaoyao playfully stuck out her pink tongue at Lin Xun.

“Alright, then sister is leaving. Yaya, you have to work hard to grow up~”

“Mm, Yaya will work hard.”

Lin Xun: “…”

He felt that the sisters seemed to ignore his words.

But whatever, when Yaya grows up, she’ll know what love is—even though Yaya is over fifteen hundred years older than him.

“I’ll see you off, Miss.” Lin Xun picked up Yaya.

“Mm.”

Chu Yaoyao nodded. Seeing Lin Xun holding Yaya, letting her sit in the crook of his arm while his other hand supported her back, and Yaya affectionately hugging his neck, the slight worry she had felt completely vanished.

Lin Xun and Chu Yaoyao walked side by side.

Yaya said she wanted to hold her sister’s hand, so Lin Xun put her down.

Yaya held Lin Xun with one small hand and her sister with the other.

Lin Xun’s expression didn’t fluctuate much as he continued to walk forward elegantly, but Chu Yaoyao’s fox-like eyes flickered slightly as she glanced at the man beside her.

She wanted to tease him, saying, “Does Young Master feel like we are a family of three, strolling through the city right now?”

But she didn’t say it until they walked out of the city gate.

For the girl, she didn’t know if it was because the sadness of parting had made her lose the mood for teasing.

Or if she was afraid that if she teased him, he would let go of Yaya’s hand, and they would no longer be a “family of three.”

From the courtyard to the eastern city gate, the path wasn’t long, but it couldn’t be called short either.

Chu Yaoyao had walked it many times.

But for the first time, Chu Yaoyao felt…

Was this path… actually so short? In a daze, she had already reached the city gate.

“Young Master won’t see me off further?” Chu Yaoyao said with a smile.

Lin Xun didn’t mind; he had already taken a step out, so he might as well go a bit further.

But Chu Yaoyao’s next sentence made Lin Xun quickly retract his foot.

“Maybe if Young Master sees me off a bit more, Yaoyao will truly fall in love with you.”

“Ah, never mind then. I’ll stop here.” Lin Xun said, sweating. “A long journey must come to an end; here is fine.”

“Young Master is a coward.”

“No, I’m just following my heart.”

“Following your heart?”

Chu Yaoyao was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily after understanding.

Her charming smile and silky laughter drew the gazes of passersby, and once they looked, they could no longer turn away.

“Hehehe… following your heart (Cóng Xīn). If you stack ‘Cóng’ on top of ‘Xīn’, isn’t it the character for ‘cowardly’ (Sǒng)? Young Master is indeed a scholar.”

“Don’t slander me. I didn’t, don’t talk nonsense.” Lin Xun quickly denied it three times.

“Young Master is really afraid of Qinger.”

“Who says? I’m the one who calls the shots at home!”

“Oh?” Chu Yaoyao’s eyes flickered. “Except during the day?”

“…” Lin Xun’s brow twitched. This girl was indeed very strange—or were all fox demons strange?

But before Lin Xun could say anything, Chu Yaoyao took two steps back, placed her hands on her shapely legs, and bent her knees. It was close to a half-kneel, yet even more graceful and moving, her skirt spreading out like a blooming narcissus.

“Yaoyao is leaving. I’ll trouble Young Master to look after Yaya.”

“Miss, you overstate it. I will wait for you to return next early summer.” Lin Xun returned the bow seriously.

Chu Yaoyao smiled softly and slowly stood up. “Young Master wouldn’t be so heartbroken as to regret it after Yaoyao leaves, would he?”

Lin Xun smiled and said, “That won’t happen. On the contrary, I’ve heard that the fox race are all people of sentiment. I just hope Miss doesn’t secretly wipe away tears because you’ve left me.”

“I won’t!”

Chu Yaoyao rolled her eyes at this insensitive straight man. Stepping forward, she stroked Yaya’s head, her eyes filled with a gentle smile. “Listen to Brother Lin, and wait for sister to return.”

“Mm.” Yaya grabbed her sister’s hem, her small nose twitching and turning red, tears welling up in her eyes.

Chu Yaoyao took a step back. The golden edge of the sunlight framed her plain skirt, and the summer breeze gently blew her dress, the gauzy fabric clinging to her body and highlighting her figure.

Chu Yaoyao’s eyes curved in a smile—it was just a smile, but it seemed to make time stop. Everything turned black and white, and only she carried warm and charming colors.

Even Lin Xun was momentarily dazed.

By the time Lin Xun snapped out of it, color had returned to the world, and she had already disappeared from the spot.

“Good thing I didn’t see her off further.” Looking into the distance, Lin Xun shook his head.

On the mountain path in the distance, the woman walked leisurely. She seemed to take one step at a time, as if on an outing, but each step covered several meters, stirring up gusts of fresh wind.

At the same time, a Little Girl was being led by her mother’s hand along the mountain path.

A fragrant wind brushed past the mother and daughter. The Little Girl stopped and lifted her small head.

“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” the mother asked gently.

“Mommy.” The Little Girl blinked her eyes.

“Hmm?”

“It’s raining.”

The mother looked up at the sky; it was cloudless for ten thousand miles.

“No, it’s not.”

“It is.”

The Little Girl used her short finger to gently point at her chubby little face.

“Mommy… look.”

A droplet of water on the Little Girl’s cheek shimmered with a faint luster.

“It’s rain.”