After making arrangements for Sweet Potato, Yue Xi rested for a moment. ’Jiang Zuo must be sweating bullets right now, helping the little lady scrub her shell,’ she mused.

’He’ll scrub and scrub until he’s at a complete loss. Her shell is just too big, and she looks so majestic and imposing... He’s probably quaking inside.’

Yue Xi snickered. "He actually dared to come and ask for Sweet Potato. He really has a death wish."

If Jiang Zuo were a Cultivator, she would have definitely been even harsher.

But when Yue Xi arrived at the small hill and saw Xuanwu and Jiang Zuo, she was stunned.

’What in the world am I seeing?’

Not only was Jiang Zuo not scrubbing the shell, but he was also sitting comfortably off to the side. And the little lady wasn’t even mad. In fact, she was scrubbing away with gusto all by herself!

’What happened?’

’Was she tricked like a little kid?’

’The kind who gets sold and then helps the buyer count the cash?’

Yue Xi immediately went to Xuanwu’s side and asked, "Fifth Brother, didn’t I tell Jiang Zuo to help you scrub? Why are you doing it yourself?"

Xuanwu’s eyes darted around for a moment. "He was too slow, so I decided to do it myself."

It had originally intended to mention the Treasure Manual, but on second thought, it decided it could use the manual to pull a fast one on the devious Old Qi later, so it couldn’t say anything now.

It also wanted to warn Jiang Zuo not to say anything.

Yue Xi narrowed her eyes at Xuanwu. "Fifth Brother, what are you scheming?"

"Nothing," Xuanwu said, dropping the brush and quickly submerging itself at the bottom of the lake.

No matter how Yue Xi called, it refused to come out.

Yue Xi looked at Jiang Zuo and asked, "What is she plotting?"

Jiang Zuo just shook his head silently. He really had no idea what that tortoise was thinking.

’Besides, it’s clearly a Xuanwu. Why does it insist on calling its shell a turtle shell?’

’Isn’t that indirectly admitting it’s just a regular turtle?’

A turtle and a Xuanwu were two completely different species, after all. That was why Jiang Zuo couldn’t possibly know what it was thinking.

Yue Xi was Jiang Zuo’s elder, so naturally, she wouldn’t pester him unreasonably. She had the dignity of an elder to maintain.

So she didn’t press the matter and instead led the way. "Come on. I’ll take you to see your Sweet Potato."

Yue Xi was indignant. Her plan was to make this couple give up and go home, but now that was impossible. There was no more opportunity to give them a hard time.

’That girl of mine is completely useless. She got tricked so easily.’

Soon, Jiang Zuo followed Yue Xi to a bamboo house. It was protected by an Array, so the ice and snow hadn’t covered the building.

Beside the house, there was even a vibrant touch of spring.

"This is where Su Qi lived as a child, or rather, it’s her normal residence. If you weren’t in Chuanhe Town, she would be living here."

With that, Yue Xi led Jiang Zuo inside.

As soon as he stepped in, he saw a row of photos on the wall. Almost all of them were pictures of him and Su Qi together.

From childhood to adulthood to their wedding, they were all there.

"Every time she comes back, she puts up a few more. Before you know it, there are this many. She just smiles foolishly at them every day. If they hadn’t found a loophole this time, you wouldn’t have been able to come."

"Since things have come to this, there’s not much I can say. But I hope you can maintain this sense of peace."

"Whether it’s real or fake, at least act like a man."

As she said this, a trace of loneliness flickered in Yue Xi’s eyes, but it was gone in an instant. Then she smiled and said, "But like I said before, a real man needs to have his own opinions. You can’t just..."

"I’m here for Sweet Potato," Jiang Zuo interrupted her.

Yue Xi: "..., In the pond out back. Get it yourself, then see yourself out. I’m leaving."

After saying that, Yue Xi really did turn on her heel and leave, not caring at all how Jiang Zuo was supposed to get back.

Jiang Zuo didn’t mind. He went to the backyard and, sure enough, saw Sweet Potato in the pond. But this time, it couldn’t float on the surface.

It was just floundering in the water.

"Can’t swim without your fur?" Jiang Zuo said as he scooped Sweet Potato out.

As soon as Jiang Zuo picked it up, Sweet Potato looked like it was about to cry again. Its miserable days were finally over.

After setting Sweet Potato aside, Jiang Zuo went back into the room. This was Su Qi’s room, and he wanted to have a look.

To Jiang Zuo, the room seemed to be filled with more photos than anything else: photos of Su Qi with him, with Jingjing, with the Saintess, with her aunt, and with that expert he had almost killed.

Plus one with that Xuanwu.

Besides these people, Su Qi had never taken a photo with anyone else.

Jiang Zuo sighed. Fortunately, he hadn’t acted back then.

However, there were no pictures of Jiu Xi here. ’That might be good news,’ he thought.

The thought was fleeting. He was more concerned with Su Qi.

Then, Jiang Zuo found a notebook in Su Qi’s bedroom. He picked it up subconsciously.

He didn’t have much respect for other people’s privacy. It was a bad habit, but one he couldn’t seem to break.

Jiang Zuo opened it to the first page.

I met a super annoying guy today. I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I’m writing it down.

Date: November 6, 2008.

’Ten years ago?’

Jiang Zuo was a little surprised. The notebook was in really good condition.

He felt the cover and realized the notebook’s material was high quality; it must have been custom-made.

Then Jiang Zuo turned to the second page:

Why did the teacher have to make me share a desk with a boy? I hate him. And he’s a pervert; he keeps sneaking glances at me.

I’m going to tell the teacher tomorrow. I want to change seats.

Oh, and he smiled at me. I hate him so much.

2008.11.6

******

Jiang Zuo thought back for a moment. ’She couldn’t be talking about me, could she? Wait, it sounds exactly like me.’

’So I was a pervert?’

Jiang Zuo wondered why his rebirth hadn’t sent him back to that time. If it had, he’d see if he would still look. Just a Pink Skull, nothing more.

******

2008.11.7

Okay, so he’s a little annoying, but he did help me out. I’ll wait a couple of days to change seats.

But that guy is still nuts. He actually splashed water on me. Even if he was helping, he shouldn’t have splashed me.

See? All men are bad.

I should stay away from them.

Besides, a Saintess isn’t supposed to get too close to men.

******

2008.11.9

I’m not a bad student. It’s just that I have to practice my Cultivation at night, so I don’t have time to study or do homework.

Why does he look at me like I’m a bad kid?

I’m a Saintess! Doesn’t he know how to respect a Saintess?

I want to change seats.

******

2008.11.17

He said today’s homework was really important and I’d get scolded and have to stand in the corner if I didn’t do it.

And then he did it for me ahead of time.

Even though he’s super annoying, I still wanted to help him a little. So, yeah, I beat up the people who were going to bully him and sent them to the hospital.

But I still want to change seats. I’m going to be a Saintess.

******

2008.12.1

I failed my exam. He didn’t do that great either, but he said he could help me study after class.

But I have to practice my Cultivation! I don’t have time, so I turned him down.

He seemed pretty disappointed.

But what does that have to do with me?

******

2009.1.1

I’m starting to not hate him so much. And he seems to be talking less and less.

Did something happen?

He still helps me like before, but it feels different. The old light in his eyes is gone.

Does he hate me now?

But isn’t that a good thing? A Saintess doesn’t need anyone’s love.

If he hates me, he hates me.

******

Reading this, Jiang Zuo couldn’t help but laugh. He was just faking it back then—acting all deep and melancholic. To put it bluntly, he was just going through a cringey teenage phase.

Looking back, his acting must have been terrible.

Luckily, the Su Qi from back then wasn’t that sharp.