After My Paranoid Act to Woo My Cold Master Failed - Chapter 21

Shen Shuheng’s eyelashes trembled, her eyes shimmering like water. The moment her Master’s gaze locked onto hers, her very breath seemed to stagnate.

“Hot… it’s not anything else, it’s just too hot!” she insisted, her stubbornness showing.

After she spoke, she saw Fu Xueke give a faint smile and press a hand against her cheek. The sensations of burning heat and icy coldness converged on her face.

“It is indeed very hot, almost scalding to the touch,” Fu Xueke remarked.

Shen Shuheng felt her face burning; if her Master continued like this, the crimson flush would likely never fade. Master’s hand was cool, and it did indeed help reduce the heat on her skin, but a fire seemed to be blazing within her heart.

Having grown up in the snow-covered Inquiry Pavilion, Fu Xueke’s body temperature was always low. She was accustomed to it, but now, as warmth flowed continuously from her disciple’s face into her palm, she found herself reluctant to move her hand away.

Shen Shuheng first lowered her gaze, her long lashes veiling her eyes. Then she blinked, revealing her watery pupils as she peeked cautiously at her Master.

Seeing the moisture welling in Shen Shuheng’s eyes, Fu Xueke said, “Go to sleep,” and withdrew her hand.

The moment the hand left, Shen Shuheng’s face grew even hotter. Where it had been a faint pink before, it was now a deep, blood-red flush. She didn’t dare look directly at her Master. Feigning discomfort, she adjusted her posture and rolled over, leaving Fu Xueke with only the view of her back.

“I’m sleeping,” Shen Shuheng said softly.

Watching her disciple curl into a small ball with her back turned, the smile returned to Fu Xueke’s lips. She did not sleep but remained watching the girl’s silhouette.

Shen Shuheng had not rested well in a long time. Once she closed her eyes, her consciousness quickly drifted into the depths of a dream. Her steady breathing reached Fu Xueke’s ears. Suddenly, the sleeping girl rolled over to face her. Her eyes were closed, her lashes slightly upturned, and the corners of her mouth curved into a serene, peaceful smile.

The icy solitude in Fu Xueke’s eyes would melt into a tender spring breeze whenever she looked at Shen Shuheng, and a faint smile always lingered on her lips. Suddenly, the girl reached out and wrapped herself around her, burying her head in her Master’s embrace and falling still. Fu Xueke wrapped her arms around her disciple, allowing her to hold her.

Shen Shuheng’s sleeping face was peaceful, but her sleeping posture was quite restless. While it wasn’t particularly comfortable for Fu Xueke to lie like this, she did not push her away.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon Shen Shuheng’s face, slowly waking her. The clear, cold fragrance surrounded her, and the moment she opened her eyes, she met her Master’s gaze.

“Master…” She discovered her hand resting on her Master’s waist, their bodies pressed tightly together and their dark hair hopelessly intertwined.

Did I really become a ‘Dengtuzi’ like Master said? she wondered in a panic, quickly withdrawing her hand and leaving Fu Xueke’s embrace. “I don’t know what happened after I fell asleep,” she said, trying to distance herself from her actions.

Fu Xueke looked at her. “While you were sleeping, you started crying, and then you shrunk into my embrace.”

Shen Shuheng’s eyes widened. I cried in my sleep? How embarrassing! Why don’t I remember any of it?

“Things that happen while sleeping don’t count. I’m not a crybaby,” she said pridefully as she sat up.

Fu Xueke nodded seriously. “Indeed, you are not. And I certainly never wiped away your tears.”

A faint blush crept onto the tips of Shen Shuheng’s ears hidden beneath her hair, though her face was no longer as prone to flushing as before. She could tell her Master was teasing her. Why is Master like this now? She never used to be.

“Master, let’s get up first,” she said, feigning composure.

After getting ready, the two left the room. Shen Shuheng immediately spotted Yue Bai. Beside her stood a woman in a green Daoist robe, looking as elegant as a pale lotus under the cold moon. Yue Bai had mentioned she was a disciple of the Daoist Sect; seeing the Daoist nun beside her, Shen Shuheng finally remembered. Yue Bai looked so unlike a member of the Daoist Sect that she had subconsciously ignored the fact before.

“How was last night for Fellow Daoist Shen and your Master?” Yue Bai’s irreverent voice rang out.

Shen Shuheng replied, “What is there to ask about sleep?”

Yue Bai snickered, casting a meaningful glance at them before turning serious. “This is my Eldest Senior Sister.”

“This humble Daoist is Ye Changzhen. Many thanks to you all for looking after my Junior Sister,” the woman said.

Shen Shuheng had noticed earlier that Ye Changzhen’s expression was consistently indifferent, as if nothing in the world concerned her. Even as she thanked them for her sister, her face remained expressionless. However, her indifference was different—one could sense a deep compassion within it.

“My Senior Sister practices the ‘Path of Heartlessness.’ Future successors of the Daoist Sect can only practice this path,” Yue Bai explained. “This Path of Heartlessness is different from what most people understand; it is a Great Path tailored to align with Heaven and Earth. It appears heartless, but in truth, it possesses the Greatest Love—it is devoid of private affection. Like the Heavenly Dao, all living beings are equal in her eyes, without preference or distinction between high and low.”

Only then did Shen Shuheng understand why she felt a strange sensation looking at Ye Changzhen; it was because of her cultivation path.

“Fellow Daoists, farewell for now. We have matters to attend to,” Shen Shuheng said, pulling her Master toward the street.

“See you later,” Yue Bai replied.

Shen Shuheng had not yet wandered through a mortal city. Mortals do not fast, so there were bound to be many things to eat on the street. “Master, let’s go see the market first,” Shen Shuheng said, her eyes curving with joy.

“Alright.”

The street was a constant flow of people, and the sound of vendors calling out was everywhere. The aromas of various foods continuously drifted into Shen Shuheng’s nose. “So fragrant!” She saw a pastry stall ahead; the scent of osmanthus cakes wafted toward her on the breeze.

The “gluttonous worm” in her stomach was stirred by the scent. Shen Shuheng pointed that way. “Master, I want to eat those pastries.”

“Spirit stones do not circulate in the mortal realm, and I did not bring any silver or copper,” Fu Xueke replied.

“Actually, I don’t want to eat them that much. Fasting pills are quite tasty too,” Shen Shuheng said, hearing that her Master had no money.

“Wait for me here. I will go exchange some spirit stones for silver,” Fu Xueke said, looking at her disciple’s slumped shoulders and knowing she was lying. The girl’s “duplicity” was quite cute.

Shen Shuheng nodded obediently and crouched in a corner, resting her face in her hands as she watched her Master’s figure disappear into the distance. She was truly hungry, and her stomach even gave a loud growl. Her gaze drifted back to the pastry stall, and she swallowed her saliva.

The vendor was an elderly woman who had noticed the young girl staring at her wares for a while. She gave Shen Shuheng a kind smile. “Come here.”

Seeing the grandmother beckon her, Shen Shuheng stood up and waved her hand dismissively.

“I’m about to close up. There are only two or three left—they aren’t worth much. Come, I’ll give them to you for free.”

Shen Shuheng walked over awkwardly, scratching the back of her head and standing there unsure of what to do. A spring breeze blew past, stirring the grandmother’s silver hair; her slightly squinted eyes held a glimmer of kindness.

“Thank you,” Shen Shuheng said, accepting the paper bag. It felt slightly warm to the touch.

“It’s nothing. I’m closing up now, and if they aren’t sold, they’ll just go to waste.” She needed to hurry back to look after her granddaughter.

Shen Shuheng felt bad about not paying. Suddenly, she thought of the pills in her storage bag; Rejuvenation Pills were extremely beneficial even for mortals. She produced several bottles and handed them to the grandmother. “These are for you. If you feel ill, take one. They are very good for you.”

The bottles clearly weren’t ordinary items, let alone the contents. “This is too precious. My old woman’s things aren’t worth much; this isn’t right.”

“I refined them myself, and I have many more. They aren’t precious, please take them,” Shen Shuheng insisted, stuffing the pills into the grandmother’s hands before bolting away.

The grandmother took one of the pills herself and felt a wave of warmth surge through her. Her long-standing chronic ailments seemed to be slowly healing. Her face lit up with joy—her granddaughter could be saved. She rose every day before dawn to travel hours from town to sell pastries here, hoping to scrape together enough money for the child’s treatment.

Shen Shuheng opened the bag and began to eat. It was pleasantly chewy, with the fragrance of osmanthus lingering on her tongue. So delicious! I have to save two for Master. I’ll just eat one.

A snowy-white figure moved through the crowd. Before her Master could even draw close, Shen Shuheng ran toward her eagerly. “Master, the grandmother gave me these just now and didn’t take any money!”

She joyfully handed the remaining two to her Master. “They’re delicious! I ate… a few already.” She quickly caught herself before saying “one” and claimed to have eaten several.

Fu Xueke looked at her skeptically. Her disciple was lying; whenever she lied, she would instinctively grip her clothes. Having raised her, how could she not know?

“There are two left. I don’t particularly like sweets; I’ll only have one,” Fu Xueke said.

Master always fasted and rarely ate; sometimes she would make a meal for Shen Shuheng and only then have a little. Shen Shuheng didn’t even know what her Master liked; it seemed she only ever ate a bit of whatever Shen Shuheng was eating.

Shen Shuheng took a white pastry from the bag, but her hand suddenly slipped. The cake fell to the ground, rolling several times and becoming covered in dust. She pulled her hand back with regret, letting it hang by her side.

“There’s only one left. Master, you eat it.”

“You eat it,” Fu Xueke said, taking the last osmanthus cake and holding it to Shen Shuheng’s lips.

Shen Shuheng didn’t reach for it, fearing that if it fell again, none would be left. She took a bite directly with her mouth, chewing slowly. “Osmanthus flavored… so good.”

“Is it really that good? Let me try as well,” Fu Xueke said. She leaned in and took a light bite from the exact spot Shen Shuheng had just bitten.

Master took a bite from where I just ate? Doesn’t she have a thing about cleanliness?

“It is indeed so,” Fu Xueke said. She didn’t continue eating but held the pastry back to Shen Shuheng’s lips to feed her again.

As Shen Shuheng ate, a thought occurred to her: Doesn’t this count as an indirect kiss with Master?

At this thought, her gaze drifted to her Master’s face, her watery apricot eyes looking at her with a hint of bashfulness.