The Cannon Fodder Supporting Female Character is Still Alive Today - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Live Broadcast Site (8)

…her qinggong is too strong; I couldn’t keep up, so I had to come back first.”

After pondering, Bai Yao suddenly thought of a location.

Bai Yao asked, “Where is the Sealed Martial Cliff?”

147

When Bai Yao finally found Luo Qi, she was standing on the edge of a cliff. Her jade-colored gown fluttered in the wind, her black hair danced, and her posture was ethereal.

The Sealed Martial Cliff (Feng Wu Ya) was where Qin Wufang and Luo Qi had fallen together, and where their past affection had rekindled.

Bai Yao said to Si Qingyu and the others who had followed, “Wait for me here. I’ll go to Luo Qi…”

Hearing Bai Yao’s footsteps, Luo Qi turned around and looked at the person walking towards her.

Then she frowned and said, “Why did you come?”

Bai Yao walked to her side and said, “Luo Qi, do you really not remember me?”

Luo Qi looked at Bai Yao and said coldly, “Yun Niao.”

Then she said, “Why are you still alive? And why are you pestering me?”

Bai Yao gently pulled on Luo Qi’s sleeve and said, “Luo Qi, don’t be like this. You… think about me carefully…”

Frowning at the corner of her sleeve being held, Luo Qi said, “Yun Niao, even though I haven’t seen you, I know who you are.”

Bai Yao whispered, “I am not Yun Niao.”

Luo Qi turned around and said, “Let go.”

Bai Yao was startled. Before she could let go, Luo Qi suddenly paused and quickly raised a hand to cover her forehead.

In that instant, the uncontrolled force made Bai Yao instantly retreat half a step. Then her foot seemed to step on a small stone. After staggering a few more steps backward, she fell backward.

Behind her was the bottomless abyss of the Sealed Martial Cliff.

The last thing Bai Yao heard was Su Mu Bai’s startled cry: “Miss Bai!”

148

Luo Qi had a dream.

After taking Annihilation (Mie Sheng), when her vision completely fell into darkness, her body felt like it was slowly floating in water.

After floating for a long time, the light returned, and Luo Qi saw a strange world.

Iron-plated four-sided boxes on wheels flew everywhere. The buildings were strangely shaped and lacked aesthetic beauty, yet each one was astonishingly high.

There were no mountains or green rivers. Strange sights were everywhere, and people wore pitifully little clothing.

Luo Qi felt her body touch the ground, but she still felt light and unreal.

She drifted around, not knowing the direction or where she was. Until she crossed a certain point, the scenery suddenly changed.

The scene there somewhat resembled the world in her memory, but there were still people dressed strangely inside. Occasionally, a few people whose clothing was similar to hers ran around, shouting things like “Director” and “Extra.”

Luo Qi walked blankly for a long time until she heard someone shout, “Bai Yao! Is Bai Yao here?”

Yaoyao?

Luo Qi looked around following the sound, and then heard a voice respond, “Here, I’m here!”

The voice was clear and crisp. It wasn’t a voice she remembered hearing, but it was surprisingly pleasant. The rising inflection at the end had a hint of familiarity mixed with the strangeness.

Luo Qi turned her head following the reply and saw a young girl standing up from a set of steps in the corner, holding up her hand. She ran while answering, her bright eyes filled with a radiant smile.

149

That girl was not Yaoyao.

Yet, she was very much like Yaoyao.

When the girl smiled, she had two small dimples that Yaoyao didn’t have, but the upward curve of her lips was very similar to Yaoyao‘s.

Luo Qi paused and turned to walk toward the girl.

Luo Qi didn’t understand what the girl was doing. She was facing a black stand and box, with several people sitting behind the box, and others carrying the black box and walking around the girl.

150

Luo Qi followed the girl for a whole day.

During that time, the girl changed several outfits. She smeared her face black and crouched on the ground, chewing a cold steamed bun. She put on a soldier’s uniform and lay on the ground, exposed to the sun. Then she changed into a white dress and jumped into the water in front of the black box.

Watching the girl climb out of the water, nearly exhausted, Luo Qi frowned in sympathy. But when she reached out to help the girl, her hand passed right through her.

151

The day ended, and Luo Qi followed the girl home.

Luo Qi thought this should be home, but it was too small.

The girl sat by the simple small bed, sighed in relief, patted her own cheek as if encouraging herself, and then smiled as she picked up the steamed bun in her hand.

The girl talked to herself, “I worked hard today too. Time to enjoy dinner happily!”

Huddled by the small table, the girl held a steamed bun in one hand and a flat object in the other. It was the thickness of a jade pendant, but much larger than one.

The girl then mumbled, “Sigh, it’s really heartbreaking.”

Luo Qi leaned in to look at the small object in the girl’s hand and saw that it was covered in densely packed small words, faintly flashing with light.

The girl smacked her lips and said, “Why can’t you be a little nicer to the female lead? It’s too tragic for her.”

Then the girl paused and said, “Bai Yao, Bai Yao, don’t talk about others. You’re tragically eating steamed buns every day.”

But she quickly blinked and said, “Ah, but honestly, steamed buns are delicious.”

Luo Qi smiled upon hearing this.

This seemed to be her Yaoyao.

Only her appearance had changed, but her adorable nature was exactly the same as her Yaoyao’s.

Thinking this, Luo Qi couldn’t help but reach out, wanting to rub the girl’s little head. But the moment she touched the girl, a strong light suddenly flashed from her fingertips.

As the light dissipated, the unfinished steamed bun dropped to the floor.

Everything fell silent.

152

Luo Qi opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a patch of woods. Then she heard an anxious voice: “What should we do? Miss Bai fell down…”

Shaking her head, Luo Qi looked back and saw Su Mu Bai standing by a cliff edge, with You Ze and Si Qingyu also present.

Luo Qi asked, “What… are you doing?”

Si Qingyu turned around from the cliff edge and urgently asked, “What did you do?”

“Even if Annihilation caused a problem and you don’t recognize her, you shouldn’t have treated her like that!”

Luo Qi frowned upon hearing this. “What are you talking about?”

Then a headache struck, and fragmented memories returned to her mind. Luo Qi was suddenly stunned.

Did she… do these things to Yaoyao?

How could she do that?

Observing the expression on Luo Qi’s face, Si Qingyu paused and asked, “Did you… remember?”

Luo Qi suddenly looked up at the cliff in front of her.

Ignoring Si Qingyu’s question, Luo Qi quickly walked to the cliff edge and leaped down.

Safe

153

Inside the palace walls.

The candlelight flickered in the hall. The woman in the curtained bed opened her eyes and sat up. Her eyes, filled with starlight, swept over the furnishings of the hall, and she slightly frowned.

A deep voice beside her asked, “Why are you awake?”

Looking back at the man lying next to her, the woman blinked, lay back down, and said, “I think I had a very vivid dream.”

“What dream?”

“I dreamed that Linglong was still alive, but she didn’t seem to recognize me. Then I saw some strange people in the dream. I wanted to find you, but I didn’t know where you were.”

The man narrowed his eyes, which shone with a faint blue light. He reached out and gently smoothed the woman’s hair. “Don’t worry. She and Le Zhao are in another world. Perhaps they have already reunited.”

Looking at the woman’s still-troubled eyes, the man said, “No need to search. I will always be by your side from now on.”

The man whispered, “My Empress.”

The woman nodded, a faint smile spreading and melting the frosty atmosphere in her eyes. “Mhm.”

154

Watching Luo Qi jump down as well, Su Mu Bai was startled. He asked, “Where is the bottom of this place? How deep is it?”

Si Qingyu frowned. “With Luo Qi’s martial skill, she should be able to successfully reach the bottom of the cliff.”

Su Mu Bai asked, “What about Miss Bai?”

Si Qingyu didn’t answer.

Su Mu Bai immediately became anxious. You Ze looked at the bottomless abyss in the night and said, “I’ll take you down to look.”

But Si Qingyu reached out to stop him. “Don’t go. This place is called Sealed Martial Cliff because a strange flower grows at the bottom. When it blooms, it releases a substance that causes people to lose their internal energy.”

Transformation (Hua Fan) was extracted from this flower.

Si Qingyu said, “It is currently blooming season. Even if you successfully reach the bottom, the cliff walls here are steep with no way up. If you lose your internal energy, you won’t be able to climb back.”

Su Mu Bai frowned. “Then what should we do? Can we only leave them to their fate?”

Si Qingyu said, “I once developed an antidote, but it was all used up at the Black Cloud Fortress. It will take a few days to reformulate it.”

That meant they could only wait a few more days.

Unable to offer aid, Su Mu Bai then remembered the matter of the rebellion Bai Yao mentioned. Si Qingyu was also worried about Qin Wufang’s progress.

After a moment of silence, the two parties, each preoccupied, bid farewell and left in separate directions.

155

The moment she stepped into the void, Bai Yao felt the rapid descent.

Character Bai Yao, welcome to the Sealed Martial Cliff extreme bungee jumping experience.

The one without a harness.

Before reaching the bottom, Bai Yao fainted first.

156

Flying down from the cliff, Luo Qi realized something was wrong just as she was about to reach the bottom.

The scent of the flowers was too dense, as if she were directly in the mist of Transformation. After landing, Luo Qi had already lost most of her internal energy.

But she didn’t have time to worry about it and immediately began searching for Bai Yao’s whereabouts.

The night grew deeper. The grass and trees in the cliff area were covered in an inky shadow, making it hard to see clearly. Luo Qi stumbled through the deep and shallow grasses, fear and anxiety filling her mind, but she couldn’t find the figure from her memory anywhere.

“Yaoyao, Yaoyao?”

The mountain wind swept by, with only a few insect chirps as a response.

Just as she was about to despair, someone beside her asked, “Who are you?”

Luo Qi suddenly looked up at the person silhouetted against the moonlight.

The person looked at Luo Qi for a few moments and said, “Are you looking for the person who just fell down?”

157

When Bai Yao opened her eyes and adjusted to the light, the first thing she saw was a fabric curtain. Then she realized she was lying on a bed somewhere.

?!

I, Bai Yao, am still alive!

She quickly took a few deep breaths, savoring the reality of survival. Bai Yao then attempted to sit up, but only managed to lift her arm before crying out in pain.

Before the sound faded, the door was opened. A jade-colored figure quickly swept to the bedside, rapidly and gently restraining the struggling Bai Yao.

Seeing Bai Yao awake, Luo Qi’s face first lit up with joy, then she said, “Don’t move yet.”

Bai Yao blinked, looking at Luo Qi in front of her, and remained silent for a moment.

Then Luo Qi looked at her intently. “I’m sorry, Yaoyao.”

Hearing the term “Yaoyao,” Bai Yao instantly reacted.

Bai Yao asked, “You remembered me?”

Luo Qi nodded.

Bai Yao immediately smiled. She then tried to raise her hand to hug Luo Qi, but hissed in pain again.

Bai Yao finally noticed the source of the problem. “Huh? My arm…”

A voice said, “You fell from the cliff last night. You were first caught by the treetops and then landed on my tea-drying rack.”

Bai Yao was slightly startled, only then noticing a young girl standing behind Luo Qi.

The girl said, “Only breaking one arm is already very lucky.”

158

…Only?

Bai Yao lay flat in silence, speechless.

Character Bai Yao, currently disabled.

159

Luo Qi lowered her eyes beside her and whispered, “It’s all my fault.”

“It’s not your fault!” Bai Yao quickly recovered her spirits and said, “If I hadn’t come up with the idea of taking Annihilation, you wouldn’t have suddenly acted like that.”

Bai Yao then felt her broken arm, which seemed to have been secured with some kind of splint.

The girl beside them said, “I’ve done some simple treatment for you. Rest well, and you should be able to recover.”

Bai Yao said, “Thank you.”

Thinking of the girl mentioning tea drying earlier, Bai Yao had a rough guess about the girl’s identity, but still asked, “My name is Bai Yao. May I know how to address you, Miss?”

The girl smiled and said, “Just call me Xiao Cha (Little Tea).”

Bai Yao nodded. “Thank you, Miss Xiao Cha.”

Xiao Cha. The Tea Aunt’s daughter.

In the original book, Qin Wufang and Luo Qi, after falling down the Sealed Martial Cliff, discovered a house with many tea-making tools inside.

They later found a book on tea brewing written by the Tea Aunt in the house, which briefly mentioned the “Tea Aunt’s” background. The Tea Aunt was very skilled at brewing tea and often brought her daughter to stay briefly at the foot of the Sealed Martial Cliff.

The Tea Aunt later passed away from illness, but her daughter, Xiao Cha, would still return to the foot of the Sealed Martial Cliff from time to time.

However, according to the timeline in the book, the male and female leads never met Xiao Cha until they left.

Bai Yao couldn’t help but secretly feel lucky. Her rescue this time was thanks to the chaotic timeline.

160

Xiao Cha looked from Luo Qi to Bai Yao and said, “You two talk. I’ll go check on yesterday’s tea leaves.”

Watching Xiao Cha leave the room, Bai Yao returned her gaze and carefully examined Luo Qi, noticing many scratches on her dress, with some areas directly torn.

When flying down from the cliff, Luo Qi climbed along the cliff wall to slow her descent, but she was too anxious and then focused entirely on searching for Bai Yao, so she inevitably ended up looking a bit disheveled.

Bai Yao raised her intact left arm and reached out to pull on Luo Qi’s sleeve.

Looking at the tear in the sleeve, Bai Yao pouted and said, “Your clothes are all ripped. Were you scared?”

The expression in Luo Qi’s eyes instantly softened, and she said, “I’m sorry.”

“Hey, no, no, don’t keep apologizing…” Bai Yao said, “I know you didn’t do it on purpose. It was because you lost…”

Bai Yao paused her words. “It doesn’t seem like amnesia. What exactly happened before?”

Thinking of Si Qingyu’s words, Bai Yao tentatively asked, “Luo Qi… do you still want to find Qin Wufang?”

Luo Qi frowned and shook her head.

Bai Yao breathed a sigh of relief.

Luo Qi said, “I don’t know what happened. During that time, it felt like I wasn’t in control of my own body.”

Bai Yao was slightly startled, then understood somewhat. Luo Qi’s behavior at that time was more like the female lead in the book.

Thinking of Le Zhao and Qin Shi An’s situations, Bai Yao thought that it was probably the Luo Qi from that timeline who suddenly transmigrated over.

With some lingering fear, Bai Yao said, “I’m glad you’re back.”

But Luo Qi lowered her eyes, still looking unable to let go of her guilt.

Seeing Luo Qi like this, Bai Yao cleared her throat and said, “Luo Qi, if I punish you, will you stop blaming yourself?”

Luo Qi looked up at Bai Yao and said with certainty, “Yaoyao can punish me however she wants.”

Seeing Luo Qi look ready to accept anything, Bai Yao couldn’t help but smile and said, “Then I’ll punish you… with a kiss.”

Luo Qi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Bai Yao said, “What, are you shy…”

Before the word “shy” was fully out, Luo Qi had already leaned down and kissed her, cutting off Bai Yao’s unfinished sentence.

A soft, fragrant presence covered her. Bai Yao, who had only expected a kiss on the cheek, opened her eyes wide, then closed them, resting assured and enjoying the moment.

Mindful of Bai Yao’s injured arm, Luo Qi kissed her very carefully at first, but when she tried to pull back, she found Bai Yao slightly raising her head and meeting her halfway.

She paused her movement, smiled helplessly, and then lowered her head, kissing her again with a little more force.

This was not a punishment at all; it was clearly more like coaxing her to be happy.

Relationship

161

It wasn’t until she felt slightly oxygen-deprived that Bai Yao placed her hand on Luo Qi’s shoulder and gently pushed.

Luo Qi sensed Bai Yao’s meaning in time and pulled back.

Bai Yao gasped lightly, then smiled and nodded. She said, “The… the punishment was served.”

Luo Qi gazed at her and finally smiled too. “Mhm.”

162

Lunch was prepared by Luo Qi and Xiao Cha together.

Earlier, although Xiao Cha described Bai Yao’s arm as “broken,” it was actually just dislocated. Now that it was relocated, it was still painful, so she advised Bai Yao to try not to use that arm for the time being.

As a result, Bai Yao, who had initially wanted to help hand things over, was later asked by Xiao Cha and Luo Qi to sit down on the side.

Xiao Cha smiled and said, “Miss Bai, you should rest. If something happens again, I’ll have to treat you another time.”

163

The food was soon served, with both meat and vegetables, and an appealing aroma.

The three of them sat down to eat. During the meal, Xiao Cha asked, “I didn’t get a chance to ask earlier, how did you two fall from the cliff?”

Before Luo Qi could answer, Bai Yao said, “We were up there enjoying the view, and I accidentally stepped on a stone. I stumbled back a few steps and fell.”

Xiao Cha sighed upon hearing this. “That’s too dangerous. Fortunately, I happened to be at the bottom of the cliff these past few days.”

Watching Luo Qi neglect her own meal, focusing only on feeding Bai Yao, who had injured her arm, Xiao Cha clicked her tongue. She said to Bai Yao, “Before, Miss Luo was running all over the woods, shouting and searching. I was really startled when I saw her.”

Bai Yao looked at Luo Qi upon hearing this, thinking of the time at Black Cloud Fortress, and felt a pang of sympathy.

Sensing Bai Yao’s thoughts, Luo Qi smiled and reached out to press Bai Yao’s brow, saying softly, “Eat.”

Bai Yao nodded, smoothed out her frown, sat up straight, and obediently accepted the feeding.

164

Taking in the entire interaction, Xiao Cha said, “Ah, I really envy you two. I want such close sisters too.”

Xiao Cha paused, then asked, “Are you two biological sisters?”

Luo Qi’s movement stopped. She said, “No.”

Xiao Cha said, “Then your feelings are truly wonderful, just like biological sisters.”

Luo Qi slightly frowned upon hearing this. She lowered her eyes, neither agreeing nor refuting.

Seeing Luo Qi’s disappointed expression, Bai Yao urgently said, “No!”

Bai Yao declared firmly, “She is not my sister; she is my girlfriend!”

But she didn’t get the reaction she expected.

Luo Qi and Xiao Cha both looked over with confusion. Xiao Cha asked, “What is a girlfriend?”

165

Sorry, I forgot about the cultural difference.

Xiao Cha asked, “Does it mean a friend with a closer relationship?”

“No…” Bai Yao cleared her throat, quickly searched for a few terms, and said, “A girlfriend, is the person I like. When we get married later, she will be my wife, my spouse, my madam!”

With this bold declaration, Xiao Cha’s eyes gradually widened.

Then Xiao Cha stammered, “Are you… are you two in a relationship of mutual admiration?”

Bai Yao nodded, utterly certain. “Yes!”

Xiao Cha then stared and looked at Luo Qi.

Luo Qi tilted her head, gazing at Bai Yao without blinking.

Bai Yao had spoken quickly and with a little shyness, her cheeks flushed, making her vibrant face appear even more radiant.

Ignoring Xiao Cha, who was waiting filled with questions, Luo Qi didn’t answer. She lowered her head and kissed Bai Yao.

Soft, warm lips covered hers. Bai Yao was stunned for a moment, then closed her eyes.

Xiao Cha’s chopsticks fell to the ground.

166

Being in front of someone, Luo Qi didn’t kiss for long before stopping.

Then, looking at the intensely flushed Bai Yao, Luo Qi gently asked, “Yaoyao wants to marry me?”

Bai Yao, maintaining a facade of calm despite her deeply red cheeks, nodded. “Mhm, n-no, can’t I?”

Luo Qi curved her eyes and said, “You can.”

She took Bai Yao’s hand and said, “I’m so happy.”

Bai Yao blinked, smiled as she looked down, and squeezed Luo Qi’s hand back.

Bai Yao then turned her head to look at the almost petrified Xiao Cha.

Xiao Cha’s gaze shifted back and forth between Bai Yao and Luo Qi. After a long moment, she quietly picked up the chopsticks on the floor and said, “…Co-congratulations.”

167

Under the guise of washing the chopsticks, Xiao Cha diligently processed the stimulating scene she had just witnessed.

By the time she returned to the dining table, she had calmed down.

Thinking that this world wasn’t that open after all, Bai Yao was eating her meal properly and quietly when Xiao Cha suddenly said, “Then should I prepare the same room for you two?”

Bai Yao, who was mid-swallow, instantly choked.

Luo Qi reached out to pat Bai Yao’s back.

Xiao Cha glanced at Bai Yao and said, “Ah, but your arm isn’t healed yet. I think you two should temporarily sleep separately.”

Bai Yao, choking again: “???”

168

Sister, your acceptance level is completely beyond my estimation.

169

Seeing Bai Yao choke twice, Xiao Cha grinned and dropped the subject of the room. Instead, she said, “However, if you want to go up, you’ll have to wait a while.”

Xiao Cha explained the matter of the strange flowers at the bottom of the cliff to Bai Yao. “It’s currently blooming season. Without qinggong, you can’t climb up.”

Bai Yao’s flushed face slightly calmed down. She nodded and asked, “How much longer will it be?”

Xiao Cha said, “About half a month.”

“That long?”

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Cha asked. “Is there something urgent?”

Luo Qi also turned to look. Bai Yao said, “There are some things…”

It had been one night already. She didn’t know what was happening to the people above.

While they were calmly eating here at the bottom of the cliff, the situation above might have already descended into chaos.

170

Sensing Bai Yao’s thoughts, Xiao Cha blinked and said, “You don’t necessarily have to wait half a month.”

Bai Yao asked, “Is there a way to go up earlier?”

They had mostly finished eating. Xiao Cha nodded, stood up, and retrieved a birdcage from under the eaves of the house.

The bird in the cage was unusually beautiful, its feathers a blend of deep black with silver-white streaks. It held its small head high and looked energetic, yet it was quiet.

Xiao Cha mumbled to the cage, “Go help me find him and tell him to come here.”

She paused, then added, “But this is to help Miss Bai. It’s not because I want to see him, okay?”

Bai Yao doubted whether the bird could understand such complex instructions, but Xiao Cha immediately opened the cage. The bird glanced at her and soared into the sky, moving faster than Bai Yao could have imagined.

Xiao Cha watched the bird quickly depart and said, “There is someone who can help you go up, but I don’t know if he will be willing to come… Even if he is, it will probably take three or four days.”

Bai Yao immediately thanked her. Even three or four days was much better than half a month.

171

After clearing the dishes, Xiao Cha went back to look after her tea leaves. Bai Yao called Luo Qi, and they went for a casual stroll.

The bottom of the Sealed Martial Cliff was a secret realm. Although the transportation was inconvenient, the scenery was exquisite. The trees were lush, and scattered petals carpeted the ground.

The two walked hand-in-hand for a while before Bai Yao paused.

Bai Yao said, “Luo Qi, what I’m about to say might be very outrageous, and you might find it difficult to understand. But I still want to be completely honest with you.”

Luo Qi looked at Bai Yao and nodded.

Having made up her mind, Bai Yao said, “Actually, I am not Yun Niao, nor am I a person from this world. I came here through something like a soul transmigration. Can you understand what I mean?”

“I don’t know how to divine either. The reason I know some things is that this world is very similar to a book I read. I was eating and reading that book at home, and the next thing I knew, I was here…”

Bai Yao paused, wondering how to make this quite fantastical development sound more realistic, but Luo Qi suddenly asked, “While eating the steamed bun?”

Bai Yao was startled. “How… how did you know?”

Luo Qi said, “After I took the false death medicine, I had a dream.”

“I dreamed I appeared in a very strange world. I saw a young girl there with the same name as you. Although her appearance was different, the feeling she gave off was very similar.”

After Luo Qi carefully recounted the experience, Bai Yao said, “So, you saw the original me in your dream?”

Luo Qi nodded. “I believe so.”

Bai Yao’s face lit up. “Does that mean you believe what I’m saying?”

Luo Qi raised her hand to tuck Bai Yao’s loose hair behind her ear. “Mhm. Although I found it unbelievable at first, that dream was too real.”

Luo Qi then asked, “This place is the same as the book you read?”

Bai Yao nodded and said, “But now the plot is almost entirely different…”

Luo Qi asked, “What was I like in the book?”

Bai Yao paused, then honestly said, “According to the book’s plan, you were originally a couple with Qin Wufang… You would go through many difficulties, but in the end, you would still happily be together…”

Luo Qi slightly frowned.

Bai Yao whispered, “But because I suddenly intervened… the plot got messed up…”

After a brief silence, Luo Qi raised her hands to cup Bai Yao’s face. Meeting Bai Yao’s eyes, Luo Qi said earnestly, “Yaoyao, I prefer the present.”

Luo Qi said, “The me in the book never met you, and I am not that person in the book. The me standing in front of you now is very fortunate to have met this Yaoyao.”

Bai Yao’s eyes brightened.

This cleared away all her worries.

172

Bai Yao explained the plot of the book and detailed the parts that were different from the book’s plot these past few days.

When she heard that Yun Yingnan actually wanted to kill Yun Niao, Luo Qi’s eyes darkened. She asked, “So that’s why the drowning incident happened?”

Bai Yao nodded.

Luo Qi asked, “You knew there was danger, yet you still followed me back to the General’s Residence. Were you worried I would follow the later plotline?”

“Mhm.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you would be in danger?”

Bai Yao whispered, “I thought… I thought you were angry with me…”

“I’m sorry.” Luo Qi sighed, pulled Bai Yao into her embrace, and said, “But I wasn’t angry. I was just suddenly told that you and I were sisters, and I thought you didn’t feel that way about me, so I didn’t know how to face you…”

Listening to Luo Qi explain her concerns at the time, Bai Yao buried her face in Luo Qi’s chest, her cheeks flushed as she curled her lips into a smile, giving a muffled “Mhm.”

173

Having finally revealed all the reasons, Bai Yao said, “That’s why I was rushing back, to see what the situation is now.”

Luo Qi nodded. “So much has happened.”

Raising her hand to rub the top of Bai Yao’s head, Luo Qi said, “Yaoyao, I didn’t know anything before. Now that I do, don’t face everything alone anymore, no matter what happens.”

Hearing Bai Yao acknowledge her, Luo Qi tightened her arms around Bai Yao.

After nestling in Luo Qi’s embrace for a little longer, Bai Yao lifted her head and asked, “Luo Qi, what are you thinking?”

Luo Qi said softly, “I’m thinking, Yaoyao might be a gift sent to me by the heavens.”

174

As it turned out, the heavens didn’t just send gifts; they also sent rain.

175

As soon as Luo Qi’s words fell, Bai Yao was lost in the perfectly cinematic words, when she noticed a few raindrops falling from the sky.

Summer rain came extremely fast, immediately turning into a downpour.

Xiao Cha was moving things back into the house and said, “Hurry inside. It will probably stop soon.”

176

The rain did come fast and went fast.

The rain stopped shortly after the two entered the house, but the temperature had dropped significantly.

Looking at the two people who were wet, Xiao Cha said, “There is a hot spring in the eastern cave. Go warm yourselves up so you don’t catch a cold.”

177

The hot spring had clearly been maintained by Xiao Cha, with a large screen placed at the cave entrance.

After helping Bai Yao untie her clothes and placing clean clothes nearby, Luo Qi turned and walked away.

Bai Yao was slightly stunned and asked, “Aren’t you soaking?”

Luo Qi paused her steps. “…I don’t need to. I won’t catch a cold.”

As she said this, she remembered the time she brought clothes to Bai Yao, and the tips of her ears turned slightly red.

Assuming Luo Qi was simply robust because of her martial arts training since childhood, Bai Yao didn’t say anything else and watched Luo Qi walk behind the screen.

178

Half a minute later, Bai Yao stood beside the hot spring, faced with a difficulty.

Although her clothes were untied, one arm was still inconvenient. Additionally, her dress had many layers, and the wet fabric easily tangled. Bai Yao pulled at it with her left hand for a long time but still couldn’t succeed.

So a thought appeared in her mind, and she immediately flushed and suppressed it.

But the thought immediately rushed to the center of her brain and started knocking on the door.

179

Actress Bai Yao! Recognize reality and face the solution in time!

Sigh, you’ve already said she’s your girlfriend, what are you being modest for?

180

Taking a deep breath, Bai Yao asked, “Luo Qi, are you still there?”

A reply came from behind the screen: “I am. What’s wrong?”

Bai Yao cleared her throat and asked, “Do you… want to unwrap a gift?”

Changing Climate

181

Don’t throw away the injured and rain-soaked little gift Bai Yao. Although you can’t coat her in breadcrumbs, you can’t pan-fry or deep-fry her.

But you can unwrap her first.

182

Standing behind the screen, Luo Qi didn’t initially understand Bai Yao’s meaning.

Luo Qi asked somewhat confusedly, “Unwrap a gift?”

Bai Yao paused, then completely confessed, “I can’t take off my clothes. Come help me…”

183

The light inside the cave was dim. Luo Qi stood in front of Bai Yao, slightly averting her eyes, using memory to unfasten the clothing.

She tried to visually avoid looking, but the tactile sensation under her hands was undeniable.

Beneath the cool fabric, Bai Yao’s skin was only faintly warm, but the sensation transmitted to Luo Qi’s fingertips felt scorching.

Luo Qi almost closed her eyes, gently and cleanly helping Bai Yao remove the layers of clothing.

Bai Yao had originally planned to only let Luo Qi help with the majority, handling the rest herself. But seeing Luo Qi sincerely helping with full concentration, Bai Yao remained silent instead.

184

Hey, hey, what’s going on?

I’m almost naked, why aren’t you reacting at all…

185

In fact, the light was too dim, and Bai Yao couldn’t see Luo Qi’s increasingly flushed ear tips.

186

After a silent moment, Luo Qi turned her head and said, “Done.”

Bai Yao: “Oh.”

Looking at Luo Qi’s extremely calm expression, Bai Yao said, “Then I’m going to soak in the hot spring.”

Luo Qi said, “Mhm.”

Look, look at this calm and indifferent reaction.

Pouting secretly, Bai Yao turned and stepped into the hot spring, glancing down at herself.

Although her figure was slightly less impressive than her original one, she was still very pleasing to the eye.

187

Lost in thought, as she stepped down, the stone under her foot shifted, and Bai Yao suddenly plunged into the hot spring.

The accident happened so suddenly that Bai Yao didn’t even have time to gasp before falling directly into the water.

188

Luo Qi moved the instant Bai Yao showed a tendency to slip.

Anxious to pull Bai Yao, who had fallen into the water, back up, Luo Qi abandoned all other emotions.

When Luo Qi pulled her out of the water, Bai Yao clung to Luo Qi’s shoulder with one hand, coughing several times.

Luo Qi quickly patted her back to help her catch her breath. When Bai Yao stopped coughing, silence returned to the cave. Both of them paused their movements, only then belatedly realizing how intimate their situation was.

Feeling the soft touch under her hands, Luo Qi quickly raised her hands, then, to prevent Bai Yao from sliding back into the water, she had to move her hands to a different position.

But it seemed like no placement was quite right.

Hanging onto Luo Qi’s shoulder, Bai Yao finally saw Luo Qi’s ears, which were red as a fully ripe fruit. Bai Yao asked in a hoarse voice, “Luo Qi, where exactly are you trying to touch…”

Luo Qi suddenly stopped moving. Supporting Bai Yao to help her stand steady, she let go and stepped back, saying, “You soak in the hot spring. I’ll go up first…”

But Bai Yao said, “You’re already down here. Let’s soak together.”

Luo Qi lowered her eyes. “No need. I didn’t bring dry clothes…”

Bai Yao glanced at the clothes nearby. Fearing they might catch a chill, Xiao Cha had practically found two sets of clothes.

So Bai Yao blinked and whispered, “That’s not fair.”

Luo Qi maintained her lowered gaze. “Mhm?”

Raising her intact hand and pulling lightly on Luo Qi’s sash, Bai Yao said, “You’ve seen and touched, but I haven’t had anything. I’m at a disadvantage.”

With that sentence, Luo Qi suddenly looked up at Bai Yao.

Feeling a little guilty under the stare, Bai Yao quietly sank into the water and said, “If you don’t want to soak, just forget it…”

Before the last words could be finished, Luo Qi, unable to resist, grabbed Bai Yao by the waist, pulled her closer, leaned down to kiss her, and then, underwater…