The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 33.2

The subtle movement caught Yuan Shao’s attention. She turned and saw Su Tingxi staring intently at her little disciple behind her.

Seeing Yuan Shao’s gaze, Su Tingxi suppressed his displeasure and forced a smile. “Master, you must be tired from the journey. You should rest early.” Then, to Chi Jinnian, “You too, Junior Sister, get some rest.” He pointed into the distance. “Junior Sister, you probably don’t remember after being away for so long your corner room is over there.”

His own quarters were right next to their master’s. Su Tingxi thought that by sending Chi Jinnian away, the area around their master’s residence would once again be exclusively his and their master’s domain.

Hearing this, Yuan Shao suddenly stopped and approached Su Tingxi with a gentle expression. “Tingxi, could you do me a favor?”

This was the first time Yuan Shao had called him by name since losing her memory. Su Tingxi’s joy was evident as he quickly replied, “Master, just say the word! Whatever you ask, I will do it!”

“You see, A’Nian is a young girl, timid and prone to nightmares. I’m worried about her living so far away. You’re a boy and older than her, could you please switch rooms with her?”

In an instant, it felt like a thunderbolt had struck him. Su Tingxi stood frozen in place, petrified.

Not only was Su Tingxi frightened by this idea, but Chi Jinnian, who had already planned to slack off in the corner room, was also startled. She quickly waved her hands and said, “No need, Master! I’m perfectly fine living there alone. I’m used to it, so there’s no need to trouble Senior Brother to switch with me.”

Seeing her little disciple continuously waving her hands, Yuan Shao felt her request was indeed a bit excessive, so she said, “You’re right. That wouldn’t be fair to your senior brother.”

Hearing this, Su Tingxi’s expression eased slightly, but the next sentence plunged his heart into despair once again.

“Anyway, my room is spacious enough. You can just stay with me in the same room.”

“No!” Before Chi Jinnian could speak, Su Tingxi exclaimed anxiously. He couldn’t let Chi Jinnian and Yuan Shao share a room! If the two of them slept together, he would have even fewer opportunities to get close to his master!

In comparison, switching rooms might still offer him a chance to be alone with his master. So, gritting his teeth, Su Tingxi had no choice but to reply, “Then, as you say, Master, I will switch rooms with Junior Sister.”

Seeing Su Tingxi’s troubled expression, Yuan Shao asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling reluctant? If so, we can just ”

“Not reluctant!” Su Tingxi quickly interrupted. “Not at all, Master! I’m not reluctant in the slightest! I’ll switch with Junior Sister right away. Don’t worry.”

“Alright, then I’ll trouble you.”

Su Tingxi could only swallow his frustration and force a smile. “No trouble at all, no trouble at all.”

Just as Su Tingxi’s room was cleared out and Chi Jinnian was about to step inside, planning to shut herself away to give the male and female leads some alone time, she suddenly heard a low rumbling sound.

Yuan Shao’s gaze shifted to the source of the noise Chi Jinnian’s stomach.

Chi Jinnian hadn’t eaten since morning. After all the commotion, she hadn’t even had a sip of tea, so it was no wonder she was hungry. Even though she had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, her body still clung to the “tradition” of feeling famished if she missed a meal. But tradition was one thing having her stomach growl in front of others was another matter entirely.

Chi Jinnian clutched her stomach, leaning against the doorframe, too embarrassed to speak.

“Hungry?” Yuan Shao found her little disciple’s shy demeanor quite amusing and looked at her with a smile. “It’s not mealtime right now. Why don’t you check the small kitchen to see if there’s anything to eat?”

Hearing this, Su Tingxi perked up.

“Master, there’s nothing in our small kitchen,” he said smugly. “You and I have been fasting for a long time, and the kitchen hasn’t been used in ages. What a shame Junior Sister will just have to endure it a little longer.” His words were deliberately aimed at aligning himself with Yuan Shao while isolating Chi Jinnian as the odd one out.

Chi Jinnian understood that Su Tingxi was targeting her. Normally, she wouldn’t dare to retort, but the reason she had come to the Upper Cultivation Realm in the first place was to ensure he and Yuan Shao could safely leave the Demon Realm. Otherwise, she would still be in the Demon Palace, feasting on the lavish meals prepared for her by Cai Yue.

Now, not only was there no food to eat, but she also had no real freedom. She had to constantly guard against her identity being discovered and endure his provocations. All the pent-up grievances welled up inside her, and tears began to stream from her eyes.

“That’s right, you’re all amazing, all highly cultivated cultivators. Unlike me, someone who just reached Foundation Establishment, how could I possibly deserve to stay with you all!” The more Chi Jinnian spoke, the harder she cried. “If I’d known earlier, I never should have come back with you. Why did I have to leave my perfectly good home just to suffer like this?”

Chi Jinnian crying right in front of them was something Su Tingxi hadn’t anticipated. Honestly, he hadn’t encountered many weepy girls before. Having grown up following Yuan Shao, who hadn’t even uttered a word of pain all these years, he was momentarily at a loss.

Seeing Chi Jinnian’s pitiful sobbing, Yuan Shao’s earlier guilt over making Su Tingxi give up his room instantly vanished. While comforting Chi Jinnian, she scolded Su Tingxi angrily, “Just because you have some cultivation, does that give you the right to bully others? Is this how I taught you to behave all these years?”

“Master.” Su Tingxi had never seen Yuan Shao look at him with such disappointment and disdain. He froze in place, stammering, “I, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Yuan Shao had no patience to debate his intentions further and simply urged him, “I’m hungry now. Go prepare some food.”

Not daring to disobey, Su Tingxi hurried off toward the dining hall. Since it wasn’t mealtime, he had to bring back some raw ingredients.

Yuan Shao led Chi Jinnian back to her room to console her. The girl’s tears fell like broken strings of pearls, one after another, as her snow-white hands clutched tightly at her collar. Between sobs, she whimpered softly, “Master.”

“Alright, alright, no more crying. I’ve already sent your senior brother to get you some food. It’ll be ready soon.” Yuan Shao gently wiped the tear stains from Chi Jinnian’s cheeks and reassured her, “From now on, if there’s anything you like to eat or anything you want, just tell me. I’ll take care of it for you, okay?”

Chi Jinnian sniffled and looked at Yuan Shao. “Really?”

Yuan Shao nodded, and Chi Jinnian knew when to stop. “Then you have to keep your word, Master. No taking it back.” As she said this, she extended her pinky finger toward Yuan Shao.

Confused by the gesture, Yuan Shao hesitated, but Chi Jinnian hooked her pinky around Yuan Shao’s and pressed their thumbs together. “Master, this seals the promise. You can’t go back on it I’ll remember it in my heart.”

Yuan Shao had never seen such a custom before but found it amusing. Smiling, she ruffled Chi Jinnian’s hair.

When Su Tingxi finally finished preparing the meal, Chi Jinnian wasn’t in a hurry to eat. Instead, she stared thoughtfully at the food on the plate. “Senior brother, is this the roasted chicken you made?”

Su Tingxi, his face smudged with soot, nodded. “Weren’t you just crying from hunger? Why aren’t you eating now?”

Chi Jinnian set down her chopsticks and asked seriously, “Did this chicken have some grudge against you? Why would you treat it like this!”

The thing on the plate was barely recognizable, black as charcoal. She poked it with her finger it was hard as a rock. When she set it back on the plate, it made a clinking sound against the porcelain.

Su Tingxi looked somewhat embarrassed and glanced cautiously at Yuan Shao. “Sorry, Master. I’m not very good at cooking. Next time, I promise I’ll do better next time!”

Whether there would be a next time, Chi Jinnian didn’t know, but she feared she couldn’t wait for it. Seeing that Su Tingxi was unreliable, she had no choice but to go to the kitchen herself.

After looking around, she noticed that Su Tingxi had just brought back plenty of ingredients from the dining hall vegetables, meat, and staples were all available. So she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

Before long, she emerged carrying a small clay pot, along with three bowls of rice.

When she lifted the lid of the clay pot, the broth inside was still bubbling. In the center lay golden pieces of chicken, stewed until tender and falling apart. Surrounding it were side dishes: vibrant green bok choy leaves paired with bright red carrots, and potatoes cooked to a soft, sandy texture that blended seamlessly with the golden broth, creating a visually appealing dish.

Chi Jinnian was quite pleased with her creation. She handed a pair of chopsticks to Yuan Shao and said, “I know you prefer lighter flavors, Master, so I deliberately used less salt. Please give it a try.”

Although Yuan Shao had already reached a state where she no longer needed to eat, she never rejected her young disciple’s gestures of goodwill. So, she picked up a piece of potato and put it in her mouth. The soft, velvety texture, infused with the aroma of chicken, was thoroughly flavorful. She nodded repeatedly in approval.

Chi Jinnian also handed a pair of chopsticks to Su Tingxi. “Senior Brother, you should try it too.”

“I never knew you had such skills!” Su Tingxi exclaimed from the side, though he hadn’t yet taken a bite. Well, he had to admit that when it came to cooking, he really couldn’t compare to Chi Jinnian.

“Of course!” Seeing Yuan Shao pick up another piece of carrot, Chi Jinnian took it as recognition of her culinary skills and couldn’t help but feel proud. “In this day and age, with everyone trying to outdo each other, if a girl doesn’t master a few skills, how is she supposed to find a suitable husband!”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than there was a sharp clatter. Yuan Shao set down her chopsticks, said, “I’m full,” and turned away from the table, heading straight to her bedchamber.

This left Chi Jinnian and Su Tingxi standing there in stunned silence.

Especially Chi Jinnian, who stared at Yuan Shao’s retreating figure before glancing back at the pot of food. “Did I make it too salty?”

Since Yuan Shao had just eaten a carrot, she picked up a piece of carrot and put it in her own mouth.

It wasn’t salty at all.