242 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

In the reflection of the mirror, Yan Zhao's stubborn profile was visible. She looked straight at Ren Qingyue without blinking, declaring, "I am not speaking nonsense. I am very serious. I've considered every word carefully." Ren Qingyue suddenly found herself unsure of how to respond. Though she knew that Yan Zhao had grown rapidly in the past few years, both in cultivation and wisdom, significant changes from before, she still subconsciously held onto her initial impression of Yan Zhao, assuming she understood nothing. In a moment of flustered confusion, Ren Qingyue's ears reddened as she asked Yan Zhao, "So, what do you think 'ulterior motives' mean?" Yan Zhao answered earnestly with her understanding: "It means having an agenda, with ill intentions." Her expression was too sincere. Ren Qingyue couldn't quite identify the feelings within her, only sensing a drum pounding erratically in her chest. "Ill intentions" was undoubtedly a derogatory term, yet spoken by Yan Zhao, it took on a different nuance. Ren Qingyue's heart pounded wildly, leaving her bewildered and unsure of what to do. In the past, many male disciples had expressed their affection toward her. Their intentions were often quite obvious, so much so that even without that "Complete Guide to Lies," she could discern their true motives. Of course, there were those with sincere and passionate feelings, for whom she would calmly express gratitude before politely declining them, ceasing any interaction thereafter. This was her approach until she formally met Yan Zhao. She had always been indifferent to matters of the heart. Ren Qingyue believed her life would be solely dedicated to the way of the sword, following in her master's footsteps, pursuing enlightenment and wandering the world as a swordswoman. She even dismissed Yan Yuanqing's concern that she might be lured away by a male disciple. Being Yan Yuanqing's disciple, Ren Qingyue had encountered many talented individuals, yet while she admired their abilities, she rarely engaged personally and was never moved by them. Her heart remained tranquil, until she met Yan Zhao. Precisely because she was acutely aware that Yan Zhao was unlike anyone she had met before, Ren Qingyue couldn't simply apply her usual indifferent and detached attitude to her. Unable to suppress the secret joy within, she also worried she might be misunderstanding Yan Zhao's current expressions of affection. She feared that her own excessive expectations might ultimately lead to disappointment, achieving nothing in the end. Consumed by contradictions, Ren Qingyue remained silent for a long time. Noticing Ren Qingyue's wordless struggle, evident in her conflicted expression, Yan Zhao continued, "I like you, Senior Sister. I want to be close to you—that's the extent of my ulterior motives." Yan Zhao's persistence was causing Ren Qingyue's rationality to falter. Locking eyes with Yan Zhao, Ren Qingyue asked, "What kind of 'like' are you talking about?" Applying the description she had previously heard from Bi Lan, Yan Zhao responded seriously, "It's the kind of like where I want to grow old together with you, Senior Sister." Steadying her composure, Ren Qingyue asked again, "Do you understand what it means to grow old together?" Yan Zhao hesitated. Seeing Yan Zhao's lack of response, Ren Qingyue felt both relieved and unsettled. To say she wasn't moved by Yan Zhao's words would be untruthful. Long ago, she had realized she harbored uncontrollable and unusual feelings for Yan Zhao, something that troubled her for quite some time. She had finally made peace with her internal conflicts, only to be caught off guard by Yan Zhao's sudden confession. Ren Qingyue was tempted to give in to the incessant impulses surging within her and throw caution to the wind, even if only once. But Yan Zhao's silence brought her back to her senses when her reason was on the verge of collapse. Yan Zhao clearly didn't understand. Affection requires responsibility. Could Yan Zhao's young shoulders bear the weight of the words she spoke? A change in their relationship would inevitably bring great risks, and Ren Qingyue wasn't prepared for that. While Yan Zhao could perhaps proceed without concern, Ren Qingyue couldn't. If she gave in, how could she face her master, the elders behind Yan Zhao, or even Nangong Yin? Yan Zhao was pure-hearted and transparent, always open in her interactions with others. But to outsiders, it would undoubtedly appear that Ren Qingyue was the one with nefarious intentions, luring Yan Zhao astray. Yan Zhao, with her juvenile understanding, didn't grasp the intricacies of love. As her senior sister, with a thousand years between them, could Ren Qingyue afford to be equally naïve? Even allowing for the possibility that she was somewhat ignorant, it didn't justify casting aside all objectivity and moral integrity. Ren Qingyue calmed her thoughts, beginning to formulate a rationale to avoid this topic. How could she convey her concerns to Yan Zhao without causing harm? At that moment, Yan Zhao spoke up: "There are many things I don't understand, but I like you, Senior Sister. I'm not lying. I want to be together with you for a long time, just like my mom and Aunt Yin." Ren Qingyue was taken aback. Yan Zhao looked sincerely into Ren Qingyue's eyes. "What I don't understand, Senior Sister surely does. I will strive to learn. I might not discern right from wrong, but couldn't you teach me?" Ren Qingyue found herself at a loss for words. She, too, wasn't entirely sure she comprehended everything. For the first time, Ren Qingyue experienced the stirrings of infatuation, unfamiliar feelings thrumming within her, her composed demeanor slipping away, leaving only anxiety and indecision in the face of the unknown. Ren Qingyue continued to retreat, almost persuaded by Yan Zhao's earnestness. Yet, rationality eventually prevailed, and she realized the only genuine response to sincerity was sincerity. Evasiveness or perfunctory responses wouldn't be fair to Yan Zhao. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Ren Qingyue softly called out, "Ah Zhao." Yan Zhao lifted her gaze towards her. Throughout, Yan Zhao had tried to communicate her true feelings openly and honestly. Ren Qingyue met Yan Zhao's eyes, her tone gentle, "Relationships between people aren't that simple. Even those close to each other can have conflicts, and sometimes, liking someone doesn't mean you can be together." Unsurprisingly, Yan Zhao didn't quite understand and asked, "Why not?" "Because we can't think solely of ourselves," Ren Qingyue explained to Yan Zhao, "We have to try to understand everyone's feelings, and with life's uncertainties, wanting to grow old together takes more than just enthusiasm." Yan Zhao seemed to reflect on this. Ren Qingyue patted Yan Zhao's shoulder, "When you've figured this out, I'll give you an answer." Having said this, Ren Qingyue felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. She was glad she had calmed down and responsibly addressed Yan Zhao's confession. Though Yan Zhao didn't receive a definite reply from her senior sister, she listened to Ren Qingyue's insights and began to reflect on herself, searching for areas where she might improve. What else, aside from affection, was needed to be together with her senior sister? Caught in this dilemma without an answer, Yan Zhao shook her head slightly and asked, "Does Senior Sister dislike me?" Ren Qingyue chuckled upon hearing this. Having clarified, her mood lightened. She reached over and playfully tweaked Yan Zhao's dainty, upturned nose. "How could I dislike you? Would I braid your hair, teach you to read, or worry about you getting hurt if I did?" Yan Zhao's eyes sparkled, her heart fluttering with Ren Qingyue's affectionate words. She quickly pressed, "Then does Senior Sister like me too?" Yan Zhao's voice was soft and melodious, like a babbling brook, pleasing to the ear. Ren Qingyue suppressed her embarrassment and finally whispered, "Of course, I do." The words were as light as a breeze, gently brushing against Yan Zhao's ear. Yan Zhao's eyes widened with surprise, as if fearing she hadn't heard correctly. "Is it really like?" Yan Zhao anxiously grasped Ren Qingyue's sleeve, unable to resist confirming, "I must not have misheard, it's like, right?" Seeing Yan Zhao clutching her sleeve like a little puppy, her fair complexion flushing with excitement in her desire for a clear answer, Ren Qingyue felt as though something had nudged her heart. An unnoticeable tenderness seeped from her gaze, beyond her control. Accepting her feelings and placing Yan Zhao on equal footing, respecting Yan Zhao's wishes, Ren Qingyue realized that uttering "like" wasn't as difficult as she thought. Though still a bit uneasy inside, she wanted to make a change, to sincerely engage with Yan Zhao. So, she smiled and playfully reproached, "You claim to like me, yet didn't even listen carefully to what I said." Yan Zhao grew anxious, eager to express her sincerity, "I did listen carefully!" Ren Qingyue glanced at her askance, intentionally putting on a stern face to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "Why didn't you understand if you were listening so carefully?" "That's because..." Yan Zhao hesitated, scratching her head as she tried to explain, "I did hear you, but I was afraid I misheard, so..." Before she could finish, Ren Qingyue suddenly leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss on Yan Zhao's forehead with lightning speed. Yan Zhao froze, her mind going completely blank. Ren Qingyue, on the other hand, beamed with the satisfaction of having pulled off a successful prank. "Are you still worried now?" It took Yan Zhao a moment to process, and once she did, her face flushed red. Not with embarrassment, but with excitement. She'd never experienced such joy, leaving her unsure of how to react. Her emotions surged like a tidal wave from her chest, flowing vigorously and incessantly. At the peak of her excitement, she stood there like a stump, wanting to respond but finding her lips unable to form a sound. "Don't get ahead of yourself." Ren Qingyue gave another playful tweak to Yan Zhao's nose, making it bright red. "You still need to seriously consider what I said earlier." Yan Zhao nodded emphatically, fearful of Ren Qingyue changing her mind. "Alright, let's head back to Huangyin Peak." Ren Qingyue gathered all the jewelry from the cabinet into her storage pouch, then turned to leave the room. She started to move but found herself unable to proceed. Yan Zhao had tugged on her sleeve. Turning back, Ren Qingyue saw Yan Zhao looking at her with bright eyes, a hopeful expression on her face. Ren Qingyue raised an eyebrow, "What is it?" Yan Zhao swiftly brushed aside the fringe on her forehead, "Can I have another kiss?" Ren Qingyue felt her heart itch at Yan Zhao's forwardness, but reason took over, suppressing her inner impulses. Thus, she put on a stern face and said, "Don't push your luck." "Oh." Yan Zhao pouted, her disappointment clearly visible. Ren Qingyue's heart gave a little tremor, momentarily wavering, but she held firm. She couldn't always indulge Yan Zhao; despite her honest demeanor, Yan Zhao knew how to push her boundaries. However, Yan Zhao then looked up, her eyes sparkling with a determined gleam. "In the spirit of reciprocity, is it okay if I kiss you, Senior Sister?" Ren Qingyue: "..." Who taught this child about idioms? Oh, that would be me. Ren Qingyue internally despaired. Yan Zhao’s eyes shone brightly, but her expression was cautious, mixing a bit of pleading and probing, her gaze filled with anticipation. It felt as though Ren Qingyue's rejection would immediately shatter a sincere and pure heart. A suspicious blush spread across Ren Qingyue's face, her whole body tingling as if a thousand ants were crawling over her bones, both itchy and ticklish. Once more, reason and emotion clashed intensely. But this time, emotions gradually took the upper hand, and she decided that Yan Zhao's request was not so unreasonable after all. Previously, she had kissed Yan Zhao without warning, so was it not only fair to allow Yan Zhao a kiss in return? Ren Qingyue remained silent for a long time, causing Yan Zhao to assume she was being denied and feel despondent, fostering resentment. Senior Sister claimed to like her, yet her attitude was rather cold. Yan Zhao felt heartbroken by Senior Sister's aloofness. It was at this juncture that Ren Qingyue drew her sleeve from Yan Zhao's grasp, patting her cheeks as if indifferent and magnanimous. "Go ahead and kiss." Finally, she added, "Just once." A moment ago, Yan Zhao was disheartened; the next, she perked right up, moving towards Ren Qingyue with puppy-like enthusiasm.