270 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

In response to Yan Zhao's request, Ren Qingyue closed her eyes, yet couldn't stop the warmth from creeping into her ears. As she waited, anticipation and excitement tangled with her nervousness, creating a whirlwind of emotions within her. Without sight, her other senses heightened, with the first to sharpen being her hearing. Ren Qingyue heard Yan Zhao moving the chair. Her footsteps were light and swift, bringing her quickly to Ren Qingyue's side. Yet, Yan Zhao didn't claim her reward immediately, standing before Ren Qingyue for a moment longer. Perhaps she was gathering her courage, Ren Qingyue thought. As she pondered, a gentle kiss suddenly landed on her lips. It was soft, warm, and delicate. A unique sensation, one she had never experienced before, spread like electricity from her lips to the rest of her body. Ren Qingyue: "!!!" The kiss lingered for only a fleeting moment before Yan Zhao pulled away. Ren Qingyue opened her eyes abruptly, meeting Yan Zhao's sparkling gaze. Overwhelmed with joy, she seemed to forget herself, savoring the kiss by licking her lips, revealing a small, rosy tongue. Ren Qingyue blushed furiously, stammering in embarrassment, "You—you—you, how could you..." Yan Zhao, basking in her triumph, smiled radiantly, "By kissing Senior Sister's lips, it means that Senior Sister has kissed me too. It's a win-win. Aren't I clever?" Chapter 294 Ren Qingyue was speechless. Yan Zhao's audacity was underpinned by impeccable logic that left her with no grounds for rebuttal. She appeared to be a simpleton, yet occasionally displayed an unexpected shrewdness. As her embarrassment subsided, Ren Qingyue's heart raced. Finally calming herself, she glanced at Yan Zhao's smug demeanor, feeling a vague and strange emotion blossom within her, a soft smile inadvertently curling on her lips. Oh well, she had agreed to Yan Zhao's request after all, so there was no backing out. Shaking her head with a resigned tone, she said, "There's no way I can deal with you." Yan Zhao chuckled heartily. Ren Qingyue let the matter go, patting her shoulder, "Stand properly." "Okay." Yan Zhao complied, standing straight like an obedient child. Ren Qingyue performed a quick cleansing spell, smoothing Yan Zhao's collar as she said, "It's probably time, let's see if the two protectors and Feng Jin are up yet. Once we've said our farewells to the lord, we'll be on our way." Yan Zhao nodded, "Alright!" Each courtyard was guarded by demonic servants. Yan Zhao, carrying her master transformed into a little fox, left the room and inquired about Feng Jin's whereabouts from the guards. Due to Yan Zhao's status, the Han Li Lord had arranged a small courtyard for her alone, whereas Jiang Ying, Lei Shuang, and others lodged elsewhere. The demon servant bowed respectfully to Yan Zhao, “I'll inform the two protectors and Feng Jin right away. Please, Young Lord, await them in the main hall.” Yan Zhao agreed and followed the servant to the lord’s reception hall. After about half a cup of tea had passed, Lei Shuang, Jiang Ying, and Feng Jin arrived together. Yan Zhao sat in the guest seat, sipping tea. The Han Li Lord had not yet arrived. When Jiang Ying and the others entered, they paid their respects to Yan Zhao, who gestured for them to sit. At that moment, something peculiar occurred. Lei Shuang hesitated, glanced at Jiang Ying, and only after Jiang Ying nodded did she swiftly seat herself next to Yan Zhao. Yan Zhao appeared indifferent, yet this subtle change caught the attention of both the little fox and Feng Jin. The little fox raised its head, and Lei Shuang patted the empty chair beside her, inviting Jiang Ying, “Come and sit here.” Jiang Ying didn’t respond verbally to Lei Shuang but quietly moved to sit by her side. Feng Jin silently took the seat opposite Lei Shuang. Thus, she sat isolated while Yan Zhao, Lei Shuang, and Jiang Ying were grouped together, forming a stark contrast. The little fox's small head brimmed with confusion. These two protectors were usually at each other’s throats wherever they went, never yielding even when working together in life-threatening situations. Never had they shown such peace and cooperation as they did now. This sight seemed strange to Ren Qingyue. Just then, Lei Shuang nudged Yan Zhao's shoulder, prompting her to turn her head. With a gleeful grin, Lei Shuang leaned over to whisper to Yan Zhao. Though she whispered, everyone at the table, including Feng Jin, could hear her clearly. Jiang Ying, resting with eyes closed on her seat, lifted an eyelid at Lei Shuang’s words, casting a sidelong glance at the back of her vibrant sculpted head. "Good news?" Yan Zhao asked, blinking curiously, "What news?" "I'm no longer single," Lei Shuang beamed, chest puffed with pride, grin nearly reaching her ears, and happily shared with Yan Zhao, "I've found a partner." Yan Zhao: “?” The little fox in Yan Zhao’s arms and Feng Jin, sitting opposite, both looked up in surprise. Reflecting on the sudden harmonious, yet vaguely odd atmosphere between Lei Shuang and Jiang Ying today, both Ren Qingyue and Feng Jin couldn’t help but speculate. Could it be... Did something untoward happen between these two last night after Lei Shuang got drunk? Yan Zhao alone remained bewildered, exclaiming, "Huh?" Her surprise delighted Lei Shuang, who was about to brag when Yan Zhao beat her to it, “Weren’t you already seeing someone?” Now it was Lei Shuang’s turn to be stunned. In an instant, her shock morphed to disbelief and then into horror. Lei Shuang cried out, “What are you talking about!” Behind her, Jiang Ying’s eyes snapped open, a sharp gaze like a newly honed blade. Feng Jin looked utterly confused, while the little fox in Yan Zhao’s lap froze momentarily but instinctively guessed Yan Zhao had again misunderstood and was speaking nonsense. Lei Shuang broke into a cold sweat. Realizing the potential chaos, she immediately sought to prevent Yan Zhao from speaking further. She couldn't bear to become estranged on the very day she acknowledged her bond. Yet before she could react, Jiang Ying reached over and gave a gentle nudge to her shoulder, compelling her to move away from her seat, gently swaying to the center of the hall. Jiang Ying then rose, took Lei Shuang's former seat, and with a composed demeanor, she asked Yan Zhao, who was watching her curiously, “Did Lei Shuang have a partner before?” The little fox lifted its ears, while across the table, Feng Jin folded his arms, ready for the spectacle. Yan Zhao, bemused, asked, "Aren't Aunt Ying and Boss partners?" Jiang Ying was startled. Lei Shuang, who had just regained her balance, heard these words and exclaimed, “You mean to say you've always thought Jiang Ying was my partner?” "Yes," Yan Zhao stated matter-of-factly, “Boss and Aunt Ying are always together, working in pairs on missions, rarely apart - just like me and Senior Sister.” The little fox curled its lips, finding the comparison amusing, as it inferred Yan Zhao was implying she and Lei Shuang resembled a pair, too. Ingenious, taking the angle of suggesting closeness by analogy. Lei Shuang was incredulous as she gripped Yan Zhao’s shoulders, asking her, “Do you not find it absurd given how much Jiang Ying seems to dislike me? How can she be my partner?” Yan Zhao blinked and turned to Jiang Ying, "Does Aunt Ying dislike Boss?" Jiang Ying processed this unexpected development, replying with a shake of her head, “Never.” Receiving this, Yan Zhao turned back to Lei Shuang, “See?” If Jiang Ying truly disliked Lei Shuang, when they sought the Heavenly Scroll and faced danger, Jiang Ying wouldn’t have risked her life to save Lei Shuang. Besides, from Yan Zhao's perspective, occasional squabbles between partners seemed perfectly normal. Even that morning, her Senior Sister had playfully tugged her ear, yet she still yearned to become her partner. Lei Shuang was in a daze for quite some time; Jiang Ying’s admission left her skeptical, feeling as if she were dreaming. However, Yan Zhao’s perspective seemed to resonate with an unexpected truth. The little fox flicked its tail, pondering: Could this be the clarity of innocence? Yan Zhao had an uncanny knack for viewing situations differently, yet her keen instincts always led her to uncover the truth. Jiang Ying finally relaxed, releasing her tension and vigilance. When she had asked Yan Zhao the question earlier, her palms were slick with cold sweat, and her mind went blank. Her outward composure was nothing compared to the turmoil inside. In the end, it was just a misunderstanding. Completely oblivious to the odd atmosphere, Yan Zhao asked Lei Shuang, "Did I misunderstand? Then who is your partner, Boss?" "Uh, well..." Lei Shuang suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Jiang Ying, with an expression that she wasn't about to help Lei Shuang out, seemed content to watch the drama unfold. Lei Shuang felt awkward, but deep down, a secret joy flickered because of Yan Zhao's curious misunderstanding. Jiang Ying truly never disliked her. Sneaking a peek at Jiang Ying, Lei Shuang found her looking back, their gazes unexpectedly colliding. For reasons unknown, Lei Shuang’s heart began to race. Blushing, she lowered her head and awkwardly sidestepped like a crab, before bashfully grabbing Jiang Ying’s sleeve, "It's, well... your Aunt Ying." Yan Zhao: "?" She suspected Lei Shuang was playing a prank on her. Lei Shuang added, "But we only became partners this morning, not before." Understanding dawned on Yan Zhao, "Oh." Lei Shuang, inexplicably shy, couldn’t meet Yan Zhao’s eyes, turning her head aside, "That’s how it is." At that point, Feng Jin, who had been silent, spoke up, "When will you have the banquet?" Lei Shuang was taken aback, looking puzzled, "What banquet?" Feng Jin slowly furrowed his brow, a hint of incomprehension in his eyes, "Aren't you going to hold a celebration banquet for your partnership?" Lei Shuang uttered an “ah,” having completely forgotten about that tradition! Yan Zhao, curious, asked, "What’s a celebration banquet?" Feng Jin explained, "When two people decide to become partners, they usually hold a celebration banquet. The main purposes are to celebrate and to announce their union to friends and family." Lei Shuang felt awkward again, her forehead dabbled with cold sweat. As she fumbled for words, Jiang Ying calmly replied, "With the Demon Lord's seal unbroken, we’re too busy with urgent matters. Once things settle, we’ll arrange it." Feng Jin nodded in agreement, "That sounds reasonable." "You needn't worry, you won't miss out on your share of the gift money," Jiang Ying remarked smoothly, "Given the friendship among the three of us, a meager gift would be inappropriate." Feng Jin chuckled heartily, "Naturally." Lei Shuang watched Jiang Ying and Feng Jin chat with ease, feeling utterly bewildered. How was it that she alone was so overwhelmed with joy that she couldn’t think straight, while Jiang Ying had already planned for a celebration banquet? Had she underestimated herself? In the course of a single day, Lei Shuang’s self-perception had been shattered and rebuilt several times. Eventually, she realized she might be quite foolish. Beside them, Yan Zhao retrieved a small notebook from her pouch and picked up a pen, starting to scribble in the blank spaces. The little fox, noting her actions, looked over curiously at the notebook in Yan Zhao’s hands. It saw Yan Zhao had written: "After becoming partners with Senior Sister, hold a celebration banquet, invite friends and family, collect gift money." Ren Qingyue: "?"