Although dinner was simple, Xiao Muyu’s culinary skills were excellent. Even a basic dish like Jianbing Guozi was to Shen Qingqiu’s liking. Given the night’s exertions, she was already quite hungry, so she enjoyed the meal immensely.
Xiao Muyu, worried that Shen Qingqiu might still be hungry, made two portions. However, Shen Qingqiu, despite savoring the food, didn’t eat much—less than her usual amount.
“Why are you eating so little? There’s more,” Xiao Muyu asked, puzzled.
Shen Qingqiu glanced at her and shook her head. “Maybe it’s just very filling. I feel quite full.”
Xiao Muyu nodded, still feeling something was off. She noticed that Shen Qingqiu’s energy seemed low, and her complexion wasn’t as rosy as before.
Recalling how Shen Qingqiu fell asleep holding her after they finished, Xiao Muyu grew more concerned. Despite their vigorous activities, Shen Qingqiu usually had more stamina than her. Xiao Muyu could still get up to cook, so why did Shen Qingqiu need to rest?
Worried, Xiao Muyu put down her chopsticks and asked seriously, “Are you feeling unwell?”
Shen Qingqiu paused, then forced a smile. “How could I be unwell? I already told you I felt fine.”
Normally, Xiao Muyu would be embarrassed and speechless, but this time she remained serious, staring at Shen Qingqiu. She touched Shen Qingqiu’s forehead and then her own, her face darkening. “You have a fever.”
Although Shen Qingqiu didn’t show obvious symptoms due to the mild temperature, her forehead was warmer than Xiao Muyu’s.
Shen Qingqiu, surprised, touched her forehead. “Do I?”
Xiao Muyu, frustrated and helpless, said, “Why didn’t you tell me you were feeling unwell?”
Regretting her earlier actions, Xiao Muyu felt guilty. “It’s my fault for not noticing and pushing you so hard…”
Shen Qingqiu, hating to see her like this, quickly responded, “It’s not your fault. I felt a bit off when we came out, but I didn’t think it was serious. It didn’t affect us… you know. I was just tired and a bit dizzy when I woke up, but nothing major.”
Xiao Muyu’s eyes narrowed. “You felt unwell in the dungeon and still do now?”
This raised new concerns. Normally, injuries sustained in the dungeon would disappear upon leaving, even lost limbs would heal. How could an illness persist?
Xiao Muyu stood up, confirming Shen Qingqiu’s fever again, and nervously asked, “Besides dizziness, do you have any other symptoms? Chest pain? Any other aches?”
Shen Qingqiu, wanting to reassure her, said seriously, “I didn’t want to worry you, so I didn’t say anything. But it’s really not that bad. If it were serious, you would have noticed. I’m feeling much better than in the dungeon.”
Xiao Muyu’s brow remained furrowed. “But how can the dungeon’s effects persist? It doesn’t make sense.”
Shen Qingqiu thought for a moment. “Maybe someone is trying to take advantage of this situation.”
Understanding dawned on Xiao Muyu, and she knelt in front of Shen Qingqiu, holding her hand. “I feel like this is my fault.”
Shen Qingqiu frowned, “Nonsense. How is this your fault? I chose this mission myself. Even if I hadn’t, I want to be with you, and I’m sure of it. Loving someone means facing everything together. You can blame anyone else but not me. If you do, I’ll be mad.”
Xiao Muyu, though usually proud and reluctant to show her true feelings, never let her pride overshadow her love and concern for Shen Qingqiu when she was unwell.
She couldn’t help but smile, looking at Shen Qingqiu tenderly. “What will you do if you get mad?”
Remembering the one time Shen Qingqiu got mad at her in the “Class of Death” dungeon, Xiao Muyu felt both sweetness and sadness.
Shen Qingqiu, momentarily stunned by Xiao Muyu’s question, replied, “When I get mad, even ghosts are scared. What do you think?”
To Shen Qingqiu, she could never truly get mad at Xiao Muyu, let alone be mean to her.
Xiao Muyu, amused, tilted her head playfully. “Yes, you did scare them with, ‘If you want to die, I can grant your wish right now.’ So fierce.”
The memory made Shen Qingqiu laugh. “Xiao Muyu, you really hold grudges. It was just once, and you remember it so clearly.”
Xiao Muyu, looking relaxed, pointed to her head. “Not grudges, just a good memory. I remember everything you say. So, Miss Shen, watch your words. I keep track of all your debts.”
Shen Qingqiu laughed, “Yes, I’ve noticed. Even when I had amnesia, you remembered everything I said. You really hold grudges.”
Xiao Muyu blushed slightly, thinking of her past actions.
But the priority now was Shen Qingqiu’s rest. “Alright, enough teasing. You still have a fever, probably lingering effects from the dungeon. Take a quick wash and then rest, okay?”
Seeing Xiao Muyu less worried, Shen Qingqiu agreed. But as she turned to get her bathrobe, she casually asked, “After my bath, should I sleep?”
Xiao Muyu, not understanding at first, nodded. “Yes, I’ll clean up here.”
As Shen Qingqiu walked slowly, she asked, “Should I sleep in my room?”
Xiao Muyu realized what she meant and laughed, “You’re something else. The master bedroom sheets need changing, so we’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.”
Shen Qingqiu, delighted, agreed, “Yes, they do need changing. So, we’ll sleep in the guest room and move back tomorrow.”
The shift in terminology from “your room” and “my room” to “master bedroom” and “guest room” was significant, and Shen Qingqiu understood it well, quickly adapting her language and pushing her luck further.
Xiao Muyu, unable to resist Shen Qingqiu’s charm, smiled warmly. “Yes, we’ll sleep in the master bedroom together from now on. Is that okay?”
Shen Qingqiu, smiling, replied, “You said it, not me. We’re sleeping together, not because I asked.”
She said this while heading to her room for clothes, then dashed to the bathroom, laughing.
Xiao Muyu, amused and affectionate, called her “silly” and quickly cleaned up. She fetched a thermometer for reassurance.
After her bath, Shen Qingqiu felt even more tired. Xiao Muyu checked her temperature—37.9℃, a mild fever. As she prepared to dry Shen Qingqiu’s hair, Shen Qingqiu’s phone rang.
Both women looked at the phone simultaneously, Shen Qingqiu’s expression darkening, Xiao Muyu’s becoming serious. In the SkyNet world, who could be calling Shen Qingqiu?
Xiao Muyu moved to leave, but Shen Qingqiu held her hand, shaking her head.
Realizing it was better to face things together, Shen Qingqiu decided not to hide anything from Xiao Muyu. The room’s shielding would prevent the caller from knowing Xiao Muyu was there.
Xiao Muyu, reassured, slid the call to speaker mode, staring coldly at the phone.
“What do you want?” Shen Qingqiu asked impatiently.
“It’s been a while since I called. You must be free,” a man’s voice replied, laced with a mocking smile.
“Get to the point. I don’t have time for your nonsense.”
“Ah, still so spirited despite being sick. Truly impressive, Shen Qingqiu.”
Upon hearing those words, Xiao Muyu couldn’t help but clench her fingers. It was indeed deliberate.
“It seems you’ve come to congratulate me again. But since when have you been so kind? Is this all you’ve got?” Shen Qingqiu said coolly.
Xiao Muyu’s expression tightened, but she held back. The person on the other side laughed, as if finding the situation amusing. After a long laugh, he said darkly, “This means nothing to you, of course. But have you forgotten the pain and weakness you felt in the dungeon?
Shen Qingqiu, let me remind you again, don’t challenge the limits. You probably don’t remember who you’re dealing with anymore.
Have you forgotten the feeling of being near death in the dungeon?
Let me remind you, if you continue to be uncooperative, it will truly cost you your life, and the result will be the same. Even ants cling to life, so why are you so stubborn?”
Shen Qingqiu frowned, regretting letting Xiao Muyu hear this. While the person was speaking, Xiao Muyu’s face grew increasingly worse, and Shen Qingqiu could feel the suppressed anger and unease emanating from her.
“There’s no need to say such meaningless things to me. I know what to do. According to our agreement, there’s no time limit between us.
If he thinks I’m not doing well, he will certainly find someone else to do it. Why push so hard now?
Is it because he doesn’t have much time left and must get that thing? Or because other methods have failed?”
Shen Qingqiu’s few words made the other party fall silent, which allowed Shen Qingqiu to seize the opportunity to counterattack, “You are right, killing me would be easy. But why does he keep tolerating me? Is it because I’m irreplaceable to Xiao Muyu?
At first, you made me get close to her, scheming to match me with her. Didn’t you consider today’s situation?
Otherwise, you would’ve long been unable to tolerate a tool like me genuinely falling for the target, right? What will he have you convey next, more appeasement or threats?”
The person on the other side was speechless for a moment before he said hatefully, “I am just reminding you, for your sake and hers, don’t be stubborn.” With that, he hung up the phone.
Xiao Muyu looked at Shen Qingqiu. After a long silence, she asked, “Does he call you often?”
Shen Qingqiu shook her head, “No, it was frequent before, but after teaming up with you, it’s reduced a lot.”
“Was your plan from the beginning to be with me?” Xiao Muyu asked.
Fearing she would overthink, Shen Qingqiu quickly explained, “Yes, approaching you, making you have feelings for me, and then seizing the opportunity to get what they needed.
But my feelings for you are genuine, no deceit. Of course, except for…
Except for the first few dungeons. The first one was entirely an act, but after that, it was a mix of real and fake.”
Xiao Muyu kept staring at her intently, making Shen Qingqiu surrender, “Actually, you could feel it, right? Whether I was sincere or not, that’s why you said those things back then.”
Xiao Muyu smiled, nodding. It was because she could feel it that, despite finding her annoying and knowing her ulterior motives, she couldn’t help but be moved and drawn closer.
At the time, Xiao Muyu found it incredible, but now it seemed natural. They truly had a past, so even though she rationally knew it was an act, emotionally she kept being attracted.
“No wonder it felt like you were there for a matchmaking. Seems that was indeed the case.”
Mentioning this made Xiao Muyu almost laugh, but there was one thing she feared, originally wanting to suppress it, but the anxiety lingered. She couldn’t help but ask, “Will they really… do something to you?”
In this dungeon, Shen Qingqiu had been harshly suppressed, nearly having several accidents.
Shen Qingqiu knew she was concerned about this and held her hand, “I just questioned him to make you understand that the mastermind, although he wishes me dead, can only hope I succeed. Even you can feel that he wants us dead but can only go so far.”
Xiao Muyu was silent, then turned on the hairdryer. She already sensed it; no matter how dangerous, the system had to leave a lifeline and guide them to find it.
After drying Shen Qingqiu’s hair, Xiao Muyu leaned over, pressing her forehead against Shen Qingqiu’s.
“You’re still warm. Drink some water and get some rest. Tomorrow, when you feel better, we can talk about any doubts you have, okay?”
Xiao Muyu was incredibly gentle, and this gentleness made Shen Qingqiu’s heart flutter, making her tilt her head and kiss her.
Xiao Muyu indulged her, letting her drift into dreams within that kiss. She stayed by the bed, watching her, hoping she would wake from a beautiful dream, safe and sound.
Author’s note:
Little Shen is so cute, I’m starting to like her myself, haha.
So the author wants to clear her name. Some readers said Little Shen was suppressed and had to beg for mercy, but don’t forget she also pushed Little Xiao down, and not just once… What am I saying?
Also, some readers mentioned Little Xiao can cook while Little Shen just sleeps. It’s not because of low stamina; she was sick. There were clues all along, haha.
Yesterday I mentioned the author’s name in the note, do you understand? I’m so absorbed in writing this book that there are details everywhere. Hands on hips.
