2569 Side Story 73: Borrow to Try
Si Jing’s expression instantly became one of incredulity. After a long while, he recovered his senses. “…Since you’re afraid of her misunderstanding, you must like her. If this is so, why can’t you be direct?”

Why are you still acting?

However, Zi Chen’s brows moved slightly. Directly say it? Of course not. How do I know that the girl isn’t being impulsive? What if she is only chasing me because she isn’t used to not having my care?

If she only wants someone to be nice to her, too many people can do it, so I’m not special. What she wants wouldn’t be me either. Hence, no matter what, I can’t say it now.

Si Jing watched him from the side. He felt that even though this man had a handsome, cold, and peerless appearance, he had a stomach filled with bad water.

He snorted. “…You can even trick girls?”

Zi Chen disregarded this accusation. How is this tricking? I can’t dote on her enough, but other people can’t hear this.

Si Jing asked around but couldn’t find out the girl’s identity, so he eventually gave up.

He had no choice—Zi Chen had a special identity. No matter if it were his appearance, bloodline, or anything else, he was outstanding. There were indeed many girls who fell for him in the Fantasy Divine Palace.
Originally, he thought that Zi Chen was cold and aloof and would definitely not waste his time and energy in such matters. He never expected… the latter to fall for it!

Someone who could make Zi Chen spend so much effort also showed that he cared a lot for her. He just did not know who it was.

…

Tuan Zi realized that Zi Chen became much freer after he didn’t care about Miao Xuanxuan’s matters. However, this was good because it was more convenient for her.

As she didn’t have much experience, she privately consulted Xiao Ba several times.

According to what Xiao Ba said, she could not be overly anxious when chasing others, but she also couldn’t be too lazy. Hence, she came once a day.

Sometimes, she brought a plate full of snacks, and at other times, she dueled with Zi Chen. However, most of the snacks still entered her stomach.

There were wins and losses in the duels.

All in all, she was rather happy.

But although these days were relaxing and comfortable, there was not too much progress.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Xiao Ba dragged Tuan Zi over to ask. “How is it? Has your friend progressed smoothly?”

Tuan Zi nodded in excitement. “Yes! He ate all the food she gave and used the items. When they dueled, he seemed even more serious than before!”

Once Xiao Ba heard it, she felt that there was a chance! She leaned in closer and asked excitedly and curiously, “Then… did she find out the other party’s attitude?”

Tuan Zi was dazed. “What… attitude?”

“Attitude toward your friend! From what you said, your friend did so much, so the other party should have some response, right?”

Tuan Zi thought about it in detail and was dazed.

Xiao Ba had a strange look. “Don’t tell me that the other party really just accepted your friend’s nice acts and… didn’t do or say anything?”

Tuan Zi thought hard about it and struggled to refute. “You can’t say that… It’s just the same as before…”

“How can it be the same?!” Xiao Ba instantly raised her voice.

She finally understood that the person was a scum who purposely tricked others!

“Can’t he tell how she treats him?”

He accepted all her kind acts, but he didn’t even say a word in the end?

Tuan Zi felt that something was wrong.”But… To m-my friend, he’s also quite nice…”

She softly played with her knuckles and counted.

Every time she brought him food to eat, she took away even more food.

There were a few times she did not want to duel, but Zi Chen asked her himself and guided her quite a bit.

How to put it? This was also considered being nice, right?

Hearing this, Xiao Ba fell into deep thought. After a while, she finally noticed a problem. “He’s not… still treating your friend as a younger sister, right?”

Tuan Zi’s eyes widened slightly. How could it be? I’ve clearly said it several times that I’m not a child, a-and my current appearance is completely different from before. How could he still—

However, Xiao Ba felt that she guessed it right. “It’s most likely this! This won’t do. If this goes on, even if she works a hundred times harder, it’s useless.”

Tuan Zi held her chin with both hands and was confused. “What should we do then?”

She didn’t want to do this, but Zi Chen seemed like he did not understand anything.

Their recent interactions seemed to be the same as before, but she felt that something was amiss. Unknowingly, she felt that there was an invisible barrier between them.

Xiao Ba flung her hands lightly and painted her pretty nails. Her red lips then curled up, and she slowly said, “Of course… you have to make him realize that she’s not a younger sister.”

…

When Zi Chen returned to his residence, he saw Tuan Zi waiting inside. A light smile flashed across his face.

Recently, she seemed to have clung to him even more.

“Tuan Zi.” After he entered, he called for her.

However, Tuan Zi did not jump over as per usual. Instead, she sat there and knitted her brows slightly.

She had a stern look, as if she were thinking about something important.

Zi Chen found it strange and called her again.

Tuan Zi then recovered her senses. Seeing that it was him, her face was rather nervous.

Zi Chen took a few glances at her. “What’s wrong?”

Tuan Zi rubbed her two hands together and did not speak.

Zi Chen had already sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.

They were very close to each other. Once she looked up, she saw his Adam’s apple.

Above it was his slightly plump lips.

Zi Chen noticed that her gaze was stuck to him. He put down the cap, walked over, and looked at her sharply with an inspecting gaze.

One of them stood, while the other sat.

Tuan Zi was originally guilty. This time, she felt that the other party’s aura was oppressive, and she did not know how to speak.

Her throat felt dry as she instinctively took her teacup and placed it in her hand. “N-nothing much. I’m just thirsty…”

“That’s—”Before Zi Chen could stop her, he saw her voluptuous lips on his tea cup. He could not say his remaining words no matter what.

However, Tuan Zi didn’t seem to notice him as she held the teacup and instinctively licked her lips.

Zi Chen was instantly stunned, and his eyes darkened. The next moment, a soft sentence landed in his ears, which stunned him. “…Zi Chen, do you recall the question I asked you when we came back for Sister Xiao Ba and Brother Yan Qing’s wedding?”

Of course, I remember. Thanks to the two of them, the girl started thinking about such matters once she grew up. But what is she saying now?

Tuan Zi coughed and asked softly with red ears, “Then… are you not curious?”

Zi Chen stared at her. After a moment, he suppressed his wildly beating heart and tried hard to make his voice sound calm. “So what if I’m curious and so what if I’m not?”

Tuan Zi lightly clutched his clothes and pulled them down. “Since it’s so… T-then, why don’t you let me borrow to try?”