Chapter 74: Warmth

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Warmth

Just then, Xi Yunxui’s stomach let out an unmistakable grumble.

The sound was not particularly loud, yet within the quietness surrounding them, it seemed to reach everyone’s ears.

Xi Yunxui froze.

For several seconds, she simply stood where she was, her expression becoming increasingly blank as the realization slowly settled in.

She had fed King C.

She had made sure Biyu had eaten.

She had even washed vegetables for Hui and watched the three creatures consume their food as though they had been starved for several years.

Yet, throughout all of that, she had somehow forgotten to feed herself.

A faint sense of despair crept into Xi Yunxui’s heart.

Wonderful.

She had successfully taken care of three gluttons while forgetting that she was also a living creature who required food.

Across from her, Huo Jingchen had clearly heard the sound as well.

His gaze fell briefly upon her stomach before returning to her face, and although his expression remained composed, the corners of his lips curved upward in an almost imperceptible smile.

Xi Yunxui immediately noticed it.

Her face warmed.

She lowered her head slightly, pretending as though nothing embarrassing had just happened.

Unfortunately, pretending did not change the fact that her stomach remained empty.

"Come with me."

Xi Yunxui blinked and raised her head.

"Young Master?"

Huo Jingchen did not immediately explain himself. Instead, he turned and began walking away from the workers repairing the garden.

Xi Yunxui remained where she was for a moment, watching his retreating figure with confusion.

Where was he taking her?

Before she could decide whether she should follow him, Huo Jingchen suddenly stopped and looked back.

His gaze met hers.

"Are you coming?"

Xi Yunxui hesitated briefly before nodding.

"Yes, Young Master."

She took a step forward.

Huo Jingchen watched her approach, and just as Xi Yunxui came close enough, he reached out and took her hand.

Xi Yunxui stopped walking.

Her eyes slowly lowered toward their joined hands.

Huo Jingchen’s hand was warm.

Not painfully tight, nor forceful enough to make her uncomfortable, yet his fingers wrapped around hers with enough firmness that she immediately understood he had no intention of letting go anytime soon.

For a brief moment, Xi Yunxui did not know what to do.

Should she pull her hand away?

Should she remind him that she could walk perfectly well by herself?

Or perhaps—

Her thoughts suddenly stopped.

A strange warmth began creeping upward from where their hands touched, slowly spreading through her chest before rising toward her face.

Xi Yunxui lowered her head.

Why does he keep holding my hand?

She did not understand.

The first few times it had happened, she had assumed Huo Jingchen simply acted without thinking. However, it had happened enough times now for her to begin wondering whether there was another reason behind it.

Still, Xi Yunxui did not pull away.

Perhaps she was too surprised.

Perhaps she simply did not want to embarrass him by suddenly snatching her hand back.

Or perhaps—

Xi Yunxui hurriedly pushed that last thought away before it could fully form.

Huo Jingchen, meanwhile, continued walking as though nothing unusual had happened.

Yet beneath his calm exterior, his thoughts were anything but calm.

The moment his fingers had closed around Xi Yunxui’s hand, the strange feeling that had been bothering him for days returned.

That sense of warmth.

That inexplicable feeling of comfort.

It was as though something restless within him had suddenly become quiet.

Huo Jingchen’s grip tightened ever so slightly.

He had already gone to the Wei Sect.

He had sought answers from the Grandmaster and left with more questions than he had arrived with.

Since then, he had gradually stopped fighting the feelings he experienced whenever Xi Yunxui was near him.

He still did not completely understand them.

However, he had begun to accept one thing.

He liked being around her.

More than he probably should.

Xi Yunxui remained unaware of the thoughts running through his mind as she followed beside him.

Behind them, King C, Biyu, and Hui immediately followed.

The sight of three unusual creatures trailing after them would have been enough to attract anyone’s attention, but Xi Yunxui was currently too occupied with wondering why Huo Jingchen was holding her hand to notice.

After walking for several minutes, they arrived before a separate glass structure situated some distance away from the main residence.

Xi Yunxui slowed.

Her eyes widened.

The building stood surrounded by carefully maintained greenery, its transparent walls reflecting the morning sunlight. From outside, she could already see numerous plants flourishing within it.

Huo Jingchen led her toward the entrance.

The moment they stepped inside, Xi Yunxui stopped.

A rich fragrance immediately surrounded her.

It was unlike the scent of an ordinary garden.

The air carried the refreshing smell of flowers, mixed with something deeper and more concentrated. Some of the plants had unfamiliar leaves, while others possessed unusual colors and shapes that immediately caught Xi Yunxui’s attention.

Her eyes slowly widened.

"Wow..."

The single word escaped her lips before she could stop herself.

Xi Yunxui completely forgot about their joined hands as she stared around the greenhouse in amazement.

There were rows upon rows of carefully cultivated plants.

Some bloomed with delicate flowers.

Others grew within special containers.

Several plants appeared particularly unusual, their leaves possessing colors Xi Yunxui had never seen before.

She slowly turned toward Huo Jingchen.

"I didn’t know there was a place like this in the residence."

Huo Jingchen watched her rather than the plants.

"It isn’t a place many people visit."

Xi Yunxui’s attention immediately returned to the plants.

She took a small step forward, completely captivated.

Huo Jingchen noticed the sudden change in her expression, and before he realized what he was doing, his fingers gently tightened around her hand.

Xi Yunxui did not react.

She was far too absorbed in what she was seeing.

Huo Jingchen looked down at their hands.

A faint warmth appeared in his eyes.

Behind them, King C walked into the greenhouse and immediately stopped.

His eyes widened.

He slowly looked around.

There were plants everywhere.

Green leaves.

Flowers.

Roots.

Vegetables.

At least, according to King C, everything green had the potential to become food.

"So much food."

The words came from behind them.

Xi Yunxui’s head snapped around.

King C stood near one of the plant beds, staring at the greenery with an expression of deep contemplation.

His eyes looked as though he were currently deciding which plant would taste the best.

"King C."

Her voice was dangerously calm.

King C slowly turned his head.

Xi Yunxui gave him a warning look.

A very deep warning look.

King C immediately understood.

His ears drooped slightly.

"I was only looking."

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

"With your mouth?"

King C immediately closed his mouth.

Xi Yunxui stared at him for several seconds.

King C slowly raised one of his front hooves.

It was a gesture of surrender.

Xi Yunxui rubbed her forehead.

Why do I feel as though my life is becoming more exhausting every day?

Biyu made a quiet chirping sound beside King C, as though agreeing with Xi Yunxui.

Hui, meanwhile, simply sat down and stared at the plants with large, innocent eyes.

Xi Yunxui looked toward the smallest of her three troublesome companions.

Her expression softened immediately.

"At least one of you knows how to behave."

King C immediately looked offended.

Biyu made another sound.

Hui blinked.

Huo Jingchen watched the entire exchange quietly.

A smile gradually appeared in his eyes.

For some reason, watching Xi Yunxui interact with the creatures brought back the same feeling he had experienced when he saw her chasing King C and Biyu around the garden.

It felt strangely—

Warm.

Like returning home after spending too long away.

The thought made Huo Jingchen pause.

His expression changed slightly.

Before he could examine that feeling any further, Xi Yunxui finally turned around.

That was when she noticed their hands.

Her eyes fell upon his fingers wrapped around hers.

She froze.

Huo Jingchen’s gaze followed hers.

For the first time since they had entered the greenhouse, Xi Yunxui seemed to fully realize what was happening.

A trace of uncertainty appeared in her eyes.

Slowly and carefully, she withdrew her hand.

The warmth disappeared.

Huo Jingchen’s fingers remained slightly curled in the air.

For a moment, he simply stared at his empty hand.

An unexpected sense of loss passed through him.

He almost reached forward again.

His hand had already begun moving before he noticed Xi Yunxui’s expression.

She was looking at him cautiously.

Not with anger.

Not with disgust.

Simply cautious and confused.

As though she were wondering why he kept holding her hand whenever they were together.

Huo Jingchen stiffened.

His hand immediately stopped.

A faint embarrassment, unfamiliar and uncomfortable, settled within him.

He had spent years maintaining complete control over his emotions.

Yet somehow, around Xi Yunxui, he seemed to keep acting before properly considering his actions.

Huo Jingchen turned away from her.

He cleared his throat.

"I’m sorry."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

She had not expected an apology.

"Young Master?"

Huo Jingchen kept his back facing her.

For some reason, turning around and seeing the confused expression on her face felt even more difficult than facing an important business negotiation.

After several seconds, he spoke again.

"I shouldn’t have taken your hand without asking."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened slightly.

She had not expected him to apologize so directly.

Her expression softened.

"It’s... all right."

Huo Jingchen remained silent.

Xi Yunxui lowered her gaze.

Her fingers still carried the faint warmth of his touch.

Before the silence between them could become too awkward, Huo Jingchen cleared his throat once again.

"There is somewhere we can sit."

Xi Yunxui looked up.

Only then did she notice a beautifully arranged resting area further inside the greenhouse. A small wooden table stood beneath the shade of several carefully cultivated plants, accompanied by comfortable chairs.

Huo Jingchen finally turned toward her.

His expression had returned to its usual calmness, although his eyes still carried something Xi Yunxui could not quite understand.

"Come," he said.

This time, however, he did not reach for her hand.

Xi Yunxui followed him quietly.

Behind them, King C stared suspiciously at Huo Jingchen’s back.

Biyu tilted its head.

Hui blinked.

None of them said anything.

However, if King C’s expression could be translated into words, it would have said only one thing.

That human is behaving strangely again.

~~~~~~

A/N: Hui/Huihui refers to the tiger like creature.