Chu Zhishui finally surrendered to Xin Yunmao's persistent nagging. She accepted the bottled water he handed over, taking a perfunctory sip to moisten her dry throat. Only then did she realize how thirsty she actually was, and continued drinking at a leisurely pace.
Seeing this, Xin Yunmao felt relieved. After she finished drinking, he took the empty bottle and held onto it for her.
Chu Zhishui was still holding the ginseng certificates in her arms. All three ginseng roots had been authenticated as wild mountain ginseng, with the certificates containing detailed information serving as unique identity documents for each root. These wild ginseng roots had successfully passed the screening process and would be sent to auction for competitive bidding.
As the human and spirit finished their business, they encountered Boss Peng returning from his rounds.
Boss Peng had already walked around the venue and greeted his acquaintances. He said regretfully, "Little Chu, you just missed it by a bit. I just saw another ginseng root that seems heavier than yours - it might be this year's 'Ginseng King.'"
The ginseng roots submitted for auction were displayed in the venue, visible through display cases for potential bidders to examine. Boss Peng had come specifically to acquire ginseng, so he had naturally made a thorough inspection of all the specimens.
Chu Zhishui was startled: "Just missed it by a little?"
"Yes, such a shame," Boss Peng said. "It's already on display in the venue. I'll take you to see it."
In the center of the venue, a wild ginseng root was placed in the central display case, its rootlets spread out under the lighting and carefully fixed to the base. The ginseng had a round stem with spiral-shaped horizontal wrinkles, and clear extending rootlets indicating considerable age.
Many people gathered around the display case, focusing on this ginseng root and occasionally leaning in for a closer look.
Chu Zhishui lacked the ability to evaluate ginseng. She could only tell that this root was slightly larger than the ones from the Bureau, though the difference wasn't obvious to the naked eye - mainly because ginseng was sold by weight, and the actual difference was minimal.
When Xin Yunmao saw the ginseng, his brows furrowed slightly. After careful examination, he slowly raised an eyebrow.
"Little Chu, don't be too disappointed," Boss Peng consoled. "If I were bidding, I'd probably choose yours over this one. Your ginseng has better overall form and structure; it's just lighter in weight."
Chu Zhishui asked curiously, "So heavier isn't always better?"
"Of course not. That's an easy way to get deceived. Let's discuss this somewhere else," Boss Peng glanced around, looking toward Liu Xia who was surrounded by people in the distance, and gave a subtle gesture. "This is someone else's territory - not appropriate to talk here."
Liu Xia was the seller of this year's "Ginseng King," reportedly a ginseng merchant from out of town, though Boss Peng wasn't particularly familiar with him. He appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with sharp features and a monkey-like face, wearing a crisp suit. He was currently surrounded by others, enthusiastically discussing his ginseng.
Boss Peng led them to a corner, far from Liu Xia and his group. After confirming no one was within earshot, he finally spoke: "The ginseng trade is very complex, and it's easy to be deceived. I don't mean anything by it, but while I can't find any obvious flaws with that root, something about it just seems off."
Chu Zhishui asked, "Seems off?"
"Yes, maybe it's just intuition, I can't quite explain it," Boss Peng scratched his head. "But if I were in urgent need, I wouldn't bid on that ginseng. I'd choose yours instead - it's lighter but safer. So don't be disappointed; others might think the same way, and you could still get a good price."
Chu Zhishui smiled, "It's fine. Getting the price you estimated would already be very good."
Boss Peng had previously mentioned several hundred thousand yuan, which far exceeded Chu Zhishui's expectations. Normally, wild and cultivated ginseng wouldn't yield returns so quickly, requiring many years of investment. If it weren't for Xin Yunmao's spiritual energy, the Bureau might not have made any profit this year.
Xin Yunmao had been listening quietly when he suddenly said, "He's tampered with that ginseng."
Chu Zhishui turned to look at him.
Boss Peng was confused: "What?"
"It's probably some illusion to improve its appearance, likely lasting a year or two before reverting to its original state," Xin Yunmao said calmly. "Since you're connected to ginseng spirits, that's why it feels off to you."
Boss Peng had an agreement with young ginseng spirits who helped with his ginseng business - after all, none understood ginseng better than ginseng spirits themselves.
"Lasting one or two years?" Boss Peng was stunned. "But normally, unprocessed ginseng only keeps for two to three years, maybe a bit longer if refrigerated."
Xin Yunmao sneered lightly: "That's why he timed it well, knowing it wouldn't be exposed."
He had noticed the trick with the ginseng earlier. It seemed Liu Xia had his own methods, trying to pass off inferior goods as genuine for a big profit.
"Indeed, such ginseng would typically be used in emergencies. Whether it actually works might not even be questioned if someone's seriously ill," Boss Peng realized, noting that people often used ginseng for severe illnesses, though ginseng alone might not help with complex conditions.
Chu Zhishui glanced toward the display case, hesitating: "But it's already passed authentication, and we can't remove it now."
Ginseng submitted for auction was uniformly displayed and stored. If any went missing or were stolen, not only would insurance cover it, but the institution would also be held responsible. They couldn't explain this situation to anyone, and the relevant institutions would be equally puzzled.
Xin Yunmao pondered briefly, then snapped his fingers and said calmly: "Then let's have it revert at the appropriate time."
After all, if Liu Xia could use illusions to pass off inferior goods, they could certainly make it revert to its true form.
As they left the venue, Chu Zhishui saw the Observation Bureau's three ginseng roots being carefully brought out by staff and displayed in cases for others to examine. If anyone showed interest, they would participate in tomorrow's auction for competitive bidding.
The next day, the auction venue was packed, with staff bringing out ginseng roots by number for bidding.
Boss Peng, as a well-known executive, sat in the front row with others, bidding on ginseng. He would occasionally raise his number, sometimes muttering to himself as if calculating value for money, and would lower his hand when prices were pushed too high.
Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao, being sellers rather than buyers, sat in the back row and surprisingly spotted Yu Jingzi and Lin Yue.
Their seats weren't far apart. Yu Jingzi gave them a formal nod, which Chu Zhishui politely returned, without further interaction.
"Alright, three hundred thousand once, three hundred thousand twice..."
"Three hundred and ten thousand! Now at three hundred and ten thousand!"
The gavel fell, settling the matter.
"Congratulations on your purchase!"
The venue periodically erupted with successful transaction announcements. Two wild ginseng roots from the Observation Bureau, each weighing around 7 grams, sold for 300,000 and 310,000 yuan respectively. Chu Zhishui handed over the relevant certificates to the staff, and once all procedures were completed, the money would be transferred to the company account.
The host excitedly announced: "Next up is the 'Ginseng King' of the third Danshan Auction, with a starting price of 600,000 yuan. Please welcome our staff to present..."
In the front row, Liu Xia sat alert and straight-backed, seemingly having waited long for this moment, eager to see how much money he could make.
Perhaps due to the grand buildup for the "Ginseng King," the staff hadn't appeared yet, creating a brief lull in the proceedings.
Some in the audience grew impatient and began whispering among themselves. Boss Peng idly fiddled with his bidding card, appearing uninterested in the hyped-up "Ginseng King," and even rubbed his temples as if preparing to rest.
The host kept glancing backstage, helplessly commenting: "It seems the 'Ginseng King' is difficult to summon. Please remain patient, everyone."
Moments later, someone rushed onto the stage, whispered something to the host, then quickly disappeared.
The host, initially stunned by what he'd heard, quickly composed himself and smiled: "We apologize, but there was a slight issue with the lot number for the 'Ginseng King.' Let me reintroduce this year's 'Ginseng King,' weighing 22.3 grams..."
In the audience, Lin Yue suddenly slapped Yu Jingzi's thigh: "Master, it's ours!"
Yu Jingzi responded nonchalantly: "No, it's not. I didn't pick the 'Ginseng King' - how else would we get a bargain?"
"It is! It really is!" Lin Yue insisted anxiously. "The lot number is the same!"
Meanwhile, Chu Zhishui was startled by the lot number. She looked down at her certificate, questioning: "Is this our number?"
The Observation Bureau's 22.3-gram wild ginseng had suddenly become the "Ginseng King" and was now being brought out by staff for auction bidding.
A moment later, staff members wearing work badges arrived and quietly explained the situation to Chu Zhishui, asking her to help process some paperwork.
The auctioneer had already announced the start of bidding on stage when Liu Xia saw this and turned pale with shock. He hurriedly stopped the staff member and asked, "This isn't right - this isn't mine. Did you mix them up? This isn't my 'Ginseng King.'"
The staff member responded professionally, "Mr. Liu, please come with us to the back. There seems to be an issue with your ginseng."
In the back room, the ginseng in the box looked the same as yesterday in shape, but had mysteriously shriveled up, as if it had suddenly lost all its vitality. It appeared withered and lifeless, with even its weight significantly reduced.
"During our final pre-auction inspection, we discovered that your ginseng doesn't match the documentation, so we had to urgently replace this year's 'Ginseng King.' Putting such ginseng up for auction would impact this event's reputation and potentially harm future Danshan Auctions."
Seeing the ginseng returned to its true form, Liu Xia's face turned white. Covered in cold sweat, he angrily protested, "Impossible! This isn't my ginseng - you've switched it! I'll get my lawyer and sue you! You'll pay for this!"
The staff member replied, "Our security is very thorough. We can provide surveillance footage. Both the storage number and the root patterns match exactly with what was authenticated. As someone who sells ginseng, you should know that the five forms and six features are very difficult to forge - these are what we use for identification. This ginseng matches the authentication photos in shape, but differs in fullness and weight..."
Of course, even a few changes in a ginseng's characteristics could mean a world of difference in value - that's why they were so precious.
"To be frank, we suspect you committed fraud during authentication, but such deception can't last long, which is why it revealed its true form after just one day."
Hit at his weak spot, Liu Xia exploded in anger, "Nonsense! You must have stolen my 'Ginseng King!' This isn't over!"
"If you're dissatisfied, we're happy to cooperate with an investigation, but we'll need you to provide more documentation about the ginseng, such as proof of its growing environment or purchase channel."
Authentication institutions typically only look at the ginseng's appearance to issue certificates, but since Liu Xia wanted a full investigation, both sides would need to provide evidence.
In the auction hall, countless merchants who had come for the event were eagerly bidding, including wealthy individuals who weren't even ginseng experts. These people weren't in the ginseng business - they were probably just here for the excitement. Some didn't even bother viewing the exhibits in person, instead just bidding on this year's best "Ginseng King." When you're rich, you just have to spend it somewhere.
This was the promotional effect of the "Ginseng King" - experts paid the most attention to it, while amateurs could only focus on it since they couldn't judge the quality of other ginsengs.
"One million for the first time! One million for the second time!"
"Alright, 1.05 million! This gentleman bids 1.05 million!"
"1.08 million! Now we're at 1.08 million!"
The auction reached its most intense peak, with countless people joining the bidding war. New faces kept raising their hands, with Boss Peng and Yu Jingzi holding out the longest.
Chu Zhishui was surprised that Yu Jingzi had so much money. She gave him a strange look, wondering why a monster master and his human disciple would be interested in the Observation Bureau's ginseng.
Xin Yunmao nodded at them approvingly, "Not bad, you're quite sensible."
Chu Zhishui frowned slightly, "Don't blindly inflate the price just because he's a divine lord."
She was starting to suspect Yu Jingzi was acting as a shill for the bamboo spirit, especially since he had offered them their pick of items from his shop the other day.
Yu Jingzi couldn't explain his predicament: "No, you misunderstand - we really need this."
He had spotted this ginseng yesterday and was delighted it wasn't the "Ginseng King," thinking he could get a bargain. Who knew the auction would pull this last-minute switch, catching him completely off guard!
"1.1 million for the first time! 1.1 million for the second time!"
Hearing 1.1 million, Boss Peng slowly lowered his hand, clearly giving up the chase.
Only Yu Jingzi and other wealthy merchants remained in the bidding, with prices still climbing, though at a slower pace.
"1.19 million for the first time!"
"1.19 million for the second time!"
"1.19 million for the third time!"
"Congratulations! This year's Danshan Auction 'Ginseng King' has sold for 1.19 million, breaking last year's record!"
Yu Jingzi stood up amidst thunderous applause, quickly nodding to acknowledge the crowd before heading to find staff members to handle the paperwork.
"He's richer than Hu Chenrui," Xin Yunmao raised an eyebrow. "Is taking disciples that profitable?"
Chu Zhishui seemed unsurprised: "That's just how the market is. Our human training institutions make good money too, like art exam prep schools."
She didn't know what monsters taught humans, but it was probably some special skills.
The Observation Bureau's three ginseng roots sold for a total of 1.8 million. Even after taxes and commission, the income was still considerable. This was unexpected wealth for the Bureau, unlike their stable green tea business and online store operations. The yield varied yearly depending on wild and cultivated ginseng conditions, and it would take time to find the next batch of good wild ginseng.
After the auction, Boss Peng came over with congratulations: "Well done! I knew your ginseng was excellent. Seems there are quite a few connoisseurs around."
Boss Peng ran a large business and had to consider costs, so he wouldn't bid on ginseng with too high a per-gram price, but he was happy to see Chu Zhishui and her group profit.
Chu Zhishui sincerely replied, "Thank you for all your help these past two days. We're really new to this."
"It's nothing - you've helped me too!" Boss Peng waved it off. "Are you heading straight back to the hotel? It's raining a bit outside - want to wait it out?"
Chu Zhishui glanced at Xin Yunmao before answering, "We brought umbrellas, so we'll head back now."
Boss Peng still needed to network with old clients, so they said goodbye at the auction house entrance.
The autumn rain fell in fine drops, wrapping Danshan's streets in a gauzy veil, creating a misty, romantic atmosphere.
In a deserted corner, Xin Yunmao took out the Dragon Bone Umbrella, casually opening the paper umbrella and walking out with Chu Zhishui into the gentle rain.
Chu Zhishui caught sight of red leaves by the street, their colors made intoxicatingly vibrant by the autumn wind, creating bright, wet splashes of color in the dreary rain. Something occurred to her, and she said, "Let's turn in early tonight. Tomorrow's the weekend - we could explore Danshan."
Danshan was a famous local scenic area, and this season was perfect for seeing the brilliant autumn leaves and colorful forests on the mountain.
Xin Yunmao responded, "Alright."
"Let me check the weather forecast to see if it'll rain tomorrow. If it does, we might have to reconsider," Chu Zhishui opened her phone to search, knowing rain would likely spoil their tourism plans.
Xin Yunmao stated confidently, "It definitely won't rain tomorrow."
"Why?" Chu Zhishui was startled. "But the forecast says it will."
"No particular reason," Xin Yunmao said proudly. "Trust me, I'm more accurate than the forecast."
"...Well, you're certainly more confident than the weather forecast."
They walked back to the hotel from the auction house, not noticing someone else at the street corner.
After leaving the venue, Liu Xia was furious and immediately asked his collaborator how they had been exposed. By chance, he had met an mountain spirit that hadn't yet taken human form, promising to help it gather spiritual energy for cultivation in exchange for assistance in accumulating wealth. This led to their business of selling fake ginseng.
They had done similar things before, but never with such valuable ginseng, so they had never been caught. This sudden exposure and confrontation with the auction house would affect their future operations.
Liu Xia complained unhappily, "Didn't you say humans couldn't see through it?"
A strange, raspy voice responded: [Humans can't see through it, but that doesn't mean other monsters can't. I still haven't taken human form, but there are others of my kind living among humans.]
Monsters who hadn't taken human form spoke very quietly, making it hard for humans or other monsters to hear, but he had used special means to form a contract with Liu Xia, allowing them to communicate.
"What do we do now? Can you make that root change back?" Liu Xia asked. "It's troublesome that they want evidence from us. If we can't produce anything, they might sue me."
[Wait, stop, turn left.]
"What is it?" Liu Xia followed the instruction and turned his head, seeing a man and woman with an umbrella.
They were holding an ink-colored classical umbrella, looking extremely elegant in the fine rain as they walked toward the hotel with their backs to Liu Xia.
The umbrella's surface bore deep black scorch marks, perhaps intentionally designed, like blooming black petals.
["No need to worry about those things anymore. Once I get that umbrella, I can transform into human form immediately, and then I'll have everything I want."]
The demon, who had not yet transformed into human form, was deeply attracted to the Dragon Bone Umbrella. He had a strong premonition in his heart that this umbrella possessed extraordinary power that might allow him to undergo a complete transformation.
At the hotel, Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao stayed indoors due to the rain. They had a simple meal at the hotel restaurant, chatted briefly, and then returned to their rooms to rest before tomorrow's tourist activities.
Their rooms were adjacent to each other. Xin Yunmao reached his room first and swiped his card. As soon as he pushed open the door, his expression darkened, and he immediately stepped back out, frowning, "Someone's been in my room."
It was contaminated here.
He couldn't stay there.
Chu Zhishui explained, "The housekeeping staff must have cleaned it."
Xin Yunmao didn't respond. He followed Chu Zhishui to check around her room first, and only after confirming her room was fine did he return to his own, his face expressionless, lost in thought.
"What are you doing?" Chu Zhishui felt dizzy from his circling. "If there's nothing else, I'm closing my door."
"Go ahead and close it."
Chu Zhishui watched him return to his room before closing her own door.
The hotel had plenty of hot water, perfect for relieving her tired body after the tense auction.
In her room, Chu Zhishui finished her shower and changed into her sleepwear. She was standing in front of the mirror drying her wet hair, about to look for the hotel's hairdryer, when she heard rhythmic knocking at the door.
Steam filled the air, and white mist swirled around. The bathroom door was closed, muffling the sounds from outside. She listened carefully for a moment, confirming someone was indeed knocking, before unhurriedly walking out with a dry towel still draped over her shoulders to catch the water from her hair.
Chu Zhishui didn't open the door immediately, asking through it first: "Who is it?"
"It's me." The familiar deep male voice belonged to the bamboo spirit next door.
Chu Zhishui opened the door and indeed saw Xin Yunmao, asking puzzled, "Do you need to borrow something?"
Xin Yunmao hadn't brought any luggage and wasn't familiar with the hotel, so perhaps he needed some supplies.
He had been knocking at her door for quite a while without response, initially worried something might have happened to her, only to discover she had been bathing and changing. When she opened the door, a wave of steam rushed out.
Chu Zhishui's face was now bare, with a healthy pink glow from the hot water. Her long hair hung wet and loose, and even her eyes seemed to sparkle with a clear, watery sheen. Steam continued to drift out from the bathroom behind her, making it obvious she had just finished showering.
He froze when he saw her appearance, his Adam's apple unconsciously bobbing as he blurted out, "I'm staying in your room tonight."
"???"
Chu Zhishui laughed in disbelief at his absurd statement. She yanked the dry towel from her shoulders, wielding it like a whip, half-wanting to snap him back to his senses, and sarcastically remarked, "Friend, you knock on your boss's door late at night and say something like that – are you trying to redefine what it means to be virtuous?"
Although according to their agreement, they weren't superior and subordinate in private, his behavior was still outrageous.
She wasn't even shocked anymore – it was purely ridiculous, and she couldn't understand what kind of nonsense he was up to. If anyone else had said such a thing, she would have immediately called the police and reported harassment, but this spirit's thought process was beyond ordinary.
Xin Yunmao started, suddenly realizing the implications. His ears instantly turned red, and he hurriedly explained, "No, that's not it. I just can't go back to my room right now."
"Mm-hmm, keep making excuses, I'm listening," Chu Zhishui humored him. "Is it because there's a giant panda in your room? Should I call the zoo for you?"
She saw his embarrassed face and even helped suggest reasons.
Xin Yunmao was about to explain when his gaze swept across her delicate collarbone. He quickly averted his eyes, awkwardly staring at a corner of the hallway instead, and said in a muffled voice, "I left the umbrella in the room, and someone will try to steal it tonight."
"The umbrella?" Chu Zhishui asked puzzled, "The Dragon Bone Umbrella? But can't you put it away instantly?"
They had used the Dragon Bone Umbrella today, and she had witnessed his ability to summon and dismiss it in a second, as if he had some kind of dimensional storage bag.
"If I put it away, it can't serve as bait," Xin Yunmao lowered his eyes and explained, "I'm not interested in teaching them a lesson. I'm merely setting up a 'cause' – the 'effect' will be entirely of their own making."
This was his consistent principle of conduct. He felt nothing about whether others were good or bad, and had no spare attention for upholding justice – he merely reflected back what they carried within themselves. He had no obligation to judge or punish anyone; they would judge and punish themselves.
If they hadn't set their sights on the Dragon Bone Umbrella, tonight would pass peacefully. But evil causes couldn't yield good effects – the outcome was determined from the start.
Chu Zhishui pondered thoughtfully, then finally stepped aside to let him in.
A moment later, Xin Yunmao sat on the long couch in the room watching television. He held the remote control, idly flipping through channels to pass the time while using the Dragon Bone Umbrella as bait, but he couldn't concentrate at all. His hearing kept being drawn to Chu Zhishui's rustling movements nearby.
The warm yellow light, the humid air, the faint lingering fragrance – becoming human had made his five senses too keen, nothing like the simplicity of being purely bamboo. He began to regret coming in, thinking he should have gone for a walk instead of seeking her out at this time.
Xin Yunmao sat on the couch by the tea table, while Chu Zhishui sat at the head of the bed, positioning themselves at diagonal corners, seemingly trying to maintain maximum distance.
She felt equally awkward, occasionally glancing at his broad-shouldered, straight-backed silhouette on the couch, feeling his overwhelming presence in the room that was impossible to ignore. Anyone would feel unnatural with someone of the opposite sex in their room late at night, but she couldn't send him out into the rain either.
Xin Yunmao had changed clothes after returning to the hotel. Perhaps because he was indoors, he wore something lighter – a light-colored linen outfit with slightly rolled-up sleeves that revealed his long arms and the backs of his hands, blue veins visible beneath his jade-like skin, displaying a masculine beauty of strength.
He focused intently on the television, his fingers distinctly knuckled, occasionally pressing buttons on the remote control he held.
Neither person spoke.
Silent currents flowed through the quiet room, even the program's sound seeming to drift away, with only the TV's changing light playing across their faces, alternating between bright and dark.
"What exactly do you want to watch?" Chu Zhishui looked at the frantically changing channels and was the first to break the strange silence, suggesting tactfully, "Could you stay on one channel for a bit? All this switching is making me dizzy."
She suspected he had never used a remote control before, as he had been changing channels since the beginning without any apparent purpose, never staying on any program.
Xin Yunmao thought for a moment, pressed the button twice, and stopped on a documentary channel – coincidentally the same plant documentary from the airplane that he had angrily dismissed as unwatchable.
Chu Zhishui: "?"
She turned to look at him in disbelief, asking, "Why would you watch this?"
Shocking! The famous ancient spirit of Huai River publicly watching plant documentaries!
Xin Yunmao glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his gaze flickering as he said quietly, "Isn't this what you like?"
The words seemed to imply she was the strange one.
"I. Do. Not. Like. It." Chu Zhishui's scalp tingled as she gritted out, "Please change the channel."
The TV continued switching through channels, skipping past many boring advertisements before finally settling on a movie channel – one of the few watchable options. It was a foreign film with beautifully designed shots, more aesthetically pleasing than other channel programs.
Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao finally had an excuse to fall silent, using the movie to divert their attention.
However, the normal movie development gradually became not so normal, as the man and woman on screen opened their hearts to each other and embraced in a kiss, displaying passionate Western-style romance.
Urgent and intense breathing, the sound of heated kisses, romantic light melodies – all emanated from the TV.
Xin Yunmao was so startled he dropped the remote control, directly covering his face with his hands to hide his shocked and dazed expression, frantically averting his gaze. A flame shot through his chest, catalyzed by the subtle fragrance in the room, making his whole body feel like it was on fire. In an instant, he resembled a cooked shrimp, all his exposed skin turning pink.
Chu Zhishui was equally startled, not expecting the movie to take such a turn – foreigners shocking a domestic bamboo spirit. She hurriedly said, "Let's change the channel."
Xin Yunmao turned back to stare at her in disbelief, his obsidian eyes trembling with unease yet gleaming with light. It seemed to be awkwardness, or shyness, or shock, or perhaps revealing emotions that couldn't be put into words.
"Why are you looking at me?" Chu Zhishui was provoked by his gaze and said irritably, "You're the one who chose the movie!"
This was too strange.
Tonight was too strange.
He blushes while watching nature documentaries and even human movies - perhaps he's a bit too sensitive. While others might only be restricted from R-rated content, is this thousand-year-old spirit restricted from all of China's five thousand years of history?
Chu Zhishui took a deep breath, trying to shake off the strange feeling of restlessness. She decided to distract herself by blow-drying her hair. Making an effort to treat Xin Yunmao on the couch as if he were invisible, she turned on the hair dryer and began combing through her long hair, the whirring sound dispersing the moisture from her hair tips.
As the warm air flowed, it spread her fragrance, making it even harder for him to maintain his composure and cool down.
Xin Yunmao stole glances at her, swallowed hard, and voluntarily offered, "Would you like me to help?"
He felt that if he let her continue blow-drying like this, he wouldn't be able to sit still and would have to flee the room.
"You want to help dry my hair?" Chu Zhishui paused her movements, giving him a sidelong glance before saying with a cold smile, "Isn't this awkward enough already?"
"...No, I mean, I could dry it instantly."
Xin Yunmao's eyelashes fluttered as he quietly added, afraid of displeasing her, "...Or I could help blow-dry it."
Thinking of his various magical abilities, Chu Zhishui realized she had misunderstood: "..."
She maintained her composure and said, "Just dry it instantly, thank you, Master Tony."
Xin Yunmao snapped his fingers, and her damp hair became dry immediately.
Chu Zhishui touched her now fluffy and dry hair, marveling at how these magical abilities could lead to many side businesses. No wonder he didn't need luggage - he was essentially a all-in-one household appliance, capable of doing anything.
The night proved to be long and torturous, with both human and spirit feeling constrained. Even Chu Zhishui, usually skilled at making conversation, found it difficult to speak. The atmosphere was too strange, easily turning intimate and romantic at the slightest misstep, so staying silent seemed the safest option.
After sitting in silence for a long while, they finally got their result.
Xin Yunmao stood up from the couch, letting out a long breath of relief as he walked toward the door: "Got it."
If he hadn't caught it, he would have gone crazy - he felt more agitated than when he was burned by dragon flames.
"Is it in your room?" Chu Zhishui asked in surprise, "We should call the hotel staff then."
An outsider breaking into a room would be illegal, and it might affect the hotel as well.
"Yes, I'll go check first."
As Chu Zhishui walked Xin Yunmao to the door and watched him about to leave, she suddenly asked, "By the way, were you feeling awkward earlier?"
Xin Yunmao hadn't expected this question. His body stiffened as he stood with his back to her, and he admitted honestly, "...Yes, awkward."
"Good that you felt awkward. Remember this feeling," Chu Zhishui teased leisurely. "Your Lordship has always been pure as ice and steadfast in virtue, so remember to protect yourself when traveling. Don't knock on my door late at night anymore."
Xin Yunmao: "..."
