CHAPTER 356: 0226 PROTECT PROTECT

Men always have poor memories.

You need to hurt to remember.

But many times, Xu Chang’an remembers without pain, and his memory is excellent.

Like that night watching the sunrise, he simply said the girl had a tough mouth, and she made him drink, leaving him confused for a long while.

Now he actually wants to repeat the mistake.

Speaking of which, the wine Yun Qian fed in an intimate manner was really delicious, the light pear fragrance still lingering in his heart.

It’s unclear whether the pleasant aroma is the girl’s scent or the wine’s scent.

Oh.

This is a dream.

Everything happening is his thought.

It’s fine.

Xu Chang’an quickly realized, it wasn’t the girl being unreserved, but he, being lecherous, couldn’t forget that charming incident... so he brought it up, wanting the girl to be annoyed at his remark about her tough mouth again.

If this isn’t bullying, then what is bullying?

He’s too despicable, actually using the girl’s thoughts.

Xu Chang’an’s mind worked fast.

"I was wrong." Xu Chang’an immediately said, using a mask as a shield, showing he wouldn’t eat.

"..."

A gentle breeze played with some strands of Yun Qian’s hair by her ear, she watched Xu Chang’an resist her actions, her gaze calm.

However, the fruit in the girl’s mouth unconsciously fell, bounced on the towel, and landed on the warm stone nearby.

Yun Qian said, "You aren’t wrong."

"I shouldn’t say the lady has a tough mouth, it’s soft, I know." Xu Chang’an quickly apologized, discreetly putting the palm he had just covered Yun Qian’s hand with behind his back, trying to wash away the excellent warmth.

Yun Qian looked at him: "Do you really dislike it when I feed you food?"

"I like it, it’s just... I have some things I need to figure out." Xu Chang’an wished he weren’t so clear-headed, unaware that this was a dream... then he wouldn’t need to be conflicted.

It’s not resistance, just lacking clarity about the current situation.

Xu Chang’an sighed deeply, casually picked up the fruit that fell from Yun Qian’s mouth, put it in his mouth, chewed a few times then swallowed it, looking up to see Yun Qian staring at him.

"Miss?"

"Nothing." Yun Qian grabbed his hand: "Things unclear, just take your time figuring them out."

Xu Chang’an’s heart fluttered, nodding repeatedly.

"I’ve figured it out." Yun Qian bit her lip, then said: "Wen Chun and the hot spring really aren’t the same."

"I didn’t say anything." Xu Chang’an spread his hands.

"If Wen Chun made me too weak to stand, you’d take care of me. But in the hot spring, I keep blowing bubbles, that’s the difference."

Yun Qian seemed thoughtful, bent down and gently stirred the hot, steamy water, looking at Xu Chang’an: "Do you... want to see me blow bubbles?"

"...????"

Several question marks popped up above Xu Chang’an’s head, until his eyes twitched sharply as he came to his senses.

However, the usually smart him didn’t rush to refute, instead realized something, cautiously said: "... Miss, are you angry?"

"No." Yun Qian said: "I won’t be angry."

"I’ve never seen the lady angry, but... it’s a bit odd." Xu Chang’an moved closer to Yun Qian, embraced her waist, his expression serious: "Don’t worry."

He truly knows what he should be doing.

Feeling Xu Chang’an’s warmth, Yun Qian’s tense body gradually relaxed, she lowered her eyes, softly said: "I thought you’d dislike me quickly like this."

"How could I." Xu Chang’an shook his head.

Yun Qian was silent.

Even though she knows the husband loves her deeply right now, but... even just a slight possibility, a subconscious resistant action, showed her a chance Xu Chang’an might dislike her.

Even if this possibility is absurdly low.

It’s said those favored become fearless, but Yun Qian, who is used to loss, won’t become fearless.

"Knowing the lady is meticulous in thought, yet I always make you uneasy, so I’m the unqualified husband." Xu Chang’an brushed up Yun Qian’s hair falling by the wind.

Indeed.

Even if he had reasons for resistance, ignoring the girl’s thoughts was still a fact.

"Miss, if I said loving someone nonexistent to you, would you think I’m useless and disgraceful?" Xu Chang’an asked.

"No." Yun Qian shook her head, then said: "Someone nonexistent, you mean me?"

"Who knows." Xu Chang’an sighed, placed a hand on his brow, then said: "You, miss, are so real, but someone constantly reminds me... this before me is false, a facade, the real girl... should be dreaming now."

So, he could do his best as a steward, but couldn’t be too close to the semi-real person before him.

The paradox is, seeing the girl’s disappointment and unease, he feels hurt.

"Dreaming? I’m asleep." Yun Qian blinked: "Still dreaming."

"It’s different." Xu Chang’an tilted his head, gently bumped Yun Qian’s head.

"Hmm." Yun Qian didn’t refute.

She cared about one thing.

Someone’s reminding him this is false?

Why.

Everything is so real.

The island is right before him, the hot spring is underfoot.

She’s here, everything is so rightful.

She looked towards the brightening sky, looked above Frosty Heaven, lowered her head and earnestly asked: "Who’s telling you, this is not good?"

"System." Xu Chang’an, in the dream, mimicked sleep talking.

"System..." Yun Qian didn’t quite understand, but she could feel Xu Chang’an’s hand on her lower abdomen tightened.

The girl doesn’t lie, so she didn’t say she knows not the system, just stayed silent.

"Miss, you surely don’t know what the system is right."

Xu Chang’an removed his hand, tried not to let his emotions affect Yun Qian, "It’s like a noisy thing, always by my side, I’m used to it starting its panel when I near the lady, showing Celestial Dao Points or something."

"..." Yun Qian’s eyes flared, suddenly understanding something.

Seeing Xu Chang’an embrace her: "But now, as the lady is clearly in my arms, it’s silent."

He didn’t want to admit the girl before was a facade, but everything showed this is just a dream.

Xu Chang’an certainly wouldn’t use the system to prove the girl’s reality, knowing he doesn’t trust the system itself.

He has his own measure in his heart, these words are just for the girl to hear, while giving himself a reason for clarity.

Yun Qian wouldn’t think so deeply.

——

"I understand."

Yun Qian’s gaze moved away from above Frosty Heaven.

Although not to the point where if the system isn’t present she becomes fake in his heart, but... Xu Chang’an expressed his habit.

The girl didn’t know what feeling it was.

Seems, before the husband’s vision broadens, she still needs to be honest.

Xu Chang’an had never fulfilled the host’s role so responsibly—protecting the system.

At least in this moment, he truly protected the trembling Frosty Heaven.