Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Redemption

Xie Yingying drew closer to Bai Shengyun, her heart fluttering with unease. In the past, she wouldn’t have minded so much, but now, even the sound of someone speaking felt awkward. Bai Shengyun pressed his lips together silently, turning away to adopt the “out of sight, out of mind” stance. Seeing this, Xie Yingying felt caught between speaking and staying silent—neither seemed right. Hesitating, she looked up and caught sight of Bai Shengyun’s disheveled expression.

“Sorry… I’m sorry…” she murmured, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her slender fingers nervously twisting the sleeve of her blouse. Bai Shengyun glanced at her briefly but remained silent.

The tension thickened. It was early summer, and the room’s windows were shut tight, making the air stifling. Both sat awkwardly, and soon beads of sweat began to appear on their faces.

Normally, she would never apologize twice, but in this situation, she had no choice but to lower her head. With that thought, Xie Yingying stepped forward and gently tapped Bai Shengyun on the arm.

The touch jolted him back to awareness, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his face. Being called out like this in such humid weather was truly stifling.

Sensing his irritation, Xie Yingying quickly moved to the window and opened it.

Turning back, she felt the cool breeze sweep in, soothing the oppressive heat. “Bai Shengyun, I was wrong. Don’t be angry. How about this: today, you say yes once, and I won’t say no twice. Deal?”

She pressed her hands against her waist and folded her arms, considering this her greatest concession. After speaking, she took her place beside Bai Shengyun.

Bai Shengyun was meditating, his avatar split in concentration. The cool breeze stirred, and without a doubt, it was Xie Yingying who had opened the window. His anger subsided considerably. He wasn’t one to hold grudges, and hearing her words even stirred a flicker of reaction in him—anyone would respond to such warmth.

“I’m doing this willingly. Why do you keep apologizing?” Bai Shengyun finally spoke. Xie Yingying turned to look at him and saw his expression soften, no longer so angry. She relaxed as well.

A strong gust blew through, bringing a fresh chill that quelled the lingering heat. Nearby, a book lay open, its pages fluttering and drifting beneath the table.

Bai Shengyun rose to retrieve it but was stopped by Xie Yingying. “I’ll get it. Remember, today you say yes once, I don’t say no twice.”

Her tone was anxious, and as she steadied Bai Shengyun, her hand instinctively clasped his arm. His clothes were thin, and the warmth of her hand through the fabric sent a shiver down his spine.

Noticing this, Xie Yingying chuckled to ease the embarrassment, then turned to pick up the stray pages.

“These fell pretty deep,” she muttered, slightly displeased. To retrieve them, she’d have to squat down, which would ruin her graceful image. She pondered left and right but stubbornly refused to bend.

Bai Shengyun watched her retreating figure with a trace of helplessness and sighed softly. Though faint, Xie Yingying heard the sound.

“Oh no, he must be thinking I’m hopeless,” she thought, finally conceding and squatting down. “There’s no way he would look down on me—I’m strong, after all.”

The cramped position was hardly flattering; even the most beautiful person would look awkward crouching under a table. But Xie Yingying was no ordinary woman. Even in the most clumsy poses, she exuded the air of a refined lady—some might say, delicately affected.

Whether or not that was appropriate, the term fit her perfectly. Within moments, she retrieved the scattered sheets and placed them on the desk, using an inkstone to weigh them down.

Bai Shengyun sat silently, watching the entire process before finally speaking. “Help me sweep the floor afterward. Thanks.”

He made no effort to be polite. Since Xie Yingying had said she wouldn’t refuse any command today, he might as well speak up. Instantly, Xie Yingying’s face lit up with a pleased smile, and she turned to fetch a broom.

In truth, before sweeping, she tidied and wiped the surrounding area as well. By the time she reached Bai Shengyun’s spot, sweat drenched her face.

The perspiration trickled down, and her long sleeves proved cumbersome, making her appear somewhat clumsy. Bai Shengyun couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her so earnest and flushed.

Amid the quiet, punctuated only by the sound of sweeping, Bai Shengyun let out a soft laugh.

The stillness of the room made his gentle laughter stand out sharply. In an instant, Xie Yingying looked up and caught his lingering smile.

Perhaps it was the angle, but she found the smile tender. His brows curved slightly with the fading amusement, softening his usually sharp gaze. Just as she wanted to look again, Bai Shengyun stifled his smile.

Though he showed no outward emotion, Bai Shengyun felt a flicker of surprise within. As a cultivator of the Path of Detachment, he rarely revealed genuine feelings. When had he last smiled like this?

Silence returned. Xie Yingying finished sweeping and turned to leave. Before closing the door, she peeked back and said, “Well, I’m off now…”

“Go ahead,” Bai Shengyun sighed.

“I really am going!” she added, hoping to hear more from him, but Bai Shengyun’s face grew tense again.

Quickly, she shut the door behind her.

“Phew… hopefully he’s not angry anymore. If he gets mad again, he’ll puff up like a blowfish,” Xie Yingying muttered, returning to her room.

She hadn’t been inside for some time. While Bai Shengyun’s room felt cool—perhaps due to his influence—her own space was a blend of the daytime sun’s heat and the evening’s dampness, warm yet comfortable.

Xie Yingying took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. She collapsed onto her bed, reflecting on the day’s events.

Whether it was the softness of the bed or the weight of her thoughts, she couldn’t sleep all night. The next day, she appeared before everyone with dark circles under her eyes.

Bai Qirui was startled upon seeing her, fearing Bai Shengyun had done something to her. He urged her to return and get more rest.

Xie Yingying found the suggestion reasonable and nodded, retreating to her room.

Meanwhile, Bai Qirui entered Bai Shengyun’s room, locking the door behind him and casting a soundproofing spell.

Instantly, the room fell silent as a faint light shimmered inside. The two men spoke in serious tones, Bai Qirui’s expression grave.

“Third brother, no need for pleasantries. If you were here just to be polite, there’d be no need for the soundproofing spell,” Bai Qirui said bluntly.

Bai Shengyun’s face was equally earnest. Bai Qirui was no fool and had no intention of beating around the bush.

“Shengyun, I hope you’ll stop going to the Wonderland Peach Grove. What happened yesterday was a warning from Xu Xiaosheng.”

They debated for a while. Bai Shengyun felt his resolve unshaken but, seeing Bai Qirui’s worried expression, reluctantly agreed for the time being.