Jing Zhe got stuck to the steamed bun.

To be precise, Mu Qingren leaned closer.

In an instant, Jing Zhe was both excited and bewildered.

What are you going to do?

"Sect Master Mu..."

Just as Jing Zhe was about to speak, Mu Qingren's bare arm wrapped around his neck, and the next moment, her slightly cold but incredibly gentle hand covered his mouth.

"Don't speak."

Jing Zhe was waiting for her to say "Kiss me," but Mu Qingren took a deep breath and continued, "Listen to me."

“I just told you that I was wrong. Since I was wrong, I should be punished. And I told you before that no matter whether I succeeded or not this time, I would repay you—so let me repay you!”

By the end, Mu Qingren's voice was visibly trembling, showing how excited she was to be doing something like this for the first time.

Jing Zhe paused for a moment, then took her hand away.

"If it's just to repay me, there's no need to do this."

Mu Qingren stood there, frozen, at a loss.

Even after degrading myself so much... I still got rejected?

She suddenly felt lost, and tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto Jing Zhe's bare back, where they were icy cold.

Jing Zhe naturally sensed it and immediately turned around.

Mu Qingren looked at him and felt that she should cover herself up, but she was like a walking corpse and had no strength left.

She sat there, honestly facing him, face to face, and tears streamed down her face.

Jing Zhe panicked: "Don't cry!"

Quickly reach out to wipe it.

Mu Qingren slapped his hand away, tears still streaming down her face, but her voice turned cold: "Don't touch me! Don't you despise me? I don't need your pity!"

"I didn't look down on you!"

"No?"

Mu Qingren sneered, "I'm already like this, yet you still won't touch me, and you say you don't mind?"

Jing Zhe sighed, reached out and pinched her chin, looking at her seriously and said, "Do you know what it means if I touch you?"

"..."

Mu Qingren didn't speak, but she was noticeably calmer.

“You are the garden owner’s master, and I dare to take you, but I don’t want you to take you just to repay me. That would be meaningless to me, because I don’t lack women!”

These are Jing Zhe's true feelings.

Although he had fantasized about exciting master-disciple meals, that was based on the premise of love between men and women. If it was just to repay him, Jing Zhe could even imagine that after tonight, given Mu Qingren's personality, they would become like strangers.

What's the point of this?

That's why he became more cautious.

"Then... what do you think I should do to satisfy you?"

Mu Qingren looked up at him, not reaching out to slap away Jing Zhe's hand that was pinching her chin.

"Of course I hope that you think the same way I do."

"Same as you?"

Mu Qingren glanced at him and asked, "What kind of person are you?"

"I want you too, but not just out of gratitude, but because I truly want you in my heart."

As he spoke, Jing Zhe moved his hand down and took Mu Qingren's hand, placing it on his chest: "Feel it, looking at you, my heart is racing..."

"Bang...bang...bang!"

To be fair, Jing Zhe's heart was indeed beating much faster than usual. Of course, anyone facing a stunningly beautiful woman who was completely naked would probably have a racing heart...

"..."

Mu Qingren pursed her lips and didn't say anything, but inexplicably, she felt happy inside.

So that's what he was thinking!

Yes, that's nice...

Seeing that she didn't speak, Jing Zhe asked, "What are you thinking?"

Mu Qingren continued to look up, without replying to him.

In fact, Jing Zhe could detect some clues from the way Mu Qingren looked at him, which is why he deliberately didn't touch her, thinking of confirming with her. But Mu Qingren's current behavior made him a little flustered.

Could it be that I misunderstood?

Seeing Jing Zhe's dejected look and his hand withdrawing, Mu Qingren suddenly became anxious, but how could she bring herself to say it?

Next, Jing Zhe turned his head away.

Now, Mu Qingren was truly panicked.

Her voice trembled with tears: "What can I say? I had planned to say it was to repay you, or that it was to practice martial arts with you, or that it was to prevent your jujube pill from becoming ineffective, but—these are all excuses!"

"Do you know why I make excuses? If I don't make these excuses... how can I get so close to you?"

"If I didn't think like you, would I debase myself like this? If it weren't for the person I truly love... I'd rather repay them with my life..."

"But I'm Yingqiu's master! How can I steal a man from my most prized disciple?"

Do you know what it feels like to suddenly encounter someone you want to get close to but are afraid to? Do you know how much I agonized?

Even if I get nothing in return, even if it's just for this one night, can't you grant my wish?

"..."

Mu Qingren poured out so much in one breath, and by the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably.

Jing Zhe felt both heartache and self-reproach.

He turned around and reached out to pull her.

This time, Mu Qingren also lost her temper and slapped him away.

Then, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, she solemnly said, "I've thought it through. I can't do something that would put Yingqiu in such a difficult position because of my own selfish desires! Master... stealing your disciple's man, if word gets out, it will not only damage your reputation, but also Yingqiu's! And Yingqiu will definitely not forgive me!"

As he spoke, seemingly having made up his mind, he began to lower his hands, one hand across his chest to cover the steamed bun that had been pressing on Jing Zhe's back, and the other hand to shield himself from the abyss...

Now that he fully understood Mu Qingren's intentions, how could Jing Zhe let her run away like this?

He quickly reached out, wanting to pull her into his arms and then use his unique techniques to tame her, but Mu Qingren dodged him with a swift movement.

"I've made myself very clear. I can't do anything to betray Yingqiu. Let's end things here!"

"What, aren't you going to repay me?"

"No, thank you."

"You don't want to help me achieve the desired effect from the jujube pills anymore?"

"No, thank you."

"You don't want to practice martial arts with me anymore?"

Mu Qingren glared at Jing Zhe, seemingly annoyed that he was using her previous words to tease her. She gave a slightly disgruntled snort, but finally bit her lip and said coldly, "No!"

But I'm wondering, what should I do?

"..."

Mu Qingren glared at him again, "Then think about it!"

As she spoke, she bent down to pick up the clothes hanging on the campfire, not caring whether they were dry or not, and prepared to put them on first. After all, she had regained her senses and didn't want to do anything with Jing Zhe that would betray Wang Yingqiu. It wouldn't be proper for them to be so open with each other again...

The moment she bent over, her body formed a perfect arc, captivating Jing Zhe.

"I not only want to, I want to do it!"

As he spoke, Jing Zhe lunged at Mu Qingren…

————