Chapter 20 This is too unfair! Time flies by so fast...

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Gu Xiaozhu had been in the Valley of Healers for nearly a month. Jiang Zhihe returned to the Valley of Healers the day after her conversation with Wu Jiangxue, and gave her a communication jade pendant.

Moreover, this jade pendant can also be activated with spirit stones when in use.

Gu Xiaozhu continued to help others with matters concerning spirit beasts, but since Jiang Zhihe returned, her somewhat busy daily routine has become more leisurely.

Fewer and fewer people were coming to her for help. She knew this might be related to Jiang Zhihe, but when she asked, the boy just looked completely innocent and was quite self-righteous.

“Those people only ask you for help when they have something going on, and some of them don’t even care whether you need to rest.” The boy stood with his hands on his hips, his high, black ponytail swaying behind him.

"Xiaozhu, I know you're kind-hearted and easily swayed. But you also need to take care of your health!"

"Look! You've lost weight while I was away!"

Gu Xiaozhu looked at the "heartbroken" boy in front of her with a strange expression, then looked down at herself.

"System, have I lost weight?"

[Host, you've always been slim and beautiful!]

"...You know that's not what I want to hear."

[Oh, okay. Host, you've gained a little weight since you came to the Valley of Healers... but only a little!]

Yes, she also feels she has gained weight. Lately, when she looks in the mirror, her face seems much rounder.

She then looked at the boy in front of her: "Actually... I'm also very happy to be able to help others..."

"Are you happy?"

Before she could finish speaking, the boy in front of her interrupted her.

He bent slightly, and a few strands of dark hair slid down his shoulders to his chest.

The distance between the two closed instantly, and Gu Xiaozhu froze, instinctively holding her breath.

"Xiaozhu, are you really happy?"

The person in front of me spoke.

He pointed to his eyes: "Now look into my eyes, don't avoid my words—"

The boy's eyes were crystal clear, and Gu Xiaozhu could even see her reflection in them.

"Were you really happy during those busy days?" After saying that, he seemed to realize something was off, so he added, "Um...maybe you were happy, but were you really, really not tired at all?"

Gu Xiaozhu opened her mouth, as if to say something. But looking into the boy's sincere eyes, she couldn't say anything.

[Host, just say what you think!]

You don't need to constantly hide or suppress your true feelings.

"..."

Gu Xiaozhu's shoulders slumped slightly, as if she had made up her mind or let go of some burden.

"I... okay, I admit it, I am indeed... indeed a little tired."

Her voice was very soft, like a feather floating about, but Jiang Zhihe heard it clearly.

He gently patted the girl's shoulder, his voice tinged with amusement: "So, pay more attention to your own feelings and interests!"

"Come on, hold out your hand."

Gu Xiaozhu was puzzled, but still obediently extended her hand.

Then the boy placed something in her palm.

It was a piece of candy.

A piece of candy... wrapped in colorful candy wrappers.

She looked bewildered, then looked up and saw the boy's face, his smile so bright it seemed to burn her.

"Ta-da! This is a reward for the child who bravely speaks their mind!"

Gu Xiaozhu stared at him for a long time, then finally held the candy in her palm and chuckled, "I'm not a child anymore..."

Jiang Zhihe put on a thoughtful expression: "Hmm... then how about the older child?"

Gu Xiaozhu: "Hey, hey, hey..."

Jiang Zhihe immediately raised his hands, making a "surrender" gesture: "Okay, okay, I was wrong, I was wrong."

The glow of the setting sun cast long, long shadows of the two playfully fighting, as if trying to freeze this moment forever.

… …

After that day, Jiang Zhihe began to encourage Gu Xiaozhu to say the words of refusal herself, but she still couldn't overcome the mental hurdle and say them out loud.

However, Jiang Zhihe did not force her. When he saw that she really couldn't say it, he took the initiative to help her refuse. Afterwards, he would comfort her and say it was okay, and that they would take it one step at a time.

As night fell, Gu Xiaozhu lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling. After a while, she pulled the blanket up to cover her face.

"Oh my god, sometimes I really feel so useless. It's just a simple sentence, why can't I say it?" Because she had her face covered by the blanket, her voice sounded muffled.

The system chimed in, "Don't say that, host. The reason you can't say it now is simply because the time isn't right."

Everyone needs time to grow. Don't worry, we'll all be there for you.

After a while, Gu Xiaozhu pulled the blanket off her face, but she quickly wrapped herself up in the blanket again, like a caterpillar, with only her fair face showing.

"But...whether it's you or him, you've clearly been encouraging me all along. I also understand that I should pay more attention to my own feelings and should refuse others when I'm tired."

“I even know that even if I say no, those who ask me for help won’t say anything, and they might even understand me.”

"But... but I just can't say it."

Her tone became downcast.

"They are all so nice... I really can't refuse them."

She pulled the blanket around herself tighter and sighed deeply: "Perhaps all your efforts on me are just a waste of time?"

[Host, please don't say that...]

"Actually, even I don't quite believe that I can really become better."

【Host……】

"Why do you trust me so firmly?"

Gu Xiaozhu lowered her eyes, completely absorbed in her own emotions, muttering something to herself.

"Knock knock knock".

A crisp knock on the door abruptly interrupted Gu Xiaozhu's thoughts. Realizing what was happening, she immediately shook her head, as if trying to shake out the long string of negative thoughts in her mind.

"Knock knock knock".

There was another knock on the door, followed by a familiar voice: "Xiaozhu, are you asleep?"

Gu Xiaozhu's heart stirred, she threw off the quilt, got up and went to open the door.

The door opened, and in the moonlight, the boy was still wearing that bright red dress, carrying a food box in his hand.

He waved the food box in his hand and said with a grin, "Want some late-night snacks?"

Gu Xiaozhu: "?"

A few minutes later, the two sat side by side on the roof, with a plate of peach blossom pastries that Jiang Zhihe had given her in Gu Xiaozhu's hand.

"Hmm... so why are we having a midnight snack on the roof?" Gu Xiaozhu asked, her face full of confusion.

Jiang Zhihe pointed to the sky: "Of course it's because of the wide view, and don't you think the rooftop is a great place to stargaze?"

Gu Xiaozhu also looked up.

Above the pitch-black night sky, a bright moon hangs high, surrounded by countless twinkling stars. Its silvery light pierces through the surrounding clouds, dispelling the darkness.

Okay, that's true.

The atmosphere quickly fell silent, even a little awkward. Gu Xiaozhu pursed her lips, glanced at the boy beside her, and finally chose to start a conversation: "By the way... you always seem to wear red clothes, do you like red a lot?"

Every time Gu Xiaozhu saw him, the spirited young man was always dressed in red. Although the styles were different, he was always very eye-catching and bright in the crowd.

Jiang Zhihe smiled and said, "Of course!"

"Besides, if I were wearing red, wouldn't you be able to spot me at a glance among all the cultivators dressed in light colors?"

Gu Xiaozhu was taken aback, and her hand holding the plate tightened.

She suddenly felt her face getting hot, and even her eyes started to dart away involuntarily.

Finally, as if she had no other choice, she simply lowered her head and refused to look at the boy next to her.

But the person next to her kept following, their voice full of laughter: "Hey? Xiaozhu, why are you looking down?"

"Is she shy?"

He even poked the girl's shoulder with great interest and chuckled a few times.

Gu Xiaozhu: "..."

"Hey, you'll get used to it. After all, I'm not going to say this to you more than once in the future."

Gu Xiaozhu opened her eyes wide and looked up at him: "Why?"

Jiang Zhihe was taken aback by these words, his eyebrows curved up, and the corners of his mouth began to turn up again: "Have you forgotten?"

"I like you, Xiaozhu."

"So of course I'll say more if it can move you!"

Gu Xiaozhu: "!!!"

She really had forgotten about it... well, not really. She had been trying her best not to think about it and trying to get along with Jiang Zhihe like a friend.

But the truth of the matter was eventually laid bare before her.

"I...I..."

Oh my god, am I even starting to stutter?!

Gu Xiaozhu cried out silently in her heart.

But she didn't know that in Jiang Zhihe's eyes, after he said those words, her cheeks quickly turned crimson, and in a moment they were completely red, even her ears were the same.

Seeing the girl's embarrassed expression, Jiang Zhihe found it adorable: "Pfft, hahaha, you don't need to be so nervous. It's my business how I like you, and you can treat me however you want. Besides, I don't want my feelings to cause you any trouble."

Gu Xiaozhu: "Then...why..."

"You want to tell me?" Jiang Zhihe chimed in. Seeing the girl nod, he smiled. "Of course, it's because I want you to know."

Gu Xiaozhu: "...Huh?"

Jiang Zhihe: "Instead of letting the girl I like guess every day, I might as well take the initiative and make it clear myself."

“My sincerity is as clear as day. Of course, if you have any doubts or concerns, you can come to me anytime, anywhere to confirm.” He paused, his smile widening, his eyes sparkling with starlight. “As many times as you like.”

Gu Xiaozhu sat beside the boy, staring blankly at him.

A gentle evening breeze caressed my face, lifting a strand of hair. Time seemed to slow down; the rustling of leaves, the chirping of insects in the forest… these sounds seemed to fade into the distance, leaving only—

Only the resounding heartbeat.

Knock knock—

Knock knock—

"look."

A boy's clear voice rang out beside her, and Gu Xiaozhu subconsciously turned her gaze towards him.

A few strands of frost appeared from his fingertips, shimmering with a faint blue light and radiating a cool sensation.

Under Jiang Zhihe's control, they quickly reassembled and transformed, and finally, an ice-blue butterfly emitting a faint glow appeared in his hand.

The butterfly flapped its wings and nimbly circled the still-dazed girl once before finally landing in her palm, its tail covered in frost.

"How about that? Impressive, right?" Jiang Zhihe rubbed his nose, looking quite smug. He glanced around, then leaned closer to the girl and whispered, "By the way, you're the first person to see me perform this!"

Gu Xiaozhu was still watching the icy blue butterfly that had nestled obediently in her palm. The butterfly carried a coolness unique to ice, but this coolness wasn't biting; rather, it was very gentle. Like a clear spring, it carried tenderness, yet flowed into her heart with an irresistible force.

Her heart was racing, and she was having trouble breathing.

"How about it? Isn't it amazing! Isn't it incredible!" The boy beside her had his eyes wide open, waiting for her response.

She took a deep breath, lowered her head slightly, and pressed the butterfly in her hand close to her forehead, hoping that the coolness emanating from the butterfly would reduce the heat on her face.

The girl's face was mostly obscured by her drooping hair, making it impossible to see her expression.

After a long pause, she finally spoke in a muffled voice.

"Um."

Feeling the coolness spreading across her forehead, she closed her eyes and thought:

This is... way too unfair!