After the "husband" incident that evening, the atmosphere in the courtyard became even more delicate.

Ye Meier seemed to have a grudge against the word "husband." Whenever she found an opportunity, she would call Zhang Shaozhong "husband" over and over again, her tone so sweet it was cloying, and she would even deliberately call him that for Ling Qingxue to hear.

"Honey~ Is breakfast ready? I'm starving~"

"Honey~ could you help me get that dress over there?"

"Honey~ What do you want to eat tonight? I'll make it for you~"

Zhang Shaozhong got goosebumps every time he heard this, but he dared not refuse, fearing that this witch would cause some trouble again.

Ling Qingxue, on the other hand, fell into a strange silence.

She no longer participated in the childish competition of calling someone Ye Meier, and still called Zhang Shaozhong "Shaozhong," but the look in her eyes was more complicated than before, carrying a sense of unspoken words.

Zhang Shaozhong felt uneasy under her gaze, as if it were the calm before a storm.

That afternoon, Zhang Shaozhong was in the courtyard practicing condensing chaotic energy into various shapes under Ling Qingxue's guidance. Sometimes it turned into a small shield, sometimes into a blurry gauntlet, and he was having a great time.

Ye Meier slumped in the rocking chair, painting her nails while teasing him every now and then: "Honey~ can you conjure up a massage stick out of your chaotic energy? My shoulders are a little sore~"

Zhang Shaozhong nearly choked, his chaotic energy instantly dissipating. He glared at her irritably: "Big sister! Can't you be serious for once!"

How am I being inappropriate?

Night Enchantress blinked her innocent-looking big eyes, "My shoulders really do hurt~"

Just then, Ling Qingxue came out of the room.

She walked up to Zhang Shaozhong, holding a scroll of newly drawn talismans in her hand.

"Shaozhong," she said, her voice still as cold as ever, but Zhang Shaozhong keenly sensed an unusual solemnity in her tone. "This is a newly drawn 'Vajra Amulet.' Wear it close to your body; it may be able to block an attack in a critical moment."

Zhang Shaozhong quickly accepted it; it was slightly cool to the touch, and he could feel the pure immortal power contained within: "Thank you, fairy!"

Ling Qingxue looked at him, her icy blue eyes like deep pools. After a few seconds of silence, just when Zhang Shaozhong thought she had finished speaking, she suddenly spoke again, her tone calm, yet each word clear:

"My lord, there is no need for thanks."

Zhang Shaozhong: "!!!"

Night Enchantress: "!!!"

Thump!

Zhang Shaozhong almost dropped the talisman in his hand!

His eyes widened, and he stood frozen in place as if he had been frozen in place, his mind buzzing!

Husband... my husband?!

The fairy called him...husband?!

Not the spiteful "husband" from before, but a more formal, more classical, and ceremonial "husband"!!

This is a hundred times more impactful than the word "husband"!

Zhang Shaozhong felt his very soul trembling!

Ye Meier, who was sitting in the rocking chair, suddenly sat up straight, not even noticing that the nail polish bottle had fallen. Her mouth was wide open, as if she had seen aliens invading Earth, and she pointed at Ling Qingxue, her finger trembling:

"Fake...fake aloofness! What...what did you just call him?! You...you, a (former) Nascent Soul stage fairy, you called him husband?!"

Nightshade's voice became shrill with extreme shock.

Ling Qingxue, however, acted as if she had done nothing out of the ordinary. She glanced indifferently at the distraught Ye Meier, her tone remaining calm: "Since you have already made up your mind, what's wrong with calling me 'husband'? Does it mean that you are allowed to be so frivolous and reckless, while I am not allowed to adhere to ancient etiquette?"

"Me, frivolous and reckless?!"

Ye Meier jumped up from the rocking chair in anger, her chest heaving violently. "That was a genuine expression of emotion for me! And you? You, this ice block, suddenly said 'husband,' it scared me to death! Ask the head of the household if he can accept that?!"

Both of their gazes instantly focused on Zhang Shaozhong, who was still frozen in shock.

Zhang Shaozhong felt that the two gazes were as real as physical objects, one burning like fire and the other as cold as a knife, pinning him to the spot, unable to move.

He opened his mouth, making a hoarse sound in his throat, but couldn't utter a single word.

Can you handle it? Or can't you?

Is this even a question of whether you can afford it or not?!

This is a critical problem!

Seeing Zhang Shaozhong's dumbfounded expression, Ling Qingxue's cool eyes seemed to flash with a faint smile, but it quickly disappeared. She ignored the flustered Ye Meier and turned to Zhang Shaozhong, saying softly, "Husband, please continue practicing. I'll go prepare for the evening lesson."

After saying that, she turned around gracefully and went back to her room.

In the courtyard, only Ye Meier, still smoking, and Zhang Shaozhong, still petrified, remained.

After a long while, Zhang Shaozhong slowly raised his trembling hand, touched his ear, and murmured, "Was I...was I hallucinating just now...the fairy called me...husband?"

Ye Meier suddenly rushed in front of him, grabbed his shoulders and shook him violently: "Hallucination my ass! She did call you! She called you husband! What a hypocrite!"

Zhang Shaozhong was shaken until he felt dizzy, but his mind was in turmoil.

The fairy called him husband... The fairy really called him husband...

An indescribable emotion, a mixture of shock, fear, and a hint of smugness and vanity that even he himself was unwilling to admit, erupted in his heart like a volcano!

Seeing the ever-changing, even slightly smug, silly grin on his face, Ye Meier was so angry that she stomped on his foot!

"Ouch!"

Zhang Shaozhong felt the pain and came to his senses.

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