My Unconventional Online Dating - Chapter 11

Wu Jinghe widened her eyes. “You’re going back on your word! Didn’t you say you’d leave if I told you?”

Xiao Nianyuan looked innocently at Lian Qiushui, who chuckled and answered on her behalf, “Don’t wrong my disciple. She never said she’d leave Sky City—only that she’d leave your house. Now we’re going to find another place to stay outside. That still counts as keeping her promise.”

“You’re going back on your word!” Wu Jinghe puffed up like an agitated pufferfish, her two little braids slightly lifting in her anger, making her look more like an irate, bristling kitten.

Xiao Nianyuan had indeed said she would leave Wu Jinghe’s place, but she never mentioned leaving Sky City. Though Wu Jinghe had answered her question, her response was practically useless, so Xiao Nianyuan had no intention of leaving just yet.

Xiao Nianyuan stepped out, with Lian Qiushui following behind. Wu Jinghe trailed after them, grumbling and shouting for them to leave Sky City altogether.

Xiao Nianyuan was used to tuning out the noise around her, so Wu Jinghe’s voice didn’t bother her much—as long as Lian Qiushui didn’t engage. Unfortunately, Lian Qiushui had no intention of ignoring Wu Jinghe.

Lian Qiushui suddenly stopped, and Wu Jinghe, caught off guard, bumped into her back. She staggered back, clutching her head, then glared up at Lian Qiushui. Feeling that looking up lacked intimidation, she scrambled onto a nearby stone statue to meet Lian Qiushui at eye level, hands on her hips. “What’s the big idea, stopping like that?”

Lian Qiushui raised a hand, and Wu Jinghe immediately covered her ears, exclaiming in alarm, “You have no manners at all!”

“Whether I have manners or not isn’t for you to decide.” Lian Qiushui paid no mind to her insults and warned, “If you keep being disrespectful, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

That sounded awfully familiar—wasn’t that exactly what Wu Jinghe had threatened them with earlier?

Wu Jinghe wanted to retort but didn’t know what to say. After all, Lian Qiushui was far more shameless than she was. No matter what she said, Lian Qiushui would brush it off and throw her own words back at her.

“Don’t mind her,” Xiao Nianyuan said, not wanting to listen to them argue again. “Let’s go.”

Hearing this, Lian Qiushui immediately abandoned Wu Jinghe and asked Xiao Nianyuan, “There are plenty of houses here. Which one do you want to stay in tonight?”

Xiao Nianyuan hesitated. She did plan to stay the night, but barging into someone else’s house felt odd. She wondered if there was an inn or something similar.

“You can’t stay here! It’s dangerous at night!”

“Dangerous?” Xiao Nianyuan turned back to Wu Jinghe. “What kind of danger?”

“That’s none of your concern. Just know it’s dangerous!” Wu Jinghe lifted her chin, clearly unwilling to explain further.

Xiao Nianyuan let out an “Oh,” then turned to Lian Qiushui. “How about that one?”

She pointed randomly at a house.

Lian Qiushui studied it seriously and nodded. “Fine. That one’s big enough.”

Seeing that Xiao Nianyuan was ignoring her again, Wu Jinghe grew anxious. “I told you it’s dangerous! Why aren’t you leaving?”

Xiao Nianyuan replied softly, “You say it’s dangerous, but how do I know you’re not lying?”

Her expression made it clear—unless Wu Jinghe told her what the danger was, she wasn’t going anywhere.

Wu Jinghe’s eyes darted around as if she wanted to do something but hesitated. In the end, she simply glared resentfully as Xiao Nianyuan and Lian Qiushui entered a nearby house.

Xiao Nianyuan had initially worried about encountering someone inside. Though she wanted to find people, barging into someone else’s home might trigger her social anxiety, making her turn and flee immediately.

Fortunately, the house was empty, though clear signs of habitation remained. Xiao Nianyuan carefully avoided touching anything and sat on a chair.

Lian Qiushui asked, “Should we wait now?”

Xiao Nianyuan checked the time and replied, “Yes, we’ll wait and see what changes occur tonight.”

She hesitated before asking, “You—are you really not leaving? What if there really is danger like she said?”

“Danger or not, it doesn’t matter.” Lian Qiushui patted her chest earnestly. “It’s only right for a master to protect her disciple.”

“I never agreed to take you as my master.” Xiao Nianyuan was at a loss for words. From start to finish, it had been Lian Qiushui insisting on becoming her master. The system hadn’t required her to find one now, so she had no reason to.

Lian Qiushui’s eyes widened in shock. “Aren’t we already master and disciple? We just haven’t had a formal ceremony, but I’m already your master!”

Her eyes reddened as she accused pitifully, “You’re so cruel, toying with my feelings like this.”

Xiao Nianyuan floundered, unsure whether Lian Qiushui was genuinely upset or pretending. She cautiously replied, “It’s… not entirely impossible, but… I have more important matters to attend to now.”

Whatever the future held, she needed to placate her for now. Xiao Nianyuan expected it would take a while, but as soon as she finished speaking, Lian Qiushui lifted her head and asked, “You mean it? You’re not just humoring me?”

Xiao Nianyuan’s lips twitched slightly. Of course, she was humoring her, but she couldn’t admit that now. Steeling herself, she nodded. “Yes, I mean it.”