Mid-Autumn Festival Festivities and Tension

Another year of good times.

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day of blooming flowers and a full moon. Being alone on such a day inevitably brings a sense of loneliness, so Yu Qingxuan invited Qin Yan over, hoping to celebrate the festival together.

It has been a few days since Yu Qingxuan’s inner dan merged, and for her, it was undoubtedly a close call with death.

It is now evening, and the three of them are walking on the bustling streets of Chang’an City. The surrounding shops are all brightly lit, creating a festive atmosphere with crowds of people moving about, filled with laughter and joy.

“Junior brother, ah, open your mouth, let me feed you~”

Yu Qingxuan holds a string of sugar-coated hawthorns, offering it to Qin Yan with a strong desire to feed him. Today, she is dressed in a luxurious green silk gown that accentuates her mature figure, making her both alluring and playful.

“Ah, this…”

Qin Yan looks at the hawthorn by his mouth, and Yu Qingxuan’s eyes narrow slightly, leaving no room for refusal. He hesitates before opening his mouth and biting into the top hawthorn.

“Is it good? I gave the first one to you, hehe~”

She smiles as she watches Qin Yan eat the hawthorn from her hand.

This was supposed to be a private moment between the two of them, a chance to deepen their bond amidst the festive atmosphere. However, the black-robed girl beside them is like a giant, unwelcome torch, ruining the mood.

Qin Yan glances at the scene, feeling a strange pang of jealousy. He turns his attention away, looking around.

“Qin Yan, Qin Yan, these clay figurines are so cute!”

Just then, the girl seems to have spotted something and pulls Qin Yan’s sleeve, leading him to a small stall.

Yu Qingxuan watches as Qin Yan is pulled away by Xiao Miao, her eyelids twitching with suppressed anger. She quickly follows them.

The stall sells clay figurines made from mud and straw, depicting small pigs, dogs, rabbits, and more. Xiao Miao’s heart melts at the sight of these adorable creations.

“Childish!”

Yu Qingxuan mutters, breaking the mood. Xiao Miao glares at her before pulling Qin Yan’s sleeve and asking, “Qin Yan, you think they’re cute too, right?”

The figurines are lifelike and reminiscent of a certain style from a past life, so Qin Yan nods in agreement.

“If you like them, I’ll buy them all for you, Junior Brother.” Yu Qingxuan, suddenly changing her tone, speaks generously.

“Who was just calling them childish?”

Xiao Miao retorts, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

“You’re a girl, and he’s a boy. Are you really going to compete with him? I’d never thought I’d have to protect you like this, but…”

Yu Qingxuan eyes Xiao Miao, who is still holding Qin Yan’s sleeve. “I really want to smack you with my big hand.”

“Hmph, you think I’m afraid of you just because you’re at the Core Formation stage? I won’t let you get away with it!”

Xiao Miao snaps back, her previous patience gone. She had been holding back, not wanting to cause trouble, but now she’s had enough.

“You little…!”

Yu Qingxuan rolls up her sleeves, ready for a fight. The stall owner, seeing the impending argument, intervenes, “Ladies, please, you’ll scare away my customers!”

Qin Yan, feeling a headache coming on, tries to mediate. “Please, don’t fight. It’s a festival day, and everyone is watching.”

Yu Qingxuan and Xiao Miao, sensing the stares, feel embarrassed and turn away with a huff.

The stall owner sighs in relief.

After the commotion, Qin Yan feels obligated to support the stall. Seeing Xiao Miao’s enthusiasm, he picks out a lifelike clay dog and hands it to her.

“Xiao Miao, here’s a little gift for you on this festival day.”

“Thank you, Qin Yan. You’re the best!~”

Xiao Miao gratefully accepts the figurine, casting a challenging glance at Yu Qingxuan.

Yu Qingxuan, despite her annoyance, brightens up when Qin Yan hands her a similar clay dog. She returns the challenge with a smirk, and the two of them part ways with a cold huff.

Thus, Qin Yan finds himself caught between the two, pulled in different directions, sometimes by Yu Qingxuan, sometimes by Xiao Miao, almost as if he’s developed the ability to be in two places at once.

Little Li, who has been in Qin Yan’s arms, yawns and snuggles closer. She thinks, ‘My master is so handsome, it’s only natural he has a few admirers. But poor him, stuck between a teacher and a friend, it must be exhausting.

I need to do something about this.’

“Master, I need to pee!”

Little Li opens her eyes and speaks up.

“Xiao Miao, I’ll take Little Li to the restroom.” Qin Yan seizes the opportunity and speaks up.

“Hmph, a cat using the restroom? Tell it to find a bush.” Yu Qingxuan, already irritated, becomes even more annoyed at the thought of Qin Yan leaving her side because of the cat.

“Go ahead, Qin Yan. We’ll wait for you to come back, and then we can guess lantern riddles together.” Xiao Miao offers understandingly, her voice soft.

The contrast in their personalities is stark: Yu Qingxuan grows increasingly annoyed with the girl, while Xiao Miao subtly glances at her, the tension between them palpable.

Fortunately, Qin Yan moves quickly, escaping with Little Li toward the distance.