Time to Harvest the Vegetables

Ning Yuer really wanted to ask Su Wanqing:
“Don’t you find eyes like mine disgusting?”

But she didn’t dare voice it a second time.
Her courage had been completely spent.

More than that—she was terrified that if she asked again and received the opposite answer, the collapse would destroy her.

Pretty…
This was the first time in her life anyone had ever called anything about her pretty.
Even back when both her eyes were normal, no one had ever said it.

She didn’t understand why Su Wanqing would say such a thing.
And from the look in the immortal sister’s eyes, “pretty” didn’t just refer to the golden eye.
It felt like it encompassed all of her.

For the first time, Ning Yuer believed there was a place in this world that didn’t reject her.
And that place was impossibly close—right in front of her.

“You’re a little thin, but once you put on some weight, you’ll be a little beauty too.”

Now that she was clean and wearing fresh clothes, Su Wanqing could finally see the girl’s true foundation.

It was like wiping centuries of dust off a buried treasure.
The surprise was staggering.

“Beauty…?”

Ning Yuer was currently in full “dazed kitten” mode, repeatedly mumbling the words Su Wanqing had said.

Every single one was a brand-new label to her.

Just as the atmosphere between them was growing sweeter and more dangerous by the second—

Grrrrrowl~

An extremely ill-timed stomach rumble shattered the moment.

“?”

“!”

Their reactions were priceless.

Su Wanqing instinctively looked around for the source, then locked onto the girl in front of her, eyes full of innocent confusion.

Ning Yuer’s face cycled through every shade of red in existence.
She frantically pressed both hands to her belly, at a complete loss.

She wanted to deny it, but Su Wanqing was already staring straight at her.
Any denial now would sound like the classic “three hundred taels of silver not buried here.”

It wasn’t her fault.
She genuinely hadn’t eaten properly in ages.
Forget three meals a day—her last proper food had been three days ago.

Hu Mei only remembered her existence when she needed an errand runner.
The rest of the time, Ning Yuer had to scavenge for herself.

In the fox demon’s eyes, humans were disposable tools.
Dead or alive—none of her concern.

“Hungry?”

“…Mm.”

Ning Yuer nodded with great reluctance.
She had wanted to hide it, but under Su Wanqing’s gentle gaze, honesty won.

“Wait here. I’ll get you something to eat.”

Watching Su Wanqing leave, Ning Yuer obediently stayed put, sitting primly at the table.

From this angle she could see the full-length mirror.

For the first time, looking at her reflection—especially that golden eye—didn’t fill her with loathing.

Remembering Su Wanqing’s praise, she carefully touched her eyelid, expression complicated.

Her gaze drifted to the bed.

The blood-stained clothes Su Wanqing had changed out of while she was bathing were still there, tossed casually across the quilt.

The bed was a little messy.

But Ning Yuer didn’t care about the mess.

Her mind was full of Immortal Sister.

The scenes of being saved, the unusual gentleness no one else had ever shown her—it all felt so strange.

Why… was she so good to her?

She had already grown used to hatred.

And now someone was letting her taste this kind of warmth.

She would never forget it for the rest of her life.

Ning Yuer wasn’t stupid.

She could feel it: among everyone she’d met, only Su Wanqing truly treated her differently.

Chen Xueli and Shen Xianyue aside—even Li Ziyue, who had originally come to rescue her, had instinctively recoiled the moment she noticed the eye and the filth.

It might not have been intentional, but the body’s honest reaction spoke volumes.

Yet Immortal Sister was different.

From the very beginning, she had never minded.
She had simply treated her like an ordinary girl.

“…”

Staring at the discarded clothes, an idea unconsciously surfaced.

There should still be Immortal Sister’s scent on them… right?

No, no, no!

Realizing how strange and wrong that thought was, Ning Yuer shook her head furiously, trying to clear it.

Why would she even think of smelling them?

What was happening to her?

Even as she scolded herself, she couldn’t deny it—Su Wanqing’s fragrance was the most wonderful thing she had ever smelled.

Just like the person herself.

“What are you thinking about so seriously?”

“Why is your face so red?”

Su Wanqing returned carrying a wooden tray, looking at Ning Yuer’s odd behavior with faint confusion but no suspicion at all.

She assumed the girl was just daydreaming.

“?”

At the voice, Ning Yuer jumped like a startled rabbit, instantly sitting ramrod straight in the most comical way possible.

But her attention was quickly captured by the food on the tray.

Simple home-style dishes—nothing fancy—but it had been forever since she’d had anything like it.

“Eat. But you haven’t eaten properly in a long time, so go slow and don’t stuff yourself.”

“After you finish, I’ll give you a digestion pill.”

“Okay…”

Starving, Ning Yuer didn’t stand on ceremony.

She picked up the chopsticks and took a small bite.

Delicious.

And full of the warmth of daily life.

It didn’t taste like food from a professional chef—no elaborate flavors, no high-end refinement.

Just like a normal family meal.

“Good?”

“You… Immortal Sister cooked this yourself?”

From Su Wanqing’s expression, Ning Yuer immediately understood.

“Mm.”

To cook comfortably, Su Wanqing had tied her hair into a simple, practical style.

And that hairstyle—combined with the gentle smile—gave her an overwhelming “married woman” aura despite still being untouched.

She perfectly balanced untouched maidenly charm with mature, steady tenderness.
Every possible fantasy was flawlessly executed.

“Don’t be fooled by the fact I’m a cultivator—‘immortal’ in your eyes.
We’re still human. There’s not that much difference.”

“And that Chen sister who was so cold to you?
She was raised on my cooking too.”

Su Wanqing wasn’t exaggerating.

Cultivators still needed food before reaching Inedia, and even during the transition period they ate occasionally.

Heavenly Sword Pavilion didn’t have a communal cafeteria—it was up to each peak.

Jade Cloud Peak had only the two of them.

Hiring a full-time cook just for one disciple would be absurdly extravagant.

So from the day her rebellious disciple entered the sect until she reached Foundation Establishment and no longer needed mortal food—every meal, every stitch of clothing—had been handled personally by Su Wanqing.

If Chen Xueli ever learned that Master had cooked personally for Ning Yuer while injured…
Who knows how jealous that girl would get.

It had been years since she herself tasted Master’s home cooking.

“Is that so…”

Ning Yuer nodded.

Hearing this, immortals suddenly didn’t seem so distant.

The one in front of her was almost too approachable.

“Mm. Eat first.”

Su Wanqing didn’t speak further, only watching the girl quietly.

Truth be told, she didn’t particularly enjoy cooking.

But watching someone eat her food and light up with happiness?
That satisfaction was even stronger than being praised for beauty or strength.

“Little Yuer, I have a question for you.”

Seeing the girl was almost finished, Su Wanqing began her final move.

“Ask.”

Ning Yuer instantly turned serious.

“Are you willing… to step onto the path of cultivation and seek the Great Dao of longevity?”

“?”

The question stunned her.

She never imagined Su Wanqing would ask something like this.

Did she… really qualify?

Was Immortal Sister offering to take her as a disciple?

Did that mean she could stay by her side forever?

After a brief daze, the answer burst out of her:

“If I can… I’m willing!”

Su Wanqing’s heart exploded with joy.

Another huge step in the plan!

The heroine’s favorability was maxed.

Time to harvest!