Chapter 81: This Is a Major Problem

As Qin Xuan entered Dongfang Qingwan’s room, he immediately saw the narcissus lying on the bed.

“Sister…” the narcissus murmured softly.

Qin Xuan hurried to her side, feeling her forehead and noting a slight fever. He then checked her pulse and finally relaxed.

Although the narcissus’s human form was a transformation, aside from her vital points, her body was structured much the same as a human’s. Now, she was simply running a slight fever after losing her spiritual energy; it was nothing serious.

What puzzled Qin Xuan, however, was how she kept calling out “Sister”—and occasionally “Master” or “Mistress”—in her sleep. Did this flower demon have a sister?

But Qin Xuan was certain that, within the bounds of this villa, she was the only flower demon present.

Having listened for a while without gaining any useful information, Qin Xuan called Dongfang Qingwan over. “Qingwan, she just has a fever. I’ve adjusted her energy a bit; she’ll be fine soon. Stay with her for now. I’ll fetch you when dinner’s ready.”

Dongfang Qingwan nodded. Looking at the narcissus’s delicate, lovely face, she felt deeply touched. She had just faced grave danger, and even Qin Xuan and Liu Qianqian hadn’t been able to react in time. She thought she was finished, but never imagined this flower demon would step forward and take the blow for her.

“Um… Qin Xuan, since it’s just a fever, can Lin Luo give her some medicine? I brought plenty with me—” Dongfang Qingwan asked.

“No need. Our medicine won’t help her, and it might even make things worse. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine,” Qin Xuan replied with full confidence.

“Thank you,” Dongfang Qingwan murmured, lowering her head.

“There’s no need for thanks. I’ll call you for dinner.”

Qin Xuan considered patting her on the shoulder, but then recalled she wasn’t like Liu Qianqian—doing so would be inappropriate. He let his hand drop and left the room.

Now that the matter was settled, Qin Xuan felt a wave of relief.

…

“Ding, ding, ding! Xiao Qin Xuan, the shredded potatoes and scrambled eggs with tomato are ready!” Liu Qianqian’s voice finally rang out from downstairs.

His stomach rumbled. After the earlier fight with the ghost cultivator, he’d used three of the Eight Sword Seals, which drained a lot of true energy and strength. No wonder he was hungry.

“I wonder how that girl’s cooking turned out…” Qin Xuan, skeptical, called for Dongfang Qingwan and headed downstairs. Instantly, a burnt smell wafted into his nose from the hall.

Looking toward the dining table, he saw four bowls of rice already set out. In the center were two large plates of stir-fried dishes.

Both were unidentifiable, charred black masses.

Qin Xuan was dumbfounded. “Girl, what on earth is this?”

“This one’s shredded potatoes, and that’s scrambled eggs with tomato.” Liu Qianqian stood by the table, frowning at the two dishes as if she herself couldn’t understand how they’d turned out so black.

“Can we even eat this?” Qin Xuan asked, full of doubt.

“Why not? Even if it looks bad, the taste is probably still good. I’ve always been talented, so I’m sure I’ll be great at cooking too…” Liu Qianqian confidently picked up a piece of the blackened food and put it in her mouth.

“Cough, cough… ugh, blech.” She quickly ran to the side to spit it out.

Qin Xuan was at a loss for words.

“Xiao Qin Xuan, why don’t you try?” Liu Qianqian returned to the table, looking at him with anticipation.

“You couldn’t eat it yourself, and you want me to?”

“That’s not the point. Maybe you’ll like it! You have to try it—otherwise all my effort will be wasted!” She glared at him fiercely.

“I really don’t think this is edible,” Qin Xuan protested, staring helplessly at the two blackened dishes.

“Don’t force me!” Liu Qianqian stomped over, dragging him to the table. “Come on, Xiao Qin Xuan, be good. Eat.”

With one arm caught in her embrace, Qin Xuan found himself momentarily flustered.

But soon, a chopstickful of blackened food was thrust before his face.

To eat, or not to eat? That was the question.

“Please, just spare me,” Qin Xuan pleaded.

“No! Eat! Come on, open your mouth!” she insisted.

Qin Xuan clenched his teeth, refusing to give in.

“Boo hoo, Xiao Qin Xuan, you’re bullying me!” Liu Qianqian pouted, aggrieved.

“Maybe we should just order takeout,” Qin Xuan suggested.

“No way. You have to at least try it. This is my first time cooking, and you dare not give me face!”

“Fine, I’ll try—for your sake…” Qin Xuan relented, unable to bear disappointing her. He felt like a genuinely good person, a veritable second coming of Lei Feng.

“Hee hee, that’s more like it.” Liu Qianqian beamed, bringing the chopsticks closer to his mouth. Qin Xuan sniffed but couldn’t even detect what it was supposed to be, sinking deeper into despair about her cooking skills.

“Ah…” he opened his mouth in agony.

“Um, you two…” Suddenly, Dongfang Qingwan’s voice came from the stairs, tinged with surprise.

She’d meant to come down, fetch her meal, and return upstairs to care for the narcissus while she ate. But as she reached the bottom, she saw the two of them sitting close together, with Liu Qianqian feeding Qin Xuan…

“Oh, you’re here, Qingwan!” Liu Qianqian suddenly looked troubled. She could pressure Qin Xuan to taste her food, but not Qingwan. So what should she do with her two dishes now?

“Burnt food really isn’t healthy,” Dongfang Qingwan said, finding the chopstickful of charred substance before Qin Xuan a little amusing.

Qin Xuan immediately backed away as if rescued. “Hear that, expert advice! Put those chopsticks down already!”

“Fine, I’ll put them down. But when I make something tasty next time, you’re not getting any!” Liu Qianqian pouted unhappily.

“Wait for you to make something tasty?” Qin Xuan thought. “That might only happen in my next life…”

Dongfang Qingwan approached, smiling at the two of them. “You really are quite a pair, always so lively together.”

“A pair? Ugh, no way!” Liu Qianqian protested in disgust.

“Don’t go too far, girl. I’m a tall, rich, and handsome man now—give me some dignity,” Qin Xuan said, striking a pose.

“Oh, I think I’m going to be sick,” Liu Qianqian mimed retching.

“All right, all right,” Dongfang Qingwan said gently before heading to the refrigerator. “Let me cook a couple of dishes—otherwise we’ll have nothing for dinner.”

“What?”

“You can cook?”

Qin Xuan and Liu Qianqian exclaimed in unison, utterly astonished.