Chapter 2: Peach Blossom Doom

  "Shu Ling, phone!"

  I stuck my head out of the bathroom with one hand holding a towel to cover my chest, waving my other hand: "Trouble someone to bring it over. Who is it?"

  Zhu Tingting said while looking: "Oh, that handsome guy."

  I swiftly withdrew my hand and locked the door: "Ting Ting, help me hang up, don't answer!"

  Then I heard the sound of Zhu Tingting's laughter outside the door: "Ah, it's Jiang Zhun senior. Yes, I'm her roommate. Lingling is taking a bath. Hmm, okay, I'll have her call you later. Alright, you're too polite. Hehehe..."

  I shuddered and shuddered again.

  Nima Zhū Tíngtíng, when can you speak with such a gentle and sweet voice in front of our roommates?

  In addition—

  "Zhū Tíng! This shameless thing!"

  Zhū Tíngtíng knocked on the door, and I could imagine her leaning against the outside of the bathroom with a seductive posture. She smiled and said: "Hey, Shū Liáng, what's wrong with your brain? Such a handsome guy is inviting you to dinner behind your back, but you're pushing him away left and right. What's going on with you?"

  I wailed loudly: "Was it him I pushed? It was his wolf-like aunt that I pushed!"

  Shiqin said quietly outside: "Others' parents care about you, isn't that a good thing? Also, hurry up with your shower, I want to use the bathroom."

  "Big or small?"

  "Big."

  I resignedly wiped myself dry and put on my pajamas before walking out. Shi Qin squeezed past me from the side and locked the door with a flourish.

  Zhu Tingting burst out laughing: "Shi Qin, be careful of getting piles!"

  "Go die."

  I took the phone from Zhu Tingting and went to the balcony to return the call.

  The phone rang and was answered immediately, and Jiang Zhun's clear voice came from the other end: "Have you finished washing?"

  "Uh, what's up? Something going on?"

  "Your aunt asked if you are free this Saturday."

  "Ah...... I have something to attend to here." I refused without thinking. Unexpectedly, Zhu Tingting suddenly opened the balcony door and shouted: "She's deceiving people, she's very leisurely!"

  I rubbed my forehead, and indeed, what people fear most is betrayal.

  Jiang Zhen was silent for a while before speaking in a low voice: "Shu Lian, don't you want to see me at all?"

  "What? No, no!" I hastily denied.

  "Why push three and block four?" Jiang Zhun's voice sounded somewhat displeased.

  I am speechless.

  How do I tell him that I don't want to see him because I feel like I'm slowly falling into the abyss? How do I say that I don't want to see him because I've started to think he's too perfect, and I'm not perfect enough? How do I say that I don't want to see him because I'm afraid of Aunt Shen's nonsensical matchmaking, but I can only be at a loss for words?

  Jiang Zhun, from the moment I met you, my world has been lit up.

  But now, under a brilliant light, I suddenly start to realize that I am originally so small, so mediocre.

  "Shu Ling." Jiang Zhun took a deep breath and continued, "Your aunt misses you a lot, I do too. How about we meet up, have dinner together?"

  His gentle tone suddenly startled me, and I hastily hung up the phone after a flustered "uh-huh".

  Turning back, dormitory head Zhu Tingting and Shi Qin were standing by the balcony door, saying in unison: "Your face is red!"

  ……

  ……

  At ten o'clock on Saturday morning, I set out from my dormitory.

  The dormitory head said: Shu Ling, don't put on a look of generous death.

  Zhu Tingting said: Shu Ling, today's outfit is very refreshing and beautiful, perfect!

  Shi Qin said: Shu Ling, if we don't succeed, let's just have a good time. Let's catch a handsome guy and bring him back to treat us to dinner.

  I: “……”

  Took the bus to the subway station, transferred for an hour, and finally arrived at Central Square. Central Square was as lively as ever, with a promotional event underway, surrounded by elderly men and women.

  I stood there quietly for a while, when someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.

  I turned around, and it was Jiang Zhun, whom I hadn't seen for a long time.

  Jiang Zhun wore a very youthful outfit today, with a light-colored long-sleeved sweater on top and a pair of dark blue jeans on the bottom. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, attracting the attention of countless girls. He smiled slightly and greeted me: "Hey."

  As soon as I met his gaze, I felt like a thief caught red-handed and hastily looked away at the distant scenery, pretending to be nonchalant: "Where are we going?"

  "Private dishes." Jiang Zhun pointed to a nearby restaurant and smiled, "Originally, Aunt wanted to book a hotel, I thought you wouldn't like it, so I took the liberty of booking this place."

  I was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "Yeah, it's pretty good."

  Jiang Zhen slowed down his pace, walking shoulder to shoulder with me, and asked along the way: "After that, you didn't have any adverse reactions, did you? That lip mist was quite toxic. Although I used a talisman paper to absorb most of it in time, I'm still worried there might be some issues."

  "It's nothing." I waved my hand, "After I got back, I used the crystal ball you gave me to cleanse my meridians, and now the spiritual energy inside me is even more refined than before. You could say it was a blessing in disguise."

  Jiang nodded reassuringly and said, "The crystal ball is not convenient to carry around, but the wolf-tooth pendant I gave you can be worn on your body. If you were wearing this thing at that time, you wouldn't have been so easily put under a spell by Qiūniáng."

  I couldn't help but laugh: "Well, well. Who knows who's being controlled by Autumn Girl's divine consciousness? Why don't you carry a magical artifact with you?"

  "It's too much trouble to raise another one, I originally had one, but after my aunt fainted, it was always by her side. At that time, there was no way to raise a second one even if I wanted to." Jiang Zhun spread his hands, "Or, you can raise one for me?"

  "Uh..." I felt a slight tremble in my heart, if I really cultivate it for you, wouldn't that be equivalent to giving you a token of betrothal? Miss, don't get any ideas. Thinking this way, I chuckled: "I've never cultivated a magical artifact myself, and I'm not good at it. What if I end up cultivating something that attracts evil spirits and ends up harming you instead?"

  Jiang Zhen smiled lightly: "If it's Peach Blossom Doom, then so be it."