He Qiu slept well last night.
In fact, he’d even overslept a bit.
His internal clock usually woke him up naturally around six in the morning.
But today, He Qiu slept until about eight.
So, early in the morning, He Qiu quickly dressed himself, tidied his appearance, and pushed open the door.
Just then, the aroma of steaming rice entered He Qiu’s nostrils.
He turned his head and saw that it was “the maid” Zi Menghan, who had already started preparing breakfast.
“Morning.”
He Qiu greeted her with a nod.
In the kitchen, the young girl turned to look at him, blanked for a few seconds, then broke into a brilliant smile.
“Good morning~ Young Master He.”
As for what happened in the bathroom last night, although Zi Menghan regretted it a little afterward, that was in the past.
She was still acting as He Qiu’s maid, and she had to play her part well: a helpless, humble, and adorable little girl.
Soon, Zi Menghan carried two baskets of steamed buns and two bowls of rice porridge into the living room.
He Qiu picked up a bun and took a bite, savoring the rich meat filling.
He couldn’t help raising an eyebrow and silently remarked, “The flavor’s not bad…”
“Thank you for your praise, Young Master He.”
Zi Menghan lowered her head with a faint smile and sat down across from He Qiu’s table. Joy reflected in her beautiful eyes.
Last night, she had practically stunned herself silly from bathing and had even forgotten about getting revenge on He Qiu.
After returning to her room, she had been careless and downed two big cups of “cooling tea” before collapsing onto the bed, unconscious.
But strangely, when Zi Menghan woke up this morning, she not only didn’t feel any strange changes in her body but actually felt refreshed and at ease, with her spirit veins flowing smoothly.
After checking her body, Zi Menghan realized with surprise that the chronic poison damage inside her had healed significantly.
Although the effect wasn’t very obvious, there was indeed some improvement—much faster than her body’s natural healing ability…
Thus, she couldn’t help focusing on the few cups of tea He Qiu had given her to drink.
Zi Menghan actually didn’t know much about herbal medicine.
She had racked her brains but still couldn’t figure out what exactly He Qiu had made her drink.
But at least one thing she could be sure of: those teas, though they had a “knockout” effect, were genuinely beneficial to the body and helped Zi Menghan expel toxins and nourish her constitution.
‘Maybe Young Master He gave me that tea out of good intentions?’
Zi Menghan couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty.
She wondered if she had misjudged He Qiu.
Regardless, today she still had to continue playing the role of “maid.”
An ordinary, common girl would never have the ability to actively check her own spirit veins and discover that the tea had detoxified her…
That would not fit Zi Menghan’s maid persona and would instead arouse He Qiu’s suspicion.
So, since He Qiu himself didn’t bring it up, Zi Menghan couldn’t ask directly.
But since she had received He Qiu’s kindness for no apparent reason, she wanted to repay him in some appropriate way.
That was why she had hurriedly put on an apron early in the morning and gone to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for He Qiu.
As a maid, making a tasty breakfast for her master was a perfectly reasonable way to return the favor.
Seeing that He Qiu was eating with great relish, Zi Menghan felt pleased too.
For anyone who cooks, having the dishes cleaned up is the greatest respect and praise.
“I didn’t expect Miss Meng’er to be quite skilled in cooking.”
He Qiu picked up the last bun and chatted while eating.
Across the table, the young girl tilted her head slightly.
A few strands of her purple hair fell over her face, looking beautiful in the morning light streaming through the window.
“Actually, when Meng’er was a child, she had a happy family. I learned many household skills from my mother…”
“And then?”
“Later, all of Meng’er’s family was killed by people from the Demon Sect, and I became an orphan.”
As she spoke, Zi Menghan’s beautiful eyes grew distant, as if she were truly recalling something.
In fact, she wasn’t lying or acting.
The current Demon Lord, her father, was her adoptive father.
Her biological parents had long since died tragically at the hands of demon cultivators.
“Sorry, I asked about something unpleasant.”
He Qiu noticed the desolation in the girl’s eyes and wisely ended the topic.
“It’s fine.”
Zi Menghan didn’t dwell in sadness.
She could laugh on a dime, shifting her emotions quickly.
He Qiu finished the buns and porridge, wiped his mouth, and prepared to rest for a while before going to find his senior sister An Lingran to discuss the marriage engagement.
But before he could rest, footsteps and a knock sounded from the door of his tower.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
‘Is it Senior Sister Lingran…’
He Qiu closed his eyes and sensed.
However, he found that the scent of the girl outside the door wasn’t An Lingran’s cool, faint fragrance, but a light floral aroma, very charming.
It was Little Senior Sister, Luo Qianning.
He had his answer.
“Young Master He, should I open the door?”
Beside him, Zi Menghan asked tentatively.
He Qiu shook his head and stepped forward himself.
“No need. It’s Senior Sister Qianning. She’s probably here to see me.”
“Oh…”
Knowing that He Qiu’s “girlfriend” had come to check on him, Zi Menghan wisely stood to the side and observed in secret.
Click—
The door slid open, and a cherry-blossom-white smiling face met He Qiu’s eyes.
She seemed to be in a good mood.
Actually, Luo Qianning was always in a good mood, except for that time she got crushed by He Qiu’s words.
“Morning~ Little Junior Brother.”
She greeted him cheerfully, then unabashedly brushed past He Qiu and walked inside.
He Qiu sighed helplessly, pulled the door shut, and followed behind his senior sister.
“Good morning, Senior Sister Qianning.”
“You’re just now having breakfast at this hour? Did you oversleep, Little Junior Brother?”
Luo Qianning put her hands behind her back and curiously observed the room He Qiu lived in.
Actually, it was her first time visiting a guy’s room.
But during today’s visit, she still put on a very natural demeanor, as if she didn’t mind a boy’s dorm at all, as if she was very familiar with it.
Beside her, He Qiu pulled up a chair and sat down, pouring two cups of hot tea on the table.
“There was a bit of a situation last night. I didn’t sleep well.”
“Hmm? What situation?”
Luo Qianning walked over to He Qiu, casually picked up a cup of hot tea, and leaned her butt against the corner of the table, chatting leisurely.
To be honest, He Qiu didn’t really understand why Luo Qianning had come to see him so early in the morning or why she was asking so many strange questions.
Though it was rude to say so, He Qiu still felt that this Little Senior Sister was being a bit too nosy.
Besides, He Qiu had to go find Senior Sister Lingran later.
He wasn’t really in the mood to chat with Luo Qianning right now.
Just as He Qiu was thinking about how to find an excuse to send Luo Qianning away, Zi Menghan suddenly spoke up.
“Last night, Young Master merely took a bath with this little maid for a bit too long, which is why he slept late.”
“Huh?”
Luo Qianning’s pretty brows jumped in surprise, and she looked at the purple-haired girl beside her with astonishment.
She remembered that the night before last, He Qiu had taken in a common girl, and that girl insisted on offering herself to Junior Brother He…
But it had only been two days, and they were already bathing together?
Was that a joke?
Could romantic relationships really develop that fast?
“Little Junior Brother, is that why you two woke up late? Because of… you know?”
Luo Qianning smiled, but her chest felt sour.
She didn’t know why she was so angry.
He Qiu’s mouth twitched.
His gaze shifted nervously as he stared straight ahead and explained.
“It’s not true.”
“Then why did she say you bathed together last night?”
“Miss Meng’er just likes to joke.”
“…”
Confused, Luo Qianning turned to look at the mysterious, smiling Zi Menghan and asked, “Is that so?”
“No.”
Zi Menghan clasped her hands behind her back and slightly turned her face away, looking shy with a faint smile.
“Last night, Young Master He was… very… handsome!”
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