Lin Shengyu felt the pink-white hairpin in her hands.
She felt somewhat excited.
She barely paid attention to Senior Brother’s reminders.
A few days ago, when she gave him the brocade pouch, she had included some of her own little thoughts in it.
Senior Brother was far too handsome, and his immortal aptitude was also extremely high.
Although he was still young, she could not ignore how some of the female disciples in the sect might try to seek his company.
Moreover, Senior Brother had a pure heart and a kind nature.
If he were accidentally deceived by someone one day, the loss would outweigh any gain.
With a brocade pouch hanging by his side at all times, those female disciples with ulterior motives would at least know of her existence when they saw it and restrain themselves somewhat.
It was not that she did not trust Senior Brother.
There were simply too many scheming women in the cultivation world.
Since she could not always stay by his side, she needed to give him some protection.
Previously, Lin Shengyu had not harbored such thoughts.
But ever since the day she overheard Yun Hao casually mention a kind senior sister he had encountered when he first joined the sect, she had become vigilant.
One Luo Shuiling was already difficult enough to handle.
Now there were other female disciples as well.
Although she knew about Senior Brother’s interpersonal relationships, she still could not feel at ease.
Even the most thorough plan had its flaws, let alone the fact that she could not accompany Yun Hao constantly right now.
This was far too worrying.
Now Senior Brother had returned from outside and even brought her a hairpin.
Did this count as a response to her feelings!?
She was so excited that her little head felt dizzy.
She could hardly believe it and kept pestering Senior Brother, asking whether he intended to give this hairpin to her.
She glanced at Yun Hao, then at the pink-white peach blossom hairpin, feeling it was beautiful beyond compare.
It was many times prettier than the one she had casually picked before.
She was overjoyed.
Yun Hao was truly puzzled.
It was only a hairpin.
Why had the disciple at the Treasure Pavilion looked at him so strangely?
Even Elder Lin had seemed odd after learning about it.
And now even Junior Sister was this excited.
This was bad.
Could it be that he should not have given it?
He looked at Lin Shengyu beside him, who was both delighted and expectant, and hesitated.
Junior Sister seems to like it very much. It should be fine.
He could not withstand Lin Shengyu asking again and again.
He finally made up his mind.
He had originally intended to give it to her anyway.
There was nothing wrong with admitting it openly.
“Junior Sister gave me a brocade pouch, so naturally I should give Junior Sister a hairpin in return… Or does Junior Sister not like it?”
“I like it! I like it very much!”
Lin Shengyu spoke as she undid her neatly arranged hair.
Her long black tresses cascaded straight down.
She handed the peach blossom hairpin to Yun Hao, then turned her back to him and said in a charming voice, “Senior Brother, can you help me put this hairpin in?”
Yun Hao looked at the excited Lin Shengyu and smiled dotingly.
He rubbed her little head affectionately and agreed readily.
No matter how gentle and graceful Junior Sister usually is, she is still just a fifteen-year-old girl. A single hairpin can make her this happy.
He had once helped other maidservants arrange their hair back in the prince’s mansion.
At that time, the main madam had deliberately made things difficult for him, constantly nitpicking and saying this was wrong and that was not good.
Then she would beat him with a plank, claiming it was to teach him the proper skills expected of a servant in the prince’s mansion.
But clearly, helping the mistress with her hair was a maidservant’s job.
Yun Hao, as a male servant, should not have needed to learn such things.
During those months, Yun Hao had suffered greatly, but his hair-arranging skills had improved considerably.
It was only after the main madam could find no more faults that the matter was finally put to rest.
Now, looking at Junior Sister’s long black hair, he pondered what hairstyle would suit her.
Junior Sister is still young and has just come of age. Her hair is abundant and long. Perhaps a hanging bun would work.
Based on Lin Shengyu’s appearance, age, and personality, he quickly thought of a suitable hairstyle for her.
While mentally visualizing how the hanging bun would look when completed, he began working on Lin Shengyu’s hair.
Feeling Senior Brother’s movements behind her, the excitement in Lin Shengyu’s heart gradually calmed down.
She regained her rationality.
Recalling Senior Brother’s expression and demeanor when he presented her with the hairpin, she understood that he did not mean what she had initially thought.
Perhaps he simply felt she lacked hairpins and gave her one to use regularly.
Senior Brother was a very loyal and righteous person.
He liked Eldest Senior Sister Luo Shuiling.
It was impossible for him to suddenly turn his affections toward her without reason.
He would not do such a thing.
After figuring this out, Lin Shengyu was not upset at all.
She remained happy.
Even if Senior Brother did not intend it that way, she could misunderstand it on purpose.
When facing other female disciples later, she could casually mention it.
That would serve as her powerful weapon.
She wanted Yun Hao to like her openly and honestly.
But using a little cleverness in the process was acceptable.
It did not count as cheating anyway.
This hairpin was personally given to her by Senior Brother.
That was the fact.
While Lin Shengyu schemed in her heart, Yun Hao focused intently on arranging her hair.
After a while, Yun Hao patted Lin Shengyu’s shoulder, signaling her to turn around.
Once Junior Sister turned around, Yun Hao examined the hanging bun with the peach blossom hairpin.
He nodded inwardly, very satisfied.
“Senior Brother… does it look good?”
Being looked at by Senior Brother like this for the first time, Lin Shengyu felt a bit shy.
She shrank back slightly and asked Yun Hao bashfully.
“It looks good. This hairpin suits Junior Sister very well.”
Yun Hao praised her sincerely.
This peach blossom hairpin was even more suitable for Junior Sister than he had imagined.
With it in her hair, Lin Shengyu’s delicate charm was even stronger than before.
It made one want to hold her in their arms and dote on her dearly.
A faint blush rose on Lin Shengyu’s little face as she shyly lowered her head.
Actually, right after turning around, she had caught the flash of amazement in Senior Brother’s eyes.
This was undoubtedly an affirmation of her.
But she wanted Senior Brother to say it out loud.
She wanted to hear it with her own ears.
Seeing Senior Brother praise her without hesitation, she felt like pushing her luck a little further.
She gently walked up to Yun Hao, bringing them very close.
She buried her little head in Senior Brother’s embrace, greedily inhaling his clean scent, and asked in a soft, gentle tone, “Then am I pretty, Senior Brother?”
She wanted to know if she counted as pretty in Senior Brother’s heart.
She had not forgotten what Grandfather Lin Xian planned to do in the next two days.
She wanted to increase the chances of success as much as possible, no matter what methods she used.
After all, this was the first step toward deepening their relationship in the future.
There could be no mistakes.
If she could not even take this step, it would be a complete failure.
Yun Hao felt the warmth in his arms and heard Junior Sister’s soft inquiry.
He took it as a younger sister acting spoiled toward her older brother.
He carefully recalled all the women he had seen in his sixteen years.
After thinking it over, besides Eldest Senior Sister, there truly was no other woman more beautiful than Junior Sister.
This was his evaluation of her as she grew up.
The current Junior Sister was more adorable than anything.
That devastatingly beautiful appearance of hers had yet to fully bloom.
He gently patted Junior Sister’s little head and replied with a sincere smile, “Among all the young ladies I’ve seen, Junior Sister is naturally beautiful.”
“Is Senior Brother telling the truth? You’re not just comforting me, are you?”
“Of course it’s the truth. When has Senior Brother ever lied to you?”
Hearing Yun Hao’s affirmation, Lin Shengyu’s heart leaped with joy.
She could not help but slowly wrap her arms around Senior Brother’s slender waist, feeling the warmth.
She knew Senior Brother would not lie to her.
If he said she was pretty, then she definitely was.
Lin Shengyu held Yun Hao like this for a while before speaking with a hint of shyness.
“Senior Brother, is the brocade pouch I gave you a few days ago still on you?”
“It’s on me. I’ve been carrying it the whole time.”
She reluctantly let go of Yun Hao and looked up at him.
“Senior Brother, can you give it to me? I’ll tie it on for you.”
Yun Hao hesitated for a moment.
He thought of Eldest Senior Sister.
He did not want her to see the brocade pouch and misunderstand something, because Eldest Senior Sister always liked to overthink things.
But the brocade pouch was indeed a gift from Junior Sister.
Now that she kindly wanted to tie it on for him, he could not refuse.
After thinking for a while, he decided he would keep it inside his robes while on Sect Master Peak and tie it on when going out.
It was Junior Sister’s kindness and should not be wasted.
He took out the light purple brocade pouch trimmed with gold from his chest and placed it in Junior Sister’s hand.
“Is it convenient? Do you want Senior Brother to help?”
Lin Shengyu shook her head, indicating there was no problem.
She skillfully wrapped it around Yun Hao’s belt and carefully tied the brocade pouch to his waist.
She even gave it a gentle tug to make sure it would not fall off easily.
Then she spoke softly, “Senior Brother, you must carry this brocade pouch with you at all times. It can protect you in my place and ward off evil and misfortune for you.”
Yun Hao felt a bit strange.
He had the feeling that when Junior Sister looked up at him earlier, her eyes had shone unusually bright, almost as if she could see.
He listened to Junior Sister’s instructions and nodded gently to show he understood.
Afterward, Lin Shengyu chatted and laughed with Yun Hao for a while before asking him to leave.
Yun Hao found it somewhat strange.
This was the first time Junior Sister had asked him to leave.
Usually, it was he who initiated the farewell.
He was puzzled but did not dwell on it.
Junior Sister probably had some matters to handle herself.
She could not remain idle forever.
So he stood up, bid her farewell, and left Lin Shengyu’s boudoir.
But he did not notice that as he turned to leave, Lin Shengyu kept watching his retreating figure.
Reluctance, worry, anticipation, shyness, and many other emotions gathered in her eyes, eventually transforming into a deep pool of adoration.