The Empress Chose My Bride, and Now I’m Stuck with a Yandere at -9999 Affection - Chapter 31:

Chapter 31: A Forced Melon May Not Be Sweet, But It Quenches Thirst

At this moment, Jiang Xuan felt a bit flustered inside. He actually understood what Xiao Hongxin was trying to say. But now, he was already entangled with his former patrons and his fiancée and had been forced into a sage-like state. In his own view, he no longer had the right or the energy to respond to Xiao Hongxin’s expectations.

Besides, he had always truly seen Xiao Hongxin as a close and trusted companion—one of the few people he genuinely relied on. While he interacted with various patrons to earn Spirit Stones, it was Xiao Hongxin who supported him behind the scenes. She used every Spirit Stone he gave her to develop Xuantian Pavilion efficiently. Of course, she didn’t know how Jiang Xuan managed to gather so many Spirit Stones. Aside from his identity as a young master of the Jiang family, Jiang Xuan had made up a cover story that he was the Holy Son of a secluded sect to explain the source of his wealth.

What Jiang Xuan didn’t expect was that his attempt to play dumb had backfired. Now that Xiao Hongxin had openly confessed, an awkward silence fell between them. Eventually, it was Xiao Hongxin who broke it. She reached out and boldly stroked Jiang Xuan’s face.

“My dear Pavilion Master, if you won’t respond, I’ll take that as your agreement.”

Jiang Xuan, “?????”

“Wait… I think you’re not quite yourself today, Vice Pavilion Master. Maybe you should go rest first. After a good night’s sleep, everything will feel better.”

“Oh? So you’ve responded to Xuantian Pavilion’s expectations, to everyone else’s expectations, yet only ignored mine. Pavilion Master, do you still remember what you once taught me when we were discussing Xuantian Pavilion’s future?”

“Back then, you said that once we set a goal, we must do everything to achieve it. Even if the melon is forcibly picked and not sweet, it can still quench thirst. I’ve remembered that phrase ever since. I didn’t expect that, years later, it would inspire me again—and help me understand its true meaning.”

Jiang Xuan, “!!!”

After hearing her say that, Jiang Xuan felt like he had just shot himself in the foot. Truly, a disciple’s first act upon mastering her skills was to strike the master. Coming to his senses, Jiang Xuan realized he had to calm Xiao Hongxin down—she seemed to be at the edge of her patience. If she really decided to take a forceful approach, someone like him would have no choice but to beg her to go easy. After enduring so much torment in a single day, he really couldn’t take any more.

So Jiang Xuan changed his attitude and gently said, “I was just joking earlier, Sister Hongxin. You came all this way and even saved me from those wicked women. I didn’t treat you properly—that was my mistake.”

As he finished speaking, Jiang Xuan motioned for Xiao Hongxin to sit down. He brewed a pot of extremely rare spiritual tea and refilled her cup. Just as he was about to give her a relaxing shoulder massage, Xiao Hongxin grabbed both of his hands and held them against her chest, playing with them.

“Pavilion Master, whenever you act so close to me and call me Sister Hongxin, it’s usually because you need something from me. Are you trying to soften me up before you turn me down?”

Jiang Xuan, “…”

Jiang Xuan had intended to use his max-level massage skills to quietly lull her to sleep and defuse her momentum. Considering that he was still stuck in his sage mode, he needed to keep Xiao Hongxin calm to prevent her from doing anything rash. But now, with his hands pinned down, he couldn’t even use his skills.

Trying to maintain a composed tone, Jiang Xuan replied, “Sister Hongxin, you misunderstood. I never said I was rejecting you. I was just a bit surprised by your confession. I’d like to ask for one or two days to think about it seriously. Would that be alright? Oh, and it’s been a while since I gave you a massage—how about I take care of you properly tonight?”

Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Hongxin unexpectedly pulled him into her arms. Holding him close, she frowned slightly as if sensing something odd.

“Something’s strange. Pavilion Master, the scent on your body is different from what I remember. You used to have a unique and faint fragrance. Now that scent has faded a lot. What happened? Did something happen to you?”

Jiang Xuan, “…”

Her words caught Jiang Xuan completely off guard, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. After thinking for a while, he gently replied, “Sister Hongxin, it’s actually a normal phenomenon. We haven’t seen each other in a long time. As the saying goes, after three days apart, one should view a person with new eyes. I’ve changed and grown a bit—it’s natural, right?”

Outwardly, that was his response. But in his heart, he thought, [Fragrance? Sigh, that probably disappeared long ago thanks to Nangong Liuyun’s relentless torment.] [This won’t do. When the system comes back online, I really need to find a way to upgrade my constitution. System, how long are you going to take to finish upgrading?!]

Meanwhile, Xiao Hongxin hugged Jiang Xuan even tighter and whispered softly into his ear, “Pavilion Master, the core members of Xuantian Pavilion are currently stationed outside the Imperial City. All of them follow my orders. If you want to fully take control of these forces, you should know what to do, right?”

Jiang Xuan, “?????”

“Sister Hongxin, that’s exactly what I’m doing now—repaying you for saving my life just moments ago.”

“Pavilion Master, as the saying goes, a life-saving grace should be repaid with one’s body. May I hold you in my arms and rest well for the night?”

At that moment, Jiang Xuan’s inner thoughts were, [Why do Vice Pavilion Master’s words sound more and more off? First, she threatens me, then she subtly suggests I offer myself in return… there’s definitely a strategy behind this!]

Then, he felt a soft sensation pressing against his back. Xiao Hongxin spoke again with a shy tone, “It seems Pavilion Master really doesn’t realize how attractive he is. Now that fragrant jade is in your arms, if I continue to stay indifferent, how am I any different from that ascetic Liu Shanghui?”

With that, Xiao Hongxin stood up and carried Jiang Xuan toward the soft couch.

“Sister Hongxin, calm down…”

“Sorry, I can’t stay calm right now. I just want to love my Pavilion Master properly.”

Jiang Xuan, “!!!!!”

Just as Jiang Xuan was feeling completely helpless, a familiar mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.

[Ding! The system upgrade is now complete…]