I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.

"Young Master... it is time to wake up... Young Master... Young Master..."

Hearing the woman's voice, Jiang Lin frowned, as if caught in a dream.

"No! Don't come any closer!"

Suddenly, Jiang Lin sat bolt upright.

Hearing his master’s shout, the dog, who had been sleeping in a small kennel under the bed while clutching a chew toy, stood up on all fours with a startled "Woof!", its head darting back and forth in confusion.

"Are you alright, Young Master? Young Master?"

The woman standing by the window sill, holding a towel, called out softly, her eyes filled with concern.

"Oh, it's you, Jiu Jiu. I'm fine."

Jiang Lin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, finally remembering that he had returned to the Qian estate last night.

He remembered that when Lianhua had stepped closer and closer the previous night, he had been at a loss. After all, "one does not trifle with a friend's wife." Even if he were incredibly handsome, he couldn't possibly cuckold Wu Ke. Never mind whether Wu Ke would headbutt him to death if he found out; that guy would surely spend his time drawing circles on Jiang Lin's peaks to curse him!

Furthermore, he truly had no designs on Lianhua—none at all, the sun and moon could bear witness to that.

And so, Jiang Lin had jumped out the window that night.

After landing, he had doubled back to retrieve his Husky—who was busy chasing after neighborhood female dogs—and the nearly three-hundred-pound Fatty Qian. He had hesitated before entering Fatty Qian’s room, wondering if the lad was "studying a foreign language," but before he could even open the door, Fatty Qian had burst out, snot and tears streaming down his face, his clothes in disarray, looking like a man who had been ravaged by ruffians.

Jiang Lin had thought the guy had finally taken his first steps into adulthood, only to learn that Fatty Qian had been relentlessly pursued by three young women and had finally found a gap to escape.

In the end, Jiang Lin had quickly scribbled a letter. The gist of it was:

[Miss Lianhua, the truth is, I already have a daughter. The matter of redeeming your freedom was a misunderstanding; it was actually a friend of mine asking me to search for someone. It is possible you are his long-lost childhood sweetheart, or perhaps you are destined to be brother and sister. Here is a mid-grade spirit stone (one mid-grade equals one hundred low-grade; one low-grade equals one hundred taels of silver), which is enough for your redemption. If you think it through, once I have finished my business, I shall take you to meet your relatives—no, wait, to visit them. After all, one thing leads to another, and visiting often leads to... closeness.]

After having Auntie Wang deliver the letter and the spirit stone to Lianhua, Jiang Lin had fled without looking back!

...

"Is the Young Master troubled by something?"

Seeing Jiang Lin sitting in silence, Jiu Jiu asked softly, her small yet slightly rough hands wringing out the towel before handing it to him.

"I have a pile of troubles, but one gets used to it." Jiang Lin took the towel and wiped his face. "Thanks."

"The Young Master need not thank me," Jiu Jiu whispered. "Serving you is my honor."

"What kind of honor is that? We’re all the same—just wage earners. It’s just that our Sun and Moon Sect has a more liberal policy."

"What was that you just said, Young Master?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering, Miss Jiu Jiu, if I were to leave Donglin City in a few days, would you be willing to come with me?"

Upon hearing this, Jiu Jiu’s gaze faltered. After a long pause, she spoke, her tone filled with disbelief: "The Young Master is willing to let me follow him?"

"I wouldn't call it 'following'... I could help you redeem your freedom. Of course, just the redemption! Nothing else! Staying at the Qian estate is no way to live. If you don't mind, you could come back to my hometown. I won't lie to you, the people there are wonderful—talented and well-spoken. You might not adapt at first, but a month should do it. If you don't want to live alone, you could join our household. No indentured servitude needed; we pay by the month, with room and board included. I might even be able to heal the scars on your face, though it might take some time—five or six years, perhaps... Hm? Miss Jiu Jiu?"

"Oh... forgive me, Young Master, I was lost in thought..." Jiu Jiu bowed, took the towel from his hands, and turned to place it in the basin.

"Eh? Are you not happy that I can heal the scars on your face?"

Jiang Lin had expected her to jump for joy when he mentioned fixing the knife wounds and burns, but she didn't seem happy—or perhaps, she didn't care? It left him with a strange sense of disappointment, like showing off a girlfriend to a roommate only to get a dismissive grunt in return.

"Miss Jiu Jiu, do you perhaps not trust me?"

"Jiu Jiu naturally trusts the Young Master. However, even if healed, my appearance is nothing special. If the Young Master were to take me out, I fear I would cause you to lose face."

"What’s shameful about that? Besides, looks are important, sure, but they aren't everything. What matters most is the inner self!"

Jiang Lin pulled on Jiu Jiu’s sleeve, sitting on the edge of the bed, and flicked the bangs from his forehead.

"Look at me. Am I handsome?"

"Um..." Jiu Jiu nodded, her face turning slightly red. In truth, when Jiang Lin asked that, she felt the man before her was a bit shameless.

"Hehehe, handsome, right? Actually, I don't rely on this face to make a living..." Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow at her. "It’s my... talent!"

"..."

"I won't hide it from you, Miss Jiu Jiu, I’ve always been troubled by my handsome face. I want to conquer women with my talent, yet all they see is my exterior..." As he spoke, Jiang Lin shook his head, his expression filled with a feigned, melancholy distress.

"So, Miss Jiu Jiu, you don't need to care about what others think of your looks. Everyone has their own beauty and inner charm. To me, your gentle personality and thoughtful nature are very charming."

As he spoke, Jiang Lin took a sip of mouthwash and gargled...

"Then... then..."

Jiu Jiu lowered her head, her fingers twisting tightly together.

"Then, if I said I liked you, Young Master Jiang, would you be willing to marry me?"

"..." *Gulp.* Jiang Lin was so shocked he swallowed the mouthwash.

When he turned his head, Jiu Jiu had already removed her veil, and the two locked eyes. A long silence fell over the room.

To be honest, Jiang Lin had never expected to be "rushed" like this... and by a girl he had known for less than two days.

"Emmm..."

Jiang Lin thought for a moment. He didn't look away, instead staring directly into her eyes and speaking earnestly:

"Jiu Jiu, what I’m about to say might sound like I’m brushing you off, or that I’m just saying sweet things, but I feel I must say it. In truth, I believe that for two people to like each other, it must be a meeting of the souls. How should I put it?"

Jiang Lin scratched his head.

"I won't lie—I’m the type of guy who likes to sit on street corners watching pretty girls go by, so I might naturally overlook those who aren't as striking. It’s true that outstanding looks give a girl an advantage; it’s easier to fall for them. Any man—or any male animal, for that matter—cannot escape this rule. But if I were to just pick someone with great looks and be told to marry her and spend my life with her, I would never agree! I’ve never been married, but I think marriage isn't like romance. Romance is like strong liquor; too much hurts the body and the throat. But marriage is like cool water—plain and simple, yet you have to drink it every day, and you can’t live without it. So, Jiu Jiu, I appreciate your feelings, but I don't think you truly like me. You’re likely just dazzled by my handsome exterior. Once you get used to it, I suspect this impulse will fade. And as for me, I cannot fall for you right now. I won't deny that your current appearance plays a part, but it’s not the biggest factor. Even if you were the most beautiful woman in the world, I wouldn't fall for you. I might think you’re beautiful, I might even be tempted by your body, but that isn't true love. I’m being contradictory, I know... Jiu Jiu, do you understand?"

He stared straight into her eyes. To be honest, he didn't even know what he was saying. He had been confessed to in his past life, too. It was a joke, really—he had been the school heartthrob, possessing both substance and style. But he hadn't accepted anyone. Wasn't a student's job to study? Why date, only to suffer when it inevitably ends? Because of this, many girls in his past life thought he was asexual or a follower of... the King.

"Pfft."

The girl meeting his gaze covered her mouth and laughed, her voice crisp like silver bells.

"Jiu Jiu?"

"Forgive me... Young Master, forgive me..." Jiu Jiu reached out to wipe the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes. "It’s just that you were so serious just now. Although we haven’t known each other long, this is the first time I’ve seen you so earnest in these two days."

Jiang Lin blushed. "Jiu Jiu, you have to understand, I’m at an age where it takes a lot of courage to say such cheesy, non-mainstream things."

"Forgive me, forgive me..." The girl gradually calmed down. "But Young Master, what is 'non-mainstream'?"

"Er..." Jiang Lin thought about it. "It’s a form of performance art, a kind of renaissance... it’s hard to explain, but you don't need to understand it anyway."

"As expected of the Young Master’s profound and extensive knowledge."

Jiang Lin’s eyes crinkled. "How did you know I was so profound and extensive, Miss Jiu Jiu?"

The girl paused, then glared at him playfully, pulled her veil back on, and sat up on the bed. "Is this how you tease every girl, Young Master?"

"Hehehe, besides never pressing the 'F' key to enter a tank, I’m not very picky about anything else."

"The Young Master is speaking nonsense I cannot understand again."

Jiu Jiu bowed with her hands held in front of her. "Jiu Jiu has one final question, if the Young Master would be so kind as to answer."

"Of course. Imparting knowledge is the duty of a Confucian scholar like myself."

"If I were to remain looking like this forever, would you ever be capable of liking me? Could you grow to love me over time?"

Jiang Lin smiled slightly. "Of course."

The girl lifted her gaze, looking directly at him, and smiled softly. "The Young Master certainly knows how to please a girl."

"Do I? I was just telling the truth."

Jiu Jiu smiled. "Although I would like to keep talking, a friend of yours, claiming to be a close acquaintance, is already waiting in the front courtyard. The Young Master of the house is currently receiving him."

"A friend?"

"Yes, his name is Tan Xiao. I still have the courtyard to tidy, so please forgive me for not being able to accompany you."

"Sorry for the trouble."

Jiang Lin grabbed the dog and tossed his long robe over his shoulders as he headed out; he needed to discuss strategies for Donglin City with his senior brother anyway.

Watching Jiang Lin and his Husky disappear into the distance, the woman stood still, only turning away once he had vanished from the back courtyard.

As the special illusion of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox faded, the woman’s figure appeared tall and slender, nine long, snow-white tails swaying in the air. Having always shown her true face to Jiang Lin—though he was unable to perceive it—she stood on her toes in her small white embroidered shoes, stretched her arms above her head, and let out a small yawn, revealing her graceful, exquisite curves.

As if weary, she kicked off her shoes and lay sideways on his bed. Her nine tails fanned out like a flower, and her eyelids grew heavy.

"Mistress..."

The White Fox sisters, who had sealed their energy centers to disguise themselves as ordinary maids, entered the room and knelt on one knee.

"How did it go?"

"Reporting to the Mistress, Sect Leader Dugu says the array is nearly complete. It can be activated as early as tonight, or at the latest, tomorrow night."

"Has she made up her mind... does she have anything to say to me?"

"Sect Leader Dugu asked us to deliver this letter to you."

"Bring it here."

The White Fox sister rose and retrieved an envelope from her robes, offering it in the palm of her hand. The envelope floated before the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox and opened on its own, the paper drifting out to display itself before her:

[Jiu Yi, thank you for your help during these days. Do not feel pity for me. Instead, it is you—after I am gone, what will you do if you, you silly girl, do something foolish? You always say I am the fool, but in my eyes, you are a thousand times sillier than I.]

As the woman’s gaze moved to the final character, she shook her head and sighed softly. The paper before her spontaneously ignited, leaving not even a speck of ash behind.

"Did that silly girl have anything else to say to me?"

The White Fox sisters exchanged glances. Finally, the younger one bit her lip and spoke softly:

"Sect Leader Dugu said... she will do one last favor for you... a final gift as a friend..."

"A gift?"

"In the east courtyard of the Qian estate, if he goes to find that fox tonight, he will surely die!"

"I understand. You may leave; I am going to sleep for a while."

"Yes..."

The sisters withdrew quietly.

The woman’s cherry lips parted in a soft yawn. She lay on her side on the pillow where he had slept, slowly closing her silver-white eyes, which were as brilliant as the galaxy. For some reason, his words from just moments ago kept echoing in her mind.

A faint smile touched her lips, and her silver-white hair brushed against her cheek. Her white veil fluttered down...

Beneath the veil, it was not merely a face that could topple cities. It was enough to topple the world itself.

After a long while, the woman, eyes still closed, yawned softly, her voice a mere murmur:

"Let him die, then..."