After leaving the main peak, Su Yi did not return to his own residence. Instead, he took a detour to the detached courtyard where Gongsun Lin had brought Tantai Yunzhi to recuperate.
Because of the matter with Zhao Qian, he and Gongsun Lin had grown somewhat distant during this period, so he felt he should drop by from time to time to see them.
He was not sure about Tantai Yunzhi, but Gongsun Lin had been acting like a walking overturned vinegar jar—thoroughly jealous. After all, having known each other for over a decade, how could he not understand her?
In his hand, he carried an exquisite food box. Aside from the gifts he had prepared for Gongsun Lin and Tantai Yunzhi, it also contained several spiritual pills meant to nourish the soul and soothe the meridians, which Gongsun Rou had practically shoved into his hands.
The moment he stepped through the courtyard gate, he saw Gongsun Lin standing guard outside the room, wearing an expression that warned everyone to keep their distance.
Seeing him enter, Gongsun Lin raised an eyebrow, her tone far from cordial: “What are you doing here?”
Long accustomed to her attitude, Su Yi did not take it to heart. Instead, he gave the food box in his hand a light shake, a teasing smile gracing his lips. “Naturally, I've come to curry favor with my two junior sisters.”
“Look, you two junior sisters barely stepped out before I followed right behind. Am I fulfilling my duties as a senior brother or what? In the future, once the two of you achieve great success in the Dao and rise to prominence, don't forget that you had a senior brother like me quietly supporting you from behind!”
Gongsun Lin merely gave a soft “Hmph” upon hearing that and turned her head away. Yet the corner of her lips hooked up in an almost imperceptible curve, even as her tone remained barbed: “Senior Brother Su, did you leave someone out when currying favor? Surely Junior Sister Zhao Qian over there needs your meticulous care as well, doesn't she?”
Hearing this, the smile on Su Yi's face froze instantly, and he turned his head away in slight embarrassment.
Sharp-tongued as ever.
Right then, the door swung open, and Tantai Yunzhi stepped out, her face still somewhat pale.
Having clearly overheard their exchange, she hurried to speak, her voice gentle yet tinged with urgency: “It's fine. I am very happy that Senior Brother Su could come.”
As she spoke, she looked at Su Yi with earnest eyes that held evident excitement and... a faint, imperceptible sense of reliance.
She was genuinely worried that if Gongsun Lin continued to make things difficult, she would end up driving Su Yi away toward Zhao Qian.
She had always felt that Su Yi was someone worthy of respect, as was Gongsun Lin. What she could not understand was why Gongsun Lin never showed Su Yi any deference. Gongsun Lin was always like a gentle older sister toward juniors, yet in front of Su Yi, she was no different from a child throwing a temper tantrum.
In her mind, Su Yi was the Young Manor Lord, someone to be respected and looked up to. Back when she was still a young lady of the Tantai clan, whenever she met scions of other smaller clans, they had always treated her with courtesy. Given her current standing, the fact that Su Yi not only put on no airs with her but also showed her kindness repeatedly was already exceedingly rare.
However, the moment those conciliatory words left her lips, Gongsun Lin's brows knitted almost imperceptibly, a flash of displeasure surfacing in her eyes.
She hated this feeling.
Growing up, interactions like this with Su Yi—seemingly squabbling, yet secretly filled with a unique tacit understanding—had become a private joy amid the monotony of her cultivation.
It was a “game” that belonged solely to the two of them. She relished this unspoken clash where both understood each other completely without needing words.
Yet now, Tantai Yunzhi had suddenly intruded, interrupting her with an attitude that bordered on fawning over and defending Su Yi. It made Gongsun Lin feel as though her territory had been violated, shattering that familiar, pleasurable atmosphere between the two of them.
Under the influence of these subtle feelings, the favor and goodwill she had gradually developed toward Tantai Yunzhi while cultivating together over this period inevitably plummeted once more.
She did not understand why Tantai Yunzhi was always so timid and overly respectful in front of Su Yi. It made Gongsun Lin feel like an unreasonable shrew making trouble out of nothing.
Gongsun Lin crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes slightly. She said nothing more, but the aura around her turned noticeably colder.
Sensing that something was off with Gongsun Lin, Su Yi handed the food box forward, breaking the slightly awkward silence. “Ahem. These are some nourishing spiritual dishes that my mother and I specially had prepared. They're good for restoring spiritual energy and stabilizing your realms.”
“Junior Sister Tantai, you exerted yourself quite a bit, so be sure to replenish your strength. Junior Sister Gongsun, you have some as well.”
Tantai Yunzhi hurriedly received it with both hands and thanked him once more: “Thank you, Senior Brother Su.”
Tantai Yunzhi opened the food box as instructed. The first tier held several exquisitely crafted spiritual flower cakes with overlapping petals and a lustrous sheen, exuding an elegant fragrance and gentle spiritual energy.
Su Yi naturally picked one up and handed it toward Gongsun Lin, his tone carrying a familiar warmth: “Junior Sister, try one? Isn't this your favorite?”
Gongsun Lin glanced at it. It was indeed her favorite pastry, even a few touches more delicate in appearance than what she usually ate.
The displeasure in her heart faded slightly, though she did not show it on her face. She merely gave a soft “Hmph” and accepted it.
However, when her gaze drifted toward the lower tier of the food box, her brows furrowed involuntarily.
Resting neatly on the tier below were several pieces of golden, glistening... butter ciba, garnished with crushed nuts. This treat had a rather cloying, sweet taste, heavy with the aroma of milk and fat—something she had always disliked.
Just as she was about to say something, she saw Tantai Yunzhi's eyes brighten beside her. Her hand had already instinctively reached out to pick one up, her face filled with obvious surprise and nostalgia: “Thank you, Senior Brother. Ever since leaving my clan to come to Divine Might Manor, I haven't tasted this in so long.”
She took a careful, small bite. The familiar flavor melted in her mouth, greatly easing the tension in her mood brought on by the match and the flaring profound qi.
Swallowing the pastry, she looked at Su Yi with curiosity and asked softly, “Senior Brother, do you like this too?”
She wondered if it was merely a coincidence—perhaps Senior Brother Su simply had a broad palate and happened to enjoy western-style pastries like this. After all, it could not possibly be that Su Yi had investigated her specifically.
Hearing this, Su Yi explained, “I know that Junior Sister Tantai hails from the Tantai clan. The clan's roots are in the west, and although they have now relocated to the Central Domain, their diet remains heavily influenced by their heritage.”
“So I surmised that you might enjoy this distinctively flavored treat. Looks like I guessed right.”
His tone was calm, and his reasoning sounded entirely plausible, as if it truly were nothing more than a thoughtful deduction based on regional customs.
In truth, Su Yi had summoned the UI that only he could see long beforehand. He had quickly browsed to the entry for 【Character Compendium: Tantai Yunzhi】, his gaze landing squarely on the "Favorite Foods" section. Several items were clearly listed, and among them was this very "butter ciba."
As a player who made the most of every resource, Su Yi was undoubtedly still developing his golden finger.
Curiously enough, what Tantai Yunzhi loved happened to be what Gongsun Lin hated, while what Gongsun Lin loved happened to be something Tantai Yunzhi cared little for.
The entanglement between the female lead and the villain—no, former villain—really ran deep!
Hearing Su Yi's explanation, Tantai Yunzhi harbored no doubts. Instead, her fondness for his thoughtfulness and consideration grew even more. She nodded gently. “Senior Brother is so thoughtful.”
Beside them, Gongsun Lin watched this scene and listened to Su Yi's "plausible" explanation, an inexplicable sense of discomfort welling up within her.
Su Yi hadn't really done anything out of line—he had simply brought food that both she and Tantai Yunzhi liked—yet she couldn't help feeling irked.
Just then, while Su Yi was resting his chin in his hand and watching the two of them, Tantai Yunzhi noticed him. Holding a piece of pastry up to his lips, she asked, “Senior Brother, why don't you try one too?”
This scene was caught dead-on by Gongsun Lin, who had been secretly grinding her back teeth.
Seeing Tantai Yunzhi's outstretched hand and the pastry brought right to Su Yi's lips, Gongsun Lin's eyes chilled instantly. Even the sweet spiritual flower cake in her mouth seemed to lose all its flavor.
“Thank you for the kind thought, Junior Sister, but I'll pass.”
Su Yi turned his head aside, trying to evade it.
At that moment, Gongsun Lin, who had been watching coldly, suddenly took a step forward. Under Su Yi's slightly bewildered gaze, she shoved the pastry in her own hand straight into his mouth with pinpoint accuracy.
The movement was smooth and flowing, carrying an unquestionable imperiousness.
“Junior Sister offered it out of goodwill. Why are you refusing?”
Nearly choked by this sudden forced feeding, Su Yi swatted Gongsun Lin's hand away.
“Have you lost your mind?”
Blocked from behind, Tantai Yunzhi could only stare blankly at Gongsun Lin's straight, somewhat aloof back, which completely obstructed her view of Su Yi.
‘Why is Senior Sister Gongsun always like this? So... uncouth and disrespectful toward Senior Brother Su?’
She truly could not understand why Gongsun Lin, who was usually so gentle and caring toward juniors, seemed to become a completely different person whenever she faced Su Yi. Her actions were so bold and direct. Back when Tantai Yunzhi was with her own clan, showing such disrespect toward someone of higher status would have resulted in punishment.
And yet... while she treated the relationship with such gentle care in her efforts to maintain it, Gongsun Lin could be so audacious, seemingly without the slightest fear of ruining it.
Rate on N.U.
