BTTH : The Fallen Genius

Chapter 70: A Bit of a Pity

"Xiao Yan, is it ready?"

Yun Zhi's voice was filled with nervousness, but Xiao Yan remained calm and responded gently.

"Not yet… wait a little longer."

"Ah, I can't hold on anymore."

Yun Zhi suddenly let out a low moan, which could easily lead to misunderstandings. However, Xiao Yan remained unfazed and raised a finger to his lips.

"Shh… just a bit more."

"Mm…"

After another dozen or so seconds, Xiao Yan's pupils suddenly shrank, and he shouted loudly.

"It's done!!!"

As soon as Xiao Yan's words fell, Yun Zhi immediately took the roasted meat off the fire. Instantly, a rich aroma filled the air, making her eyes sparkle with excitement.

Nineteen times! A full nineteen times!

It had already been a week since Yun Zhi started traveling with Xiao Yan. Over the past week, Yun Zhi had stubbornly attempted to roast meat multiple times. Finally, under Xiao Yan's guidance, after failing eighteen times, she succeeded on the nineteenth try!

Excitedly, Yun Zhi brought the roasted meat to her lips and took a big bite. After chewing twice, her eyes glowed with delight.

It didn't turn into charcoal! The taste is great! It's edible!

"Hoo…"

Compared to Yun Zhi's excitement, Xiao Yan also let out a deep breath and wiped away the remaining sweat from his forehead.

Finally, she succeeded in roasting meat properly once…

Xiao Yan felt a bit helpless. Yun Zhi was clearly a Dou Huang, and roasting meat didn't seem like a difficult task to her. But she seemed to have absolutely no talent for it. Over the past week, she had persistently tried and failed repeatedly, always becoming visibly frustrated and upset. However, she would force herself to calm down and try again, showing remarkable perseverance.

Thinking about it, Xiao Yan couldn't help but stroke his chin in thought.

(This kind of persistence and stubbornness… feels so familiar. It reminds me of someone I know.)

Just as Xiao Yan was searching his memory for a matching person, something suddenly flew toward him. He quickly snapped back to reality and caught it—it was a still-warm, half-torn piece of roasted meat.

"Let's eat together! This is my first successful roasted meat!"

Yun Zhi called out cheerfully. The cold and distant demeanor she had when they first met was almost completely gone.

Perhaps, this is the real Yun Zhi.

Looking at Yun Zhi, Xiao Yan couldn't help but chuckle softly. Seeing his smile, Yun Zhi wrinkled her nose in slight displeasure.

"What? Are you laughing at me after I finally succeeded?"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare~" Xiao Yan quickly waved his hands, taking a bite of the roasted meat while resting his other hand against his cheek. With a warm smile, he said, "I just feel that sister Yun Zhi has become much more cheerful compared to when we first met."

"Eh?"

Yun Zhi was slightly startled. Xiao Yan then added.

"When we first met, you were like a lofty Dou Huang, standing high above the clouds, coldly overlooking the world. But now, you don't have the demeanor of a Dou Huang at all. Instead, you seem more like an approachable older sister."

"Is that so?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yun Zhi gradually came to her senses, recalling her journey with him over the past week.

Come to think of it… it had been years since she had felt this happy.

The number of times she had truly laughed in this past week might have exceeded the sum of the past ten years.

Gazing at the roasted meat she had personally prepared, Yun Zhi fell into deep thought.

Since she was young, she had followed her teacher, Yun Shan, training tirelessly and learning the principles of life. She had always been strict in upholding her beliefs, dedicating herself entirely to cultivation, with very little time for leisure.

After becoming the Sect Leader of the Yun Lan Sect, her free time had become almost nonexistent. The heavy burden of the sect had suddenly fallen upon her shoulders, and she had naturally accepted it without any complaints.

Or rather, she had never realized she had complaints.

She hadn't even noticed that the weight of responsibility had nearly suffocated her.

If not for that, she wouldn't have chosen to travel in a slow-moving carriage, nor would she have agreed to journey at a leisurely pace with Xiao Yan. In the past, she would have considered such things a complete waste of time.

Perhaps, deep down, she, too, longed to temporarily cast aside her responsibilities and take a break.

Still, it was quite surprising to be enjoying herself this much.

No… that's not quite right.

Yun Zhi's beautiful eyes flickered as she looked at Xiao Yan, who was happily eating her roasted meat while continuously praising it. Her once indifferent eyes now showed a touch of warmth.

It was him… He was deliberately guiding me to feel happy.

Thinking back, the reason she had become so fixated on roasting meat was all thanks to him.

(No wonder Yanran is so obsessed with this kid…)

Yun Zhi gazed silently at Xiao Yan. She had originally accompanied him on this journey just to see what kind of person had captivated her beloved disciple, fearing that Nalan Yanran might be deceived.

But now, she realized that Nalan Yanran's judgment was impeccable. In fact, Yun Zhi herself struggled to find any faults in Xiao Yan, even if she tried.

This young man was exceptionally outstanding—far beyond even Yun Yun, let alone anyone else.

No… even her own teacher, Yun Shan, couldn't compare to Xiao Yan's unwavering integrity!

As Yun Zhi thought this, she felt happy for Nalan Yanran. But in her eyes, a trace of loneliness flashed.

(For Yanran… it's a bit of a pity, isn't it?)

Huh?!

She froze for several seconds before suddenly snapping out of it. She smacked herself on the forehead with a loud slap, shattering the tranquility of the night. The sound startled Xiao Yan, who was still chewing roasted meat, causing him to choke. He hurriedly swallowed the food, then quickly stood up in concern.

"Sister Yun Zhi! Are you okay?!"

"Ah… I'm fine…" Yun Zhi opened her eyes and looked at Xiao Yan, who was staring at her with concern. Her gaze quickly returned to its usual calmness. "Don't mind it. There was just a mosquito."

"…Huh?"

Xiao Yan tilted his head slightly. Seeing that Yun Zhi was indeed fine, he let out a breath of relief and sat back down.

Meanwhile, Yun Zhi also sat cross-legged, closing her eyes and beginning to meditate—calming her erratic emotions while silently berating herself.

Yun Yun, have you never seen a man before?

This is your disciple's fiancé…

You absolutely cannot make a move.

Watching Yun Zhi suddenly enter meditation, Xiao Yan was filled with confusion.

That definitely wasn't just a mosquito, right?

At that moment, Yao Chen's voice echoed from the ring.

(Little Yan, with my countless years of experience in judging people, I can say with absolute certainty—this girl has fallen for you.)

Yao Chen's tone was firm. However, Xiao Yan didn't hesitate to refute it in his heart.

(Senior Yao, please don't joke with me. She's a mighty Dou Huang—there's no way she'd fall for someone like me.)

(Sigh~~~ if you don't believe me, then I can't help you~) Yao Chen shrugged before casually asking, (But if what I said were true, what would you think of this girl? Would you want to take her as your wife?)

Hearing Yao Chen's question, Xiao Yan was silent for a moment before solemnly replying in his heart.

(To be honest… I would.)

(End of chapter)