The Hidden Immortal Leisurely Life

Yue finished the last bite of her meal. She stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh, before lazily glancing at Xu. He was, as usual, eating with the same composed grace, his movements deliberate, his expression unreadable.

Yue tapped her chopsticks against her bowl. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to compliment the cook."

Xu took another bite, chewing slowly before responding. "It was good."

She rolled her eyes. "That's it? 'It was good?' You have the emotional range of a rock."

Xu set his bowl down. "Would you prefer I lied?"

Yue huffed, but she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "No, but a little enthusiasm wouldn't hurt." She stood and gathered the dishes, moving toward the small wash basin near the window. The soft sound of water filled the air as she rinsed them, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows.

She glanced over her shoulder. "You're just sitting there again."

Xu sipped his tea. "I see no problem with that."

Yue narrowed her eyes. "Well, I do. You can make yourself useful and help me with the laundry."

He blinked. "Laundry?"

"Yes, laundry," she repeated, hands on her hips. "Or do you think your robes magically clean themselves?"

Xu glanced down at himself, his white robes still pristine despite everything.

Yue followed his gaze, frowning. "Okay, seriously how do you do that? Is this some kind of secret cultivation technique?"

Xu said nothing.

Yue groaned. "Unbelievable."

Still, she gathered the clothes and headed toward the small stream behind the house. She glanced back to see if he was following. He was. Not helping, but following.

She knelt by the water, dipping a cloth into the cool stream and scrubbing it against a smooth rock. The silence between them stretched until she finally spoke again.

"You're staring."

Xu didn't look away. "You talk a lot."

She flicked water at him. "And you talk too little."

His gaze remained steady. "Yet you don't seem to mind."

Yue paused, then smirked. "Maybe I don't."

She continued washing, humming softly as the wind rustled the trees around them. After a few minutes, she glanced up again. "You really won't help?"

"I don't see the need."

Yue rolled her eyes, wringing out the cloth. "Figures. You probably don't even know how to wash clothes, do you?"

Xu's lips twitched slightly, the closest thing to amusement she'd seen from him.

She smirked. "I knew it."

For a while, they sat in companionable silence. Yue finished the laundry, draping the damp clothes over rocks to dry. As she straightened, she caught Xu watching her again.

"What?" she asked, raising a brow.

He didn't answer immediately. Then, quietly, he said, "You don't seem like someone who belongs in a life like this."

Yue hesitated, fingers brushing against the fabric she'd just washed. A strange heaviness settled in her chest.

She forced a grin. "And what kind of life do I seem like I belong to?"

Xu didn't answer, but his gaze lingered a moment longer before he turned away.

Yue exhaled, shaking off whatever strange feeling had just passed between them. She picked up the basket and nudged his arm lightly as she walked past him.

"Come on, mighty cultivator. At least carry this back for me."

Xu took the basket without protest, falling into step beside her.

As they walked back, Yue glanced at him from the corner of her eye. She wasn't sure when it had happened, but the space between them felt… smaller now. And for some reason, she didn't mind.