**Chapter 203: Gradually Taking Shape of Him**
Yun Zhonghe turned down Su Xiaoxiao’s invitation, catching even Lin Zhongyu off guard. This was unexpected; usually, Yun Zhonghe was a yes-man! But this time? What gives…
At that moment, Yun Zhonghe’s heart was racing because he sensed that the snow-white sword in the closet—Xue Yunjian—was getting a little restless. What on earth was she up to?
For crying out loud! Not now!
Sure, if Jiu’er saw, it would just mean a light reprimand for him, but if the two leading ladies caught him hiding a n*ked girl in the closet, all his efforts might go down the drain!
He felt bad for Su Xiaoxiao, really. Refusing her invitation might drop his “like” points a bit, but hey, that’s still better than a complete disaster!
Ugh, why was he feeling so off? It was so smooth sailing with Lin Zhongyu before, but with Su Xiaoxiao? It was like riding a roller coaster of bad luck.
First, Huang Aotian forgets their past and bombs his ‘like’ points, then there’s the whole awkward ring-giving incident, and now he has to refuse Su Xiaoxiao.
If “like” points were visible, Yun Zhonghe was pretty sure Su Xiaoxiao’s would be diving into the negatives.
Okay, okay, maybe the negatives are a stretch; he’d settle for two or three points left. Still better than being a bystander!
Yun Zhonghe felt like he was losing big time.
At that moment, the restless Xue Yunjian in the closet was escalating. The contract connection felt her agitation, and Yun Zhonghe knew he couldn’t let the ladies linger any longer.
“Sorry, I have some personal issues to handle, it’s a bit inconvenient for me right now. You two go ahead and eat!”
His tone was calm, but with an underlying urgency.
This made Su Xiaoxiao feel even worse. Did she smell bad or something? Was it because she had been dodging him since accepting his ring? Was he offended?
Is he mad?
When she thought about it, Su Xiaoxiao felt a twinge of guilt. Maybe she had been a bit rude; either accept it with grace or turn it down flat! But her reaction was so vague—no wonder someone as mild-mannered as Yun Zhonghe was upset.
Should’ve cherished the opportunity better!
Now, she regretted not talking to him earlier instead of always running away. If it were her, she would be unhappy too if her feelings were being ignored like that.
With guilt and frustration painting her face, she looked like she was on the verge of tears.
“I’m sorry, Yun Ge, I’ll leave you alone…”
With those words, Su Xiaoxiao turned tail and fled from Yun Zhonghe’s abode.
“Xiaoxiao… sigh! Yun Ge… I’ll take my leave, too.”
Lin Zhongyu looked puzzled at Yun Zhonghe, then quickly chased after Su Xiaoxiao.
Jiu’er followed suit, her face a mix of confusion. Yun Zhonghe, who usually showered the girls with gifts and affection, was behaving oddly today.
“Young Master, what’s up with you?”
“Nothing.”
Yun Zhonghe shook his head, then said to Jiu’er, “Jiu’er, can you help calm Xiaoxiao down? I’m a bit tied up right now.”
Feeling Yun Zhonghe’s urgency, even though Jiu’er was just as puzzled, she would definitely help him if he was in trouble for real.
“Okay, but you owe me an explanation later!”
“Thanks, Jiu’er.”
As Jiu’er dashed off, Yun Zhonghe let out a relieved sigh, but he also felt a pang of regret.
“At least that wasn’t the worst outcome.”
…
“Elder Sister Zhongyu, did I make Yun Ge unhappy, which is why he rejected my invitation?”
Not far from Yun Zhonghe’s place, Su Xiaoxiao stopped, staring at her feet, clearly downcast.
“Little Xiaoxiao, don’t overthink it! Yun Ge surely has his reasons! He’s not the petty type; trust me, he’s always been good to me and Xue’er!”
Lin Zhongyu kept comforting Su Xiaoxiao and showering praises on Yun Zhonghe.
Su Xiaoxiao fiddled with the ring on her finger, feeling sad. This ring meant a lot to her.
Having lost her parents long ago, the only relic from her mother was that outfit, her last bit of comfort, and the Crow group ruined it!
But then, Yun Zhonghe showed up! He rescued her, became her friend, and guided her…
When he gave her the ring, it felt like a new sense of belonging had blossomed!
With Yun Zhonghe’s moral support and this ring as her anchor, it was clear he held an irreplaceable spot in her heart.
Too bad she realized it too late. She focused only on her own feelings and didn’t think she needed to reciprocate Yun Ge’s affection.
“I regret it so much; if I weren’t so shy and insecure, would things have turned out differently?”
Jiu’er and Lin Zhongyu hurried back to comfort the dejected Su Xiaoxiao.
They also sensed something was off with Yun Zhonghe, like he was urging them to leave, hiding some secret.
Su Xiaoxiao felt miserable, and they felt the same knot in their hearts, a general sense of discomfort.
BOOM!!!
Suddenly, a huge explosion filled the air, sending shockwaves all around!
The deafening roar startled Lin Zhongyu and the others, and they immediately turned toward the source of the noise.
Yun Zhonghe’s entire place was now rubble!
The massive disturbance jolted the nearby disciples awake, especially Yun Zhonghe’s neighbors. Although their houses were a hundred meters apart, the earth-shattering shake frightened everyone out of their homes, thinking the sky was falling!
As for Lin Zhongyu and the others? They stood there, dumbfounded, in total shock.
The place they had just vacated had been reduced to a wasteland.
If they had lingered even a minute longer, they would’ve been caught in that explosion…
If only Yun Ge hadn’t rushed them out…
…
Yun Zhonghe finally sent Lin Zhongyu and her crew on their way, wiped the sweat from his brow, and opened the closet.
Suddenly, Xue Yunjian leaped out and tightly hugged Yun Zhonghe.
“Master! Danger ahead!”
A loud crash slammed against Yun Zhonghe’s face, and everything turned into a blur.
But his ears were sharp, and his spiritual energy picked up a bizarre, sinister aura appearing right behind him.
“Thanks for the help! Otherwise, I’d have had to scramble with four against one.”
The voice was indistinguishable—male or female—raspy yet dripping with murderous intent.
Oh no, it was aimed at him!
In dire straits, the contract with Xue Yunjian surged, and before she couldn’t even transform back into a sword, she swiftly returned to Yun Zhonghe’s hand.
Yun Zhonghe spun around faster than lightning, raising his sword in the Eight Directions Sword Technique to counterattack.
But that figure didn’t seem to fear for its life; it charged straight at Yun Zhonghe’s attack, using its body as a shield while dark magic energy surged toward Yun Zhonghe’s forehead.
In that instant, all the hairs on Yun Zhonghe’s body stood on end.
