Chapter 278: Of Course, I Missed You

“Well, thanks for that.”

Lou Sang popped the last lychee into his mouth, mumbled a word of thanks, and clapped his hands before standing up.

“These past few days have been exhausting. I can’t chat any longer; I need to get back and rest.”

“Alright, go on ahead.”

Chu Liangyu placed the large pile of lychees in her hands onto a tray and replied. Once he left, she returned to her lazy posture, lounging on the soft couch.

Things were being resolved one step at a time. The rest was up to time to reveal the results, so Chu Liangyu no longer felt any sense of urgency.

After the Beast World was unified, it would help the World Tree recover a great deal of its vitality. As for the parts that couldn’t be replenished by the Beast World alone, Chu Liangyu planned to earn what was needed by working for other Guardians. This way, the Beast World would sooner or later return to its former glory.

A long time ago, she had imagined being able to visit other worlds. Now that it was actually happening, her feelings were a little different from back then.

“Chief, there’s someone knocking at the door.”

“Mm, go and see who it is.”

A moment later, Chu Si walked in carrying a large bouquet of flowers. It was still dotted with water droplets and beautifully arranged—clearly assembled with great care.

“Who sent these?”

“Hu Qiumu had someone deliver them.”

Chu Liangyu was momentarily stunned and couldn’t help but take a second look at the flowers in Chu Si’s arms. “He didn’t send a message?”

“No.”

“Find a place to put the flowers.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Chu Liangyu thought it was just a passing whim of Hu Qiumu’s. But every day until the banquet, someone delivered flowers to her, always without a message.

It was as if the gesture was simply to please her and meant nothing more. However, Chu Liangyu sensed something different was afoot.

The day of the banquet was exceptionally lively. Although it couldn’t compare to the feast on the day she ascended to godhood, it had its own charm.

Chu Liangyu and her Beast Husbands were once again in their own private space—the very same mountain peak as last time.

A cool breeze swept by, blowing away much of the summer heat.

“We can finally drink this time! Female Master, come on, it’s my turn to feed you.”

Feng Qiwu swayed as he staggered toward Chu Liangyu. By the time he reached her, most of the wine in his cup had already spilled.

Chu Liangyu glanced up, silent for a moment, but still played along and drank the wine he offered.

“How was it? The wine I fed you tastes pretty good, right?”

Seeing her drink it, Feng Qiwu couldn’t stop a foolish grin from spreading across his face.

Chu Liangyu tore off a chicken leg, stuffed it in his mouth, and shot him a glare. “You’re already this drunk. Just be quiet.”

“Female Master, I’m not drunk~”

Feng Qiwu devoured the chicken leg in a few bites, then looked at her and said with great seriousness.

“Fine, you’re not drunk.”

A smile touched Chu Liangyu’s lips, but she didn’t argue with him further.

“That was to return the favor for when you fed me wine last time. So, I also want to drink linked-arms wine with you.”

Feng Qiwu started acting spoiled, but his tone had a wheedling quality that made it impossible to dislike him. Worn down by his persistence, Chu Liangyu had no choice but to pick up her cup to drink with him.

However, just as their arms were about to cross, Chu Liangyu’s vision blurred for a second.

Feng Qiwu, who had been standing in front of her, was replaced by Hu Qiumu. His expression was calm. “Female Master, let’s continue.”

“Hu Qiumu, why is it you again!”

Amidst Feng Qiwu’s indignant shout, the two of them successfully drank the linked-arms wine.

After they finished the wine, Chu Liangyu looked up. Hu Qiumu was also looking at her, but he showed no intention of unlinking their arms.

The emotions swirling in his eyes were unspoken, yet they felt searing hot.

Chu Liangyu subconsciously bit her lip, and even the hand holding her cup trembled slightly.

“AHEM… Well, we’ve had our drink. You can go back to your seat now.”

A hint of a smile played on Hu Qiumu’s lips. As she finished speaking, he unhurriedly unlinked their arms. “Alright. I’ll listen to my Female Master.”

He looked so obedient, as if he wasn’t the one who had just cut in front of Feng Qiwu to drink with her.

“Female Master, I want to drink too! Hu Qiumu pushed me aside just now, so that doesn’t count!”

Feng Qiwu was acting like a child. Seeing Chu Liangyu had spoken, he impatiently pushed Hu Qiumu aside.

“Alright. It’s getting late. After this cup, everyone should head back.”

The banquet went on until midnight. Even with Chu Liangyu’s extraordinary constitution, she was having trouble withstanding the dizziness from the wine.

At these banquets of theirs, Chu Liangyu was always the center of their world.

If she wasn’t there, their banquets lost all meaning. They might as well just go back to sleep, just like what happened at the last banquet.

All in all, although the banquet only lasted for a day, everyone had a great time.

After Chu Liangyu was the first to leave, the atmosphere among the men grew quiet. They exchanged glances, then turned and walked toward their own courtyards.

“Chu Si, bring me a cup of water.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Chu Liangyu raised a hand to rub her dizzy head, but just then, there was a knock on her door.

Chu Si was still pouring the water, so Chu Liangyu didn’t ask her to get it. Instead, she walked over and opened the door herself.

In that instant, a refreshing fragrance filled her senses—the same scent of flowers she had grown accustomed to lately.

“Didn’t you already send some this morning? Why…”

Chu Liangyu subconsciously reached for the bouquet, but the person pulled it back. Her hand met empty air, and she looked up in confusion.

“Female Master.”

Hu Qiumu freed one hand and pulled her into his embrace. He called out her title in a voice thick with drink, not forgetting to guide her into the room.

The door was shut, and Chu Liangyu found herself pressed against the door panel. Before she could utter a single word, a hurried, wet, and hot kiss descended upon her.

Hu Qiumu’s movements were as smooth as flowing water; Chu Liangyu had no time to react at all. In an instant, the kiss left her breathless.

“You… why are you here?”

His kiss left her lips, trailing along her cheek toward her earlobe. It was just a touch, light as a dragonfly skimming the water, but Chu Liangyu’s body couldn’t help but tremble.

A soft chuckle escaped Hu Qiumu’s lips, his mood seeming to lift with her reaction.

“Because I missed you, of course.”

As he spoke, Chu Liangyu felt a moist warmth by her ear. Not only that, but it seemed Hu Qiumu had also given her a gentle bite.

It was a delicate, tingling itch.

The gesture was like a hook, luring Chu Liangyu to sink deeper.

When it became too much to bear, she tried to pull away. “Don’t… don’t kiss me there.”

Hu Qiumu paused for a second but was very accommodating. “Alright, then I won’t.”

It was as if foxes were natural-born seducers. In his presence, especially in situations like this, Chu Liangyu always lost her reason, teased until she was a complete mess.

Even though he complied with her request and stopped kissing her sensitive earlobe, his kisses were still bewitching, sending shivers down her spine. Compared to before, it was as if all her senses had been magnified.

“Chief, your water.”