Many things feel a bit numb when they happen, with a commotion of public opinion, but upon reflection, it seems to have no real impact.
So what if Chu Ge is dating his female assistant and female fans?
They're both single, it's perfectly normal. Besides envy and jealousy, people can only offer sour blessings, which eventually become gossip: "I heard so-and-so, a big shot, married a female fan, and even dated an editor, so awesome!" That's how it was at our class reunion, wasn't it? Old Hong brought it up, everyone laughed it off, and nobody knew who he was talking about.
The real impact is only in your own heart.
So Chu Ge went for it.
Chu Ge remained calm, but Qiu Wuji started to panic. Looking into Chu Ge's eyes, he opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer.
Originally, if those around them misunderstood their relationship, they could just laugh it off, saying it was all innocent and pure.
But what if the whole world thought so?
Can a cultivator who has reached the Tribulation Transcending stage truly see through this illusion?
Furthermore, does one still feel completely innocent in their heart?
She froze for a long time before finally managing to utter, "Who...who is your Qiu Wuji! Don't overact!"
Chu Ge didn't answer.
Qiu Wuji stammered, "You...your actions were too lewd. Saying you're my sister only makes things worse. Just...just say I'm your assistant, so what? So what, huh?"
Her tone grew increasingly forceful, becoming more and more fluent: "The little assistant doesn't dare to embarrass the boss in public, so she can only endure it? Mengmeng knows my boss is harassing me at work!"
Chu Ge: ""
"Who cares what others say!" Qiu Wuji shouted, "I, Qiu Wuji, am innocent and have a clear conscience!"
With a "humph," she clenched her little fists and stormed out to heat up her food.
Chu Ge watched her retreating figure, her little fists clenched, her arm slightly raised, a perfect "<" emoticon, so cute it made him want to cry.
But inside, he wanted to laugh.
Qiu Qiu was so funny now.
He smiled and opened "Siblings Fighting," replying directly: "That's the prototype for Qiu Wuji I wrote. I really like her, I even said it in interviews, so why can't I pursue her?"
"?" Chu Ge's bluntness stunned the group members, who didn't know how to answer.
Chu Ge continued: "Didn't I used to ask you guys to drive for her, to help me pursue her? Now I haven't succeeded, so can you guys help me out?"
"Help you drive?" someone finally asked tentatively.
Chu Ge: "No, give me some advice, I don't know how to pick up girls."
"Come on, do you think we don't know what you wrote before?"
"Exactly, they were already wiping their lips sweetly, looking so affectionate, now it's titled 'The Sweetest Love in Early Autumn' online. And you're telling me you haven't won her over yet?"
Chu Ge: "...Aren't people these days bored? They even give this a title."
"So stop talking about whether you've won her over or not, just tell me when you're having the wedding banquet."
Qiu Wuji: "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll ban you!"
"Hello, Sister-in-law Chu!"
"Hello, Sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law, please urge Chu Da to update more main content today."
Qiu Wuji: ""
"I must say, Sister-in-law's voice acting for Qiu Qiu is quite convincing."
"With that kind of aura, Chu Da's status at home is in jeopardy."
It seems like that's how things ended... The only price was changing from "Qiu Qiu" to "Sister-in-law"?
What's wrong with these people? They won't listen to explanations, I said it wasn't true!
"Qiu Qiu~ My Qiu Qiu~" The group chat started again.
Chu Ge was speechless: "Why are you guys starting again?" A group member retorted confidently: "Our Qiuqiu Tang is Qiu Wuji's Qiuqiu Tang from the book, what does it have to do with the cosplayers in the group? You go after your cosplay assistant, we'll chase after our real Qiuqiu." Chu Ge and Qiu Wuji were dumbfounded.
Seems reasonable.
But the real Qiuqiu is right here!
"I really want to lick Qiuqiu's feet~"
"Qiuqiu's athlete's foot gave me mouth ulcers, waaaah..." The couple sat numbly at the table eating, both looking at the chaotic group chat on their phones, occasionally glancing at each other, not knowing what the other's expression meant.
So strange.
After a half-hearted meal, the two stared at each other, and after a long pause, Qiu Wuji finally said with a stern face, "Nothing to do tonight, huh?"
Chu Ge cautiously replied, "I was planning to save a chapter for tomorrow so I can resume updating 10,000 words a day. Oh, right, I have to go to the police station tomorrow to sign some papers and get my money." After each saying a few words, they seemed to run out of things to say again.
Now it's not just Zhang Qiren calling someone "sister-in-law" anymore, it's two or three thousand people calling someone "sister-in-law," and it's not over yet. The internet has already labeled them a couple, even calling it "The Sweetest Love in Early Autumn."
Look at the comments:
"So sweet, I need to get my insulin injected..."
What's sweet about it? What's sweet about it?
Is sitting here eating leftovers sweet?
"Waaah, this guy is so gentle, look at his eyes, it's like gazing at the most beautiful porcelain."
What's gentle about him? Is it like sitting across from me like a silly goose, staring at his phone and grinning like an idiot?
Are you enjoying this, Chu Ge? You're ruining my reputation!
Qiu Wuji had long forgotten that he had given permission for the photo to be posted. Gritting his teeth, he said, "No rush to save drafts. Since everything's alright, I suppose I should start teaching you the Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand." Chu Ge blinked expectantly.
Was it the kind of teaching he imagined? Arms intertwined, instructions on how to channel energy?
"Where will I be taught?"
Qiu Wuji said expressionlessly, "Just stand in the middle of the hall. We emphasize subtle changes, so we don't need much space."
Yes, yes, that's exactly what we need—subtle grappling, so we can get close!
Chu Ge stood at attention in the middle of the hall, watching Qiu Wuji slowly walk over and extend her slender hand.
"Watch closely, first move..." Her jade hand landed on Chu Ge's forearm.
The next moment, a sharp pain shot through him. Chu Ge cried out, his hand twisted behind his back, pressed to the floor, instantly captured.
His prized Golden Bell Shield was almost completely defenseless against this capture and twist, utterly powerless from the pain.
Qiu Wuji sneered, her knee pressed against Chu Ge's lower back: "This is the Plum Blossom Hand, first crushing away any thoughts of ill intent."
"My setting didn't say that."
"Martial arts skills, I can easily modify them, can't I?"
"I think you just want to hit me, don't you?"
"No, this is instruction, necessary experience in close combat..." Qiu Wuji said seriously, "Want to try the second move?" Chu Ge, lying on the ground, rolled her eyes, gritted her teeth, and said, "Yes." Qiu Wuji, calculating how to torture him with the next move, slightly loosened her knee.
Suddenly, Chu Ge moved, thrusting and shoving.
Qiu Wuji had never imagined that Chu Ge, who had always obediently taken beatings and abuse since they met, would actually fight back!
A burst of fierce power caught Qiu Wuji off guard, who was distracted while bullying a weakling, and she was actually thrown to the side.
Chu Ge pounced on her like a shadow, pinning down her hands and feet.
Today I'll show you what true patriarchal authority is!
Qiu Wuji's hands were pinned to her sides as she stared in astonishment at Chu Ge pressing down on her. She looked exactly like the description in Section Chief Lin's little essay: disheveled hair, eyes… well… astonishment.
She never imagined Chu Ge would dare!
Chu Ge wasn't being disrespectful; he was just asserting his patriarchal authority. He'd initially intended to say, "Would you dare hit me again?"
But seeing this dramatic scene, feeling the softness and fragrance beneath him, he couldn't utter a single word. He stared blankly at her face, his heart pounding.
His mouth was dry.
A voice inside him screamed, "Kiss her! Kiss her! Chu Ge, are you even a man? The whole world says she's your girlfriend, what are you hesitating for?!"
He swallowed hard, and slowly, slowly, millimeter by millimeter, he lowered himself down.
Qiu Wuji rolled her eyes.
The next moment, the world spun around him. Chu Ge felt himself being lifted into the air, not even understanding what was happening, before he was back on the ground, his hands bound behind his back by Qiu Wuji.
Behind him came Qiu Wuji's instruction: "This is the second move." Chu Ge lay on the ground, utterly dejected.
His future as a junior brother in the family was too bleak…
Unbeknownst to him, Qiu Wuji, who was holding him down, also had a flushed face, and even the peaks of Yunji Mountain seemed to undulate slightly.
When he taught him movement techniques and the Golden Bell Shield before, there had never been such obvious physical entanglement in this combat-oriented instruction.
Especially since he dared to resist… Was it because today was, in a sense, a public display? Had it emboldened him?
Qiu Wuji couldn't help but recall the oppressive feeling of his hands being pinned down, the crushing weight of Mount Tai…
If one day, his cultivation could truly suppress him, preventing him from breaking free… what would happen then?
So he was helping me break free from the Heavenly Dao, challenging himself, while I was actually teaching him how to challenge me, how to conquer myself?