Chapter 560: Yunzhou's Confession

"Try?"

Xie Yan felt his heart leap sharply, thudding like a drum, thud‑thud.

His gaze involuntarily fixed on the palm she extended; he slowly reached out, gently covering it, and tightly grasped that soft, warm hand.

Both of their palms bore a thin layer of callus; at the moment they touched, roughness and delicacy merged marvelously, and an indescribable sense of familiarity and tremor spread silently.

Their gazes met, and the air seemed to freeze at that moment.

Yuan Yao's eyebrows and eyes curved, the corners of her lips lifted with a bright, captivating smile, making everything around lose its color.

Xie Yan's gaze softened instantly, the tenderness almost spilling over, and his lip corners involuntarily rose slightly, curving with satisfied, lingering affection.

"Xie Yan," Yuan Yao began, her voice laced with a smile yet tinged with seriousness, "I make three rules with you.

Xie Yan squeezed her hand tighter, indicating for her to continue.

She raised a finger.

"First, in public we must not appear overly intimate."

"Second, you must listen to everything I say."

"Third, if my senior brothers or sisters say something that displeases you, you may not bear a grudge nor seek revenge."

Finally, she added another sentence.

"At most, I'll coax you."

Xie Yan originally thought she was being overly biased, but upon hearing the last sentence, all his negative feelings vanished.

"How would you coax me?" Xie Yan raised an eyebrow.

Yuan Yao replied, "How do you want me to coax you?"

Upon hearing that, Xie Yan's eyes darkened suddenly, thoughts racing, his gaze involuntarily sliding down from her smiling eyes, passing her straight nose bridge, finally fixing on her pinkish lips, his Adam's apple rolling unconsciously.

Yuan Yao, seeing his look and expression, knew he was thinking of something unsuitable for children.

She reached out and punched him.

Xie Yan was knocked back half a step, let out a muffled grunt, but was not angry; instead, the smile in his eyes deepened.

Yuan Yao glared at him, "Don't even think about it! I will never sacrifice my looks!"

Xie Yan leaned in slightly, his warm breath brushing her ear, his voice pressed down extremely low, carrying a hint of allure and inquiry: "Yuan Yao, do you truly have no thoughts about me at all?"

An uncontrollable memory of the Tianxue Mountain Range flashed in her mind—

At that time she had attached her spirit sense to Yuan Baitian, inadvertently entering a cave and "seeing" his almost naked upper body…

Smooth, firm abs and well‑defined, powerful muscle lines, each exuding lethal allure….

Yuan Yao snapped back to herself, her cheeks already burning hot.

She instinctively lifted her head, intending to retort, but her lips landed precisely on the boy's cheek he had deliberately brought close, the soft, slightly cool touch arriving instantly.

She was suddenly stunned.

Xie Yan, as if foreseeing it, tilted his head, his nose tip affectionately nudging hers, breaths mingling, the atmosphere instantly becoming intensely entwined and passionate.

"May I?" his slender phoenix eyes locked onto her, clearly reflecting her frozen expression, his voice low and hoarse, bearing suppressed yearning.

Just as his thin lips were about to meet hers, that breath‑taking moment—

"Little Six sister."

Beyond the barrier, Qian Yunzhou's voice suddenly rang out, like cold water poured over the head.

Yuan Yao snapped back, pushing Xie Yan away, her heartbeat racing as if it would burst from her chest.

She took several deep breaths, silently reciting the Qingxin mantra a few times in her mind, only then could she barely calm her turbulent emotions.

"Little Six sister, I have an important matter to discuss with you," Qian Yunzhou's voice came again.

Xie Yan's gaze instantly turned cold and sinister, a flash of unabashed murderous intent flashing in his eyes, the surrounding air seeming to solidify because of it.

Yuan Yao keenly sensed the change in his aura, looking toward him with puzzlement.

And at the instant she looked his way, Xie Yan had already reined in all outward emotions, his expression returning to its usual calm.

He simply stared at her, whispering, "Be careful of him."

Yuan Yao nodded, "You go back first."

Xie Yan naturally didn't want to leave, but after meeting Yuan Yao's gaze, he nodded.

The moment the barrier fell, Qian Yunzhou's eyes landed precisely on the two of them, unintentionally scanning back and forth between them twice.

Qian Yunzhou raised an eyebrow, stepped forward, "Daoist friend Xie, you've been chatting with Little Six sister for so long—what have you been talking about?"

"That seems unrelated to you," Xie Yan chuckled lightly.

The instant their gazes met, it seemed as if sparks violently collided in the air.

Xie Yan withdrew his gaze, turned his head toward Yuan Yao, "You talk, I'll wait beside you."

He did not choose to return to a resting place, but stayed nearby to wait for them to finish.

Xie Yan stepped away.

Qian Yunzhou slightly raised his eyebrows, said nothing, and after Xie Yan left the area, he immediately erected a barrier, cutting off external prying and eavesdropping.

Xie Yan's steps faltered slightly; as he looked at the barrier, his gaze grew cold.

At this moment, inside the barrier.

Yuan Yao looked at Qian Yunzhou, "What business do you wish to discuss with me?"

Qian Yunzhou's expression straightened, saying, "Since we must reside long‑term in the boundary abyss, securing a dwelling is paramount. While the others have not yet reacted, we must swiftly claim the best spot here."

"You make a good point," Yuan Yao replied, nodding in agreement, "Then let's return and discuss it with them."

"Wait, Little Six sister," Qian Yunzhou called, halting her.

Yuan Yao's steps paused, she turned back to look at him, a hint of inquiry in her eyes, "Anything else?"

Qian Yunzhou met her gaze, "Little Six sister, have you… really thought this through?"

What have you decided? Yuan Yao's heart twitched slightly, but her face remained unchanged.

Choose Xie Yan. Qian Yunzhou didn't beat around the bush, he stated it directly.

Yuan Yao's brows furrowed slightly, her tone turned a bit colder: "Qian Yunzhou, who I choose seems to have nothing to do with you."

Qian Yunzhou, however, stepped closer to her, his handsome face bearing a rare solemnity.

Yuan Yao.

He gazed at her, his voice low, "Actually... you could also consider me."

Yuan Yao's pupils contracted sharply, her breath hitched imperceptibly for a moment.

Qian Yunzhou leaned in slightly, his blazing gaze locking onto her slightly flustered eyes, his voice dropped to an extreme low, laced with a hint of enticement: "You always say my intentions aren't pure, but after the Flowing Light Secret Realm, when have I ever shown even a hint of scheming against you?"

"Yuan Yao, don't rush to decide—Xie Yan... might not be your destined match."

Yuan Yao stepped back a few paces, she steadied herself, met his gaze, and said in a tone that left no room for doubt: "Qian Yunzhou, between us, we are merely friends."

"Friends...?" Qian Yunzhou murmured softly, a faint smile touching his lips, the smile in his eyes not reaching their depths—no one knew what he truly felt.

But I don't want to be merely your friend.

Yuan Yao, you possess the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart—you should have known this long ago...

I have feelings for you.