Chapter 1406: Fantasy Antique Shop Work Log 40

The words left unsaid last time were when Jin Chen took the Jade Pendant in the Ghost Domain, shouldered all the danger, and said to Ying Wu Shu, "Because I don't want you to get hurt."

If they were just ordinary friends, Ying Wu Shu would not constantly recall those back-and-forth late nights, nor would her mood lift each time she spent time with Jin Chen and their eyes met.

The way she averts her gaze first after eye contact, the pounding heart she can't restrain while teaching him to draw talismans pen-in-hand—all these, still unseen by Jin Chen, look like attempts to hide her agitation after a fluttering heart.

Ying Wu Shu finally accepted all of this amidst the tangled mess.

When she looked into Jin Chen's eyes again, he repeated what he had just said.

Jin Chen's gaze grew steadily hot, fixed on Ying Wu Shu as he whispered, "The words I left unsaid are that I like…"

"I like you."

Ying Wu Shu suddenly blurted out, finishing before him, her eyes bright and clear, hinting at anticipation and a strange glow.

She gripped the hem of her clothes a little tighter, her heart racing so fast her hand trembled.

"So, can you please not leave?"

Jin Chen tightened his hand on her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace.

"You…"

Jin Chen let out a low sigh, gently stroking Ying Wu Shu's back, "You stole my lines—what are you nervous about?"

Ying Wu Shu leaned against his shoulder, unable to resist burying her nose in his comforting scent, "So… will you leave?"

"I want to take you back," Jin Chen said, his warm, strong palm rubbing the back of her neck.

"Once you've finished your studies, I'll take you to Jin Gate to take the Celestial Master's Register exam, then introduce the person I like to my father."

Ying Wu Shu listened quietly, then suddenly said, "So before that, you won't leave me, right?"

"Of course not."

Jin Chen showed no hesitation or doubt, which undoubtedly gave Ying Wu Shu a shot of courage; his awkwardness and emptiness were instantly filled, like a sudden rush of autumn rain, intense and without warning.

Ying Wu Shu nestled in Jin Chen's embrace, rubbing slightly against him, and slipped her arms around his waist.

"Don't keep scaring me."

Jin Chen felt quite innocent, "I didn't."

He cupped Ying Wu Shu's face, sincere, "Clearly it's you who overthinks and never tells me what's on your mind."

Ying Wu Shu pressed close to his palm, neither confirming nor denying, humming softly, her voice gentle, "I'll change."

"Not changing is fine too," Jin Chen laughed, gazing into the rippling light in her eyes, he kissed her forehead gently, "Actually I can understand as well."

Ying Wu Shu lifted her gaze, the arm around his waist shifting to hook his neck, as if testing the waters with a soft, cautious kiss on the corner of his lips.

It was a quiet kiss, soundless, only their hearts beating in sync.

【Villain Heartthrob Value detected +15, total 93!】

——

Jin Chen accompanied Ying Wu Shu as they opened the five wooden boxes of books.

A blanket was laid on the rattan chair behind the counter, placed there specially by Jin Chen, making it comfortable to sit; lately Ying Wu Shu loves to curl up there to read.

Today is a bit different—the second rattan chair goes unused, Ying Wu Shu half-leans in Jin Chen's embrace as they read an ancient book together.

The ink scent and paper have blended over centuries into one; Ying Wu Shu turned a page, then turned her head to lightly sniff Jin Chen's embrace.

"Like a cat, what are you doing?"

Jin Chen chuckled, rubbing Ying Wu Shu's earlobe, "Turns out you also have times when you read without being serious."

Ying Wu Shu let out a soft hum, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, "The secret recipe for preserving ancient books at Pure Spirit Ford has been passed down to now; besides the usual red cinnabar and phellodendron, there are many special ingredients."

"This gives the books a woody scent besides the ink aroma, and the books at Jin Gate are similar; I used to love this smell."

As a child, he liked to lie in the courtyard, reading while listening to his grandfather tell the incomprehensible stories in the ancient books.

Jin Chen gazed at his soft brows and eyes, listening intently, thinking Ying Wu Shu was recalling her grandfather, but he hadn't expected to hear her say, "It's not my favorite anymore."

Having said that, Ying Wu Shu lifted her gaze toward Jin, her eyes showing unreserved joy.

Jin Chen's heart stirred, he instantly understood Ying Wu Shu's meaning, unable to hold back he held her tighter, lowered his head and cupped her face to kiss her.

The autumn air was cool; kissing in thin sweaters was comfortable, Ying Wu Shu liked this—lying in Jin Chen's arms without thinking of anything was the utmost relaxation.

Just as the atmosphere grew intense,

"Wu Shu, we're heading back…" Luo Qiu pushed open the door and came face‑to‑face with Ying Wu Shu, tightly embraced behind the counter.

"Coming… la la, keep going! I didn't see a thing!"

Luo Qiu slammed the main gate shut, then shoved Gu Cun, who hadn't followed inside, "No, no, you can't go in—watch out for Jin Chen beating you up."

Gu Cun stopped blankly, still holding a large pile of things Luo Qiu had bought, "But Xiao Qiu, I can barely carry it anymore."

"Oh, give me." Luo Qiu took a share, grinning, "I said they'd get together while we were away—I won the bet!"

Gu Cun conceded, then suddenly said, "Even Boss Jin didn't say he'd confess lately—this is totally out of the blue."

Comparing people is infuriating—on his side, Xiao Qiu hasn't even opened his apertures, yet Boss Jin has already got the boss in his arms!

Yet Luo Qiu wasn't seen carrying a heap of "special products" brought back from the museum; he glanced at him several times, then sighed and shook his head.

Ying Wu Shu opened the door, "Come in."

"Sure."

Luo Qiu darted inside, giving Ying Wu Shu's faintly red ear tips several meaningful glances, then smiled, "Looks like our business trip is perfectly timed."

Gu Cun came in last, set down his things, and said, "Boss, it looks like someone's looking for you."

As his words fell, a youth in a long white robe stepped over the threshold, clean-cut and spirited, a strand of white in his hair, his waist adornment quite conspicuous.

He was from the Profound Gate.

Ying Wu Shu instinctively looked toward Jin Chen, thinking he had come for him.

Jin Chen glanced over lazily, offhand, "Welcome to Pure Spirit Ford."

"I'm not here to buy anything," Xuan He, perhaps intentionally, didn't respond to Jin Chen's words, merely placed the envelope on the counter, and with a smiling gaze told Ying Wu Shu, "I am Xuan He, a disciple of the Profound Gate; my grandfather asked me to bring this, and I hope the boss will have a look."

Ying Wu Shu doubted, looking at the golden seal on the envelope; it was indeed the seal of Spirit Pure Crossing, no mistake.

What's inside?

"The boss will know at a glance." Xuan He still held a smile, and seeing Ying Wu Shu open the envelope, he then continued: "In the past, Grandfather Ying and I, the Profound Gate, had very good relations, so I specially wrote this letter to my grandfather; in the future, if the boss wishes to obtain the Heavenly Master's Talisman, he may simply come to the Profound Gate."

We will, according to Grandfather Ying's request, invite the boss as a Guest Official of the Profound Gate, to enjoy all of our clan's cultivation secret manuals and magical treasures.

After listening, Ying Wu Shu frowned slightly, carefully examining the handwriting and finding not the slightest error; it was indeed written by his grandfather.

Does Grandfather want him to enter the Profound Gate? Why has he never mentioned it before?