C19 Meng Jingxian Exerted Her Strength

"She must be something special, or else why would you fall for her, right? Don't worry about my feelings when you're with me. Sometimes, I need a reality check like this to push myself to improve," Meng Jingxian confessed to Chu Yang, her voice tinged with self-mockery. She wriggled out of Chu Yang's embrace but didn't open the car door to leave, her eyes red and swollen—perhaps she didn't want to give Gu Panpan the satisfaction of seeing her like this.

Chu Yang tenderly stroked Meng Jingxian's hair, remaining silent. Truth be told, he had no feelings for Gu Panpan whatsoever. But if it was something both Gu Panpan and he needed, why not go along with it?

Gu Panpan was seated in the living room, having heard the car return. Yet, no one came inside for quite some time. Curious, she glanced outside and saw Chu Yang and Meng Jingxian still in the car, not having exited. What could they possibly be doing?

She noticed Meng Jingxian's reddened eyes—clearly, she had been crying. Had Meng Jingxian confronted Chu Yang about what Gu Panpan had said to her earlier? That must be it. But what was Chu Yang's response? Did he confirm or deny it? Gu Panpan's heart chilled as she watched Chu Yang caress Meng Jingxian's hair with such tenderness, his eyes filled with a softness that spoke volumes.

He claimed he didn't have feelings for Meng Jingxian, yet his actions suggested otherwise. He was clearly smitten with her, yet in denial. Indeed, he must have feelings for Meng Jingxian; otherwise, why would he have rejected Gu Panpan?

Reflecting on the conversation she had with Meng Jingxian that morning, Gu Panpan felt foolish, like a clown performing for an audience. Now, she realized just how much she fell short compared to Meng Jingxian, that genuinely innocent girl who was undoubtedly the princess of every boy's dreams.

Unable to stand it any longer, Gu Panpan retreated to her room. Meanwhile, outside, Meng Jingxian decided her eyes had recovered enough, and she finally opened the car door to step out. Chu Yang followed suit. Upon entering the house, they found no sign of Gu Panpan, though the living room lights were still on, indicating she had just recently retreated to her own space.

Meng Jingxian gazed at the house, wrestling with the decision of whether to move out and return to her family home. She dreaded the thought of witnessing displays of affection between them, fearing it would break her heart. Yet, the thought of leaving was equally painful; she had found genuine happiness here, but that happiness hinged on the fact that Chu Yang wasn't Gu Panpan's boyfriend—yet.

"Should I move out? I feel like I'm just in the way," Meng Jingxian said with a self-deprecating chuckle, her eyes fixed on Chu Yang. She was ready to pack her bags if she detected even the slightest hesitation from him.

"Why move out? Isn't it nice living here?" Chu Yang responded without a moment's pause. He truly didn't want Meng Jingxian to leave; the idea of a young woman living alone seemed fraught with danger.

Surprised, Meng Jingxian replied, "If that's the case, I'll stay. I just don't want to be a bother."

"Don't overthink it. Just go get some sleep," Chu Yang urged, keen to avoid any discussion about his and Gu Panpan's relationship. It was all a facade, after all—what was there to explain? Without waiting for a response, he quickly retreated to the sanctuary of his bedroom.

Meng Jingxian couldn't help but feel elated; she didn't have to go anywhere. Chu Yang had given her his blessing to stay. Even if Gu Panpan had objections, she wouldn't dare voice them. The thought of giving up her place here was, truthfully, a tough pill to swallow.

The following morning, no one was in a rush to start the day. Everyone lingered in their rooms, and whether they were sleeping or not was anyone's guess. Chu Yang, for one, wasn't asleep; he was practicing his Qi cultivation, something he hadn't done in a while, and he felt a bit rusty.

Eventually, hunger drove Meng Jingxian out of her room first. Discovering that no one else had stirred and there was no breakfast waiting, she freshened up and set out to buy something to eat. Chu Yang's household didn't employ a housekeeper; they all found it too much of a hassle.

Returning with breakfast, Meng Jingxian found the others had finally risen. Chu Yang and Gu Panpan were seated together in the living room, absorbed in the television. There was no overt intimacy, but the air was comfortably harmonious nonetheless.

Meng Jingxian's spirits had lifted considerably, and she seemed utterly unconcerned as she held up her breakfast and announced, "I've brought back breakfast. Let's eat." She then made her way to the dining table and took a seat.

Chu Yang and Gu Panpan rose and settled into their usual chairs, both silent as they began to eat.

"Jingxian, what have you been up to at school lately?" Chu Yang inquired between bites. He had spent many days on campus but hadn't once set foot in a classroom, leaving him out of the loop about any recent school events.

"Oh, nothing much. We should learn Taekwondo together when you're free. I've taken a real interest in it," Meng Jingxian replied with enthusiasm, oblivious to Gu Panpan's displeased expression.

"Why would you want to learn that? Shouldn't girls be learning to play instruments or paint?" Chu Yang chuckled, finding it amusing that such a delicate girl wanted to take up an activity typically suited for boys. Besides, with Meng Jingxian's family background, she hardly needed to worry about her own safety.

Feeling sidelined, Gu Panpan watched them talk, her discomfort growing. "Yeah, Jingxian, why Taekwondo?"

"It's for self-protection. Who knows, I might even be able to protect my boyfriend someday," Meng Jingxian said, sharing her genuine thoughts. What if her future boyfriend turned out to be even less robust than she was, like the slender and frail-looking Chu Yang?

Meng Jingxian could see Chu Yang's frailty for two reasons: she was unaware of his secret status as an Immortal, and he was indeed quite thin, likely a result of poor nutrition from a less affluent past.

Chu Yang couldn't help but laugh at her candid response. "Pfft, if a future boyfriend is that weak, what's the point of having him? And besides, where do you find guys that thin and frail these days?"

"You're one," Meng Jingxian shot back without missing a beat, her instinctive reaction revealing her true thoughts as clearly as her words did just then.

"Are you blind? How can you call me weak?" Chu Yang exploded, more amused than truly offended, yet still stung by the suggestion that he appeared weak enough to need a girlfriend's protection.

Meng Jingxian and Chu Yang both believed their conversation was harmless, the kind of casual chat friends have. But to Gu Panpan, it sounded different. Meng Jingxian's words clearly indicated she hadn't given up on Chu Yang. Despite knowing he was Gu Panpan's boyfriend, she brazenly declared her feelings for him. And what stung the most was Chu Yang's silence—he didn't interrupt her but continued the conversation. What did that make her?

"Hahaha, if you say so, then it must be true. Better eat up, or you'll really need a girlfriend to look after you." Meng Jingxian eagerly served Chu Yang, piling his bowl high with both tasty and nutritious choices until it resembled a small mountain.

Chu Yang accepted each dish Meng Jingxian offered, not once considering Gu Panpan, his girlfriend. "Alright, alright. How could I possibly need a girlfriend to protect me?" If he revealed his true identity, would they think he was joking?

"After breakfast, let's go for a hike," Gu Panpan interjected, desperate to change the subject. She couldn't bear to listen any longer; it would drive her insane. She didn't actually dislike Chu Yang; she was just trying to avoid any awkwardness between them.

Despite Gu Panpan's intentions, Meng Jingxian didn't play along. "Hiking? The weather doesn't seem right for it—it's a bit too hot." Meng Jingxian was no stranger to mind games. She wasn't someone who could be easily pushed around, not after all the novels she'd read over the years.

Chu Yang sensed an argument brewing and chose to stay out of it, letting them speak their minds without his input.

"Then where do you suggest we go?" Gu Panpan asked through clenched teeth, glaring at Meng Jingxian. Why was it that before Chu Yang became her boyfriend, Meng Jingxian, though not particularly kind, wasn't this hostile? Could it be that Chu Yang had told her everything? That was the only explanation Gu Panpan could think of.

"Chu Yang, how about we go swimming? It's so much fun, and it'll keep us cool," Meng Jingxian proposed, inwardly loathing her own behavior. They had already made their relationship official, yet here she was, meddling. Now, she had even managed to make Gu Panpan resent her.

Chu Yang could no longer feign death. "Hiking could be fun, and so could swimming," he managed to say after a long pause. In truth, if he were to speak his mind, Chu Yang might be labeled a jerk, but it was complicated since both women had feelings for him.

Gu Panpan breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, Chu Yang was taking her words to heart; she wasn't performing a solo act anymore. Even though he had also echoed Meng Jingxian's sentiments, the sting wasn't as sharp as before when he had seemingly excluded her.

"So, what are you getting at, Chu Yang? Are you planning to hike and swim all by yourself?" Meng Jingxian pouted, eyeing Chu Yang with a look of distaste as he continued his breakfast.

Internally, Chu Yang mused that he'd rather brave a volcano or dive into a vat of oil than deal with their rivalry. But he couldn't voice that thought—women were too formidable. "Why not all three of us go together? We could hike first and then swim. Or do it the other way around if you prefer," he suggested.

Gu Panpan and Meng Jingxian nearly choked on their frustration. They had been locked in a fierce battle for his affection, and Chu Yang's nonchalant proposal was far from comforting. They were moments away from wishing they didn't know him at all.

"That works for me. Let's hit the trails in the morning, and after we've hiked, we can go for a swim post-lunch," Gu Panpan conceded, fearing that if she didn't, her own hiking suggestion might fall through.