lcionline Chapter 65 Chestnut Cake
Chapter 65 Chestnut Cake
Within a few days, the remaining members of the "Six Sixes Got It" team, like little rockets, rushed into the ranks of the Great Magicians one after another.
Everyone excitedly went to the Magic Sanctuary to acquire new skills. After reporting to the academy, they busied themselves preparing the various equipment and supplies needed for their training.
Upon learning that they were about to embark on a training expedition, Chu Siyuan and Qiu Jingya brought a large amount of food and supplies to visit them the very next day, ensuring that everyone received something.
Over the years, Chu Qiuchi's parents had always done this, preparing gifts for everyone every time they came. Nalan Xingyao's father was even more extraordinary; he was exceptionally generous to each of them, sending a large amount of treasures every now and then, ranging from precious magical potions to rare metals. Of course, in return, they also contributed most of the potions and magical artifacts they made to the Nalan family.
Puyang Minghui's family was no exception; everyone gave them their utmost support. Dean Puyang also frequently offered them guidance at the academy, helping them avoid many detours in their studies and cultivation.
Over the years, they have become more than just teammates; they have become family. Their families have also been closely connected because of their deep friendship.
That evening, Chu Qiuchi was engrossed in her work in her room, studying the use and proportions of the Jade Mushroom in a new formula for a constitution-enhancing potion. Every method seemed to have some issues, so she finally decided to go to the library to delve deeper and see if this magical herb had any undiscovered uses.
So she hurried out the door and onto the path leading to the library, her mind completely absorbed in the formula, oblivious to the world around her.
Just then, she heard Ji Moyu's signature, icy voice. Chu Qiuchi's heart skipped a beat, and she looked around curiously. Finally, she spotted Ji Moyu's figure behind the Crown Feather Demon Tree not far away. He seemed to be talking to someone.
Chu Qiuchi's curiosity was piqued. She tiptoed around a corner and secretly approached to take a look. It turned out to be a sixth-grade junior school girl—one of Ji Moyu's loyal little fans.
Chu Qiuchi remembered this junior schoolmate because she shared a similar perspective with him, both of them being attracted to Ji Moyu at first sight.
Chu Qiuchi's attitude towards Ji Moyu has changed from his initial bold pronouncements to his current calm and composed demeanor.
Over the years, she would often jokingly flirt with Ji Moyu, but he would always ignore her and change the subject, making her feel like she was throwing a flirtatious glance at a blind man.
Gradually, she adjusted her mindset, treating him only as a good friend she could flirt with but not touch, letting everything take its natural course.
Thinking back to how arrogantly I had spoken to Long Yueze, I couldn't help but feel ashamed. Just as he said, the ice block was a bit prickly.
However, nothing is impossible if you're willing to give up! Of course, giving up completely is impossible, but let's take it slow! She refused to believe that her hot spring pool couldn't melt this block of ice around him!
With that thought in mind, Chu Qiuchi shook his head at Ji Moyu's retreating figure, deciding not to disturb them, and turned to continue towards the library.
She thought to herself, "Men will have plenty of opportunities in the future. Right now, the most important thing is to focus on my studies." She chuckled to herself, "Didn't they say all the outstanding men are handed over to the country? Maybe if I went to the war zone, there would be even more excellent young men waiting for me to discover!"
Upon arriving at the library, Chu Qiuchi thoroughly searched through all the books related to Cuiyuzhi. After a night of intensive work, she finally discovered the special uses of Cuiyuzhi in a seemingly inconspicuous ancient book at noon the next day. Rubbing her aching neck, she hurried back to her dormitory, filled with excitement, ready to verify her discovery.
As she approached the dormitory entrance, Chu Qiuchi noticed a girl cautiously peering through the peephole. Upon closer inspection, Chu Qiuchi recognized her – it was the same junior student who had spoken with Ji Moyu yesterday.
Curious, she approached the door and asked, "Hi, classmate, are you here to see me?" Her voice suddenly rang out behind the junior student, startling her so much that she almost fell over as she turned around. Chu Qiuchi reacted quickly, rushing forward and giving her a quick, Thomas-style princess carry.
One stared blankly, her face flushed with shyness; the other gazed with deep affection, a wicked smile playing on her lips.
"Little girl, snap out of it. I'm putting you down! This time, make sure you stand firm and don't fall again."
Upon hearing this, the little girl immediately snapped out of her daze, and the blush on her face became even more alluring, like a ripe peach.
"No, it's okay, I won't fall again!"
Chu Qiuchi carefully put her down. "Did you come to see me? Is there something you need?"
The little girl began to stammer, "I... I heard you're going out to train soon, and my mom brought me some local specialties yesterday—chestnut cakes." As she spoke, she took out the cakes and handed them to Chu Qiuchi, saying softly, "I brought them especially for you! My mom is very good at making them, and these chestnut cakes are delicious."
Chu Qiuchi took the chestnut cake and joked, "Thank you for the chestnut cake! But, is this a gift for me, or do you hope that someone else will get to eat it through me?" She thought to herself with amusement, "Did you give the chestnut cake to Ji Moyu yesterday and get rejected? So you're taking a roundabout approach and sending it to her today?"
As soon as she said those words, the blush on the girl's face spread rapidly again, turning her entire face as red as the sunset. She was so embarrassed that she almost wanted to hide her head in her collar. The clothes in her hands were unconsciously crumpled nervously, like those of an eighty-year-old woman who had weathered many storms and experienced many hardships, covered with dense wrinkles.
"No, no, it's a gift for you!"
After hearing this, Chu Qiuchi's face broke into a bright smile.
“Okay, then I’ll accept your kind gesture. My mother also brought me some pastries she made herself. I’ll give you a box to take home and try; they’re delicious!” With that, she deftly took out a box of exquisite pastries from her mental space and handed it to the little girl in front of her.
The little girl looked at the pastries in front of her with delight, her eyes sparkling: "Thank you, but if you give them to me, is there enough for yourself?"
Chu Qiuchi waved his hand easily, "Don't worry, my mom prepared a lot! Enough to eat for a long time!"
The little girl carefully took the pastries, her eyes filled with a determination like someone about to join the Party, and earnestly promised Chu Qiuchi, "Thank you, I promise I will eat them all, and I won't waste a single one!"
Chu Qiuchi nodded, his smile widening again: "Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"
The little girl quickly waved her hand, "No need, you're about to set off, so I won't bother you any longer. I'll head back now! I hope your training goes smoothly!" Before she finished speaking, she had already grabbed the pastries and dashed off like a cheerful little bird.
Watching the little girl's departing figure, Chu Qiuchi smiled and shook her head, then carried the pastries back into the house. She took out a piece of chestnut cake, took a small bite, and the soft, sweet taste immediately spread across her tongue. The rich chestnut aroma made her exclaim in admiration, "It's really delicious!" She thought to herself, "This time I really benefited from Ji Moyu's kindness. I wonder if the others also received chestnut cakes from this little girl."
After eating two pieces, Chu Qiuchi carefully wrapped the remaining chestnut cakes and stored them in her mental space. Then, she went into her room and immersed herself once again in her research on her new discovery. Her eyes were focused and determined, and her pen flew across the paper, recording every possible variation of the formula, completely absorbed in the world of potions.
A sudden knocking broke the silence inside. Immediately afterward, Chu Yichen's cheerful voice came from outside: "Sis, are you there? Open the door quickly! Your handsome and charming younger brother is here!"
Chu Qiuchi opened the door and saw Chu Yichen standing there, looking smug. She teased, "My charming little brother, what brings you here?"
As Chu Yichen entered the room, he excitedly said, "That's great news! Didn't you ask me to keep an eye out for the Purple Gold Ginseng in the exchange room last time? I saw it was on the shelves when I went there just now, so I immediately exchanged it for you. And here it is, delivered right over to you!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Qiuchi immediately patted Chu Yichen on the shoulder with delight: "As expected of my dearest younger brother, this is wonderful! With this, I can immediately continue my drug experiment."
Chu Yichen winced as he was slapped, "Sis, be gentle! Don't you know how strong you are right now!"
Chu Qiuchi glanced in his direction, her face showing disdain.
"Don't you know how strong your defense is now? This little bit of strength wouldn't even make your skin blush, so what are you being so dramatic about!"
Sure enough, his sister is always all smiles when she's useful to him, but miserable afterward.
Chu Yichen sniffed around the room and suddenly said, "Sister, are you hiding something delicious in your room? I can smell a lingering fragrance! How can you not invite your dear brother over when you have something good to eat?"
Chu Qiuchi sniffed it in confusion, then shook his head and said, "I don't smell anything special. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Chu Yichen insisted, "Impossible! My nose is incredibly sensitive! It's that faint, sweet smell; it must be some kind of dessert!"
Chu Qiuchi thought for a moment, then a thought struck her—she remembered the chestnut cake she had received at noon. She took the chestnut cake out of her mental space and handed it to Chu Yichen: "Is this it?"
Chu Yichen took the chestnut cake, his eyes lighting up. He immediately said, "Yes, yes, this is it! Sis, where did you get this pastry? It smells so good!" Before he finished speaking, he couldn't wait to take a piece and stuff it into his mouth. "Mmm, it's really delicious, just the taste I imagined." He chewed it with satisfaction, his face beaming with happiness.
Seeing Chu Yichen's blissful expression, Chu Qiuchi couldn't help but laugh and say, "This wasn't bought; it was a gift, and her mother made it herself!"
While eating chestnut cake with gusto, Chu Yichen asked curiously, "Who sent this? A man or a woman? Giving you something for no reason, doesn't it mean something else? And you actually accepted it? Did you abandon Brother Yu and run into someone else's arms?"
Chu Qiuchi rolled her eyes at him, annoyed: "Get your head clean, what are you thinking? This was a gift from a girl!"
Chu Yichen exclaimed even more dramatically, "Sis, really? You've been so stimulated that your sexual orientation has changed too?"
Seeing Chu Yichen causing trouble, Chu Qiuchi immediately started punching and kicking him without saying a word. Chu Yichen cried out, "Sister, don't hit me! A gentleman uses words, not fists!" Chu Qiuchi said as she hit him, "What does a gentleman's business have to do with me, a woman? I'll beat the shit out of your brain." Only when Chu Yichen begged for mercy did Chu Qiuchi gradually stop.
Chu Yichen asked pitifully, "Sister, it's not true, it's not true! You went too far! What if you ruined my handsome face!"
Chu Qiuchi coldly uttered two words, "Serves you right!"
"Getting back to the point, sis, I haven't even received my girl's gift yet, how come you received yours first? This doesn't make sense! Who sent it?" Chu Yichen said.
Chu Qiuchi couldn't help but laugh out loud, and gently patted Chu Yichen's shoulder: "You little rascal, all you think about all day long is this nonsense. That's Xiaoyuer's little fangirl, the one who always comes to our class to peek at Xiaoyuer. She's a year younger than us, and she always gives Xiaoyuer a congratulatory gift after winning a competition, do you remember?"
Chu Yichen slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing, "Oh, it's her! I know, but doesn't she like Brother Yu? Why did she bring you food, and you accepted it? Aren't you two rivals for love? How has the story developed now?"
Chu Qiuchi shook his head and said with a smile, "What rivalry? That young girl is just going through puberty, a time when feelings are innocent, pure, and beautiful. Besides, as long as it doesn't affect others, there's nothing wrong with liking someone. Xiaoyuer and I are just teammates and friends now, nothing more! As for the chestnut cake, I thought she gave it to all of us!"
Chu Yichen feigned sadness and wailed, "No, I haven't even seen a glimpse of chestnut cake. Sis, if Brother Yu really chooses someone else in the future, won't you regret not nipping your rival in the bud?"
Chu Qiuchi chuckled and shook her head, her tone laced with a mix of jest and confidence: "Of course not! If he doesn't like me, it's because he has no taste! Even if he doesn't choose me, I won't hang myself on one tree. There will be other fish in my pond in the future, and they'll take the bait. Besides, even without a man, I have plenty of things to do. I don't have time to compete with so-called rivals. I'm busy, and men and love will never be my whole life. You'd better be more careful; don't act like you're dying for a woman in the future, or I'm afraid I won't be able to resist giving you a slap."
Chu Yichen nodded repeatedly in agreement, "I'm definitely not that kind of person. What you said makes a lot of sense! As expected of my sister, you always have such insight!" He checked the time and continued, "Sis, I'm going to have dinner with my roommates in a bit, so I won't bother you any longer!"
Chu Qiuchi nodded and replied simply, "Okay, go ahead!"
"I'm leaving now, sis, bye-bye!" Chu Yichen said as she walked out the door.
Chu Qiuchi smiled and replied, "Okay, bye-bye." Just as she finished speaking, and was about to continue studying her formula, there was another knock at the door. She opened it to find Chu Yichen there again, and couldn't help but feel speechless: "What is it now?"
Chu Yichen said with a grin, "Sis, what about chestnut cake..."
Chu Qiuchi glanced at him amusedly, then took out a few pieces of chestnut cake and gave them to him: "Get lost!"
Chu Yichen smiled mischievously, took the chestnut cake, and said, "Alright, I'm off now!" With that, he ran off in a flash, leaving Chu Qiuchi shaking his head with a smile and closing the door.