Yukong's face was clearly filled with anger.
Serval and the Tsaritsa immediately began communicating through eye contact.
After a silent exchange that nobody else could possibly understand—
They arrived at a shared conclusion.
This woman was probably jealous of that Tingyun, wasn't she?
Seeing Su Ran photograph her all prettily and beautifully had made her jealous?
"Would you like me to escort you home, Miss Yukong?"
Seeing Yukong looking utterly devastated, Su Ran politely asked the question.
"…Then I'll trouble you."
"Wait! Then what about me?!"
Fu Xuan immediately stood up.
She hadn't come here just to eat dinner.
As the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission, she handled countless affairs every day!
If this invitation hadn't come from Su Ran, she would never have agreed in the first place.
And now that dinner was over, he was just wiping his mouth and leaving?!
"Master Diviner Fu, would you also like me to escort you home?"
But Yukong had already agreed first.
Even Su Ran couldn't split himself in two.
Surely he couldn't leave someone here waiting while he escorted Yukong home and then returned for Fu Xuan afterward?
"That's not what I mean. I'm asking… well… does what you said still count?"
The slip of paper clearly said that once this incident concluded, she would have a chance to temporarily assume the position of General.
That was precisely why Fu Xuan cared so much.
And besides, she was a fully grown adult.
Why would she need someone to escort her home?
She wasn't afraid of the dark or thunder.
Nor was she some delicate young lady.
Why would she need an escort home?
Though Yukong…
Fu Xuan glanced at her strangely.
After all these years working together, this was the first time she'd ever seen the Sky-Faring Commission's helm master show such an expression.
"Absolutely~"
"At least so far, everything I've said has come true."
"If you don't believe me, you can ask Miss Yukong."
Fu Xuan really did turn to look at Yukong.
"…Although I don't know what exactly Mr. Su Ran told you, he probably wasn't lying."
If it were anyone else, Fu Xuan might not have believed it.
But in her eyes, Yukong was actually more trustworthy than General Jing Yuan.
"Then… then this Diviner shall reluctantly trust you for once!"
After receiving confirmation, Fu Xuan felt ecstatic inside.
If she'd had a tail, it would already be sticking proudly toward the heavens.
Now that she'd gotten the answer she wanted, Fu Xuan had no reason to stay.
She was about to leave, but after glancing at Yukong—
She suddenly walked over to Su Ran.
Looking at how much taller he was than herself, she grabbed his collar and yanked him downward.
If he'd been any taller, even standing on tiptoe wouldn't have reached.
Once she pulled him low enough that only the two of them could hear, she finally warned him:
"I don't know what you told Yukong."
"But if you dare make her sad, the Luofu will not let this matter rest!"
"…I think you may have misunderstood something. But understood."
Su Ran naturally knew exactly what Fu Xuan had misunderstood.
"Good. As long as you understand!"
Fu Xuan let out a breath and finally left.
"I'll bring them back."
Kafka gave Su Ran a reassuring look.
Though the Luofu wasn't especially familiar territory to her, she still knew the route back well enough.
Only then did Su Ran finally relax.
Kafka probably wouldn't get lost that easily.
After Su Ran and Yukong also departed—
Serval finally felt free to gossip openly.
"Aren't you the boss's mistress? And you're just letting him walk off with some fox spirit woman?"
She was genuinely curious how Kafka could calmly watch Su Ran escort another woman home.
"Hm?"
Kafka looked at her in confusion.
"Eh? Then are you the lawful wife showing off your broad-minded tolerance?"
Serval immediately proposed another possibility.
Kafka stared at her for a long moment before finally saying:
"What a vivid imagination you have."
Yukong's home wasn't very far away.
The two of them barely exchanged a few words before arriving at her doorstep.
And at that moment—
That same thought surfaced once more in Yukong's mind.
Does he like me?
Otherwise…
Why would he personally escort her home?
Yet because she was already considered elderly among foxians, Yukong ultimately couldn't bring herself to ask.
Because she also feared—
What if she'd simply misunderstood everything?
Wouldn't that be unbearably awkward?
"Mother?"
"…!"
Yukong looked up to see her adopted daughter walking out of the house, staring suspiciously at both herself and the man beside her.
"Qingni… this… this is…"
Looking at her daughter's confused gaze, Yukong wanted to introduce Su Ran properly.
But once the words reached her lips—
She hesitated.
Su Ran was a member of the Genius Society.
But according to his own introduction—
He was only in his twenties.
Meanwhile, her adopted daughter Qingni was already an adult foxian.
By short-life-species standards, Yukong herself was practically old enough to be a grandmother.
So should she introduce him as Uncle Su?
Or Little Brother Su?
The former had obvious age issues.
But the latter…
Wouldn't that sound like she was taking advantage of him by seniority?
"Hello, Qingni. I'm your Uncle Su."
Su Ran very naturally stepped forward and shook Yukong's adopted daughter's hand.
Qingni: …
No wonder Mother said she was going out for dinner tonight.
So it was because…
She looked at Yukong, then at the overly friendly "Uncle Su" before her.
Her mind was already in complete chaos.
Though she had never met her biological father—
The thought of her mother suddenly bringing home an "uncle" was still difficult to process.
But then again…
Her mother had lived alone for many years now.
Qingni couldn't bring herself to reject this mysterious "Uncle Su."
Still…
Didn't this Uncle Su look strangely familiar?
Why did she feel like she'd seen him somewhere before?
"You are…"
"Member #85 of the Genius Society?"
After thinking for a moment, Qingni finally remembered where she'd seen that face before.
Good heavens…
Her mother had somehow hooked up with a major figure from the Genius Society?!
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