Chapter 5

At dawn, Xiao Ye rose with the morning dew, fetching water early and waiting obediently outside Qin Yuxuan’s door. Only when he heard the sounds of movement inside—the rustle of clothes being put on—did he carefully push the door open and peek inside.

As soon as he stuck his head in, he saw that person standing by the bed, smiling at him. His heart skipped a beat. Pressing his lips together, he quietly set down the basin, wrung out a towel, and stepped forward.

Although Qin Yuxuan had never set any rules for him, Xiao Ye was more than willing to perform these small, intimate tasks—each one an expression of quiet admiration and devotion.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and pinched his cheek. Qin Yuxuan gazed at him with a soft smile. “Xiao Ye is so thoughtful.”

He lowered his head, his heart pounding wildly, like a startled deer, but he didn't dare say a word.

Once Qin Yuxuan left for the academy, Xiao Ye busied himself at home preparing lunch, packing it into a food container before bringing it over at noon. Every time he came, however, he would be met with teasing laughter from the group of young men.

"Yuxuan, your little beauty is here again!" they would call out toward the academy whenever they saw him.

Xiao Ye would stand there, flustered and unsure, his face burning with embarrassment—only to see that familiar, composed figure emerge with a smile, take his hand, and lead him toward the courtyard.

Lately, the only time he could get close to his true body was when he came to the academy, and the thought of it secretly delighted him.

Qin Yuxuan, seeming to understand his thoughts, smiled and led him to a seat nearby. "This is my peony."

Xiao Ye was startled. He had no memory of taking root in this place. Could it be that…

"Young Master planted it?"

Qin Yuxuan chuckled and shook his head. "It was already here when I arrived, but no one ever paid it any mind."

"Then why does Young Master care for it so much?"

The handsome man furrowed his brows slightly but still smiled. "How do you know I care for it?"

He flinched, hesitated, then stammered, "These past few days, I’ve seen Young Master visiting it often. I thought… surely, you must have been tending to it all along."

Qin Yuxuan glanced at him, then turned back to the small, delicate peony. "Because it's like me."

Xiao Ye looked at himself, then at Qin Yuxuan, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t see any resemblance. Someone so striking, elegant and free-spirited—how could he possibly compare?

A faint sense of inferiority crept over him, clouding his expression. But before he could dwell on it, a fingertip flicked his forehead lightly. 

That person he had thought was so out of reach raised a brow. "Well? Aren’t you going to serve the food?"

Flustered, Xiao Ye hastily laid out the dishes before carefully kneeling to one side.

Suddenly, a tender bamboo shoot was held up to his lips. He looked up in surprise and met Qin Yuxuan’s amused gaze.

"Try it." 

Xiao Ye had no time to dodge and could only open his mouth and take the bite. The crisp, refreshing taste was undeniably delicious.

Though it was his own cooking, he had used magic to enhance it, so naturally, it tasted good—but that only made him feel a pang of guilt for deceiving Qin Yuxuan.

The man fed him a few more times, but when he offered again, Xiao Ye finally refused. "This is Young Master's meal. How could I sit and eat with you?"

"But I want to feed you. Don’t spoil my mood," Qin Yuxuan said, his words carrying a playful threat, though his voice was as gentle as ever.

Blushing, Xiao Ye relented and ate a few more bites, but by then, he truly couldn’t eat any more.

Flower spirits didn’t need food—their true forms absorbed sunlight, rain, and the essence of the earth. To avoid arousing Qin Yuxuan’s suspicion, he would occasionally take a few bites. Never, however, had he eaten so much in one sitting.

Qin Yuxuan shook his head and withdrew his chopsticks, smiling. "Taking you in was quite the bargain."

Xiao Ye said nothing, but in his heart, he was overjoyed.

He always tried his best to avoid causing trouble, devoting every thought to ensuring Qin Yuxuan's comfort and ease.

And every word of praise, no matter how casually spoken, he cherished and committed to memory.

He longed for it—yearned for even the slightest place in that person's heart.