USWHC -Chapter 77 A Curse About Water (Part 7)

But nearby, Huaihua couldn’t help widening her eyes in surprise. She looked at Ji Yi, then glanced at Zhu Jie. Did he come on purpose to meet her?

Her chest tightened with a strange pang, yet she still whispered shyly, “Brother Ji Ye!”

Ji Yi seemed to finally notice that there was a girl beside Zhu Jie. He just gave her a polite glance and a faint smile, saying nothing more.

Yet Zhu Jie noticed that this simple smile, the subtle look in his eyes, made Huaihua blush deeply. Her cheeks seemed dyed with a rosy glow, vivid and red.

Deliberately, Zhu Jie stepped back half a pace. Sure enough, as she moved, Huaihua unconsciously drifted closer to Ji Yi, drawn like a sunflower toward the sun.

Zhu Jie immediately laughed. The earlier question now had an answer: who said no one dared to challenge those rumors? Most likely, Huaihua was willingly trying to “marry” Ji Yi, the brave one—only that this brave soul had almost been sacrificed for no reason.

“Tired?” Ji Yi seemed to notice her odd expression and suddenly turned to look at her. He caught Zhu Jie’s mischievous smile and couldn’t help frowning. Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled her firmly back to his side, placing Huaihua off to the side.

“No!” Zhu Jie felt a fluster of being caught, her face flushing.

Ji Yi’s hand was strong, gripping her arm tightly, giving her no chance to retreat. She could only hang there awkwardly beside him.

Huaihua slowed her steps. “Um, Brother Ji Ye… sister-in-law… I’ll go back first!” Her voice carried a faint sadness, almost on the verge of tears. The “sister-in-law” sounded forced and reluctant.

Zhu Jie didn’t need to look back to know Huaihua’s expression. She and Ji Yi were standing far too close, exuding an unmistakable intimacy.

Even strangers would see them from afar and think the two were inseparable, a truly newlywed closeness!

Zhu Jie felt helpless. Before she could struggle free from Ji Yi’s grip, Huaihua dashed past her, almost like she was about to cry.

Zhu Jie sighed, but glared at Ji Yi with mock annoyance. “Are you mad at Huaihua?”

“Huaihua? It’s this season—there aren’t even many locust tree leaves left. Where would there be any flowers?” Ji Yi looked completely puzzled.

“Tch, just pretend all you want!” Zhu Jie said with disdain. “Don’t tell me you didn’t realize that the girl who just ran off was your former fiancée, Miss Huaihua!”

Hearing this, Ji Yi looked even more bewildered. He glanced at the fleeing Huaihua and said, “She’s Huaihua?”

His expression was so genuine that Zhu Jie was shocked. “You don’t know her?”

“No!” Ji Yi answered seriously.

“You don’t even recognize your own fiancée?” Zhu Jie’s eyes widened to the size of copper coins, disbelief written all over her face.

Seeing her wide-eyed, frog-like expression, Ji Yi chuckled softly. “Please note, I don’t have a fiancée!”

“Former fiancée, then!” Zhu Jie corrected herself. “But even so, you can’t go through an engagement without remembering the girl’s face, can you?”

“I’ve been engaged so many times. If I remembered them all, I’d be exhausted!” Ji Yi said with a perfectly justified look.

Zhu Jie almost burst out laughing at his self-righteous tone. “You think having many engagements is something to be proud of?” she teased.

Ji Yi puffed out his chest, looking very pleased with himself. “Not every man has the chance for such good fortune!”

“You…” Zhu Jie poked Ji Yi on the head lightly, and both of them laughed together. Gradually, the atmosphere turned warm and intimate, truly like a loving couple.

Far away, two figures watched them from the shadows, letting out a faint sigh.

“Really not going to tell the master?” one voice hesitated. “They look dangerous!”

“This woman really is dangerous!” the man in black sighed again. “But…” He hesitated deeply. Even just his deep eyes revealed his unease and profound caution.

“Let’s go back and discuss with Old Sun. At least we need to know—where does this woman come from?” the other sighed as well. Dealing with a stubborn master was never easy.