Ha, Karma! – Chapter 42

by Little Panda

Free home care services, would Miss Fu consider it?

Fu Lianxue sat at the table, using the fork Chu Zhaoqiu had brought her to pick up a piece of apple.

Crisp and juicy, it was indeed sweet.

She lowered her head to pick up a second piece, and when she looked up again, she accidentally met Chu Zhaoqiu’s gaze.

Chu Zhaoqiu sat beside her, her fork untouched.

Fu Lianxue glanced at the apple in her hand, then placed her fork into Chu Zhaoqiu’s hand, picking up Chu Zhaoqiu’s fork instead. “It’s really sweet, try it. Don’t be polite, make yourself at home.”

Chu Zhaoqiu’s expression froze for a moment, then she couldn’t help but laugh.

Wasn’t this already her home?

Chu Zhaoqiu asked humbly, “Lianxue, are you always this relaxed in other people’s homes?”

She even used a relatively polite adjective.

“No,” Fu Lianxue leaned back lazily in her chair, pointing at her with the apple on her fork. “I’m targeting you. I don’t want to be polite to you. What, are you mad?”

With that, she triumphantly bit into the apple, her eyes dazzlingly beautiful.

Thousands of years ago, this was how she and Chu Zhaoqiu had interacted.

Back then, she even slept in Chu Zhaoqiu’s bed, shared her blankets, and did as she pleased.

She had long been accustomed to this way of interacting. If the current Chu Zhaoqiu wasn’t used to it… well, she’d have to get used to it, because Fu Lianxue was an unreasonable great demon!

But then Chu Zhaoqiu nodded, as if relieved.

“As long as it’s only me you treat this way.”

Only letting her hold her, only climbing through her window, only being this impolite with her as if they were family—in a way, this could be considered special.

And it was a thousand times better than only wanting to kill her.

Fu Lianxue slowly ate her fruit, looking at the person before her with slight surprise.

This person was truly done for.

She was being so impolite, yet Chu Zhaoqiu thought it was fine as long as it was only her.

—Tsk tsk, this Chu woman is crazy about me in this lifetime!

Chu Zhaoqiu, unaware of her thoughts, asked, “Why did you come over suddenly? Do you need something?”

“Can’t I come over for no reason?” Fu Lianxue retorted quickly.

“Of course you can. You’re always welcome,” Chu Zhaoqiu replied smoothly.

Fu Lianxue suddenly stared at her without speaking, then put down her fork and said, “You heard that child say you were looking for me in the past. Why do you think you were looking for me?”

Although she hadn’t regained her memories, she still asked.

Chu Zhaoqiu countered, “What do you think?”

Fu Lianxue crossed her legs, thought for a moment, and shook her head. “How would I know?”

Then she boldly hypothesized, “Maybe it was because you didn’t kill me back then and wanted to finish the job.”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “…”

She couldn’t help but ask, “Was I really that terrible in your heart back then?”

Fu Lianxue didn’t immediately nod in agreement as she had when they first met.

She hesitated for a moment and said, “Well, you weren’t that bad to me back then…”

A terrible person wouldn’t have helped her apply medicine when she sprained her ankle, nor would they have asked the elders for a flower she wasn’t even interested in.

Chu Zhaoqiu had indeed been good to her.

But that still didn’t change the fact that she had hurt her.

“But no matter how good you were, it’s all gone because of that sword!

“Others give a date and then a slap, but you gave several dates and then a sword. You’re really terrible!”

After her rant, she heard the person before her say, “I’m sorry.”

The sudden apology left Fu Lianxue stunned.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t protect you back then and made you suffer for so long.”

Fu Lianxue’s feelings became even more complicated.

Only now did she realize that her feelings for Chu Zhaoqiu weren’t just hatred and resentment.

At the very least, she could distinguish between the current Chu Zhaoqiu and the one from the past.

“You haven’t regained your memories yet, so you don’t need to apologize on behalf of your past self. It doesn’t mean much to me.

“Save that apology for when you remember everything.”

Chu Zhaoqiu sat in silence for a moment, then said, “Lianxue, do you really think I wanted to kill you back then?

“Didn’t you say I was good to you?”

Fu Lianxue replied, “You were good to me, but you still hurt me, didn’t you?”

Chu Zhaoqiu asked again, “Didn’t you ever think that I might have… liked you back then?”

Fu Lianxue’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Why would I think that?”

“What?”

“Why would I think that? Who stabs someone they like with a sword? Are you humans all perverts?”

It was hard to argue with that.

Chu Zhaoqiu didn’t give up and continued, “I’m good to you now, and I like you now.”

“I know,” Fu Lianxue said lazily, leaning on the table, her head propped up on her hand, her eyes fixed on Chu Zhaoqiu. “But I know you won’t hurt me now because things are different.”

“Oh?”

“I can smell your scent, and I can tell it’s affection. Humans, once they like someone, they have a weakness—and I’m your weakness, understand?”

Back then, she had been too weak to recognize someone’s affection for her.

But she was sure that Chu Zhaoqiu hadn’t liked her back then.

If Chu Zhaoqiu had liked anyone, it would have been her senior sister, Ji Hanyan [霁含雁 | Jì Hán Yàn], not a little demon who always caused trouble.

And back then, Chu Zhaoqiu had been determined to become an immortal. How could she have allowed a demon to hold her back?

The current Chu Zhaoqiu was so different from the one from the past.

More mature, more honest, and seemingly less obsessed with becoming an immortal…

Did Chu Zhaoqiu no longer want to become an immortal?

“Chu Zhaoqiu, don’t you want to become an immortal anymore?” she asked bluntly.

“I don’t know,” Chu Zhaoqiu answered honestly. “What about you? Don’t you want to become an immortal?”

“Me? Do I need to?”

She confidently tossed her long hair, showcasing her charm.

“My life is great now. I have everything I want, and I’m very satisfied. There’s no need to change anything.”

Immortality, looking down on mortals—the allure of immortality was too small for her. She had no interest in it.

Besides, becoming an immortal required hard work and suffering, and she wanted none of that.

She wanted to live carefree and enjoy every day!

Chu Zhaoqiu chuckled softly and said, “As long as it suits you and you’re happy, that’s what matters.”

Their eyes met.

Fu Lianxue suddenly leaned closer to her.

Her hand brushed past Chu Zhaoqiu’s leg, and then she sat on Chu Zhaoqiu’s lap, her wavy black hair falling over her shoulders, her red lips alluring and captivating.

Chu Zhaoqiu tilted her head back, her heartbeat quickening, unable to look away from this beautiful demon.

It seemed there was no way to keep their distance.

“What is it?” Chu Zhaoqiu asked gently.

“Don’t become an immortal.”

Fu Lianxue cupped Chu Zhaoqiu’s face, her voice soft and seductive, her features becoming even more enchanting.

“What’s so great about being an immortal?

“What’s so great about Ji Hanyan? Stop thinking about her. You should stay here with me and enjoy life together.

“Okay? Hmm?”

A spur-of-the-moment seduction.

What kind of reaction would she get from this Taoist disciple now?

She saw Chu Zhaoqiu’s brows furrow slightly, as if confused.

Then she realized something and straightened up, her tone returning to normal. “Oh, I forgot you haven’t remembered who Ji Hanyan is. She was your beloved senior sister back then.”

She didn’t know why she had mentioned Ji Hanyan to someone who hadn’t regained their memories.

In the art of seduction for demons, this was considered a flaw.

Her seduction today had been a complete failure.

“Boring, boring.”

As she spoke, she got up from Chu Zhaoqiu’s lap.

But the next second, her hand was grabbed, the motion urgent.

“Lianxue,” Chu Zhaoqiu’s eyes were fixed on her, filled with anticipation. “Back then… did you really not have any feelings for me at all?”

Fu Lianxue looked down at her from above.

The light in Chu Zhaoqiu’s eyes was bright, flickering with hope, like a big dog yearning for its owner’s affection.

Fu Lianxue suddenly smiled.

“Back then, I didn’t understand a damn thing about feelings.”

If she had understood what “liking” someone meant back then, she wouldn’t have had such a hard time seducing Chu Zhaoqiu.

And how could she have possibly liked Chu Zhaoqiu? That was the person who had stabbed her with a sword, the one who was determined to vanquish demons!

Chu Zhaoqiu’s question was truly laughable.

But she could understand it.

Fu Lianxue pulled her hand back and patted Chu Zhaoqiu’s shoulder like a wise elder. “You like me now, so you wish I had liked you back then too. That way, your heart would feel better. I get it, I understand.”

She was just too considerate.

Chu Zhaoqiu gazed at her quietly for a moment, then smiled and shook her head, a hint of bitterness hidden in her helplessness.

Ever since meeting Fu Lianxue, she had often felt this way—utterly helpless, with no way to deal with her.

Fu Lianxue sat back in her seat and continued eating her fruit.

Then, she heard Chu Zhaoqiu say, “The Blue Star is difficult to cultivate. Have you found someone to take care of it?”

Fu Lianxue replied, “No.

“I just got the flower and haven’t had time to think about it yet.”

Then she heard Chu Zhaoqiu say seriously, “Since I was the one who gave you the flower, I should also be responsible for its aftercare.

“So, I can help you take care of it.”

Fu Lianxue stopped eating, turned her head, and narrowed her eyes as she scrutinized Chu Zhaoqiu from head to toe. “So this is what you were after… Young Master Chu, you’re quite the strategist.”

Chu Zhaoqiu smiled calmly, unperturbed. “Free home care services. Would Miss Fu consider it?”

Fu Lianxue stabbed another piece of fruit with her fork, chewing it noisily, but didn’t respond.

Chu Zhaoqiu thought for a moment and decided to try harder.

“I’ll throw in some cat food.”

“Oh? Is it your family’s brand? My Baobao really loves your family’s freeze-dried treats.”

“Yes, you can have as much as you want.”

“Deal!” Fu Lianxue agreed cheerfully.

Sorry, but who could resist when her Baobao loved their cat food so much?

And since Chu Zhaoqiu was offering to take care of the flower for free, why not take her up on it?

Chu Zhaoqiu looked at her with a smile, both helpless and utterly indulgent.

If she had known Fu Lianxue wanted cat food, she would have used it as a bargaining chip from the start.

As Chu Zhaoqiu was thinking this, she suddenly saw Fu Lianxue lean in again, sitting boldly on her lap and gently cupping her face.

“Young Master Chu, you’re so good to me. I should thank you properly.”

For some reason, her heart began to race.

Chu Zhaoqiu heard herself ask, “How will you thank me?”

The person on her lap was alluring, her beautiful eyes filled with laughter.

Her red lips parted, and her voice, soft and captivating, whispered in her ear:

“I’m going to… kiss you.”

From a disappointed puppy to a flustered one, Chu Zhaoqiu’s heart was in chaos.

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