Chapter 7: The Allure of Pills

As a cultivator, Lu Qiwen’s senses were exceptionally sharp. The countless gazes from others in the women’s clothing section made him feel incredibly uneasy. He quickly picked out two well-made outfits, had them wrapped up, and prepared to leave.

However, his eyes inadvertently landed on the lingerie section. Rows of intimate wear in various styles—cotton, silk, lace, and even thongs—left him momentarily dazzled and flustered.

Quickly averting his gaze, Lu Qiwen accidentally locked eyes with the saleswoman. Seeing his awkward expression, she smiled gently and asked, “Sir, is there anything I can help you with?”

Lu Qiwen randomly pointed at a few items and said, “That one, and that one. Wrap them up.”

The saleswoman, noticing his embarrassment, smirked mischievously. While wrapping the items, she sneakily added a boxed item into the bag.

Oblivious to her little prank, Lu Qiwen took the bag and hurried out of the store as if escaping, faintly hearing the sound of her crisp laughter behind him.

A plump saleswoman approached the mischievous saleswoman’s counter and teased, “Yuejie, you were up to no good just now. Come on, confess. What did you sneak into that young man’s bag?”

Caught red-handed, Lan Xiaoyue blushed slightly and whispered into her friend’s ear.

The plump saleswoman’s eyes widened in shock before she burst into laughter. After a while, she leaned against the counter, gasping for air. “Xiaoyue, I can’t believe you actually slipped that into his bag!”

Meanwhile, Lu Qiwen had no idea that the clothes he had bought for He Xuan included a little surprise from the playful saleswoman. After paying the hefty bill, he left the store with a bitter heart.

Spending over 20,000 yuan in one go, Lu Qiwen checked the receipt and was stunned. The two outfits and lingerie alone had cost 18,000 yuan. He felt a pang of regret—if he had bought from a street vendor, who knows how many clothes he could’ve gotten for that amount?

If He Xuan, who was delighted that Lu Qiwen had spent so much on her, knew what he was thinking, she might have kicked him out of sheer frustration.

After paying the driver, Lu Qiwen carried the bags into the rented apartment.

“Sister Xuan! I’m back!” he called out loudly while placing the bags on the living room table.

While Lu Qiwen was out, He Xuan had busied herself with housework. Despite being a famous star, her orphaned upbringing made her adept at chores. She had cleaned the two-bedroom apartment until it was spotless.

Admiring the tidy home, He Xuan’s face lit up with a smile. Without her veil, her expression was both radiant and poignant.

Feeling uncomfortable from days without a bath, He Xuan, who had a slight obsession with cleanliness, wanted to shower. But remembering Lu Qiwen’s warning about her burns, she resisted the urge.

Instead, she filled a basin with warm water, grabbed a fresh towel, and retreated to her room.

After removing her clothes, her eyes fell on the scabbed burns. Once flawless and jade-like, her body had been a masterpiece of beauty. Now, it was marred by scars.

Her smooth hand brushed over a particularly unsightly burn on her shoulder. A hint of sadness flickered in her eyes. Perhaps her life had been ruined by that fire. Who would want a woman as disfigured as her? Once, she had dreamed of walking down the aisle with her ideal man, but now, that dream seemed unattainable.

A sharp pain snapped her out of her thoughts. She realized the damp towel in her hand had accidentally touched one of her burns. Looking at the scars, He Xuan couldn’t help but think of Lu Qiwen. She wondered where he was now and why she had started to feel a strange attachment to him.

Recalling how she had teasingly called him her “little husband” and his embarrassed reaction, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Her hand trembled, accidentally brushing against another burn, causing a fresh wave of pain.

After cleaning her front, He Xuan lay on the bed, trying to wipe her back. Her smooth, jade-like back gleamed under the light, and her naturally curved hips rose like two crescent moons. Her flawless, porcelain-like skin was an irresistible sight.

Just as she was about to wipe her back, Lu Qiwen’s voice echoed from the living room.

Startled by his sudden call, He Xuan’s hand jerked, hitting a burn on her shoulder. The sharp pain made her cry out softly.

“Mm…”

Although her cry wasn’t loud, and the door was only slightly ajar, Lu Qiwen’s sharp hearing caught the sound from her room.

Without thinking, he dropped everything in the living room and rushed to her door. Pushing it open, he exclaimed, “Sister Xuan, are you—”

His words trailed off as he froze at the sight before him.

He was utterly stunned by the scene. He hadn’t expected to walk in on such an alluring moment.

A snow-white, delicate figure lay on the bed. Her long legs, high hips, and smooth back gleamed like polished jade. Lu Qiwen was mesmerized by He Xuan’s figure and flawless skin, unable to look away.

He Xuan, on the other hand, was mortified. She hadn’t expected her soft cry to bring Lu Qiwen rushing in. Worse, she was completely exposed.

Feeling his intense gaze, He Xuan’s face burned with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe the tables had turned so quickly—just days ago, she had seen Lu Qiwen naked, and now, here she was, completely exposed before him.

Seeing the dazed look in his eyes and the fascination they held, He Xuan felt a strange sense of satisfaction. But as she remembered the scars on her body, her joy vanished. She thought bitterly that even if she stood naked before a man, her scars would only repulse him.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she lay on the bed, sobbing softly.

Her quiet sobs snapped Lu Qiwen out of his daze. Realizing how intrusive his actions had been, he felt a wave of guilt. Standing there awkwardly, he didn’t know whether to stay or leave.

After a moment, as He Xuan continued crying, Lu Qiwen clenched his teeth, walked to the bed, and pulled a blanket over her. “Sister Xuan, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have barged into your room without your permission.”

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