Su Rushi was in utter disarray, at a complete loss for what to do. She looked at the White Demon King, whose face was full of gentle affection, and asked, "Brother Bai, you said my grandfather would come. Is that true?"

"Of course it’s true. On the day we get married, you will see your grandfather," the White Demon King said with a smiling nod. He told this lie so well that he almost believed it himself.

’If that old man really came,’ the hidden Tu Xiao’an sneered to himself, ’he probably wouldn’t be here to celebrate the wedding, but to fight the White Demon King to the death.’

"Brother Bai, my mind is a mess right now. Can you please let me be alone for a bit?"

Though the White Demon King’s words were gentle, he gave Su Rushi no choice. "Shi’Er, remember. Seven days from now, on your birthday, is our wedding. I’ll be back in a few days."

Taking one last, deep look at Su Rushi, who kept her head lowered, the White Demon King turned to leave. But as he turned, he suddenly glanced under the bed and frowned.

After a long time, the entire pavilion was quiet. Certain that the White Demon King was gone, Tu Xiao’an crawled out with a sigh of relief. He saw the girl’s dazed and spiritless expression, but since he couldn’t speak, he didn’t know how to comfort her.

’Seven days from now?’

’Looks like that’s enough time,’ Tu Xiao’an thought.

Just then, Su Rushi, who had been staring into space, was startled when she saw a shimmering shadow dart out. She cried out, "Xiaoleng, where are you going?"

But the exquisite little snake didn’t even turn its head, rushing straight downstairs and darting into the Purple Bamboo Forest.

"Xiaoleng, don’t run! Wait for me! What are you doing?"

Su Rushi could no longer dwell on her own troubles. She hurriedly chased after him, terrified that the little snake would leave and never come back.

The dense bamboo forest appeared and disappeared in the shifting light, the rustling of the leaves like ocean waves. An exquisite little snake, its body shimmering with a rainbow of colors, stood with its head held high. It looked at the girl chasing after it, gave its head a very human-like shake, and then vanished into the beautiful sea of bamboo like a fleeting shadow.

"Xiaoleng, you eat my food and live in my house, and you still want to run away? Just wait until I catch you, then you’ll be in for it!"

Su Rushi ran after it, her smooth black hair flowing in the wind, panting delicately. Her eyes were fixed on the little snake, which would occasionally stop and raise its head as if waiting for her.

The little snake made a rustling sound, as if to say, "Come and get me! Come and get me!"

Su Rushi suddenly found herself staring blankly at the glowing little snake. ’Is it... trying to cheer me up?’

Suddenly, a slow smile bloomed on her face, as beautiful as any flower in the world. She cast her worries aside and, like a fluttering butterfly, began to dance through the sea of bamboo.

"Xiaoleng, I absolutely adore you! When I catch you, I’m going to give you a big kiss!"

The little snake, which had been waiting with its head held high, seemed to be startled by her words and immediately fled in a panic.

"Hehe... Trying to run? Not a chance!"

Su Rushi’s laughter rang out like silver bells. The sky, the earth, this vibrant Purple Bamboo Forest... The spring breeze, the green mountains, the purple bamboo; the morning dew, the green leaves, the warm sun. A girl in the prime of her magnificent beauty chased an incomparable little snake, until the two of them—one person, one snake—were completely engulfed by the sea of bamboo.

A mountain breeze swept through, carrying the fresh scent of bamboo. Amidst the dense rows of shadows, elongated by the sun, the girl and the snake looked back and met each other’s gaze. It was as if a silent understanding had just been born between them.

「Half an hour later.」

The girl and the snake appeared before a pavilion.

The pavilion was situated in a large clearing deep within the sea of bamboo. It was hard to imagine finding such a wide-open space so deep inside the dense forest. Surrounded by a lawn of vibrant green grass, it stood gracefully in the very center, secluded within the sea of bamboo, standing proudly upon the green earth!

It was like an umbrella holding up a piece of the sky, ready to draw you into its embrace and warm your very soul.

’I can’t believe there’s a pavilion like this in the middle of the bamboo sea,’ Tu Xiao’an thought. ’It’s as if it was built for someone special. It suits the place perfectly, though.’

A beautiful figure rushed into the pavilion a step ahead of him. She stood there gracefully, looking at the exquisite little snake.

"Xiaoleng, this is the Purple Bamboo Pavilion. Brother Bai had it built just for me. Do you like it?"

The girl in the pavilion’s smile was like a blooming flower. Her eyes, bright and clear, shone like brilliant stars. She beckoned to the little snake outside the pavilion, her eyes curving into crescents, so full of life they seemed to overflow. Her every expression revealed a pure and otherworldly grace.

Her face was beautiful, and her smile was so sweet it touched the very depths of Tu Xiao’an’s soul.

This place was like an Immortal Realm on earth. To be able to live here under the purple bamboo with the one you loved would truly be one of life’s greatest blessings.

For some reason, Tu Xiao’an found himself thinking, ’I have to admit, the White Demon King really has a romantic streak, creating a place this beautiful. It’s the perfect spot to woo a girl.’

And they genuinely did like it. Su Rushi obviously adored the place, and Tu Xiao’an, too, found himself quietly growing fond of his surroundings.

’Sooner or later, this will be my, Tu Xiao’an’s, territory.’

’The White Demon King just acted as the contractor.’

Then, Su Rushi held the little snake in her arms and sat down in the pavilion. She took a long, hard look at her surroundings, memorizing every detail, before saying, "Xiaoleng, please help me escape. I love it here, but I really don’t want to marry Brother Bai."

"Besides, I don’t believe my grandfather would ever agree to me marrying a Demon. No matter what, I just can’t marry him."

’This girl really has a heart of stone,’ Tu Xiao’an mused. ’The White Demon King treats her so well and has done so much for her, yet she isn’t moved in the slightest.’

’Even I was almost moved.’

’Actually, I want to ask her: is it because the White Demon King is a Demon that you can’t like him, or do you just not like him, period?’

But right now, he was a mute snake and couldn’t speak. So, he just nodded.