Protoganist's Sidekick Fights Back-Chapter 44: Courting

Su Ting's footsteps slowed as he approached the courtyard, his heart beating faster with each step. Curiosity warred with caution in his chest.

The rumors between servants had stirred his imagination, but before he could press further, a calm voice broke through the silence.

"Little brother... what are you doing here?"

Su Kang stood at the entrance, arms crossed, his gaze steady. His voice was mild, but the hint of amusement in his eyes made Su Ting stiffen.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

Caught red-handed, Su Ting scratched his head and forced a grin.

"I... I just wanted to check on the guest. She's a friend of the Su family, right?"

Su Kang's lips curled ever so slightly.

"How considerate of you... I didn't know you cared so much for family matters."

Su Ting straightened his back, trying to appear dignified.

"It's only proper to look after our guests."

Su Kang chuckled, stepping forward and resting a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Since you're so thoughtful, I'll introduce you tomorrow... at dinner."

Su Ting's eyes brightened, excitement flickering beneath his youthful bravado.

"Really?"

"But remember..." Su Kang's voice dropped, carrying a faint warning. "Don't spread rumors."

Su Ting's grin froze. He nodded quickly before retreating, but the spark of curiosity never faded from his eyes.

---

Later that afternoon, sunlight spilled through the lattice windows of Bai Yunxi's study, casting warm patterns across the room.

The faint fragrance of herbs lingered in the air as she read quietly, her delicate figure bathed in golden light.

A gentle knock interrupted the silence.

"Yunxi," Su Kang's voice called softly.

She looked up, her lips curving into a tender smile.

"Husband."

The word left her lips like a soft breeze.

Su Kang stepped inside, his dark eyes reflecting something deeper than usual. He crossed the room without a word, taking her cool hand in his warm palm.

Without explanation, he led her to their bedroom, closing the door behind them.

"Yunxi..." he began, his voice low. "It's time... we reveal our relationship to my family."

"Are you sure? It's... it's so soon." She looked away, her gaze falling on the vibrant blooms of a nearby peony.

Su Kang's thumb brushed against her cheek.

"I don't think we can hide it for much longer. But... we'll take it slowly. For now, we'll let them believe we're only courting."

A delicate flush bloomed across Bai Yunxi's pale cheeks. Her heart swelled at his thoughtfulness.

"I'll follow your decision, husband."

---

The following evening, the three of them sat down for dinner. Su Ting couldn't help but stare at Bai Yunxi, his curiosity piqued by his brother's words.

Bai Yunxi sat beside Su Kang, her quiet elegance drawing occasional glances from the servants.

She looked radiant in a simple yet elegant dress, her eyes shimmering with an green light that seemed to captivate everyone present.

Su Ting's sharp eyes flickered between the two, suspicion brewing beneath his playful grin.

Su Kang's voice broke the silence.

"Su Ting, this is Bai Yunxi. She's a guest... and a good friend of mine."

Bai Yunxi's calm eyes flicked toward Su Kang before she offered a polite smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Young Master Su Ting."

Su Ting's eyes lit up, his gaze shifting between the two. He bowed respectfully but couldn't hide the spark of mischief dancing behind his grin.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Bai... Though, it seems my brother rarely brings good friends home."

Su Kang's brow twitched slightly, but Bai Yunxi's lips curled faintly.

"Your brother is a man of few words. Perhaps he prefers to keep such matters... private."

Su Ting's grin widened, his sharp instincts catching the subtle warmth in her tone.

"Oh? Then I must thank you, Miss Bai, for bringing out a different side of him."

Su Kang's chopsticks paused mid-air, shooting a warning glance.

"Su Ting."

Su Ting quickly straightened, suppressing his grin—but his curiosity only deepened.

Throughout the meal, Su Ting stole quick glances between the two, noting how Su Kang would subtly serve Bai Yunxi dishes or how their eyes would linger on each other a second too long.

Finally, toward the end of dinner, Su Ting couldn't resist any longer.

"This little brother is a bit slow..." he began, his eyes twinkling with mock innocence. "But if I didn't know better, I'd say Brother is courting Miss Bai."

Bai Yunxi's eyes rippled with amusement, but she simply took a small sip of tea without confirming or denying the claim.

"Aha! I knew it! My brother, finally ensnared by a beauty!" Su Ting chuckled after watching her silently confirming it.

Su Kang's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Su Ting... do you want extra training tomorrow?"

Su Ting immediately straightened, clearing his throat. He stood up from the table.

"This little brother was merely expressing his admiration! Nothing more, nothing more!"

"Don't worry, Sister in law... your secret is safe with me." Su Ting ran away after saying these words.

Su Kang's brow twitched, but Bai Yunxi chuckled at this in amusement.

---

In the days that followed, Su Ting became a frequent visitor to Bai Yunxi's courtyard.

Every day after training, he'd arrive carrying fresh gossip and wild stories about Su Kang's childhood. This was his revenge for getting beaten up.

"He wrote love poems to a female guest ... dozens of them. She left our family in embarrassment!"

"Your brother must have been quite lonely... to write so many poems for someone who never looked back."

Su Ting blinked, his grin faltering.

He glanced at his sister-in-law — delicate yet composed — before scratching his nose awkwardly.

"Well... Brother always acted tough."

Bai Yunxi's laughter rang out like silver bells — much to Su Kang's chagrin.

That evening, when Su Kang caught Bai Yunxi's teasing glances, he finally asked.

"Why do I feel... you're holding something back?"

Bai Yunxi's eyes twinkled.

"Your brother has been very... informative."

Su Kang's gaze darkened.

"That brat..."

Bai Yunxi leaned closer, her breath warm against his ear.

"You're handsome... talented... it's only natural that you'd attract a few admirers."

Bai Yunxi's smile was soft, she looked in his eyes.

"As long as your heart belongs to me... I'll accept whoever follows."

Her voice was steady, but a fleeting glimmer flickered in her eyes — gone too quickly for Su Kang to notice.

Su Kang's chest tightened at her gentle acceptance.

He cupped her face, his voice low.

"I'm blessed to get you as my first woman.

Her heart trembled, warmth blooming beneath her ribs.

"I'm happy to be your first, husband."

A flicker of something deeper passed through her gaze.

"There's something I want to share with you."

Bai Yunxi tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her clear eyes. Without further words, Su Kang extended his spiritual consciousness.

She opened her own consciousness, allowing the ethereal connection to form between them.

A stream of profound knowledge flowed into her mind—the intricate details of the Heartfire Symphony of Twin Souls.

"It's a dual cultivation technique," he explained. He got it from Fate.

A subtle blush bloomed across her cheeks, yet her eyes shimmered with newfound resolve.

"Then... let's master it together, husband."

That night, beneath the moonlit sky, Su Kang guided Bai Yunxi into the profound mysteries of the Heartfire Symphony of Twin Souls.

Qi flowed between them, delicate and warm — binding not just their bodies, but also forming resonance between their souls.

Their breaths merged. Heartbeats synchronized.

The pleasure of the technique was subtle — not mere lust, but a deep communion that wove their lives together in an unbreakable bond.

Bai Yunxi's soft moans echoed through the night, her cultivation advancing as the energy within her body became purer.