“...Xiao Yao.”
Zhu Lingxi also snapped out of it.
She stared at Cen Yao for a few seconds. There wasn't a trace of suspicion or dissatisfaction in her eyes, only pure wonder.
“So this is what you actually look like.”
Cen Yao let out a couple of dry laughs.
“Haha.”
“I forgot too.”
She tried her best to make her explanation sound normal.
“The witch's robe has a function that blocks outside gazes. As long as I'm wearing it, others can't see my actual appearance clearly.”
“It's mainly to avoid unnecessary trouble in the future.”
“I've gotten so used to wearing it inside dungeons that I just took it off right after returning.”
She paused.
“Sorry about that.”
Pei Tinglan narrowed his eyes.
“It actually has a function like that?”
“Of course,” Cen Yao replied immediately. “A witch's robe isn't ordinary clothing. It's basically a piece of magic equipment.”
Zhu Lingxi's eyes lit up instantly.
“That's amazing.”
She looked at the purple robe on the coat hanger, envy flashing in her eyes without any attempt to hide it.
“I want one too.”
Cen Yao was taken aback.
She had originally been worried that Zhu Lingxi might feel she was intentionally hiding her appearance.
She hadn't expected her to care so much about the robe instead.
Zhu Lingxi walked over to the hanger but didn't touch the witch's robe directly, only examining it closely from a short distance away.
“It can conceal one's face.”
“And protect the body.”
“If we were in a folklore dungeon, wearing it would probably save a lot of trouble.”
She looked up earnestly.
“Xiao Yao, can I have one too?”
The trace of embarrassment in Cen Yao's heart suddenly vanished.
She smiled.
“Of course you can.”
“Once I gather enough materials, I'll make one for both you and Pei Tinglan.”
Zhu Lingxi's eyes curved into crescents.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Cen Yao counted on her fingers for her.
“The most basic functions of a witch's robe are blocking outside gazes and boosting defense.”
“But if the materials are good enough, we can add extra attributes.”
“For yours, Lingxi, we can design it to be more suitable for Nuo opera. For example, with narrower sleeves and a hem that makes it easy to spin around, plus a spot on the waist to hold your Nuo mask. We can also add a bit of soul-soothing and purifying effects.”
Zhu Lingxi listened intently.
“Then, can I wear it when inviting a deity?”
“Yes,” Cen Yao nodded. “But the energy backlash when inviting a deity is quite strong, so we'll need to find materials that can withstand divine power. Otherwise, the robe might burn up.”
Zhu Lingxi wasn't disappointed. Instead, she became even more serious.
“Then we shall search for them slowly.”
“There is no rush.”
Cen Yao turned her head to look at Pei Tinglan.
“Yours can't be made into a witch's robe either.”
“It can be made into a coat or a cloak—something a bit longer to comfortably cover your legs without getting in the way of your wheelchair.”
Pei Tinglan had just been listening casually.
But when he heard “comfortably cover your legs,” his fingertips paused slightly.
Cen Yao didn't look at him.
She simply continued, “It definitely needs to have defense and gaze-blocking properties.”
“If we find suitable soundwave materials in the future, we can even add an auxiliary amplification effect. When you sing, it should help reduce the backlash a bit or expand your range.”
Pei Tinglan looked at her.
Cen Yao's tone was incredibly natural as she spoke.
There wasn't the slightest hint of walking on eggshells around him.
Nor was there any of that irritating pity.
She seemed to be thinking quite normally about what her teammate needed and what kind of equipment would suit him best.
“Let's wait until we've gathered all the necessary materials first,” Pei Tinglan finally said.
Cen Yao raised an eyebrow. “You don't want one?”
“I didn't say I didn't.”
“Then that means you want one.”
“Cen Yao!”
“Alright, I'll shut up.”
Cen Yao said she would shut up, but her smile was rather smug.
Zhu Lingxi nodded beside them.
“It's a deal then.”
“I will also look for suitable things for Xiao Yao.”
“My family has a few kinds of old fragrant wood. They might be useful.”
Cen Yao's eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“Mhm,” Zhu Lingxi said. “I don't know if they are the materials you need, but if you want, I can bring them over for you to look at first.”
A warm feeling washed over Cen Yao's heart.
“Alright.”
She had truly found two wonderful teammates this time.
One had an incredibly sharp tongue and wore impatience on his face, yet he would always step up when it mattered most.
The other was a bit ditzy and could get lost just walking down the street, yet she earnestly remembered everything she could offer to help.
However, Zhu Lingxi quickly snapped out of her anticipation for the witch's robe.
She reached up and patted her soft tummy.
“Xiao Yao.”
“When can we eat the sweet and sour pork?”
“I'm hungry.”
Cen Yao slapped her forehead.
“Right!”
“Look at my brain.”
She had been so caught up in her social death and explaining the witch's robe that she had almost forgotten the actual reason she invited them over.
“Let's go, let's go.”
“We'll head down right now.”
As Cen Yao spoke, she took Zhu Lingxi's hand, grabbed her magic wand, and walked over to Pei Tinglan's wheelchair.
Pei Tinglan instinctively grew alert.
“What are you doing?”
Cen Yao raised her magic wand.
“The stairs are inconvenient.”
“I'll use the Levitation Spell to carry you down.”
Pei Tinglan stared at her wand.
“You won't play tricks on me again, will you?”
Cen Yao rubbed her nose. “Of course not.”
“Last time was only because you had such a sharp mouth, so I was just letting off some steam.”
Zhu Lingxi earnestly vouched for her from the side.
“Rest assured, Master Pei.”
“Xiao Yao's magic is very stable, and she isn't the type of person to tease others for no reason.”
Pei Tinglan looked at her. “Since when did you have so much faith in her?”
Zhu Lingxi thought about it.
“Ever since she promised to make me a robe.”
Pei Tinglan: “...”
Cen Yao couldn't help but burst out laughing.
“Lingxi, you've gone bad.”
Zhu Lingxi looked completely innocent.
“I haven't.”
“I'm just speaking the truth.”
Pei Tinglan closed his eyes.
“Hurry up.”
“Don't waste time.”
Cen Yao immediately waved her magic wand.
“Levitation Spell.”
A soft white light fell from the tip of her wand, wrapping around the bottom of the wheelchair.
The wheelchair shook slightly, then smoothly floated half an inch off the ground.
Pei Tinglan instinctively gripped the armrests tightly.
After two seconds, seeing that the wheelchair was indeed as stable as if it were stationary, he slowly loosened his fingers.
Cen Yao saw this but didn't call him out.
She led Zhu Lingxi to the door, then suddenly glanced back at her room.
That limited-edition poster was still hanging conspicuously on the wall.
Pei Tinglan saw it too.
Their eyes met briefly, then both looked away at the same time.
Cen Yao decided that the first thing she would do after dinner was take that poster down.
She led the two toward the stairs.
Just as she stepped out of the room, she couldn't wait and shouted downstairs.
“Mom!”
Her voice carried all the way down the stairs.
Cen Yao held onto the banister, unable to suppress the sheer joy in her voice.
“Mom, I'm back!”
“Let's have sweet and sour pork today!”
A surprised woman's voice quickly came from downstairs.
“Yao Yao?”
“You're back?”
Hearing her mother's voice, Cen Yao's eyes lit up even more.
She pulled Zhu Lingxi along, shouting as she went downstairs.
“I even brought friends back with me!”
“Make a little extra food!”
Rate on N.U.
