How come I was the one being targeted?

“........No, it didn’t come, gu——!” Qingque suddenly widened her eyes and covered her mouth in disbelief. She instantly understood what the magic circle that Fu Xuan had just cast on her was used for.

Sorry, she swore that what she said just now was not from her heart, but her tongue was out of control!

Qingque shed tears of regret and could only silently hope in her heart that Bai Jun would realize something was wrong as soon as possible.

"That's good. Don't make such jokes next time. It's a bit scary."

Unfortunately, Bai Jun didn't understand Qingque's intention. On the contrary, he felt inexplicably relieved. "It's strange, but I feel a chill on my back. It seems like Fu Xuan is nearby. How about we stop playing around, or she might catch us later?"

"That's not necessary. If you have anything to say, just tell it to my face."

The light and pleasant voice of a girl, which carried a hint of majesty, reached his ears, causing the ahoge on Bai Jun's head to instantly stand up and tremble wildly like a radar.

The purple particles swirling around him rose up instantly, and the mysterious magic circle suddenly raised a strong wind in the calm space. The wind was so fierce that it instantly blew away all the papers on Bai Jun's face. Without the cover of the papers, Fu Xuan below also appeared in Bai Jun's sight.

"It seems that I am not welcome, Bai Jun. Considering that I treat you well, could you tell me a little bit about what you mean by a little scary?" Fu Xuan crossed his arms over his chest, his soft and slender fingers tapping his shoulders noncommittally, his gloomy expression looking particularly dangerous.

"Can I refuse to answer?" Bai Jun took a few steps behind him calmly and asked tentatively.

"Okay, I don't have time to argue with you right now."

The response caught Bai Jun off guard. Before he could rejoice in his escape, a smile suddenly broke out on Fu Xuan's handsome face. He commanded in an unyielding tone, "Be at the Taibusi office promptly at 4:00 this afternoon. When you're free, we can have a good chat."

After saying this, Fu Xuan arrested the speechless Xiao Qingque on the spot and dragged her away.

Looking at Fu Xuan who was swaggering around like a mountain king kidnapping decent women, although Bai Jun wanted to shout loudly and majestically, "Let go of my meal ticket!", his surging momentum suddenly wilted when he thought about having to endure Fu Xuan's anger in the afternoon.

Not only was his meal ticket stolen, but he had just given all his candies to Qingque, which meant that now he didn't even have a piece of candy to eat.

Bai Jun suddenly felt a little pain in his stomach. He held his forehead and sighed that he had lost both his wife and his soldiers.

"How sad! Looks like I'll only be able to eat steamed buns for the next week..."

"Oh, has your benefactor now fallen to the pitiful state of chewing bark and swallowing needles? Huh~" A playful and frivolous laugh sounded, and a warm and delicate body quietly and gently pressed against Bai Jun's back, and playfully blew a breath into his unguarded ear.

"Wow!" A burning, soft touch came from his ear, and Bai Jun's pupils dilated instantly. His body trembled violently almost instinctively, and he retreated in panic, covering his itchy ears: "Tingyun, why are you here again!"

"Look at what you said, benefactor. Couldn't it be a chance encounter?" Tingyun smiled gently, waving his folding fan. He was so happy to see Bai Jun's panic-stricken and shy look.

Bai Jun was naturally skeptical. Without hesitation, he pointed behind Tingyun and shouted, "The Fox Man is the champion again!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he ran towards the archway, but when he was halfway there, two light ropes tied up his legs from behind and stopped him.

"That won't work, benefactor. The same trick can't work on me twice, okay?" Ting Yun chuckled and shook his head. With the magical rope bought with 500,000 credit points, Bai Jun couldn't break free no matter how hard he struggled.

"Quack! No! It's work time now, you can't do this!"

Bai Jun, who fell to the ground and screamed in disgrace, could only allow the strange rope to slowly drag him backwards, and finally fell into Tingyun's hands.

PS: Please recommend and vote. By the way, illustrations have been added at the end of some previous chapters. If you are interested, you can go back and refresh the chapters to check them out.

Image: "Yes, she's cute", Location: "Images/1725410443-100414977-112085364.jpg"

Chapter 13: Eat my food and you're mine

In a corner by the window of a family restaurant in Changletian, Bai Jun and Ting Yun were sitting at the table, each with a different expression.

On the table, a basket held several loaves of soft, freshly baked bread, still steaming. A plate held a thick, juicy steak, charred on the outside and tender on the inside, accompanied by sweet corn and buttered potatoes. A small bowl held a salad of the freshest vegetables, even the citrus-infused dressing drizzled over it. Whether it was the freshness of the ingredients, the skill of the chef, or even the presentation of the dishes, the care and attention paid to this restaurant was evident.

Looking at the table full of delicious food, Bai Jun swallowed his saliva with saliva dripping, but was reluctant to pick up his chopsticks.

"The dishes have been served a long time ago. My benefactor, there is no need to be polite with me. If you don't eat it now, it will get cold." Seeing Bai Jun's hesitant look, Tingyun thought that the food was not to his taste and spoke softly.

"I do want to eat it, but before that, could you please untie this first?"

Hearing this, Bai Jun's expression became even more conflicted, as if he was a little embarrassed to speak. He slowly raised his left hand, or to be more precise, a rope tied around his left wrist, with the other end tied around Tingyun's wrist. With Bai Jun's slight movement, the small bell on the rope rang softly.

"That won't do. The rope is used to prevent the benefactor from escaping. As long as he doesn't escape, it won't affect the benefactor at all." Tingyun also gently shook the magical rope on her wrist, feeling the close connection between the two of them. A hint of pink quietly appeared on her fair and delicate skin, and even she was a little shy.

"Besides, this is pretty nice, and very suitable for my benefactor."

"It's not suitable at all..." Bai Jun muttered in frustration. Noticing the strange looks from the other guests around him, he felt so embarrassed that he decided to lie: "Ahem, actually, I'm left-handed. If I don't untie the rope, I won't be able to eat."

"So my benefactor is left-handed?" Tingyun covered her mouth with a little surprise. Just when Bai Jun thought there was a chance, this white lie was quickly exposed by Tingyun's next action.

"But it doesn't matter. Let me feed you, my benefactor. Open your mouth, ah~" Tingyun cut a piece of tender and juicy thick steak with a knife and carefully brought it to Bai Jun's mouth with a fork.

Bai Jun's face froze on the spot. He hadn't expected Ting Yun's attack power to be so high. At the same time, his mind was racing to find a way to break the deadlock. Unfortunately, he couldn't find any excuse to exonerate himself, so he made up his mind and ate it as if accepting his fate.

"It's delicious, thank you." Bai Jun chewed the steak in his mouth, looked away calmly, and silently swore in his heart that he would never do something that would make him difficult to back down again.

Tingyun stared at the fork in a daze. She never thought that Bai Jun would actually accept the food she gave him. Does this mean that he has already accepted her in his heart?

Thinking of this, Tingyun clenched the fork in her hand, her lowered face suddenly flushed, and her delicate and beautiful fox tail swayed quietly behind her, following her mood. She whispered shyly, "My benefactor is really different from before."

"Before?" Bai Jun blinked in confusion.

"Yes, I remember that benefactor was very fierce and fierce at that time."

Tingyun recalled bits and pieces of the past. He remembered that when he first met Bai Jun in Yaoqing, he looked younger than he is now and was about the same height as himself, but he was not as lazy and gentle as he is now. His expression was so cold at that time that it was almost scary.

If there is any similarity, it is probably that her nature of being tough on the outside but soft on the inside has not changed. Of course, she is still more adapted to the current Bai Jun.

"Really? It's a good thing you still remember it..." Bai Jun stuffed another piece of buttered bread into his mouth and avoided the subject vaguely.

"Of course. Speaking of which, it seems that my benefactor has been in more than just Yaoqing before. Can you tell me more about it?" Tingyun fed Bai Jun another piece of steak, with a strong curiosity in her expectant eyes. She had wanted to ask this question for a long time.

"Well, before coming to Yaoqing, I lived in Zhuming for a period of time. My specific job was basically to be a tutor. As for the reason for leaving? Sorry, it's a bit inconvenient to disclose..." Bai Jun didn't eat the steak that Tingyun fed him. When talking about the details, he hesitated and shook his head, and his emotion was visibly lost.

"It doesn't matter. Everyone has secrets that they don't want to tell. If it's inconvenient for my benefactor to reveal, there's no need to force him." Tingyun interrupted the topic in time. Although she felt a little disappointed in her heart, she cared more about Bai Jun's emotions than her own.

The atmosphere between the two of them froze for a moment. Tingyun pursed his lips and began to regret bringing up this topic.

She opened her mouth and tried to reopen the topic, but this time she didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, Bai Jun quickly suppressed his frustration, sighed as usual, and rekindled the conversation for the embarrassed Tingyun: "Don't just focus on me, eat quickly too. If you could learn to eat half as fast as Yukong, you would have already eaten your fill and left."

Tingyun burst out laughing, her previous nervousness instantly dissipating. "Look at what you've said, benefactor. Everyone in the Tianbo Division is very impressive, especially Lady Yukong, who is not only an ace pilot, but also a warrior who has waded through fire and water. Although I rely on her in every way, I still can't compare to her. Compared to her, I guess I can only exaggerate and show off my skills in words."

"That's true." Bai Jun nodded and quickly finished the food on the table.

"...Shouldn't the benefactor say to Miss Tingyun that there is no need to be modest, and that the future belongs to you?" Tingyun's smile froze. According to common sense, Bai Jun should be able to hear her modesty.

"One of my favorite things in life is to speak my mind!" Bai Jun wiped his mouth clean after eating, and stood up to express his gratitude as usual. "Well, I am very grateful for the lunch provided by Miss Tingyun. I will repay this kindness in the future!"

Having said that, he stood up and prepared to leave.

"Hey! Wait, benefactor!"

Tingyun suddenly reached out her small hand and grabbed the corner of Bai Jun's clothes. Facing his puzzled eyes, she said, "The hot spring eggs in this shop are incredibly delicious. You must try them. Please wait until you have eaten them before leaving!"

Bai Jun thought for a few seconds, then obediently pulled out a chair and sat down. He was just curious about the taste of the hot spring egg, not that he was greedy for it, right?

After chatting for a while, the waiter brought the signature hot spring egg.

Bai Jun wanted to quickly peel the egg, eat it and leave, but Tingyun stopped him seriously, saying, "You don't peel hot spring eggs like that, benefactor." Then he set an example by carefully and patiently peeling the eggshell bit by bit. Although Bai Jun felt that it was a bit too slow, he didn't say anything.

It was not until the waiter brought the bill that Tingyun slowly peeled two hot spring eggs and reached out to pay the bill.

Bai Jun looked at the bill in Tingyun's hand, and a strong sense of unease suddenly filled his heart.

"My benefactor, this meal cost me 7642 Interstellar Peace Credit Points. Considering our relationship, I'll give you a small discount and accept 642 credit points. Would you like to pay by cash or card?" Tingyun smiled and shook the bill in her hand. The fox's shrewdness was fully displayed in her at this moment.

Sure enough, the bad premonition in one's heart always comes true. Bai Jun, whose pockets are cleaner than his face, couldn't even take out 642 credit points, let alone 42 credit points. His face turned black on the spot, and he quickly snatched the two hot spring eggs and stuffed them into his mouth. His full cheeks looked like a squirrel from a distance, but he didn't have time to care about such things now, so he turned around and ran towards the door.

Unfortunately, Bai Jun seemed to have forgotten the magical rope on his wrist that was connected to Tingyun, so he was pulled back after running a few steps.

"Since you, my benefactor, have no money to repay the debt, then I will use myself as collateral!"

"Ugh——!"

Sure enough, this fox had no good intentions from the beginning!

Image: "Give me the ticket!", Location: "Images/1725523088-100414977-112089879.jpg"

Chapter 14: He is so handsome

There is no free lunch in the world. This is basically a truth that everyone has heard since childhood. However, we have never seen it in person after hearing it for so many years. As time goes by, the edges and corners gradually become blurred and blunt, and naturally fade away from our memory.

However, what happened today successfully awakened the memory of Bai Jun's death like a raging wave. He never expected that such a thing could happen to him again after so many years!

Lamenting the impermanence of life, Bai Jun, feeling ruthlessly tricked, reluctantly sold himself to Ting Yun for the slave price of 400 credits per hour. She asked him to accompany her to sort out some matters, but she didn't reveal where they were going or what they were going to do, which made Bai Jun a little uneasy.

We took a taxi to the center of Xingcha Sea, turned a few corners on the spacious streets, and finally arrived at a large market in the southern part of Xingcha Sea. Ordinary people rarely came here for shopping, usually serving as a source of purchases and a wholesale market for the various merchants under its jurisdiction. Markets of this level were rare even on the Immortal Ship, all controlled by the various captains of the Tianbo Division. This market happened to be under the helm of Yukong, the captain of the Luofu Tianbo Division.

The two men came to the gate of the market town. At the gate, there were several Yunqi soldiers who were responsible for maintaining order. The leading captain recognized the identity of the Tingyuntian Bosi ferry envoy, so he let the two men pass without asking any further questions.

Tingyun nodded slightly, then dragged Bai Jun straight into the market. Looking at the endless stream of people inside, including big merchants from Luofu, compatriots from other ships of the Immortal Boat Alliance, and various foreigners with strange looks, Bai Jun rubbed the corner of his lips with his thumb, wondering what Tingyun's purpose was in bringing him here.

Sensing Bai Jun's puzzled gaze, Ting Yun smiled and softly explained, "Legend has it that Klipper, the God of Destiny, is the most ancient of the Star Gods. He is silent and dignified, building barriers around the galaxy, measured in light years. He never interferes in the conflicts of other forces within the galaxy, nor does he pay attention to the mockery and ridicule of his fellow Star Gods. He maintains the balance of the universe and is crucial to the rise and fall of every civilization."

"His tireless actions inspired mortals to spontaneously gather together and begin to emulate his example by building barriers to protect the planet. The most famous among them is the now-famous Interstellar Peace Company. Guided by their destiny, they selflessly offer their all to Bu Tian Siming."

"I heard the company has made some new moves recently, seemingly to support the Lord of Preservation. The price of Tianying Ore has nearly doubled. Coincidentally, our Xianzhou is rich in Tianying Ore, including it. The General and the helmsman are discussing whether they can use the ore as a lever to remedy the relationship between the company and Luofu and strive for greater benefits."

"However, as a bargaining chip, the Tianying Mine held by the Industrial Manufacturing Division alone is far from enough. Most of the ore is still concentrated in the hands of the big merchants in the market. They control the ore development rights of many planets, so obtaining the ore in their hands is extremely important."

"So, you brought me here to purchase ore?"

Bai Jun lazily followed Tingyun who was strolling around casually. After listening to her for a while, he shrugged helplessly.

Tingyun imitated Bai Jun and shrugged cutely: "Yeah, it's because the hard job of purchasing ore fell on me."

"So you know it's a tough job, then why did you bring me along? Even if one person's pain is divided in two, it won't change the nature of the suffering in the slightest!"

"There's nothing I can do. It's my fault that you didn't grow more careful. But it doesn't matter. After I'm done, I'll treat you to a meal in the evening, okay?" Tingyun slowly unfolded his folding fan and smiled meaningfully.

"Gu.....Do you think I'll fall into the same pit twice?!"

Hearing Bai Jun's whisper, Ting Yun used his trump card: "How about taking my benefactor to eat his favorite shabu-shabu hot pot tonight, and then going to the Cuisine Pavilion to pack some of their new desserts? What do you think?"

"Deal." Bai Jun's expression brightened, and he chose to obey without hesitation.

This is not succumbing to Tingyun's tyranny, but choosing to endure humiliation for the sake of the goal!

By the way, the new cream dumplings released by Meizhuan Pavilion seem to be quite delicious.

........

Following Tingyun's guidance, they wandered around and soon entered the depths of the market. The items sold in the depths of the market were generally more precious and rare than those outside, and the prices were also more expensive, so there were obviously fewer customers coming here to buy.

The road was no longer crowded, and the surrounding buildings became more and more luxurious. The two came to a classical courtyard and walked up the straight stairs. Their footsteps finally stopped in front of a bronze gate guarded by two stone lions.

The servant at the door was quite surprised to see the newcomers. He first contacted someone using the Jade Omen, and then quickly invited Tingyun and Bai Jun in.

While Tingyun was talking to his attendant, Bai Jun stood idly by, looking at the luxurious and grand interior decoration, he couldn't help but click his tongue, and sighed in his heart at the evil of capital.

The two people over there exchanged pleasantries for a long time without getting to the point. Just as Bai Jun was about to go over to Tingyun to listen to what they were talking about out of boredom, a gentle laugh suddenly rang out from the courtyard.

"Let me see who this distinguished guest is."

There were hurried footsteps, and a pale-faced woman came slowly towards Tingyun. She greeted him, "Miss Tingyun, the renowned ferryman of the Tianbosi, is honored to have you here today. Your presence is truly a blessing to our humble home."

"Ms. Shen Sha, you are too polite. I have heard of your great name for a long time. It is my great honor to meet you today." Tingyun pursed his thin lips slightly and responded to the greeting in a flat voice.

The woman named Shensha looked harmless, with a warm jade pendant on her slender waist. Her pretty and gentle face was pale and sickly, and her thin body looked as if it could be blown down by a gust of wind. However, the smile on her face was bright and gentle, and combined with her status and wealth, it was difficult for people to feel any aversion to her.

"Who is this person next to Miss Tingyun?"

Shen Sha's eyes shifted slightly, and he saw Bai Jun standing beside Ting Yun, and then his gaze uncontrollably stayed fixed on his face for a while.

I don't mean anything else, I just think it looks nice.

Noticing the strange gaze, Bai Jun frowned slightly in dissatisfaction, glanced at Shen Sha briefly, then looked away, and then yawned listlessly.

Shen Sha realized that he had seriously lost his composure, and hurriedly moved his eyes away from Bai Jun's face. He moved his eyes down a little and caught a glimpse of the thin ropes tied around the two people's wrists. Then he suddenly realized.

Celebrities in society often bring their spouses to important occasions, usually for social etiquette requirements, in order to show their status and image. However, Shen Sha felt that Tingyun's intention should not be so superficial.

She had heard that there was a saying in the ancient country of Xianzhou that men often need various negotiations and exchanges at the negotiation table, and when they reach a deadlock, they can use outstanding women to leave a good impression on the other party to promote the smooth progress of the negotiations.

I remember that strategy seemed to be called...the beauty trap?

Thinking of this, Shen Sha secretly glanced at the cold and handsome face of the gentleman in front of him, and everything seemed to be explained.

Humph, but she is not such a superficial woman. A mere beauty trap is not worth mentioning at all... Let me take one last look.

He's so good looking.

"This is my close friend. Since he's free today, he took the initiative to act as my bodyguard. I hope Ms. Shen Sha won't mind." Tingyun also noticed Shen Sha's gaze on Bai Jun. Although his expression did not change much, his body stood in front of Bai Jun without any change. The delicate and beautiful fox tail seemed to protect his arm to declare sovereignty.

"Given Miss Tingyun's status, it wouldn't be excessive for her to bring a team of guards. Oh! Todd, you idiot, you born fool, why don't you go to the living room and make tea for the guests? Remember to bring my collection of Shouyuan Maofeng!"

Shen Sha laughed awkwardly a few times, then turned his slightly annoyed gaze towards the servant standing stupidly to the side. After a few simple scoldings, he regained his smile and leaned over to say, "I'm sorry, it's not proper to make guests stand in the courtyard all the time. Please forgive my inconsiderateness. I hope Miss Tingyun and the guard will come to the main hall and take a seat."