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Lin Xian thought that after his eyes were treated, Shen Chuwei would come during the day, but now it was already late afternoon, and only Xuetuan was seen, with no sign of Shen Chuwei.

"Meow." Xuetuan rubbed against Lin Xian’s hand, obedient as can be.

Lin Xian looked down at Xuetuan on his lap, noting Shen Chuwei always took Xuetuan with her wherever she went. Why hadn’t she brought it today?

He pinched Xuetuan’s ear, "Has your owner abandoned you?"

"Meow." Xuetuan stared at him with wide eyes. If it could speak, it would certainly say your wife has abandoned you.

A man and a cat stared at each other, one’s big eyes meeting the other’s small ones.

After pinching its ear, Lin Xian flicked Xuetuan on the nose, "Your owner is blind, and now you are too."

Xuetuan couldn’t help but roll its eyes. You’re the one who’s blind, not recognizing your own wife.

Lin Xian looked at Xuetuan’s expression, feeling as though it was looking down on him. There seemed to be not just disdain but also a hint of mockery.

Shen Chuwei had said that Xuetuan wasn’t an ordinary pet. It seemed she was right; a cat’s nose is not as sensitive as a dog’s.

Moreover, Xuetuan appeared to be many times smarter and more sensitive than a dog.

"Are you really a cat? Could you be a spiritual beast from legend?"

Lin Xian only joked with a casual tone, but there were indeed such legends. It was said that Cangbai Mountain was shrouded in an immortal aura, treacherous in terrain, and that no one dared to approach it. Spiritual beasts were rumored to roam the mountain.

Spiritual beasts live for up to a hundred years, recognize only one master, and are loyal only to that master.

But for hundreds of years, no one had actually seen one.

Xuetuan blinked its round, bulging eyes a couple of times, "Meow."

Lin Xian grabbed Xuetuan, lifting it to meet his gaze, "Where has your owner gone?"

Xuetuan turned its head away, refusing to look at him.

Lin Xian was amused by Xuetuan’s defiant attitude, as if it was saying I won’t tell you, "So dumb."

Xuetuan stretched out its paw toward him in dissatisfaction, "Meow."

Lin Xian chuckled, "You don’t even know where your own owner has gone, what else could that be but dumb?"

Lin Xian never imagined he would use reverse psychology on a cat, and even less so that it would work.

"Meow." Xuetuan huffed and struggled to jump down from him, then turned and ran away.

Lin Xian paused, watching it dash off before turning to look back at himself. He hesitated for a moment but then decided to follow in his wheelchair.

Having been in the Imperial City of the Xingmiao Clan for quite some time, he had only visited the waterside pavilion and had not seen other places. He didn’t know what the Imperial City of the Xingmiao Clan was like. Now that he could see, he thought it was a good opportunity to explore.

Xuetuan did seem quite understanding after all. It would run ahead for a bit, then pause to wait for him, occasionally showing an impatient look, seemingly saying, if you don’t hurry up, I won’t wait for you anymore.

Lin Xian found it funny that he could detect these expressions and attitudes in a cat.

But being in a wheelchair, he couldn’t speed up even if he wanted to; he could only move forward by pushing the wheelchair with his hands, and without some strength, he couldn’t move it at all.

The afternoon sun was quite blinding, and him, having just regained his sight, wasn’t accustomed to such intense sunlight yet.

It was only under the grape arbor, where the dense vines blocked much of the harsh sun, that he finally felt more comfortable.

The grape arbor stretched out like a winding path with no end in sight.

Lin Xian followed Xuetuan down the path. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he suddenly heard a burst of laughter and joyful voices.

Wu Tan, "Doctor Shen still loves pastries so much."

Shen Chuwei, "I don’t just love pastries, I’m fond of anything delicious. As for temples, I don’t wish to visit them a second time."

Ouyang Jingyuan, curious, asked, "What happened?"

Wu Tan laughed lightly, "Doctor Shen doesn’t enjoy vegetarian meals."

Lin Xian wheeled over, seeing from afar three people seated in the pavilion, one of whom was Shen Chuwei, another was Ouyang Jingyuan, and the third was a monk he did not recognize.

The three of them were chatting and laughing over tea and snacks, looking quite content.

No wonder she hadn’t come to find him; she was with them all this time.

Wasn’t she supposed to be the Crown Princess?

To be the Crown Princess and to be engaged in laughter and conversation with other men with no reservation?

Shen Chuwei took a bite of the pastry and looked at Ouyang Jingyuan and Wu Tan before her. She hadn’t expected them to have already met Xiao Jinyan in Nanzhao.

"Tell me about Nanzhao, will you?"

Ouyang Jingyuan looked at Shen Chuwei with a smile, "What would you like to hear?"

Shen Chuwei gazed at the two before her, blinking her beautiful eyes, "I want to hear about Xiao Jinyan."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Jingyuan suddenly became very curious, "What is your relationship with Xiao Jinyan?"

Shen Chuwei bit into the pastry in her hand, somewhat embarrassed, "I’m his wife."