Chapter 210

The inn where the Xuanxu Sect was staying was still some distance away, and to avoid the increasingly awkward atmosphere, Ning Ning bit the bullet and forced herself to start a conversation with Pei Ji.

“Junior brother, what do you think?”

She felt nervous as these words slipped out without much thought.

To her surprise, Pei Ji didn’t answer immediately but instead turned his head to look at her in silence.

He seemed perfectly suited for the night, with his dark hair being tousled by the evening breeze. Distant lights glimmered like stars, reflecting in his deep, brooding eyes and casting a faint, shifting glow, like moonlight scattered over a deep pond.

Ning Ning’s heart tightened under his gaze.

Pei Ji spoke in a cold, firm tone, each word sharply enunciated.

Although he tried to sound indifferent, there was a hint of hesitation, and the end of his sentence dropped like a cat’s tail, gradually becoming lower.

“Senior sister always used to call me by my name.”

Ning Ning choked.

Wow, this guy!

He’s starting to push his limits just because they held hands!

She was just nervous and wanted to make herself look more serious!

Why did he have to point it out so bluntly? How childish!

Kicking a pebble in front of her, Ning Ning retorted, “Junior brother, don’t you also call me ‘senior sister’?”

She emphasized the words “junior brother.”

Cheng Ying burst into a fit of gleeful laughter. “Hahaha, no way! Pei Xiaoji, is this considered acting like a spoiled child? Ning Ning actually fought back against you. Hahaha, that’s too lame!”

Pei Ji turned his head away.

Seeing him look away, Ning Ning took the opportunity to glance at him without being noticed.

The moonlight softened Pei Ji’s sharp features, and from her angle, she could see his tense jaw. His long, dark lashes fell like raven feathers over his eyes, making his gaze even more unreadable.

She couldn’t figure out what Pei Ji was thinking, but she saw him frowning.

Then Pei Ji opened his mouth slightly, as if to say something, and at the same time, he turned his head, meeting Ning Ning’s clear gaze.

Both quickly looked away.

“I—”

Ning Ning heard him start to speak, only to stop abruptly after one word, followed by a shallow intake of breath.

Pei Ji’s voice came out muffled from his chest. Though it was just two words, he spoke them with an awkward clumsiness, each syllable turning on his tongue as if reluctant to part.

Fortunately, he did manage to say it in the end.

Pei Ji said, “Ning Ning.”

‘Ning Ning’, he said it quite nicely.

Walking down the dim path, Ning Ning suddenly felt much lighter on her feet.

Her heart fluttered uncontrollably.

“Oh.”

She pursed her lips to hide the smile on her face, put her hands behind her back, and walked forward with a spring step, pretending to be serious and solemn: “Pei Xiaoji, what do you think of this matter?”

Cheng Ying laughed while covering his mouth.

“Pei Xiaoji, she’s calling you childish.”

Then he laughed even harder.

“You can’t admit defeat! Listen to me; call her ‘Ning Ning sweetheart’ or ‘Ning Ning little darling’; hehehe, she will never dare to tease you again. Men have to be more proactive and stronger!”

If he really called her that, she indeed wouldn’t tease him, but he would feel like dying on the spot.

Pei Ji’s face darkened, his bony right hand gripping his sword tighter.

Though a trace of impatience flickered in his eyes, his lips formed a straight line, suppressing a smile.

So this is what it feels like to say her name.

The soft, delicate sound felt gentle and light.

Just saying her name…

…made his heart tighten with nerves, yet he couldn’t help but want to smile, feeling an uncontrollable happiness.

He really was hopeless.