If Bailu and Baiheng were no longer connected as reincarnations of one another, then why would Jingliu have any reason to care?
From beginning to end, the only person Jingliu had ever truly cared about was Baiheng.
If Baiheng's connection to Bailu were removed, then Bailu would simply be an unremarkable Vidyadhara High Elder in Jingliu's eyes.
Nothing more.
"How heartless. If little Bailu knew she'd be abandoned so decisively, she'd definitely be heartbroken."
Su Ran felt that Bailu wasn't getting a fair deal.
"I can't exactly say that I'm close to her..."
Even as she said that, Jingliu wasn't about to develop any additional affection toward Bailu just because of a few words.
At most, she thought the child had a kind heart.
"But you refused to eat even a single skewer given to you by your ex-boyfriend, while you ate every last one Bailu gave you!"
Jingliu: "..."
Was this somehow her fault now?
The problem was that she remained a criminal in the Luofu's eyes.
Even if she had helped save the Xianzhou from disaster...
She still had to face judgment for her crimes.
Since that was the case, why build deeper ties with this child?
"When Baiheng comes back in the future, I'll raise Bailu together with her. I'll be the father, she'll be the mother, and we'll give Bailu a complete childhood."
Jingliu found this strangely unsettling.
Su Ran was truly bizarre.
Yet at the same time...
This did seem like exactly the sort of thing he would do.
"When that time comes, don't come visiting. My child doesn't know you."
Jingliu: "..."
She had long since lost count of how many times she'd been rendered speechless by his remarks.
Still, she didn't particularly care.
She wanted to see Baiheng, not Su Ran.
If she wasn't welcome at his house, then so be it.
It wasn't as though Baiheng would never leave the house.
"What a cold-hearted woman. At a time like this, you're supposed to say something nice to make me happy. Who knows? There might even be extra rewards."
Jingliu paused for a moment.
"Then... how about this? In the future, before Baiheng has children, I'll help raise yours and Baiheng's child."
Inside the cage, Phantylia's flame form flickered slightly, as though amused by the bizarre relationship between the two.
"You?"
Su Ran stood up and faced Jingliu directly.
Then he pointed toward her chest.
"You think you can raise a child? I honestly think you're less qualified than March 7th or Stelle."
Jingliu fell silent.
Even though she was older, some things weren't matters of willpower.
Besides, as a warrior who fought on the frontlines, having certain assets be too large would simply become a burden.
"Raising a child involves far more than just breastfeeding, you shameless rogue!"
That wasn't what she had meant at all.
Why did everything sound so indecent when it came out of his mouth?
"Can you change diapers? Teach them how to read? Wash their clothes? Buy the necessities? You haven't even been in a relationship before, Grandma Jingliu."
Su Ran unleashed a barrage of questions.
Jingliu went silent.
It really did sound troublesome.
"So what exactly are you trying to say?"
She couldn't quite understand what Su Ran was trying to convey.
But she had a feeling there was some deeper meaning behind it.
"How about dating someone first? Then having a child of your own so you can get some practice before Baiheng has kids?"
There it was.
The real motive.
Jingliu looked at Su Ran with a mix of disdain and confusion.
"I've already said before that if you want this body, you're free to take it. You're truly a strange person. Why ignore the opportunity right in front of you and choose a much more troublesome route instead?"
If Su Ran truly wanted her...
Jingliu wouldn't resist.
After all, Su Ran had cured her mara and given her hope of seeing Baiheng again.
The debt she owed him was enormous.
So great that she wouldn't oppose him.
But was there something wrong with his brain?
"If I were only interested in your body, I could easily create an identical version of you. One who was stronger, gentler, more considerate, and more passionate."
A gentleman appreciates beauty without indulgence.
Su Ran didn't consider himself much of a gentleman.
But if it were merely a transaction...
He would find it unbearably dull.
"So not only do you intend to destroy me physically, you also want to shatter my will?"
A smile curved Jingliu's lips.
The words sounded as though she had seen straight through him.
"Mm. You're right."
He didn't deny it.
From a certain perspective, that would indeed destroy Jingliu's will.
But it wasn't entirely malicious.
At the very least, it meant he still viewed Jingliu as a person.
Rather than the way she described herself—
A vengeful ghost that should have died long ago.
"My opinion of you has improved slightly, you kind-hearted scoundrel."
"A true scoundrel wouldn't go to so much trouble."
"...Do you dislike being called a scoundrel?"
"No. Quite the opposite. I think it sounds much nicer than 'ex-boyfriend.'"
"..."
Had she simply grown too old to keep up with the times?
Jingliu felt Su Ran's train of thought was impossible to follow.
Besides, "scoundrel" was clearly an insult.
How could it compare to "ex-boyfriend"?
The latter was at least a normal way to describe someone.
If Su Ran hadn't lacked the blessing of Abundance...
She might have suspected that his mara had returned.
At that moment, Bailu stirred awake on the bed.
She looked at the two people nearby.
"Mmm... Big Brother, Big Sister, you're both here too."
Stretching lazily, she noticed the obvious smiles on both their faces.
"Why do you both look so happy?"
What day was it today?
She had never heard of exes getting along so peacefully under the same roof.
"Oh, that? My ex-girlfriend and I got back together. She's over the moon about it."
The faint smile on Jingliu's face disappeared instantly.
"I don't think she looks very happy."
Bailu noticed the two pixels of emotion vanish from Jingliu's expression.
"That's probably because I just called her my ex-girlfriend again."
Su Ran glanced at Jingliu.
Her condition seemed stable.
She didn't look like she was about to draw her sword.
"Then you really deserve to die."
Although hearing this big sister had reconciled with Su Ran made Bailu somewhat happy...
The thought that Jingliu would now be eating the skewers Su Ran bought in the future...
Made her a little sad.
—------------------------------
Pat reon Advance Chapters: patreon.com/YonkoSlayer