On the way there, Li Ye had thought that this thing would look better with time—after all, noodles were just flour boiled in a pot, so they should all look roughly the same.

However, standing at the entrance of the great hall, catching a glimpse of Meng Wan’s curious expression from the corner of his eye, Li Ye suddenly felt uncomfortable and raised the bowl higher: “Aren’t you busy? Eat after you finish your work.”

Er’er was both amused and exasperated as she pulled down his arm reproachfully: “It won’t interfere.”

She took the bowl from him, and Li Ye lowered his eyes, watching her reaction from the corner of his eye, his neck somewhat stiff.

However, after glancing at the contents of the bowl, she surprisingly had no special reaction, as if it were just an ordinary bowl of noodles. She held it with a smile and lowered her head to sniff it.

“How long did it take to make?” she asked, her eyes curved in a smile.

Feeling inexplicably embarrassed, Li Ye vaguely waved his hand: “Not long, just a few incense sticks’ worth of time.”

“Thank you for your trouble, High God.” After bowing to him, Er’er tugged at his hand, wanting him to enter the hall with her. Li Ye stood motionless and snorted lightly: “I need to go elsewhere. You go ahead and eat.”

With that, he left without looking back.

…

…

Er’er raised an eyebrow but didn’t try to keep him. She watched his figure disappear in the distance, then carried the bowl into the great hall.

Meng Wan glanced at the bowl of food, slightly frowning. Just as he was about to advise her not to eat it, he saw her sit back at her desk and very calmly take a bite of the large dough lump.

“Continue with what you were saying,” Er’er said indistinctly.

Meng Wan was stunned, his brow furrowing deeper: “Immortal, please take care of your health.”

“My health is just fine,” Er’er smiled, quite naturally taking out a bowl of meat broth from under her desk and adding it to the noodle bowl. She tasted it again and nodded with satisfaction. “The High God truly lives up to his title—even kneading dough, he shows such strength. With this chewiness, he must have kneaded it for at least half an hour.”

This deserves praise? Meng Wan’s expression was complex: “Is this… good?”

“It’s very good.” Taking another bite, Er’er’s eyes shimmered with gentle light. “He doesn’t eat the five grains, yet he can make such delicious dough—truly remarkable.”

After a pause, she looked at Meng Wan and said: “When Senior Brother seeks an immortal partner in the future, you should also find someone who values emotions and righteousness like this. Only then will your days together be rich and flavorful.”

The hand in his sleeve stiffened slightly, and Meng Wan lowered his eyes: “I’m in no hurry.”

Er’er smiled but didn’t say more, continuing to eat with her head lowered.

She ate with great joy, not at all perfunctory. The large piece of dough was finished in less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, and she even drank all the soup.

Suddenly, a fresh breeze blew into the great hall, carrying the fragrance of spring flowers, refreshing the spirit.

Er’er patted her stomach, contentedly sighing with relief as she smiled toward the willow tree outside the window.

“Senior Brother need not come so diligently in the future,” she said softly. “Reviving the Kan Clan is the most important matter at present. Only when the Kan Clan flourishes again can the Five Elements Immortal Gates restore their balance. Therefore, it’s not quite appropriate for the Qian Clan to come so frequently.”

His body stiffened slightly, and Meng Wan looked up: “You don’t want to see me?”

Er’er raised an eyebrow: “What are you saying, Senior Brother? Is the Heavenly Gate a place for brothers and sisters to meet?”

“…” Meng Wan lowered his head. “This humble immortal has overstepped.”

Sighing lightly, Er’er lowered her head and continued to review and annotate the scrolls he had presented. Then she handed them back to him: “I hear Storage Element High God is arranging to find an immortal partner for Senior Sister Yan Cha. If Senior Brother has time, perhaps you could go look on my behalf.”

The scrolls, wrapped in her immortal energy, flew over and landed in his arms. Meng Wan reached out to catch them, his heart heavy: “Will the Immortal not go to see for herself?”

“I’m not at liberty to,” Er’er smiled, pointing at the Heavenly Gate outside.

The ruler of the Nine Heavens couldn’t go out every few days.

Looking in the direction she pointed, Meng Wan felt complex emotions. He wanted to ask Er’er if she regretted taking this position, and also if she was truly happy.

But glancing down at the dense yet meticulous annotations on the scrolls, he fell silent.

The person sitting there seemed no longer the little junior sister who used to wheedle and make excuses to be lazy. She had no affected emotions and no intention of living under anyone’s wing.

Putting away the scrolls, Meng Wan responded hoarsely with a bow: “Yes.”

He retreated, his steps heavy but without pause.

Er’er watched him leave with a smile. After his presence was no longer detectable, she stood up and pushed open the carved window beside the great hall.

Li Ye stood outside the window with his back to her, seemingly admiring the willow tree in the courtyard.

She smiled gently, leaning on the windowsill and cupping her face as she called out “Hey” to him.

Li Ye turned around, appearing relaxed as if merely passing by, languid and casual.

The smile in Er’er’s eyes gradually widened: “What a coincidence, High God. What are you doing here?”

Li Ye answered solemnly: “The trees in your courtyard each reflect the world through a single leaf. I came to see how the willow trees in the mortal realm are growing this year.”

“Oh—” Er’er raised an eyebrow. “Then may I ask the High God, how is their growth?”

“Not bad,” he nodded, then turned and slowly walked up to her.

The foundation of the great hall was built high, and with Er’er leaning on the windowsill, she was at eye level with him. Her eyes sparkled with joy, like sunlight dancing on a summer lake, gazing at him with gentle affection that filled his heart with happiness.

“Hmm.” Maintaining his composure, Li Ye looked at her and said, “The growth of mortals this year should also be good.”

Tilting her head, Er’er asked: “What else?”

What else? Li Ye’s eyes flickered slightly, his gaze passing over the empty noodle bowl on the desk and then the empty great hall behind. His lips pressed together: “Also, are you free now?”

“I am,” she smiled. “Does the High God have any commands?”

“None.”

After uttering these two words, he said nothing more, maintaining an air of indifference.

Sighing helplessly, Er’er reached out across the windowsill to catch his hand, chiding gently: “Is it so difficult to say you’re happy?”

It was obvious he had been eavesdropping outside, so happy that all the flowers in the courtyard had bloomed, yet he still maintained a stern face—how peculiar.

“I’m not,” Li Ye twisted his neck. “There’s nothing worth being happy about today.”

Pouting, Er’er straightened up and was about to let go of his hand, but just as she moved, she was lifted out through the window.

“Hey!” She was startled, hurriedly embracing him, both amused and exasperated. “Why go through the window when there’s a door? Just days ago, you were telling me to mind my decorum, yet today you’ve abandoned yours.”

Li Ye snorted lightly, carrying her to the flower bed under the willow tree and holding her tightly: “It’s enough to maintain decorum with others. I’ve long been accustomed to having none.”

Both angry and amused, Er’er struggled: “You clearly said earlier that you weren’t angry!”

“I also said I didn’t like you. Did you believe that?” he narrowed his eyes.

Speechless, Er’er laughed and lifted her head to peck him.

Li Ye had been about to scold her when he was caught off guard by her kiss, and his ears gradually turned red. His movements paused, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Er’er found this curious and held his face to examine it carefully: “High God has bullied me plenty in the past. Why is your skin so thin today that just one kiss makes you so…”

“Be quiet.” He put up a barrier, biting her earlobe with frustration. “Tai Shang Lao Jun and his group of spectators have been following me all the way. I didn’t set up a barrier earlier.”

Er’er: “…”

Her face also reddened as she struggled to get up, but Li Ye held her down firmly: “It’s too late. The barrier is up now.”

How could this be? The two of them kissing and then putting up a barrier—what would people think if this got out?

Er’er hurriedly tried to get up to remove the barrier, but the person on top of her laughed lightly: “Might as well give up since the damage is done.”

You’re the broken pot, your entire immortal sect is a broken pot!