The woman looked at Jiang Chen, her expression unreadable.
"So, why are you silent?" she asked.
Jiang Chen snapped out of his daze, his face turning slightly red.
"Ahm, no, I... I'm not silent. It's just..." He scratched his head, trying to form a coherent excuse. "I was looking at you… You're so beautiful that I got mesmerized... yeah... mesmerized and started overthinking, hahaha..." He forced an awkward laugh.
This time, he wasn't acting. He was truly mesmerized by her ethereal beauty and maternal charm, which made him feel embarrassed.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself. "If I want to survive, I need to keep my emotions in check," he reminded himself.
Once his heart stopped racing, he looked at her face again—only to be momentarily dazed once more. But this time, he shook his head and forced himself to meet her eyes directly.
She smiled. "So, you got mesmerized by an old woman? What an interesting taste you have."
Jiang Chen blinked in disbelief. "Old woman? You? Are you joking? You look young to me, and I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you."
He meant it. How could she call herself old when she looked like she was at the perfect age—where a woman's charm had ripened like a luscious fruit, ready to be plucked and enjoyed?
The woman chuckled softly. "Haha... Though I may not look like it, I'm probably older than your grandmother… maybe even your great-grandmother."
She spoke with a calm smile, but the slight blush on her cheeks didn't escape Jiang Chen's sharp eyes.
Seeing her face redden ever so slightly, he felt a rush of excitement. 'Sooo cute! Oh, heavens—no, thank you, System, for sending me here! She looks like an easy catch. Maybe I actually have a chance!'
"You know," Jiang Chen suddenly said, raising a hand toward the afternoon sun, "once, a very wise person said, 'Age is just a number we count until we're old enough to know that it doesn't count.'"
Inside, he was screaming. 'Shit! What did I just say? I don't even know what that means! It's just a random WhatsApp quote I saw in my family group! Originally, I just wanted to say, 'What's there in age?' But I ended up barking nonsense instead…'
He sneaked a glance at her, expecting her to give him a weird look.
But what happened next shocked him.
Her eyes widened as if struck by lightning. Then, without another word, she closed them, sat in a meditation position, and began absorbing spiritual energy at a terrifying speed.
Jiang Chen's jaw dropped.
'Did… Did she just get enlightened from that bullshit?!'
He gulped.
'Just how much of a genius is she?!'
Without hesitation, he took a seat a short distance away, making sure he was directly in her line of sight. 'When she opens her eyes, the first thing she'll see is my handsome face. Perfect!'
And so, he waited, watching her cultivate like a heavenly goddess.
A Dangerous Smile
As the evening sun bathed the garden in golden light, the woman finally opened her eyes.
Jiang Chen greeted her with a slight smile.
She, too, smiled back—this time, her expression was filled with excitement.
Seeing her radiant smile, with the soft breeze making her white hair dance like silk, Jiang Chen momentarily lost himself in a daze.
She tilted her head playfully. "Have you looked enough?" she asked, a teasing tone in her voice.
Jiang Chen's heart skipped a beat.
'A teasing tone? Did she get interested in me after realizing the depth of my profound knowledge?'
Without missing a beat, he replied, "No. It feels like even a lifetime wouldn't be enough to admire your beauty."
The woman blushed slightly before clearing her throat. "Ahem… Though I'm delighted to hear that, you still haven't told me who you are."
Jiang Chen leaned closer, flashing what he thought was a dazzling smile. "Jiang Chen. Your Genie..."
She muttered under her breath, "Jiang Chen… Have I heard this name before?"
Jiang Chen caught her words but chose to ignore them, knowing he'd only dig his own grave if he asked further.
She glanced at him curiously. "Genie? What does that mean?"
"A Genie is someone who fulfills the wishes of others," Jiang Chen explained.
"Hmm… So you can fulfill my wishes?" she asked, her voice laced with intrigue.
"That's why I'm here, my Fairy," Jiang Chen said smoothly, reaching out to take her hand.
She dodged it effortlessly, as if swatting away an insect.
Jiang Chen didn't lose heart. 'These kinds of setbacks won't hold me back! I must fight on! I must continue—or I'll forever be a virgin in this life! For the sake of my future, losing a bit of self-respect is nothing!'
He took a deep breath. 'My heart is strong.'
The woman suddenly narrowed her eyes slightly. "But aren't you a mortal? You're only at the Qi Refining stage, just barely above the Mortal realm."
Jiang Chen froze.
An invisible arrow struck his heart.
Blood almost spurted from his mouth.
"Mocking my strength… Hurting my male ego… Haha, you win this time. But I won't lose next time!"
"You're underestimating me. Forget about it," Jiang Chen muttered with an embarrassed face. Then, regaining his composure, he asked, "But tell me, why are you taking me so lightly? I appeared in your domain. Aren't you even a little cautious of me? Even if you're strong, shouldn't you be wary?"
She gave him a calm smile. "Before you arrived, a blue transparent thing appeared and asked me, 'What is it you desire?' I tried to analyze it with my powers, but nothing worked. So, I simply spoke my wish aloud."
She paused. "And then… you appeared—sleeping."
Jiang Chen's face twitched.
'Sleeping… Ahh, my first impression…'
Trying to salvage his dignity, he quickly said, "I appeared to fulfill your wish, just like that thing said."
"But you're too weak," she replied matter-of-factly.
Jiang Chen clenched his fists. 'You're underestimating me too much!'
With newfound determination, he looked her straight in the eyes. "I, Jiang Chen, promise you—I will fulfill your wish, no matter what it is!"
Just as he spoke, a loud thunderclap roared through the sky.
Both of them looked up.
Jiang Chen was confused, but the woman's expression shifted. She stared at the sky for a moment, then turned to look at him—her eyes slightly widened in shock.
Then… she smiled.
Jiang Chen, seeing her smile, thought, 'Is she impressed by my promise? Did I finally win her over?'
But if someone removed the filter through which Jiang Chen saw the world, they would see—
The smile she wore wasn't that of a young girl in love.
It was a smile filled with wicked amusement.