Diary System—Chapter 121: Zhu Zhuqing — I Don't Want to Make You Feel Bad
Dai Yichen nearly laughed from sheer frustration. Instead, he flicked Zhu Zhuqing's forehead, his expression darkening.
"Why? Do you think I'm the type of guy who fools around behind your back?"
Startled by his sudden seriousness, Zhu Zhuqing quickly waved her hands in denial.
"No, no! That's not what I meant! I just thought… since you're not that kind of guy, then you must still have needs, right? So… do you just endure it?"
Dai Yichen turned away, too stunned to answer.
Was this something they should be discussing?
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed. Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. She hadn't meant anything bad—just curiosity, and… worry. Considering how things stood between her sister and Dai Yichen, once they returned, would the two of them…?
Her sister was already an adult. She could be "chosen."
Even among nobles, girls often married and bore children. Zhu Zhuyun had a mature, alluring figure. Rumor had it Dai Weisi had chased after her several times—only to be rejected.
Zhu Zhuyun wasn't weak. She might not be able to defeat Dai Weisi head-on, but if she didn't want to be caught, he couldn't lay a hand on her.
Still receiving no answer, Zhu Zhuqing reached out and tugged gently on Dai Yichen's sleeve.
His lips twitched.
'Since when did my Zhuqing get so bold… and curious?'
Though he considered himself pretty thick-skinned, this topic was embarrassing, even for him.
He had no experience with women. When urges came, he had no choice but to rely on the "five-fingered technique."
There was no internet in this world, no magazines, no video guides. He had only his dull imagination. Most of the time, he trained, meditated, or took cold showers to suppress his instincts.
But now, with Zhu Zhuqing acting like this, all the frustration he'd held back for the past year surged to the surface.
He leaned in slightly, voice low and hoarse.
"Zhuqing, don't... I might not be able to hold myself back."
He tried to sound stern, giving her a warning look.
"Ah!" she yelped, startled by his closeness. She quickly pulled her hand back, cheeks burning.
What just happened?
She blinked rapidly, eyes wide, then glanced at his face. Realization dawned slowly, and her blush deepened.
They were inside a carriage. She wasn't quite grown yet. But… if they were somewhere else…
She didn't mind giving herself to him. Just… not yet. Her body wasn't ready.
She remembered a joke he made once: that when she turned twelve and couldn't see her toes while standing up, she'd probably start floating in the bath. He even teased that her figure might surpass her sister's one day.
Looking at her adorably flustered face, Dai Yichen lost control.
He lifted her gently into his lap. One hand wrapped around her slender waist, and the other stroked her soft hair as he leaned in and kissed her.
When they finally parted, Zhu Zhuqing understood why he'd leaned forward earlier.
"Now do you get it?" he murmured, eyes still locked on hers.
Inside, he was screaming in frustration.
'Damn it… This clueless little tease. Now I'm the one suffering. Again.'
He shut his eyes and began mentally chanting:
Om (ōng) Ma (mā) Ni (nī) Ba (bēi) Mi (mēi) Hōng (hōng).
Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head. "Yichen… are you uncomfortable right now?"
He cracked one eye open and glared. "What do you think?"
'If not for the risk of being "harmonized" and the fact we're in a moving carriage…'
He sighed.
"Then… what should I do?" she asked softly. "Can I help you? I… I don't like seeing you like this."
He was stunned.
Looking down at the shy, petite girl in his arms, Dai Yichen felt torn.
"You're still too young. Forget it. I'll endure. Just don't speak for a while. When the feeling passes, I'll be fine."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded quietly. But a few minutes later, she stirred again—this time with determination.
Dai Yichen, who was just beginning to calm down, instantly tensed. His eyes snapped open.
"What are you doing?" he asked, alarmed.
"I… I heard there's a method to help someone feel better. And I… I don't want you to be uncomfortable…"
Her voice was small and trembling, her cheeks bright red.
Dai Yichen: …
Without hesitation, he opened the system shop and spent 10,000 points to purchase a one-time soundproof and spiritual perception-blocking barrier.
A faint shimmer rippled through the air around the carriage. Complete isolation.
Only then did he exhale and close his eyes again, not daring to look at her.
Zhu Zhuqing interpreted his silence as agreement.
Her hands trembled slightly as she reached forward, heart pounding...
At the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Palace
News of Dai Yichen and Zhu Zhuyun's relationship had already reached Emperor Dai Yutian and Prime Minister Zhu Ming.
Since Zhu Ming had remained behind in the imperial study while Dai Yichen and the others traveled to Gengxin City, he was the first to hear.
Dai Yutian's expression remained unreadable. Only the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth hinted at anything. He turned toward Zhu Ming.
"Old Zhu, what do you think?"
Zhu Ming could only smile bitterly.
'What can I think?'
Both Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing were his daughters. Now both liked the same man.
As a father, how was he supposed to react?
He glanced at the quiet Zhu Zhuyun standing to the side, then straightened and answered calmly:
"I think… it's best to let things develop naturally."
As soon as he finished speaking, cold sweat trickled down his spine.
Zhu Zhuyun looked at her father in surprise, warmth blooming in her chest.
Dai Yutian stared at Zhu Ming for a long moment, then waved to the elderly attendant.
"Pass the order. No one is to speak of this matter. If even a single prince hears about it—kill them. Understood?"
The attendant bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
It was clear. Dai Yutian fully supported Dai Yichen.
Zhu Ming and Zhu Zhuyun both let out a quiet breath of relief.
End of Chapter.