Jiang Chen had made mistakes before.
Letting Pei Yun organize anything unsupervised? Mistake.
Trusting Lin Wuyue to cook without summoning a spiritual firestorm? Mistake.
But his greatest mistake—his most legendary lapse in judgment—was thinking that the play would end on stage.
Because now?
Now, everyone in the sect acted like it was real.
"I heard the Sect Leader used a forbidden love technique to melt her icy heart!"
"No, no—he confessed beneath the moonlight, and it caused a breakthrough in their dual cultivation!"
"My grandma said she saw him blushing three times in one minute. Three times! That's the start of a marriage arc if I've ever seen one."
Jiang Chen walked through the bamboo path with a haunted look in his eyes. Behind him, disciples were literally hiding in bushes to catch "a natural romantic moment." One even brought a painting scroll to record it live.
He muttered, "If one more person asks me when the wedding is, I'm going to cultivate in a volcano."
A passing junior cupped his fists. "Senior Jiang, please accept this gift for your future household!"
He shoved a melon with a carved heart into Jiang Chen's hands and ran away like a giddy squirrel.
Jiang Chen stared down at it. "Why does this keep happening to me?"
A scroll dropped from the sky, landing dramatically at his feet.
It read: "Emergency: You've Been Ranked #1 in the Sect's Annual Heartthrob List."
"…I don't even know what that means!"
Another scroll fluttered down: "New nickname registered: Silent Sovereign of Sizzling Romance."
"WHO IS REGISTERING THESE THINGS?!"
From behind a rock, Pei Yun whispered to another disciple, "I told you he'd have a funny meltdown. Mark it down as 'adorably overwhelmed.'"
Jiang Chen turned, eyes twitching. "Pei Yun—are you behind this again?!"
She popped up, grinning like she'd just sold drama for a profit. "Who, me? Never! I'm just a humble scribe of romantic destiny."
"You're a goblin in disguise."
"Thank you."
Before he could strangle her with the melon ribbon, a shadow landed beside him. It was Lin Wuyue, graceful as always, looking suspiciously smug.
"I brought you something," she said.
"Let me guess. It's not more chili soup, is it?"
She held out a small embroidered pouch. "No. It's a charm."
He eyed it like it might bite him. "Why?"
She looked uncharacteristically sincere. "Because you looked… tired. From all the attention."
He blinked.
She added, softer now, "I know this isn't what you wanted. I pushed you into the play, and now everyone's watching you like you're… some protagonist in a romance novel."
"I didn't think they'd believe it," he muttered.
"I didn't think I would like it."
Jiang Chen's brain promptly skipped several vital functions.
Wuyue stared down at the pouch. "It's silly. I just thought… maybe, if I gave you something normal. Quiet. Without chili or rumors. You'd remember that I don't always mean to mess with your peace."
He took the charm from her hand slowly. It was simple—stitched with green silk and a tiny cabbage embroidered on one side.
"…This is the most heartfelt cabbage I've ever received."
She smiled faintly. "I have a talent."
The silence between them stretched again—but it wasn't awkward.
Not this time.
Then—
BOOM!
A scroll exploded beside them in a puff of glittering smoke.
Jiang Chen coughed, waving away sparkles. "WHAT NOW?!"
Pei Yun ran over, waving a paper. "BREAKING NEWS! The Sect Tournament Committee has added a new category!"
"What category?"
She grinned. "Best Romantic Footwork!"
"…That's not real."
"Oh, it is," she said, pulling out a small gong and hitting it. "All sect leaders must perform a demonstration at this afternoon's exhibition."
Wuyue clapped a hand over her mouth, clearly trying not to laugh. "Oh no… your footwork technique is called—"
"Don't say it."
"—Drifting Mist Lotus Steps."
"DON'T SAY IT."
"The crowd will call it… Heartthrob Steps."
Jiang Chen covered his face. "I am moving to a forest and never speaking again."
But it was too late.
News spread faster than wildfire doused in chili oil.
By the time they reached the tournament arena, banners had already gone up.
"WITNESS THE HEARTTHROB STEPS!""SECT LEADER JIANG'S DANCE OF YEARING!""FALL IN LOVE—OR TRIP TRYING!"
The moment he stepped onto the platform, the crowd erupted into a chant.
"Step! Step! Spin for love!"
"This isn't a martial art!" Jiang Chen shouted, flushing red.
"It is now!" someone yelled back.
Pei Yun handed him a flute. "In case you want musical accompaniment."
"I WILL SNAP THIS IN HALF."
She handed him another. "We brought spares."
Wuyue appeared beside him again, barely hiding her laughter. "Well, go on then. Show us those graceful movements, oh sovereign of spicy romance."
"I hate everything."
"You love the attention."
"I don't!"
She leaned closer. "Then why are you blushing again?"
"I AM NOT—"
"Spin," she said.
He did.
He spun.
He stepped.
He flowed into the graceful movements of his Mist Lotus Steps.
And unfortunately for him… it was beautiful.
The audience gasped.
Some fainted.
Some tried to copy the footwork and pulled their hips.
One disciple shouted, "I feel emotionally purified!"
Pei Yun yelled, "He just dodged a projectile while blushing! That's a hidden art form!"
And through it all, Jiang Chen moved like a tragic romantic hero—elegant, annoyed, and clearly trying to disappear into the void.
He ended with a dramatic stance, sleeves fluttering, gaze pointed into the sky.
Silence.
Then—
"HE'S THE EMBODIMENT OF LOVE!"
The crowd exploded with applause.
Lin Wuyue clapped with a soft smile. "You really are good at this, you know."
Jiang Chen, panting slightly, whispered back, "I'm going to fake a spiritual coma."
Wuyue leaned in and kissed his cheek again.
This time?
He didn't even pretend not to like it.