"How beautiful that scene will be," thought Bai Xuanqing while imagining that scene.
But his face showed nothing but the composure of an experienced strategist.
"And why would Young Lady Yue bother to warn me?" asked Bai Xuanqing in a gentle but curious tone, as if he truly didn't understand her motivation, when he had already analyzed every possibility in microseconds. "As far as I know, our relationship is not close enough for an action like this. It could even be said, if I fall, perhaps that would be advantageous for the Yue Clan to switch factions."
"Yes, continue. Make her defend her position. Make her verbally affirm her loyalty. Verbal commitment is the first step toward behavioral commitment," thought Bai Xuanqing.
Yue Qingwu gripped her tea cup tighter, her face reddening slightly, a combination of embarrassment and restrained emotion.
"Perfect. Emotional vulnerability. Exactly what I need."
"Because even though Young Master Bai may have forgotten or not cared, Qingwu still remembers that we were once betrothed since childhood." Her voice trembled slightly, a crack in her emotional shield that Bai Xuanqing noted with internal satisfaction. "And although that engagement was canceled years ago, Qingwu cannot just stay silent and let Young Master Bai walk into a trap without warning."
Emotional attachment remaining from childhood engagement. She still cares. Even after being ignored for years, she still cares. How sweet that is. So sweet it feels disgusting. I want so badly to destroy it.
Inside his mind, Bai Xuanqing was already planning five steps ahead. Yue Qingwu was an asset he shouldn't have at this stage, in the novel, she should already be neutral or even leaning toward the protagonist. But due to the butterfly effect from his attitude change, now he had access to the intelligence network of the Yue Clan.
And the best part? She was doing it voluntarily. No trace of manipulation visible. She thought this was her own decision.
Bai Xuanqing let a few seconds of silence pass, long enough to create a "meaningful" moment, before he spoke in a voice warmed with a thin layer of perfect false sincerity.
"I appreciate your warning, Qingwu." The use of her first name without title was a calculated move to create a sense of intimacy. "And I apologize if I ever treated you in a way that made you feel unappreciated. That was not my intention."
Yue Qingwu's eyes widened, genuine surprise. The Bai Xuanqing she knew would never, would never, apologize.
"Hook, bait, and net," thought Bai Xuanqing.
"Young Master Bai need not—"
"No," Bai Xuanqing interrupted gently, with perfect timing to make his interruption feel like urgency from honesty, not rudeness. "I need to. We may no longer have an engagement bond, but that doesn't mean I should treat you disrespectfully."
He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, when every syllable had already been calculated before leaving his mouth, he had prepared various answers and scenarios for many situations.
"You are the daughter of a clan that has long been allied with my sect, and more than that..." He looked directly into Yue Qingwu's eyes with a gaze created to mimic sincerity, "...you are someone who dared to take risks to warn me. That is not something I can ignore."
"Validation. Recognition. Everyone wants to feel their actions mean something. Give them that, and they will dance to the rhythm you play," Bai Xuanqing's internal monologue.
For the first time since she entered, a small smile appeared on Yue Qingwu's face. A sincere and warm smile.
"She's mine now," thought Bai Xuanqing.
Behind the mask of his calm face, Bai Xuanqing felt cold satisfaction. Not satisfaction from getting information, that was just a bonus. The true satisfaction came from knowing he had just changed one important piece on the chessboard from neutral to his pawn. And even sweeter, he did it without Yue Qingwu realizing she was being manipulated.
In the novel, you became an informant for Feng Tianyu. You provided information about the weaknesses of the Nine Heavens Sky Sect that helped the protagonist destroy the sect. But now? Now you will give all that information to me. And when my little Feng Tianyu finally meets you, you will see him not as a hero, but as a threat to the person who has "valued you".
"Poetic justice, isn't it?" thought Bai Xuanqing.
They conversed longer, with Bai Xuanqing playing the role of attentive listener perfectly. He asked the right questions, showed measured concern, and occasionally gave insights that made Yue Qingwu increasingly impressed with his wisdom.
Every word that came out of his mouth was carefully designed to reinforce the image as a reasonable, caring, and mature young master, while inside his brain, he categorized every piece of information with machine efficiency and planned how to exploit it.
When the sun had begun to set and the sky turned dark, Yue Qingwu said goodbye to leave.
"Thank you for receiving me, Young Master Bai," she said while bowing. "And if Young Master Bai needs any help, Qingwu will always be willing to help."
"Of course you will help. Because you think I care about you. You think this is friendship, maybe even a revival of old feelings. You don't know that you are just another tool in my weapon arsenal," thought Bai Xuanqing
"I will remember that," answered Bai Xuanqing while escorting her to the pavilion gate, giving a final gesture of attention to reinforce the psychological hook. "Be careful on the road."
After Yue Qingwu left, teleported by the sect's transportation formation, the mask on Bai Xuanqing's face did not change. Even when alone, he maintained the composure of his demeanor, not because he feared someone was spying, but because he had worn this mask so long that removing it felt unnecessary.
Or perhaps, like his own quote, he had already forgotten his true face.
He stood alone in the garden, gazing at the stars beginning to appear in the night sky. The night wind carried the scent of pine and snow, and for a moment, he allowed himself to feel pure anticipation.
"Those who sit at the peak see the world as a chessboard," he murmured softly, his voice emotionless yet carrying the weight of absolute certainty. "And I... I will be the Grandmaster who moves all the pieces."