《Reborn as a Mortal Heiress Pampered by Big Shots》 Chapter 1 - 1 001 The Ancestor Descends (Please Collect) ?1: 001 The Ancestor Descends (Please Collect) 1: 001 The Ancestor Descends (Please Collect) ¡°Punish! She must be punished!¡± In the early spring, the drizzle was steady and cold enough to dampen clothes. A misty fog rose between the mountains of Ear Mountain. The golden courts and jade pillars, the flying eaves revealed themselves in the lush greenery, resembling the mountains where immortals dwell. The crowd on the Execution of the Immortals Platform berated a fluffy ¡®fat¡¯ fox that was covered in silver fur and born with heterochromia, strikingly beautiful. ¡°The Ancestor has repeatedly descended the mountain and broken the rules! For over five thousand years! Her ¡®masterpieces¡¯ can be found all over the world!¡± ¡°How can this go on?¡± ¡°Heavenly Dao! She must be punished with all the sufferings of the human world! Otherwise, what rules are there to speak of?!¡± ¡°Punish! She must be punished!¡± The Ancestor was bound by the powerful spiritual energy of the Heavenly Dao, unable to escape. Facing the resounding calls of the immortals, she rested her chin on the platform and lazily swished her fluffy, snow-silver tail, yawning expressionlessly as her gaze drifted towards the great hall above. It could be said that the old Heavenly Dao had been opposing her for five thousand years. Taking advantage of being a few hundred years older than her, constraining her with all sorts of rules, always punishing her, and never allowing her to engage in Dual Cultivation with her fellow Daoists! This time, retribution was inevitable. She would be reborn into a miserable family, experiencing birth, aging, sickness, death, resentment, enmity, suffering¡ªall in one go. But the question was¡ªwould she be afraid? She had been to the human world before, not just once, but several times during these five thousand years for visits. Once this life was over, she would surely set Ear Mountain ablaze and give that old thing a ¡®gift¡¯ for his 5999th birthday. Above the grand hall, the ¡®old thing¡¯ she mentioned... had the appearance of a deity, dressed in dark clothes, broad-shouldered, long-legged, graceful, and dignified. He looked at the cold and detached Silver Fox, squinting slightly. His right index finger rubbed against the knuckle of his left hand for a moment, then he slowly stood up, without a smile, ¡°She will be punished, but...¡± The man walked to the front of the platform, grabbed the fluffy fur on the back of the fox¡¯s neck... And with his other hand, he lifted his clothing and before all the onlookers, he directly¡ª Put it inside his clothes! The Ancestor: ¡°...¡± The crowd: ¡°???¡± The man nonchalantly turned around, his cool voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears, ¡°I¡¯ll do the punishment myself.¡± ... A bright light grew increasingly intense in front of her, and before her reincarnation, the man gave the Ancestor a very protective, indulgent look. The Ancestor hesitated for a moment, closed her eyes, and let a beam of light swallow her... ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªI am the line that demarcates life¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Team Leader Fu, the message from over there says they didn¡¯t intercept the person, the criminal might have already left the country...¡± ¡°Team Leader Fu, what do we do now? We can¡¯t confirm whether to cut the yellow wire or the green wire, the timer has only one hour left!¡± The surrounding noise was chaotic, and people were bustling about. Upon awakening once again, the Ancestor found herself tied up in a dilapidated farmhouse warehouse. A few police officers in bomb disposal suits appeared hurried around her. She blinked slowly, gradually recalling. Her name was Xia Ye. One of Beijing¡¯s wealthy families, the Xia Family, had three sons and finally welcomed a precious daughter, Xia Ye. Tragically, at the age of three, she was kidnapped by human traffickers into a mountain village and held captive for 14 years, becoming the wild girl seen as mad and stupid by everyone. Today, the police had finally found her, bound in a warehouse. Though it was supposed to be a rebirth, she only had vague memories from before the age of three in her mind. Her consciousness returned to this body 14 years later, with no knowledge of what had happened in between. Her spiritual energy was all but gone. Xia Ye lowered her gaze, looking at the coarse hemp ropes tied around her, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. Just as she was about to forcefully break the ropes, a cry of alarm descended from above, ¡°Little sister, don¡¯t be rash! You have a timer bomb strapped to your back, and if you struggle free by force, it might detonate early!¡± Then¡ª Bits and pieces everywhere. A bloody mess. All the team members ascending to heaven on the spot! Xia Ye lazily raised her eyebrows, her pale face carried a lazy yet charming beauty. This is what he calls being indulgent? Just knew that Heavenly Dao couldn¡¯t be trusted! Several police cars were parked in front of the warehouse, and yellow police cordon tape was stretched around the area, forbidding anyone from approaching within five hundred meters. An old woman with a vegetable basket in her arm stood in front of the cordon line, popping a peanut into her mouth, ¡°Auntie Li, in our poor and remote village, who could possibly be worth kidnapping?¡± ¡°It seems to be a young lady from a wealthy family in the city, ah, what a pity, after being kidnapped for over a decade, even the most precious miss would be ruined. Those who can¡¯t afford a wife imprisoning her, surely they want to...¡± Auntie Li didn¡¯t finish her heavily loaded words when a top-of-the-line black Maybach came into view from a distance and drifted to a stop beside them, flinging dirt onto their faces. The old woman blinked at the car, ¡°Such a nice car must cost five or six thousand, right?¡± Auntie Li shook her head, feeling that the old woman lacked knowledge ¨C this car, at the very least, was one hundred thousand! Two women got out of the car, the older one with a slender figure and a loosely tied bun at the back of her head, gentle and virtuous-looking, but frail as if a gust of wind could blow her over. The younger one was dressed in a pink haute couture suit, clearly a pampered heiress from a wealthy family. The driver, Wang Dahai, stuck his head out from the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°Miss, Mr. Xia asked you to hurry and let him know as soon as there¡¯s any news.¡± Xia Yourong obediently waved to the driver, ¡°Uncle Wang, don¡¯t worry, just wait for us here, it¡¯s inconvenient with too many people going over to Chief Fu¡¯s side.¡± Xia Yourong was the adopted daughter of the Xia Family. When Xia Ye went missing, the enviable Xia Family was engulfed in shadows overnight, the father Xia Yuzheng took to drinking away his sorrows, the mother Xu He became morose and depressed, and even the three younger brothers, who were quite young at the time, fell ill from yearning. Later, by a twist of fate, Xia Yuzheng adopted the unborn daughter of his wife¡¯s sister ¨C resembling Xia Ye in age and bearing a slight similarity in appearance, Xia Yourong. Wang Dahai nodded repeatedly, though the miss was an adopted daughter, she had a gentle and kind nature and was sensible and likable in every way. On the contrary, the one tied up inside the warehouse... After 14 years of torment, who knows what she had become. It¡¯s truly a twist of fate... Wang Dahai let out a long sigh and slowly rolled up the car window. Chief Fu led Xu He and Xia Yourong to the police¡¯s temporary surveillance room. He pointed to the girl tied to a chair on the screen, his attitude very polite, ¡°Mrs. Xia, this is her...¡± On the screen, the girl had bombs strapped behind her, and a timer ¡®ticking¡¯ away next to her, but she didn¡¯t show any sign of panic, making it hard to believe that this girl, looking so calm and unconcerned, was actually the victim. Though dirty, one could still make out her delicate and stunning features and her skin, white as curd. Her eyes exuded a cool, haughty, and demonic charm, which made Xia Yourong feel particularly uncomfortable. Upon closer inspection, one could notice that the girl had heterochromia, her left eye like a cup of amber under the sunlight, and her right, a deep azure sea. Xu He was overwhelmingly excited, ¡°These eyes... there¡¯s no mistake, it¡¯s my Little Tiangao!!¡± Xia Yourong, having been by Xu He¡¯s side for 14 years and dearly loved, had never seen such an excited expression on her face. Unconsciously, she bit her lip and turned to Chief Fu, ¡°Chief Fu, did you just say the bomb disposal expert couldn¡¯t determine which of the two wires to cut? That means she only has a fifty-fifty chance...¡± She didn¡¯t even realize that as she spoke, her face revealed an indescribable glee. If Xia Ye could be blown up, that would be wonderful! Mother could finally let go of that thought forever. Chief Fu nodded regretfully, ¡°The criminal is very cunning. We¡¯re still searching, but with the bomb behind the little girl... there simply isn¡¯t enough time...¡± Xu He, whose long-lost daughter was only left with a fifty percent chance of survival, couldn¡¯t hold back her tears, ¡°Chief Fu, there must be another way, right? I¡¯ll spare no expense to save my daughter, even if it means going bankrupt!¡± ¡°Mom! What are you talking about!¡± The phrase ¡®going bankrupt¡¯ triggered an almost reflexive response from Xia Yourong. Realizing she had lost her composure, she cleared her throat, ¡°Mom, Chief Fu abides by the law, even the poorest citizens will get every effort, it¡¯s not good for you to talk like that.¡± Going bankrupt for a wild girl taken away into the poor mountains, mother must be mad! Xu He nodded apologetically to Chief Fu, her mood as heavy as could be. Now only 10 minutes remained until the explosion, and the bomb disposal experts had all retreated from the warehouse back to the surveillance room. Beside Xia Ye, only the pre-installed mechanical wire-cutting arm remained. The bomb was homemade by the criminal, and after the experts¡¯ elimination, only two wires, yellow and green, remained, both equally likely to be safe. The only one who knows which wire is safe was the criminal himself. Chief Fu spoke apologetically, ¡°Mrs. Xia, if you have no objections, before the timer ends, we¡¯ll let the victim choose one to cut. That way, she¡¯ll still have a fifty percent chance...¡± Xu He pressed her lips together in grief. Little Tiangao was the daughter she had fervently prayed for at the Ancestral Temple on Ear Mountain. She had always believed that her daughter was a gift sent by the heavens to the Xia Family. One year, when Little Tiangao was just three years old, she watched her brothers play ball. Watching them, she suddenly toddled off naughtily. The moment her brothers left the court to look for her, a large billboard fell from above, crashing exactly where they had been playing moments before. Later, when the whole family was going on a holiday to an island, Little Tiangao threw a tantrum before departure. To pacify her, they had to cancel their flight. That night, the news reported that the plane they were supposed to take had crashed... As time ticked by, Xu He¡¯s lashes quivered, and she forced out a few words with difficulty, ¡°Let my Little Tiangao choose for herself.¡± Everyone looked heavily towards the surveillance screen, but the victim herself did not show a trace of agony. Her cool and defiant eyes stared at the screen while the corners of her lips curled into an attractive arch. That smile could seduce a person to their demise. She spoke with an easy tone, ¡°I like yellow, so let¡¯s, cut the yellow wire~?¡± ?? Chapter 2 - 2 002 Starting the journey as the beloved of the group~ ?2: 002 Starting the journey as the beloved of the group~ 2: 002 Starting the journey as the beloved of the group~ Xia Yourong¡¯s pupils slightly narrowed, and a dismissive smile floated across her face. On the verge of death yet still pretending? Many around closed their eyes, not daring to watch, but she¡ªreveling in the misfortune¡ªstared intently at the screen, reluctant even to blink. Just waiting for that delightful ¡®bang!¡¯ that would rid the world of the calamity forever. One minute left in the critical moment, the mechanical arm cut the yellow wire according to Xia Ye¡¯s wishes. In the control room, everyone held their breath, waiting for the outcome. One second, two seconds... There was no ¡®bang,¡¯ no fireworks, no explosion. The timer was perfectly disarmed. The yellow wire was correct. Xia Ye¡ªwas saved! Everyone heaved a sigh of relief, exclaiming how merciful the heavens were to have the little girl guess correctly. Xu He stared incredulously at the display, her daughter unharmed, tears of excitement spilling from her eyes. Whereas Xia Yourong beside her was so infuriated she clenched her teeth to the point of shattering! Chief Fu gestured to his team, and the bomb squad followed him to the warehouse where Xia Ye was bound. Even though the timer had been disarmed, the bomb still needed to be handled by the police. ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re really lucky,¡± Chief Fu couldn¡¯t help but remark as he watched Xia Ye being untied from the chair. Xia Ye looked at his expression and curled her lips into a profound smile. Fortunately, she still had a trace of spiritual energy left. Otherwise, she would have truly ascended to heaven on the spot. After all, compared to yellow, she actually preferred green. That kind of green from the Lush Green Grassland, it was her favorite. She even once asked Heavenly Dao if he¡¯d considered changing to such a hair color, but later... Ah, let¡¯s not talk about that dog, it¡¯s bad luck. The ropes were cut, and the policewoman noticed deep wounds on Xia Ye¡¯s wrists and ankles. They were caused by being bound over many years. The girl was already frail, and she looked pitiable. The policewoman slid one arm under Xia Ye¡¯s knees and the other behind her back, her face full of righteousness: ¡°Little miss, your foot is injured, I¡¯ll carry you out.¡± Xia Ye raised an eyebrow: ¡°Thank you, but you can¡¯t carry me; I can walk on my own.¡± Upon hearing this, the policewoman couldn¡¯t help but laugh. The young lady before her seemed tall and slender, weighing barely 90 pounds, how could she not carry her? With that thought, she exerted force with both hands simultaneously. Half a minute went by... The policewoman remained squatted down in a horse stance, her arms trying to lift up. Xia Ye hadn¡¯t budged an inch, but the policewoman was drenched in sweat. She was beginning to feel embarrassed. She couldn¡¯t lift a 90-pound girl? Had she been neglecting her exercise routine lately? Xia Ye gave her a polite smile, dusted herself off, and rose gracefully. The old matriarch might appear fragile and delicate, like a willow swaying in a gentle breeze, eliciting sympathy; but in reality... It was all a deceptive illusion. Her physical functions were extraordinary, and not just any man, let alone a woman, could easily lift her. The most exceptional hunters often appear in the guise of their prey... ¡°Little Tiangao! Mommy has finally¡ª¡± The voice of Xu He at the doorway had just emerged when it was abruptly replaced by another noisy sound. ¡°Mom! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Mrs. Xia?¡± ¡°Someone come quick! Mrs. Xia has fainted!¡± Chief Fu¡¯s team arrived in a rush and didn¡¯t bring a medical officer; seeing this, they quickly dispersed the crowd and called an ambulance. Xia Ye¡¯s gaze circled Xu He¡¯s face a few times, and just as she was about to approach, Xia Yourong stepped in to block her. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you that my mom had to sit in a car for over five hours to get to this dump, and then she had to follow you and be scared out of her wits. If anything had happened to my mom, you, you wild girl, wouldn¡¯t have enough lives to pay for it!¡± Each utterance of ¡®my mom¡¯ and ¡®wild girl¡¯ carried a tone of utter contempt. Xia Ye gave her a sidelong glance, unflustered, and said something that made Xia Yourong feel like spitting blood. ¡°Seems like the one without direct blood relation... would be the ¡®wild¡¯ girl, no?¡± It took several seconds for Xia Yourong¡¯s face to suddenly change dramatically. She had intended to intimidate Xia Ye, but this wild girl actually dared to mock her! As she was trying to think of something to say to regain the upper hand, Xia Ye simply pushed her aside, knelt on one knee, and briskly rolled up Xu He¡¯s silk sleeve. Her thumb traced along the radius bone, pressing from the Shaojian Acupoint to the Shaohai Acupoint. The speed was so fast it made everyone blink. The girl¡¯s hand was forceful, stunningly accurate. Xu He¡¯s skin was delicate, and in just a moment, a bruise appeared on her arm, more noticeable than if she had been scraped with a coin. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Xia Yourong cried out in terror, her voice high-pitched and shrill. The calm, amused look in Xia Ye¡¯s eyes held no warmth, colored only by an unruly and mischievous challenge, ¡°I¡¯m saving a life.¡± ¡°Mad, she¡¯s mad!¡± Xia Yourong could hardly believe the absurdity of what she¡¯d heard, turning to Officer Fu and his team, ¡°Officer Fu! She¡¯s going to attack my mom! Arrest her now!¡± Officer Fu gave the policewoman a complicated look and gestured with his eyes. Being locked up for 14 years and intermittently losing her mind was not unusual. Pitiful, really. The policewoman was about to step forward when suddenly a voice came from the ground. Xu He, with an expression of agony on her face, suddenly opened her mouth, took a deep breath, and then began to cough violently. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Awake?! She was truly awake?! Xia Yourong¡¯s face held a complicated expression as she looked towards Xia Ye. But she quickly figured it out. It must be coincidence. Her mother had a weak constitution and easily fainted with excitement, but she could always wake up at any moment. Thinking this, she felt much more at ease. The moment Xu He awoke, the first thing she saw was Xia Ye, and before she could process what had happened, she pulled Xia Ye into her arms. She hugged her tightly, repeatedly whispering, ¡°Mom¡¯s little Tiangao, you have finally come back...¡± Hot tears from Xu He fell onto Xia Ye¡¯s shoulders. Ticklish. Having lived for five thousand years, Xia Ye had long forgotten where she came from, and the sudden care from a relative made her feel somewhat uneasy. A few seconds later, she lifted her hand slightly and gently patted Xu He¡¯s back in a comforting manner. She considered that Xu He¡¯s current frailty must be directly related to her own abduction at the age of three. Behind her, Xia Yourong, watching the deeply affectionate scene between mother and daughter, dug her nails into the flesh of her palm. Xu He scrutinized her daughter¡¯s face with delight. She raised her hand to help Xia Ye tuck her hair behind her ear and said gently and firmly, ¡°It was Mom who lost you back then, but now that you¡¯re back, I¡¯ll never let anyone bully you again!¡± Xia Ye nodded, not saying much. But in fact, she didn¡¯t believe that she was abducted due to Xu He¡¯s negligence all those years ago. Things weren¡¯t that simple. Xu He¡¯s gaze shifted to Xia Yourong on the side. ¡°Xiaorong, did you tell Dad that Little Tiangao has been found?¡± Xia Yourong quickly hid her malicious expression and forced out a semblance of a sweet, obedient smile, tilting her head and sticking out her tongue slightly, ¡°Sorry, Mom, I forgot.¡± Xu He playfully scolded her with a smile, ¡°Look at you. Never mind, I¡¯ll tell them myself.¡± Xu He sat down beside Xia Ye, holding her hand tightly, rummaged through her bag to find her phone, switched to the front camera, and made sure to call Xia Yourong over for a photo. With one arm around Xia Yourong and the other around Xia Ye, she happily snapped a family selfie and sent it to the family group chat. She also attached a voice message. ¡®Look who¡¯s back?¡¯ Xia Yourong¡¯s smile was very stiff because in just a few seconds, the family group exploded. Their father, Xia Yuzheng, canceled all his work for the next few days, the eldest brother, Xia Tiao, abandoned his secretarial duties abroad to come back, the second brother, Xia Xing, was so excited that he pulled out his personal phone to reply during an esport showcase watched by thousands, and even the third brother Xia Xian, whom Xia Yourong seldom saw, left a multi-million military deal at the border and hopped into an off-road vehicle with his ¡®fair-weather friends,¡¯ heading straight for the hangar overnight. Their precious little Tiangao had finally come back! Chapter 3 - 3 The man at number 003 ?3: The man at number 003 3: The man at number 003 Before Xia Yourong intentionally hadn¡¯t shared this matter in the family group chat, because she didn¡¯t want to see the current situation unfold! She had worked hard for 14 years and was about to completely replace Xia Ye¡¯s position in the Xia Family, but now look what happened... The Xia Ye, who was held dear by the Xia Family, had actually returned! ** Captain Fu had wanted to take Xia Ye¡¯s statement immediately, but considering her unstable mental state, he decided to wait a while. Xu He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Xia Ye traveling a long distance with injuries and insisted on having Wang Dahai drive to the town hospital first, so a doctor could disinfect Xia Ye¡¯s wounds and do a full-body examination. Otherwise, she really wouldn¡¯t be at ease. The town hospital had never expected to welcome someone from a household like the Xia Family, and they were received personally by the hospital director throughout the entire visit. The director brought the three of them to a general ward on the third floor with an apologetic face, ¡°Madam Xia, I am so sorry, but all the VIP wards on the top floor are full. We only have space on the third floor, is that alright with you?¡± Xu He looked at the patients coming and going in the hallway, ¡°Isn¡¯t the third floor too noisy?¡± With apparent ¡®considerateness¡¯, Xia Yourong persuaded from the side, ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t trouble the director. I think the conditions here are quite good and besides, sister¡¯s injuries are not that severe.¡± Born a month earlier than Xia Ye, Xia Yourong naturally called her sister. So what if Xia Ye had returned? Wasn¡¯t she still the Xia Family¡¯s eldest daughter? And her, she was just a second daughter! Xia Ye glanced outside the window and sized up the height before slightly raising an eyebrow with unclear intent, ¡°The third floor is quite good.¡± Since she had said that, Xu He had no choice but to agree. After admission, the doctor carefully disinfected and bandaged Xia Ye¡¯s wounds on her wrists and ankles and carried out a full-body examination. Thankfully, they were all surface injuries, and an overnight hospital observation should suffice without any major issues. Luckily, for 14 years, the criminal had only confined Xia Ye and tortured her psychologically, without doing anything else. By evening, Xu He brought a new set of clothes she had purchased and gently pushed open the door to Xia Ye¡¯s room. ¡°Mom, sister, she...¡± ¡°Shush,¡± Xu He, seeing Xia Ye, who had been medicated and now asleep, made a gentle gesture to Xia Yourong, her eyes warm. On the hospital bed, Xia Ye¡¯s sleeping posture was a bit odd; she hadn¡¯t covered herself with the blanket, nor used a pillow. She was resting her head on her own arm, her body curled up in the center of the bed. If she could grow a fluffy tail, she would look just like an adorable little fox. Xu He smiled knowingly. Her Little Tiangao was really cute. Xu He: ¡°Oh right, about Little Tiangao coming back, we need to inform the Jiang Family as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Why tell the Jiang Family?¡± Xia Yourong immediately became alert upon hearing mention of the Jiang Family. With a smile, Xu He replied, ¡°Your sister has had an engagement with the young master of the Jiang Family since they were children. Oh right, aren¡¯t you classmates with him? In the future, he will be your brother-in-law...¡± Hearing the word ¡®brother-in-law¡¯, Xia Yourong clenched her hand tightly. In Capital City, no one was unaware of the influence of the Jiang Consortium on today¡¯s China. Jiang Yunzhou, the nephew of the Consortium¡¯s president, was indisputably the most sought-after male student at Beijing No.1 High School. Not only did he have good grades, but he was also handsome and charismatic. This perfect gentleman, Jiang Yunzhou, was someone Xia Yourong had set her sights on long ago¡ªwhy should she let Xia Ye have him? And how could a wild country girl be worthy of the Jiang Family¡¯s esteemed and precious young master? Xu He placed the carefully chosen clothes by the bedside and also thoughtfully covered Xia Ye with the quilt, oblivious to Xia Yourong¡¯s expression. ** On the other side of the town, in a very understated Chinese-style villa. Jiang Yunzhou pushed past the butler in a rush, bursting into the study where his uncle Jiang Xuan was hanging a painting on the wall. Although called ¡®uncle¡¯, he was only 8 years older than him, but had already secured his position as the primary decision-maker of the Jiang Consortium. The uncle rarely appeared in Consortium affairs, mysterious in his comings and goings. His visit to the town this time was to acquire this painting. Jiang Yunzhou had begged and pleaded during the winter break, and it was only then that his uncle agreed to bring him along. It was an original by the most renowned classical artist from the last century, T. D. Historical records about this artist were scarce. Nationality unknown, age unknown, background unknown... Only known to be male... Yet despite this, his uncle could identify the original from a myriad of high-quality forgeries at a glance. Jiang Yunzhou couldn¡¯t help but admire him. Looking closely, he seemed to recognize the scene in the painting from his geography textbook. It was the world¡¯s seventh greatest unresolved mystery¡ªSky Pit. The pit was seven thousand three hundred meters in diameter, and scientists to this day cannot explain how it was formed. Reports unanimously suggest: this could be, humanity¡¯s closest encounter with extraterrestrials! ¡°Uncle! The Xia Family¡¯s daughter has returned! Now I¡¯m really doomed!¡± Jiang Xuan methodically hung the painting behind him, ensuring it was straight before slowly turning around. His face, cold and distant, excessively pale. His skin was like alabaster, his collar like a snake, and his narrow, long eyes were deep and stunningly beautiful. Clear winds, bright moon, one must contemplate the profoundness. That was probably referring to this sort of otherworldly beauty. The man sat back in his chair unhurriedly, looking at his nephew¡¯s face of utter dismay as if he could see straight through to his heart. His right index finger delicately rubbed the knuckles on his left hand, and when he spoke, his voice was deep and slow, ¡°You¡¯re thinking, of calling off the engagement?¡± Chapter 4 - 4 004 Minors are not allowed to ?4: 004 Minors are not allowed to... 4: 004 Minors are not allowed to... ¡°!¡± Jiang Yunzhou was startled. The words he had wanted to say but hadn¡¯t dared to were actually spoken outright by his uncle? ¡ª¡¯Oh no, could this be the legendary uncle-nephew telepathy?¡¯ ¡ª¡¯Break off the engagement, I just want to break off the engagement!¡¯ ¡ª¡¯Trapped for 14 years! Never even went to school! I¡¯d rather die than marry that kind of person!¡¯ At this moment, the voices persistently invading Jiang Xuan¡¯s mind were so loud they were nearly deafening. Jiang Yunzhou clenched his phone, ¡°Uncle, dad gave me an ultimatum just now¡ªmarry Xia Ye right after high school graduation! You¡¯re the only one who can help me now!¡± Jiang Xuan uncrossed and recrossed his long legs, lightly interlocking his fingers on the table, his deep eyes unfathomable. He spoke again, his tone slightly colder, ¡°Are you sure you want to call it off?¡± Jiang Yunzhou was resolute, ¡°Absolutely!¡± Jiang Xuan leaned back, emotionlessly glancing at the young man in front of him, ¡°Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll take you back to Capital City and arrange a time to officially break off the engagement with the Xia Family and apologize.¡± His unexpectedly proactive attitude completely threw Jiang Yunzhou off. He had been trying to think of ways to persuade his uncle, and now¡ª ¡°Going back tomorrow? That quickly?¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s lips curled into a profound smile, ¡°The longer the night, the more dreams may come.¡± ¡°In that case...¡± Jiang Yunzhou thought for a moment, then mystically and cautiously said, ¡°Tonight¡¯s our last night in town. There¡¯s a place I¡¯ve always wanted to go. Uncle, could you take me to experience it?¡± ** Around 8 PM, Xia Ye was tossing and turning uneasily in her hospital bed, frowning in her sleep. Early spring, and the mosquitoes were already out. Now tailless, she could only swat at the mosquitoes with her hand. With a casual wave, the buzzing mosquitoes were directly smacked into the crevice of the wall. The kind that you can¡¯t even scrape off... Mosquito: ¡°???¡± Xia Ye stretched lazily, sweetly waking up from her bed. She glanced around the empty hospital room, boredly turning her neck. Her injuries were nothing significant to her. However, her tailbone felt itchy¡ªit was craving alcohol. She took off her hospital gown and changed into the clothes Xu He had bought for her. A cream-yellow short jacket paired with light-colored jeans, which made her look especially innocent and young. Not her style of preference. But that was all she had for now. There were sounds of a patrol doctor outside the door. Xia Ye propped herself on the windowsill and leaped out with a graceful jump. That slim figure in cream-yellow vanished quietly into the night... ** Half an hour later, Xia Ye, hands in pockets, stood at the entrance of the only bar in town. The bar was modest, but the security was diligent. He scrutinized Xia Ye¡¯s delicate face for a few seconds. ¡°Little sister, minors aren¡¯t allowed in the bar.¡± Xia Ye¡¯s delicate brows furrowed. Minor? She was already five thousand years old! Unable to enter through the front, Xia Ye didn¡¯t dawdle and simply made her way around back. Under the backyard wall, she could already hear the deafening dance music from the bar and smell the rich aroma of alcohol in the air. She licked the corner of her lips, gently twisted her wrist, and with another agile flip... ** Next to the VIP section of the bar, Jiang Yunzhou, who had always wanted to experience such a place, leaned lazily against the wall, flirting with a hot woman. The woman sized up Jiang Yunzhou, ¡°Little brother, are you of age?¡± Jiang Yunzhou, with a smile in his peach blossom eyes, pinched his ID card between his index and middle finger and flashed it in front of the woman, ¡°Little brother, I just turned 18 this year...¡± The woman quickly noticed the Jiang character and Capital City on his ID, then eyed the young man¡¯s luxurious attire. She coyly turned her face away, ¡°The Jiang Family from Capital City...?¡± Jiang Yunzhou didn¡¯t specify, merely smirking roguishly, ¡°As long as you¡¯re with me, just being beautiful is enough.¡± The woman blinked, ¡°What about you? Responsible for earning money and supporting the family?¡± Jiang Yunzhou leaned in close to her ear, ¡°I¡¯m responsible for... decorating with flowers...¡± The woman, shyly biting her lip, was about to say something when suddenly, a toy dart whizzed past their ears and forcefully embedded itself into the wall beside them. Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s hair stood on end: ¡°!!¡± Had it veered a millimeter closer, it would have pierced through his ear cartilage. Following the trajectory, he saw that the thrower of the dart was his uncle. Chapter 5 - 5 005 Bro, you ?5: 005 Bro, you... 5: 005 Bro, you... Jiang Yunzhou was instantly terrified and pushed the eager woman away. He immediately switched to his good student persona, sitting back obediently in the VIP seat, ¡°Little uncle, please don¡¯t misunderstand, I was just talking big, when have I ever really had a girlfriend...¡± Actually, before he turned 18, his uncle clearly used to be even more reckless and rebellious than him. But then, one day, his uncle suddenly changed, dyed his icy blue hair back to black, removed his earrings, washed off his tattoos, shed his rebellious biker attire, and switched to neatly ironed suits and trousers. The Jiang Family hadn¡¯t even realized what had happened before that man, in just two short years, surpassed several older brothers and took over as the Executive Director and CEO of the Jiang Consortium, to everyone¡¯s surprise. His methods were so decisive, he was like an executive in a suit. Overnight, the name Jiang Xuan became known to everyone in Capital City. You could still faintly see the marks of a tattoo that had been removed on his forearm. ¡®PAPA¡¯. It once looked arrogant, but now Jiang Xuan had truly become, in a sense, everyone¡¯s father. The sugar daddy. Back then, young Jiang Yunzhou had even asked him why he suddenly changed completely. Jiang Xuan had said with a smile, for his precious little one. Yet, strangely, after all these years, Jiang Yunzhou had never seen a woman by his uncle; side. Jiang Xuan sipped his drink leisurely, his perfect left ear without earrings healed, leaving only a small black dot that looked like a mole. Sensually unaware of himself. The man adjusted his suit, stood up composedly, and lazily listened to Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s explanation. As long as one could maintain self-discipline and control, mere talk wouldn¡¯t do any harm. Just like him. In his mouth, he could never utter any frivolous words. Jiang Yunzhou gazed at his uncle, exuding a powerful aura of abstinence, excitedly asking, ¡°Where are you going, little uncle? I¡¯ll join you!¡± Jiang Xuan glanced at him, ¡°Restroom.¡± Jiang Yunzhou: ¡°...¡± ** At the bar. Xia Ye sat down in front of the bar with a determined posture, her voice cold, ¡°A strong drink, the flammable kind!¡± The bartender, wiping the edge of a glass, looked at the obviously underage young girl and, without asking how she had gotten in, smiled slightly and mixed her a drink that looked very strong... Xia Ye downed the drink, and her face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. ¡°...¡± Well, her physical body was only 17 years old. There are many rules in the human world; she had just returned and had yet to figure out exactly what had happened 14 years ago. It wasn¡¯t appropriate to be too conspicuous. Unable to get alcohol, Xia Ye lost interest, mumbled a thanks, and headed to the restroom. The bar in the small town was simple, with only one restroom for both genders. At the restroom entrance, Xia Ye and Jiang Xuan arrived from opposite directions, running into each other. Jiang Xuan looked at the young girl so close to him, his eyes flickered. Then, his lips curved slightly, as if he was slightly amused. The young girl, wrapped in a cheese-yellow jacket, looked like a custard bun that could ooze sweet filling with just a pinch. The bandages peeking out at her wrists and ankles only added to one¡¯s urge to unravel them. He had planned to meet her in a few days, but it happened earlier than expected. Well, this was a bar after all. Now, she probably wouldn¡¯t recognize him. Just as he was about to speak, he saw her delicate eyebrows lift and her crimson lips slightly curve, as if she had something to say. Xia Ye looked at the man who had arrived at the restroom door with her, her expression both pure and desirous. She asked, ¡°Brother, are you quick?¡± The two were racing to the restroom, an international rule, whoever was faster got to go first. But Jiang Xuan paused at her words, obviously misunderstanding something. The man, who had just boasted about his self-control and never speaking any frivolous words, stepped forward, placing his hand against the wall behind Xia Ye, his tall figure leaning down, his deep and pleasant voice spraying in her ear. He replied, ¡°Brother here, is not quick at all...¡± Chapter 6 - 6 006 Old cow eats young grass ?6: 006 Old cow eats young grass 6: 006 Old cow eats young grass ¡°Oh.¡± Xia Ye raised a finger and pressed it against the man¡¯s solid shoulder, pushing him back a bit, ¡°If you¡¯re not fast, then I¡¯ll go first, I¡¯m quite fast...¡± So what if you¡¯re not fast, is that something to brag about? Why do I feel like he¡¯s actually proud of it? Jiang Xuan read a hint of disdain from her gaze: ... He thought she had recognized him. He thought she was asking about... By the time he realized, Xia Ye had already entered the restroom. The restroom door was firmly shut. ... A few minutes later, Xia Ye came out, and Jiang Xuan was still waiting at the door. She took two steps forward, and he followed two steps. She stopped, and he stopped as well. After several rounds, Xia Ye turned her head and found herself staring into the man¡¯s dark, deep eyes. The man looked at her intently, ¡°Don¡¯t recognize me?¡± Xia Ye crossed her arms and slightly tilted her chin to look at him. I¡¯ve never seen such blatant following. It¡¯s true that the man¡¯s features are quite charming, but somehow he exudes an annoying vibe of a nemesis. After a long while, she scoffed softly, ¡°Dude, your way of flirting is so cliche?.¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s eyes twitched almost imperceptibly, and he couldn¡¯t help but laugh out of irritation. She must be acting indifferent because she didn¡¯t recognize him. If she knew it was him, she would be happy. (Really now? ) Behind him, having not seen Jiang Xuan return for a long time, Jiang Yunzhou, who had come to the restroom to look for him, happened to witness this scene. ¡ª¡¯No way, no way, no wonder uncle hasn¡¯t come back for so long; turns out he was hitting on the little sister?¡¯ Jiang Xuan¡¯s gaze sharpened as he turned back, his tone containing warning, ¡°You also think I was hitting on her?¡± Jiang Yunzhou was scared stiff by his words. He was just thinking it, but he definitely wouldn¡¯t dare say it aloud! He stared in the direction Xia Ye left, his eyes blank, involuntarily swallowing saliva, ¡°No, no, uncle is not me; how could he possibly be hitting on someone else?¡± ¡ª¡¯Uncle not only hit on someone, he also got rejected! Nobody would believe this if they heard it!¡¯ ¡ª¡¯Looks so abstinent and proper on the outside, turns out he¡¯s so wanton~¡¯ ¡ª¡¯But given uncle¡¯s age, it really is like an old cow eating tender grass, this pitiful little sister looks about my age!¡¯ ¡ª¡¯If that Xia Ye was even one-tenth as pretty, I wouldn¡¯t need to call off the engagement!¡¯ Jiang Xuan stared at his constantly changing expressions, scoffed coldly, and his face looked quite ugly. ** Even though she could get into the bar, she couldn¡¯t drink, and Xia Ye felt it was pointless and decided to leave after a short while. Early spring was warm yet chilly, and coincidentally, it started to rain outside. Xia Ye stood at the bar entrance, looking at the fine drizzle outside, and pulled her coat tighter. The man from earlier followed up behind her again. Jiang Xuan mentioned that they were also about to leave and could give her a ride home. But since he had drunk alcohol and couldn¡¯t drive, Jiang Yunzhou called a driver through an app. Ten minutes later, the casually dressed driver arrived. He was supposed to just get into the car after stating his driver ID, but upon spotting the luxury car he had never seen before, he silently put on his ID card and gloves... Xia Ye sat in the passenger seat while the two men sat in the back. On the way, Xia Ye propped her chin and looked out the window, watching the rain fall incessantly. She didn¡¯t talk, and the men in the back had little chance to speak. Not until she asked the driver to stop the car at an intersection close to the hospital, politely saying, ¡°Thank you...¡± Almost at the same moment as her first word popped out, the two men in the back blurted out in unison, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Then they heard Xia Ye complete her sentence, ¡°Thank you, driver.¡± Jiang and his nephew: ¡°...¡± Xia Ye got out of the car, holding a milk-yellow umbrella given by the bar waiter. In the waiter¡¯s eyes, the young girl with bandages on her wrists and ankles looked pitifully thin. So, he gave her the umbrella, and the two gentlemen in the back got none. ¡®Swoosh¡ª¡¯ The milk-yellow umbrella opened up. The girl¡¯s blurred figure gradually grew more distant, and the driver restarted the car. In the rainy scene, among the town¡¯s numerous bicycles, electric bikes, and rickshaws, a very out-of-place luxury car slowly moved ahead. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect this small-town girl to be so pretty. Too bad I¡¯m returning to the capital tomorrow,¡± Jiang Yunzhou drooped his shoulders listlessly. ¡°Uncle, do you think that Xia Ye will cry, make a scene, or even try to hang herself, unwilling to call off the engagement? You must help me when the time comes!¡± He needs to call off his engagement with Xia Ye quickly so he can return to the town and find his Little Fairy! Jiang Xuan slightly closed his eyes, resting them, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jiang Yunzhou thought this meant he would help, his eyes brightening, ¡°I knew uncle would definitely help me!¡± The next second, however, he heard Jiang Xuan continue intriguingly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s not interested in you.¡± Chapter 7 - 7 007 stop pretending ?7: 007 stop pretending 7: 007 stop pretending The next morning, Xu He received a phone call from the Jiang Family. To her surprise, the call was personally made by Jiang Xuan, the current figurehead of the Jiang Family. Jiang Xuan was no ordinary man, and even her husband often found it difficult to see him, but now he was calling her himself. After the call, Wang Dahai had the car ready, preparing to take them to the hospital to see Little Tiangao. The conditions at the guesthouse in the small town were no match for Capital City, let alone compared with the Xia Family¡¯s place. Xia Yourong had spent the night tossing and turning with a sore back and feeling uncomfortable all over. If it weren¡¯t for Xia Ye, why would she have to suffer such hardship? On the way to the hospital, in the back seat of the car, Xia Yourong, with her arm entwined with Xu He¡¯s, sweetly asked, ¡°Mom, who was that on the phone this morning?¡± Jiang Xuan hadn¡¯t directly mentioned the matter of breaking off the engagement on the call, so Xu He just assumed they were coming to visit their daughter. She helped Yourong tidy up the high ponytail at the back of her head, ¡°It was Yunzhou¡¯s uncle. He said they would bring Yunzhou to our house tomorrow to see your sister. After completing the discharge formalities, we¡¯ll set off to return to Capital City.¡± Jiang Yunzhou had three uncles, so Xia Yourong took it for granted that it was one of the other two uncles, not Jiang Xuan. She didn¡¯t dare think it was Jiang Xuan himself. Just hearing that they were coming to see Xia Ye, she was already so angry she could hardly contain herself and turned to the side to take out her phone and send a WeChat message to Jiang Yunzhou. They were classmates, both top students in the gifted class at Beijing No.1 Middle School, so naturally, they had each other¡¯s WeChat. If You¡¯re Well, It¡¯s a Sunny Day: Brother Yunzhou, I heard you¡¯re coming to see my sister tomorrow? You¡¯re not really going to... If You¡¯re Well, It¡¯s a Sunny Day: Hey, there¡¯s something I don¡¯t know if I should say... I¡¯ve already met my sister, and I¡¯m afraid you... While Xu He was looking out the window, Xia Yourong quickly composed and sent the message. She clutched her phone nervously, and after five minutes, her palm vibrated with a reply. Grant You A Voyage: What? We¡¯re just going to cancel the engagement. Just a message of a dozen words, and yet Xia Yourong read it over and over a few times, her mouth almost twisting with excitement. So they were coming to cancel the engagement. She knew Brother Yunzhou couldn¡¯t possibly have such poor taste! Xu He turned her head, looking at the thrilled Xia Yourong, and smiled, ¡°What¡¯s got you so happy?¡± Xia Yourong shook her head, pressing her lips together to suppress her glee, ¡°Nothing.¡± Why spoil the surprise now? The more they anticipated, the more Xia Ye¡¯s face would be slapped when the time came! Just the thought of it was exhilarating! ** When they arrived at the hospital room, Xia Ye was still sleeping in the same position as before. The first time she saw it, Xu He thought it was cute. Seeing it a second time, she felt heartbroken. This wild beast-like sleeping posture must have developed during the fourteen years she was imprisoned. Xu He noticed that the neatly folded clothes on the bedside table from yesterday had been disturbed, probably from her daughter trying them on after waking. She curved her lips, reaching to take the clothes to tidy them up but felt the damp mist. Without giving it much thought, she glanced at her older daughter, ¡°Yourong, I¡¯m going to dry these clothes; don¡¯t wake your sister, let her sleep a little longer.¡± Xia Yourong nodded understandingly. And then¡ª As soon as Xu He left, she started rummaging through the drawers with heavy hands. Clattering noises continued until Xia Ye woke up looking displeased. Then Xia Yourong pretended to be flustered, ¡°Sorry, sister, I didn¡¯t mean to wake you.¡± Xia Ye sat up lazily, leaning against the headboard with her forearm casually resting on her knee, posing like quite the boss. Xia Yourong thought that it was easy to fool a country bumpkin and sat down on the bed with a cheerful smile, pretending to link arms with her, ¡°Sister, I just heard from mom that your fiance? is coming to our house to see you tomorrow. You wouldn¡¯t believe it, he¡¯s the most popular guy in our school, and the girls queuing up for him could stretch from the school to the suburbs. A guy like that likes my sister, I¡¯m so jealous...¡± Before she could finish, Xia Ye nonchalantly broke away from the arm winding around hers and pulled a sly smile, ¡°It¡¯s just us two here, cut the act.¡± Chapter 8 - 8 008 My sister is a princess! ?8: 008 My sister is a princess! 8: 008 My sister is a princess! Xia Yourong¡¯s meticulously crafted smile instantly froze. Moments later, she twisted her eyebrows pitifully, ¡°Is my sister still mad at me because of what happened yesterday? It was just that I saw mom faint and panicked; it wasn¡¯t intentional... Just like today, as soon as I heard the good news, I came right away to congratulate my sister~¡± No matter how eloquently she spoke, Xia Ye didn¡¯t even glance at her and even yawned a few times. With the older sister¡¯s overjoyed and gloating expression, there must be some trickery involved, or perhaps her fiance? is fat, with an IQ of 29, and a face full of big moles. Regardless of his looks, her elder relative had no interest whatsoever. It¡¯s good she came; it was the perfect opportunity to clarify things. ** By noon, Xu He had completed the hospital discharge procedures. Not a single person in the entire hospital noticed that Xia Ye had sneaked out to the bar last night. But it wasn¡¯t their fault; who would have thought that such a frail, pitiful little girl, just saved from the brink of death, would climb out of a window late at night to go to a bar? Moreover... her room was on the third floor!! Before leaving, the medical director looked over Xia Ye¡¯s medical record, then called Xu He and Xia Yourong into his office specifically to advise them, ¡°Being confined in a closed space, not interacting with the outside world, can impact the psyche, especially since she was kidnapped at three years old. After she¡¯s discharged, she might exhibit symptoms like withdrawal, refusal to communicate, resistance to physical touch...¡± ¡°Sister, your skin is so nice~¡± The director had barely pronounced half a syllable of ¡°condition¡± when he glimpsed Xia Ye in the corridor outside the window, ¡°flirting¡± with a nurse. Not only was she interacting effortlessly with others, but she also touched the nurse¡¯s face with a calm and easy physical contact. The director¡¯s lips twitched slightly, ¡°Well... even though she appears fine outwardly, it¡¯s all the more reason to be vigilant. In any case, if she exhibits some abnormal behaviors, you must be patient, coax her gently, and help her gradually adjust to her new life. Treat her as you would any normal person, do not stereotype, and definitely don¡¯t agitate her, to avoid worsening the situation...¡± Xia Yourong shivered, thinking to herself, isn¡¯t this just another way of saying she¡¯s mentally ill? She really didn¡¯t want to live under the same roof as such a person! Though it was a small-town hospital, the doctors were all very diligent and gave many instructions, which Xu He appreciated deeply. She decided then and there to donate several large medical devices to the hospital once they returned. ** The ride home was not as anxious as the ride to the hospital had been. Prioritizing safety, Wang Dahai drove for over six hours before they finally returned to Capital City. Once they entered Capital City, the scenic mountains and rivers seen through the car windows were replaced by tall buildings. As evening fell, lights in countless homes lit up. In the glowing lights of thousands of homes, the human world felt warm and alive. Xia Ye looked out the window. Compared to her last visit to the human world, it seemed to have become much more prosperous. And that was only in the span of a few decades. Upon entering the city, Wang Dahai received a call from the boss, Xia Yuzheng. Xia Yuzheng had booked a private room at Godear to welcome them. Godear was one of the top high-end Western restaurants in Capital City, with an elegant environment, and naturally, the average cost per person was frighteningly expensive. When Xia Ye and her group arrived, Xia Yuzheng was just downstairs smoking. The man, past his fifties, had streaks of white at his temples, yet he still carried an air of grace, and his sharp eyes held a steadiness that came with the years. He had never touched cigarettes or alcohol before, but he picked up these habits after Xia Ye went missing. Usually, it was manageable, but whenever work got busy, he smoked fiercely. ¡°Husband, you¡¯re smoking again!¡± Upon hearing his wife¡¯s voice, Xia Yuzheng instinctively stubbed out his cigarette and turned around. The moment he did, he immediately noticed Xia Ye. His fingers, snuffing out the cigarette butt, paused. Looking at his daughter, whose face he had once known so well but now seemed slightly foreign after 14 years, myriad emotions welled up in his heart. In just a few seconds, his eyes misted over. He stepped toward Xia Ye, about to lift his hand, but then he noticed the bandages peeking from the sleeves and legs of his daughter¡¯s clothes. His heart clenched tightly. Xia Yourong forced a smile, ¡°Dad, if you feel bad, mom will feel bad too. Besides, my sister just came back, don¡¯t scare her.¡± Xia Yuzheng then reined in his emotions, pausing briefly, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside first, we can talk and eat.¡± As they walked inside, Xia Ye detoured to the restroom. Xu He glanced around, ¡°How about him?¡± Their eldest son, Xia Tiao, and youngest son, Xia Xian, were abroad and would take days to return, but their second son, Xia Xing, who was competing in Hai City, had mentioned in the group chat that he could return today. Xia Yuzheng responded, ¡°Ah, he just called me, saying he¡¯ll be here soon.¡± Meanwhile, at Xia Ye¡¯s end. Walking out of the restroom and washing her hands in the public area, she overheard a few waiters whispering outside. ¡°Did you hear? The Xia family¡¯s daughter, who was lost for 14 years, has come back! Apparently, she was abducted by human traffickers to a village, ah, that¡¯s just too tragic!¡± ¡°The two young girls who just came in, which one was abducted by traffickers?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? Obviously, it¡¯s the one in the yellow jacket! She¡¯s so thin, clearly suffering from long-term malnutrition!¡± ¡°Really? I think the one in the yellow jacket looks prettier and more elegant, almost like a princess...¡± Before he could finish, a very pleasant and magnetic male voice suddenly broke in from behind. ¡°Take out ¡®almost¡¯, my sister, is a princess!¡± The waitresses paused for a few seconds, but as they recognized the man, they burst into an irrepressible scream of excitement and awe! ¡ª¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª¡ª ps: Number one sister adorer: Beloved esports megastar goes online! Chapter 9 - 9 009 She has three! ?9: 009 She has three! 9: 009 She has three! ¡°Oh my God, Xia Xing! It¡¯s Xia Xing!¡± ¡°I know, I know, of course I know, I was just watching him in a match last night!¡± ¡°The strongest Jungle in the national server! His movement is simply leg-breaking!¡± ¡°Our Xia God is none other than the most outstanding young master of the Xia Family, isn¡¯t that little girl¡¯s brother?¡± Xia Xing watched expressionlessly as the waitstaff chattered across from him. The most outstanding? He dared not claim such a title. Compared to his oldest brother in networking, and his third brother in business acumen, he was merely the most visible in the public eye, slightly famous, that¡¯s all. Thinking about how these folks had just been discussing Little Tiangao at the door, Xia Xing pulled up his mask, put on his sunglasses, and wore a cool expression, love from no one: ¡°If I hear you gossiping behind my back again, don¡¯t blame me...¡± The waitstaff were startled¡ª How could even his anger look so handsome! That¡¯s totally cheating! ¡°Sorry, Xia God!¡± ¡°We won¡¯t dare do it again!¡± Several of them scurried off. Xia Xing: ... They were scared of him, but not completely scared. Just as he was about to lift his foot towards the booth, his peripheral vision caught the slender figure in cheese yellow by the sink, and his pupils tightened. ¡°Little Tiangao?¡± He recognized her almost instantly. And Xia Ye, relying on vague memories from before she was three, recognized the handsome, photogenic face in front of her. She lifted her chin slightly, her tone natural: ¡°Second Brother.¡± Fourteen years later, at their reunion, there was no awkwardness or unfamiliarity between siblings. Even though the present Xia Ye was thinner, taller, and her pretty little face was colder. But in Xia Xing¡¯s heart, she would always be the little princess most treasured and beloved by her brothers. Xia Ye had been in the bathroom for a long time, and Xu He worriedly came over, only to see that the siblings had already met and were chatting by the wall. Xu He smiled relievedly at the sight, she had been hoping for this for many years. ** The booth booked by Xia Yuzheng was enormous, even having a pianist specifically for accompaniment. To his fans, the esports god¡ªonce cold as an iceberg and utterly unaccommodating during a live game interaction with a female star, was now pulling out chairs for Xia Ye, arranging her utensils, and fussing about making sure her wound didn¡¯t get wet. Warm as could be. He was completely different from the ¡®Grim Reaper¡¯ at the matches. The waitstaff waiting by couldn¡¯t help but glance over at them. Having such a brother, how blissful! Yet the waitstaff could never imagine that such a tall, handsome brother who spoiled his sister limitlessly, Xia Ye had three of them! The atmosphere inside the booth was warm, occasionally filled with bursts of laughter. Accompanied by melodious piano music, it was very harmonious. After the appetizer was served, Xia Xing had just taken a bite when he received a call from his club. His brilliant performance in yesterday¡¯s match had sparked another online sensation. The media, knowing he had returned to Beijing today, insisted on arranging an interview. Xia Yuzheng slightly disgusted, waved his hand, ¡°If they want an interview, hurry back to your broken club, don¡¯t bring the media here.¡± Xia Xing shrugged helplessly. Who would have thought that the god held up by fans would have such a status at home. Before leaving, he didn¡¯t forget to put his arm around Xia Ye¡¯s shoulders, make a ¡°Yay¡± sign, and take a selfie to send to the family group. It immediately caught the attention of his oldest brother and triggered a barrage of emojis from his third brother. ¡°By the way, Second Brother,¡± Xia Yourong had several girlfriends waiting for Xia Xing¡¯s autographed photos, which she had already promised them. But before she could take out the photos and look up again, her second brother hadn¡¯t heard her calling him and had already rushed off in a hurry. Xia Yourong pinched her fingers. Xia Yuzheng smiled kindly and took the thick stack of photos from her hands, ¡°Dad will get them for you later from your second brother.¡± Xia Yourong¡¯s expression then cleared up, ¡°Thank you, Dad.¡± Dad always cherished her. The steak served on a fancy plate was brought up, and as Xia Yourong cut into her steak, she glanced at Xia Ye across from her, who had yet to start eating. Seemingly thinking of something, she suddenly laughed, ¡°Dad, you really shouldn¡¯t have brought my sister to eat Western food.¡± Chapter 10 - 10 010 Slapping your face, does it hurt ?10: 010 Slapping your face, does it hurt? 10: 010 Slapping your face, does it hurt? Xia Yuzheng looked at her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xia Yourong wore a look of obedient innocence, hesitating to speak, ¡°There are so many rules to Western dining etiquette, I¡¯m afraid Xiaorong won¡¯t be able to relax.¡± Hearing this, Xia Yuzheng also noticed the steak at Xia Ye¡¯s place that remained untouched and realized his oversight, ¡°We¡¯re among family here, don¡¯t worry about those things. Yeye, would you like me to get you a pair of chopsticks?¡± The row of waitstaff behind exchanged glances, their expressions laden with meaning. Xu He was mildly annoyed that her husband had chosen a place that could embarrass their daughter, ¡°Little Tiangao, let Mommy cut it for you.¡± As she was about to rise, Xia Yourong pressed down on her hand, ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve been very tired these past two days.¡± After speaking, she raised her voice with a sense of superiority, ¡°Excuse me, waiter, my sister is having Western food for the first time, could you please cut that steak for her before serving it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± a waitstaff from the back approached, ready to take away the steak in front of Xia Ye, but a pale, delicate, and beautiful hand blocked it. Xia Ye¡¯s voice was light, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Xia Yourong¡¯s face was laced with mockery. She¡¯s going to do it? She wouldn¡¯t start eating with her hands, would she? Their Xia Family absolutely could not afford to lose such face! ¡°Waiter¡ª¡± Xia Yourong was about to interrupt, when in the next second, she saw Xia Ye compose herself calmly, expertly rolling back her sleeves and placing her napkin elegantly on her lap. She first cleansed her fingers with lemon water, then held down the steak with her left hand and cut with her right. The etiquette was impeccable, without a single mistake. What shocked Xia Yourong even more was that Xia Ye cut the steak with practiced ease, first slicing off one side with the tip of the knife and then cutting that piece into bite-sized chunks. With each slice, the sinews were cleanly severed, and the knife tip never touched the plate, not making any unseemly noise. At that moment, Xia Ye, under the glow of the luxurious chandelier, simply resembled a noble from a Western painting, amidst the clinking of glasses, exuding prestige and grace. If Xia Yourong hadn¡¯t witnessed it herself, she would have doubted whether they had picked up the wrong person! Was this the country girl who had been imprisoned for 14 years? Xia Yuzheng and Xu He exchanged a glance, feeling proud of their daughter, but a seed of doubt also sprouted in their minds. ¡°Little Tiangao, how do you...¡± Xia Ye sent a small piece of beef into her mouth with utmost elegance. What era do they think this is, still assuming a Fairy wouldn¡¯t know how to eat Western food? She had always been impartial in her travels through the human world. Her hesitation to start cutting earlier was simply because¡ª She hadn¡¯t decided how to conceal her proficiency. She looked at Xia Yourong, her delicate eyebrows curving up, ¡°I saw sister doing it like this and learned on the spot.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is, no wonder then.¡± ¡°Yourong truly is a good role model.¡± Listening to her parents¡¯ words, Xia Yourong lowered her head, glanced at her own plate with unevenly cut and haphazardly arranged steak pieces, and immediately felt the irony. She just watched once and cut it even better than herself? Unwilling to accept it, as the waiter continued to serve several dishes, she began to introduce actively, ¡°Sister, try their pan-seared foie gras. Godear only uses air-freighted foie gras from Landes, which is especially delicious. You can dip it in the sauce on the side, but I prefer it plain to savor the original flavor of the ingredients.¡± She sought to emphasize the gap between them through her knowledge of Western cuisine. Indeed, even the serving waitstaff couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°Miss Xia really knows her stuff.¡± Xia Ye supported her chin with her hand, looking nonchalant like a little fox that could ensnare people¡¯s hearts, ¡°You know so much, sister,¡± she pointed at a dish nearby, ¡°What about this one?¡± Xia Yourong scoffed internally, feeling smug as she introduced the dish her sister pointed to. Her parents had brought her to Godear many times; she was the most familiar with it. Afterward, Xia Ye pointed to a dish, and Xia Yourong introduced it. By the end of the meal, Xia Ye was entirely satisfied, while Xia Yourong felt exhausted from all the explaining. Only then did she realize. Could she have been played? Across the table, Xia Ye laid down her utensils, pulled a piece of tissue, and dabbed at her lips innocently without a single flaw showing. One had to admit, the dishes in this restaurant were quite to her taste. Most importantly, there was a free guide. Xia Yourong looked suspicious, how could someone so clueless outsmart her? She must be overthinking it. Let her indulge in her triumph for one more evening then. After all, the Jiang Family would be coming to call off the engagement tomorrow. Just thinking about Xia Ye¡¯s expression when she learned in front of everyone that the Jiang Family had rejected and returned her made Xia Yourong almost laugh out loud! Chapter 11 - 11 011 Thats fate ?11: 011 That¡¯s fate. 11: 011 That¡¯s fate. After settling the bill, Xu He looked at her eldest daughter, ¡°Xiaorong, you¡¯ve been so busy introducing things to your sister, have you not eaten much yourself? Let Mom get you something more...¡± Xia Yourong smiled generously, ¡°No need, Mom, I¡¯m not hungry, as long as my sister has eaten well, that¡¯s good enough.¡± It just so happened that tomorrow she would meet Brother Yunzhou, so she considered this a chance to diet. On the ride home, Xia Ye curled up in the back seat, head buried in the hood of her sweatshirt, looking listless. Xu He asked Wang Dahai to turn down the air conditioning in the back to avoid blowing directly onto Little Tiangao¡¯s shiny little forehead. She thought Little Tiangao was just tired, unaware that Xia Ye had just envied Xia Yuzheng drinking red wine during dinner! ** The majestic and exquisite gates of the courtyard slowly opened as the car entered the Xia Family villa. Situated on the third ring road of the Capital City, the upscale villa was surrounded by lush garden greenery. At this time of night, the warm yellow courtyard lights cast a serene glow, making it seem like a tranquil manor from another world. Xia Ye¡¯s 14-year-old memories of the Xia Family merged with the current sight of the villa; it felt like she was recalling something from the past. She had once thought that, as she came here to face punishment, it would be lucky to find herself in a comfortable family home with a stove that had soup, a window that had light, and a balcony that had flowers. But the Xia Family had not only all these¡ª In the stove, there was bird¡¯s nest and matsutake soup. In front of the window, there was a Swarovski crystal chandelier. On the balcony, there were championship-quality Heding orchids that cost hundreds of thousands per pot! Sigh. Such was fate. As everyone got out of the car, the housekeeper Wu Mama greeted them with a smile. ¡°Sir, Madam, Miss,¡± Wu Mama had served in the Xia Family for ten years, and though she hadn¡¯t seen Xia Ye before, she could tell who the girl was by the way Xu He held Xia Ye¡¯s hand. She looked Xia Ye over before saying, ¡°This must be the second Miss, huh? Oh my, you look just like Madam as if you were cast from the same mold.¡± Xia Ye looked around; all the servants seemed to be new faces, and she didn¡¯t see the butler she remembered from the past. ¡°Did Uncle Huang leave?¡± she asked. Xu He was pleasantly surprised at this, ¡°You remember Uncle Huang?¡± Xia Ye nodded, only to see Xia Yuzheng¡¯s expression turn somewhat somber as he said, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s resigned quite a while ago.¡± Xia Yourong had no interest in the topic at all. Uncle Huang? She had never met him. And was a butler worth discussing? She smoothed her hair beside her ear and stepped towards the house. The small town hotel was so dirty and broken down, she had been afraid to even take a shower, but now she was finally home and eager to freshen up. Wu Mama said that an hour ago, Team Leader Fu made a call and Xia Yuzheng immediately went to return it as soon as they entered the house. Expecting news of a criminal¡¯s whereabouts, it was disappointing to learn that Team Leader Fu was just calling to check on his daughter. Seeing this, Xu He reassuringly patted Xia Ye on the shoulder and took her to see her room. Xia Yuzheng stayed on the phone with Team Leader Fu for over an hour, discussing the situation before hanging up. When Xia Xing returned from an interview with a faint layer of makeup still on his face, his already handsome features now appeared even more captivating. However, when he learned that his father had just been in contact with the police, his thick eyebrows instantly furrowed. ¡°Dad, what did they say?¡± he asked. Xia Yuzheng lit a cigarette, his expression grave as he shook his head. The criminal was not only cunning but a downright terrorist. To even think of the amount of explosives strapped to Little Tiangao was chilling. If it weren¡¯t for the mysterious tip-off received by the police, by the time they found Little Tiangao, it might have been... Xia Xing¡¯s fingers tightened around his car keys until his knuckles turned white, his jawline tense, and his expression chillingly cold. When his eldest brother and third younger brother returned, they would spare no expense to find the criminal and have him flayed a thousand times over! They absolutely could not allow Little Tiangao to have suffered so senselessly for 14 years! Chapter 12 - 12 012 Jiang Ye personally visits ?12: 012 Jiang Ye personally visits 12: 012 Jiang Ye personally visits Xia Ye¡¯s Room. Mother and daughter sat on the bed as Xu He personally changed Xia Ye¡¯s dressing. She learned how to change bandages from the doctor, proceeding gently and with great care. Xia Ye, who used to roam the seas and frequently got injured, had never been so meticulously self-cared for. Her room had been kept intact by Xu He, who even ordered the servants to clean it regularly. All the furnishings remained exactly the same, including the princess bed with its plump pink bedding that she was lying on. Although it was a child¡¯s room, it was actually quite large, but Xu He still felt it wasn¡¯t enough. In the morning, she had called Mrs. Wu to clear out a larger room, wanting to arrange it herself. For the next couple of days, her darling would have to make do with her old room until Xu He finished the arrangements, then she could move over. Xia Ye sensed from Xu He¡¯s words that it seemed to be a big project. She didn¡¯t say anything, her gaze shifting to the position of Xu He¡¯s arm. Through the silk sleeve, she could vaguely make out a bruise. Xu He¡¯s acupuncture was always quick, ruthless and accurate, with immediate effects, but indeed it caused pain for a few days. If there was a chance, she could make some medicine for Xu He to apply. ** Before bedtime, the family gathered in the living room. Xu He warmed up two cups of milk, one for her elder daughter and one for her younger daughter. Xia Xing was left out. He leaned on the sofa, horizontally holding his phone, and started a game on his alt account, ¡°Mom, playing favorites, huh?¡± Xu He shot him a glance, ¡°How old are you now? Hurry up and find a proper girlfriend to do that for you.¡± Xia Xing laughed helplessly; his mother had this knack, no matter the topic, she could always bring it back to marriage pressure. If it was just pressuring him at his age, that would have been fine, but Little Tiangao was so young when they arranged her betrothal¡ªwhat were they thinking? ¡°Mom, when will the Jiang family arrive?¡± Xu He flipped through a spring fashion magazine, taking photos of anything she liked with her phone, ¡°Tomorrow morning.¡± After speaking, she turned to Xia Ye, ¡°This marriage was arranged by your grandparents when you were very young, but don¡¯t feel pressured; get to know each other when you meet tomorrow.¡± Xia Ye, who was studying a lush potted plant beside the sofa, nodded nonchalantly. Xia Xing picked a hero at random; no sooner had he entered the game than a girl started screaming crazily, ¡°Ahhhh¡ªam I really matched with God Xia? God Xia, I¡¯m your fan! I can recite all your alt accounts!¡± Xia Xing was unperturbed; he thanked her in the comments and then turned off the voice chat, ¡°I think you guys made this marriage arrangement too hastily. How old is that young master from the Jiang family? He¡¯s not even mature yet.¡± ¡°What do you think the Jiang family is? Their genetics are there, and that can¡¯t be wrong!¡± Xia Yuzheng came out of the study and tossed a pile of photos in front of Xia Yourong, ¡°I¡¯ve inquired about it. That Yunzhou constantly ranks in the top ten in his exams; isn¡¯t he better than you playing those useless games every day?¡± Xia Xing glanced at the thickness of the pile of photos; given they were all autographed, it must have taken at least an hour. Although his father brought them, it must have been his older sister who asked for them. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll be there tomorrow too. I want to see if that kid is worthy of my sister.¡± Xia Yourong, with a mask on her face, holding a cup of milk in both hands, was watching TV but listening to their conversation. Her smile carried a meaningful depth. ** The next day. Xia Yourong got up early, wearing a pretty lady-like dress and even spritzed on some perfume. ¡°Dad, did Mom say what time they¡¯d arrive?¡± Xia Yuzheng spread out the newspaper, took a sip of tea, and laughed, ¡°You¡¯re more concerned about your sister¡¯s matters,¡± he glanced at his watch, ¡°They should be arriving soon.¡± Xia Yourong straightened her skirt in front of the mirror, ¡°As my sister¡¯s fiance?, of course I have to keep an eye out. By the way, Dad, I heard Uncle Yunzhou will be coming too?¡± Xia Yuzheng set down his teacup, his tone steady, ¡°It should be his second uncle.¡± Xia Yourong thought so too. Among Brother Yunzhou¡¯s three uncles, the second one was relatively more available. The third uncle had many social engagements, so he likely wouldn¡¯t come. As for the youngest uncle, Jiang Xuan... that was out of the question. At the same time. Down the tree-lined driveway outside the Xia family¡¯s villa, a grand luxury car drew near, its wheels grinding against the pavement. Entering the courtyard, the car slowed smoothly to a stop. The driver got out and quickly ran to the back door, bent over to open the door, shielding the roof with his hand, and respectfully said, ¡°President Jiang, we have arrived at the Xia family¡¯s residence.¡± Chapter 13 - 13 013 Unspeakable Secret ?13: 013 Unspeakable Secret?? 13: 013 Unspeakable Secret?? Jiang Yunzhou couldn¡¯t wait and darted out of the car first, eagerly holding the door open for his uncle. He was finally here to call off the engagement! ¡°Sir, you have guests,¡± Mrs. Wu respectfully welcomed them into the house. Xia Yuzheng put down the newspaper and looked up, first catching sight of Jiang Yunzhou. He waved his hand warmly, ¡°Yunzhou, where is your uncle?¡± The voice had barely died away when a tall figure emerged from the doorway. The man was clad in a crisply tailored suit, his shirt buttoned meticulously to the very top. As he handed his jacket to the servant, the well-defined lines of his shoulder blades formed a beautiful contour, a sight of aesthetic power. Elegantly dressed and unapproachable. He didn¡¯t speak, yet his mere presence made even Xia Yuzheng¡¯s heart tremble. Jiang Xuan? The man accompanying Jiang Yunzhou was Jiang Xuan, the top decision-maker of the Jiang Consortium? This was simply too... Xia Yourong¡¯s carefully prepared opening remarks were completely disrupted by the appearance of this man. This was her first time seeing Jiang Xuan in person, and the impact was nothing like the photos in financial magazines. No wonder Brother Yunzhou was so outstanding, you could tell just by looking at his uncle. Xu He, hearing the commotion, hurriedly brought them to the reception area. Xia Yuzheng asked her softly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier that it was President Jiang who was coming?¡± Xu He was still immersed in the joy of recovering Little Tiangao and had no time for these details, ¡°You didn¡¯t ask me, did you?¡± Xia Yuzheng was choked by the response: ¡°...¡± He couldn¡¯t even reproach his own wife. Jiang Xuan casually glanced at the two whispering and said, ¡°It seems Mr. Xia was unaware of my visit, my apologies for the disturbance.¡± Xia Yuzheng faltered, not expecting that not only did President Jiang have an outstanding presence, but his hearing was exceptional too? ¡°Not at all, not at all, you are not disturbing us in the least, please, this way,¡± Xia Yuzheng¡¯s attitude towards Jiang Xuan was extremely polite, even overly enthusiastic. In front of this unfathomable President Jiang, his status as chairman of Xia Group seemed insignificant. ** ¡°What? Break off the engagement?!¡± The spacious and bright reception area was now tensely suffocating. Several top-quality bone china teacups, steaming with hot vapor, were arranged on the coffee table. The Xia family sat on one side, and Jiang and his nephew on the other. Only the main subject, Xia Ye, was conspicuously absent. Xia Xing¡¯s knuckles cracked as he slightly tilted his chin up, his gaze sternly sizing up Jiang Yunzhou. The kid seemed alright on his own, but next to his uncle, it was a clear case of buyer¡¯s show vs. seller¡¯s show. There¡¯s no harm without comparison. Actually, it would be better for them to break off this futile engagement, but it was irksome that they were the ones to bring it up first! The only person on the Xia side who was pleased was Xia Yourong. Finally, the main issue was being addressed! Just yesterday they were debating whether Brother Yunzhou was worthy of Xia Ye, and look at what happened today! They were here to cancel the engagement! Xia Yuzheng and Xu He exchanged looks, their expressions inscrutable. After a long silence, Xia Yuzheng finally spoke gravely, ¡°President Jiang, may I ask the reason for calling off the engagement?¡± Xia Yourong frowned, hiding a smile. Dad was really something, still asking for a reason? Wasn¡¯t it obvious? They were looking down on that wild girl! Why force the uncle to say it outright? Jiang Yunzhou was also curious about how his uncle would respond. Then, on the loveseat across from them, the man whose presence seemed capable of devouring the world met their expectant gazes and spoke seriously and earnestly, ¡°Mr. Xia, regarding the matter of Yunzhou and your beloved¡¯s called-off engagement, I deeply apologize. However, this decision has nothing to do with your daughter; it¡¯s just that Yunzhou¡ªhe...¡± Jiang Xuan paused deliberately for two seconds, then hesitated, ¡°has some private issues... feared he might hold your daughter back...¡± Everyone: !? Chapter 14 - 14 014 Little Fairy! ?14: 014 Little Fairy?! 14: 014 Little Fairy?! When these words were uttered, everyone instantly fell silent as chickens. Jiang Xuan¡¯s choice of words was subtle, as if he had said nothing, but everyone in the room understood everything and, without a prior agreement, cast sympathetic glances toward Jiang Yunzhou. Jiang Yunzhou himself was utterly baffled. Just as he was about to explain, Jiang Xuan, expressionless and with a sharp gaze, turned his head slightly, and a sudden oppressive force struck, causing Jiang Yunzhou to inhale sharply and swallow all his complaints. Previously, Xia Yuzheng had no idea that Jiang Yunzhou had this problem. However, as the young master of the Jiang Family, even if it was discovered, it couldn¡¯t possibly be publicized. He pretended to go for a smoke, giving Xia Xing a meaningful look, and the two of them left one after the other, apparently to discuss something. Xu He breathed a sigh of relief as if she had survived a calamity, then realized she had been too obvious and awkwardly laughed, ¡°Um... I¡¯ll go check if Little Tiangao is awake.¡± Xia Yourong frantically stood up as well, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll come with you!¡± Jiang Yunzhou: ... Just a moment ago, she kept calling him ¡°Brother Yunzhou,¡± and now her face changed instantly. They were classmates, after all! Seeing the Xia family members avoiding him like the plague, he suddenly felt that the price he paid to break off the engagement was too steep! ¡°Little uncle, why imply that I am incapable...¡± The last word ¡°incapable¡± was spoken in a very soft voice. Jiang Xuan calmly retorted, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t said that, how could we call off the engagement? Do you want the Jiang Family to be slandered for treachery?¡± Jiang Yunzhou thought about it and felt that his uncle had a point, ¡°But what if I really want to get married in the future?¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s voice was cool and deep, ¡°Then just get married.¡± Jiang Yunzhou let out a deep sigh of relief. But before he could feel relieved for even a second, he heard his uncle add, ¡°Just delay having children for a few years.¡± It was utterly merciless. Incredibly cold-hearted. Jiang Yunzhou: ?_? Baby¡¯s heart is filled with sorrow. Xu He and Xia Yourong had just walked into the gallery when they met Xia Ye coming out from her room. Despite having prepared several beautiful outfits for her, she had only chosen a plain white T-shirt and a pair of loose, ripped jeans. If it hadn¡¯t been for what just happened, Xu He would definitely have urged her to change into another outfit. But now... The simpler, the better! ¡°Little Tiangao, come, mom will introduce you to the Jiang family.¡± The three of them headed back to the living room while Mrs. Wu led the maid into Xia Ye¡¯s room to tidy up. ¡°Mrs. Wu, what time is it, and the second young mistress has just woken up?¡± Mrs. Wu smirked, ¡°Well, she just got back, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°The eldest young mistress woke up at 7 a.m.¡± Mrs. Wu glanced outside the door and scoffed lightly, ¡°Can the second young mistress compare with the eldest young mistress?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± the maid nodded. ¡°By the way, Mrs. Wu, when I was cleaning this morning, the plant in the living room seemed to be balding¡ªhow did that happen?¡± Mrs. Wu furrowed her brow, ¡°Are you seeing things? We don¡¯t have small animals at home. How could a healthy plant just become bald?¡± The maid tilted her head, recalling for a while, then remained silent. Returning to the living room, Xia Yourong, usually very assertive, was walking with her head down, silent as if she had suffered a great blow. Xia Ye walked leisurely behind, her hands in her pockets, her posture cool as she rotated her neck. There were traces of green liquid clinging to her slender jade-like fingers tucked in her pockets. She had actually been awake for a long time, probably around five. She was busy with some things and then meditated in her room. The spiritual energy seemed to be weakening again. This couldn¡¯t continue. ** The scene returned to the living room, where Xia Yuzheng and Xia Xing were back in their places. After a brief chat among them, Jiang Yunzhou felt calmer. He realized that as long as he could escape that country fiance?e, any reason was bearable! Being incapable was just fine! Just as he was thinking this, he saw Xia Xing straightening up, looking behind him with a smile, ¡°Has Little Tiangao woken up?¡± Jiang Yunzhou turned around impatiently; he really did not want to greet her. ¡°You...¡± But before he could finish his first syllable, as soon as he saw the girl¡¯s face, he was so shocked he nearly bit his tongue¡ª ¡°Little Fairy?!¡± Chapter 15 - 15 015 is called Uncle ?15: 015 is called Uncle. 15: 015 is called Uncle. Is this not the Little Fairy he had encountered at the bar? Just now I heard Xia Family¡¯s second brother call her ¡°Little Tiangao¡±... Really? The one he¡¯s supposed to be getting engaged to is the Little Fairy he¡¯s been obsessing over in his dreams? And he just, foolishly and happily, called off this god-sent engagement? Even loudly telling the whole world that he called it off because he wasn¡¯t good enough? Jiang Yunzhou tightly pressed his twitching lower lip. Is there still time for regrets? Xia Xing squinted at him with a silly, infatuated expression. He answered his question with just a look. Little Fairy? Even if you call Wangmu Niangniang my sister, she¡¯s got nothing to do with you anymore! Xia Yourong had been feeling quite down, but then she heard Jiang Yunzhou calling that wild girl ¡°Little Fairy¡± and she snapped back to reality. They had been classmates since high school, and Brother Yunzhou had never called her Little Fairy. She was definitely prettier than Xia Ye. This isn¡¯t at all like the disengagement scene she had been anticipating for days! In Xia Yourong¡¯s imagination, Xia Ye, who should have been slapped in the face and crying bitterly by now, was unexpectedly calm. Seeing the Jiang Family¡¯s uncle and nephew, she had only one reaction. Oh no. It¡¯s those two from the restroom door. Xia Ye took her seat, and Xia Yuzheng patted her shoulder as he introduced her to the Jiang Family people. Although he was caught off guard by the Jiang Family¡¯s visit to call off the engagement, and he didn¡¯t know how to explain to Little Tiangao later, Jiang Xuan was there in person, polite and respectful, and he had no reason to maintain his pride. Now, Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s attitude took a 180-degree turn and he was completely different from when he mentioned disengagement before. Initially, Xia Yuzheng wondered if Mr. Jiang¡¯s statement was just an excuse for his nephew, but seeing Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s reaction, he really believed it. Indeed, he didn¡¯t despise their Little Tiangao, it must be that he truly wasn¡¯t in a position to... Jiang Yunzhou babbled on endlessly, while Xia Ye¡¯s calm gaze drifted from his face to Jiang Xuan¡¯s. The man sat opposite her with his legs crossed, his head slightly tilted, high nose and extremely white skin surrounded by the steam of the tea nearing his lips, which blurred his crisp profile. The lighting here was much clearer than in the bar. Xia Ye audaciously clicked her tongue. The young man looks really spirited. She liked things and people that were pleasing to the eyes. Jiang Xuan took a sip of tea, his demeanor calm and composed, but he was constantly aware of Xia Ye¡¯s gaze. His thinly sculpted lips couldn¡¯t help but curl up, then froze suddenly in the middle of that motion. She didn¡¯t know who he was. So, she was essentially eyeing a strange man for free. And had been doing so for over a minute. Xia Yuzheng sensed an inexplicable chill emanating from Jiang Xuan and hurriedly reminded, ¡°Yeye, the man next to you is Yunzhou¡¯s uncle, say hello quickly.¡± Xia Ye casually responded with an ¡°Oh.¡± Without giving it much thought, she lifted her chin towards Jiang Xuan and as naturally as she had at the bar, she called out, ¡°Bro.¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s expression softened slightly, just about to nod in acknowledgment¡ª ¡°Yeye!¡± This call of ¡°Bro¡± scared Xia Yuzheng badly, fearing his precious daughter had angered this big shot. He quickly scolded softly, ¡°How can you be so disrespectful!¡± Everyone in Capital City knew about Chairman Jiang¡¯s ruthless methods, and Xu He also squeezed Xia Ye¡¯s hand slightly nervously. But Jiang Xuan seemed unconcerned. Just about to wave it off as ¡®no problem¡¯, Xia Yuzheng beat him to it, ¡°Mr. Jiang is your elder, call him Uncle!¡± Chapter 16 - 16 016 The way of Soul Absorption by the ancestor ?16: 016 The way of Soul Absorption by the ancestor... 16: 016 The way of Soul Absorption by the ancestor... Jiang Xuan¡¯s lips tightened slightly. Uncle? Uncle... Uncle~~ That¡¯s enough. Xia Ye frowned lightly, ¡°But he¡¯s about the same age as my brother.¡± When Xia Xing heard this, he laughed and persuaded her, ¡°Little Tiangao, seniority is not only about age.¡± Isn¡¯t having three older brothers enough? He absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow Little Tiangao to call another wild man ¡®brother¡¯! Xia Yourong, on the other hand, had the attitude of someone watching a good show, ¡°Sister, be good, don¡¯t make Uncle Jiang unhappy.¡± Xia Ye¡¯s slender shoulders shrugged lightly. When in Rome. She slightly raised her eyes, and her long eyelashes fluttered carelessly, inadvertently hooking people in. After a brief pause, she called out, ¡°Uncle Jiang.¡± Because she didn¡¯t really want to call him that, her tone lacked its usual vigor and seemed somewhat... obedient. Across from her, Jiang Xuan shifted his gaze and his prominent Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He was hit with a cute attack. He didn¡¯t respond, and Xia Ye, thinking he hadn¡¯t heard her, tilted her head to force him to meet her gaze, and called out again, ¡°Uncle?¡± The second time she called, she sounded more practiced. There could be a ¡®buy two, get one free¡¯ offer. ¡°Uncle...¡± ¡°Stop calling,¡± Jiang Xuan interrupted. And he sounded quite fierce. Xia Ye leaned back on the couch, ¡°Sure.¡± Seeing the worried expressions of her parents, Xia Yourong shook her head and felt deeply concerned for her little sister. She had just returned to the Xia Family and had already angered the master of the Jiang Family. It seemed that even if she hadn¡¯t embarrassed herself today, it would only be a matter of time... Everyone thought Jiang Xuan was angry. Little did they know, the one who seemed so cold, his hands tucked into his pockets, had a fine sweat on the palm of his hand. She couldn¡¯t call him that anymore. Otherwise, it would be the death of him. ** Xia Yuzheng tactfully relayed the Jiang Family¡¯s desire to break off the engagement, and all eyes landed on Xia Ye¡¯s face. Jiang Yunzhou still harbored a sliver of hope, Maybe the Little Fairy didn¡¯t want to break it off? Then he could take advantage of the situation¡ª Two seconds later, his fantasies were shattered. Xia Ye smiled brightly, ¡°Alright, I agree to the dissolution of the engagement.¡± Just perfect. It saved her the trouble. Hearing Xia Ye speak without any reluctance, Xu He and her second son exchanged a relieved glance. Xia Yuzheng nodded thoughtfully. If Little Tiangao could accept it, he naturally felt a bit relieved. However... The larger a company grows, the more constraints it faces, and the Xia Family was no exception. Through a fortunate coincidence back then, the Xia Family was lucky enough to form a marriage alliance with the Jiang Family, hoping to not only take their business to the next level but also secure a reliable family for their daughter. Now that they¡¯d lost this opportunity, nothing else really mattered¡ªexcept that, given Little Tiangao¡¯s current situation, it was feared that it would be difficult for her to... Xia Yuzheng sighed and turned his gaze towards Xia Yourong. With three sons who were rarely at home, it was fortunate he still had his eldest daughter. His eldest daughter was smart, sensible, and ambitious; with her taking care of Little Tiangao, he could rest assured. With that in mind, he confirmed with Xia Ye once more, ¡°Yeye, are you serious? You¡¯re not just saying this because you don¡¯t want to worry Mom and Dad, right?¡± Xia Ye didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Really, I¡¯m still young, and not in a hurry to think about these things.¡± Jiang Xuan looked at her sincere and guileless expression and paused before letting out a laugh. The little thing had grown up and had become sensible. She even knew she was young and should not be talking about marriage. As he was thinking, a lazy tone suddenly broke through his mind. ¡ªAh, can¡¯t help it. ¡ªThe Spiritual Energy is getting weaker and weaker, if it continues like this, I¡¯m going to have to find someone to do some Soul Absorption! ¡ªIt would be inconvenient to have a fiance? then, huh~??? Chapter 17 - 17 017 Is this your room ?17: 017 Is this your room? 17: 017 Is this your room? Jiang Xuan laughed bitterly out of extreme frustration. Still trying to suck out [spirit] energy? Very well. You¡¯ve grown some nerve. He adjusted his tie, striving to stay calm. Luckily, he had followed along. ** Since neither party had any objections, the annulment of the engagement had become a done deal. However, it was a matter between two families and not to be taken lightly, so Xia Yuzheng invited Jiang Xuan to discuss the details in the study upstairs. Xia Ye remembered that she had something unfinished, told Xu He with a word, and also went back to her room first. Upon entering the room and glancing around, Xia Ye furrowed her brows. Someone had cleaned it up. It was less cleaning and more like clearing out. The calculation papers used for casual note-taking on the desk, the ointment samples she had been testing in the bottles, all had been discarded as trash. She raised her hand to press her temples, paused for a moment, then called for Mother Wu: ¡°From now on, there¡¯s no need to clean my room, thank you.¡± Mother Wu opened her mouth in confusion. Did she know how messy her own room was? The papers were covered in scribbles, and there was some sticky substance in the bottles that she didn¡¯t know where it came from. And yet she forbade anyone to tidy up? But who was she to argue with the second young miss? Mother Wu spoke up, still pretending to be considerate: ¡°Miss, there¡¯s no room of the young ladies that isn¡¯t cleaned daily, don¡¯t joke about that.¡± Xia Ye was concise: ¡°I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± Seeing that Xia Ye was resolute, Mother Wu didn¡¯t say anything more, pursed her thick lips, and left with a twist of her neck. All the better if she didn¡¯t have to clean¡ªit saved her the trouble. Sitting back at her desk, Xia Ye pulled open the small drawer on the side. A pile of lush green leaves entered her view. Fortunately, she still had many backup leaves that she had picked from the pot plants. She remembered from before that Xia Yuzheng liked to cultivate flowers and plants, and there were many rare and valuable pot plants in the house. Yet most people only paid attention to their ornamental and collectible value, unaware that among them were many with precious medicinal properties. The thriving small plant in the living room, in particular, had excellent effects on activating blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis. Since Mother Wu had thrown away the previous batch, she had to make a new one. The flowers and herbs in the human world, no matter how valuable, were just so. But for now, she had to make do with what was available. She bowed her head slightly, looking serious and focused, a stark contrast to her usual carefree and unruly demeanor. The desk lamp¡¯s light cast a filter over her face, her skin so delicate that it seemed poreless, her dark hair cascading down her cheeks, and her uniquely beautiful eyes shimmered, captivating. So beautiful it was almost unearthly. Mother Wu had forgotten to close the door when she left; Jiang Xuan, coming down from upstairs, just so happened to pass by her boudoir. The door was opened at a very subtle angle, just enough to reveal half of the girl¡¯s figure, obscuring yet revealing. Xia Ye had a keen sense of smell; the faint cold fragrance at the door was somewhat enchanting. She didn¡¯t turn around, lightly tapped the floor with her toes, leaned back carelessly against the chair, which tilted at a thirty-degree angle, very steady. There was an indescribable wildness about her. ¡°Uncle Jiang, isn¡¯t it rude to stand silently at someone¡¯s room door?¡± Jiang Xuan paused, slowly curling his lips. The pink princess bed, the crescent white cute wardrobe, including the desk lamp in front of Xia Ye... seemed to also be a children¡¯s eye-protecting lamp. He chuckled softly: ¡°Is this your room?¡± Xia Ye detected the sarcasm in his words, cleared her throat: ¡°This was my room when I was three, I¡¯m just staying here temporarily.¡± Jiang Xuan arched his eyebrow in an ambiguous way: ¡°I find it rather fitting for you.¡± ** After they had discussed what needed to be discussed, it was already noon. Yuzheng warmly invited them to stay for lunch, but Jiang Xuan declined gracefully: ¡°I have some other matters, won¡¯t impose.¡± After seeing the guest off, Xu He went to Xia Ye¡¯s room to call her darling for lunch. Xia Ye saw that it was her, so she handed over a small jar of ointment she had just made. Xu He examined the jar of ointment with great interest: ¡°Little Tiangao, this is...¡± Chapter 18 - 18 018 You keep the flowers, I have money ?18: 018 You keep the flowers, I have money 18: 018 You keep the flowers, I have money ¡°Medicinal ointment,¡± Xia Ye responded nonchalantly, ¡°Apply it to the bruised area three times a day, and it should heal within a week.¡± If she hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Xu He would have forgotten about the bruise on her arm. She looked down at the small, hand-ground ointment in her hand. Others might find it odd, but she did not. That¡¯s because her Little Tiangao had always liked tinkering with such things since childhood. Who could imagine a child of merely three years old, with soft, white little hands that could barely open wide, covered in the juice of herbs, seriously and carefully tinkering with them? It was incredibly cute. In her memories, Little Tiangao had made her remedies for back pain and also for her husband¡¯s toothache. How could a child truly know how to make medicine, but it was this filial heart that touched her and her husband deeply. Moreover, it turned out that mood really does have a great effect on pain. Using the ¡°medicinal ointment¡± made with Little Tiangao¡¯s good intentions, their pains healed quite quickly. Recalling the past, Xu He became visibly moved, ¡°That reminds me, I heard that mother fainted yesterday, and it was you who revived her?¡± Xia Ye nodded, ¡°The bruise was caused when I was pressing on an acupoint.¡± Xu He pursed her lips and pulled her into her arms, ¡°Silly child, it¡¯s okay, mom knows you had good intentions, you were just anxious to wake mom up quickly.¡± Xia Ye, hearing her comforting tone, knew she had misunderstood, ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand, I was really trying to save you...¡± But Xu He didn¡¯t let her finish, hugging her more tightly, ¡°How could mom not understand? If you blame yourself over this again, mom will really be angry!¡± Xia Ye was squeezed almost to the point of suffocation: ... Blame myself my ass? I was seriously trying to save you! ** Xia Xing shared the news about calling off the marriage with the Jiang Family in the group chat. Xia Secretary (eldest brother): Perfect. Enviable Sir (third brother): It¡¯s good that the kid knows better, saves me from having to step in personally. It seemed to be the popular sentiment. When they were younger, their father might have considered using marriage to secure the Xia Family¡¯s position. But now, with the three of their abilities... Does the Xia Family still need to sacrifice Little Tiangao¡¯s happiness for some marriage alliance? Laughable. FB Team Xia Xing: Eldest brother, third brother, when are you guys coming back? I¡¯m not in a rush, it¡¯s good for Little Tiangao and me to spend time together and build our relationship~ Xia Secretary: Tomorrow. Enviable Sir: Tomorrow morning. Xia Xing squinted at these two responses and felt a sense of crisis. They could arrive as soon as tomorrow? Then he needed to make the most of today. Deciding this, he twirled his phone skillfully in his hand, turned off the screen, slid it into his pocket, and got up with flair. Next to the bar in the dining room, Xia Ye¡¯s fair fingertips reached toward the entire row of fine wines cherished by Xia Yuzheng¡ª ¡°Little sister!¡± The voice of Xia Xing, full of mirth, came from behind her. Xia Ye¡¯s fingers paused, then, without a change in expression, moved away and picked up a bottle of cool boiled water, pouring herself a cup. She turned around in response, to see a gleaming golden card in front of her. ¡°Pocket money from your second brother, no PIN needed.¡± Xia Xing had won many honors for the team over the years, and his super popularity had also led to constant advertising endorsements. Not even Xia Xing knew how much money was on this card, since clients kept making deposits into it every day. But even with such a card, Xia Ye only glanced at it with an unchanged expression, showing no sign of excitement, ¡°Keep it for yourself, I have money.¡± ¡°You have?¡± Xia Xing was taken aback, but soon he wore a look of sudden realization, ¡°From mom, right? You little thing, even complaining there¡¯s too much pocket money? Take it, ask for more from your brother if it¡¯s not enough.¡± Chapter 19 - 19 019 is back! ?19: 019 is back! 19: 019 is back! Xia Ye touched the tip of her nose, somewhat at a loss for how to explain: ... Seeing her second brother¡¯s eager expression, if she didn¡¯t accept, it seemed like he would be very hurt. Falling silent for a moment, she still accepted. Forget it, since it was like this, then... She¡¯d help him manage his finances. ** In the evening, a certain luxury shop personally delivered an exquisitely wrapped pure white long dress. It was something Xu He had ordered for Xia Yourong half a month earlier, and it had finally been completed today. Like most young ladies from grand families, Xia Yourong had also learned to play an instrument from a young age. But what she learned was not the commonly known piano or violin; instead, it was the traditional musical instrument recognized by the China Music Association as the most difficult to play and master ¡ª the ancient flute. The ancient flute dates back thousands of years. Few people know it, but it is a favorite among musical masters. Combined with the prohibitively expensive tuition fees, it also became a symbol of taste and status. Xia Yourong realized this from a young age and deliberately showed an intense interest in the ancient flute in front of her parents. Xu He and Xia Yuzheng were both very fond of their daughter and happily agreed. However, Xia Yourong was also commendable, learning it quite properly. Her presence was essential at school events, big and small, and even a famous music master contacted the Xia Family, wishing to take her as his disciple. This winter break, she had also successfully obtained the level 7 certification for the ancient flute from the China Music Association. With 10 levels in total for the ancient flute certification, achieving level 7 at the age of 17 was quite impressive. The custom-ordered dress by Xu He was for the upcoming spring opening ceremony at Beijing No.1 Middle School, where Xia Yourong would perform on stage. In the living room, Xia Yourong tried on the white long dress, spinning playfully in front of her second brother, who was busy playing a ranked match: ¡°Bro, do you think the dress Mom bought me looks good?¡± Xia Yourong wasn¡¯t particularly beautiful, but her pampered upbringing for over a decade in the Xia Family had added a certain charm to her demeanor. Xia Xing handed her the stack of signed photos: ¡°Mm, not bad, Mom¡¯s taste is never wrong.¡± Previously, Xia Yourong had asked her dad to give the photos to her second brother, but now she realized he had known all along that they were hers. Xia Yourong pursed her lips, revealing a shy smile: ¡°Thanks, bro~¡± To be fair, her brothers were actually quite nice to their sister Xia Yourong. ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Xia Yourong suddenly remembered something: ¡°Are big brother and third brother coming back tomorrow? But I have an Ancient Flute Class tomorrow...¡± Recently, because of Xia Ye, she had missed several days, and it was the very last Ancient Flute Class before school started again; she couldn¡¯t miss it. Xia Xing laughed: ¡°They¡¯ll be in the country for a while, so you¡¯ll see them after your class in the evening.¡± ¡°Little Tiangao, that settles it then. Tomorrow, Mom will first take you to Beijing Hospital for another check-up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The sound of conversation grew louder as it approached, and Xia Yourong immediately noticed the two people coming out from the room. By her side, Nurse Wu was just pouring tea: ¡°Miss, you look so beautiful in this outfit!¡± Xu He heard this and looked over, her eyes lighting up with sincere praise. Xia Yourong stuck out her tongue, saying ¡®Mom, stop teasing me,¡¯ but her gaze subtly glanced over to where Xia Ye was. She wanted to see a look of jealousy on her face. But Xia Ye¡¯s eyes were indifferent; she glanced over just once before shifting her gaze away, appearing very relaxed and casual. This inflicted an epic blow to Xia Yourong¡¯s sense of superiority! ** The next morning. Xia Xing went early to the helipad to pick up his eldest brother and third brother. Xu He took Xia Ye to Beijing Hospital. Although she had already been checked at the town hospital, a reexamination of her wound recovery couldn¡¯t hurt. More importantly, Xu He was always worried about the psychological issues with Xia Ye that the former hospital director had mentioned... At the Xia Family, servants were cleaning the courtyard, preparing for the young masters¡¯ return. ¡°Is it true? The lady took the second young miss to the hospital to see a psychologist?¡± ¡°Absolutely true! I heard it with my own ears when the lady made the phone call!¡± ¡°Better stay away from her then ¨C I heard that people with mental illnesses can kill without facing the law!¡± ¡°Miss is the best, so gentle and cute, and talented too...¡± While they were engrossed in their conversation, an earsplitting sound of a high-end engine roared from the distance. ¡°Shh! Stop talking! The young masters are back!¡± Chapter 20 - 20 020 Jiangs family will soon have a mistress ?20: 020 Jiang¡¯s family will soon have a mistress... 20: 020 Jiang¡¯s family will soon have a mistress... As they spoke, Xia Xing¡¯s flashy bright blue Bugatti sports car drove into the courtyard. It came to a stop, and three people got out of the car. The chattering servants, who were animated just a moment before, suddenly froze. Xia Tiao, Xia Xing, and Xia Xian¡¯s faces, handsome to a fault and somewhat similar in features, were lined up together, creating a visually stunning feast! It had to be said that the Xia Family¡¯s genes were truly good, highly recognizable. Even thrown into a crowd, they could be spotted instantly. The three of them with thin smiling lips walked leisurely while chatting and laughing. Leading the way was the eldest brother, Xia Tiao, with broad shoulders and long legs, standing tall and proud. Dressed in a properly tailored black suit, with chiseled features, as a high official in the O Alliance Secretariat holding confidential intelligence, his job nature had long cultivated an imposing aura that was hard to defy. A step behind was the third brother, Xia Xian, who at first glance, appeared the complete opposite of Xia Tiao. The sleeves of his shirt were casually rolled up to his elbows, and his gait was relaxed. His stunningly beautiful face blurred gender lines, marred only by a faint scar above his eyebrow. He also wore a black earring on one side. A real troublemaker. Xia Xing took off his cap, used to hide himself, and hurried to catch up with his brothers, ¡°How long do you plan to stay this time?¡± Xia Xian turned back, his lips curling up in a mischievous smirk, ¡°One day longer than big brother.¡± Xia Tiao gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°You know the day I¡¯m leaving?¡± Xia Xian, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter when you leave, I¡¯ll stay one day longer with Little Tiangao~¡± Xia Tiao kept his face cold as ice, ¡°Shameless.¡± Regarding their love-hate relationship, Xia Xing was long used to it, ¡°Your rooms are all ready, and Little Tiangao will be back by noon.¡± Upon entering the house, the servants took their luggage to their rooms. The luggage wasn¡¯t much. Xia Tiao had a not-so-large suitcase. Xia Xian just had a black bag. ¡°By the way, I heard that Mr. Jiang personally came to our family to break off the engagement that day? Do you have his contact?¡± Xia Xian casually flopped onto a sofa and unfastened a button at his neckline. Xia Xing had grabbed a bottle of drink for himself from the fridge and tossed one each to his brothers as he turned around, ¡°Why?¡± Xia Xian caught it with one hand, his tone casual, ¡°A batch of goods got detained, I heard he has some influence over customs.¡± Xia Tiao didn¡¯t accept the drink but poured himself a cup of very refreshing cool boiled water, squinting at Xia Xian. Daring to pull off such edge-walking tricks right in front of a high official of the O Alliance Secretariat. Only Xia Xian would be so bold. Xia Xing threw his cap carelessly onto a table, took a sip of his cold drink, ¡°Looking for his help? Then you¡¯d better hurry.¡± Xia Xian, ¡°Why?¡± Xia Xing spoke nonchalantly, ¡°Our Little Tiangao, it seems, annoyed him last time.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be, right? Little Tiangao is so adorable!¡± Xia Xian paused, pondering for a while before asking again, ¡°So, do you actually have his contact or not?¡± Xia Xing bluntly, ¡°No.¡± Xia Xian leaned his head back, ¡°That¡¯s troublesome, I heard he rarely goes to the office, basically untraceable.¡± Xia Xing, with a knowing look that was asking for trouble, scoffed, ¡°Men, when they are single, are unsettled. Don¡¯t we also constantly run around? Don¡¯t be fooled by Mr. Jiang¡¯s unfathomable demeanor; he can¡¯t escape this rule either. Whenever he feels like it and returns to the office, maybe the Jiang¡¯s will soon have a lady of the house...¡± Xia Xing could never have guessed, just as he was saying this. On the other side of Capital City. Jiang Xuan had just had a shower, stepping out of the bathroom, his dark hair only half-dried. He leaned against his desk and picked up a mobile phone on the side. He scrolled through his WeChat contacts for a while, finally finding an account named ¡°Assistant Shen Jing.¡± His slender, attractive fingers tapped a few times on the screen, sending over a message. [Prepare yourself, starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll return to the office.] Chapter 21 - 21 021 Psychological Counseling ?21: 021 Psychological Counseling 21: 021 Psychological Counseling Last night, Jiang Xuan had a dream. In the dream, he fell into a dim and humid cave, enveloped in soft and fluffy silvery-white. He opened his eyes to meet a pair of irrationally beautiful pupils. Reflecting the moonlight at the top of the cave, amber and azure colors shone against each other. The small animal repressed its wildness, emitting a faint whine from its throat. Unsure of what it wanted from him, it rubbed its soft body against him, its massive fox tail coiling around him, making him unbearably restless. ¡°Why are you suddenly like this?¡± ¡°Have you finally recognized me?¡± He asked in a low voice, but it did not answer. The tiny sharp teeth gleamed white. Later, he realized. It wanted to suck his... life force. Jiang Xuan was tormented by this bizarre dream all night, waking up just as dawn faintly broke. A distinct layer of pale blue was evident beneath his eyelids. He looked terribly drained. Something was wrong, this dream was really damn odd. He sent a message over WeChat, and in less than half a minute, a call came through. Upon answering, an unnaturally high-pitched scream for a normal man burst out from the phone. ¡°President! Was it you who just sent the WeChat message?¡± Shen Jing could hardly describe how thrilled he was at this moment! Since he began his job, the number of times he had seen the president in person were few and far between, with corporate high-level meetings often held via video. A personal assistant who should be available 24/7 was practically non-existent. And what bothered him the most was ¡ª he was idling around, yet the numbers in his salary account were increasingly frightening! Jiang Xuan frowned slightly and pulled the phone away from his ear, responding indifferently, delegated some tasks, then hung up. Tossing the phone back on the desk, he casually loosened his bathrobe and walked to the bed, his lean figure and a waistline outlined against the backlight¡ªalmost as if he was enveloped in Holy Light. His sturdy and powerful body was in full view. However, this stunning view lasted only a moment as the man grabbed a freshly ironed shirt and wore it with a backward motion. She was back, and he could now settle down. ** Beijing Hospital, psychology consultation room. Xu He waited outside. Anxiously, she clenched her wrist, pacing back and forth. Driver Wang Dahai: ¡°Madam, why don¡¯t you sit for a while? Psychological issues... they usually take a long time.¡± Xu He waved her hand somewhat irritably, telling him to wait in the car. Wang Dahai sighed and hung his head. This second young lady, really causing the madam a lot of worries. It was unclear whether her return was a blessing or a curse to the Xia Family. Inside the consultation room. Xia Ye crushed a soda-flavored hard candy in her mouth, lifted her eyelids, and looked at the consultation therapist Pu Meilan opposite her, wearing a white lab coat. Despite her being just over 30, her name tag proclaimed her the head of the psychology department. Having just finished a re-examination, Xu He said she was passing by the psychology department and wanted her to come in for a look. Passing by and encountering the head of the psychology department seemed too coincidental. But Xia Ye agreed nonetheless, not wanting Xu He to worry. Pu Meilan looked at Xia Ye, then turned back to check the medical records on the computer again. She seemed somewhat disbelieving that this was the same young girl who had been abducted for 14 years and whom the Madam mentioned needed psychological counseling yesterday. Xia Ye crossed her long legs in a somewhat saucy pose, her breathtakingly beautiful face adorned with an ambiguous smile. Half a minute later, she broke the silence, ¡°Shall we, begin?¡± Pu Meilan looked into her eyes, hesitated for a moment, and said, ¡°Okay...¡± As the words left her mouth, she was taken aback. Why did it feel... like the roles had been reversed?! Chapter 22 - 22 022 Picking up a fanboy on the way ?22: 022 Picking up a fanboy on the way 22: 022 Picking up a fanboy on the way ... The hanging clock outside the consultation room had gone through a full rotation of its minute hand. Xu He stood up anxiously and leaned close to the door to listen. But the soundproofing of the consultation room was too effective, preventing any sounds from escaping. It was said that many people would break down and cry during PTSD therapy. Xu He couldn¡¯t bear the thought, but opening up was the first step towards healing. ¡°Click¨C¡± The sound of the door handle turning snapped her out of her wild thoughts. Looking up, Little Tiangao walked out from inside. Her expression was calm, no different from when she had entered. Her eyes were clear, her little face fair and smooth, not at all like someone who had been crying. Xu He wasn¡¯t sure whether to be relieved or to feel... ¡°Little Tiangao, you...¡± Before she could finish, sobbing and wailing from inside the room interrupted her thoughts. Xu He looked over in astonishment, only to see the reputedly decisive and courageous ¡®Iron Lady¡¯ Pu Meilan, now bent over the table, sobbing her heart out. The crying was loud, as if years of suppressed sorrow were finally finding an outlet, desperate to be fully released. Xu He was full of question marks, ¡°Tiangao, is this... Director Pu?¡± Xia Ye nodded, her tone serene, ¡°Let her cry for a while, she¡¯ll feel better once it¡¯s out.¡± Xu He opened her mouth, but for the life of her, could not utter a single word. Just who was counseling whom, in the end? ** Leaving the psychology department, the children¡¯s healthcare department was directly opposite. From a distance, she saw a little boy ¡®whooshing¡¯ out of the examination room. ¡°Young Master, slow down when you run, don¡¯t fall!¡± ¡°Young Master, the injection won¡¯t hurt at all, really!¡± ¡°Young Master!¡± As the little boy drew closer, Xia Ye made out his appearance. He seemed to be about three or four years old, wearing overalls with a bow tie, clearly someone¡¯s little treasure. Although short-legged, he was fast, leaving his two nannies unable to catch up. In his hands, he clutched a toy car, looking back as he ran, ¡°Liars! That little kid just now fainted in pain! I¡¯m not getting it; you get it instead!¡± He was too concerned with talking to watch where he was going. ¡°Young Master! The stairs are ahead!¡± By the time he noticed, one foot was already in midair, and he lost his balance, about to tumble down the stairs¡ª Just in a nick of time, Xia Ye swiftly approached and, with a quick reaction, grabbed his arm, pulling him back to safety... The nannies arriving later were dumbfounded, rooted to the spot. Seeing the Young Master unharmed, they thanked Xia Ye profusely. But how had this seemingly fragile girl managed to get to the Young Master so quickly? They had barely seen it happen! Xu He was still pondering the events of the therapy session and didn¡¯t pay much attention to the little boy, nodding to the grateful nannies before taking her daughter¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Little Tiangao, your brothers are home already~¡± While Little Tiangao had been in the consultation room, Xia Xing had called her three times urging her to come home. Xia Ye agreed and followed her out. The two nannies clung to the little boy¡¯s hands on either side, determined not to let him escape again! ¡°Young Master, be good. All children must get vaccinated to avoid getting sick, and then you can visit your cousin tomorrow.¡± The little boy, who had just been defiantly unyielding, now seemed surprisingly indifferent to the word ¡°injection.¡± His grape-like eyes, clear and bright, were fixed on the spot where Xia Ye had departed, and his tender little mouth was slightly open, ¡°Sister Little Tiangao...?¡± The nannies didn¡¯t catch it clearly, ¡°What? Tiangao? Wait until after the injection, we¡¯ll buy you some Tiangao.¡± The little boy ignored them, and on the way to the examination room, he bore the deep expression of a little boss, uttering a classic boss-like phrase! ¡°I want all the information on Sister Little Tiangao within three minutes!¡± ¡ª*¡ª*¡ª PS: Die-hard fanboy get? Guess who his cousin is? Chapter 23 - 23 023 Pretending gone wrong ?23: 023 Pretending gone wrong 23: 023 Pretending gone wrong On the way back, Xu He received a phone call. The temperature had warmed up today, and the car windows were wide open. Her voice was dispersed by the wind, and Xia Ye could only faintly hear her ask, ¡°What time will you approximately arrive?¡± It seemed someone else was coming to their home. Moreover, from Xu He¡¯s somewhat distressed expression, it was clear¡ª the visitor was not a friendly one. ** When Xia Ye arrived home, there was still only one Bugatti parked in the courtyard. Entering the foyer, he heard the chaotic voices of the servants. ¡°Eldest young master, you¡¯ve got the hand soap, this is the dishwashing liquid!¡± ¡°Second young master! Be careful not to cut your hand!¡± ¡°Oh dear third young master, the meat needs to be thawed before cutting! The kitchen is not a place for young masters!¡± Xia Ye changed his shoes and entered the house. Following the noise, he looked toward the kitchen. The next second, his steps halted. Their family kitchen was a disaster! The table and floor were cluttered with items, and the trash bin was filled with blackish ¡°activated carbon¡±, which was the burnt eggs. The three brothers had never cooked before, lacked culinary skills, but were still quite meddlesome. The eldest was a germaphobe, insistent on repeatedly washing and sterilizing each utensil. The second was obsessed with precision, committed to cutting a single carrot into 20 perfectly equal cubes. The third suffered from anxiety and had been sharpening the knife for half an hour. Only their Little Tiangao could inspire such a spontaneous decision to cook among these three stoic men. Wu Ma guessed that the second young mistress had just returned, and the young masters would definitely spoil her, but she had never imagined it would be to this extent. In her ten years with the Xia Family, when had she ever seen the young masters enter the kitchen? Usually, they were even too finicky to pour themselves water. Hearing noises from the foyer, the brothers all turned their heads in unison. Only then did Xia Ye notice that his germaphobe elder brother was even wearing an apron. The typically cold and serious eldest brother, paired with a tacky pink floral apron. That scene... ¡°Little Tiangao.¡± Xia Tiao and Xia Xian looked up, their lips curving into smiles, instinctively wearing an indulgent grin. Although they had seen many photos of their little sister in the family chat, seeing her in person stirred profound emotions in their hearts. ¡°Big brother, third brother,¡± Xia Ye smiled and called out obediently. Xia Tiao said, ¡°You and mom take a seat, big brother will cook something delicious for you today.¡± Xia Xing asked, ¡°Little Tiangao, do you prefer carrot cubes or strips?¡± Xia Xian interjected, ¡°Give it a rest, my sister loves chicken the most. Little Tiangao, wait for third brother to make you some chicken.¡± The three exchanged glances. It was a flurry of knife flashes and sparks. The competition was on. Fearing the smoke would bother their tender little sister, they even specifically closed the kitchen door. Xia Ye chuckled and led Xu He to the sofa area. Xu He had been preoccupied with accompanying him to the hospital and hadn¡¯t even applied medicine to her arm. Xia Ye asked for the ointment, intending to apply it himself. Upon hearing that Little Tiangao would personally apply her medicine, Xu He¡¯s mood immediately warmed, despite having originally been agitated by the messy kitchen. While he was applying the medicine, not long after, the sound of Wu Ma¡¯s ingratiating laughter echoed from the front door. It was the person from the phone call who had arrived. In a matter of seconds, a portly figure appeared in the living room. This person was Qiao Yufen, by generation, Xia Ye¡¯s grandmother. When Xia Ye was born, the family had been overjoyed. Only she had disdainfully clicked her tongue and said, ¡°Why is it a girl?¡± Wu Ma cautiously supported her to the sofa opposite Xia Ye, as if handling a revered golden Buddha. ¡°Old Madam...¡± Wu Ma gestured toward Xia Ye, hinting with her mouth. Qiao Yufen, with droopy eyelids, scrutinized Xia Ye, who was still leisurely applying medicine to Xu He, acting as if he hadn¡¯t noticed her arrival, furrowing her brow in annoyance. The previously light and cheerful living room became instantly oppressive with her presence. Xu He¡¯s expression tightened slightly. The word ¡°Mom¡± had barely reached her lips when she was cut off by a harsh scolding. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for half a day already, and your daughter doesn¡¯t even know to greet people?¡± Halted mid-sentence, Xu He could only give Xia Ye a look. Only then did Xia Ye look up, noticing the imperious old lady who had appeared opposite him at some unknown time. Expecting a respectful greeting from Xia Ye, Qiao Yufen snorted arrogantly. However, Xia Ye spoke in a tone neither salty nor bland. ¡°And you are...?¡± Chapter 24 - 24 Why dont you go to heaven ?24: Why don¡¯t you go to heaven? 24: Why don¡¯t you go to heaven? As soon as these words were spoken, the living room fell deathly silent. Qiao Yufen¡¯s face couldn¡¯t have looked worse. It turned out that after all this time, the person she was visiting didn¡¯t even recognize her! Originally, she didn¡¯t want Xu He to have a fourth child. When she found out Xu He was pregnant again, her first reaction was to suggest she have an abortion. Xu He¡¯s health was poor, and pregnancy left her unable to care for herself, let alone her three precious grandsons. But who would have thought Xu He insisted on giving birth? And what was the result? She sacrificed the attention her precious grandsons needed only to give birth to a girl! At three years old, the girl went missing, throwing the whole family into turmoil and leaving her son and grandsons devastated. Fourteen years passed, and just as everything finally seemed to be getting back on track, this granddaughter had to be found! Qiao Yufen felt no joy at all! Xu He hurriedly explained, ¡°Mom, Little Tiangao just came back. It¡¯s normal for her not to recognize you right away.¡± After speaking, she introduced Xia Ye, ¡°This is your grandmother, ah. You¡¯ve met her when you were little.¡± Xia Ye understood, no wonder she didn¡¯t recognize her; it was her grandmother. Since she was born, Qiao Yufen seldom visited their home. On the few occasions she did, it was always to see her brothers. Xia Ye was sure today was no exception. Xu He¡¯s words did nothing to improve Qiao Yufen¡¯s expression; her gaze fell on Xu He¡¯s arm. She didn¡¯t ask about the bruise, but noticed the crudely made ointment first, a look of deep disdain in her eyes: ¡°What¡¯s that you¡¯re smearing on?¡± Xu He lowered her sleeve and, with great care, capped the ointment and tucked it into her pocket, her tone proud, ¡°This, oh, Little Tiangao specially made this ointment for me...¡± She had hoped to let Qiao Yufen know about Xia Ye¡¯s filial piety, but before she could finish speaking, Qiao Yufen¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°What? She made it? My daughter-in-law, really, as the lady of the Xia family, you dare to smear your arm with something of unknown origin? What if it burns your skin, won¡¯t that bring shame to the Xia family?¡± Her tone at the end of her sentence was hook-like, very uncomfortable to listen to. Xia Ye¡¯s cool gaze lifted, and she glanced at her once, her eyes misting with a cold fog, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what Grandma just said?¡± ¡°What?¡± Qiao Yufen frowned. Xia Ye¡¯s voice was cold, bringing with it a low pressure, ¡°First, it was me who gave it to her, so it¡¯s not of unknown origin. Second, as I said, it¡¯s an ointment, for promoting blood circulation and removing stasis, so how could it possibly burn the skin?¡± Qiao Yufen leaned back and laughed out loud, ¡°Promoting blood circulation and removing stasis? Why don¡¯t you claim to have come from heaven?¡± Xia Ye shrugged, ¡°Just came down from heaven.¡± To Qiao Yufen, this earnest answer was infuriating. ¡°All lies!¡± Qiao Yufen glared fiercely at Xia Ye. She just couldn¡¯t bring herself to like this granddaughter, especially with those cold, different-colored eyes¨Cthey seemed to portend bad luck! She recalled that fourteen years ago, Xia Ye, at merely three years old, had glared at her with those eyes and said she would face a bloody disaster in three days. It nearly drove her mad. Other people¡¯s granddaughters wished their grandmothers long life, but hers seemed to be cursing her! And what happened? Because of this granddaughter¡¯s curse, she actually did trip and hurt her head three days later! Qiao Yufen wanted to say more, but the kitchen door was suddenly pulled open. At the same time, a fragrant aroma wafted out. Although straight men of steel might be inept at cooking, they were smart enough. After a few failed attempts, they managed to make something quite decent. Qiao Yufen¡¯s mood instantly improved upon seeing the men emerge from the kitchen, and as if to make sure Xia Ye heard, she said, ¡°Ah, in the end, I still have to count on my grandsons. Knowing their grandmother was coming, they specially made all these dishes for me!¡± Chapter 25 - 25 025 Super cute ?25: 025 Super cute 25: 025 Super cute Xia Tiao/Xia Xing/Xia Xian: ¡°...¡± Everyone in the room, except for Qiao Yufen, knew who the young masters were cooking for. However, no one wanted to be the bearer of bad news, as the housekeeper hurriedly directed the servants to serve the dishes: ¡°Madam, Mistress, and Second Miss, please eat. This is the young masters¡¯ first time cooking. Let¡¯s taste their culinary skills.¡± The group headed to the dining room. ¡°Little Tiangao.¡± Xia Ye turned around at the call. As he turned, Xia Xian dabbed a small dollop of cream on the tip of her nose with his index finger: ¡°Little Tiangao, your brothers are back.¡± Hints of indulgence were evident in his low, mischievous voice. Xia Xing swiftly took out his phone and snapped several photos of Xia Ye with cream on her nose. Xia Tiao pressed her half-fist to her lips, hiding her shyness. Adorable to the extreme. The servants glanced sideways while serving the dishes, stealing looks at them. It had to be said, the four siblings walking together, with their tall figures, striking features, and noble demeanor, were truly pleasing to the eye. Apart from the Jiang Family head who had visited last time, there really was no ¡°beauty¡± who could compare with them. The mix of Eastern and Western cuisine the brothers prepared piqued Xia Ye¡¯s interest, especially Xia Xian¡¯s chicken dish. The brothers kept loading Xia Ye¡¯s plate with their own cooking, sparking jealousy in Qiao Yufen¡¯s eyes. For some reason, her grandsons were always doting on Xia Ye, and it had always been this way. In contrast, Xia Yourong, the child adopted by her son later, though polite and well-mannered, was met with their indifference. Xia Yourong had often come to her in tears over this issue, and as someone who claimed to be compassionate and a believer of Buddhism, she couldn¡¯t help but feel deep sympathy. The child had a pitiable background but was very sensible, unlike Xia Ye. Xia Yourong¡¯s birth mother was Xu He¡¯s sister, Xu Qing. Speaking of which, back in the day, the Xu Family raised two daughters: the sisters Xu He and Xu Qing. Both sisters were famous socialites in Capital City. At that time, Qiao Yufen had her eye on the sweet-talking and savvy Xu Qing and had even arranged a marriage match for her son, only to find that her son had fallen for the sickly Xu He, who appeared to be lacking in fortune. Unable to persuade her son and considering the Xu Family¡¯s status was a good match, she didn¡¯t object. As it turned out, Xu Qing¡¯s daughter was, in fact, superior to Xu He! A promising marriage alliance with the Jiang Family was lost because of this! Glancing up and seeing Xia Ye already starting on her second bowl of rice with the chicken dish, Qiao Yufen couldn¡¯t contain her irritation, ¡°Girls shouldn¡¯t eat so much; you won¡¯t be able to find a husband if you do!¡± Xu He disagreed with her, ¡°Mom, the doctor said today she¡¯s too skinny, severely malnourished. She needs to eat well.¡± Qiao Yufen snorted disdainfully, looking sideways at Xia Ye, ¡°Malnourished? I think she looks quite spirited...¡± The three brothers exchanged looks, and Xia Xian picked up a big helping of the carrots stirred by the second brother with the serving chopsticks, ¡°Grandma, you should eat more, too.¡± Qiao Yufen¡¯s irritation at Xia Ye faded away, her face brimming with warmth, ¡°Ah, Xianxian is such a good boy...¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Xia Xian stuffed the carrots into her mouth. Qiao Yufen choked, and her following words were forgotten. After the meal, Xia Xing put on his hat and sunglasses and left for the club, Xia Tiao went back to the study to check her emails, and Xia Xian stepped out to take care of some errands. Once again, only Qiao Yufen, Xu He, and Xia Ye were left in the living room. The housekeeper served some exquisite refreshments. The room was eerily quiet, with the surround sound system of the oversized TV becoming slightly more noticeable. Qiao Yufen glanced at Xia Ye several times. Xia Ye was lounging on the couch with her chin resting lazily on the armrest, resembling some boneless little creature, her eyes carelessly fixed on the television. Clearly immersed in her own world, seemingly indifferent to whatever anyone else was saying. Noticing she was watching a foreign news channel and knowing she couldn¡¯t understand, Xu He considerately switched it to a domestic idol drama. All little girls like this sort of thing. Xia Ye: ... Qiao Yufen shook her head and frowned deeply. The atmosphere only became lively again when another young girl appeared in the living room. Xia Yuzheng got off work and brought Xia Yourong back from her Ancient Flute Class. Seeing salvation had arrived, the housekeeper¡¯s tone was especially joyful, ¡°Miss, are you thirsty? Would you like something to drink?¡± Xia Yourong¡¯s face was flush with warmth, ¡°Green tea will do!¡± Chapter 26 - 26 026 50 years agos younger brother ?26: 026 50 years ago¡¯s younger brother 26: 026 50 years ago¡¯s younger brother Entering the room, Xia Yuzheng¡¯s face was also full of uncontainable pride, ¡°I just picked up Xiaorong, and Teacher Li was praising her again, saying there¡¯s no problem for her to pass Grade 8 before the college entrance exam.¡± Teacher Li is Xia Yourong¡¯s ancient flute teacher. The moment Qiao Yufen heard this, she couldn¡¯t be happier, ¡°Really? Isn¡¯t it true that passing Grade 8 can add points to the college entrance exam score?¡± When Xia Yourong heard that her brothers were busy with something and had to leave, she first felt disappointed, but then seeing her grandmother arrive, she immediately fluttered over to the sofa like a little butterfly, hugging her affectionately, ¡°Grandma, why didn¡¯t you tell me in advance that you were coming? If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have gone to class.¡± Qiao Yufen lovingly patted the back of her hand, ¡°That¡¯s not acceptable, you must not fall behind in your classes.¡± ¡°Right, grandma, you haven¡¯t seen my Grade 7 certificate yet, have you?¡± Xia Yourong said as she placed her backpack in front of her chest, unzipped it, and eagerly started to take it out to show off. Xia Ye felt a bit amused¡ªcarrying her certificate around with her? Her gaze swept over and noticed a long, slender musical instrument in her backpack. It seemed... somewhat familiar. ¡°Is that a flute?¡± Xia Ye casually asked. To her surprise, Xia Yourong didn¡¯t take the ancient flute out, but quickly zipped the backpack back up like she was guarding against thieves, and responded perfunctorily, ¡°Mhm, it is.¡± This was an ancient flute specially made for her by her father at the cost of tens of thousands, with the finest workmanship and materials. Xia Ye, a country girl, wouldn¡¯t understand, and what if she ruined it? Qiao Yufen was looking at Xia Yourong¡¯s Grade 7 certificate over and over again, her smile spreading across her face. This was the image of a true lady. ¡°Xiaorong really does the Xia family proud. While others in their third year of high school are only focused on their studies, you¡¯re not only good in academics but also so talented! Grandma is so proud of you! And I heard you¡¯ll be performing at the school opening ceremony? That¡¯s really great, but make sure you don¡¯t neglect your studies, okay?¡± Xia Yourong nodded with a smile and glanced over at Xia Ye, her eyes rolling as her tone suddenly changed to one of immense regret, ¡°It would be great if little sister could come watch the opening ceremony performance. I remember she¡¯s only a month younger than me, so she should also be...¡± She wanted to say ¡®also of age to be in her third year of high school,¡¯ but she didn¡¯t need to finish her sentence for everyone in the room to get the implication. On hearing this, Qiao Yufen¡¯s smile instantly faded, first glancing at Xia Ye, then her gaze hardened toward Xia Yuzheng, ¡°What are your plans regarding her schooling?¡± As a daughter of the Xia family, she absolutely could not just stay at home like an illiterate! With the question out there, Xu He and Xia Yuzheng both looked troubled. Their eldest daughter was already assured of extra points for the college entrance exam, while the issue of schooling for their younger daughter was still unresolved. They both remembered how smart Xia Ye was as a child, recognizing characters at one, reciting three hundred Tang poems by two, and doing mental arithmetic without mistake by three. If she had been properly nurtured, her future would have been boundless. Unfortunately... But no matter what, she was 17 now; she couldn¡¯t start from primary or middle school all over again. Being with children much younger than herself, she would easily develop a sense of inferiority. Xia Yuzheng sighed, ¡°By pulling some strings, there should be a high school willing to take Yeye...¡± Seeing an opportunity, Xia Yourong interjected, ¡°Dad, the best high school in Capital City is Beijing No.1 Middle School, can you get little sister into First Middle School? That way, I could take care of her.¡± As expected, Qiao Yufen¡¯s expression turned even sourer, ¡°Xiaorong, grandma knows you have a good heart, but can just anyone enter Beijing No.1 Middle School? And with your headmaster being such an old-school scholar, even if your father is the chairman of Xia Group, he won¡¯t give any favors. With your sister¡¯s circumstances, let¡¯s not make her face embarrassment...¡± Xia Yuzheng also shook his head; though Qiao Yufen¡¯s words were harsh, they weren¡¯t wrong. Xia Ye listened to the discussion around her and suddenly remembered an incident from many years ago. About 50 years earlier, when she visited the human world, she had taken a little brother under her wing. His parents had a ¡®bad¡¯ background, which, at that time, was quite fatal. Plus, he was very young and wore thick bottle-bottom glasses, always being bullied. She had saved him a few times. He stuck to her after that. Back then, the little brother said his ambition was to make the best school in the country. To encourage him, Xia Ye had even given him two phrases. He was so delighted, saying he would use those two phrases as his future school¡¯s motto. Which two phrases were they? Xia Ye was having trouble remembering... As she was recalling, Xia Yourong received a mass text message from the school¡¯s academic affairs office reminding her that the winter vacation was about to end. Qiao Yufen squinted and held up the phone at a distance, ¡°Xiaorong, what are the last two phrases here?¡± Xia Yourong answered with a bright smile, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s our school¡¯s motto.¡± After saying that, she articulated like a newscaster, enunciating clearly, ¡°Strive for strength and perseverance, and seek improvement every day.¡± Xia Ye paused momentarily. Ah, that¡¯s right! Those were the phrases! Chapter 27 - 27 027 Jiang Xuan is ?27: 027 Jiang Xuan is... a bit strange (two in one) 27: 027 Jiang Xuan is... a bit strange (two in one) Xu He was initially worried that Little Tiangao would be upset after hearing the conversation between her sister and grandmother, but seeing her expression, she seemed quite relaxed and even had a hint, a strangely pleasant look... Anyway, since Little Tiangao was not affected, she also felt somewhat comforted. Qiao Yufen¡¯s visit meant she would definitely stay for a few days. Xia Yuzheng escorted the old lady back to her room. Once inside, Qiao Yufen¡¯s turbid eyes swept behind him, and after Xia Yuzheng closed the door, she began, ¡°I see how your wife dotes on her daughter; it¡¯s as if she wants to embed her in her flesh. She¡¯s muddled, but you cannot afford to be. Xiaorong is the one you¡¯ve raised from childhood, the true lady of the Xia Family. The favor you owe to an adopted child is greater than heaven, so do not neglect my granddaughter just because your biological daughter has returned.¡± Xia Yuzheng was noncommittal, steering the conversation away from sensitivity, ¡°Since we decided to adopt Xiaorong, she will always be my daughter, and I shall not be partial.¡± He knew his mother never liked Xu He and was even more prejudiced against Xia Ye; Xu He¡¯s expression when she had entered the house had made it clear that she had endured quite a bit today. But after all, that was his mother... Qiao Yufen curled her lips, ¡°You didn¡¯t even discuss such a major event with me as Jiang Family breaking off the engagement. That¡¯s the Jiang Family! Do you know how many people are envious of our connection? And even if the young master of Jiang Family dislikes her, you could have talked to his parents, who are people of their word. Everyone in Capital City knows your daughter was abducted to a mountain village and only returned after 14 years, and now she¡¯s been rejected. Who will dare to marry her?¡± Speaking of Xia Ye, Qiao Yufen was visibly displeased and rattled on like a machine gun, with Xia Yuzheng struggling to get a word in edgewise. Seizing the moment while she caught her breath, he quickly explained, ¡°Mom, the breakup was actually because of the young master of Jiang Family...¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Qiao Yufen interrupted forcefully again, ¡°It¡¯s done, so let it be!¡± Her easy willingness to let go was not because she was genuinely ready to give up on the relationship with the Jiang Family. It was... because she remembered her granddaughter. Xia Yourong had mentioned that the young master of Jiang Family was in the same class as her and seemed quite fond of her. Now that he had broken off the engagement with Xia Ye, he could openly pursue her granddaughter! Qiao Yufen¡¯s expression softened slightly, glancing at Xia Yuzheng, ¡°School is starting soon. Make sure to handle your daughter¡¯s schooling, if not high school, then middle school!¡± Xia Yuzheng, of course, would not let Xia Ye attend middle school and be laughed at, ¡°Although Beijing No.1 Middle School may not be possible, I have enough influence for an ordinary high school. I¡¯ll find a tutor for Xia Ye and ask the teachers to take special care of her; she should be able to keep up.¡± Knowing it would cost a fair amount of money, Qiao Yufen didn¡¯t bother to interfere, but then her tone shifted abruptly, ¡°Speaking of which, Xu Qing sent me a few photos from abroad recently. Well, you haven¡¯t seen them, but she¡¯s still so beautiful, just like a young girl. Who would think she already has a daughter as big as Little Tiangao?¡± Xia Yuzheng was taken aback by the mention of this name, slightly speechless, ¡°Mom, why are you telling me about Xiaohe¡¯s matters?¡± Qiao Yufen scrutinized his expression, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just saying. What are you so nervous about? Anyway, get out now.¡± Xia Yuzheng was utterly confused. How was he nervous? ** At 10 p.m., Xia Tiao finally finished replying to the emails that had piled up over the last two days. Xia Yourong was reviewing her lessons when she saw her brother come out of the study and smiled sweetly, ¡°Brother, you haven¡¯t been back in a year, did you miss me?¡± Xia Tiao smiled and patted her head, looking around the living room, ¡°Where¡¯s Little Tiangao?¡± Xu He said with a smile, ¡°She¡¯s gone back to her room to sleep. Don¡¯t disturb her; she must be tired from the past few days.¡± Xia Yuzheng had just finished a phone call and was walking through the hallway when he noticed one of his collectible fishing rods was missing from the wall. He was about to ask Auntie Wu about it, but then held back, deciding not to say anything. The matter of Xia Ye¡¯s schooling was enough to worry about. Xu He called from the sofa, ¡°Husband, who was on the phone?¡± Xia Yuzheng, ¡°Ah, it was a call from the Jiang Family.¡± Xia Yourong perked up her ears, then heard him continue, ¡°They heard about Yunzhou coming to break off the engagement and feel terrible. They insist on having Xia Ye visit their home tomorrow, where Yunzhou will apologize. I said it¡¯s not necessary, but they insisted...¡± Xia Tiao, having never met the Jiang Family, was uneasy, ¡°Is she going alone?¡± Xia Yourong quickly offered, ¡°How about I go with her?¡± She didn¡¯t want Brother Yunzhou to be alone with Xia Ye. But Xia Yuzheng waved it off, ¡°I know Yunzhou¡¯s parents well; Xia Ye won¡¯t suffer any disadvantage by visiting them.¡± Xu He also nodded along, ¡°Little Tiangao always likes to stay in her room and sleep; it¡¯s good for her to go out and socialize more.¡± However, unbeknownst to everyone, Little Tiangao, who they thought was shying away in her room due to introversion, was at that moment¡ªarmed with a fishing rod and carrying a tackle box¡ªheading to the Chaotai River nearby the villa district. She was about to¡ª Night Fishing. The little fox, used to lurking by day and venturing out at night, even as an elder, had adopted this same habit. Five thousand years ago, when she first came to the Chaotai River, it was a desolate place with no sign of human life; now, it¡¯s become the Wealthy District. The young girl¡¯s crimson lips took a bite of an apple and then hooked it on the fishhook. Anyone who has fished knows, using an apple as bait is practically an insult to the fish¡¯s intelligence. Xia Ye narrowed her eyes, her smiling pupils carried a playful irreverence, nonchalant in her demeanor. With a beautiful parabolic arc, ¡®thud,¡¯ the fishing line was cast into the river. Miraculously, with just that atypical bait, as soon as it hit the water, countless small fish swarmed toward it. As if they were under a spell. Despite their protests, their bodies couldn¡¯t resist. Moonlight spilled over the river surface, and a breeze blew, glittering the ripples. Xia Ye watched the fish line up to bite, her lips curling into a pretty smile. Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for the incident of being kidnapped at age three, this punishment in the human world would have been quite... But there were still many mysteries unsolved. And it¡¯s really hard to say whether the old Heavenly Dao guy took it easy on her. In the quiet, Xia Ye¡¯s mind unexpectedly flashed with the face of someone she had only recently met¡ªthe person had a remarkably refined aura. There¡¯s something... strange about Jiang Xuan. It was a shame her spiritual energy was too weak now to discern the reason. After half an hour, the fish box was full; Xia Ye expertly scooped some river water into it so the fish wouldn¡¯t die easily. The elder fox¡¯s favorite thing to eat was still the tender, chirping little chicks; she was only so-so on fish. She had caught so many fishes to bring back to the Xia Family, but she couldn¡¯t eat them all. She hadn¡¯t quite figured out what else to do with them. Yawning lazily, she made her way home with a full haul. She used to fish frequently in the Chaotai River, where many significant events had taken place. For instance, she had recited poems here, engaged in poetic duels, practiced alchemy, and gathered spiritual energy. Other than that... there probably wasn¡¯t anything important. In the darkness, the delicate and beautiful figure gradually walked farther away. Not far from there, two people sat in a luxury car. One appeared to be in his twenties, with an honest and upright face, and though his mouth was a bit sharp, his features were considered handsome; he was Dong Mao, the trusted aide and driver for Jiang Xuan. He turned his head, about to exclaim, ¡°Heav...¡± The man in the back seat sat upright, his jawline resolute. The dim light in the car overlaid a mist over his near-perfect features. Jiang Xuan tapped his clearly defined, slender fingers gently on the armrest, issuing a cool reminder, ¡°Mind your address.¡± Dong Mao had been a trusted confidant of Jiang Xuan for many years, since beginning to follow his master. Shen Jing was utterly envious of him. Dong Mao looked toward Xia Ye with a fear in his eyes that was deep in his marrow, as if he¡¯d faced a natural enemy. Still, he suppressed this fear, as flattery must go on, ¡°Master, Miss Xia is also at the Chaotai River. She must remember that the Chaotai River is where she first met you five thousand years ago.¡± Jiang Xuan maintained a composed exterior, but the downturn of his thin lips relaxed involuntarily, ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Tomorrow we have to visit the Jiang family.¡± Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s father was hosting, and he too was invited. ¡ª¡ª¡´ ?)))áꡪ¡ª The next day. Early in the morning, the Jiang family¡¯s residence bustled with activity... Chapter 28 - 28 028 Many Fishes (Two More Combined into One) ?28: 028 Many ¡°Fishes¡± (Two More Combined into One) 28: 028 Many ¡°Fishes¡± (Two More Combined into One) Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s father, Jiang He, wasn¡¯t the tallest among his four sons, but with his neatly trimmed gentleman¡¯s beard, he looked every part the honest businessman. He began to bustle about early in the morning. For today¡¯s meal, not only did he invite Xia Ye, but he also called over his youngest brother, Jiang Xuan, who had taken time out of his busy schedule to personally accompany his son to the Xia Family to break off the engagement. Besides them, Yunzhou¡¯s cousin, the four-year-old Jiang Yunyang had long been saying he wanted to come play at his big cousin¡¯s house, and it was also arranged for today. Today, Jiang Yunzhou was supposed to be making amends, but he was in an especially good mood, even going so far as to change into a rather formal shirt and slacks, which made him look quite different from when he wore his school uniform. Jiang He said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect seeing Yangyang would make you so happy. If I¡¯d known you brothers got along so well, I would have let him come over to our house every day.¡± Jiang Yunzhou didn¡¯t explain and just laughed it off, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m going to check on the kitchen.¡± After all, they had guests today, so they¡¯d prepared a few extra dishes. Jiang Yunzhou quickly scanned the array. Black chicken and softshell turtle soup, steamed oysters, sea cucumber stewed with abalone, stir-fried leek with eggs... As he looked, the smile on Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s face disappeared. All these dishes... they were all pretty nourishing, weren¡¯t they? Could it be that his parents had also heard about his ¡°inability¡±? As he was suspecting this, he saw his anxious-looking mother glance at him and immediately said without any subtlety, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink, my dear big boy! These dishes have nothing to do with you!¡± Jiang Yunzhou: ... Seeing that he didn¡¯t quite believe her, Liu Manyi added another line, ¡°Really! If I¡¯m lying, may your father sprain his ankle the moment he steps outside!¡± Jiang Yunzhou: ...... No wonder they had been so determined that he marries Xia Ye, yet when they found out about his broken engagement last night, they didn¡¯t scold him at all. He wasn¡¯t sure whether to thank his uncle or to... thank his uncle... ** At the Xia Family residence, coordinates: living room. Xia Yuzheng pinched a contract, sliding his reading glasses down to his nose bridge, looked up, and glanced over the tops of his glasses at his sons who were busy with their own things, scattered on the sofa, ¡°Who will get dad a glass of water?¡± The eldest sat upright, busy drafting emails. The second was at a critical juncture in his game, about to push the enemy¡¯s crystal. The third, speaking an authentic border dialect, was replying to something on WeChat. Nobody seemed to hear what their father had said. Just then, Xia Ye, who had just learned she would be visiting the Jiang Family today, walked out of the hallway with a small fish tank and casually asked, ¡°Any drinks?¡± The mere casual inquiry from her had her three brothers all but reflexively looking up¡ª ¡°Little Tiangao is thirsty?¡± ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it for you!¡± Xia Yuzheng narrowed his eyes into thin slits. They could hear Yeye speak but were deaf to him? Did their ears come with filters? Does dad not need any face? ¡°Miss Second, the driver has been waiting outside,¡± said the housekeeper Wu, in a tone that did not conceal any respect. Xia Ye took her time finishing her drink, responding with a light voice. She glanced to her side and saw Xia Xian still replying to messages on WeChat. She was familiar with last century¡¯s version of the border dialect, which had some slight grammatical differences from the current one. Yet she could still make out the general gist¡ªthat her third brother was troubled by a batch of goods from the border. When it was nearly time to leave, the housekeeper Wu reminded her again. Her brothers saw Xia Ye to the door. Xia Tiao said, ¡°Come back early and don¡¯t stay out too late.¡± Xia Xing said, ¡°Call me if there¡¯s anything; let the driver do it.¡± Xia Xian put away his phone as well, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to that Jiang kid.¡± All three looked concerned, channelling Xia Yuzheng. All eyes were on Xia Ye, so no one noticed what she was carrying in her hands. Only the housekeeper Wu, as she passed by Xia Ye, crinkled her nose purposefully. What¡¯s that smell? Why does it smell like a seafood market? ** At noon, Jiang Xuan left the company half an hour early to keep an appointment at Jiang He¡¯s house. Jiang He was very polite, ¡°Fourth brother, I didn¡¯t know you were going to the company today, had I known, I would have arranged the meeting for tomorrow.¡± Jiang Xuan leisurely undid a button at his collar, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I will be going to the company in the future.¡± Jiang He was surprised again at these words. Why was he suddenly planning to work at the company? As Jiang Xuan entered the house, a little boy was sitting on the living room sofa. Jiang Yunyang had already arrived. He obediently said, ¡°Hello, Little Uncle,¡± then continued to clank his chubby little legs while bowing his head to play a game on his cellphone. If Xia Ye were here at this moment, she would realize That this little boy was no other than the one she had saved in the hospital. Jiang Xuan¡¯s gaze swept through the room, not finding the person he wanted to see; however, Jiang Yunzhou greeted him excitedly. Although his nephew was always enthusiastic when he saw him, today his mood was especially high. The whole person seemed as cheerful as if he were experiencing the thrills of youthful love for the first time. That¡¯s what Jiang Yunzhou thought. Even if the engagement had been broken off, it didn¡¯t matter; young people nowadays valued free love, and he could pursue her again. And since his uncle doted on him so much, he would definitely help him chase after the Little Fairy! Of course, Jiang Xuan was fully aware of his thoughts. In terms of rationale, he had no obligation to help him. On an emotional level, that was even more like a dream. Jiang Yunzhou couldn¡¯t understand why, but he sensed a hint of mockery in his Little Uncle¡¯s expression. But he quickly shook his head in denial. His Little Uncle was born with a stern face; even when he was expressionless, there was a coldness about him. It must be that. With him being so popular, how could his Little Uncle possibly mock him? Thoughts like these crossed his mind, and then the sarcasm on Jiang Xuan¡¯s face became even more pronounced... The preparations in the kitchen were finished, and the doorbell rang again just in time. Timing was perfect. Jiang Yunzhou straightened his clothes and reached out to open the door. Jiang Xuan¡¯s eyes drifted involuntarily toward the doorway, subtly pressing his thin lips together. There, Xia Ye¡¯s figure appeared. She blinked her eyes. The hazy peach blossom eyes alluringly captivated those present. Jiang Yunzhou froze, noticing the box in her hands, ¡°Eh? What you¡¯re holding is...¡± Xia Ye¡¯s eyes lowered leisurely, she glanced at the fish box in her hand, her long eyelashes casting a slight shadow over her eyes. After a long while, she uttered, ¡°A welcoming gift, I caught them.¡± Not very heartfelt. Jiang Yunzhou was polite on the outside but ecstatic on the inside, quickly taking the box into his hands, meticulously examining it. Jiang He¡¯s voice rose from behind, ¡°Yunzhou, what are you doing letting the guest stand at the door? Come in, Yeye! Let Uncle Jiang have a look...¡± Xia Ye entered the house, and Jiang Yunzhou, with his back turned, hurriedly opened the fish box. Wow, there must be dozens, right? All of them jumping and lively, still alive. Xia Ye personally fishing for him, if this were in ancient times, wouldn¡¯t it be like a maiden embroidering a purse for him? Jiang Xuan glanced at the box of fish, thinking back to the previous night. He sat in his car, watching the little girl fish. He watched for half an hour. Jiang Yunzhou boasted gleefully, ¡°Little Uncle, look, look, she gave these to me!¡± Jiang Xuan scoffed lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t you get it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Yunzhou still had a smile on his face, ¡°Don¡¯t get what?¡± ¡°Giving you so many fish...¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as his chin gestured toward the box of lively fish, his tone slightly cool, ¡°might be implying that you¡¯re superfluous (extra fish).¡± Chapter 29 - 29 029 Suddenly well-behaved, there must be something tricky~ ?29: 029 Suddenly well-behaved, there must be something tricky~ 29: 029 Suddenly well-behaved, there must be something tricky~ Many fish... Many...remain... Jiang Yunzhou felt like his entire being, from top to bottom, had split apart! If someone else had said this, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have believed it. But coincidentally, these words came from Jiang Xuan, the most authoritative member of the Jiang Family. Could it be that the uncle still has thoughts of robbing the cradle and deliberately said this? Impossible. The Little Fairy calls him uncle after all, what could possibly happen? Not only was Jiang Yunzhou split apart, but so was a small figure on the couch. With a ¡®snap,¡¯ the chubby little hands failed to hold on, and the phone fell to the floor. Jiang Yunyang¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t follow the phone, but he jumped off the couch, his small jiojio sinking into the camel-colored plush carpet. The woman just now, although he only saw her profile, it was definitely Sister Little Tiangao! The only one prettier than the heroine of Lele Planet is Sister Little Tiangao! ** By the sink, Jiang Yunyang stood on a colorful children¡¯s step stool, gloomily washing his hands before dinner, while sneaking a glance at his cousin washing his hands next to him. His eyebrows furrowed like caterpillars, and suddenly he blurted out, ¡°Why did you reject my fiance?e!¡± Jiang Yunzhou was stunned for a moment, looking at the mirror at the four-year-old little brat. ¡°Who rejected your fiance?e? I rejected my own!¡± The little brat seemed to have a screw loose since Xia Ye entered the house, not acting normal. Jiang Yunzhou was utterly perplexed. The next second, he saw the little brat puff up like a little pufferfish, ¡°They only mentioned an engagement with the Jiang Family, they didn¡¯t specify it was you! It could have been me, too! The pretty sister¡¯s husband is still in kindergarten! Why did you reject my fiance?e!¡± After saying that, he didn¡¯t wait for a response and jumped off the step stool, scurrying away. Jiang Yunzhou: I¡¯m so fucked... But on second thought, it really seemed to be the case... ** In the dining area, Xia Ye was the last to be seated. Only next to Jiang Xuan was there still a seat. The seat Jiang Yunzhou had left for Xia Ye was taken by Jiang Yunyang. He did it on purpose. The dining room, seemingly spacious and bright, felt cramped and narrow because of Jiang Xuan¡¯s presence. This man sat there with his legs crossed, and even in silence, his presence remained overwhelming. Xia Ye, having no other choice, walked over and sat next to Jiang Xuan. At the dining table, Jiang He and Liu Manyi were very amiable. When Xia Ye was little, they had already met this ¡°prospective daughter-in-law.¡± Back then, she wore cute princess dresses and sparkling diamond hair clips on her head. Now, she had transformed into such a beautiful young woman. They both liked her more and more. If only their son weren¡¯t so disappointing. During the meal, Jiang He asked Jiang Xuan for some business advice. It just so happened to be about the Jiang¡¯s industry chain at the border. Xia Ye had just returned and was not fully clear on the domestic and international situations, but she sensed that even her third brother, known as a border big shot, probably wasn¡¯t enough in front of Jiang Xuan. In other words, if Jiang Xuan were willing to help, then the predicament her third brother faced now... ** After the meal, in the study. Jiang He brought a contract, hoping Jiang Xuan could take a look. In the quiet stillness of the afternoon, the sunshine was rampant. Sounds of slippers dragging on the floor occasionally reached the doorway. When Xia Ye passed by the study door for the third time, Jiang Xuan finally couldn¡¯t help but glance at her nonchalantly as he put down his cup. The girl had clear eyes and charming features; perhaps it was the light, but he suddenly found today¡¯s Xia Ye... rather well-behaved. The man turned a page of the contract unobtrusively, his lips slightly pursed, ¡°Is there something?¡± Chapter 30 - 30 030 Creepy Uncle ?30: 030 Creepy Uncle 30: 030 Creepy Uncle If it were someone else, they would have been so intimidated by his inherent aura that they wouldn¡¯t dare to speak. But Xia Ye didn¡¯t. Not only was she not afraid, she actually followed his words, walked to his side, pulled up a chair for herself, and sat down. And she sat quite close. Closer than when they were eating. So close that Jiang Xuan¡¯s hand, holding the contract, became slightly tense. Turning his head, the little girl was smiling at him. Her eyes curved into a half-moon, carrying a fatally innocent look. Jiang Xuan¡¯s throat bobbed, and just as he was about to speak, the little girl beat him to it, ¡°I¡¯d like to ask for a favor~¡± Jiang Xuan: ... Heh, no wonder he thought Xia Ye was quite well-behaved today. Soon he realized that Xia Ye wasn¡¯t just asking him for help, but also, it was for her third brother that she was asking for his help. Jiang Xuan¡¯s face darkened slightly, his gaze returned to the contract, and he spoke indifferently, ¡°It seems your third brother is quite important to you?¡± Xia Ye nodded as if it were a matter of course, ¡°Yes?¡± If a real brother isn¡¯t important, then who is? Certainly not this weirdo? Jiang Xuan¡¯s expression grew stern, and he replied mercilessly, ¡°I¡¯m very busy, we¡¯ll talk later.¡± Jiang He was busy with some other matters outside, and when he came back to the study, he happened to witness this scene. Not surprised at all, he actually patted Xia Ye on the shoulder with an understanding look, comforting her, ¡°He really is busy normally. If you need anything, you can ask me, maybe I can help.¡± The number of people seeking Jiang Xuan¡¯s assistance was countless; being rejected to her face like Xia Ye was actually one of the better outcomes¡ªmost people wouldn¡¯t even get to see Jiang Xuan. Xia Ye politely said thanks, but she didn¡¯t discuss her third brother¡¯s matter with Jiang He. Though her third brother¡¯s influence at the border paled in comparison to Jiang Xuan¡¯s, it was still easy enough for him to outmatch Jiang He. ** At 2 P.M., Xu He looked up at the time on the wall, feeling that Little Tiangao should be returning soon. Fearing her daughter would check upon her return, she hurriedly asked the maid to apply her medicine to her arm. Lifting her sleeve, Xu He was stunned. ¡°Do you see if this bruise has really improved a lot?¡± It had only been a few days, right? Could it be the medicine... The maid felt that the lady was truly gentle and naive, ¡°Oh, how much strength could the second young mistress have; the bruise she made, of course, would heal quickly?¡± Xu He thought for a moment and then lightly nodded her head. Just as she finished applying it, Xia Xian in a loose, casual home outfit came out from the inner room, lazily plopped down on the couch, saw the medicine in the maid¡¯s hand, and took it, ¡°Blood resolving and bruise healing? Just what I need for my sore shoulder.¡± ¡°You got hurt again?¡± Xu He asked anxiously. But the maid¡¯s attention was entirely on another matter, ¡°Young master, you shouldn¡¯t use this, this is for the second young...¡± She meant to say ¡°the second young mistress made it up and it¡¯s entirely ineffective,¡± but before she could speak out, Xia Xian replied, ¡°I have tough skin, just a slapdash application will do.¡± Xia Xian naturally carried a somewhat sinister aura, and the maid didn¡¯t dare to contradict him, forcefully swallowing back her words. The border was a dangerous place, and Xu He had always wanted Xia Xian to pursue his career back in the country. But she could advise all she wanted; for Xia Xian, it was in one ear and out the other. He always liked challenging tasks; the kind of by-the-book job like his eldest brother¡¯s just wasn¡¯t for him. But thinking of the batch of goods that had been detained, a trace of irritation colored his brow. After a little while, there was the sound of a car outside¡ªit was Xia Ye coming back. Xia Xian touched his earring, his smile rogue-ish, ¡°Did that Jiang boy apologize to you?¡± Xia Ye changed her shoes as she entered the house, twisted her neck, and replied nonchalantly, ¡°Right, I ran into that uncle at the Jiang Family¡¯s place, talked to him about your batch of goods, not sure if he can help.¡± The siblings were cheeky in identical ways. Xia Xian was slightly taken aback, ¡°How did you know?¡± He always discussed these matters in the border language via WeChat, afraid that family would overhear and worry. After some thought, it could only have been his eldest or second brother that told her. Actually, he knew Little Tiangao might meet Jiang Xuan at the Jiang Family¡¯s house but deliberately didn¡¯t mention it, having heard from his second brother before that Jiang Xuan seemed to dislike her. Now, without guessing, he knew Little Tiangao must have hit a wall. Xia Xian felt pity, stood up, and was just about to touch her head when his phone suddenly vibrated in his hand. An unknown number. He answered, ¡°Hello.¡± There was silence for two seconds on the other end, then a man¡¯s deep and calm voice spoke. Just two sentences, concise and to the point. ¡°This is Jiang Xuan.¡± ¡°Send me the batch number of those goods.¡± Chapter 31 - 31 031 The village girl has never used a cellphone ?31: 031 The village girl has never used a cellphone 31: 031 The village girl has never used a cellphone Xia Xian was stunned for a few seconds. ¡°Jiang¡ª¡ª¡± Just as he was about to speak, the call was disconnected. He glanced at his phone. He hadn¡¯t come to his senses even as the screen automatically locked. Seeing his strange expression, Xia Ye asked, ¡°Whose call was it?¡± Xia Xian frowned slightly, ¡°He said... he was President Jiang.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xia Ye poured a glass of water and replied nonchalantly, ¡°What else did he say?¡± Xia Xian, ¡°He asked me to send him the product code...¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that good news?¡± Xia Ye shrugged his delicate shoulders. But Xia Xian was still not entirely calm. It was great that President Jiang wanted to help, but... Hadn¡¯t it been said that President Jiang didn¡¯t like Little Tiangao? Little Tiangao had only mentioned it, and President Jiang actually called him personally?! Moreover, he didn¡¯t set any conditions at first, just directly asked him to send the product code? Listened worriedly, Xu He interjected: ¡°Xianxian, is there a problem with your shipment?¡± Asked by her, Xia Xian finally remembered the important matter at hand. About to contact his subordinate, he thought it over and decided to send the product code to Jiang Xuan personally by editing the text message himself... ** For the next two days, Xia Xian was out early and returned late, but it was a stark change from his previous gloominess; things seemed to be going smoothly. Xia Xing¡¯s mood was also good. The FB team he was part of organized a friendly match with another local team, which had just ended yesterday. Although it was a friendly match, Xia Xing still made headlines with Li Bai¡¯s flamboyant maneuvers. Time and again, he decapitated generals amidst an army of thousands and emerged unscathed, driving the opponents mad. A 0.1-second peak performance cut was widely shared across various short video platforms, and many people said he had the presence of the legendary speedster ¡®Shadow¡¯ from back in the day. At that moment, Xia Ye was watching TV at home, casually flipped through channels, and stumbled upon the broadcast of that friendly match. Female fans were screaming from the stands. ¡°Struggling up from a deadly illness, I shout, ¡®Brother, I can do it!''¡± ¡°Xia, the God! YYDS!¡± Xia Ye lifted an eyelid to look at a certain god playing games beside her, ¡°What does ¡®YYDS¡¯ mean?¡± Xia Xing diverted his gaze from his phone, gave her a doting smile, and humbly said, ¡°Forever single.¡± Xia Ye: ? ¡°The second brother will not be single forever; he¡¯s like the epitome of good looks in the eSports circle, and many are after him!¡± Xia Ye first heard Xia Yourong¡¯s distinctively soft voice before she noticed her standing outside by the open patio doors, unclear how long she had been watching them. Xia Xing smiled briefly, did not speak, and continued with his game. But Xia Yourong twisted her neck proudly, saying, ¡°Like the Second Brother¡¯s ex-girlfriend, who is now the hottest budding starlet and the first choice for all major IP female leads!¡± She tried to include fresh vocab that Xia Ye wouldn¡¯t understand in her boasting to gain some sort of weird superiority. When Xia Xing heard the words ¡®ex-girlfriend,¡¯ his fingers paused, and he made a rare mistake. Not wanting to worry his younger sister, he patiently said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about the past.¡± Xia Yourong cheerfully uttered an ¡®oh¡¯ without picking up on the second brother¡¯s displeasure. It was Xia Ye who half-squinted her eyes, and all of a sudden, from above her brother¡¯s head, she saw a lush green grassland. ¡°Oh right, Little Tiangao, I have something for you,¡± Xia Xing finished his game and put away his phone. Xia Yourong quickly came in from the balcony to have a look too. Xia Xing went back to his room and then reappeared with a very neatly wrapped rectangular small box in his hand. It was a phone. The latest model. ¡°It¡¯s from a sponsor; mom hasn¡¯t bought you one yet, right? You might as well use this one.¡± Xia Yourong felt jealous inside, but when she saw Xia Ye¡¯s reaction upon receiving the phone, she instantly felt amused. Xia Ye couldn¡¯t find the power button and pressed it twice without turning it on. Xia Yourong laughed to death. This village girl! She¡¯s never used a cellphone before! Chapter 32 - 32 032 Guess~ ?32: 032 Guess~ 32: 032 Guess~ ¡°Sister, that¡¯s the volume button,¡± Xia Yourong said enthusiastically as she took over and pressed it skillfully. A few seconds later, the screen lit up. ¡°Here you go~ this is the power button~¡± Xia Ye massaged her temples. She had never used a mobile phone, and this sight delighted her older sister. Speaking of which, last time she came to the human world, everyone was still using bulky cell phones. Back then, those bulky phones were quite rare. Hard to buy. She could only manage to get... fifty. Suddenly energized, Xia Xing exclaimed, ¡°Little Tiangao, how about big brother takes you for some rank climbing?¡± Despite his usual chattiness, when it came to gaming, he became a reaper incarnate, full of aggression. He had to show Little Tiangao this cool side of him. ¡°Bro, stop troubling your sister,¡± laughed Xia Yourong, unable to contain herself this time, ¡°She doesn¡¯t even know how to use a phone, let alone play games.¡± Xia Xing didn¡¯t mind, ¡°No problem, just stay behind me, and no one will dare touch you.¡± Listenting to him speak to Xia Ye, Xia Yourong gripped the armrest of the sofa tighter as if something that solely belonged to her was being taken away; the smile on her face no longer appeared as natural as before. Xia Ye squinted her eyes and agreed playfully, ¡°Sounds good~¡± After installing the game, Xia Xing logged her into his alt account, and the character skins and inscriptions were all set up. Xia Ye had watched a few game broadcasts on TV these past two days and picked up the gameplay quickly. Xia Yourong, usually keen to maintain her good student image, watched the two chatting and laughing, bit her lip for a long while, and then shyly spoke up, ¡°Big bro, could you maybe...¡± Before she could say ¡°take me along,¡± Xia Xing naturally replied, ¡°Keep it down? No problem, Little Tiangao, let¡¯s lower our voices, your sister needs to study.¡± Xia Yourong was almost choked on her response: ... Following his words, she picked up a book and flipped open a page, though her eyes drifted toward his phone. Girls typically prefer playing Mages, just like Xia Xing¡¯s ex-girlfriend. However, it appeared the players on the third, fourth, and fifth floors felt the same, all picking Mages simultaneously. Xia Xing said, ¡°Little Tiangao, pick whatever you want, I¡¯m here, and I¡¯ll carry you four Mages to fly!¡± Xia Ye¡¯s expression remained calm, clearly having no attachment to playing Mage, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll play a warrior instead.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Just as Xia Xing was about to introduce her to a few female warriors, he saw in the game, under Xia Ye¡¯s icon on the second floor, the avatar changed to Arthur! Xia Yourong secretly scoffed. The big brother was willing to bring her only because he couldn¡¯t imagine how terrible she was. Once they played together, he would definitely regret it! To show off in front of his sister, Xia Xing was very aggressive as soon as the game started. He organized a team fight to push the tower as soon as he reached level 5. He played Li Bai, used Normal Attack four times then activated his passive, approached with his first skill and used his second skill to deal damage and slow down the opponents. Then he just waited for his three Mage teammates to use their Ultimate Skills together, aiming to wipe out the enemies and push directly to end the game in a few minutes. However, plans often fall short of changes. The three Mages obediently followed orders and launched their Ultimate Skills. Only Wang Zhaojun¡¯s ultimate ended up below their own tower, Zhen Ji¡¯s pool was thrown off somewhere unknown, and Angela¡¯s Blazing Radiance was directed towards their own side, struggling to turn around for half a day. Xia Xing: ... Luckily, he was resilient enough, heading into the fray alone and still managing a quadra kill. Only Cheng Yaojin was left, hanging on by a sliver of health, constantly changing bushes, silently slipping away. Xia Xing clicked his tongue, knowing if he let him escape, it would be tough to carry the three Mages thereafter. Just then, a figure descended from the sky, it was Arthur dressed in a RoboCop skin. He jumped precisely into the bush where Cheng Yaojin was hiding to recall and secured the fifth kill. The enemies were wiped out. ¡°Well done!¡± Xia Xing looked incredibly surprised, ¡°Incredible, Little Tiangao, how did you know which bush Cheng Yaojin was hiding in?¡± Xia Ye spoke nonchalantly, ¡°Just... guessed~¡± Chapter 33 - 33 She is one-handed ?33: She is one-handed 33: She is one-handed Xia Xing acted as if he¡¯d discovered some treasure. This predictive skill was absolutely that of a promising league competitor. Only, from Arthur¡¯s performance just now, it was clear that Little Tiangao¡¯s hand speed wasn¡¯t very high, and her operations were not smooth, but this could be improved later on. Don¡¯t forget, she has an older brother whose hand speed rivals the great ¡°Shadow¡±! Xia Xing immediately decided that if their dad couldn¡¯t find a school willing to admit Little Tiangao, he would take her back to the club! Xia Ye saw her older brother smiling happily and felt relieved. Entertaining her older brother was really tiring. She casually shook her left hand. She had been playing single-handedly the entire game. ** After playing the game, Xia Ye returned to her room. Passing through the corridor, sounds of renovation work came from the room Xu He had prepared for her, and the doorway was piled with many boxes. Xia Ye pressed on her temple with a bit of helplessness. Xu He was overseeing the renovations, and upon hearing Xia Ye passing by, came out cheerfully: ¡°Little Tiangao, your room will be ready soon.¡± Xia Ye just smiled. Xu He noticed her phone: ¡°This is...?¡± Xia Ye answered, ¡°It¡¯s from my second brother.¡± Xia Xing was very thoughtful, even helping her install the SIM card. But the phone, gifted by sponsors to esports players, had top-notch performance, yet had a design catering to a ¡®straight male¡¯ aesthetic. Xu He looked at it with a slight distaste. This phone was just too ugly. It didn¡¯t match her princess¡¯ temperament at all. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll make do with this for now, and mom will buy you a better one later,¡± she said. Xia Ye responded in agreement. However, she actually quite liked it. Understated, practical, and not at all girly. Xu He took her daughter¡¯s hand and led her back to her room, then entered the family members¡¯ phone numbers into her phone. She also created a WeChat account for her. And added her to the family group chat. In reality, wealthy women like Xu He seldom fiddle with WeChat. Her proficiency came from years of wanting to get information regarding her missing daughter as soon as possible. She patiently walked Xia Ye through everything, and Xia Ye remembered it all without complaint. ** That afternoon, Xia Xing went to the club. With the brothers usually away, the house remained a woman¡¯s domain. Xia Yourong was in the living room, reviewing her winter vacation homework. Only a few days left until Beijing No.1 Middle School resumed classes. Her presence was notable, and servants passing by couldn¡¯t help but praise her. ¡°The young lady is indeed a young lady; she continues to review even after finishing her homework. My boy, once winter break starts, I don¡¯t know where he disappears to!¡± ¡°Look at that. How else do you think she got into Beijing No.1 Middle School?¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s maddening how people can be so different!¡± Qiao Yufen returned from having afternoon tea with the ladies, and everyone she met inquired about Xia Ye¡¯s situation. How will school be arranged? Is she afraid of new environments? Does she have any psychological issues? These words, to Qiao Yufen¡¯s ears, were naked mockery. She had never been so embarrassed in her life, so she left early, full of frustration. Now, hearing the servants¡¯ comments, her mood finally began to brighten. ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re back,¡± Xia Yourong greeted. ¡°Ah, Xiaorong, my dear~¡± Qiao Yufen thought, if only she had just this one granddaughter, how wonderful that would be! At dinner time, Wu Ma started preparing the meal for the family. Qiao Yufen, Xu He, Xia Yourong, and Xia Ye, the four of them had just settled at the table when they saw Xia Yuzheng coming out of the study, phone in hand as if he had just hung up on a call. One could easily detect the relief in his tone: ¡°Good news! The issue with Yeye¡¯s schooling is resolved! A high school has agreed to take her in!¡± Xu He and Xia Yourong almost simultaneously asked, ¡°Which high school?¡± Xia Yuzheng replied, ¡°No. 11 High School!¡± Chapter 34 - 34 034 Protective Mom Comes Online! ?34: 034 Protective Mom Comes Online! 34: 034 Protective Mom Comes Online! ¡°Pfft.¡± Xia Yourong struggled not to laugh. No. 11 High School? Isn¡¯t that the school with the lowest college entrance rate in Capital City? Both daughters of the Xia Family, one attends First Middle School, the other No. 11 High School. She felt embarrassed for Xia Ye. Xu He¡¯s smile faded slightly, she wasn¡¯t very satisfied with this school either, but considering Little Tiangao¡¯s situation... Xia Yuzheng had not noticed the tense atmosphere at the table: ¡°Yeye, dad has planned it all for you, even though the college admission rate for No. 11 High School is low, its art admission rate is high. Plus, dad has pulled some strings, you don¡¯t need to take the admission exam, you can get in directly.¡± As soon as she heard there was no test, Xu He was interested: ¡°That¡¯s not bad, art students have very low academic requirements, our Little Tiangao is so pretty, there shouldn¡¯t be any problem getting into an art school in the future.¡± This had been troubling Xia Ye for 5000 years. She clearly had the talent, yet everyone thought she was just a pretty face. ¡°Thanks, dad, but I¡¯ve already decided on Beijing No.1 Middle School.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great that you¡¯ve decided, dad also thinks No. 11 High School is good...¡± Xia Yuzheng was in the middle of speaking when he suddenly paused, realizing something was amiss. Xu He was also startled, coughed, and asked uncertainly: ¡°Little Tiangao, did you mishear? Your dad just mentioned... No. 11 High School...¡± ¡°I know,¡± Xia Ye said, tilting her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips, ¡°but what I¡¯m talking about is Beijing No.1 Middle School.¡± Although he was charmed by his daughter¡¯s nonchalant expression, Xu He quickly returned to reality: ¡°Little Tiangao, with your dad¡¯s abilities, getting into First Middle School might be...¡± Xia Yuzheng also advised, ¡°Yeye, listen, just because our family has money doesn¡¯t mean you can go wherever you want!¡± A sneer flashed in Xia Yourong¡¯s eyes. This little sister really didn¡¯t know her limitations. She actually still had her sights set on First Middle School? That was the best high school in Capital City, ranked top three in the country. Everyone there was pretty much a top student from around the country. She had only managed to get in after their parents had hired several tutors for intensive tutorials, and even then, it was a struggle... Back then, her grandmother was beyond ecstatic. With that thought, Xia Yourong looked towards Qiao Yufen. She saw her lips turning purple with anger, her face alternating between shades of pale and flushed, her hands clenching her chopsticks tightly as though she was forcefully holding back. Xia Yourong, with particular thoughtfulness, moved closer: ¡°Grandmother, since sister wants to go to First Middle School so badly, why don¡¯t you talk to our educational director? With your influence, the school might...¡± She tilted her head slightly, looking quite obedient. Sure enough, upon hearing this, Qiao Yufen¡¯s face grew even uglier. Every time she visited First Middle School, people would praise Yourong. If people knew she had another granddaughter like this, she¡¯d lose all face! ¡°Enough!¡± Qiao Yufen slammed down her chopsticks, her gaze severe: ¡°It¡¯s purely wishful thinking! I already said last time, First Middle School isn¡¯t a place for her!¡± It was unexpected that her son would debase himself to pull strings for Xia Ye, and yet she remained ungrateful. Simply a hopeless case! ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t upset yourself,¡± Xia Yourong turned, patting Qiao Yufen on the back to soothe her, hesitating: ¡°If it really doesn¡¯t work out, then dad, maybe you can help sister...¡± ¡°No one is to help!¡± Qiao Yufen said breathlessly, ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing enough as is!¡± Xia Ye raised her eyebrows, her eyes clear and calm as she watched her: ¡°No need for help, I will see Principal Tian tomorrow.¡± She had used her phone to look up information on the Principal of Beijing No.1 Middle School earlier. Immediately confirming a small suspicion she had a few days ago... But Qiao Yufen was visibly disgusted: ¡°Who do you think Principal Tian is? Do you think you can just meet him whenever you want? You¡¯ve been back for a few days and still lack manners! Truly undisciplined!¡± With that, she raised her hand and reached out towards Xia Ye. Xia Ye¡¯s eyebrows lifted, her peach blossom eyes shimmered, she leaned slightly back, easily dodging. Suddenly, Xu He jumped in front of her: ¡°Mom! What are you doing? She just got back!¡± Qiao Yufen¡¯s hand missed its mark, and she stumbled, nearly losing her balance, looking completely disheveled. She glared at the two people in front of her: ¡°Well, well, are you rebelling against me now!¡± Xia Yourong quickly supported her grandmother: ¡°Sister, stop being willful, apologize to grandma now!¡± Xia Ye¡¯s expression was indifferent: ¡°She tried to hit someone, yet I should apologize?¡± Xia Yuzheng was torn: ¡°Yeye... ¡± Qiao Yufen suddenly clutched at her chest, her eyes rolling back. Xu He pursed her lips, it was that trick again. Whenever she fainted, all blame would be pushed onto others. Who couldn¡¯t do that? In the past, she endured it for the sake of her husband. But today... Meanwhile, Qiao Yufen gasped for breath, her acting skills honed to near perfection. Just when it seemed she was about to collapse, a thud was heard as someone fell before her¡ª ¡°Madam!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Wife!¡± ¡ª¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª¡ª PS: Sick? That¡¯s because she hasn¡¯t seen someone sicker! Xu He: Excuse me ().?)?) Chapter 35 - 35 035 Sending you ?35: 035 Sending you? (Two in One) 35: 035 Sending you? (Two in One) Qiao Yufen¡¯s nearly closed eyes reflexively opened wide as she looked at Xu He, who had collapsed a second before her, a quirky expression surfacing on her face, ¡°She was just fine... Could she be pretending?¡± Such a schemer! ¡°Mom! Xiaohe has fainted, how can you say something like that?¡± Xia Yuzheng had been somewhat critical of Xia Ye¡¯s willfulness. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to find a school, and she was picky and talked back to her elders. But now that his wife had fainted, he couldn¡¯t care about anything else. He quickly changed his previous attitude, which had been biased toward his mother, to become protectively devoted to his wife. Qiao Yufen got anxious, ¡°What did I say? She just...¡± Xia Yourong gently tugged at her sleeve to remind her, ¡°Grandma, Mom also fainted once before when she went to the countryside...¡± Xu He¡¯s health had always been poor, and this wasn¡¯t the first time she had fainted. Therefore, no one at the scene doubted it. Xia Yuzheng very manly picked up his wife and called the family doctor over. Nanny Wu quickly directed the other servants to get things ready. Qiao Yufen watched as everyone surrounded Xu He and gritted her teeth in immense frustration. But Xu He had already fainted, and for her to faint again would be too fake! When Xu He was carried away, Xia Ye noticed her elegantly placed right hand scratching the back of her left hand. Though the movement was slight. Xia Ye blinked in mild shock, chuckled softly, and his furrowed brows relaxed. He liked this mother of his a bit. ** After the family doctor had examined her, Xia Yuzheng took him outside. ¡°Doctor, my wife, she...¡± The doctor raised his hand to indicate him to not be anxious, looked around, and whispered something in his ear. Xia Yuzheng¡¯s expression froze, and after a few seconds, he nodded apologetically at the doctor and instructed Wang Dahai to send the doctor home. Upon returning to the room, Xia Yuzheng closed the door and glanced at his wife lying on the bed, shaking his head helplessly. ¡°Alright, stop pretending, you really scared me to death.¡± Upon hearing this, Xu He took a while before slowly opening her eyes and propped herself up by her hands, ¡°Oh well, I wasn¡¯t completely pretending, I really did feel dizzy all of a sudden.¡± Xia Yuzheng helped her bolster the pillow at her waist, ¡°Did you hurt yourself when you fell just now?¡± Even if her fainting was fake, he still felt pain for the fall. Xu He felt warmth in her heart, ¡°Thanks to Little Tiangao who supported me, it didn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± Xia Yuzheng glared at her unhappily, ¡°With your daughter back, have you also regressed to a little girl? Have you thought about the consequences if you really upset the old lady to a serious extent?¡± Xu He was not a lavish person, it was just an impulsive reaction in a moment of urgency. She patted Xia Yuzheng¡¯s hand, ¡°I was wrong~¡± Three words expressed the deeply nuanced emotions she felt. Xia Yuzheng had no temper at all. Seeing her husband wasn¡¯t mad, she thought back on the recent events, still worried, ¡°About Little Tiangao¡¯s schooling... what are you planning to do?¡± Considering Little Tiangao¡¯s attitude today, she really seemed to want to attend Beijing No.1 Middle School with Yourong. Xu He couldn¡¯t help feeling sad, such tough luck. Xia Yuzheng was actually shocked by his daughter¡¯s request today too. Hearing Xu He bring it up, his expression unconsciously turned grave. He too wished for his daughters to attend the same prestigious high school. But First Middle School was filled with top students from all regions; she had no foundation, and even if she got in, it might not be a good thing. Moreover, the threshold for First Middle School was high, and Principal Tian was notoriously impartial and difficult to persuade. With Yeye¡¯s condition, it was simply not possible. Xia Yuzheng sighed deeply; of course, he wouldn¡¯t take Xia Ye¡¯s words about going to the principal himself seriously. After a long silence, ¡°Let me think of another way...¡± ** Early the next morning, Mrs. Wu saw Xia Ye wandering in the living room. Her reckless words from yesterday had already spread among the servants. ¡°Miss Xia, what are you looking for now?¡± Xia Ye lifted her chin, ¡°Do you have a fountain pen?¡± Mrs. Wu furrowed her brows ¡ª who still used fountain pens to write these days? Yet the Xia family indeed had one. Mrs. Wu fetched one for her. Xia Ye took the pen, her slender ankles hooked around the leg of a chair next to the dining table. She slightly pulled it out, swung herself around to sit down, spread a sheet of paper on the table, and with a flourish of the pen, elegant characters began to fill the page. Xia Yourong walked by with a cup of milk. She glanced at Xia Ye¡¯s hands and stopped. ¡°Sister, I remember you played games with your left hand yesterday. Why are you writing with your right hand today? Are you truly left-handed or not?¡± Xia Ye lifted her finger, and the pen twirled nimbly at her fingertip, as if alive. ¡°Guess?¡± Xia Yourong scoffed. She had asked casually, as if she really wanted to know? As for what Xia Ye was writing, she couldn¡¯t care less ¡ª surely it was full of typos and nonsense! She had woken up particularly early today for another matter... ¡°Oh right, sister, didn¡¯t you want to meet Principal Tian?¡± Xia Yourong, in a good mood, pulled up a chair next to Xia Ye, resting her chin on her hands, looking quite innocent. Xia Ye lazily looked up, ¡°Do you know where he is?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xia Yourong said with a triumphant expression, ¡°Principal Tian is at school today. I have to rehearse for the opening ceremony. Why don¡¯t we go to school together?¡± Mom, dad, and grandma would never let Xia Ye meet Principal Tian and embarrass herself, but Xia Yourong insisted on helping Xia Ye meet him. Ideally, Xia Ye would create a scene in front of Principal Tian and end up being thrown out by the security guards. Then grandma would certainly scold her to death! Even mom couldn¡¯t save her! Fearing someone might discover and stop them, Xia Yourong didn¡¯t even eat breakfast; she grabbed a sandwich from the fridge and hurried Xia Ye out. Unfortunately, as they approached the main gate, they saw Wang Dahai standing next to the car, scratching his head as he looked at the tires. ¡°Uncle Wang, is the car broken?¡± Wang Dahai: ¡°Yes, Miss Xia and Miss Xia, if you are in a hurry to go out, you should ask sir or the younger master to drive you.¡± Xia Yourong¡¯s face showed difficulty, as they would definitely not let Xia Ye meet Principal Tian. As they wondered what to do, a very handsome car happened to pass by, seeming to notice them, it slowed down and stopped in front of them. Xia Yourong had seen countless luxury cars, but she was suddenly at a loss for words, unable to recall this car¡¯s brand. It was a subdued black, yet it had an imposing brilliance that demanded attention. It shimmered in the sunshine. Dazzled for a moment, the car window lowered and the man in the driver¡¯s seat, dressed in a dark suit with subtle pinstripes, with high cheekbones and a prominent Adam¡¯s apple, had a sharply contoured handsome profile. ¡°Uncle Jiang?¡± Xia Yourong exclaimed with delighted surprise. It was rare for someone of his status to drive himself, and it was curious why he was in such good spirits today. The slight uplift at the corners of his eyes was somewhat aloof. His eyes, too attractive, appeared tranquil even without a smile. His arm casually rested on the open window, complemented by the luxury car, perfectly embodying the persona of a powerful CEO. Xia Yourong was transfixed. She had been watching Jiang Xuan, but Jiang Xuan was looking at Xia Ye, while Xia Ye was observing Wang Dahai, who kept his gaze on the deflated tire. After a moment, Jiang Xuan cleared his throat, his deep, melodious voice broke the silence: ¡°Shall I give you a lift?¡± Chapter 36 - 36 036 Asking for Humiliation (two in one, extra updates today, asking for votes~) ?36: 036 Asking for Humiliation (two in one, extra updates today, asking for votes~) 36: 036 Asking for Humiliation (two in one, extra updates today, asking for votes~) Xia Yourong controlled her urge to dash into the car and asked with feigned composure, ¡°Oh? Isn¡¯t this too much trouble for you, Uncle Jiang?¡± Jiang Xuan didn¡¯t look at her. ¡°It¡¯s not troublesome.¡± Xia Yourong¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, suddenly feeling a bad premonition. The one she liked was Jiang Yunzhou... But why was Uncle Jiang also so enthusiastic towards her? Xia Ye and Wang Dahai heard the conversation and then noticed the car parked by the roadside. Xia Ye was as calm as ever, wanting to thank him. ¡°Ah, about the incident with third brother last time...¡± But before she could finish, Wang Dahai abruptly stood straight, blocking her, as if afraid the inarticulate second miss would offend Mr. Jiang. ¡°Mr. Jiang, are you here on business?¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s view was blocked, and his expression was slightly displeased. ¡°Just passing by. I still have time, I can give her a ride.¡± This time, he only mentioned ¡®her¡¯, Xia Yourong felt herself singled out, her heart beating a bit faster. No longer playing coy, she trotted over, rightfully opening the passenger side door, and sat down. ¡°Uncle Jiang, then I¡¯ll trouble you. But my sister is also going to school; could you drop her off too?¡± Jiang Xuan frowned, didn¡¯t speak, and just got out of the car with long strides to help Xia Ye open the rear car door. Xia Ye bent down to get into the car, his heavy gaze falling on her slender shoulders, his thin lips lifting slightly. He patted the back of her head, murmuring, ¡°Walk faster next time.¡± Walk faster, so irrelevant people won¡¯t get in the car. Mr. Jiang¡¯s car started, and Wang Dahai respectfully stood by the roadside, watching them drive away. Suddenly, a realization dawned on him. Jiang Enterprises and the Jiang Family were in the East Second Ring, so how did Mr. Jiang just happen to pass by their West Third Ring villa? Wang Dahai¡¯s eyelids twitched, his gaze shuttling between the driver and passenger seats for a few seconds, then he suddenly understood something. ** In the car, Xia Yourong glanced at the high-tech interior, which was many times more advanced than the Xia Family¡¯s car, opened a sandwich wrapper, and began eating it bit by bit, each bite chewed dozens of times before swallowing. She felt like a little cat. If it had been Xia Ye, she probably would have gulped it down in one bite. Barbaric. Without clinging to her face, could she even ride in Mr. Jiang¡¯s car? Jiang Xuan looked at the girl sitting in the back through the rearview mirror and asked softly, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Xia Yourong, with her head down, enjoying her meal, ¡°Uncle Jiang, I¡¯m eating right now.¡± Xia Ye casually glanced down, saw that Xia Yourong had responded, and then went back to looking at her phone. Jiang Xuan: ... Xia Yourong looked at the scenery outside the window. ¡°Uncle Jiang, do you know where our school is? Do you need me to direct you?¡± Jiang Xuan responded coldly, ¡°I know, no need.¡± Xia Yourong no longer spoke, a shy look flickering in her eyes. The car fell silent again. Xia Ye nestled in the back seat, leaned back to find a comfortable position, one hand holding a letter, the other holding a phone, not even carrying a bag. She wore a mint green short-sleeved tee, quite loose, her skin extremely pale, her slightly raised brows still showing impatience, unconcerned about her surroundings. She could be stunningly beautiful, making all of creation stir, or she could hide all her sharpness, casual like an exceptionally delicate young boy. All depending on her mood. She opened WeChat and received a new friend request. It was the former psychology department head, Pu Meilan. It was Xu He who had given her WeChat ID to Pu Meilan. Though the results of the last psychological counseling session... But at least it was clear that Xia Ye did not reject Pu Meilan. If she ever felt bad in the future, she could talk to the psychologist via WeChat to get timely relief. That¡¯s what Xu He thought, but Xia Ye accepted it with a sense of responsibility towards the patient, lifting her hand to approve it. And sent a message. [How have you been lately?] Normally, this is what a psychologist would say to a patient. Then, above the dialogue box, it displayed ¡°The other party is typing...¡±. The words appeared intermittently several times before a reply finally came through. [Hello Xia Ye, I am Director Pu of the Psychology Department. If you ever have any psychological distress, feel free to contact us at any time. [Smile]] A forced official smile, pretending to forget what happened during the last consultation. Xia Ye curved her lips. Pu Meilan had just finished a meeting and returned to the consultation room when she received a message from Xia Ye. It couldn¡¯t be more awkward. Before their last meeting, she had preconceived notions of what the Xia Family¡¯s daughter might be like. She might show extreme nervousness, unease, photophobia, or even mild aggressive behavior. After all, she had been kidnapped for over a decade. But Pu Meilan could never have anticipated the Xia Ye she ended up seeing... That day, she had intended to open Xia Ye¡¯s heart, but somehow, their roles got completely reversed during their conversation. She not only failed to get any information out of Xia Ye, but she ended up revealing everything about herself. She cried until her makeup ran, and sobbed until her voice was hoarse. However, she really hadn¡¯t felt as relaxed as she did that day in a long time; her work had been particularly invigorating these past few days. Strange. It was too strange. She was the Director of the Psychology Department who had been published in the most authoritative international medical journals, accomplished in areas like adolescent psychology and social psychology! And to be counseled by a patient? If word got out, how would she continue in her field? Latter, she carefully recalled the events of that day and found many details elusive, with only the memory of Xia Ye¡¯s beautiful, unique eyes lingering. The amber-colored pupil seemed to still faintly flicker with glimmers... Jiang Xuan occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror. He noticed Xia Ye had a cell phone now. She hadn¡¯t had one when they went to the Jiang Family¡¯s house for dinner. His driving was top-notch, fast and smooth, skillfully avoiding all the rush-hour traffic. Soon, the car stopped outside the spacious gate of Beijing No.1 Middle School. Xia Ye thanked him and got out of the car first. She had things to do today and didn¡¯t want to waste any time. Yourong dallied a bit more, sneaking a glance at Jiang Xuan, ¡°Uncle Jiang... then I¡¯ll also... ¡± Before she could finish, Jiang Xuan interrupted, ¡°You wait a moment.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Yourong looked awkward, alone with a man in the car... She looked up and caught Jiang Xuan¡¯s fleeting gaze. Her whole body tensed, and she suddenly didn¡¯t know where to place her hands or feet. Xia Ye heard this too and looked back, her emotions unclear as she glanced into the car. Although Yourong thought Jiang Xuan¡¯s approach was a bit too hasty, the glace Xia Ye threw into the car made her feel overwhelmingly superior. The car door closed again, and within the confined space, Yourong pinched her backpack, ¡°Uncle Jiang, did you want to talk to me about something?¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s gaze moved toward the direction Xia Ye had left. His slender fingers slowly tapped the steering wheel, ¡°Could you tell me...¡± Yourong¡¯s heart jumped to her throat. What did he want to know? Whether she was single? Or if she was of age? Should she tell him? Yourong was agonizingly conflicted when she saw the man¡¯s thin lips part and he uttered the second half of his sentence. ¡°Your sister¡¯s cell phone number?¡± Chapter 37 - 37 037 DNA has changed ?37: 037 DNA has changed 37: 037 DNA has changed ¡°Your sister¡¯s cellphone number?¡± As soon as the words fell, Xia Yourong was stunned for a good half minute, still unable to believe what she had heard. Her sister¡¯s cellphone number? Jiang Xuan made her stay in the car just to get her sister¡¯s cellphone number? Impossible, right? But if the ¡®your sister¡¯ Jiang Xuan was talking about wasn¡¯t Xia Ye, could it be that he was swearing? Xia Yourong¡¯s expression became uncontrollably blank, as if the blow was too much for her. It was not until the man¡¯s patience drained away and the corners of his beautiful eyes drooped that Xia Yourong managed to find her voice again, ¡°Uncle Jiang, why don¡¯t you ask for my sister¡¯s number yourself?¡± She sounded quite aggrieved. Jiang Xuan sighed lightly, not caring at all about his thousand-year ice mountain persona, ¡°I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t give it to me.¡± The more nonchalant he seemed, the more Xia Yourong felt like going mad. Xia Ye wouldn¡¯t give it? What a joke! Knowing that Master Jiang wanted her number, she would definitely be over the moon! Men really don¡¯t have the ability to discern! Xia Yourong clenched the phone in her hand. Since Master Jiang had already asked, it would be rude of her to refuse, so she reluctantly found Xia Ye¡¯s number that was saved on her mobile by her mother. She read it out while stealthily peeking at Jiang Xuan¡¯s phone screen. Jiang Xuan followed her and stored the string of digits in his contacts. 189****... On the last digit, she deliberately got it wrong. Xia Ye¡¯s phone¡¯s last number was ¡°8,¡± but she said ¡°4.¡± ¡ª ¡®I won¡¯t let my sister get smug!¡¯ ¡ª ¡®Later on, Master Jiang will only think he misheard ¡®8¡¯ as ¡®4¡¯ and won¡¯t know I did it on purpose~¡¯ Xia Yourong felt more and more proud of herself, but the next second, she saw Jiang Xuan¡¯s fingers pause, and then on the last digit... he entered the number ¡®8¡¯! ¡°?!¡± Xia Yourong felt like a needle pricked her eyes. He¡¯d actually corrected her intentional mistake?? Jiang Xuan leisurely hit save, locked his phone, slipped it into his suit pocket, then crossed his long legs and shifted his position, his expression somewhat teasing, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? The number you just said... wasn¡¯t it ¡®8¡¯?¡± Xia Yourong¡¯s face bore an incredulous look, but unable to contradict herself, she stutteringly replied, ¡°Yes, yes it is...¡± But she had clearly said ¡®4¡¯, right? She couldn¡¯t possibly mix up something that happened just a second ago, could she? Xia Yourong¡¯s meticulously crafted ladylike expression finally cracked, and for some reason, she thought she could see contempt in Jiang Xuan¡¯s eyes, as if he could see right through what she had just been thinking. ¡°There¡¯s, there¡¯s a rehearsal at school, I need to go.¡± She bit her lower lip awkwardly, trying her best to mask the shame of being exposed, and hurriedly exited the car with her head down... School hadn¡¯t officially started yet and Beijing No.1 Middle School¡¯s campus was extremely tranquil, apart from the students and teachers preparing for the opening ceremony rehearsal, there were hardly any people around. While the students were still enjoying the last few days of their winter break, on the 6th floor of the administrative building, in the austere atmosphere of the principal¡¯s office, Principal Tian Hanwen, who was meticulous and even a bit old-fashioned and strict about academics, was already starting to work. His assistant Xiaofeng had just brought in a document from the Education Commission and before leaving the room, he gave another look at the old principal, who had devoted most of his life to the school. In his memory, he had almost never seen the principal smile. Sometimes he really wished the principal wouldn¡¯t be so serious all the time and could relax a bit. So he wouldn¡¯t end up like he was right now... The principal¡¯s white hair could be found on the desk, on the paperwork, on the collar of his shirt, but not on his head! Xiaofeng shook his head and carefully closed the office door behind him. He was afraid that if there was a strong breeze outside, the principal¡¯s hair might scatter like dandelion seeds. A puff and it would be gone... Tian Hanwen sat up straight, continuing to work hard for Beijing No.1 Middle School. He didn¡¯t feel tired at all. To make it the best school in the country. That was a promise he once made to someone. As he recalled the past, the door was suddenly pushed open without warning, and then someone called his name. ¡°Tian Hanwen¡ª¡± The voice was young, cool in tone, and tinged with mockery. Familiar yet nostalgic. Tian Hanwen was startled. His DNA stirred. Chapter 38 - 38 038 Dual Standards On-site! ?38: 038 Dual Standards On-site! 38: 038 Dual Standards On-site! Long ago, there was a girl who always called him that. ¡°Tian Hanwen, did you get beaten up again?¡± ¡°Tian Hanwen, look at you, so lacking in ambition.¡± ¡°Tian Hanwen...¡± The office curtains fluttered in the wind, and at the doorway, a girl¡¯s face appeared, faint and indistinct. The feeling was too familiar. For a moment, Tian Hanwen really thought he had returned to his teenage years. It wasn¡¯t until he caught a glimpse of his no-longer-young face in the dresser mirror next to him that he felt a profound loss. Decades had passed, and that person was probably already... His cloudy eyes turned towards Xia Ye, and he asked in a murmur, ¡°Young student, you are...?¡± Xia Ye¡¯s gaze fell on her little brother¡¯s shiny bald head, and she laughed, her beautiful eyes and eyebrows exuding a rebellious charm, her features flawlessly exquisite. She really was very beautiful, no matter the expression she made. ¡°Principal Tian, this is my recommendation letter.¡± A recommendation letter? Tian Hanwen¡¯s expression changed. Admission to Beijing No.1 Middle School had always strictly followed the academic assessment system; they never accepted any recommendations. He frowned, ¡°You should go back, Beijing No.1 Middle School doesn¡¯t...¡± Before he could finish, Xia Ye spread out the letter on his desk. Tian Hanwen saw the handwriting, and his voice abruptly stopped. After carefully examining it for a while, he gasped sharply. This was his boss¡¯s handwriting! Could it be that his boss was still in the human world? Then why hadn¡¯t he contacted him for decades? Tian Hanwen suddenly looked up, his eyes peering through thick glasses at her, ¡°The person who wrote this recommendation letter for you, where is she now?¡± Xia Ye glimpsed a hint of madness in his eyes. Her little brother used to always follow her around with a runny nose, clinging like sticky dough. Now that she had returned with a new identity, it was better he didn¡¯t know... ¡°It was written a long time ago; I don¡¯t know where she is now.¡± She spoke with genuine sincerity, showing no hint of a flaw. Tian Hanwen almost believed her, until his gaze fell back on the letter, the ink not yet dry. Despite his doubts, the handwriting was unmistakably correct. He looked at the letter, then at Xia Ye, pondering secretly. No wonder she looked so familiar, especially those eyes. Perhaps there was some family connection? ¡°Hey, student! How did you get in here?!¡± The room, originally so quiet you could hear a pin drop, was suddenly interrupted by Xiaofeng¡¯s loud voice, nearly startling Tian Hanwen out of his wits. Just now when Xiaofeng was downstairs, he met a senior high school girl who mentioned she saw someone sneaking into the principal¡¯s office. At that time, he was puzzled because he had just come from the office and hadn¡¯t seen anyone on the way. But the girl reporting to him was academically excellent and had won many awards; she definitely wouldn¡¯t lie. So he decided to come up and see, and indeed, there was someone! Every year, just before the school term started, countless people wracked their brains to find ways to see the principal, but no one had ever been so bold. She really dared to barge in! Xiaofeng immediately spoke into the intercom, ¡°Security, send up two guards!¡± Tian Hanwen¡¯s brows creased into a perfect ¡®´¨¡¯ character, impatiently speaking out, ¡°Get out.¡± Xiaofeng then shouted at Xia Ye, ¡°Did you hear that? The principal said you should get out! If you think you can sneak favoritism in front of the principal, you better wake up...¡± ¡°Feng Jian, I told you to get out!¡± Tian Hanwen interrupted sternly. ¡°...¡± Xiaofeng was dumbfounded. Then he saw the usually strict Principal Tian unexpectedly show a kind expression, smiling and beckoning to Xia Ye, ¡°Come, have a seat, let¡¯s chat slowly...¡± Chapter 39 - 39 039 Bullying by Power (Two in One) ?39: 039 Bullying by Power (Two in One) 39: 039 Bullying by Power (Two in One) ** ¡°What? Yeye actually went to First Middle School to find Principal Tian?¡± At the Xia Family¡¯s place. Xia Yourong had finished her rehearsal and taken a taxi back by herself. Upon entering the house and not seeing Xia Ye, she knew what had happened. She still hadn¡¯t returned. That meant the situation must have escalated! Earlier, she had been worried whether the principal¡¯s assistant would take her words seriously and go to detain someone. Now, it seemed certain they had gone. Xia Yourong sneered coldly, and in response to Xia Yuzheng¡¯s questioning, she appeared to be in a difficult position, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dad, I tried to persuade my sister not to go, but as soon as she knew I was going to the school for rehearsal, she insisted on coming with me...¡± Xia Yuzheng waved his hand dismissively, ¡°How could this be your fault?¡± He had tried to pull strings that very morning to get in touch with Principal Tian, but to no avail. What good could his younger daughter do by going there? It was just nonsense. Xia Yourong observed his expression with a hint of amusement in her eyes. Xia Yuzheng turned to Xu He, his tone helpless, ¡°Hurry and bring her back!¡± Xu He promptly agreed and remembering that Xia Xing was outside, sent him a voice message. Just as she finished sending the WeChat message, she saw Qiao Yufen coming over with the help of a crutch from the corridor. Qiao Yufen was unaware that Xia Ye had gone to see Principal Tian and wanted to confront Xu He about something else. She scrutinized Xu He¡¯s face and with a mocking smile said, ¡°You recovered so quickly?¡± Xu He answered with an embarrassed smile, ¡°Mom, did you need me for something?¡± Qiao Yufen snorted coldly, her gaze stern, ¡°I see you have been fixing up that big room... Who is it for?¡± ** When Xia Xing received Xu He¡¯s voice message, he was driving home. In the car with him were Xia Tiao and Xia Xian. The group had visited the police station that morning to inquire about Xia Ye¡¯s kidnapping case. After leaving the police station, Xia Xing thought it was only right to treat his elder and younger brother, who had just returned home, to a meal, so he suggested eating out to discuss the case. They had a simple meal at a clubhouse, where Xia Xing, in a burst of extravagance, ordered quite a bit, resulting in a bill of over 2000. When it came time to pay, Xia Xing reached into his pocket and found nothing. That¡¯s when he remembered he had given his card to Little Tiangao. In the end, it was the elder brother, Xia Tiao, who paid. Now in the car, Xia Xing felt somewhat embarrassed, his baseball cap pulled down low. Xia Tiao looked at him coolly, his voice deep and resonant, ¡°Little brother, is the e-sports industry not doing well these days?¡± Xia Xian couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Xia Xing was unamused, ¡°What are you talking about? I gave my card to Little Tiangao!¡± As they were talking, their mother¡¯s voice message came through. Since he was driving, he played it using the car¡¯s Bluetooth speaker so that the eldest and the youngest brother could hear it, too. Upon hearing that they needed to pick up Little Tiangao from school, Xia Xing didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately turned the steering wheel, and headed for Beijing No.1 Middle School. The sunlight streamed through the car windows, and Xia Xian¡¯s black earring glinted with a dark light, ¡°Let¡¯s go and see for ourselves this Principal Tian that Dad finds so troublesome.¡± Xia Tiao sat upright, looking much calmer than Xia Xian, but after two minutes, he couldn¡¯t help but urge, ¡°Little brother, drive faster.¡± ** In the principal¡¯s office of Beijing No.1 Middle School. After much consideration, Tian Hanwen finally agreed to Xia Ye¡¯s enrollment application, solemnly handing her the school admission notice from Beijing No.1 Middle School. This document was what countless students and parents in Capital City dreamed of but couldn¡¯t obtain. The moment it was taken out of the drawer, it seemed to be surrounded by Holy Light. Despite Xia Ye¡¯s special circumstances, equivalent to starting from scratch, if she were to start from the first year and be placed in a class that moved at a slower pace, there should be no significant issues. The boss¡¯s recommendation letter was something he could never refuse. It didn¡¯t matter if she was recommending an age-appropriate girl¡ªeven if she were to recommend herself, he would have to agree. Xia Ye thought he would finally get his wish and be happy, but with just one sentence, Tian Hanwen nearly spat blood. Xia Ye: ¡°Principal Tian, I have another favor to ask.¡± Tian Hanwen¡¯s temples dripped with a cold sweat, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it, as long as I can do it...¡± Before he could finish, Xia Ye said with serious tone, ¡°I want to directly enter senior year.¡± ¡®Creak.¡¯ Tian Hanwen almost fell from his chair. ¡°Yeye, you want to skip to senior year? You should know, in a few days when school starts, it will be the last semester of senior year, and the college entrance exam is only four months away! Getting into Beijing No.1 Middle School is a rare opportunity, you can¡¯t waste the hard work of the senior who wrote you the recommendation letter!¡± Xia Ye¡¯s eyes slightly lowered, ¡°I know.¡± But the old ancestor had no patience to start from the first year of high school and read slowly. In Ear Mountain, the old ancestor was a symbol of wisdom, and many students would pray in her temple before exams, asking for a Sure-pass Exam Talisman and such. Trust in the old ancestor, never fail a subject. If those old fogies at Ear Mountain knew she¡¯d reincarnated and was still in the first year of high school at 17, they¡¯d die laughing. Although Xia Ye had a firm and sufficient reasoning, Tian Hanwen still suspected that his own age was catching up to him, causing auditory hallucinations. She stopped attending school before even graduating kindergarten, and now she wants to jump directly into senior year? If it had been any other brat making such a demand, he would unquestionably give them a good kick in the behind. But inexplicably, he found himself unable to exert any authority in front of this 17-year-old Xia Ye. As a breeze swept outside the window, a few more silver hairs fluttered down. Such a balding head! Both sides insisted on their positions, neither willing to give in, making the office atmosphere somewhat tense. Until Xiaofeng knocked on his office door again: ¡°Principal Tian, there¡¯s a visitor, who says...¡± he reluctantly gestured towards Xia Ye, ¡°says he¡¯s her brother.¡± Tian Hanwen lifted his chin slightly, ¡°Let him in.¡± A little girl¡¯s brother, and he gets such a formal notification? But then Xiaofeng stepped aside, and in walked three men, each tall and commanding. Tian Hanwen was stunned, ¡°They... are all your brothers?¡± Xia Ye nodded in affirmation. The three were very polite, shaking hands with Principal Tian upon entering. The presence was overwhelming; Tian Hanwen couldn¡¯t help but stand up to greet them. ¡°Hello, I am Yeye¡¯s third brother, I do a bit of business on the border, call me anytime you need, I¡¯ll give you the wholesale price.¡± A wholesaler? Tian Hanwen took the business card that Xia Xian handed over and glanced at the main business. Oh ho... He sells diamonds? Who has the money to wholesale diamonds? ¡°I am Yeye¡¯s second brother, I keep a low profile, don¡¯t mind it, mainly because I am somewhat popular among students, afraid to cause unnecessary commotion.¡± Xia Xing took off his mask, and Tian Hanwen gasped with surprise. That¡¯s right, it looked familiar... his grandson had his poster on the wall above his bed! Finally, Xia Tiao stepped forward, ¡°I am Yeye¡¯s eldest brother...¡± Tian Hanwen saw this well-dressed man in a smart suit and thought he would be the one he could relate to the most. But then he heard him speak, ¡°Xia Secretary from the O Alliance Secretariat, pleased to meet you.¡± Tian Hanwen: ¡ã§¥¡ã! This show of force was obviously to bully using their positions. Chapter 40 - 40 040 Admission Notice (Two Updates Combined) ?40: 040 Admission Notice (Two Updates Combined) 40: 040 Admission Notice (Two Updates Combined) ¡°Please have a seat...¡± Tian Hanwen couldn¡¯t help but glance at Xia Ye. With her elder sister¡¯s handwritten recommendation letter, now there are three such distinguished brothers here. This little girl... ¡°In fact, I had already agreed to your sister¡¯s admission application, but the main issue now is...¡± Xia Tiao: ¡°But please speak freely.¡± Tian Hanwen narrowed his eyes. It was good that they came, all being respectable adults, thinking more rationally than children, capable of persuading this little girl. ¡°Your sister wants to directly enter the twelfth grade. How is that possible? She doesn¡¯t listen to what I say. Please talk to her...¡± Xia Xing tilted his head: ¡°Persuade about what?¡± Xia Xian: ¡°What? Your school can¡¯t accommodate her?¡± Xia Tiao also looked quite puzzled. Their most beloved Little Tiangao, they would do anything for her, even pluck the moon from the sky if she wished. Directly entering the twelfth grade, what¡¯s the issue? Tian Hanwen¡¯s hand holding his tea cup trembled. Xia Ye didn¡¯t want to make it too hard for her little brother and after thinking for a moment said, ¡°Let¡¯s have a test.¡± The four across from her all looked up at once. Xia Ye: ¡°A test, And if she passes, she can join the twelfth grade, how about that?¡± Tian Hanwen thought it was a good idea: ¡°In that case, after school starts, we will prepare a set of twelfth-grade exams for her. As long as she passes the minimum standard, she can join the twelfth grade. If not, she will start from the ninth grade as advised. You have these few days to prepare.¡± Xia Tiao nodded slightly: ¡°Big brother can tutor you in language and foreign languages, which are his strengths.¡± Xia Xian: ¡°Physics, chemistry, and math, I¡¯ll handle.¡± Xia Xing thought for a moment: ¡°Then, I will take... biology.¡± Xia Ye curved her lips. Alright then. One cannot be too ostentatious all at once. Finally, having reached an agreement, Tian Hanwen saw them out. He walked ahead with Xia Ye. Along the way, with hands behind his back, they chatted and laughed. Xia Ye, this little girl, really resembles her elder sister. Whether in a smile or her demeanor. He found her likable. The three brothers walked behind, all quite puzzled. ¡°Principal Tian is actually quite easy to talk to, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Was Dad exaggerating a bit too much?¡± ¡°He said even using connections, we wouldn¡¯t get to meet. Was he really not trying?¡± (Xia Yuzheng: Crying to death!) ** As the four siblings headed back, little did they know Qiao Yufen was stirring up trouble at home again. When she heard from Xu He that the room was being prepared for Xia Ye, her face immediately darkened. Knowing that Xia Ye had disregarded the Xia Family¡¯s reputation to embarrass herself at Beijing No.1 Middle School made her even more furious. Commanding with her head held high and without consulting others, ¡°Xiaorong, pack up your stuff. Once that large room is renovated, it¡¯s yours!¡± Actually, the room Xia Yourong originally had was also beautifully arranged by Xu He with all the eco-friendly and expensive furniture. But since those major brands innovate every year, the newly arranged room would undoubtedly look prettier than the old one. Xia Yourong was jealous. Xu He knew that even though she had married into the Xia Family many years ago and had given birth to three excellent sons, Qiao Yufen still hadn¡¯t changed her opinion of her. The attitude she held toward her daughter and her sister¡¯s daughter was completely different. Although she knew about the favoritism, she never imagined it could reach this extent! ¡°Mom, Xiaorong and Yeye are both your granddaughters, how can you be so biased? Besides, Yeye has just returned, you should be paying more attention to her!¡± Qiao Yufen clearly felt that after Xia Ye¡¯s return, Xu He was not as easy to control as before; just in these few days, she had talked back several times. ¡°It¡¯s because she just got back! You all should care more about Xiaorong!¡± Qiao Yufen said with a blaming tone, looking at Xia Yuzheng, ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise me you would treat them equally? What is your wife doing now? Giving her own daughter such a good room, is that fair to Xiaorong?¡± Xia Yuzheng was somewhat at a loss, lit a cigarette, opened his mouth but didn¡¯t know what to say. Xia Yourong tugged at Qiao Yufen¡¯s sleeve, her cautious demeanor resembling a wrongly accused little rabbit, ¡°Grandma, this room was specially prepared by Mom for my sister, it was never meant for me...¡± Upon hearing this, Xu He felt even sadder and took her hand, ¡°Xiaorong, in Mom¡¯s heart, you and your sister are equally important. Actually, Mom also ordered the same set of furniture for you as for your sister; it¡¯s just going to take a little longer to be ready. When it¡¯s done, Mom will also redecorate your room...¡± ¡°No,¡± Qiao Yufen immediately vetoed, ¡°Xiaorong is starting school soon, she must have the best!¡± Xu He looked at Xia Yourong with difficulty, ¡°Xiaorong, your sister is currently in a children¡¯s room, and the bed is still from when she was little...¡± She thought of her eldest daughter, who was usually the most understanding, and felt sure she wouldn¡¯t make things difficult at this time. Who knew that after hearing her words, her daughter silently let go of her hand, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t really mind. Mainly it¡¯s Grandma... perhaps I can move there first, and later when the new furniture arrives, if it still isn¡¯t ready... just let my sister wait a bit longer...¡± Xu He was at a loss for words, ¡°This...¡± Seeing her hesitation, Qiao Yufen was ready to finalize the matter, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. The Xia family has so many rooms, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s nowhere to stay. That room will be for Xiaorong. The exams at First Middle School are numerous and the academic pressure is immense, especially in the senior year. Your own daughter will at most attend an art school, it¡¯s a waste for her to stay in such a nice room!¡± Xia Yuzheng finished his cigarette and stubbed it out in an ashtray. It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t feel pity for Yeye, but he wished more for peace at home; moreover, the old lady¡¯s words did make some sense with so many rooms in the house... Thinking this, he was about to smooth things over when he turned his head and suddenly noticed the four siblings who had been standing at the door at some point. ¡°Yeye...¡± The brothers, having listened for a while, were already furious, especially Xia Xian. Of the three sons, he had always been the most rebellious and held the most reservations towards Xia Yourong. Seeing his expression change, Xia Yourong instinctively hid behind Qiao Yufen. Ah, they came back? They must have picked up someone from the security room, right? Xia Xian licked his cheek, just about to step forward, when suddenly someone patted his shoulder. It was a hand as translucent as jade, beautiful in bone structure. Xia Ye pushed past her brothers who were in front of her, casually walked forward with one hand in her pocket. ¡°Is senior year in high school a reason to have that room?¡± Her voice, like her demeanor, conveyed a feeling of extreme indifference. Actually, she didn¡¯t care where she lived, as long as it pleased her ancestors. She would happily stay in a thatched cottage, unless it went against her wishes... Qiao Yufen was startled, ¡°What?¡± After asking, she realized what was being implied, and said haughtily, ¡°That depends on which high school¡¯s senior year we¡¯re talking about.¡± The implication was clear: don¡¯t even dream about it if it¡¯s a school like No. 11 High School. Xia Ye withdrew her gaze and resumed her indifferent expression, holding something in her hand and extending it forward, ¡°Of course, Beijing No.1 Middle School...¡± The people inside the room didn¡¯t understand her point at first, but their eyes followed to the document in her hand. The cover had seven big characters. ¡®Beijing No.1 Middle School Admission Notification.¡¯ ¡ª¡ª*¡ª¡ª*¡ª¡ª ps: Xia Yuzheng yellow-card warning, he will face a future by favoring his daughter to a crematorium! Chapter 41 - 41 041 Master Duanshui ~ (two s combined into one) ?41: 041 Master Duanshui ~ (two chapters combined into one) 41: 041 Master Duanshui ~ (two chapters combined into one) One second, five seconds, ten seconds... Half a minute passed, and the room remained quiet, as if the scene had frozen. Finally, Xu He was the first to snap out of it and quickly approached Xia Ye, ¡°Little Tiangao, is this an entrance notification from First Middle School? Have you been admitted?¡± Her eyes were filled with surprise, genuinely delighted. Xia Yourong stood frozen, her mouth open, and her lips trembling slightly. Her eyes were fixed on the cover of the document as if she had seen something absurd and laughable. Wasn¡¯t Xia Ye supposed to be embarrassingly kicked out by the school? How come she not only avoided embarrassment but also got an entrance notification? Xia Yuzheng looked at his sons with mixed feelings, ¡°What did you guys do?¡± If it was just a matter of paying off, that would be one thing, but with his eldest son being a politician, he was worried... Xia Tiao immediately understood the deep meaning of his words and a hint of a cryptic cold smile crossed his lips, ¡°When we got there, the principal had already given Little Tiangao the entrance notification.¡± Xia Xing added, ¡°She did it on her own, it has nothing to do with us.¡± Xia Xian questioned, ¡°Dad, why do I feel that you are a bit...¡± In a series of shocks, Xia Yuzheng suddenly froze, turning to look at Xia Ye, ¡°?¡± All three sons hadn¡¯t helped? Although he did not understand why Principal Tian suddenly became so approachable today, faced with his youngest daughter¡¯s clean and pure eyes, Xia Yuzheng felt as if something was blocking his heart, slightly ashamed of his preemptive assumptions. Not only that, he had even been somewhat angry earlier when he heard from Xiaorong that Yeye was determined to go see Principal Tian. Seeing him look over, Xia Ye smiled faintly, ¡°Is that okay, Dad?¡± Xia Yuzheng took a moment to respond, ¡°Okay about what?¡± Without any show of pride, Xia Ye was low-key, ¡°It¡¯s just an entrance now, but it¡¯s not decided which grade yet. Principal Tian said that if I pass the start-of-term test, then I¡¯ll be allowed to study in senior year. If I can get into senior year, can I have the room Mom prepared for me?¡± Upon hearing this, Xia Yuzheng felt even worse. Recalling he had thought about giving her room to her sister just before they got home, Xia Yuzheng felt like there was a fishbone caught in his throat, and after a long while, he finally said quietly, ¡°Yeye, whether you can enter senior year or not, that room is... already prepared by your mother for you...¡± Xia Ye smiled slightly, ¡°No need, I can make it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go back to my room to read now.¡± If he had shown this resolve a few minutes earlier when Qiao Yufen and Xia Yourong were besieging their mother, it would have indeed been touching. But now, it missed the mark slightly. Xu He didn¡¯t care about her husband¡¯s frowning face and looked joyfully at the admission notification, ¡°Little Tiangao, don¡¯t feel pressured. We don¡¯t ask for great grades, and even if you don¡¯t get into college in the future, it doesn¡¯t matter. Dad and I just hope you are happy...¡± After all, the family doesn¡¯t need elite university graduates for show. Both the eldest and the third are graduates from elite universities, and they¡¯re not that impressive. One is a civil servant in the O league, and the other wholesales diamonds on the border. Thousands of miles away from home, and we don¡¯t see them even once a year. Xu He felt the same way about Xiaorong. Although it was Qiao Yufen who asked them to adopt Xiaorong, she truly regarded Xiaorong as her own daughter. During the most painful period when she lost Little Tiangao, Xiaorong¡¯s arrival indeed offered her some consolation. So now, she asks for nothing more than for both daughters to grow up safely and happily. But Xia Yourong was not happy at all, quite the opposite, her expression could not have been uglier¡ªhaving hoped to claim Xia Ye¡¯s room, that plan had been thwarted too. She glanced at Qiao Yufen several times, and in the end, not waiting for her grandmother to speak up for her, she harshly returned to her own room. Qiao Yufen wasn¡¯t not speaking up for her, but she still hadn¡¯t recovered from the unbelievable sensation of having seen Xia Ye¡¯s admission notification earlier. In her mind, there were only two words. ¡®Fake.¡¯ How could First Middle School possibly admit that kind of girl? ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by her, her admission notice must be fake...¡± Before she could finish the sentence, Qiao Yufen looked around, only to find the living room completely empty, and she was the only one left! ** The brothers had intended to go to the study to discuss tutoring Xia Ye, but halfway there, they remembered the books they had bought were still in the car and turned back. Previously, while driving home, they had deliberately passed by the library to buy a full set of textbooks for Little Tiangao. From middle school to high school. Although Little Tiangao had been abducted before graduating from kindergarten, the knowledge he had self-studied at home could already reach the level of a primary school student. They planned to divide the books among themselves and cram tonight. The eldest and the third had both been top students, but having graduated so many years ago and only accustomed to self-learning, they had never taught anyone else before. Xia Xing had spent his school days playing video games, yet despite that, his grades were not bad, just a bit inferior compared to the eldest and the third. He only claimed the biology book for himself. He took out the books, kept biology for himself, and tossed the others to his brothers, recalling what had just happened, he casually asked, ¡°When we just entered, what did Yourong say to Mom? Did you guys hear? I think Mom¡¯s expression was a bit off.¡± When they entered, Xia Yourong had just finished saying, ¡°How about I move in first, and let the little sister wait a bit longer?¡± Xia Xian was quite annoyed, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear, but it definitely wasn¡¯t anything good.¡± Xia Tiao knew that the third brother had always been biased against the eldest sister, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, after all, we didn¡¯t hear it, you should have accepted the eldest sister after all these years...¡± Xia Xian despised the way the eldest brother acted like a master of carrying water, just like their father. He admitted he wasn¡¯t a saint and couldn¡¯t embrace everything, the eldest sister was adopted by grandma and his parents without his agreement. From the beginning, he had determined that he only had one sister, Little Tiangao. ¡°Big brother, I just want to ask you, if one day Yourong bullies Little Tiangao, whose side will you take?¡± Xia Tiao glanced at Xia Xian¡¯s rakish black earring and narrowed his eyes, ¡°What are you always thinking about in your head? Why would Yourong bully Little Tiangao under normal circumstances?¡± He was about to go back to his room, but Xia Xian blocked his way, ¡°Hypothetically, can¡¯t we have a more pleasant conversation?¡± Xia Tiao stopped and his eyes flashed coldly, ¡°Asking knowingly.¡± Xia Xian got the answer he wanted and smiled. ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s get inside,¡± urged Xia Xing. They didn¡¯t notice that not far away, a window of a room was open, and a figure suddenly retreated back into the room. That was Xia Yourong¡¯s room. Xia Yourong gripped her hands tightly, her lips also turning white. She knew, no matter how hard she tried, she would never surpass that wild girl in their hearts! If things continued like this, she would soon have no place in the Xia Family. She absolutely couldn¡¯t let this happen... Chapter 42 - 42 042 Three Friends Apply (two updates combined) ?42: 042 Three Friends Apply (two updates combined) 42: 042 Three Friends Apply (two updates combined) ** For the following several days, Xia Ye was under 24-hour surveillance by her three older brothers, even her time on the phone was limited. The brothers had a meeting, and once First Middle School started, they might have to leave, with each going their own way, to their matches or back to the border, and couldn¡¯t stay at home indefinitely. If Little Tiangao couldn¡¯t keep up with the basic knowledge, even if she barely made it to senior year, she¡¯d inevitably be ostracized by teachers and classmates. Regardless, they had to tutor her to at least understand what the teacher was saying in class. Mrs. Wu had never seen the three young masters present at the Xia family villa so frequently. They followed the second young miss everywhere, even turning a discolored apple into a teaching moment. If it had been any other teacher harping on her in such close proximity, Xia Ye would have long run away from home and packed her bags to return to Ear Mountain. But since the tutors were her brothers, she could endure it for another two days. Who told her that her brothers were good-looking? The refined and gentle liberal arts teacher. The logical genius, wicked and wild science teacher. The nonchalant, handsome-as-hell biology teacher who could make all of humanity lose face. Those who went to her temple to seek a last-minute blessing from ¡°the ancestors¡± certainly didn¡¯t have such attractive tutors at home! ** The last day before school started. In the morning, Xu He and Xia Yuzheng took Xia Ye to the police station. There were two things to do at the police station: one was to get Xia Ye an identity card, and the other was to record statements about the kidnapping case. Before they went, Xu He specifically asked Director Pu Meilan if it was appropriate to take Xia Ye to the police station now, or if it was too soon. Because routine questioning always uncovers old wounds, she was worried it might affect her youngest daughter¡¯s fragile heart. The response from Pu Meilan came back particularly quickly. Full of positive energy: Not too soon at all, not one bit too soon, she won¡¯t be hurt by this little scene, go boldly and with confidence! Xu He: ... When Team Leader Fu saw Xia Ye, he greeted her warmly. The young girl looked much better, and she interacted naturally with her parents. ¡°It¡¯s obvious that Mr. Xia and Mrs. Xia have taken great care of you,¡± Team Leader Fu said reassuringly with a nod, ¡°but... you¡¯re still a bit too thin. Don¡¯t you like to eat?¡± Xia Ye just smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. Xu He knew a bit about this; over these few days, Xia Ye had already wiped out all generations of the free-range chickens prized by the suppliers of the Xia family¡¯s kitchen. Fried, saute?ed, cooked, deep-fried. Utter annihilation. Quite the slaughter. During the photo session, a staff member looked at the young girl in the camera for a long time. After confirming that there was no beauty filter on, they couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Little sister, did you wear makeup?¡± Xia Ye shook her head. The staff member asked again, ¡°Are you wearing colored contacts? You can¡¯t wear colored contacts for an identity card photo...¡± ¡°No,¡± Xia Ye curled her lips, ¡°all natural.¡± The staff member was at a loss for words. She was simply too beautiful! After the photo, they filled out the Resident Identity Card Application Registration Form. Actually, she should have gotten an identity card when she turned 16, but due to Xia Ye¡¯s special situation, it was delayed. She filled in her birth date in the corresponding field. Year xx, July 15th. Fortunately, it¡¯s the Gregorian calendar. If it had been the Lunar July 15th... That would have been the Ghost Festival. Calculating, she would be of age in less than half a year. The image of the bar next to the family restaurant came to mind. By then, she would be able to do things only adults could do... Once the process is completed, you can pick it up in a month. Just as they finished, Captain Fu arrived with uniformed police officers. Xu He and Xia Yuzheng exchanged a glance and patted Xia Ye¡¯s shoulder in a comforting gesture. But compared to Xia Ye, who remained emotionally unruffled, the two of them seemed to need more comforting. Since Xia Ye was still a minor, a family member could accompany her while making her statement. The group entered the interrogation room. Occasionally, Xia Ye would recall fragments of her abduction during the past 14 years when she slept at night. The kidnapper must have been a man. The reason for ¡°must¡± was because the man had never shown his face. He wore a black mask and used a voice changer. Unfortunately, the warehouse was dimly lit, and she couldn¡¯t clearly see his eyes that were the only parts exposed. As expected, the information Xia Ye could provide was not of much help to the case at the moment. Xu He and Xia Yuzheng felt regretful, but the thought that their younger daughter was finally back by their side provided some consolation. ** After leaving the police station, Xia Yuzheng sent Xu He and the others home with Wang Dahai¡¯s help and then went to the company himself. It wasn¡¯t until the evening that he finally finished his work and returned home. Now that his younger daughter¡¯s schooling was arranged, Xia Yuzheng finally had time to research Xia Enterprise¡¯s bidding activities for the first half of the year. Xia Yuzheng was quite confident about this bid, with the only competitor being... The Jiang Family. At this moment, there was a stack of thick files on his coffee table. With so much work to do, he had even forgotten that his wife disliked the smell of smoke, and he lit a cigarette, smoking while reviewing the documents. Xu He knew he was vexed about work and didn¡¯t stop him, only asking the maid to open a window. She wasn¡¯t bothered by it much, but beside her, Xia Yourong was doing exercises, and in the dining area, Xia Xing was explaining biology to Xia Ye. She couldn¡¯t let her precious children be affected by the smell of smoke. The key to winning the bid was to know both yourself and your competition, but it was not easy to be so informed about the Jiang Family. Moreover, now that the marriage engagement with the Jiang Family was called off, Xia Yuzheng found it even harder to gather any intelligence about the Jiang Family¡¯s attitude toward the bid. He drew the cigarette to his lips, took a deep drag, looked up, and glanced across the unusually harmonious living room. His gaze moved from the boneless-looking Xia Ye, sprawled over the dining table reading a book, and settled on Xia Yourong beside her. His eyes flickered, ¡°Xiaorong, school starts tomorrow, and you¡¯re in the same class as Yunzhou, right? As long as it doesn¡¯t affect your studies, try to interact with him more often and see if you can dig up any information for Dad.¡± Xia Yourong smiled sweetly, ¡°No problem, Dad. Not only are we classmates, but we also sit adjacent desks.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xia Yuzheng smiled amiably. When it came to Xiaorong, she excelled at socializing and was sensible and mature. Despite being in her senior year, she was already a little celebrity among the few major families of Capital City. Whenever he socialized, he would always hear others praise her. Although his sons were also outstanding, they just weren¡¯t the same as his daughter. It seemed that the only link between the Xia and Jiang families in the future would have to rely on Xiaorong... As Xia Yuzheng thought this, little did he know that at the same time, in the dining area, ¡°dimwit¡± Xia Ye had finally finished her last evening¡¯s lessons. She remembered she hadn¡¯t checked her WeChat for days and casually glanced at her phone. Upon opening it, she was notified of three new friend requests. Yizhou, Just One Boat (Jiang Yunzhou). Your Husband from Kindergarten (Jiang Yunyang). Jiang Xuan. Apart from Jiang Xuan, who had the patience to wait for her acceptance, The other two had sent several friend requests¡ªone had tried 4 times, the other 11 times... Chapter 43 - 43 043 Flattery went wrong ?43: 043 Flattery went wrong 43: 043 Flattery went wrong ** Jiang Family Mansion. Liu Manyi brought out a plate of fruit. She looked at Jiang Yunzhou, Jiang Yunyang, and Jiang Xuan, who were sitting in three corners of her living room, each engrossed in their smartphones with unusually serious expressions. She smiled at her husband beside her, ¡°The house has been quite lively lately, especially your fourth brother. It¡¯s rare to see this busy person these days.¡± The Jiang family mansion was quite imposing, with several buildings rising flat from the ground in an orderly arrangement. In the past, Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s uncles all lived inside, but after they started their own families and bought their properties, they moved out. Only the most honest eldest brother, Jiang He, still lived in the old mansion. What surprised Jiang He recently was that his youngest brother, who owns properties all over the world and whose whereabouts were the hardest to track, had moved back to the old mansion after returning to work at the Jiang Consortium. Jiang Xuan had his own independent building in the old mansion, which was quite close to where Jiang He and the others lived, making it more convenient to move around. No matter the reason, Jiang He, as the eldest brother, felt reassured seeing his younger brother willing to return to the old mansion. Consequently, his attitude towards Jiang Xuan was much better than towards the other two brothers. Liu Manyi placed the fruit on the coffee table and called everyone to eat, but no one looked her way. Jiang Xuan sat in an armchair by the window, with two men in suits and ties standing behind him. The taller one was his confidant, Dong Mao, and the slightly shorter one was his assistant, Shen Jing. Since his return to the consortium, these two had often been seen together, following him around daily, becoming his somewhat unimportant right-hand men. Although Jiang Xuan was quite cold towards them, internally, they still had a fierce rivalry, trying to establish who was first and who was second. Initially, Dong Mao thought it was a huge joke that Shen Jing wanted to compete with him. After all, his relationship with their boss was far from ordinary¡ªthey had their little secrets... (Hmm?) But no amount of confidence could withstand Shen Jing¡¯s clingy behavior, persistently courting favor in front of their boss daily. Home-grown flowers are never as sweet as the wild ones, right? Dong Mao felt threatened. Shen Jing adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and respectfully handed Jiang Xuan a document to sign, then stood aside, pulling out a little notebook and a little pen, writing while muttering softly, ¡°This evening, the president pinched the asparagus shrimp 7 times, drank half a bowl of sea cucumber soup, and barely touched the slightly spicy cherry pork before putting it down. Conclusion: the president doesn¡¯t like spicy food.¡± Dong Mao was shocked; could a six-foot-tall man really be doing this? It was like something a young girl would do. Now that Shen Jing had been reinstated by the president, he told himself that he must seize this opportunity. To move into the president¡¯s heart! After jotting down his notes, Shen Jing put away his notebook and quietly moved a step towards Dong Mao, ¡°Brother Dong, do you know what hobbies the president has during his personal time?¡± Dong Ang looked down disdainfully at Shen Jing, who was half a head shorter, and said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± And even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t tell him. Stingy to the max, Shen Jing pouted, ¡°What a stingy miser!¡± Unexpectedly, Dong Ang reacted violently to his words, abruptly jumping to the side, his tone wary, ¡°How did you know?¡± Shen Jing was confused, puzzled, ¡°Know what? Asking you about the president¡¯s hobbies and you won¡¯t even tell me, isn¡¯t that being miserly?¡± Hearing this, the panic gradually faded from Dong Ang¡¯s face. So, he was referring to that kind of miser... Scared me to death. ¡°What are you two arguing about?¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s brows furrowed deeply from the disturbance behind him. Were they showing off their love? Having signed the contract, Jiang Xuan raised his hand, handed the document to Shen Jing, and casually grabbed his smartphone to check WeChat. A few days ago, he had sent a friend request to Xia Ye. Until now, it hasn¡¯t been approved. Shen Jing hurriedly caught the contract and, after staring at the president¡¯s clouded back of the head for a while, plucked up the courage to ask, ¡°President... Miss Xia hasn¡¯t added you yet?¡± Jiang Xuan slowly turned around, his gaze upon Shen Jing as if he wanted to skin him alive, ¡°What do you think?¡± Dong Ang was utterly speechless, thinking if there should be another word after Shen Jing¡¯s name? Always running towards the muzzle. Shen Jing was terrified by the president¡¯s gaze and, with a survival instinct, quickly said, ¡°The applications of Young Master Yunzhou and Young Master Yunyang were not approved by Miss Xia either. She must be busy and doesn¡¯t have time to check her phone. I heard she was admitted to Beijing No.1 Middle School; she must be busy preparing for school.¡± Jiang Xuan glanced at Jiang Yunzhou and Jiang Yunyang sitting opposite him, both with tightly furrowed brows. Especially Jiang Yunzhou, who faced the friend request box with a look of deep resentment. He tapped on the screen for a long time, typed out a message, and then deleted it all. He had gotten Xia Ye¡¯s mobile number from his dad. Hearing that the Xia Family had also gotten her into First Middle School, he couldn¡¯t help but feel thrilled about attending the same school as her. These past few days, he was utterly poisoned by Xia Ye. Sometimes as he passed by the study and heard his father discussing this summer¡¯s performance with company executives over the phone, he misheard and thought they were mentioning Xia Ye¡¯s name. He felt that the Xia Ye he saw after returning to the Capital City seemed somewhat different from the one he saw in the bar. In front of her family, she seemed a bit more well-behaved, while that night at the bar, she was like a spicy little temptress. Thinking about it, that night at the bar must have been just after she was rescued. Having just been rescued and then sneaking off to the bar, what an extraordinary person she was! Yet, it was exactly this kind of unpredictable rebellious girl that was more charming. Then he looked at Xia Ye¡¯s WeChat profile picture again. A brightly colored, succulent Orleans grilled chicken. Even her profile picture was so unique! Jiang Xuan fell silent for a moment, seemingly feeling that Shen Jing made a lot of sense, which visibly relaxed his expression. The young girl must definitely be preparing for school, not having seen it. He lightly tapped his finger on the armrest of the sofa, then stood up intending to leave. Shen Jing secretly heaved a sigh of relief, packed the contract into the document folder, prepared to leave with the president, when suddenly, two ¡®ding-dongs¡¯ sounded in the living room. Jiang Xuan slightly paused, stopping in his tracks. Before he had time to wonder, his two nephews behind him cheered gleefully. ¡°Wow, wow, wow, she finally added me!¡± ¡°Cousin, cousin, she added me too!¡± Shen Jing beamed, ¡°President, Miss Xia has finally looked at her phone. You should check; she must have added you as well.¡± Dong Mao chimed in, ¡°Yes, yes!¡± The days of constant fear were finally about to end. Then Jiang Xuan pulled out his mobile phone and opened WeChat. All was quiet... Shen Jing and Dong Mao exchanged glances: ?? No way? She added the two young masters but didn¡¯t add the president? Inwardly, Dong Mao was crying up a storm, but he still made a desperate effort, ¡°Maybe she just went to do something else. Just wait a little longer, she will definitely add you.¡± Five minutes later... Jiang Xuan¡¯s WeChat was still unchanged. His facial expression, however, had changed. It had turned dark... Chapter 44 - 44 044 Make a small investment ?44: 044 Make a ¡°small¡± investment 44: 044 Make a ¡°small¡± investment Dong Mao was on the verge of tears. His master was in stark contrast to that little ancestor; one was rigid and serious, the other was indulgent and unrestrained. Because of differing ideals, that little ancestor has always looked down on his master¡ªonly Dong Mao never dared to tell his master. But Dong Mao never imagined that even now, with a change of status, his master could still be scorned?! Xia Ye was actually thinking this: The little brother Jiang Yunyang is quite adorable, and Jiang Yunzhou will be in the same school where they¡¯d run into each other often, so he casually liked their moments. As for Jiang Xuan¡¯s... Was there a need? Just pretend he didn¡¯t see it. After all, he doesn¡¯t even know when he¡¯d check his phone. It can¡¯t be possible that all three of them are together at this moment, right? Jiang Xuan turned off his phone screen, slid it into his pocket, and casually slipped his hand into the pocket, too. There he stood at the doorway, tall and long-legged, looking down at the two nephews who were so engrossed in chatting on WeChat that they didn¡¯t even notice he was about to leave. ¡°Little cousin, why did it suddenly get so cold? Did you turn the air conditioning up again?¡± ¡°No? Brother, don¡¯t interrupt me; I¡¯m sending voice messages to Sister Little Tiangao! Sister, I sent you 520¡ªthat¡¯s all my pocket money, please spend it!¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s lips tightened: ... His WeChat account was pegged at 2.5 million on the black market. An account so many desired but couldn¡¯t have, and he took the initiative to add someone, yet they declined? He was so soft and compliant when he needed help saving his third brother, but now it seemed like he was being discarded after use. After a while, Jiang Xuan spoke with a heavy tone, ¡°Yunzhou.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Yunzhou responded, ¡°What¡¯s up, uncle?¡± ¡°Do I recall that you start school tomorrow?¡± Jiang Xuan asked. Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s mind was already wandering, and he replied nonchalantly, ¡°Yeah~¡± Jiang Xuan hinted enigmatically with a tilted lip, ¡°Uncle will take you to school.¡± Jiang Yunzhou was deeply touched! ** Jiang Xuan¡¯s building was right next door; he could walk back home. The man strode ahead with Dong Mao and Shen Jing following behind. Shen Jing swallowed hard as he watched the CEO¡¯s towering figure. Over the past few days, he had realized that Xia Ye was the key to affecting the CEO¡¯s mood. There had been a lot of rumors about the Xia Family¡¯s daughter in Capital City lately, but he couldn¡¯t care less; as long as the CEO liked her, she might as well be his grandmother. ¡°President, don¡¯t overthink it. Miss Xia must have her reasons for adding them as friends.¡± ¡°Master Yunzhou has already called off the engagement, so the two of them are just ordinary classmates.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s no need to mention Master Yunyang; he¡¯s 13 years younger than Miss Xia, there¡¯s definitely no chance there!¡± Shen Jing kept persuading as they walked, and by the end of his last sentence, Jiang Xuan came to halt. Shen Jing gave Dong Mao a triumphant eyebrow raise. The implication was clear: Impressed, aren¡¯t you? After my persuasion, the President must be feeling better. However, Dong Mao¡¯s returned look held not a shred of admiration. Idiot! No chance just because there¡¯s a 13-year gap? Do you even know how many years apart the master and that little ancestor are?! ** Having grown tired from chatting on WeChat, Xia Ye yawned lazily, grabbed a bottle of drink from the fridge, twisted open the cap with one hand, and took a swig. Xia Xing had sketched out some key points for her to memorize on the car ride to school the next morning. Tomorrow, her eldest brother and third brother were tasked with taking her two sisters to school, as he couldn¡¯t make it. Mainly because he was now too popular; it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that if he appeared at school, it would absolutely be impenetrable. So he seized the moment to give them a few more instructions. After this period of intensive tutoring, the brothers realized that Little Tiangao was indeed very smart, but her performance was highly variable. Questions that were correctly solved today end up confusing again by tomorrow. And the problems that originally stumped her somehow become solvable after a couple of days. Quite baffling. But this was to be expected, considering she¡¯d never been to school when she was younger. Xia Xing stood up, intending to bring her the exercise book with highlighted key points, and when he noticed her phone on the table out of the corner of his eye, he picked it up to hand it to her. As Xia Ye took her phone, her fingerprint touched the unlock sensor, and the screen lit up momentarily. Xia Xing caught a glimpse of an odd icon on her phone¡¯s desktop, a capital letter ¡®B¡¯. The app name was quite long, he didn¡¯t see it clearly, but caught something like ¡®virtual¡¯ and ¡®operator¡¯... Could it be one of those platforms similar to trading Bitcoin? That kind of thing involves buying and selling in sums of millions, where making a fortune overnight is possible, but losing one¡¯s shirt can happen just as quickly. Most people can¡¯t make head nor tail of it, let alone get a foot in the door. He had only heard it mentioned in passing once. Noticing his bemused expression, Xia Ye curved her lips and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xia Xing came back to his senses, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing, nothing. Don¡¯t be nervous about the test tomorrow, just relax.¡± Xia Xing shook his head. He must have seen it wrong. How could Little Tiangao understand such things? It must be some sort of game or similar software... ** On the last day of February, Beijing No.1 Middle School started its new term. Tender willows supported by the breeze, budding sprouts moistened by the rain. A light rain had just fallen in the early morning, but now it had stopped. The moist air was infused with the scent of early spring flowers, a cool white hue that was intoxicating. Boys and girls in the uniform of Beijing No.1 Middle School were crossing the roads, their colorful umbrellas folded in their hands, converging towards the campus. The most advanced infrastructure, the best quality landscape gardening. In terms of teaching staff, university entrance rate, and teaching environment, Beijing No.1 Middle School was far ahead of any other high school in Capital City. There was a huge, stylistic stone standing at the entrance with eight characters carved into it. ¡®Self-Improvement, Perseverance, Progress with Each Passing Day.¡¯ The inscription was bold and vigorous. It was the school motto of First Middle School. Jiang Xuan¡¯s car slowly pulled into the parking lot outside the main gate. In the back seat, Jiang Yunzhou, with his neat short hair and wearing the sporty school uniform, looked less like a rich playboy and more sunny and handsome. He packed his backpack, held onto the front seat, and leaned forward, ¡°Uncle, it smells great. Did you prepare breakfast for me too? I got up late and didn¡¯t have time for breakfast. It smells like... roast chicken?¡± Jiang Xuan sealed off the insulated storage box and replied mercilessly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Yunzhou sounded downhearted, ¡°Alright then...¡± After Jiang Yunzhou got out of the car, Jiang Xuan didn¡¯t leave right away but sat there for a while until, from the rearview mirror, he saw the Xia Family¡¯s car parked obliquely behind his... The car came to a halt, and Xia Yourong, with her high ponytail drawn back, got out dragging Xia Tiao. She cooed in a lengthy tone, ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s the first day of school, and I can¡¯t manage by myself, so keep me company, okay? After all, little sis and Third Brother are with her.¡± Xia Tiao looked back at Xia Ye still inside the car, shook his head with concern, and went ahead into the school with his eldest sister. It took another dozen seconds before Xia Ye and Xia Xian left the car. Jiang Xuan¡¯s dark pupils contracted slightly. The same uniform, yet it exuded a completely different aura on Xia Ye. She wore a white baseball cap, the brim pulled down low, her jacket casually open, revealing a pure white T-shirt underneath, one pant leg hanging down, the other rolled up to her slender calf. After parking the car, Xia Xian hooked her backpack over his shoulder, ¡°Little Tiangao, don¡¯t rush in just yet. I¡¯ll buy you some breakfast first; I can tell you didn¡¯t eat well this morning.¡± Xia Ye agreed. She had wanted chicken for breakfast, but Aunt Wu said they didn¡¯t make such greasy food so early. She ended up eating some bread, barely enough to fill the gaps between her teeth. Oh, how she longed for some chicken... With her eyes closed, Xia Ye was pondering this when the scent of honey-roasted chicken wafted into her sensitive little nose. She opened her eyes, following the scent. And ¡°chicken¡± was coming her way... Chapter 45 - 45 045 Scheming boy ?45: 045 Scheming boy 45: 045 Scheming boy To be precise, it was Jiang Xuan, who was carrying the chicken, walking towards her, but at this moment, in Xia Ye¡¯s eyes, there was only the chicken... ¡°Can I eat it?¡± she couldn¡¯t help asking. A fox has no resistance to a chicken. Jiang Xuan set the box with the roasted chicken on the hood of the car, next to a cup of non-alcoholic Tonic Water, and chuckled softly as he looked at her somewhat dazed expression, ¡°Of course.¡± It was prepared for her after all. Xia Ye glanced at the packaging box. The box was eco-friendly and exquisite, even bearing the ¡®Godear¡¯ logo on it. It was from the Western restaurant where Xia Yuzheng had taken her the day she returned to the Capital City. No wonder it smelled so good; the food from that restaurant really suited her taste. In fact, she was rather picky, so the fact that the food suited her taste so well meant... she must have some fate with that restaurant... As the box opened, a waft of steam surged into her nostrils. Wow, it¡¯s still hot. Look at that plump and perky little butt, those agile and cute wings, the gracefully long neck. It must have been quite diligent in working out while it was alive. While Xia Ye was still contemplating whether to eat back in the car, her body honestly tore off a chicken leg. After all, where they parked was quite secluded, with no one passing by. The roasted chicken had crispy skin and tender meat, dripping with juicy flavors, as she nibbled away with her tiny mouth sizzling with oil. Jiang Xuan covertly pursed his lips, his eyes darkening. Xia Ye was relishing her food, but she still ate gracefully, without making a mess. However, one hand was clearly not enough, and her other hand was holding a cellphone, hesitant to stuff it in her pocket for fear of staining her school uniform with grease. Jiang Xuan offered his rare considerateness, ¡°I can hold your cellphone for you.¡± Xia Ye gave it to him. ¡°Is there anything private in the phone?¡± Xia Ye didn¡¯t know why he would ask that, ¡°No.¡± Xia Xian brought back breakfast. Casually, he also took out a bun and was about to put it into his mouth. He was walking quickly, fearing that his dearly pampered little sister might be hungry, but from a distance, he saw¡ª His little sister eating something given by a strange man? Who would dare... Xia Xian took another couple of steps forward, and the moment he recognized that man¡¯s face, he halted in his tracks. President Jiang? Xia Xian blinked hard. He had just met President Jiang a few days ago because of that batch of goods; there was no way he could have mistaken him. But how did they run into each other? He had heard that a few days ago, Uncle Wang¡¯s car broke down, and it was President Jiang who had given Little Tiangao and his older sister a ride to school. Could it be another coincidence this time? Could it be a bit... too coincidental? Before he could figure out what was going on, he then saw his little sister choke a little from eagerly eating the roasted chicken. ¡°Is that for drinking?¡± Xia Ye asked as she reached out for the cup of Tonic Water. ¡°I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± said Jiang Xuan, intending to help her, but Xia Ye¡¯s hand had already stretched out. The result was that as soon as her hand touched the cup, Jiang Xuan¡¯s hand grasped hers. Both of them froze in their movements simultaneously. With a ¡°plop,¡± the bun in Xia Xian¡¯s hand fell to the ground, rolling away. Xia Ye looked at the clasped hands, a bit startled. Daring to touch the hand of the revered ancestor? Just as she was about to flare up, she suddenly realized, this man had quite beautiful hands. His palm was large, fingers clean and tidy, only the center of his palm was a bit warm... It was not until a bun rolled to her feet that Xia Ye pulled her hand back and followed its path to see her third brother standing utterly still right there. His hand was still in a half-grasping gesture, making it obvious that the bun had fallen from his grasp. Xia Ye, ¡°Bro, why are you standing so far away? Why don¡¯t you come over?¡± Suppressing the twitching at the corner of his eye, Xia Xian hastened forward and yanked Xia Ye behind him. He really wanted to blurt out, ¡°You son of a bitch, dare to touch my sister¡¯s hand?¡± But remembering that the man opposite him was President Jiang, after a few deep breaths, he managed to force out a smile that was anything but friendly, ¡°What brings President Jiang, such a busy man, to this place?¡± Jiang Xuan glanced at his empty palm and, concealing his reaction, slipped his hand into his trouser pocket as a matter-of-fact excuse, ¡°Dropping my nephew off at school.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Xia Xian deliberately distanced their relationship, turning to Xia Ye, ¡°Little Tiangao, say goodbye to Uncle Jiang.¡± Xia Ye uttered an ¡°Oh,¡± ¡°Goodbye, Uncle Jiang.¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment of silence, he returned the phone to Xia Ye and left. Even after Jiang Xuan had driven away, Xia Xian remained on high alert. Even though a man like Jiang Xuan, with power, prestige, and still single, was the dream match for all the ladies in the Capital City, one they dare not even think about. But how old was his sister, really? She¡¯s not even of age, okay?! He hoped he was overthinking it. After all, Jiang Xuan had been single for many years, known to everyone as someone who kept his distance from women, the untouchable flower of the Capital City. Xia Ye looked down at her phone, feeling the faint residual warmth of the man¡¯s palm. A thought flashed through her mind about the time Jiang Xuan requested to add her on WeChat, which she hadn¡¯t accepted. Since she had eaten his chicken, she might as well add him. Just as she was about to do so, she noticed a new notification in WeChat. [You have added ¡°Jiang Xuan¡± as a contact, you can start chatting now.] Huh? When did she add him? Xia Ye twisted her brows in confusion, then remembered that just a moment ago, Jiang Xuan had offered to hold her phone for her. ¡°...¡± F*ck! ¡ª- On the first day of school, the campus was bustling with groups of people, a stark contrast to the eeriness of two days ago. There were also quite a few students lingering under the office building. And most of these students stood out in the school, exuding a sense of superiority. For example, there were class officers waiting to collect the new term¡¯s schedule, students rehearsing for a performance or speech at the opening ceremony in a few days, and offspring of rich families whose parents were inside talking with the teachers, waiting for them to come out. Seeing the crowd inside, Xia Xian said, ¡°I¡¯ll go in to ask about today¡¯s test for you. You wait here, be good.¡± Xia Ye agreed. She remembered she forgot to bring the study points her second brother had marked but simply shrugged it off. Because she didn¡¯t need them anyway. Hands in her pockets, she leaned her back against a lamppost, one leg propping her up against the ground while the other bent and rested on the lamppost, her gaze cold and aloof. Without a word, she inadvertently caught attention. The students quickly noticed Xia Ye leaning against the lamppost and started to gossip. ¡°Look, look, that¡¯s her!¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The daughter the Xia Family brought back from the countryside that was mentioned in the post!¡± ¡°Really? She actually came to our school? Isn¡¯t she illiterate? How could she get into First Middle School?¡± ¡°Hey, she¡¯s the darling of the Xia Family; what¡¯s wrong with attending First Middle School? Maybe she will even go to college in the future! What can¡¯t money buy??¡± A few days ago, there was a hot post in the school forum. It said that the Xia Family had inserted their illiterate daughter from the countryside into First Middle School. The post even attached a photo of Xia Ye. However, because it involved student privacy, it was quickly deleted by the admin. The students who saw it had a variety of opinions, most thinking it was a rumor, but they didn¡¯t expect to actually see the girl on campus today... Chapter 46 - 46 046 The Deity Appears on Campus ?46: 046 The Deity Appears on Campus 46: 046 The Deity Appears on Campus In the group of students discussing, one of them happened to be Xia Yourong¡¯s best friend, Zhou Yao. The two were classmates, and lately, Xia Yourong had often mentioned Xia Ye in her WeChat conversations. Zhou Yao had become all too familiar with Xia Ye by now. She knew too well how Xia Ye acted spoiled and arrogant at home, relying on her status as the Xia family¡¯s biological daughter, and how she ostracized her best friend. Whether it was the servants or the brothers who seldom returned home, everyone couldn¡¯t stand Xia Ye. They refrained from kicking her out of the Xia family only because of their blood relation. Zhou Yao was livid, having never seen such a brazen village girl. Only because her best friend was beautiful and kind-hearted. If it had been her, Xia Ye wouldn¡¯t even know how she died! ¡°Now she¡¯s back, has not the school beauty suddenly gained a little sister?¡± The school beauty they referred to was none other than the goddess Xia Yourong, excellent in both character and learning, and also skilled at playing the ancient flute. In school, everyone knew her. Upon hearing someone say this, Zhou Yao immediately laughed, ¡°If I were Xia Ye, I¡¯d rather die than come to First Middle School and embarrass myself. With such an outstanding sister, this comparison, it¡¯s simply a social death scene!¡± ¡°Really, they share the surname Xia, but why is the gap so huge?¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly.¡± The group of students was chatting excitedly when, turning their heads, they saw Xia Ye looking at them. But Xia Ye seemed not angry at all; instead, she tugged at her lips, her smile wicked. The students paused, inexplicably charmed by her. They couldn¡¯t help but recall the photo in the post. The whistleblower had posted a photo of Xia Ye, taken secretly, with poor resolution, no beauty filters, no edits, and deliberately from the most unflattering angle to exaggerate her face size. Yet even so, Xia Ye in the photo was still strikingly beautiful. It seemed... possibly even more beautiful than the school beauty... ¡°Yourong! You finally came out! Did you get the opening ceremony¡¯s schedule?¡± Zhou Yao¡¯s sharp voice instantly snapped everyone back to reality. They had almost fallen for Xia Ye¡¯s beauty trap. As people looked toward the sound, they not only saw Xia Yourong but also Xia Tiao next to her, tall, broad, with a dignified aura, and exuding mature charm all over. ¡°School beauty, is he your brother?¡± ¡°Your brother is so handsome!¡±> It was well known that the Xia family had three sons who were not only tall and handsome but also very accomplished. Although everyone had seen Xia Xing on TV, they never expected the other brothers to be so handsome too! ¡°Which brother is this? What does he do? Why does he have such a presence?¡± Xia Yourong didn¡¯t want to answer herself, but stretched her neck long, tilting it back like a swan, her expression seemingly fearful lest others not know her relationship with Xia Tiao. Zhou Yao saw through her thoughts at a glance and deliberately raised her tone, ¡°He¡¯s Yourong¡¯s eldest brother, a senior secretary at O League~ If it weren¡¯t for riding on Yourong¡¯s coat-tails, us ordinary folks wouldn¡¯t have a chance to meet him.¡± Her voice was controlled just right, loud enough for everyone around to hear yet not sounding too deliberate. Xia Yourong was very pleased with her response. She had intentionally brought her elder brother today. Although their third brother was also handsome, he always hung out with his dubious friends, adopting a roguish air, unlike their eldest brother, a secretary in O League, a position that carried prestige when mentioned. Xia Yourong really enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention and being surrounded by people, and Zhou Yao was particularly good at flattering her. The two hit it off and became good friends. Zhou Yao decided to seize the moment and use this opportunity to support her friend even more, so she continued, ¡°You can tell just by the attitude of Xiaorong¡¯s brother. Even her own brother doesn¡¯t care about Xia Ye, which shows Xia Ye¡¯s status in the Xia Family, right?¡± The people around immediately agreed, ¡°The school beauty is the legitimate daughter of the Xia Family!¡± But upon hearing their words, Xia Tiao¡¯s eyebrows deeply furrowed. Following the crowd¡¯s gaze, he noticed Xia Ye standing alone by the lamppost and started to head over. He had just taken a step when someone grabbed his sleeve. Turning around, it was his little sister. His little sister shook her head at him pleadingly, asking him not to go over, her expression pitiful. Fearing he would misunderstand, she whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t mind what others say. They will understand eventually~¡± After Zhou Yao had just said those things, it would be extremely embarrassing for her if their big brother went over now. She felt that with so many people around, her big brother would surely consider her dignity. Little did she know that Xia Tiao coldly shrugged off her hand and strode towards Xia Ye. Quite coincidentally, Xia Xian had just finished meeting with Principal Tian and, without even glancing at Xia Yourong, headed straight for Xia Ye. Seeing the two extremely handsome men gathering around Xia Ye, Zhou Yao snorted disdainfully, ¡°Well, after all, they live under the same roof; it¡¯s normal for them to talk.¡± Xia Yourong, appearing touched, glanced at her friend. Suddenly thinking of something, she pulled out a stack of something from her backpack, ¡°Oh right, Yaoyao, you asked for my second brother¡¯s autograph before, and I brought it,¡± she glanced at the surrounding students, ¡°I even asked my second brother to sign a few dozen more...¡± She said it casually, but the surrounding people immediately looked over curiously. They really were surprised today by the high good looks of Xia Yourong¡¯s big brother and third brother, but among the three Xia brothers, Xia Xing, the second, was the most popular among the students, especially since he had just finished a performance match not long ago, practically a godlike figure in the students¡¯ eyes. Even the girls who didn¡¯t play games knew of this character named Xia God. Xia Yourong smoothed her high ponytail at the back of her head, lifting her chin even higher, ¡°As you know, my second brother is very busy, and he agreed to sign these out of love for me.¡± Zhou Yao was ecstatic, took away ten photographs immediately, and, holding her friend¡¯s hand, laughed, ¡°Thank you, Xiaorong~~¡± Seeing this, others also clamored to talk to Xia Yourong, complimenting her beauty, kindness, good skin, and so on. Xia Yourong, like a queen, said, ¡°Then each of you pick one.¡± The stack of autographed photos was quickly distributed, and Xia Yourong thought to herself that she would need to ask her second brother to sign some more when she got back. ¡°School beauty, I¡¯m so envious of you, to have a brother like Xia God who dotes on you!¡± ¡°You must tell us when Xia God is coming to school!¡± ¡°Yes, yes! I really want to see him in person!¡± Zhou Yao also got excited, ¡°Xiaorong, if you ask him, he will surely come, right?¡± Xia Yourong smiled proudly, ¡°Looking at you guys, if my second brother came, wouldn¡¯t you just devour him? Forget it, even with my face, second brother wouldn¡¯t possibly come to school. He hates trouble the most. That¡¯s probably... the troubles of a star, huh~¡± ¡°If the school beauty says so, then there¡¯s no hope~¡± ¡°Alright, alright, having an autograph is sufficient for me to die without regrets!¡± The students licked their obtained autographs excitedly, but just then, a tall figure, although wearing sunglasses and a mask, but still dazzlingly handsome, ran towards the office building. Everyone felt extremely familiar with him but dared not associate it with their thoughts, and then they saw him suddenly heading towards the lamp post, ¡°Little Tiangao, you even forgot the knowledge points your second brother marked for you! What else can your little brain remember? If you fail your exam, let¡¯s see if you don¡¯t cry!¡± Chapter 47 - 47 047 Sister, this is a talisman obtained from the Ancestral Temple! ?47: 047 Sister, this is a talisman obtained from the Ancestral Temple! 47: 047 Sister, this is a talisman obtained from the Ancestral Temple! Little Tiangao... Second brother... Although at first, it sounded like a complaint, anyone could taste the fullness of indulgence within it. Xia Ye took the exercise book from his hand, ¡°Sorry, I really forgot.¡± Xia Xing looked at his silly little sister and patted her on the head, sighing, ¡°You, you really make your second brother worry!¡± He was originally supposed to go to the club in the morning, but ended up seeing the knowledge points he marked left next to the fridge by the little one. Where he had placed them yesterday, there they still were today. Everyone at home had gone out, and he didn¡¯t feel assured having the driver send him. He was truly afraid of coming to a place like school, but if Little Tiangao found out she had forgotten to take them, she would definitely cry in a panic. With that thought in mind, he didn¡¯t care about anything else and hurriedly delivered them. Xia Xian, still thinking about President Jiang¡¯s matter and particularly annoyed, said, ¡°Alright, stop talking about Little Tiangao, aren¡¯t you just tutoring one subject, biology? We are each responsible for several subjects, are any of us as long-winded as you?¡± Xia Tiao rarely agreed with him, ¡°The third brother makes sense.¡± Watching Xia Ye being doted on by her three brothers in the middle, their natural affection and intimacy, the onlookers¡¯ gaze returned to Xia Yourong, and their perception changed. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t the school beauty say it was impossible for God Xia to come to school?¡± ¡°But he has come, and he came for Xia Ye!¡± ¡°Are you sure this is what being out of favor at the Xia Family looks like?¡± ¡°Did you not hear? God Xia talked about marking knowledge points! God Xia is actually tutoring her!!!¡± As soon as someone said this, the crowd was silent for about three seconds before erupting into an irrepressible murmur. ¡°Ao ao ao ao! What kind of fate is this? To actually have God Xia tutor her!¡± ¡°God Xia transformed into a home tutor... It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, just thinking about it makes me dizzy!¡± ¡°Not just God Xia, the other two brothers have also tutored her!¡± ¡°This is so unfair! My brother is short, unattractive, poor, and even copies my homework! Why don¡¯t I have brothers like that, handsome and rich, willing to tutor me? I¡¯m clearly smarter than Xia Ye! Easier to teach than Xia Ye!¡± While the girls were complaining, some had already taken out pens and paper and were heading towards Xia Xing. Among them, many boys, all hardcore gaming fans, seeing the God show up, who had time to stand around with the girls chattering? The lead girls blinked and also came to their senses. The area around the light pole was instantly jam-packed. Xia Tiao and Xia Xian, without any hesitation, pushed Xia Xing out immediately, shielding Xia Ye behind them. Xia Xing wanted to cry! ¡°Today is a private trip, please students do not...¡± Before he could even utter the word ¡®not,¡¯ it was cut off by an uproar. ¡°Ahhh! God Xia, you really are so handsome! I¡¯m dead, I¡¯m dead, I¡¯m dead!¡± ¡°Once I graduate, I¡¯m going to have your monkeys!¡± Zhou Yao was among those who shouted the loudest. Looking back at Xia Yourong, the crowd that had been surrounding her had left without a trace. A breeze of early spring passed through, blowing a rain-soaked leaf onto her hair. Xia Yourong, shaking with anger, bit her lips so hard they almost bled. She yanked the leaf out of her hair and furiously threw it to the ground. Today really allowed Xia Ye to steal the show! But Xia Yourong was Xia Yourong, within less than half a minute, her face regained its gentle and amiable smile. She strode forward, patted Zhou Yao on the shoulder, and handed her a stack of review materials, ¡°The homeroom teacher said to send these back to the class as soon as possible. My brothers have come, and I cannot leave; can you help me send them back now?¡± Zhou Yao let out an ¡®Ah?¡¯ She hadn¡¯t gotten her turn for a photo with God Xia yet! Xia Yourong saw right through her thoughts but still smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid of the homeroom teacher getting angry, we have such a good relationship, you will help me, right?¡± Zhou Yao had no choice but to give Jiang Xuan one last reluctant glance as she helped her bring back the documents to the classroom. Xia Yourong watched her looking back every three steps and let out a cold laugh. Who asked her to not speak up for herself when her second brother came just now? And yet she still wants to take a photo with her second brother? This was just a small warning. If she wanted to be Yourong¡¯s friend, she had to learn to be sensible! With that thought, Xia Yourong twisted her neck, cleared her way through the crowd, and deliberately raised her voice to make her presence felt. ¡°Second Brother! Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were coming? I was surrounded by people just now, and you surely didn¡¯t see me, did you?¡± Xia Xing was taken aback and replied with slight embarrassment, ¡°Ah, I really didn¡¯t see you.¡± It was almost time for morning self-study before the students finally dispersed. Xia Xing could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Xia Yourong met her oldest brother, Xia Tiao¡¯s gaze and remembered how she had just stopped him from looking for Xia Ye. She pursed her lips and approached him, ¡°Brother, I didn¡¯t mean to do that just now.¡± She looked weak and pitiful, making it hard not to feel compassion for her. Xia Tiao patted her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, school¡¯s started, so focus on your studies.¡± Xia Yourong smiled knowingly, ¡°I definitely will!¡± Since it was clear now that her three brothers were set on doting on Xia Ye, it would be a losing game for her to oppose them outright. After all, her brothers wouldn¡¯t always be at school. There was plenty of time ahead. Xia Xian told Xia Ye about the arrangement from Principal Tian ¡ª she was to go to the lecture hall at 7:30 AM to start her exams. The time was almost right. Her brothers gave her a few last-minute reminders. Given Little Tiangao¡¯s current level, understanding the lessons shouldn¡¯t be too much of a problem, but as for passing Principal Tian¡¯s requirements... All her brothers knew was that if she didn¡¯t pass, Principal Tian would be quite troublesome to deal with... Xia Yourong also said she wanted to accompany Xia Ye to the lecture hall, but Xia Tiao advised, ¡°The bell for morning self-study has already rung. You should go back to class first.¡± Xia Yourong looked worried. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have a performance for the school opening ceremony, so it¡¯s fine if I¡¯m a bit late to self-study. The teacher won¡¯t say anything. Besides, my little sister is about to have her exam. I¡¯d really be worried if I don¡¯t take her there myself.¡± Xia Tiao nodded slightly, not saying anything more. Xia Ye¡¯s phone received a WeChat notification. With all her brothers here, she couldn¡¯t imagine who else would be messaging her. Upon opening it, to her surprise, it was from Jiang Xuan. Jiang: Wishing you success. So serious! But then again, he also knew about her exam today? And the timing of the WeChat message was just too perfect... Seeing her look at her phone, Xia Xian narrowed his handsome eyes slightly, ¡°Who is it?¡± For some reason, Xia Ye didn¡¯t tell the truth. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a psychologist mom had found.¡± At the entrance of the lecture hall, Xia Yourong pulled out a small charm with a warm tone. ¡°Little sister, I¡¯ve always carried this amulet during exams, it¡¯s really effective. I¡¯m giving it to you, wishing you good luck on your exam.¡± Xia Ye glanced at it without expression. The fabric amulet had a few glaringly bright characters embroidered on it. ¡®Ancestral Temple Sure-pass Exam Talisman¡¯. Her delicate brows twitched noticeably for the first time. ¡°No need, thank you.¡± Xia Yourong was stunned. ¡°Sister, this is an amulet from Ear Mountain Ancestral Temple! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get one of their Sure-pass Exam Talismans?¡± Xia Ye: ... She didn¡¯t really want to know... Chapter 48 - 48 048 Left-handed Excuse me ?48: 048 Left-handed: Excuse me 48: 048 Left-handed: Excuse me ** The Jiang Consortium, a grand and solemn CEO¡¯s office at the topmost level. The round-arched floor-to-ceiling windows captured the best views of Capital City. What does it mean to stand at the apex of the pyramid? That was Jiang Xuan The WeChat message he sent to Xia Ye, he had edited for 10 minutes. He wrote and deleted, resulting in over a hundred characters. In the end, only three were left. ¡®Wish, success.¡¯ Jiang Xuan was fairly satisfied. Shen Jing stood rigidly to one side, waiting until the CEO¡¯s message was sent before he dared to breathe, for fear of disturbing the CEO¡¯s thoughts. So formal, it must be about a big business deal worth several hundred million! Glancing at the disinfectant wipes on the office desk, Shen Jing seemed to suddenly remember something and hurriedly picked them up, ¡°CEO, you seem not to have disinfected since you came back to the office today.¡± Although the interaction was brief, he knew very well how much of a hygiene freak the CEO was. Every time he returned from outside, even if it was just touching things like railings and handrails, he would meticulously wash and disinfect his hands. It seemed that today he was too busy and had forgotten to wash his hands from the time he entered the company. Seeing that the CEO still remained immovable, Shen Jing helped pull out a few disinfectant wipes for him, ¡°CEO, for you.¡± Jiang Xuan glanced at the hand that had accidentally held Xia Ye¡¯s small hand. Such a small person seemed quite imposing, but in fact, that hand was delicate and soft. Fortunately, he stopped his force in time, as if a little more pressure would break it. The man¡¯s voice was husky, his tone distant, ¡°No need to wipe.¡± Shen Jing: ¡°???¡± ** Tian Hanwen personally proctored Xia Ye¡¯s exam. In this way, should Xia Ye underperform He would be conveniently No, can¡¯t say it, can¡¯t say it. He had been named an outstanding principal by the Education Committee for ten consecutive years! He had intended to find a set of existing senior year exams for her, but after careful consideration, Tian Hanwen realized that they were either too difficult or didn¡¯t cover all the necessary knowledge points. There wasn¡¯t a suitable set for Xia Ye¡¯s situation. He simply pulled suitable questions from 10 sets of papers, crafting a specialized set just for her. It was four pages in all, with a total score of 400 points, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, languages, English, and biology, which could be completed in one morning. The difficulty was very low; even students from regular classes could easily score around 350 points. Of course, his expectations for Xia Ye weren¡¯t so stringent. Just before the exam started, he¡¯d said that as long as she could answer enough for 100 points, she would be arranged to join the senior year in the afternoon. Xia Ye agreed. Now, in the immense tiered classroom, only the sounds of Xia Ye writing briskly on the paper and Tian Hanwen pacing back and forth could be heard. Xia Ye supported her chin with one hand, her expression indifferent and wild. On the other hand, Tian Hanwen was extremely anxious. He noticed that this young lady was left-handed and wrote at a leisurely pace. At this speed, there was no way to finish before the end of the exam! Moreover, her handwriting looked like little bugs wriggling and crawling, making him itch all over. He couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue, ¡°Yeye, your handwriting is...¡± Xia Ye thought he was expressing doubt and earnestly explained, ¡°I really am left-handed, I can¡¯t write with the right.¡± Tian Hanwen suppressed the urge to tease her. Why be so modest? You can¡¯t write with your left hand either! It was 11:25, with the last five minutes of the exam remaining, when Xia Ye finished just two pages. Just as she began the third page, Tian Hanwen couldn¡¯t resist picking up the first two pages and comparing them against the answers. With a 50% correct rate on the first two pages, Tian Hanwen was taken aback. It was better than he had expected. It seemed that although slow, being steady and methodical was a strategy in itself. He picked up a pen and tallied the points to find that it added up exactly to 100 points! Incredible. Tian Hanwen¡¯s eyes brightened as his gaze fell on the first multiple-choice question of the third page that Xia Ye was about to write. Only one minute remained. The answer was A! Hurry and write it down! One more right answer would make it 105 points! Inwardly, he was cheering for Xia Ye, and then saw her pen begin what appeared to be the first stroke of an ¡®A¡¯. As she was about to add the second stroke, she suddenly made a sharp turn and wrote a ¡®B¡¯ instead... Em... And perhaps it was just his imagination, but Tian Hanwen thought he saw Xia Ye glance in his direction before she wrote, her lips curving into a slow smile... Chapter 49 - 49 049 Sister is the queen, shining with confidence ?49: 049 Sister is the queen, shining with confidence 49: 049 Sister is the queen, shining with confidence At noon, after lunch, the homeroom teachers¡¯ office of the senior year at Beijing No.1 High School buzzed with conversation. ¡°She¡¯s really lucky, I heard she just made the cut for the principal¡¯s required score line, now someone here is going to be out of luck!¡± ¡°Such a simple paper, and she scored only 100 points? What was Principal Tian thinking? Isn¡¯t this harming us?¡± While talking, a slim and capable-looking female teacher with black-framed glasses entered the room. She was followed by three students. ¡°Yuhuan, I¡¯m really envious of you, those three treasures in your class, even if you gave one to me it would be fine.¡± Zhao Yuhuan, homeroom teacher of senior year class one. She is also the only female homeroom teacher for the senior year at Beijing No.1 High School. She smiled dismissively, ¡°Dream on until you lead a key class.¡± After speaking, she glanced over her shoulder at the three students she always brought along and was most pleased with. Jiang Yunzhou, Xia Yourong, Tian Ye. The first two need no introduction. As for Tian Ye, everyone had thought he was just a nerd who frequently topped the grade until one day in Grade 11, someone saw Principal Tian reprimanding him like you would scold an errant child. Only then did everyone realize, he was actually Principal Tian¡¯s grandson! Standing between two boys, Xia Yourong was absolutely the center of attention, her complexion radiant and glowing. Returning to her seat, Zhao Yuhuan pulled out three advanced mathematics workbooks from her drawer; she taught math and had specially prepared these challenging workbooks over the winter break for her three top students. All the teachers were praying that Xia Ye wouldn¡¯t be assigned to their class, Zhao Yuhuan hadn¡¯t even joined the discussion. That kind of underperformer was a problem for ordinary classes, not for her. Jiang Yunzhou, hands in pockets, looked around with a carefree attitude, listening to the teachers discussing Xia Ye, yet not seeing Xia Ye himself, which was disappointing. After collecting the workbooks, Zhao Yuhuan told them to start working on them whenever they had time. Xia Yourong was particularly sensible, ¡°Ms. Zhao, let me help you organize the students¡¯ winter homework.¡± Zhao Yuhuan couldn¡¯t be happier, ¡°Very good, then Yunzhou and Tian Ye, you guys go back first.¡± Jiang Yunzhou responded, slinging his arm over Tian Ye¡¯s shoulder as they started to leave. However, Tian Ye subtly shook off his hand. He couldn¡¯t stand Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s spoiled rich kid attitude, especially since his own grades always ranked behind him, yet for some reason, all the girls in school said he was the school heartthrob. The opinions of other girls might not concern him, but what mattered was... Tian Ye¡¯s gaze shifted briefly between Xia Yourong and Jiang Yunzhou, his eyes darkened, and he turned to leave. About ten minutes later, Tian Hanwen knocked on their office door. Everyone turned towards the sound and saw a girl in a school uniform next to him. She was an unfamiliar face, pretty, but with a cold and haughty expression, clearly not the easy-going type. She exuded an aura of ¡°I¡¯m the queen here, confidently shining bright.¡± The homeroom teachers started whispering among themselves. ¡°So confident with a score of 100? Doesn¡¯t she know the total score is 400??¡± ¡°Please, Principal Tian, don¡¯t choose me, our class is already struggling, and bringing in someone like that, we¡¯d really go crazy!¡± But Tian Hanwen had clearly made his decision prior to arriving, his calm gaze skipping past those praying teachers and landing on a desk near the south-facing window. ¡°Ms. Zhao! Come out for a moment, I need to discuss something with you.¡± Zhao Yuhuan and Xia Yourong both stopped what they were doing. After all, in the entire office, she was the only Mrs. Zhao! Chapter 50 - 50 050 I am your wife, Tang Tianjiao! ?50: 050 I am your wife, Tang Tianjiao! 50: 050 I am your wife, Tang Tianjiao! Given Xia Ye¡¯s scores, it does seem a bit far-fetched for her to join the elite class, but... she¡¯s only been preparing for a few days, right? Tian Hanwen could see through things pretty clearly. A person who hadn¡¯t even obtained a kindergarten diploma was able to score 100 points after just a few days of preparation. He saw not her current grades, but her astonishing potential. But obviously, Zhao Yuhuan didn¡¯t care about potential, she only cared about actual scores. Initially, she was careful not to be too harsh since the student was brought in by the principal, but just before she was about to leave the office, Xia Yourong hesitantly asked her in a low voice, ¡°Teacher, does Principal Tian have... any issues with you?¡± Zhao Yuhuan was extremely proud, and upon hearing this, her expression darkened considerably. Indeed, if the principal had no issues with her, why would he thrust such a troublemaker into her class? At the office door, Zhao Yuhuan crossed her arms and said coldly, ¡°Principal, our class one has the best overall results in the key classes! We can¡¯t just accept any garbage!¡± That was quite rude. The college entrance exam was only half a year away, wasn¡¯t this clearly holding them back? If she really let her into the class, her three-year record of having the highest college admission rate would be ruined! Principal Tian narrowed his eyes. Xia Yourong sneaked a glance at Xia Ye, who showed no change in expression, as if what Zhao Yuhuan had said had nothing to do with her at all. The atmosphere in the office felt somewhat stagnant. ¡°Zhao Teacher sure has guts...¡± ¡°But she¡¯s speaking the harsh truth.¡± Zhao Yuhuan remained neither servile nor overbearing, not yielding an inch, ¡°I hope the principal will also consider the feelings of the students facing the college entrance exam. Putting a poor student into our class would only dishearten the top students, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Principal Tian,¡± from the farthest corner of the office in the west, the class teacher of class 19, Yang Dadi, who had remained silent until now, spoke up with great enthusiasm, ¡°I will take this student!¡± A middle-aged man, not particularly refined, with an air of adolescence about him. The kind who, if you walked down the street, fortune tellers would love to approach. Naive and easy to deceive. Yang Dadi¡¯s offer was sincere, but Principal Tian didn¡¯t seem too keen to agree... Yang Dadi teaches the regular class, and if memory serves, they ranked last in the overall results at the end of last term. But considering the other class teachers who were dodging and fearful of being called upon... Compared to choosing a capable teacher who disliked Yeye, it might be better to choose someone like Yang Dadi. Tian Hanwen glanced at the girl beside him, and to others, it appeared to be a look of concern, but in reality, he was asking for her opinion. Xia Ye nodded slightly. For her, it was all the same which class she was assigned to. Principal Tian put his hands behind his back and looked back at Yang Dadi, ¡°Alright then, she¡¯ll go to your class 19 this afternoon.¡± Yang Dadi looked up and met Xia Ye¡¯s cold but clear and deceivingly innocent eyes, and felt a surge of confidence. He was going to change this poor girl¡¯s fate! Zhao Yuhuan breathed a sigh of relief seeing the matter settled. Before she went back to her seat, she glanced at Yang Dadi and scoffed. Zhao Yuhuan, Yang Dadi. Ever since they both started working at the First Middle School, everyone joked about the odd couple-like vibe of their names, and Zhao Yuhuan especially disliked it. Over the years, because their personalities and abilities were as different as night and day, no one associated them any longer, but Zhao Yuhuan still held a strong dislike for him, the most looked down upon among all the teachers of the regular classes! ¡°Right, every time during the exams, Teacher Yang¡¯s class is dead last. There¡¯s no room for further decline, one more student won¡¯t make a difference, nor will one less,¡± she said with extreme contempt. Yang Dadi, not stooping to her level, straightened his textbooks and took Xia Ye back to the class, ¡°Don¡¯t be disheartened. We still have half a year. Let¡¯s aim for a Tier 3 university.¡± Xia Ye nodded. But... what the heck is ¡°three books¡±? I¡¯ve never heard of it. ** Senior Class 19. Zou Wu, with ears sharp as the wind, drifts into appearance at the class back door. ¡°Not good, Jiao sister! I just overheard it at the office door! The village girl that nobody wants, Principal Tian has stuffed her into our class!¡± In the back row, a girl who was very pretty, but sitting as unruly as Zhang Fei, casually lifted her eyelids. Tang Tianjiao, the only direct granddaughter of the grand master of Capital City¡¯s swordsmanship, was the current soul of Class 19. Stern, and not a chatterbox. She was never interested in campus gossip. She belonged to the 2G surfers. She hadn¡¯t seen the wildly circulated post before, having spent the entire winter vacation honing her swordsmanship under her grandfather¡¯s guidance. ¡°What village girl?¡± she asked, chewing bubble gum. ¡°It¡¯s Xia...¡± Zou Wu glanced outside the corridor, ¡°No time, she¡¯s almost here, I¡¯ll explain later, boss! Just because she was crammed into our class, those teachers have been making fun of our Emperor bro, and I need to stand up for him!¡± After speaking, Zou Wu organized a few mischievous-looking boys, grabbed a basin of water, and hid behind the back door. A burst of footsteps approached; first, Emperor Yang passed by outside, followed by that village girl. Zou Wu gripped the basin tightly, already charging up. Tang Tianjiao blew a bubble with her gum, her gaze coldly falling on the door, curious to see who this uninvited guest was. Anyway, no matter who that village girl was, she wouldn¡¯t have good days ahead in Class 19. Just as she was thinking this, the girl¡¯s figure appeared. Tang Tianjiao was startled at that moment, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity. A second later, Xia Ye casually glanced inside, just one look, and Tang Tianjiao was shocked enough that the bubble gum burst onto her face. Those eyes... Memories from kindergarten when she was three flashed through her mind. She feared nothing and no one, except for the prized gem of the Xia Family who had once knocked her down with a move in kindergarten¡ªXia Ye! They became acquainted through fighting, and later during pretend-play, she willingly gave up the role of the father to Xia Ye and contentedly played as the mother. But right after nursery school graduation, Xia Ye suddenly stopped coming to school. Latter, when Tang Tianjiao entered First Middle School, she heard that the Xia Family¡¯s daughter was also there, and she was so happy, thinking she could see her ¡®husband¡¯ again, but when she finally found her, it turned out to be Xia Yourong. It almost made her vomit in disgust. She hated that delicate flower Xia Yourong the most, who was clearly a green tea. Just as Zou Wu rushed out to lift the basin with both hands, Tang Tianjiao acted fast, powerfully kicking him in the lower back! Zou Wu spilled the water aside, his back nearly exploding: ¡°???¡± Xia Ye, hearing the commotion, looked back, locking eyes with Tang Tianjiao. The whole class was stunned. Did Jiao sister kick the wrong person? Tang Tianjiao: ¡°Yeye!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xia Ye didn¡¯t recognize her at first. But Tang Tianjiao, disregarding her usual ¡°tough¡± image in class, excitedly stepped forward: ¡°Fenmaitian International Kindergarten! We played house, you were the dad, I was the mom, I¡¯m your wife, Tang Tianjiao!¡± Chapter 51 - 51 051 Spiritual Energy recovery ?51: 051 Spiritual Energy recovery? 51: 051 Spiritual Energy recovery? The class was completely quiet. They synchronously glanced at Tang Tianjiao, then at Xia Ye. What¡¯s the story with this woman? She actually managed to break the badass, cool, and awe-inspiring persona of sister Jiao? Usually, the delicate girls in the class liked to jokingly call Tang Tianjiao ¡®husband¡¯, and now Tang Tianjiao is calling Xia Ye ¡®husband¡¯. Isn¡¯t this level of oppression just on a whole different level? Then, they saw the legendary ¡°husband¡¯s husband¡± Xia Ye turn to them, his hand reaching out from his school uniform pocket, caressing Tang Tianjiao¡¯s pretty face: ¡°I was saying how beautiful you are, turns out, you¡¯re my Jiao darling~¡± The girls were stunned. Composed on the surface, but a stampede in their hearts. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! They were shocked, utterly shocked! This new student named Xia Ye is just too charming!! ¡°Xia Ye, why are you standing at the back door? Come, next to the teacher,¡± it wasn¡¯t until Emperor Yang took the podium that the class calmed down. They all sat up straight, arms folded over arms, backs ramrod straight. Emperor Yang introduced Xia Ye to the students and, concerned she might be ostracized, he even chose his words carefully. Who knew that as soon as he finished, Tang Tianjiao led the class in a spontaneous round of applause, and some even whistled. Wow, she¡¯s that popular? Emperor Yang squinted his eyes, it really is an era guided by looks. He glanced at the last row by the window, where there was a single desk. He pointed there: ¡°Xia Ye, I think you can start by sitting...¡± Tang Tianjiao quickly raised her hand: ¡°Teacher! My deskmate Zou Wu wants to sit there! He says it¡¯s quiet! Let Xia Ye sit with me!¡± Zou Wu, on his way back from sending a basin to the restroom, sneezed violently. Emperor Yang thought for a moment: ¡°Alright, then it¡¯s settled.¡± Tang Tianjiao¡¯s smile began to rise, parallel with the sun. ** With class 19¡¯s main support Tang Tianjiao at the helm, Xia Ye adapted well to the new class. Before coming, Principal Tian specially told her that the students in class 19 could be quite naughty. She should tell him if she ever felt uncomfortable. But now that she saw for herself, wasn¡¯t everything fine? How simple and unpretentious? During the long break in the afternoon, returning from the restroom, Xia Ye found that someone had stuffed a lot of snacks into her desk hole. From beside the window, Zou Wu cast a sad and resentful glance at her. Tang Tianjiao was snacking all afternoon. Since growing up, her life had revolved around kendo. Reminiscing about kindergarten days brought back fond memories. That was the most carefree time of her life. ¡°Night Bro, do you remember? When we were kids, we always played house together with that third person, that bootlicker who would always stick to us. We acted as the parents, and she played our kid. I used to be so annoyed by her, but later realized she was actually not bad. However, she only stayed for two months before transferring to Hai City. We each gave her a parting gift, do you remember what her name was?¡± Because that girl was with them for such a short time, Tang Tianjiao would not have remembered if Xia Ye hadn¡¯t mentioned it: ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Tang Tianjiao felt a bit regretful: ¡°Me neither, I only remember it was a two-character name, can¡¯t recall the surname, though. That girl could flatter like no one else, I still admire her to this day!¡± As she spoke, Xia Ye just listened with a smile. It¡¯s said that Ear Mountain is strict with its rules, but she still repeatedly breaks them to play in the human world. Because she just likes it here. Out of the thousands of years, only the few years spent in the human world felt the most real to her. ¡°Be careful,¡± Xia Ye suddenly pulled Tang Tianjiao towards himself. Tang Tianjiao was momentarily baffled. There was no one passing in the hallway, right? Careful of what? Just as she was feeling puzzled, a student at a distance who had just fetched some hot water, holding the thermos filled with boiling water, blew on it and turned his head to talk to a classmate behind him. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± As he passed by her, he tripped over the corner of a desk, and the entire cup of hot water spilled out, guided by inertia, right onto the desk where Tang Tianjiao had just been sitting. The hot water flowed down the desk, steaming severely. ¡°Sister Jiao, I¡¯m sorry! Are you okay?¡± Other students around also turned their gaze towards them. Tang Tianjiao lay in Xia Ye¡¯s arms, still somewhat in shock. A drop splashed onto the back of her hand. So hot. If it weren¡¯t for Xia Ye promptly pulling her away, the consequences would have been unthinkable. ¡°Next time, walk with your eyes open,¡± she pretended to flourish her fist. ¡°Absolutely, absolutely,¡± the student nearly peed himself. ¡°Tianjiao, I¡¯ll help you wipe the desk!¡± After the desk was wiped, Tang Tianjiao sat back down, glanced at Xia Ye, and blinked adoringly. What kind of Fairy desk-mate is this?! ¡°Brother Ye, how did you know his water glass was going to spill? Could it be that you also know fortune-telling?¡± She joked, laughing as she spoke. But Xia Ye didn¡¯t take it as a joke. She had also just realized that today the Spiritual Energy was indeed stronger than usual. She felt exceptionally refreshed all day, having answered a morning¡¯s worth of papers and then attending class in the afternoon. Although she didn¡¯t really listen. But she didn¡¯t feel tired at all, whereas on regular days without the support of Spiritual Energy, she would feel listless by the afternoon. What¡¯s going on? Did she eat something special today? ** When Shen Jing knocked on the president¡¯s office door, Dong Mao was inside, having just finished reporting to Jiang Xuan. ¡°Class 19?¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s deep voice came from inside, ¡°Understood, you may go.¡± Dong Mao nodded, glanced at Shen Jing, and left the office. The moment Shen Jing heard, he knew they were talking about Miss Xia. He placed down a stack of files, didn¡¯t leave, but stood mysteriously to the side. Jiang Xuan took out a document and read two pages, then felt a pesky gaze on top of his head. Looking up, Shen Jing was indeed staring at him. ¡°?¡± Shen Jing gave him a look: ¡°President, you can¡¯t be too serious when chasing a girl.¡± Chasing? Jiang Xuan coughed lightly, speaking slightly faster than usual, ¡°Who said I¡¯m chasing her?¡± ¡°Her?¡± Shen Jing chuckled, ¡°President, I didn¡¯t say who it was...¡± He thought he was quite humorous, until the president¡¯s gaze seemed to flay him alive, his smile vanishing from his face without a trace: ¡°...¡± He thought he was definitely dead this time, but after a few seconds of silence, he actually heard the president say, ¡°Then how should it be done?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Shen Jing¡¯s brain short-circuited. ¡°If you can¡¯t be too serious, then how should it be done?¡± Jiang Xuan really had the patience, asking again. Shen Jing didn¡¯t actually have any real-life experience, but he was an avid fan of overbearing CEO stories. In those novels he read, the male lead spouted smooth talk today, and by accident, the bed collapsed tomorrow, getting the readers¡¯ hearts racing. It was like... Shen Jing swallowed hard: ¡°You need to be... a bit flirty.¡± ¡°Flirty in what way?¡± Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow. How should he explain? Shen Jing furrowed his brow: ¡°Like, you need to know how to flirt, have a bit of light physical contact...¡± Before he could finish, Jiang Xuan¡¯s slender, cold white fingers brushed ever so lightly against Shen Jing¡¯s hand resting at his side... Shen Jing paused, looking up sharply, just as Jiang Xuan turned his gaze towards him. An unyielding stare landed on his face, the expression teasing, causing Shen Jing¡¯s entire face to instantly redden like a ripe little tomato. Jiang Xuan: ¡°Just like this?¡± Shen Jing gasped for air. Did he just get flirted with by the president? Is their president truly abstinent or just pretending? Why does it feel like he¡¯s even better at it? That gaze just now, he was about to get a nosebleed, okay! It¡¯s even more thrilling than reading CEO novels! ¡°Right... just like that! President, I have something else to do! I¡¯ll be off!¡± Stuttering, Shen Jing finished speaking, opened the cabinet door... pah! The office door, and quickly slipped away! After a moment, Jiang Xuan indifferently withdrew his gaze and picked up a document again. Indulging in desires is a very easy thing, restraint, on the other hand, is the most difficult... Chapter 52 - 52 052 Practice eye exercises diligently to prevent myopia ?52: 052 Practice eye exercises diligently to prevent myopia... 52: 052 Practice eye exercises diligently to prevent myopia... The focus shifted back to the school. Class 19 buzzed with activity during the break because of the new transfer student¡¯s arrival. Boys gathered in groups of three or two at the back, chatting with their feet on the heaters, while girls whispered behind their books. The reason for their whispers? All the gossip circulating about Xia Ye. ¡°I heard that as soon as Xia was brought home, the young Master of the Jiang Family couldn¡¯t wait to go to her house to call off the engagement!¡± ¡°You mean Jiang Yunzhou from Class 1?¡± ¡°Yeah, do you know any other young Master of the Jiang Family?¡± The Jiang Family, intimidating in power and rich as a nation. As the absolute leader among the major families in Capital City, they were a mysterious entity to the students. Unlike the Xia Family, whom they often saw on TV with Xia Xing, and Xia Yourong, who usually acted high-profile. But the Jiang Family was only known to them through Jiang Yunzhou; they were full of curiosity about the current helmsman of the Jiang Family, Yunzhou¡¯s young uncle, yet they had no chance of meeting him. ¡°I heard about it too, so I always thought Xia must be ugly and tacky. But she surprised me today¡ªshe¡¯s so pretty! Why would he break it off? Is the school¡¯s heartthrob stupid?¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s obviously because of Xia Yourong from Class 1. They¡¯re always together, must have been a couple long ago.¡± ¡°But to be honest, I think Xia Ye is way prettier than her sister. When she touched Tang Tianjiao¡¯s face, her gaze was absolutely killer!¡± ¡°Maybe guys have different tastes from us. Plus, wealthy families don¡¯t only care about looks when choosing a partner. Xia Ye is pretty, but in terms of academics, upbringing, and such, she¡¯s still far behind her sister. Taken to a mountain village when she was young, she probably lacks worldly experience.¡± The girls got so carried away chatting that they didn¡¯t even notice their books had fallen. When they turned around, they found Tang Tianjiao staring at them intently. No matter whether the gossip was good or bad, as long as it¡¯s about her beloved Ye, it was off-limits! The girls¡¯ backs were soaked with sweat in an instant as they quickly clamped their mouths shut. Xia Ye, however, didn¡¯t seem to care much and was staring blankly at the newly received Chinese textbook. Zhou Yao, who was loitering at the door eavesdropping on the students¡¯ gossip, had to retract her keen ears, flicking her long hair as she turned and headed upstairs. Class 1 was on the fourth floor. The fourth floor housed all the key classes. It was a completely different world from the one below. Even the hallway was silent; inside the classrooms, the only sounds were students reciting words or texts. This sharp contrast between the key and regular classes was what Zhao Yuhuan took the most pride in. When Zhou Yao entered the room, her seat was in the third row, beside Xia Yourong. Tian Ye sat just across the aisle from them, and Jiang Yunzhou was diagonally behind them. Zhao Yuhuan didn¡¯t typically arrange seats by height. The two rows with the best view of the blackboard, considered gold and silver ranks, were reserved for her favorite students. Zhou Yao knew that her seat in the third row was all thanks to Xia Yourong¡¯s radiance. ¡°Yourong, guess what I overheard on the first floor about our country bumpkin¡¯s class?¡± Xia Yourong didn¡¯t answer right away but methodically recited the set of English words she had just copied. Her pronunciation wasn¡¯t exactly standard, but her intonation was quite spirited. ¡°Yourong?¡± Zhou Yao called out to her again. Next to them, Tian Ye frowned: ¡°She¡¯s memorizing words, don¡¯t interrupt her.¡± Zhou Yao was taken aback: ¡°Oh, right.¡± A few dozen seconds later, Xia Yourong closed her vocabulary book, her tone betraying no anger, ¡°Stop calling her a country bumpkin all the time, she¡¯s my sister.¡± Zhou Yao knew she didn¡¯t mind, pulled out a chair to sit down, and rattled off the gossip she had heard. Of course, she only picked the parts her deskmate liked to hear. ¡°Xiaorong, you¡¯re saying with such an easy test, and three excellent brothers tutoring her, she only scored 100 points? What a waste of talent. If it were me, I could score 500 on a 400-point test!¡± Xia Yourong smirked ambiguously. Zhou Yao glanced at the boy diagonally behind them, then whispered into her ear, ¡°No wonder Young Master Jiang despises her and broke off the engagement with her!¡± She thought she was speaking softly enough that no one around could hear her, unaware that the classroom was so quiet that nothing could be hidden. Her words had just finished when a careless young voice came from the diagonal back, ¡°Who said that? I have never looked down on her; I¡¯m actually afraid she looks down on me.¡± Xia Yourong¡¯s smile slightly faded. Zhou Yao couldn¡¯t quite believe it. He, the proud heir of the Jiang Family, afraid of being despised by a country bumpkin? ¡°Young Master Jiang, you must be joking, she¡¯s a transfer student from out of town, and she dares to look down on you?¡± Jiang Yunzhou, one hand rolling a book, sat casually. The young man inherited the Jiang Family¡¯s good genes, having naturally a face not to be trifled with, and at that moment, upon hearing Zhou Yao¡¯s words, he seemed even more aloof, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t you also transfer here from Hai City in your sophomore year? Do you discriminate against other transfer students?¡± Zhou Yao was naturally sensitive and easily felt inferior. In fact, Jiang Yunzhou hadn¡¯t said much, but she felt somewhat embarrassed. Hai City is a big urban area, how could it compare to a village? Yet she didn¡¯t dare to retort in the end, fearing that if she truly offended Young Master Jiang, her life as a poor, powerless transfer student at First Middle School would be miserable. Xia Yourong disliked how Jiang Yunzhou was defending Xia Ye, and her expression was noticeably displeased. She stood up to go out for some fresh air, but accidentally bumped into Tian Ye from the next classroom, who was also heading out. Tian Ye¡¯s phone dropped to the ground. ¡°Oh,¡± Xia Yourong bent down to pick it up, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡± How could Tian Ye blame her? ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, I can pick it up myself.¡± But Xia Yourong insisted on helping him, her smile gentle and sweet, ¡°Since I knocked it down, of course, I should pick it up for you~¡± The phone screen was still lit, and she noticed Tian Ye was scrolling through a short video replay of a King of Glory gaming expert. ¡°Do you like e-sports too?¡± she asked. Tian Ye was a very disciplined student, and his grandfather was the principal of their school. So, he normally didn¡¯t have time to play games. His only hobby was watching these experts¡¯ highlight reels, but he was just a casual watcher and never a fan of anyone, even the wildly popular Xia Xing. ¡°Just browsing,¡± Tian Ye looked down and pocketed his phone. The two of them walked out of the classroom, Tian Ye slowing his pace, ¡°Xiaorong, about what Jiang Yunzhou said just now, you¡¯re not upset, are you?¡± He knew she liked Jiang Yunzhou. Xia Yourong¡¯s smile flickered unnaturally for a moment before quickly returning to normal, ¡°What are you talking about? Yunzhou and I are just friends. He just broke off his engagement with my sister, and she¡¯s quite upset. He¡¯s just feeling guilty, that¡¯s why he said that. Moreover, he said it in defense of my sister, I couldn¡¯t be happier for her.¡± Tian Ye pursed his lips, ¡°With you as her sister, your sister is truly fortunate.¡± Meanwhile, the school broadcast system fittingly came on, ¡°Students are reminded to practice regular eye exercises to prevent myopia...¡± Chapter 53 - 53 053 Lets hang out ?53: 053 Let¡¯s hang out 53: 053 Let¡¯s hang out ** In a blink, it was time to leave school. Xia Ye, her backpack slung over her shoulder, was the focus of everyone¡¯s gaze as she walked out of the campus. She didn¡¯t mind at all. On the contrary, she quite enjoyed it. The Xia Family had arranged for Wang Dahai to pick her up; he had picked up Xia Yourong first and then spotted Xia Ye outside the gate. A few harsh honks later, Xia Ye turned her head and noticed them. Xia Yourong didn¡¯t roll down the car window, not wanting her classmates to see her getting into the same car as Xia Ye. Although everyone knew about their relationship, it still felt like a letdown. Wang Dahai sounded a bit impatient, ¡°Miss Second, please get in the car quickly, it¡¯s hard to park here with so many people around.¡± Xia Ye nodded towards a row of shared bicycles: ¡°You take her back, I¡¯ll ride this.¡± She hadn¡¯t seen these shared bicycles the last time she came, and found them quite interesting. ¡°What? That doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea...¡± Wang Dahai watched as she scanned a bike, involuntarily pursing his lips. Could Miss Second really ride a bike? If she got hurt, the madam would definitely blame him. But the next second, Xia Ye pressed her hands lightly on the handlebars, tapped the ground with one foot, and straddled the bike with practiced ease, rang the bell, signaled Wang Dahai to move aside, and then her long, straight legs pedaled smoothly, the bike swiftly curving into the distance. She exuded an indescribable grace and vigor. Wang Dahai was somewhat dazed. Xia Yourong, displeased, said, ¡°Since she¡¯s not coming, let¡¯s go, Uncle Wang. I still have to go back and do my homework.¡± ¡°Ah, okay.¡± The delicate fringe on Xia Ye¡¯s forehead fluttered in the wind, revealing her lovely forehead. Compared to the traditional bicycles she used to ride, this one was smaller but easier to control. As Xia Ye approached a short distance from the Xia family villa, a small figure stopped her. She clearly saw that this small figure seemed to have finally waited for her, hurriedly urging the nanny behind it, ¡°You all go back, don¡¯t let people see you!¡± Seeing Xia Ye stop, the child switched expressions in a second, pleading pitifully, ¡°Sister Little Tiangao, I¡¯m lost, can you take me to your house to play?¡± Xia Ye glanced at the nanny hurriedly hiding behind a tree and couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°Yangyang, are you sure you¡¯re lost?¡± ¡°Really,¡± Jiang Yunyang sincerely uttered a sentence only a four-year-old could say without getting beaten up: ¡°Sister Little Tiangao, I want to go home with you!¡± He hadn¡¯t seen Sister Little Tiangao for several days! Xia Ye got off the bike, pushing it along, and smiled, ¡°Alright then~¡± It was hard to refuse someone ¡°bumping into¡± her right at her doorstep. ** ¡°Young Master Jiang?¡± Mrs. Wu looked at the distinguished young master following Xia Ye into the house, completely baffled. ¡°Miss Second, why is Young Master Jiang with you...¡± Xia Ye, changing shoes inside the house: ¡°Picked him up on the road.¡± But Mrs. Wu clearly didn¡¯t get her humor, anxiously saying, ¡°Picked up on the road? Miss Second! Do you know who he is? How can you just pick him up? He¡¯s the Jiang family¡¯s Young Master! What if the Jiang family can¡¯t find him and reports it to the police?¡± Xia Ye slowly turned to her: ¡°...¡± In the living room, Xia Yuzheng and Xu He also came over, hearing the noise. Seeing Xia Ye and Jiang Yunyang return together, their expressions were stunned, though not as exaggerated as Mrs. Wu¡¯s. Upon seeing his future in-laws, the little devil, who usually behaved capriciously, bowed politely, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, it was me who asked Sister Little Tiangao to bring me over to play.¡± Xu He blinked in astonishment: ¡°What? You two know each other?¡± Jiang Yunyang: ¡°Auntie, you forgot, last time at the hospital, it was Sister Little Tiangao who saved me.¡± Xu He recalled for a moment before realizing, bending down affectionately to touch his small face: ¡°You¡¯re the little boy who ran out of the children¡¯s clinic because you were scared of the needle? Auntie was too rushed that day, I really didn¡¯t recognize you.¡± Jiang Yunyang winced. Like other domineering bosses, he too had his Achilles¡¯ heel. His Achilles¡¯ heel was his fear of needles. If anyone else dared to say that to his face, he would definitely puff up like a pufferfish, but since it was Sister Little Tiangao¡¯s mother, he summoned the patience fit for a future mother-in-law, ¡°No worries, aunty, you must be mistaken.¡± Xia Yuzheng smiled with narrowed eyes, ¡°Yangyang, the last time Uncle saw you was last year, this year you¡¯ve really grown up, become sensible. Do your parents know you¡¯re here today?¡± Jiang Yunyang nodded. Xia Yuzheng smiled again, ¡°That¡¯s good. Dinner will be ready soon, stay and eat with us. Grandma Yeye isn¡¯t here today, and your brothers won¡¯t be back until much later, it¡¯s perfect that you little rascal came, adds to the fun.¡± Unexpectedly, his little daughter was quite lucky. She had actually saved the Young Master of the Jiang Family. Although he was only four years old and not much help with the Xia and Jiang families¡¯ bidding issues, having such a connection was always good. Jiang Yunyang didn¡¯t think twice before saying, ¡°Then I¡¯ll impose.¡± Today, Xu He had the kitchen make a great meal, as it was her two daughters¡¯ first day of school. Now she went to the kitchen to add two dishes that children love. About half an hour from dinner, Xia Ye wasn¡¯t like Xia Yourong who quietly did her homework in her room. She threw her backpack, flopped on the sofa, and casually propped up her legs. Jiang Yunyang sat obediently next to her. After a few minutes of silence, Jiang Yunyang decided to start a conversation. He opened a mobile game and sent an invite, ¡°Sister Little Tiangao, do you play ¡®King of Glory¡¯?¡± Xia Ye tilted her head, ¡°Not really, but... I can play with you.¡± They hit it off, and the game began. With no one else in the living room, Xia Ye used both hands to play. Initially, Jiang Yunyang only wanted to flirt through the game, but he quickly realized he was wrong. He blinked his big eyes as he watched Xia Ye¡¯s movements, the speed of her hands was so fast he could barely see. She says she¡¯s not good at it?! She could even rival the legendary gamer ¡°Shadow¡±! Online, everyone says Xia Shen is ¡°Shadow¡¯s¡± successor, but he thought Sister Little Tiangao was the real deal! It wasn¡¯t just his filter talking! Jiang Yunyang instantly became a fanboy, peppering Xia Ye with compliments and starry-eyed admiration until she was somewhat dazed. She really wasn¡¯t good at it. She had only played the game a few times. When she first arrived decades ago, the most advanced game was Tetris. As more blocks disappeared, the system would speed up. So, she sped up too. Not much fun. Endless, it just never seemed to finish. Later, Xia Ye made it onto some list, and even foreign journalists wanted to interview her. She found it bothersome, so she briefly did it over the phone and even casually created a nickname for herself. What was it again? She somewhat forgot. It seems, it was a single character... As she reminisced about the past, Jiang Yunyang was busy at her side. He had recorded the spectacular moments of Xia Ye in the game. He would not allow such a talent to go unnoticed, so he immediately registered a new short video account. He named it: God of Night. He uploaded the video, and the caption was just Sister Little Tiangao¡¯s original words¡ª Combined with the stunning five-hit combo, those four words were simply awesome. ¡°Just playing with you.¡± Chapter 54 - 54 054 Who is this aunt ?54: 054 Who is this aunt? (Two in one) 54: 054 Who is this aunt? (Two in one) Dinner was ready, and Xia Yourong came out from inside. Only then did she see a little boy sitting on the sofa. She had met him last year when she accompanied her father to a business event. Why had the young master of the Jiang family come? Was he here to see her? Wu¡¯s mom really should have called her out instead, giving Xia Ye the chance! She tucked her hair behind her ears and walked over with a playful air. Jiang Yunyang had just finished updating all kinds of information about ¡°Night God¡± on the short video platform, and the video he had just uploaded had already received a comment. [Holy shit! Is this edited?] Jiang Yunyang couldn¡¯t help but laugh. A response so quickly to a new account. No doubt about it, she was his Sister Little Tiangao! ¡°Yangyang, long time no see~¡± As he was getting engrossed, a particularly pungent smell of perfume made it so he couldn¡¯t open his eyes. Children¡¯s noses are very sensitive, and they hate these irritating smells the most. He looked up and saw Xia Yourong standing in front of him, acting as if they were well-acquainted. His little expert radar for judging people went ¡°zip¡± and came to life; he tilted his head and asked Xia Ye, ¡°Sister Little Tiangao, who is this auntie?¡± His expression was somewhat disdainful. A, auntie? Those two words shocked Xia Yourong enough to make her delicate body tremble. It was bad enough he didn¡¯t remember her, but she was called an auntie? He obviously addressed Xia Ye as sister! Did she really look that old? Xia Ye gave a brief introduction: ¡°Oh, my sister.¡± Just three words. After speaking, he got up and headed to the dining room. The spiritual energy that was strong during the day felt depleted now. Even though spiritual energy wasn¡¯t calories, she still felt very hungry! ** In the first week of the new semester, Xia Ye had been eating according to the menu of that day, she even had Godear¡¯s roasted chicken packed once, but she never felt the sensation of being filled with spiritual energy again. She had just returned from the canteen and took a detour to the restroom. She was eager to eat, while other students were just starting to head to the canteen with their classroom notes, she had already finished eating and come back. Could it be that the restoration of spiritual energy wasn¡¯t just because she ate something... Did it matter who she ate with as well? As it was her first time encountering such a thing, she couldn¡¯t figure out the pattern, she could only try everything. Her breakfast was with her family, the same for these days, and she ate lunch by herself in the canteen, which she had tried as well. The only thing she hadn¡¯t tried was... The roasted chicken... she ate it in front of Jiang Xuan... Xia Ye gently touched her chin with her fair fingers. As for Xia Yourong. She had lunch today with Tian Ye and Jiang Yunzhou at the same table. They discussed a math problem that was very difficult while eating, and Zhao Yuhuan had asked the three of them to discuss it and then teach the students. Jiang Yunzhou proposed a method that was easier to understand but simplified and could lead to point deductions, while Xia Yourong advocated sticking to the method taught by the class teacher, saying that the complex calculations were also a test of their attentiveness. In the end, since Tian Ye also agreed with her, the majority ruled, and Xia Yourong¡¯s plan was adopted. Students eating around them all looked on with envy as they discussed. ¡°As expected of top students, I can¡¯t understand the topics they¡¯re discussing!¡± ¡°Nonsense, they¡¯re from the key class, and those advanced additional problems are the ones the teacher told us to skip.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all in our senior year, so why are they so outstanding?¡± ¡°Not only are they excellent at their studies, but they¡¯re also amazing in other aspects. Next weekend is the school opening ceremony, and I heard Tian Ye will give a speech representing the good students, and the school beauty will perform on stage!¡± Xia Yourong, listening, felt a surge of pleasure. After dinner, Jiang Yunzhou went to play basketball on the playground, and Tian Ye accompanied her back to the classroom. Although Tian Ye wasn¡¯t as popular as Jiang Yunzhou, walking around campus with Xia Yourong still garnered a wave of envious glances. Xia Yourong felt she was really wise, thankful that although she liked Jiang Yunzhou, she had never neglected Tian Ye because of it. No one could be sure about the future, not to mention when the Jiang Family came to call off the engagement, Uncle Jiang mentioned something about Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s health... She wondered if it was true. She walked with her hands clasped behind her back, her steps light, ¡°Tian Ye, could you go with me to Class 19? I want to see how my sister is doing...¡± Tian Ye was scrolling through videos on his phone, looked up upon her request, ¡°Sure.¡± Xia Yourong felt it was her responsibility to urge him to study hard, ¡°You¡¯ve been looking at your phone quite often lately.¡± Tian Ye hurriedly put away his phone, ¡°I came across this pro player, pretty impressive, so I watched a bit more.¡± He had been following a gaming pro recently. Whether it was a professional player¡¯s alternate account or a freestyle gamer, their hands moved so fast linking combos that it dazzled the eyes. Many people claimed their videos were sped up, but he didn¡¯t think so. Just from a technical standpoint, their skills were more crisp than many professional players, it¡¯s just that it was a newly registered account, with only a thousand fans, not very popular yet. Xia Yourong smiled and said no more. Xia Ye left the bathroom, having devised a new plan for restoring Spiritual Energy. She set the time for tonight. As she turned the corner, she happened to bump into Xia Yourong and the others. Xia Yourong¡¯s Flower Guardian, Tian Ye, was someone Xia Ye had heard of before; after all, her beloved younger brother¡¯s grandson was the same as her own, so she needed to take an interest. Xia Yourong said, ¡°Sis, I came especially to see how you¡¯re settling into the new school. I¡¯m relieved to see you¡¯re adapting so quickly. Make sure to come to the opening ceremony next weekend, alright?¡± The opening ceremony was specially scheduled for the weekend, unlike regular class days, so one could ask for leave if necessary. Xia Ye leaned against the window sill, smiling at her, ¡°What will you be performing?¡± In the entire Capital City, there weren¡¯t more than ten people who could play the ancient flute. Such a high-end talent clearly wasn¡¯t something Xia Yourong would reveal now, ¡°Well... you¡¯ll know when the time comes~¡± Xia Ye shrugged, ¡°Alright then.¡± Her nonchalant attitude made Tian Ye frown involuntarily. Xia Yourong came with good intentions to see her, yet this was her response. It seemed those outside rumors were true. A beautiful vase with no substance. She paled in comparison to Xia Yourong. In Tian Ye¡¯s eyes, Xia Yourong was a goddess, sacred and inviolable. After everyone found out he was the grandson of Principal Tian, their attitude towards him changed noticeably, but only Xia Yourong had been gentle with him since his freshman year. Not opportunistic, very pure. But what he didn¡¯t know was that Xia Yourong had learned from Xia Yuzheng a long time ago that he was the grandson of Principal Tian. She just knew before everyone else did. Xia Yourong watched Tian Ye¡¯s expression and spoke contentedly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Tian Ye nodded slightly. As they went upstairs, Xia Yourong casually asked, ¡°By the way, you mentioned a quite impressive pro player, what¡¯s his name? Maybe he¡¯s my second brother¡¯s teammate, I could introduce you.¡± Tian Ye doubted it, having never seen such a strong and aggressive player in the FB team, but he still answered Xia Yourong¡¯s question. ¡°The account name is...¡± ¡°Night God.¡± Chapter 55 - 55 President, where is your restraint ?55: President, where is your restraint? (two in one) 55: President, where is your restraint? (two in one) The evening self-study session for the third year of high school wouldn¡¯t start until after the opening ceremony, so these few days were temporarily quite free. After school, it was not yet dark. Xia Ye didn¡¯t often take the chauffeured car, and Wang Dahai was used to it; these days, he would pick up the young miss and go home without asking her. Anyway, the second young miss would wander around outside and then head home. But today, Xia Ye wandered a bit further and even deliberately took a taxi... ** Half an hour later, she stood at the base of the Jiang Consortium¡¯s high-end corporate headquarters building. Jiang¡¯s office building was located in the most bustling financial district of the East Second Ring, with modern business skyscrapers lined up closely to one another, forming the core dynamic area of Capital City¡¯s economy. The building in front of her, rising 98 stories above ground and seven below, was undoubtedly the most striking landmark of Capital City. It was a building that countless ambitious, driven young people dreamed of entering. The business professionals entering and leaving the building were dressed in suits and leather shoes, while Xia Ye, seated casually on a low column in front of the building, wore a clean, white sports school uniform, a black backpack hooked on her back, and her hair naturally black, making her look exceptionally young and clean. Although she was in a hurry to perform Soul Absorption, she also understood manners. Sitting on the low column, she launched a game on her phone and waited until 7:30 PM, when employees gradually began leaving the office. Only then did she slide her phone into her pocket, adjusted her backpack strap, and walked into the building. ¡°Hello, who are you looking for?¡± The receptionist noticed Xia Ye, whose attire didn¡¯t match the style of the building, and asked. This must be some employee¡¯s child, I presume? That¡¯s what the receptionist thought. Xia Ye walked over, resting her pretty but slightly thin hand on the counter: ¡°Hello, I am looking for Jiang Xuan.¡± ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± the receptionist asked, thinking she had misheard and expressing surprise. The receptionist¡¯s overly surprised expression nearly made Xia Ye think she had remembered the man¡¯s name wrong: ¡°It¡¯s Jiang... Xuan?¡± The receptionist¡¯s semi-permanent Korean-style eyebrows furrowed, as the young girl in front of her seemed no older than seventeen or eighteen, yet she was here to see the president! Even they, the receptionists, didn¡¯t often get to see the president okay? However, the Jiang Consortium¡¯s receptionists were all strictly trained. Even though her mind was already racing, she still asked politely, ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± ¡°...¡± Xia Ye realized that she should have sent him a WeChat message before coming. Well, she was already here, so she might as well follow the procedures: ¡°Can I make an appointment now?¡± ¡°Well...¡± the receptionist hesitated in a troubled tone, ¡°Let me register you first.¡± Xia Ye: ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Your telephone number?¡± Xia Ye gave her own telephone number. When she spoke, she habitually looked directly into people¡¯s eyes. The receptionist¡¯s small face blushed slightly as she lowered her head and her slim fingertips clicked rapidly on the keyboard: ¡°What is your business with the president?¡± Xia Ye was exceptionally calm: ¡°I want to invite him for a meal.¡± The receptionist¡¯s typing hands suddenly stopped: ¡°You want to invite him for what?¡± This was the second time Xia Ye was startled by the receptionist¡¯s sudden reaction. She repeated: ¡°A meal, to invite him for a meal.¡± The receptionist opened her mouth, unsure whether such a reason should even be entered into the computer. ¡°Can I make an appointment?¡± Xia Ye was slightly losing her patience. The receptionist hesitated: ¡°You can, but the president might not necessarily see you.¡± Xia Ye tapped her fingers casually on the edge of the counter: ¡°No problem, just help me make the appointment. If he doesn¡¯t see me, then it¡¯s fine.¡± The receptionist shook her head helplessly. Another crazy fan of the president. Looks like she¡¯s still in school; no wonder the young calf is not afraid of the tiger. But it¡¯s also the president¡¯s fault, with that good looks and wealth, yet no one ever heard about him having a partner; isn¡¯t he just bewitching these young girls! ¡°May I have your surname?¡± ¡°Her surname is Xia.¡± The receptionist sized her up and suddenly tilted her head. When Mr. Dong and Assistant Shen had passed by the reception earlier, she seemed to have heard them mention a Miss Xia... Just as she was thinking, the VIP elevator, which went directly to the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor, chimed. The spacious elevator doors opened, and several men in suits and leather shoes stepped out. The one in the lead was Jiang Xuan. A few imposing tycoons stood by his side, and following behind him were Shen Jing and Dong Mao, one on each side. Jiang Xuan still wore his usual deep-colored suit and trousers, standing tall and straight. Under the light, his fair skin made his features seem even more profound and sculpted. He was talking with the tycoons around him, his demeanor noble and calm, yet sharp-edged. Xia Ye watched him, slyly licking her lips. Just looking at him, she felt like he could help her restore her spiritual energy. Seeing this, the receptionist, afraid she might suddenly pounce, quickly whispered, ¡°The president and the clients are supposed to have a dinner meeting shortly...¡± Just then, Jiang Xuan, who was walking from the elevator, turned his face and suddenly spotted Xia Ye standing by the reception. His eyelids twitched, and he halted. The tycoons around him, seeing Jiang Xuan stop, also looked towards Xia Ye. Dong Mao and Shen Jing exchanged glances and pursed their lips, their expressions having a mutual understanding. Xia Ye greeted them with a small, flirtatious wave of her hand. Jiang Xuan softly spoke a few words to the tycoons, then walked over to her, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xia Ye was to the point. ¡°I wanted to ask you out for dinner.¡± A flash of light passed through Jiang Xuan¡¯s solemn eyes, and his lips curled upward, ¡°Ask me out for dinner?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± The receptionist looked at the president in surprise. Although the president hadn¡¯t been back in the office for long, she had never seen such an expression on his face before. A face super happy, yet desperately trying to hold it back! Jiang Xuan turned to the tycoons behind him and said, ¡°Sorry, something came up unexpectedly over here, so our dinner plans are canceled.¡± After speaking, he gestured to Dong Mao and Shen Jing. Asking them to take over dealing with the clients. ¡°Ah, President Jiang, you go ahead.¡± ¡°We can arrange another time.¡± The tycoons¡¯ expressions were casual, but their looks towards Xia Ye had changed. President Jiang was actually standing up the clients for a woman? This was unheard of! Xia Ye felt she really had forgotten to notify him in advance, causing him to cancel on the clients to have dinner with her: ¡°If you have important matters to attend to, we can make plans another day...¡± Before she could finish, Jiang Xuan cut her off, ¡°It¡¯s not important, I¡¯m not busy.¡± The clients, who were just termed as unimportant, felt slighted: ... The receptionist¡¯s mouth hung open wide, and upon seeing Xia Ye again, suddenly felt a profound respect. Even Dong Mao and Shen Jing, who had long known what kind of person Miss Xia was, had expressions full of mystery. These clients normally accounted for billions in annual business for the Consortium, didn¡¯t they? Isn¡¯t it said that restraint is the hardest? President, where is your restraint?! But Jiang Xuan, completely ignoring their increasingly shocked expressions, left with Xia Ye, ¡°Where do you want to eat? I¡¯ll drive.¡± Chapter 56 - 56 056 Why is your mouth so greedy ?56: 056 Why is your mouth so greedy? 56: 056 Why is your mouth so greedy? ** Meanwhile, in a private dining room of the Godear western restaurant. Surrounded by lavish decorations, elegant ladies with refined manners are seated around a sumptuous round table. They simultaneously looked towards the elderly woman in the seat of honor, their smiles slightly obsequious, ¡°Madam, when is your granddaughter arriving?¡± No sooner had the question been asked than there was a knock on the door, and Qiao Yufen smiled proudly, ¡°See, here she is now.¡± The supervisor, neatly dressed in a bow tie and immaculate velvet white gloves, opened the door for the guests. At the doorway appeared the silhouette of a young woman with a high ponytail and a full figure, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡± Yourong had only received the message from her grandmother after returning home, telling her to come and meet people¡ªstating they were from the most privileged ladies of the Capital City. In the message, Qiao Yufen particularly emphasized that she should come alone. Yourong instantly understood her grandmother¡¯s intention, surely she was worried about Yourong bringing Xia Ye along, which would embarrass the Xia Family. ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t seen Xiaorong for a few years now. She has really grown up into a beautiful young lady. That figure clearly shows how meticulously the Xia Family has raised her.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? It¡¯s just too bad my son is too young, otherwise, I¡¯d definitely have him marry Xiaorong.¡± ¡°Fat chance, our families already have sons waiting in line. You won¡¯t have your turn.¡± Hearing this, Qiao Yufen¡¯s face lit up, and she beckoned lovingly, ¡°Xiaorong, come sit by Grandma.¡± Yourong had just settled into her seat when one of the ladies suddenly asked, ¡°By the way, Xiaorong, where is your sister? Why didn¡¯t she come with you?¡± Someone immediately chimed in, ¡°Yes, I was hoping to see the child.¡± Yourong pinched her hand; before leaving the house, she told Xu He that she was dining out with a friend. Xu He had asked her if her sister hadn¡¯t come home yet, and was she going to dine out with them? Yourong just responded noncommittally. But to her surprise, here too, conversation with others was hardly possible without bringing up Xia Ye. Why did Xia Ye have to come back? She was a stain that could never be washed away! She pursed her lips in a smile, looking at the ladies, ¡°My sister just started school recently and is struggling to keep up, so she didn¡¯t have time to come out.¡± ¡°No wonder,¡± the ladies expressed understanding, emotionally, ¡°Such a good child, abducted by those conscience-less human traffickers into the mountains. Abducted for 14 years, heaven have mercy...¡± Seeing her grandmother¡¯s distressed expression, Yourong quickly glanced around the room and changed the subject, ¡°By the way, Grandma, why didn¡¯t we book the room with piano music today? Last time, dad booked that one, and it was beautiful.¡± Qiao Yufen looked at her eldest granddaughter¡¯s innocent face and felt somewhat better, ¡°You think that room is so easy to book? Even this room we¡¯re in, your aunts had to book a week in advance to secure. We don¡¯t have your father¡¯s connections.¡± Her words sounded modest, but in reality, it was a boast of the highest order. After all, everyone knew that room wasn¡¯t easy to book. Yuzheng had also merely inquired the other day, saying his daughter was back and he wanted to book the best room. Unexpectedly, the server just took him directly there, as if someone had reserved it in advance for him. The ladies, upon hearing Qiao Yufen say this, indeed fell for it. ¡°Ah? Xia President managed to book that room?¡± ¡°Indeed worthy of Xia President; he really has the clout.¡± ¡°Oh, Madam Qiao, you are truly blessed. The Xia family has great fortune and great business, and Xia President¡¯s capabilities are plain for all of us to see; in the future, our families¡¯ businesses will all be depending on Xia President to take care of them.¡± Seeing that the ladies finally stopped bringing up Xia Ye, Yourong politely stood up, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ll go to the restroom.¡± Qiao Yufen smiled, ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± ** As Yourong emerged from the restroom and was on her way back to her private room, she saw seven or eight waitstaff following two guests, escorting them to the next room over, the one famously difficult to reserve with piano music. Someone able to book that room, and with such fanfare, Yourong couldn¡¯t help but feel curious, taking a few steps towards them. The distinguished guests in front were none other than Jiang Xuan and Xia Ye. The man, his hand casually in his trouser pocket, stood tall, ¡°You like eating here?¡± Xia Ye nodded. However, she just wanted to sit in the outer lobby and eat something casual, but to her surprise, the waiter led them directly to a private room. And seeing the waiters¡¯ tiptoeing expressions, could it be that Jiang Xuan was a VIP customer here? Yourong followed behind, craning her neck left and right, but couldn¡¯t get a clear look at the patrons, discerning only that they were a man and a woman. The others were tightly shielded by the waitstaff. Later, as the group turned into a private room, Yourong caught a fleeting glimpse of the woman¡¯s profile. Her eyelid twitched. Why did it feel... a bit like Xia Ye? Yourong scoffed. Lately, she had been so annoyed by that country girl that everyone started looking like her! ** On Xia Ye¡¯s side. The two of them sat in an extravagantly large private room, which could best be described as ¡®spacious.¡¯ The beautiful piano accompaniment was almost echoing. The silverware sparkled brightly, and the lighting flickered. Soon after, the waiter brought over a roasted chicken served on a refined plate. Just out of the oven, it was several times more fragrant than anything packed for takeaway. Jiang Xuan had learned about this young girl¡¯s preferences and ordered plenty of dishes, which were brought out one after another. But Xia Ye¡¯s eyes were fixed only on that plate of chicken, practically glowing green. Jiang Xuan sat across from her, his lips curling into a faint smile, he signaled to the waiter who immediately nodded and donned gloves to help them carve the chicken. As the chicken was carved on one side, they started eating on the other. Xia Ye¡¯s mouth was ceaselessly moving, delighting in the savory bites. Jiang Xuan didn¡¯t touch his knife and fork, merely watching her eat, and unknowingly, his eyes deepened into a dark pool. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his voice clear and refined, ¡°Why are you so greedy, little mouth?¡± Xia Ye just smiled at him, her mouth not pausing. The action of the waiter carving the chicken stalled suddenly, unwittingly taking Jiang Xuan¡¯s words into an inexplicable scenario. He quickly shook his head. Mr. Jiang was talking about craving chicken! But just as the waiter calmed himself, he heard Jiang Xuan say, ¡°Is one enough? If not, ask me for more...¡± ¡ª¡¯Ah!¡¯ ¡ª¡¯It¡¯s all turned golden yellow!¡¯ ¡ª¡¯Jiang Xuan, are you sure you¡¯re not driving?¡¯ Jiang Xuan glanced at him faintly. He was simply sitting here eating, what driving? Absurd. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s enough,¡± Xia Ye said, despite the delicious meal, she didn¡¯t feel that comforting sensation of spiritual energy filling her. Jiang Xuan¡¯s lips showed a mysterious smile as he leaned over to personally pick up a chicken leg for her. The waiter seemed to see the chicken leg gleaming briefly in the man¡¯s fingertips, but thought it was just the effect of the chandelier¡¯s light reflecting off the crispy, oily skin. Jiang Xuan handed it to Xia Ye, ¡°Try this...¡± Chapter 57 - 57 057 VIP appearance! ?57: 057 VIP appearance! 57: 057 VIP appearance! Xia Ye habitually eats other parts of the chicken before moving on to her favorite drumsticks, saving them for last. However, since President Jiang already handed it to her, she decided to eat it first. But as she took the drumstick, she felt a faint Spiritual Energy seeping through the cracks of the crispy skin, weaving out slowly. Xia Ye took a deep breath and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°It smells amazing.¡± Jiang Xuan watched her greedy little appearance and said in a low voice, ¡°Go ahead and eat.¡± His voice was as enticing as a siren¡¯s call. Xia Ye¡¯s pearly white teeth were pretty sharp, first tearing off the chicken skin before eating the meat. After finishing the entire drumstick, she felt as if a person who had been pulling all-nighters had finally gotten a good night¡¯s sleep. So satisfying! Xia Ye looked at Jiang Xuan contentedly. What was up with this guy? She couldn¡¯t possibly have accidentally absorbed his... vitality, could she? ** Xia Xian went to deliver a thank-you gift to Jiang¡¯s company and upon arriving at reception, saw a group of employees chattering among themselves. With the border goods issue resolved perfectly, Xia Xian picked out a large, very clear pink diamond to give to Jiang Xuan as a thank-you gift. He placed the box on the reception desk and while registering, he casually overheard their conversation. It seemed they were discussing something about President Jiang. ¡°Did President Jiang really take that girl out for dinner?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, he even drove her himself without any escorts.¡± ¡°Wow, she¡¯s so lucky! She must be the first one to have a private dinner with President Jiang, right?¡± ¡°Hello, please leave your name so I can register you,¡± the receptionist asked amidst the chatter, turning to Xia Xian. Xia Xian curved his lips slightly and said, ¡°Xia Xian.¡± After hearing their conversation, he felt reassured. So President Jiang had a girlfriend. The encounter with his little sister the other day must have been a coincidence. But hardly a second after feeling relieved, he saw the receptionist recording his details pause, whisper to a colleague, ¡°He¡¯s also surnamed Xia! Isn¡¯t it that those with the surname Xia have high attractiveness?¡± Xia Xian narrowed his eyes and tapped his knuckles on the counter: ¡°You said... also surnamed Xia?¡± The receptionist quickly waved her hands: ¡°Sorry, we were talking about the girl that came today.¡± ¡°She¡¯s also surnamed Xia?¡± Xia Xian suddenly had a bad feeling, ¡°Is she tall and slim... and wearing a white school uniform?¡± The receptionist found it strange, ¡°How do you know? Yes, and she¡¯s also exceptionally beautiful, otherwise why would the president take her?¡± ¡°...¡± Three black lines instantly fell from Xia Xian¡¯s head. For crying out loud! Was President Jiang actually trying to charm his sister? These past few days he had deliberately inquired about this President Jiang¡¯s past. He heard he¡¯d played hard until he was 18 and was nothing like the refined gentleman he appeared to be now. A man with such deep schemes was definitely not someone his naive and adorable sister could handle. But his sister was still so young, seeing Jiang Xuan, who was handsome enough to overwhelm heaven and earth, with a charisma to die for, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to resist. His elder brother had become despondent for quite a while because his ex-girlfriend dumped him, though that was because his brother was blind and deserved it. But he couldn¡¯t let Little Tiangao experience that kind of suffering. Xia Xian¡¯s gaze fell on the diamond by the counter. Was he really gifting this diamond to that bastard? Thinking this, he reached for the diamond to take it back, but the receptionist was quicker, picking up the small box with the diamond and saying, ¡°It¡¯s all set, Mr. Xia, we¡¯ll pass it on to the president for you...¡± In the middle of her sentence, she noticed Xia Xian¡¯s outstretched hand, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Xia?¡± Xia Xian¡¯s eye twitched violently, ¡°Nothing.¡± Forget it, it¡¯s just a little money. He pulled his hand back from his pocket, touched the car keys, and with a cryptic expression, said, ¡°I am that girl¡¯s brother, here to deliver something to her. Do you know... where they went to have dinner?¡± ** Inside Xia Yourong¡¯s private room, the socialites and married ladies were toasting and bubbling with laughter, a scene that was accentuated by the luxurious decor of the room as if straight out of a scene from the ¡°Tiny Times¡± series. Even a glass of red wine was raised seven or eight times without being finished, which would have infuriated Xia Ye if he had seen it. Xia Yourong was not of age yet, so she was drinking coconut juice. The last lady to return from the restroom had forgotten to close the door, but the corridor was always very quiet, so it did not really affect anything. But who knew that just when they were about to raise their glasses again, a sudden noise came from outside the door. ¡°Sir, the guests are dining inside, you cannot enter.¡± ¡°Get out of my way, I am also a VIP here, cut the crap!¡± ¡°Sir, Mr. Jiang has some very important clients with him, and he has specifically instructed that no one should enter to disturb them...¡± ¡°What kind of client has a dinner with doors shut so tightly???¡± Qiao Yufen and Xia Yourong both sensed that something was off at the same time. That man¡¯s voice... why did it sound so much like Xia Xian? Having that thought, Qiao Yufen put down her wine glass and stood up to come out. Xia Yourong followed close behind. ¡°Xianxian? It really is you. Grandma can recognize your voice immediately.¡± In front of the next room, Xia Xian furrowed his thick eyebrows in frustration. Even though he was anxious, he had not yet dared to force his way in. Otherwise, with the small stature of the waiter, he could have taken on ten of them. Xia Yourong asked timidly, ¡°Third Brother, the Mr. Jiang they mentioned... is he Yunzhou¡¯s little uncle?¡± Xia Xian grunted in affirmation, sounding muffled. Xia Yourong understood, no wonder there was such grandeur earlier, it turned out to be Mr. Jiang who had arrived. Recalling the woman beside Mr. Jiang, her expression couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of envy. Indeed, the special guest Mr. Jiang brought with him would definitely need the best private room. By this time, the ladies from inside the room had all come out to watch the excitement. ¡°Xianxian, back from the frontier, are you?¡± ¡°Just by looking at Xianxian¡¯s face, one understands what it means by ¡®ladies love a bad boy¡¯.¡± ¡°Just in time, auntie is also looking to buy some diamonds. You come and help me pick...¡± Several people were chattering away when the door in front of Xia Xian was suddenly pulled open from the inside, and the sound of piano music also broke through. Jiang Xuan was leaning against the door frame with a cold look, turning towards the waiter, ¡°Why is it so noisy?¡± The waiter shrank back, terrified: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Jiang! I told him, but he... ¡± The door was only half-open. Xia Xian made a move as if he were about to go inside, but Jiang Xuan shifted to the side, casually blocking the entrance. Qiao Yufen was aware of Mr. Jiang¡¯s status and, anxiously knitting her brows, said, ¡°Xianxian, what are you doing? Mr. Jiang is dining with a client inside, come back to the room with your grandma quickly.¡± ¡°Grandma, you don¡¯t understand, the person inside is not a client but...¡± Xia Yourong, aware that the other special guest was a woman, whispered a reminder: ¡°Third brother, even if it¡¯s not a client, it¡¯s someone Mr. Jiang values highly, not someone we can afford to provoke.¡± Qiao Yufen glared at him: ¡°Exactly, Mr. Jiang¡¯s honored guests are definitely rich and noble, not someone you can just meet if you wish! Come here, stop making a scene!¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± A cool and pleasant female voice suddenly came out from the private room. Qiao Yufen quickly lowered her eyes, not daring to look more: ¡°I apologize, Mr. Jiang, I will take my grandson and leave immediately... ¡± Before she could finish speaking, the female voice spoke again, this time much closer to the door: ¡°Is it you guys?¡± Being so close, it was impossible not to recognize the voice now. Qiao Yufen and Xia Yourong both stopped in their tracks, and the next second, they looked up abruptly¡ª Chapter 58 - 58 Who exactly is he ?58: Who exactly is he? 58: Who exactly is he? Seated in the top-tier private room for a meal with Jiang Xuan was... Xia Ye?! Xia Yourong was shocked into stillness on the spot, losing all ability to speak. When Jiang Xuan saw Xia Ye wanted to come out, he turned to the side to make space for her. Usually, others would only follow humbly behind him, when had he ever been seen making room for someone else like this? Qiao Yufen began with unnatural ease, ¡°Second granddaughter, how come you¡¯re dining with President Jiang?¡± She didn¡¯t realize that this was the first time she had called her ¡®second granddaughter¡¯ since Xia Ye had been brought back after such a long time. Usually, it was either calling her by name or just referring to her as ¡®she¡¯. If it were Xia Yourong, she would surely have first explained the situation and then sweetly asked, ¡°Grandma, would you like to join us for a meal?¡± In doing so, Qiao Yufen would have made the other ladies around envious to the bone, probably keeping them up all night. But Xia Ye just wouldn¡¯t give her that face. The girl lifted her brows in cool disdain and lightly said three words, ¡°None of your business?¡± ¡°You,¡± Qiao Yufen had rarely wanted to give her some face, but who would have thought the girl wouldn¡¯t accept it? But since President Jiang was present, she ended up holding back the harsher words she had in mind. Xia Xian didn¡¯t care about anything else, seeing Little Tiangao safe and sound with a usual expression, he felt a bit more at ease. With so many onlookers and a group of Capital City¡¯s most gossip-loving ladies present, he didn¡¯t say much. He only emphasized, ¡°Please, President Jiang, when you finish your meal, make sure to escort my little sister home. If a high school student gets home late, the family will worry.¡± Jiang Xuan replied quite readily, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He seemed very gentlemanly indeed. ** After the meal, Xia Ye said she would take a cab home by herself, but Jiang Xuan now had an excuse. He said her third brother had specially requested that he must take her home, and Xia Ye couldn¡¯t refuse. Xia Xian never expected that his words would actually give them more time together. Jiang Xuan parked the car near the villa by the Chaotai River, and they walked a stretch together. Xia Ye walked ahead, while Jiang Xuan trailed a step behind. A long path lined with rows of tree shadows. The street lights were dim, casting elongated shadows. Jiang Xuan asked her, ¡°Now that you¡¯re back, is there anything you want to do?¡± His question carried ambiguity, but Xia Ye thought he was referring to after she had been rescued from the traffickers and what she might like to do. And the rebellious revolutionary in her had quite a unique train of thought: ¡°Thinking... of getting my ears pierced?¡± ¡°Get what pierced?¡± Jiang Xuan didn¡¯t know what she was thinking about all day long. Completely the epitome of a teenager in an extended phase of rebellion. ¡°Ear piercings,¡± Xia Ye said with her hands in her pockets, turning back to look at him: ¡°Don¡¯t you have one too?¡± Jiang Xuan paused, indeed he once had one on his left ear. Suddenly lost in thought, if she got one too, wouldn¡¯t their ear piercings be quite matching... In a moment of distraction, the girl¡¯s face was close at hand. Jiang Xuan hesitated, suddenly halting his steps. Xia Ye looked intently at the piercing on his left ear for a long while, unafraid of him, ¡°That one of yours seems to have closed up, right?¡± Jiang Xuan was quite resolute, ¡°It can be pried open.¡± Xia Ye: ... Afterward, for the rest of the way, Xia Ye walked with her hands clasped behind her head, leading the way. Jiang Xuan watched her slender figure from behind, the little girl occasionally having certain thoughts that drifted into his mind. After sending her home, Jiang Xuan returned to his car. Under the quiet moonlight, he didn¡¯t immediately drive off or turn on the lights, but rather savored the thoughts from the young girl¡¯s mind. She sensed something familiar about him but couldn¡¯t make it out clearly due to the scarcity of Spiritual Energy. She muttered to herself. ¡ª ¡®Who is he, really?¡¯ Jiang Xuan¡¯s lips curled meaningfully, his slender fingers casually snapping a finger. The dim inside of the car was momentarily illuminated. A ball of cold, white flame twirled at his fingertips. Who was he really? He, was Heavenly Dao. Chapter 59 - 59 059 That Bottle of Divine Medicine ?59: 059 That Bottle of Divine Medicine 59: 059 That Bottle of Divine Medicine It was supposed to be a lifetime of bliss and favor, a script specially arranged by Jiang Xuan. But something went awry, and the little girl was abducted at the age of three. It was only then that he came after her halfway... ** When Xia Ye got home, she saw Xia Yourong getting ready to ring the doorbell, with Qiao Yufen standing by her side. On seeing Xia Ye return, Qiao Yufen viciously muttered under her breath, ¡°Demoness.¡± The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. How could a decent high school girl go out to dine alone with a man? Her granddaughter surely wouldn¡¯t. Even if the president himself extended an invitation, her granddaughter would know to restrain herself. And Xia Ye had just returned to the Capital City, how did she get to know the president? Did she meet him when the Jiang Family young master came to cancel their engagement? After just a few encounters, she was able to hook up with him, if not a demoness then what? When the housemaid opened the door, she first saw the old lady and the miss, and then noticed the slouching Xia Ye with an air of nonchalance by their side. She thought they had returned together. Xu He thought so as well, and didn¡¯t ask further. Xia Ye didn¡¯t explain, and of course, Qiao Yufen and Xia Yourong wouldn¡¯t say anything either. They wouldn¡¯t let others know that they went to the dinner party intentionally leaving out Xia Ye, only to find that Xia Ye was in a better private room next door dining with the president. It would only be shameful for the two of them. Upon entering the house, the servants were packing the young masters¡¯ luggage. On seeing this, Xia Yourong asked Xu He, ¡°Mom, are my brothers leaving?¡± Xu He nodded, feeling reluctant, ¡°Yes, the three busy people, they have been delayed for quite some time now.¡± School had already started for a while for Xia Ye. Her brothers had originally planned to leave after the commencement ceremony, but there just wasn¡¯t enough time. Moreover, through their observation, she had made friends at school and was not experiencing any discomfort. Xia Tiao prepared a set of college entrance examination review materials for both Xia Ye and Xia Yourong, produced by a professor from Beijing University. It was internal stuff, rumored to be only in the hands of a few top students at Beijing University Junior High School. Xia Xing transferred some pocket money to Xia Yourong, who felt quite troubled, ¡°Doesn¡¯t sister have any?¡± Xia Xing just ¡®haha-ed¡¯ it off, his entire card was with Xia Ye after all. Xia Ye went to the restaurant and saw her third brother, who had been worried sick about her and was just about to have dinner, ¡°What time are you leaving tomorrow?¡± Xia Xian put down his chopsticks and gulped down a cold drink, ¡°Tomorrow afternoon, you¡¯ll still be in class then.¡± Xia Ye ¡®oh¡¯-ed in response, and seeing that the plate of Dongpo Pork in front of him looked tasty, she picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. Xia Xian fiddled with a cigarette but didn¡¯t light it in front of her. His probing gaze deeply fell on the face of his most beloved little sister. He was leaving tomorrow, and after some thinking, he still advised, ¡°In the future, keep your distance from Jiang Xuan, that old fox; he¡¯s not a good person.¡± Someone who could quickly deal with the Jiang Consortium and thrive in such a border area, how could he be a good person? Xia Ye ¡®oh¡¯-ed again, and picked up another piece of pork. Xia Xian narrowed his eyes, ¡°What? Didn¡¯t the president host you a meal that filled your stomach? Could it be he isn¡¯t capable enough?¡± To his surprise, Xia Ye actually defended him, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t come so suddenly, I could¡¯ve eaten more.¡± ** The next day. Xia Tiao left early on a flight, Xia Xing went to the club at noon, and left with the club to Jiangzhou to participate in a TV station¡¯s program. Xia Xian was the last one to leave, Xu He was most worried about him, so she had Wang Dahai drive them both to the tarmac. The wind was strong on the tarmac, Xu He wrapped herself in a shawl, her hair getting messed up by the wind. Standing on the stairs leading to the plane, Xia Xian turned back to wave at her, ¡°Mom, go back, I¡¯m all grown up, and you still worry.¡± Xu He agreed but still stood where she was, immobile. Xia Xian remembered something, ¡°Oh right, mom, what brand was that ointment I took from you last time? I didn¡¯t see it written on the bottle, send me the details later, I¡¯ll buy some for my brothers.¡± Xu He took a moment to realize, ¡°Which ointment?¡± Xia Xian smiled, ¡°The Divine Medicine you use for your arm, I¡¯ve been using it for over a week, and the injury on my shoulder has totally healed.¡± Chapter 60 - 60 060 Opening Ceremony of the School Year ?60: 060 Opening Ceremony of the School Year 60: 060 Opening Ceremony of the School Year Xia Xian was afraid to make his mother worry, so he only told her his shoulder hurt, but the truth was, the wound on his shoulder was far more terrifying than she could imagine. In border areas like that, getting injured was just part of life; even the most glamorous bosses, once they got home and took off their clothes, were hardly without several harrowing scars. At first, Xia Xian didn¡¯t think much of it, but later, when his injury got worse, he considered getting some ointment to apply. As it turned out, after just over a week of application, it really healed. It was practically miraculous. Now, he could wave his arms without any discomfort at all. It¡¯s just a pity that the medicine bottle didn¡¯t have anything written on it¡ªforget about a brand name, it didn¡¯t even have a production date or expiration date. He had intended to ask his mother about the brand of the ointment so he could buy it himself, but what she said next almost made him fall down the airplane stairs. Xu He laughed and said, ¡°Divine Medicine? That¡¯s just something Little Tiangao made for fun.¡± ¡°Little Tiangao made it?¡± Xia Xian was about to step down to ask his mother for details, but then a flight attendant called out to him, ¡°Mr. Xia, the plane is about to take off.¡± Xia Xian remembered there was an important contract to sign after returning to the border area and couldn¡¯t afford to be delayed. So, he had no choice but to board the plane. Meanwhile, Xu He¡¯s shawl was blown by the wind, and she didn¡¯t see the surprised and puzzled expression on her son¡¯s face. ** Time flew by, and soon, it was the day of the opening ceremony. Today is a Saturday. Early in the morning, Xia Yourong put on the custom dress Xu He had prepared for her and turned around in front of the mirror. Whoever saw her praised her as both ethereal and beautiful. She could now imagine herself standing on the stage, a blend of poise and elegance, becoming the focus of the entire school. After breakfast, she put the ancient flute her father had spent over a hundred thousand yuan to custom-make for her into a velvet bag, straightened her back, and got ready to leave. In the car, Xia Ye maintained the same casual expression he always had going to school. Xia Yourong always pretended to glance at him inadvertently. Finding it irritating to be stared at, Xia Ye would look back. As soon as Xia Yourong saw him looking, she ¡®hmmphed¡¯ haughtily and sharply turned her head away. Xia Ye: ... The opening ceremony was held in the auditorium of First Middle School. Xia Ye saw Tang Tianjiao at the entrance of the auditorium and they entered together. The auditorium was magnificent, in no way inferior to the major universities in Capital City, with tiered red-cushioned seats decreasing in height towards the center stage, similar to the layout of a large movie theater. Xia Ye and the others walked in a bit when they saw Zou Wu waving at them from afar, excited as if he had never seen a performance before, ¡°Jiao sister! Ye sister! Over here! Our class 19 really hit the jackpot this time, we actually got the front row seats!¡± The auditorium was chaotic and crowded, so he shouted at the top of his lungs. After he finished shouting, the surrounding people also stopped and all looked at him. Xia Ye and Tang Tianjiao shifted their gaze in unison, pretending not to know him... First Middle School¡¯s regulations were quite strict. The class monitors were organizing things and, in a short while, all the students were seated. Occasionally, a few students could be seen walking up the small stairs beside the stage to the backstage, prompting envious whispers among the students. ¡°Isn¡¯t that XXX from class XX?¡± ¡°To be able to speak on stage in freshman year, isn¡¯t that person quite famous in school now?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard they were the school beauty in junior high, too.¡± ¡°Do you think our school beauty Xia will feel threatened?¡± As they were speaking, a murmur of awe suddenly spread from nearby, and everyone looked over to see Xia Yourong, wearing a stunning floor-length gown, walking with her chin held high... Chapter 61 - 61 061 The Ancestor of the Ancient Flute Has Arrived ?61: 061 The Ancestor of the Ancient Flute Has Arrived 61: 061 The Ancestor of the Ancient Flute Has Arrived The gown was simply too beautiful, a sight rarely seen by ordinary students. In the dimly lit corridor, its pristine whiteness shimmered resplendently. By comparison, Yourong¡¯s good looks seemed somewhat... inferior. ¡°The Xia Family really is wealthy, that gown looks very expensive!¡± ¡°She¡¯s truly a princess; just look at that figure. Those boys are practically drooling. Next to her, that freshman from first year seems just like a little kid!¡± ¡°I really wonder what Xia Ye¡¯s expression would be like when he sees this.¡± ¡°...¡± On her way to the backstage area to prepare, Yourong deliberately slowed her pace, giving everyone ample time to admire her. She even glanced at Xia Ye¡¯s seat while passing by the front row. Tang Tianjiao was utterly disgusted by her show-off attitude in front of their classmates and couldn¡¯t help calling out petulantly, ¡°School Beauty, your dress trailing on the ground is getting dirty!¡± Though she didn¡¯t say much, her tone was sufficiently mocking, and some people around began to jeer. But who could have known that less than a second after Yourong¡¯s moment of embarrassment, her ace Flower Guardian, Tian Ye, appeared out of nowhere, nobly lifting the hem of her gown for her, escorting her backstage. This, rather than causing Yourong embarrassment, turned out to be another show of finesse. Being the grandson of the principal helping her lift her gown only further solidified her unshakeable status as the school beauty. ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± ¡°I really feel like puking.¡± ¡°The principal is such a smart man; how can his grandson be so blind?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t he see that Yourong is just a green tea b*tch?¡± Tang Tianjiao kept complaining to Xia Ye. Yet, Xia Ye¡¯s attention was fixated on the velvet pouch Yourong held in hand. It seemed... to be a musical instrument? ** The official opening ceremony finally commenced, with teachers sitting in the left section of the auditorium, the principal and directors seated on the right, and the best seats in the center reserved for the students. After all, today¡¯s ceremony was for them. The usual proceedings couldn¡¯t be missed: the principal¡¯s speech, the directors¡¯ from each grade, the new student representative, the college entrance examination student representative¡¯s speech... And then came the cultural performances. Among the numerous performances, Yourong was again the grand finale. As noon approached, it was finally her turn to take the stage. The students were still quite supportive; initially nearly asleep, they perked up the moment she appeared. Those who had gotten wind of the performance content in advance had begun to enlighten their neighbors about the ancient flute. Xia Ye twisted open a water bottle, just about to drink, when he heard the presenter¡¯s announcement. ¡°Next up, we invite Yourong from the senior third class to perform a solo on the ancient flute.¡± Upon hearing the words ¡°ancient flute,¡± Xia Ye¡¯s hand gripping the water bottle hesitated. He thought it might be a case of the same name, but then took a closer look at the structure of the flute... Wasn¡¯t this the instrument he had whimsically designed over a thousand years ago? And it had actually... been passed down to the present day? As Yourong began her performance, Xia Ye struggled even more to conceal his expression of rare surprise. Because he was seated in the first row, Yourong easily caught sight of his face. Her lips curled up in immense satisfaction. Always acting so high and mighty, yet now watching her play the ancient flute so impressively, wasn¡¯t he green with envy, jealousy, and resentment? Even Tang Tianjiao couldn¡¯t help but tug at Xia Ye¡¯s arm soothingly, ¡°Night, it¡¯s just an ancient flute, nothing special. There, there, let¡¯s not be envious, okay?¡± Xia Ye responded noncommittally, his thoughts inscrutable to those around. He remembered painstakingly fine-tuning this instrument several times when he designed it. But Yourong¡ª How could she manage to play it so terribly?!! Chapter 62 - 62 062 Playing With You (2) ?62: 062 Playing With You (2) 62: 062 Playing With You (2) Throughout the entire performance, Xia Ye did not look very good. Xia Yourong felt a burst of joy in her heart; ever since Xia Ye had returned home, she had not experienced such an invigorating feeling in a long time. In her excitement, she even accidentally played two notes wrong. But she didn¡¯t care; after all, no one in the audience understood anyway. It must be said, after the brothers left Capital City, Xia Yourong grew more confident. With the opening ceremony successfully concluded, the class teachers announced that starting next week, there would be evening study sessions, and school would end at 20:55. The key classes were quite quiet about this, some even looking forward to the evening self-study sessions. On the other hand, Class 19, as soon as Emperor Yang announced the news, they wailed like ghosts and howled like wolves. They had just enjoyed the school beauty¡¯s performance and then received such a thunderbolt from the blue. Was this some kind of post-happiness syndrome? Now it truly felt like a proper opening ceremony, giving off the sense that the new term had officially started. Afterward, Emperor Yang reminded them about their homework, then let the students leave for home. Today was the weekend, and everyone had come just for the opening ceremony. Not being eager to leave school indicates a problem with one¡¯s mindset. Not long after the ceremony ended, the campus emptied out quite a bit, leaving it sparse and deserted. Xia Ye was late because she had accompanied Tang Tianjiao back to the classroom to fetch something. The old man in the teaching building thought she had left her books behind and was touched; although she was in a regular class, she was still working hard in secret while others rested. However, a few minutes later, he saw her come out with the Treasured Sword. She had left her sword in the classroom. Her grandfather would have to check her swordsmanship tomorrow. The two of them came out of the teaching building and happened to see the radiant Xia Yourong approaching. She had finally been willing to take off her performance costume and changed into her usual school uniform. In her hand, she still carried the velvet bag that contained the ancient flute. Tang Tianjiao rolled her eyes. Xia Yourong smiled and walked straight over to them, stopping in front of Xia Ye, ¡°Little sister, do you think I played the flute well today?¡± Tang Tianjiao poked Xia Ye¡¯s waist; she had also seen the expression on Xia Ye¡¯s face during the performance and was afraid that Xia Ye would say something that would make Xia Yourong even more proud. But soon, she heard Xia Ye speak quite seriously, ¡°The breath was unstable, the scales inaccurate, and the transitions abrupt.¡± Tang Tianjiao¡¯s mouth formed an ¡®o¡¯ shape as she looked at her deskmate with surprise and satisfaction. Not bad at all. Pretty bold. If it were up to her, she wouldn¡¯t be able to say anything other than ¡®it was unpleasant¡¯. Xia Yourong was choked by her words; such sour grapes would not usually make Xia Yourong angry, but to her surprise, those three points had also been brought up by her ancient flute teacher, Mr. Li. Although not word for word, the meaning was nearly the same. Xia Yourong felt an annoying itch of irritation, as if a soft spot had been prodded. After a moment, she extended the velvet bag forward, retorting with sarcasm, ¡°I had no idea my little sister was so knowledgeable about the ancient flute. In that case... why don¡¯t you play something for me right now? If you have talent, I¡¯ll ask mom to sign you up for ancient flute classes too, how about that?¡± As soon as Tang Tianjiao heard this, she shrugged off her hand: ¡°Why should she play for you? Come on, deskmate, let¡¯s go. Let her stay wherever it¡¯s cool.¡± After saying that, she grabbed Xia Ye¡¯s hand and was ready to leave, but Xia Yourong¡¯s voice followed them mockingly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You can¡¯t play?¡± Tang Tianjiao clenched her teeth; she really wanted to slap Xia Yourong¡¯s face, but she knew that her deskmate truly couldn¡¯t play. She took a couple of steps, then suddenly realized she couldn¡¯t pull her deskmate along. Turning around, she saw her deskmate smiling mischievously. ¡°I don¡¯t really know how,¡± said Xia Ye, lifting her eyelids, her tone drawling, ¡°but... I can play along with you.¡± If Jiang Yunyang were here at this moment, he would realize that he had heard this sentence before! Chapter 63 - 63 063 K.O!! ?63: 063 K.O!! 63: 063 K.O!! Xia Yourong sneered, ¡°Okay.¡± Xia Ye took the flute but didn¡¯t rush to play; instead, she looked around it first. The construction of the flute¡¯s body and the placement of its holes perfectly continued her design, just crafted with even finer workmanship. ¡°Got a new spare head?¡± Xia Yourong halted for a moment, then pulled out a new spare blow-head from the flannel bag¡¯s compartment. How did Xia Ye know that the flute could change heads? She couldn¡¯t have secretly rummaged through her room, could she? Xia Ye deftly changed it. She certainly didn¡¯t want to share one with that older sister. Seeing that her desk mate was really about to play, Tang Tianjiao trembled, ¡°Des-desk mate...¡± Xia Ye¡¯s cherry blossom-soft lips had already covered the flute mouthpiece. Tang Tianjiao couldn¡¯t bring herself to cover her ears; she could only hold her breath. She had decided, no matter how her desk mate played, she would be the first to applaud and cheer! Xia Yourong stealthily turned on her cell phone¡¯s recorder, thinking of capturing Xia Ye¡¯s poor flute-playing and sharing it on an online forum for everyone to ¡°enjoy.¡± However, Xia Ye might also not produce any sound at all because playing the ancient flute was challenging, requiring technique that often left novices unable to make a sound, let alone a melodious one. As Xia Ye was about to start, Xia Yourong extended her cellphone a bit more. The next second, under Xia Ye¡¯s performance, the flute produced no sawing noises or amateurish saliva sounds; instead, it emitted several very beautiful melodies. Xia Ye was rather reserved; after all, she had just returned to the Xia Family, and producing a whole tune right away wasn¡¯t logical. Hence, she simply played a few melodies. They weren¡¯t complex tunes, but they went straight to everyone¡¯s heart. The sound was silky smooth, yet it carried hidden sharpness. Even Tang Tianjiao, a layman in music, could recognize the difference. When Xia Yourong played, it was like the melodious chirping from the palace, but Xia Ye¡¯s playing gave off the feel of a martial arts blockbuster! This was indeed the right way to play an ancient flute! Tang Tianjiao had goosebumps all over; it was her first time feeling this way from a live instrumental performance. Xia Yourong¡¯s hand shook, and her cell phone almost fell. She quickly turned off the recording and snatched the flute back from Xia Ye¡¯s hands. Her movements were rough. Xia Ye slightly raised her eyebrows; she wasn¡¯t playing the ancient flute to embarrass Xia Yourong, but to vindicate her own instrument. Otherwise, others might think that that was how the ancient flute was supposed to sound when played by Xia Yourong. She still cared about saving face, after all. Xia Yourong was so angry she couldn¡¯t speak; she turned around to leave and hadn¡¯t taken many steps when she nearly bumped into Tian Ye, who had come running at the sound. Tian Ye, drawn by the sound of the flute, looked at Xia Yourong with surprise, ¡°Xiaorong, what was that melody you just played? It felt better than what you played on stage. Why didn¡¯t you play that earlier?¡± Xia Yourong felt a rush of blood to her head. Directly K.O.! She bit her lip, glared at a smirking Tang Tianjiao, bypassed Tian Ye, and ran off. Tian Ye was confused; he was clearly complimenting her, so why was she so angry? Watching Xia Yourong get face-slapped by her own Flower Guardian, Tang Tianjiao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, stepping forward and patting Tian Ye on the shoulder, ¡°Bro, it looks like although you¡¯re blind, your ears aren¡¯t deaf.¡± Tian Ye shifted his body slightly away in disdain, dodging her hand, ¡°Clarify your words; don¡¯t be cryptic here!¡± Tang Tianjiao didn¡¯t care about his cold attitude, ¡°The flute sound just now wasn¡¯t played by Xia Yourong; that was my desk mate, Xia Ye!¡± Chapter 64 - 64 064 She wants to practice dual cultivation ?64: 064 She wants to practice dual cultivation 64: 064 She wants to practice dual cultivation Tang Tianjiao¡¯s words ended, and Tian Ye was stunned for several seconds, his gaze then shifting toward Xia Ye. Was that gripping melody just now played by Xia Ye? Impossible... Tian Ye¡¯s expression was somewhat subtle. But remembering the sad look on Xia Yourong¡¯s face as she ran away, he no longer had the mood to think about anything else and quickly chased after her... Tang Tianjiao wrapped an arm around Xia Ye¡¯s neck, ¡°That was amazing, my bro, I didn¡¯t expect you to actually have a talent for playing the ancient flute. You¡¯ve really slapped that green tea¡¯s face this time!¡± Xia Ye¡¯s face showed no hint of pride, as if the recent performance was totally effortless for her, posing no difficulty whatsoever. Tang Tianjiao twirled the Treasured Sword in her hands, ¡°If this were ancient times, I wield the sword, and you play the flute, we would wander the world as companions, unmatched under the heavens!¡± She loved watching wuxia dramas and was very excited whenever she brought up these topics. However, Xia Ye was actually seriously considering her suggestion, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that we¡¯re both females, we can¡¯t engage in Dual Cultivation.¡± Tang Tianjiao¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits as she scratched Xia Ye¡¯s chin, ¡°Oh my, to think you know about Dual Cultivation? Haven¡¯t you been reading too many of those little racy books?¡± Xia Ye: ?? What in the world? ** Back home, Xu He was reading a magazine in the living room. Seeing Xia Ye return, she smiled and asked how the school opening ceremony was. Xia Ye answered that it was pretty good. She looked around and didn¡¯t see Xia Yourong, ¡°Where¡¯s my dear sister?¡± Xu He: ¡°Ah, your sister is just too diligent. Right after her performance at the opening ceremony, she arranged an extra class with Teacher Li this afternoon. I suggested she rest a bit, but she insisted on beating ¡®that person,¡¯ no matter what. Does your school still have students who play the ancient flute?¡± Xia Ye touched her nose and didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Ah, right,¡± Xu He remembered the WeChat message she received from the third child today, wanting Little Tiangao to make a few more bottles of medicine for him, ¡°Little Tiangao, can you make more of that ointment you prepared for mom last time? Do you need any materials? Mom can go buy them for you.¡± Xia Ye glanced at the potted plant next to Xu He¡¯s feet. The spots that had been plucked bald before had sprouted quite a few new leaves. She nodded nonchalantly, ¡°I can.¡± Xia Ye stayed in the living room for a short while before deciding to return to her room, reminded by Tang Tianjiao¡¯s earlier words. To completely restore her Spiritual Energy, merely dining with others wasn¡¯t enough. She... wanted to engage in Dual Cultivation! In modern society, casually proposing Dual Cultivation would surely make people think she was insane, so she needed to select a proper cultivation partner and slowly break through! As for a suitable cultivation partner, she already had a good candidate in mind. Being with that person, she always felt enriched with Spiritual Energy; cultivating together, Gathering Spirit, couldn¡¯t be more suitable. With that thought, she grabbed her phone and stood up to return to her room. Xu He watched her secretive demeanor and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Has this little one made some good friends at school?¡± At the entrance of the hallway, Qiao Yufen, who had just come out of her room, watched Xia Ye¡¯s retreating figure and said meaningfully, ¡°You¡¯d better keep an eye on her. At her age, girls are most prone to making mistakes...¡± Xu He¡¯s smile froze slightly, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be the case, she¡¯s still young...¡± ** In her room. Xia Ye eagerly opened WeChat. Back when she roamed the human world, she also had cultivation partners of decent cultivation base proposing Dual Cultivation with her. Just as she was about to agree, that old geezer Heavenly Dao suddenly intervened, enacting a prohibition against Dual Cultivation at Ear Mountain and ruining her plans. The Hou Sheng she was currently eyeing was much more attractive than those cultivation partners of the past. And this was the human world, where that old geezer Heavenly Dao couldn¡¯t interfere. She could take this opportunity to avoid his surveillance and cultivate properly with her cultivation partner... With that in mind, Xia Ye unlocked her contacts and found her friend ¡°Jiang¡±... Chapter 65 - 65 Sister Yes new WeChat name ?65: Sister Ye¡¯s new WeChat name 65: Sister Ye¡¯s new WeChat name Since proposing Dual Cultivation directly was unrealistic, Xia Ye decided to lock in on her target and slowly build a rapport. Before sending a message, she remembered that Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s WeChat nickname was ¡°Grant You One Boat,¡± while Jiang Yunyang¡¯s was ¡°Your Husband in Kindergarten.¡± Looking back at her own, it was simply Xia Ye, lacking any flavor. Her eyes rolled, and a flicker of brilliance crossed her mind as she suddenly thought of a name that was both domineering and full of attitude... ** Over at the Jiang Family¡¯s place. Jiang Xuan was on the sofa reading documents, holding a cup of coffee in his hand. His phone next to him vibrated once. He lifted his gaze to glance over. A WeChat friend request from ¡°Heaven Has No Eyes¡± popped up. His hand clutching the coffee tightened. When had he added such a friend? What a rebellious name. He grabbed the phone, swiped to unlock it, and was about to add the person to the blacklist when he noticed their WeChat profile picture. A brightly colored, succulent, and greasy Orleans roasted chicken. Jiang Xuan¡¯s face darkened slightly. Xia Ye? Changed her name to Heaven Has No Eyes? Audacious! Heaven Has No Eyes: Are you there? Jiang Xuan didn¡¯t feel like responding to her, but she quickly followed up with another message. Heaven Has No Eyes: Have time for a meal together soon? [Eager Little Eyes.jpg] Jiang Xuan, verbally reluctant but physically compliant, replied: Sure, when? Heaven Has No Eyes: I¡¯ll contact you in advance~ [Heart][Heart][Heart] The last few hearts left Jiang Xuan somewhat dazzled, unsure what this little girl was up to today. Sending him a message was one thing, but all these emojis? Strange. Strange... but cute. On Xia Ye¡¯s end, feeling reassured after getting a response, she put away her phone. Inviting him to a meal to connect was something Xia Ye found very worthwhile. Not only could she enjoy good food, but she could also soak up Spiritual Energy! Though the average spend at Godear wasn¡¯t low, her elder brother had given her a card! Xu He, carrying a plate of fruit, knocked on Xia Ye¡¯s door with trepidation, but by then Xia Ye had already started reading. Seeing the book in her hands, Xu He¡¯s heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled back down. She wasn¡¯t the kind of parent who would prevent her children from dating at all costs, or she wouldn¡¯t have arranged a match for her daughter with the Xia Family. The reason for her concern was simply that her little girl was too pretty and might attract the wrong sort of attention. Xia Ye turned around with an innocent face: ¡°What is it, Mom?¡± Xu He: ¡°Ah, nothing. Your elder brother has a live game tonight. Do you want Mom to call you to watch?¡± Xia Ye nodded: ¡°Sure, thank you, Mom.¡± ** Meanwhile, over in Jiangzhou. The competition venue was arranged with a strong sense of modern technology, with signs of funding being spent everywhere. In the past few days, Xia Xing¡¯s club had been competing in Jiangzhou. With pleasing results. Today, the TV station invited them and the local SAI team to a show match in an effort to boost ratings. For this purpose, the production team specially invited a popular celebrity as a guest. Backstage, in the makeup room marked with the FB team¡¯s nameplate, several players in their esports jerseys were huddled together, speaking in hushed tones. ¡°Do you guys think we should tell Xia Shen about this matter?¡± ¡°Even if we don¡¯t say now, he¡¯ll find out during the program tonight.¡± ¡°Yeah, it might affect his performance during the match even more if he finds out then. It¡¯s better to tell him beforehand so he can be mentally prepared.¡± ¡°This production team really has no bottom line for the sake of publicity!¡± A teammate who just entered looked confused: ¡°What thing should we tell Xia Shen? I didn¡¯t quite catch it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know yet?¡± the other players looked at him in unison: ¡°The female guest invited by the production team is none other than Xia Shen¡¯s unforgettable ex-girlfriend, Jian Manman!¡± Chapter 66 - 66 066 Emotions are the soft underbelly (two updates combined into one) ?66: 066 Emotions are the soft underbelly (two updates combined into one) 66: 066 Emotions are the soft underbelly (two updates combined into one) The team members discussed in the makeup room for a while until they heard the sound of a mineral water bottle falling to the ground outside the slightly ajar door, and then they realized someone was outside. ¡°You were the last one to come in, why didn¡¯t you close the door?¡± ¡°Hey, I did close it?¡± ¡°The door to this makeup room isn¡¯t like the ones at our club, it doesn¡¯t close automatically!¡± The team members quickly chased out, and in the hallway, they saw Xia Xing¡¯s tall figure striding upstairs. If they remembered correctly, the guest room for the female guest, Jian Manman, was upstairs... ¡°Xia God! Where are you going! Don¡¯t be impulsive!¡± Xia Xing ignored them, his steps unceasing. The team members glanced at each other and sighed. Forget it, let him go. Whoever faced such a situation wouldn¡¯t easily let go either. Back then, in the public eye, the genius eSports player beloved by thousands of ¡°mom fans¡± and ¡°girlfriend fans,¡± had grandly announced his relationship with the popular actress Jian Manman after winning the international league championship. The entertainment industry¡¯s ¡°well-matched¡± golden boy and precious girl, the media and fans went crazy. The eSport great affectionately indulged his girlfriend, visiting her on set, accompanying her at meals, gifting her sports cars, making Jian Manman the envy of the entire internet. Unfortunately, as both of their careers improved, they spent less time together, and even the best relationships eventually fade with time. Later, Jian Manman, tearfully emotional, announced at a press conference that she and Xia Xing had broken up. Since then, the fan-favorite ¡®Manman-Xing¡¯ CP split apart, inducing endless sighs. But that was just what the public saw. The members of the FB club knew much more than that. When they went public, Jian Manman was already a popular actress capable of matching Xia God¡¯s fame. Little did people know, when Jian Manman had just graduated from film school, she was still a drab ¡°ugly duckling¡± living with her heartless foster mother. If it hadn¡¯t been for Xia Xing¡¯s overt and covert support for her, could she have had such a smooth start and access to great resources to become a hot celebrity overnight? Sporting top brands and driving luxury cars, rumors even spread online that her family owned mines? It was only after Xia Xing had nurtured her sense of superiority that she felt a boyfriend who still played eSports and obeyed her every command was disgraceful. When she saw her close friends weeping in the arms of corporate tycoons and thought about their successful boyfriends, she believed they were better in every way. A woman¡¯s youth doesn¡¯t last for many years; later, when she announced their breakup, she hadn¡¯t even discussed it with Xia Xing in advance but had made the decision unilaterally. Xia Xing still found out he had been dumped during a break in a match, resulting in his worst performance with 1 kill and 6 deaths, a permanent stain on his career. After the press conference, Jian Manman immediately blocked all means of contact with Xia Xing, and she was soon photographed intimately holding hands with a wealthy businessman on a getaway, yet that news was quickly suppressed. Nearly a year had passed since their breakup, and Jian Manman had been avoiding him while Xia Xing also refrained from seeking her out. But the team members all knew, he hadn¡¯t moved on. Being dumped without clarity or the opportunity to question, no one could just accept it without a word. Unless they had never really loved at all. Xia Xing was someone deeply emotional, and that was his biggest vulnerability. Today, the production team deliberately arranged this to leverage their past, and although Xia Xing knew Jian Manman was only a few dozen meters away from him, he couldn¡¯t help himself. He wanted to find her and ask her to clarify... ** In the makeup room upstairs, Jian Manman had finished her hair and makeup, but since there was still some time before her stage appearance, she hadn¡¯t rushed to change her clothes. This time, to match the esports competition, her makeup artist designed a Japanese schoolgirl look for her, complete with double ponytails that made her look younger. Her eyebrows were thin and long, and her eyes were black and bright, revealing a delicate and moist forehead. Her pure and moving appearance was a type very few straight men could resist. Back when she first got together with Xia Xing and hadn¡¯t entered the industry yet, she also wore this style of double ponytails. But compared to now, it was a completely different feeling. Now, she packaged herself more like a born socialite, her double ponytails slightly curled at the ends to complement her sophisticated celebrity makeup, exuding a charming allure. At this moment, she was sitting on the sofa next to the makeup table, holding a finance and economics magazine in her hands, which were adorned with delicate manicures. She had broken up with the wealthy businessman she was photographed with earlier, after all, her ex-boyfriend was Xia Xing, and she started quite high, so she still couldn¡¯t stand being with a man who was successful in business but was overweight and average-looking. Yet, she had no regrets about breaking up with Xia Xing. Because with her capabilities, she deserved much more than just someone like Xia Xing. The career lifespan of an esports player is very short, Xia Xing was already in his 20s, what future could he have? Jian Manman¡¯s gaze returned to the magazine. This issue featured an exclusive interview with Jiang Xuan, a leading entrepreneur from Capital City. Looking at the face on the magazine cover, which was indifferent and detached yet charismatic from every angle, Jian Manman¡¯s brightly colored lips curled into a smile. All aspects of him were top-of-the-line; he was truly peerless. Moreover, he had the surname Jiang, and she had the surname Jian¡ªit was a match made by fate. As if thinking of something, she closed the magazine and seriously reminded her agent, Jia Mingmei, ¡°Sister Jia, from now on, please don¡¯t accept these kinds of gigs that hype up news about Xia Xing and me. Also, tell the company that I don¡¯t want to be tied to his name anymore.¡± She had come to Jiangzhou for the event and only found out after arriving that Xia Xing was also present. She didn¡¯t know whether Xia Xing had intentionally arranged for the program team to do this. She knew Xia Xing was still madly in love with her, but continuing to be entangled with Xia Xing would clearly hinder her from finding someone better. Jia Mingmei had been an agent for many years and was very experienced, ¡°He is still very popular now, and before he retires, we can still ride off his popularity. You¡¯ve already announced the breakup at the press conference anyway, letting people know he still can¡¯t forget you doesn¡¯t hurt you at all.¡± Jian Manman, ¡°I don¡¯t need to ride off his popularity; I want to build my career step by step on my own.¡± Jia Mingmei looked at her, her gaze filled with admiration. Just then, the door of the makeup room was suddenly pushed open. Jia Mingmei turned around, her tone panicked, ¡°Xi-, Xia Ge?¡± Xia Xing completely ignored Jia Mingmei and headed straight for Jian Manman. Jian Manman forcefully removed his hand and frowned, ¡°Xia Xing, we¡¯ve already broken up. Show some respect.¡± Xia Xing, ¡°Two choices, either we talk here or we go outside.¡± Being the second young master of the Xia Family, Jia Mingmei was somewhat intimidated, glanced at Jian Manman, and before leaving, she closed the door for them, ¡°There are many reporters outside, you two talk it out here. Xia Ge, whatever it is, speak nicely, especially about matters of the heart. You can¡¯t force it...¡± Chapter 67 - 67 067 Sister Ye Takes Action ?67: 067 Sister Ye Takes Action 67: 067 Sister Ye Takes Action In the makeup room, Jian Manman forcefully tried to break free from the hand Xia Xing had grabbed. Magazines fell onto the floor, ¡°This is my makeup room. You barged in without even knocking. How have you changed like this?¡± Xia Xing sneered and let go of her, ¡°I¡¯ve changed? When we were together, was there anything you wanted that I didn¡¯t buy for you? Then you said it was over, just like that, without a single explanation. Who really changed?¡± Jian Manman rubbed her wrist, feeling wronged, ¡°Do you think money can buy everything?¡± She looked down on Xia Xing with a lofty expression, revealing a particularly disdainful face, ¡°I feel like our values really don¡¯t align. You¡¯re too materialistic.¡± Xia Xing was too innocent; he loved his girlfriend and bought her things she liked. Was there something wrong with that? It was just like how he doted on his little sister, giving her his credit card directly. Xia Xing glanced at the Finance and Economics Notables magazine that had fallen to the floor, ¡°You think I¡¯m materialistic; are these big bosses not materialistic?¡± Jian Manman suddenly felt exposed, her face flushing red in an instant, ¡°I just admire that they started from scratch on their own. I want to learn from them. Is that so wrong?¡± The two were at an impasse, and suddenly Xia Xing¡¯s phone in his pocket began to vibrate. He thought it must be his teammates looking for him, and he didn¡¯t care to check it, but the vibration had just stopped and then started again immediately. He had no choice but to take it out and look. It was a video call invitation. From ¡®Cang Tian Wu Yan¡¯... ** Half an hour earlier, at the Xia Family¡¯s home. Xia Ye and Xu He were sitting in the living room, chatting leisurely while waiting to watch Xia Xing¡¯s match broadcast after dinner. Xia Yourong returned from her Ancient Flute Class. In the afternoon class, Teacher Li praised her again, boosting her confidence. Tian Ye¡¯s comment she thought over carefully; he probably just meant to say that Xia Ye¡¯s melody was nice. Boys like that type of melody; he couldn¡¯t really tell if it was played well or not. Why should she get upset over a layman¡¯s casual remark? Xu He peeled an orange for her, and she put down her school bag, sitting next to Xu He on the sofa, ¡°Mom, what were you and sister talking about when I came in?¡± In front of Mom, she still had to put on an act. Xu He sighed somewhat, ¡°We weren¡¯t really discussing much; your sister asked about your second brother¡¯s ex-girlfriend, and Mom just briefly told her about it...¡± Xia Ye sat in front of the TV; suddenly, the image of his second brother experiencing his career¡¯s second debacle that night, where he completely neglected his team and didn¡¯t participate in the match, causing a severely bad impact, appeared in his mind. A quick search online revealed that his second brother¡¯s first career debacle occurred on the day he broke up with his ex-girlfriend. Her clever little brain ticked, and she vaguely guessed something. So she asked Xu He about it. Because their ancestor¡¯s original body was a big fox, for some reason, worshippers always liked to seek her advice on marriage matters. Time and again, she became quite proficient in these matters. She couldn¡¯t let her second brother fall for this heartless girl a second time. Though Xu He was just stating facts, Xia Yourong still felt her mother was biased against Jian Manman, laughing, ¡°Mom, these days, it¡¯s normal for boyfriends to buy their girlfriends things. Besides, Jian Manman is a big star now, and the past relationship with Second Brother wasn¡¯t a loss.¡± ¡°Maybe, but Mom doesn¡¯t like that girl,¡± Xu He didn¡¯t agree with her eldest daughter¡¯s view. Xu He rarely commented on others, so clearly, Jian Manman¡¯s actions were truly excessive. Xia Ye suddenly stood up, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll be in my room for a while.¡± Xu He looked up, ¡°Ah, the match will start soon; don¡¯t fall asleep.¡± Xia Ye agreed. Back in her room, she sent her second brother a video call invitation... Chapter 68 - 68 Wolfs heart and dogs lungs! ?68: Wolf¡¯s heart and dog¡¯s lungs! 68: Wolf¡¯s heart and dog¡¯s lungs! ** At that time, Xia Xing definitely wouldn¡¯t answer other people¡¯s video calls, but he didn¡¯t hesitate to answer the one from Xia Ye. ¡°Little Tiangao, what do you need from Second Brother?¡± Jian Manman had also heard recently that the Xia family had picked up a daughter from the mountains, and judging by Xia Xing¡¯s attitude, she knew it had to be her, no doubt about it. Xia Xing doted on his other sister too, but there was a clear difference in attitude. Remembering that she might have been a bit too forward with Xia Xing just now, she decided it was time to make amends. After all, Xia Xing had a huge fan base, and if she provoked him enough to bad-mouth her online, that would be quite troublesome. Jian Manman took a breath and asked Xia Xing, ¡°Is it the sister who just got back? Let me say hello to her.¡± Xia Xing¡¯s mind was still a mess, so he simply extended his phone toward her. Jian Manman saw Xia Ye in the video, lounging in front of a desk, slightly lifting her chin as she looked at her, her expression somewhat disdainful but still, out of politeness, she greeted, ¡°Hello, I am your brother¡¯s...¡± She paused for two seconds: ¡°friend, Jian Manman.¡± Xia Ye tilted her head, showing a slightly surprised expression. Jian Manman internally rolled her eyes, sure she was another fan. Just as she was about to greet her with a smile, the next second, she heard Xia Ye speak, ¡°So you¡¯re the cruel-hearted girlfriend of my Second Brother, huh?¡± Jian Manman¡¯s expression changed drastically, her face flushing and then turning pale, her lips trembling as she bit them: ¡°What did you say? We broke up a long time ago! We split up amicably because our values didn¡¯t align! I can¡¯t stand your brother¡¯s materialism, measuring everything with money, little sister, if you don¡¯t understand the facts, please don¡¯t talk nonsense, okay?¡± Jian Manman thought Xia Ye would be like everyone else, convinced by her reason for the breakup, but she hadn¡¯t expected... ¡°Can¡¯t stand my brother¡¯s materialism, huh?¡± Xia Ye looked genuinely puzzled, her tone relaxed: ¡°Then why are you still driving the luxury car my brother gave you? Using the designer bags my brother bought you? Acting in roles my brother helped you get? Miss, if you¡¯re so above it all, shouldn¡¯t you return these things? Using my brother¡¯s gifts and then badmouthing him, isn¡¯t that cruel-hearted?¡± Xia Xing was a bit dazed, not knowing how his little sister had learned about their past. ¡°You...¡± Jian Manman took a step forward. But Xia Xing immediately moved the phone behind him. His instinctual reaction was unacceptable to Jian Manman; his sister was just on video, not there in person. Was he seriously worried she would hit his sister? The former Xia Xing who had adored and pampered her, was now protecting this girl who insulted her. Jian Manman¡¯s jealousy was overwhelming, and, disbelieving, she looked at Xia Xing: ¡°Your sister speaks to me like this, and you won¡¯t say anything?¡± Xia Xing felt a bit awkward; if it were anyone else talking like that to Jian Manman, even though they were now broken up, he probably wouldn¡¯t have allowed it. But those words were spoken from Little Tiangao¡¯s mouth... Honestly, he felt somewhat moved. ¡°Actually... she¡¯s not wrong.¡± Jian Manman: ¡°What did you say?¡± This blunt man¡¯s response from Xia Xing successfully drove Jian Manman away in anger. After driving her off, Xia Xing felt somewhat remorseful. Yet within that remorse, there was also a kind of indescribable relief, as if the words he had kept bottled up in his heart had finally been spoken by someone else. ** Over at FB team, there were just ten minutes left before they had to go on stage. If it weren¡¯t for the team members holding him back, the club owner would have gone to find the program crew. ¡°Damn program crew, who else could they have picked but Jian Manman to be a guest? Xia Xing isn¡¯t back yet, he¡¯s definitely lost his composure, hurry up and figure something out!¡± The team members looked at each other, having really not brought any substitute players to Jiangzhou this time. Just as they were at a loss, Xia Xing appeared at the door, hands in pockets. The team members were overjoyed: ¡°Xia God, how did you get back?¡± Xia Xing arched an eyebrow, coolly looking back, and he didn¡¯t seem as agitated as before: ¡°What? Isn¡¯t there a match?¡± Chapter 69 - 69 069 Mutant Plant ?69: 069 Mutant Plant 69: 069 Mutant Plant The club owner looked at the return of their team¡¯s ¡®main pillar¡¯ and couldn¡¯t help but feel curious amidst his joy. He prided himself on knowing his players best. Whenever Xia Xing encountered anything related to Jian Manman, he was always very unsettled. Today was the first time he had seen Jian Manman after being unilaterally dumped, and the owner had thought he would definitely leave the team hanging. The mockery online from those constantly jealous of Xia Xing¡¯s popularity would have been minimal, but the real issue would have arisen afterwards. With Xia Xing¡¯s temperament, it was hard for him to publicly apologize and back down. If things had escalated, the consequences would have been unimaginable. But who would have thought, Xia Xing actually came back, and he seemed to be in good shape, although he still had a somber face and appeared to be in a bad mood, he was far from dejected. The owner, who normally resorted to praying, quickly touched the jade stone Buddha pendant on his chest. Truly, it was a blessing from all kinds of fairies. ** The exhibition match officially began, with the FB team dressed in black uniforms and the SAI team in blue uniforms, making their appearances and sitting in the preparation area. The big screen showed their close-up shots. At the center of the stage was a high-definition 3D holographic projection of King¡¯s Canyon, making the scene spectacular. Before the game, Jian Manman, as a guest, cheered for the players of both teams, and when it was FB team¡¯s turn, the whole venue erupted. Former lovers sharing the stage was definitely the biggest highlight of the night. Xia Xing¡¯s fans were sweating for him, worrying whether seeing his ex-girlfriend would affect his performance today. After all, there had been a similar experience before. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, Xia Shen was still the same Xia Shen. Within the first 2 minutes of the game, he scored the first kill, widening the economic gap between the teams and reassuring his teammates. His subsequent performance was even more spectacular. Although his love life was a mess, he still had his sister. Thinking of his sister watching the live broadcast, Xia Xing told himself, he absolutely could not drop the ball!!! On the other hand, Jian Manman, who performed during the halftime, was inexplicably off her game, delivering a shabby rendition of an easy sweet song, which would give the sound engineers a hard time later. Xu He, sitting in front of the TV, saw his son¡¯s excellent performance and heaved a sigh of relief. Xia Yourong spoke lightly, ¡°Mom, he can still be friends with her after breaking up. How could he not get over it by now? You were really worrying too much.¡± Xia Ye, sitting on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, concealed his talents and fame. ** At night, while everyone was asleep, Xia Ye moved the lush pot plant from the living room back to his room. He then went to the balcony to find a new flowerpot and scooped some nutrient-rich black soil into it. When he had previously made medicine for Xu He, he had been short on time, so he directly used the leaves from this pot plant. He felt that the efficacy hadn¡¯t met his expectations. This time, as his brother asked for medicine, he wanted to enhance it. He separated a sprout from the pot plant and transplanted it into the flowerpot he had prepared. The planting process looked no different from usual without any secrets revealed. After finishing, Xia Ye returned the original pot plant to the living room, and placed the new one by his bed. He then took a shower, turned off the lights, and went to bed, not bothering with it anymore. But as the room fell silent under the silver moonlight, this tiny new sprout began to reveal its marvels. Threads of Spiritual Energy steamed from the soil, entwining the shoots, flowing upwards, and permeating into every leaf¡¯s vein pattern... Chapter 70 - 70 070 She is a god, not some little rat! ?70: 070 She is a god, not some little rat! 70: 070 She is a god, not some little rat! The second day, early in the morning, workers in khaki uniforms from the furniture store moved one piece of furniture after another, covered in protective film, into the Xia Family home. Qiao Yufen stood at the doorway leaning on her cane, looking like a supervising foreman. Seeing Xu He coming over, she glanced askew and asked, ¡°Who bought all these things?¡± Xu He smiled, ¡°These? They are the set prepared for Xiaorong. Mom, Xiaorong¡¯s furniture has arrived, and Little Tiangao is going to attend high school at First Middle School as mentioned before. Is it possible... to let her move into her room now?¡± She knew Qiao Yufen would make a fuss, so she purposely waited until her eldest daughter¡¯s furniture had also arrived before arranging for her younger daughter to move into the new room. Qiao Yufen thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t find any excuse to stop her, so she reluctantly pinched the top of her cane and dropped a reluctant remark, ¡°Overly doting mothers often spoil their children.¡± The new room¡¯s furniture had a warm white color palette, and Xia Ye could finally escape the cutesy pink of her childhood room. An en-suite independent wardrobe and washroom had been uniformly refurbished, and a spacious high bed had been installed, above which hung a portrait of Xia Ye when she was a child. Three-and-a-half-year-old Little Naigai, with a bow hairband on her head and cute curly hair, was holding a doll with similarly curly hair, slightly tilting her face to the side, her clear, large eyes as if pooling with spring water, long eyelashes casting a shadow on her eyelids, and her expression somewhat solemn like a little grown-up. This painting was done by Xu He. Xia Ye still remembered that a few days before she went missing, Xu He took her to curl her hair specially, dressing her up in this princess style, having her model for the portrait. Xia Ye, who planned to captivate the hearts of many young girls in the future, was forced to dress so maternally; she was truly gloomy! Anyway, this painting, paired with the antique, solid wood frame, truly was the crowning touch of the entire room. No wonder Yourong, upon seeing the room, felt envious and wanted it for herself. Xia Ye¡¯s previous children¡¯s room had been occupied for some time, and it had accumulated a lot of miscellaneous items. She didn¡¯t want to use servants, preferring to move everything herself. Xu He was worried that she wouldn¡¯t manage alone, so she offered to help her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t need to help...¡± Before she finished speaking, Xu He had already lifted the soft comforter¡ª And then, she saw underneath the comforter, hidden was a big stash of colorful, unopened small snack packages. Xu He was stunned for a moment before she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°You, you¡¯re still like when you were little, making a nest like a little mouse.¡± Xia Ye narrowed her eyes: ... That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t want others to help tidy her room. All small animals have somewhat similar habits, but she was the most noble fox of Ear Mountain, she was a god, not some little mouse! The noon sun spilled into the room, marking a cozy moment just for mother and daughter. By midday, most of the move was done, and Xu He noticed a potted plant left by the bedside and picked it up to admire it from all sides. ¡°Little Tiangao, where did you buy this? It¡¯s so beautiful~¡± This was clearly the new shoot from the living room plant, but after just one night, Xu He completely failed to recognize it. The leaves were semi-translucent blue, the veins were exceptionally clear, and under the sunlight, they were crystal clear, glistening with the brilliance of crushed diamonds, a feast for the eyes. Xia Ye glanced at it nonchalantly, ¡°Ah, found it by the roadside.¡± Xu He nodded, and couldn¡¯t help feeling disdainful towards her husband. Her husband always touted himself as an expert in the world of plants and flowers, yet several hundred thousand spent on auctioned orchids weren¡¯t as pretty as the one Little Tiangao picked up by the roadside! Chapter 71 - 71 071 What a coincidence, right ?71: 071 What a coincidence, right? (Two in one) 71: 071 What a coincidence, right? (Two in one) Xu He had been fussing with things for quite some time and by now, fine beads of sweat covered her forehead. Her body was still weak, and she hadn¡¯t fainted recently, mainly because Xia Ye had come back, and she felt more spirited; she looked somewhat better too. Xia Ye asked her to go back to her room and rest, and Xu He smiled, agreeing, but before she left, she didn¡¯t forget to seek some attention from her daughter. She pointed to the painting above the headboard and asked, ¡°Little Tiangao, do you think Mommy¡¯s painting is pretty?¡± She noticed that Xia Ye had stopped in front of the bed to look at it as soon as she entered the room, knowing her daughter remembered it, but she hadn¡¯t heard her praise it, which made her a bit discontent. This was, after all, her most satisfying work. Xia Ye saw right through her thoughts and generously complimented, ¡°It¡¯s pretty, very pretty.¡± Hearing this, Xu He was delighted, ¡°Mom painted it in imitation of T¡¤D, a classical artist from the century before last. Mom is a big fan of his.¡± When Xu He said this, you could hear the excitement in her voice. Xia Ye found it quite peculiar that Xu He would admire someone so much, especially someone from the century before last, with whom she had absolutely no contact. She casually asked, ¡°Did he also paint portraits?¡± Xu He grew even more excited at this, ¡°Among his surviving works, the most famous is actually a world heritage map, which is more of a landscape, but the reason Mom became his fan is indeed due to a lesser-known portrait of a person. Little Tiangao, can you guess why Mom likes that portrait so much?¡± After saying this, she even pulled out a chair next to Xia Ye, apparently intending to sit down and have a lengthy discussion. Xu He: ¡°Because, that portrait¡¯s little girl, she looks just like you...¡± ¡°Xiaohe, do you know where I put my green tie?¡± Before Xu He could finish speaking, Xia Yuzheng¡¯s spoilsport voice interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s still in the usual place, how can you always not find it,¡± Xu He supported herself up using the armrest of the chair and looked back at Xia Ye, ¡°I¡¯m going to find your dad¡¯s tie. I¡¯ll talk to you about it later, okay?¡± Xia Ye was more than happy, ¡°No problem, Mom. You go ahead and take care of that.¡± She actually enjoyed appreciating beautiful paintings, but compared to that, she was more interested in making money. With that thought, she took out her phone. She swiped a few times on the center of the screen and found the app called ¡°Cryptocurrency Trader.¡± Upon opening the app, her gaze scanned the constantly changing complex list of data, she nodded in satisfaction at the surge ratios, and then tapped on a few to execute sell orders. She had always liked to dabble in small investments. When she had just returned, she had learned about the rate of currency devaluation and thought about her diminished nest egg, which distressed her greatly. After all, if her Spiritual Energy never fully recovered, she would be nothing more than an ordinary, extraordinarily wealthy fairy. However, a good investor wouldn¡¯t put all their eggs in one basket. Only a small part had diminished... Xia Ye recalled how she used to go to special trading venues to invest in securities, which was very cumbersome and even prone to errors made by agents, preventing her from reaching her expected returns. Now, things were different. She could handle everything from home with her phone. The money in this app was allowance from her second brother, just a small amount to experiment with. Yet, she would still take a tiny bit of ¡°hard-earned¡± profit from the returns and transfer it into her personal savings. In truth, she didn¡¯t really have anywhere she needed to spend money; she just liked... saving it up for fun! And with this app she was using now, she could also meet some like-minded ¡°young friends.¡± They had a group and often discussed investment matters together. Brainless Bro: [Goddess, I just followed you and sold two stocks, and sure enough, right after I sold, the prices fell from their peak. You¡¯re really amazing!] Up With The Chickens: [Holy crap! For real? I was thinking of waiting a bit longer before selling!] Thick-skinned: [¡°Just check it out, I spotted it long ago, following the goddess is definitely the right move for us!¡±] Early Riser: [¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, the market just dipped again! Am I trapped now? This is my annual salary we¡¯re talking about!¡±] These two are the most active in the group. In the software group, people could only see each other¡¯s buy signals and the limited optional information in their profiles, not knowing each other¡¯s real identities. Xia Ye randomly filled in her gender as female in her profile, so they¡¯ve been referring to her as the goddess. Xia Ye tapped on the screen. Happy like a Fairy: [¡°There should be a small peak around noon tomorrow. Keep an eye out and be ready to sell when it¡¯s nearly time.¡±] The person who received the instructions was moved to tears. Early Riser: [¡°That¡¯s great, goddess. I must take you out for a meal if I get the chance!¡±] Thick-skinned: [¡°Don¡¯t bother with him, goddess! I¡¯ll take you to have the best and the most expensive meal in Capital City!¡±] Early Riser: [¡°The guy above, are you also from Capital City?¡±] Thick-skinned: [¡°No way, you too? Let me make it clear upfront, I¡¯m not treating you. I¡¯m only treating my goddess!¡±] Early Riser sent an ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered with you¡± emoticon from the system and then tagged Xia Ye. Early Riser: [¡°Goddess, may I know where you are? It¡¯s okay if it¡¯s inconvenient. I¡¯m just asking casually!¡±] Xia Ye thought Capital City was big enough that knowing they were both in Capital City meant little, so she replied. Happy like a Fairy: [¡°Also in Capital City.¡±] Meanwhile, in the CEO office at the top floor of the Jiang Consortium. Beside the work desk, Jiang Xuan was reviewing a document with very complex additional clauses. The room was initially quiet until, suddenly, Dong Mao and Shen Jing, who were sitting far apart in the sofa area, seemed to be possessed and stood up with a yelp. ¡°No way?¡± ¡°Really?!¡± As Jiang Xuan was about to sign the document, their shouting caused him to leave a very long stroke on the ¡°Jiang¡± character, which should have only three dots of water. Realizing their gaffe, Shen Jing hurried to take the initiative, pointing at Dong Mao, who was eight hundred feet away, standing up with his mobile phone: ¡°Playing with your phone during work hours and distracting the CEO! Dock his pay!¡± Dong Mao almost fell for it, but quickly noticed that Shen Jing was also holding a mobile phone: ¡°Aren¡¯t you also on your phone? Out with it! Who¡¯s the girl you¡¯re chatting with?¡± Shen Jing hastily hid his phone behind him: ¡°I¡¯m dealing with work! You¡¯re the one chatting with a girl!¡± ¡°Both of you, out!¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s commanding voice rose, the beating hearts of the two bickering men simultaneously tightened. Without daring to even glance in Jiang Xuan¡¯s direction, they fled the scene of the crime. Jiang Xuan, who had already perceived their scheming thoughts, twitched the corners of his eyes slightly and threw away the ruined page of the contract. Let it be, it was normal for people their age to have other concerns on their mind. Unfortunately, according to the contents read from their minds, it seemed the goddess they were talking about was the same person, and they didn¡¯t know it. Jiang Xuan massaged his temples and then took out a new contract. It didn¡¯t matter to him whether they knew it or not. Chapter 72 - 72 072 Chinas ancient text with the most phonetic loan characters ?72: 072 China¡¯s ancient text with the most phonetic loan characters 72: 072 China¡¯s ancient text with the most phonetic loan characters Today is Sunday, and Jiang Xuan left the company after signing that contract. Jiang Family old residence. Jiang He was in quite a leisurely mood today, practicing calligraphy in his study. From a distance, through the window, he saw his younger brother¡¯s car drive in. He chuckled and dialed his younger brother¡¯s number. The car came to a stop, and the call connected on the other end. Jiang He: ¡°Fourth brother, I remember your brush calligraphy isn¡¯t bad either. Your elder brother is practicing here, if you¡¯re not busy, why not come join me?¡± There was a pause on the other end of the phone before the man said, ¡°Okay.¡± ** When Liu Manyi brought in the tea, the table was covered with calligraphy still wet with ink, and the air was full of the fragrance of ink. Jiang Xuan held a brush in his hand, with Jiang He opposite him, and Jiang Yunzhou was responsible for grinding the ink. Jiang Xuan stood there, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his brushstrokes fluid without hesitation, his expression calm and serene, seeming somewhat to enjoy himself. Jiang He, who had a bit of expertise in calligraphy and carried some weight in the Capital City Calligraphy Association, watched his youngest brother¡¯s work, which was purely for leisure, yet felt his control over the strokes and character structure was truly more dazzling than many well-known masters. This style could even be said to have developed a school of its own. ¡°Yunzhou, learn more from your uncle,¡± without a comparison there is no harm, but Jiang He could not help but glance at his son. Jiang Yunzhou was also quite helpless. When he was small, which was before his uncle turned 18 and was still playing the rebel riding motorcycles and infuriating grandfather until his beard almost turned green, his father clearly warned him in secret, never to learn from his uncle when he grew up. Yet in just a few years, it had all completely turned around. As Jiang Yunzhou ground the ink, he had a devil-may-care look: ¡°I have no interest in calligraphy~¡± Jiang He: ¡°Your uncle is not only skilled in calligraphy, fourth brother, I remember your oil painting is not bad, right?¡± It seemed he had seen an unfinished oil painting at his younger brother¡¯s house. He did not understand oil painting, but anyone with eyes could tell it was skillfully done. Jiang Yunzhou was also stunned, ¡°Uncle, it turns out you not only like collecting oil paintings, but you paint as well? Your combination of Chinese and Western styles is really versatile!¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s tone was serene and deep: ¡°Just a hobby.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Jiang Yunzhou continued grinding ink, his eyes falling on the content his uncle was writing, and he began to read aloud, ¡°Uncle, what you¡¯re writing is ¡®Leisure and Fun Record,¡¯ right?¡± Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow: ¡°You know this ancient text?¡± Jiang Yunzhou: ¡°Of course, it was in our high school textbook, but it was optional.¡± ¡®Leisure and Fun Record,¡¯ the ancient text with the most phonological loan characters in China. Full of phonological loan characters, it is extremely obscure and difficult to understand, but its compelling writing style resonates deeply with one¡¯s heart. Therefore, it has always been a unique presence in classical Chinese literature, and is included in the optional chapters of high school Chinese textbooks. The students are eternally grateful. Luckily, it¡¯s optional and not on the college entrance exams. Otherwise, it would be completely over for them. Jiang Yunzhou: ¡°Uncle, aren¡¯t phonological loan characters basically typos? Like the word ¡®Ëµ¡¯ in ¡®Having friends come from afar is a pleasure,¡¯ it should actually be ¡®Ôá¯, right? Why don¡¯t they correct the typos before making us memorize it? Isn¡¯t this deliberately making it hard for us?¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s voice was clear and pleasantly deep: ¡°During the undeveloped stages of Chinese character development, it was permissible to use homophonic or similar-sounding characters to convey meaning, so phonological loan characters are not equivalent to typos.¡± Jiang Yunzhou: ¡°But Uncle, the ¡®Leisure and Fun Record¡¯ you¡¯re writing, out of a few hundred characters, there are 108 phonological loan characters! Was it really because the development of Chinese characters hadn¡¯t matured, or was the author drunk when writing?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Xuan¡¯s brush paused, and he looked up, giving him a series of expressions indicating ¡®How do you know she was drunk? What does it matter to you if she was drunk? Mind your own business!¡¯ Jiang Yunzhou felt a drop of sweat trickle down his forehead: ...What did I do wrong? ¡°Yunzhou, it¡¯s a call from the Xia Family heiress!¡± They were in the second-floor study when Liu Manyi called out to him from the stairwell. Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunzhou immediately asked with a hint of excitement, ¡°Which heiress? The elder sister or the younger one?¡± Jiang Xuan also cast a nonchalant glance towards the door. Before marrying into the family, Liu Manyi was a renowned actress in the opera troupe. Though her voice wasn¡¯t loud, it carried well, ¡°It¡¯s the elder sister, your classmate Xiaorong!¡± Jiang Xuan turned back to his writing as Jiang Yunzhou¡¯s eyes immediately drooped. Jiang He gave him a kick in the butt, ¡°What does it matter whether it¡¯s the elder or the younger sister? Hurry up and answer it! Don¡¯t keep her waiting!¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Jiang Yunzhou reluctantly rubbed his behind as he went to answer the phone. After all, he was considered a campus heartthrob at school. Couldn¡¯t they refrain from kicking his butt? As he picked up the call, he was internally grumbling. But as soon as he heard what Xia Yourong on the other end of the line had to say, he lost all mood to complain. She said, ¡°Brother Yunzhou, have you seen the notice posted on the school¡¯s academic website? The latest directive from the Education Committee has added ¡®Leisure and Fun Record¡¯ to the list of compulsory texts for the college entrance exam!¡± At this news, the entire senior year was in an uproar. Yang the Great, who taught Chinese literature and was the head of the senior Chinese teachers, had already held a meeting with them all afternoon discussing any potential memory techniques for this classical text. The conclusion... none! They could only resort to rote memorization! Starting next week, the Chinese teachers would put aside their teaching schedules and focus solely on overseeing the students¡¯ memorization of ¡®Leisure and Fun Record¡¯! In the school¡¯s online forum, some were organizing a petition, begging the leadership to repeal the decision or wait until after their exams to add it. But not many students were getting involved; most had already started memorizing to the point of tears! Xia Ye was still managing finances on a software platform when the notification at the top of the screen kept alerting her to new messages from the ¡®Senior 3 (19) Class Group¡¯. There were probably dozens of unread messages. With no choice, she opened WeChat. Without even looking at what everyone in the group was frantically discussing, she immediately silenced the notifications. Yet before she could exit, a message from Tang Tianjiao popped up. Bow and Arrow Shoot the Big Eagle: Brother Ye! The end of the world is upon us!!! Xia Ye: ... The end of the world? Could it be that old man from Heavenly Dao has finally kicked the bucket? However, Tang Tianjiao quickly sent another message. Bow and Arrow Shoot the Big Eagle: ¡®Leisure and Fun Record¡¯ has been included in the compulsory texts for the college entrance exam! The exams are just months away, it¡¯s going to be brutal! Xia Ye felt a sudden headache when she read that message. On the first day of the new school term, when she received the Chinese textbook, she discovered her own piece of inspiration, which she had whimsically written at the Chaotai River after drinking and composing poetry with a few good friends. Yes, she did write it after drinking quite a bit. But the thing is, who remembers what they said when drunk? So, she can¡¯t memorize it, okay?! With all those archaic and obscure words, how could anyone memorize it? ** PS: Jiang Ye: I can memorize it. Chapter 73 - 73 073 Hit him right in the heart ?73: 073 Hit him right in the heart 73: 073 Hit him right in the heart On Monday morning, before morning self-study even began, students arrived in the classroom and the first thing they discussed was ¡°Leisure and Fun Record.¡± Soon, the first class was Chinese, and Tang Tianjiao sat in the last row with Xia Ye. While others were preparing for the class, they just started to ¡°do¡± their homework. Tang Tianjiao got the homework from Zou Wu, spread it out on her lap, and they both started copying it. This was to avoid being seen by teachers who might pass by the door. Xia Ye hadn¡¯t intended to write anything, but seeing her desk mate so enthusiastic, she felt it wouldn¡¯t be nice to refuse. However, when she saw Zou Wu¡¯s homework... The first line still had the symbols ¦Á and ¦Â, but by the second line, they had turned into the letters a and B. So it was copied too... As Xia Ye was writing, she silently corrected the second line¡¯s a and B back to ¦Á and ¦Â, but Tang Tianjiao noticed right away and helpfully reminded her, ¡°Brother Ye, you copied the wrong line!¡± Xia Ye: ... With five minutes to go before the first class, Emperor Yang entered the classroom. With a tight schedule and heavy tasks, he started the class five minutes early. As they opened their textbooks, a student lamented, ¡°This is so hard to memorize. Yang brother, can¡¯t we just not memorize it?¡± Emperor Yang tapped his teaching baton on the lectern, ¡°Memorize it, children. Who else but our ancestors left us this cultural heritage?¡± Xia Ye suddenly felt somewhat sorry for these poor kids. By the end of the class, Emperor Yang had only finished explaining three segments. Before leaving, he announced that the school would be organizing another psychological seminar soon to help the Senior Three students relieve the pressure of preparing for the college entrance exam. He emphasized specifically that the school had invited a distinguished psychology expert from Beijing Hospital, urging them to pay close attention. In the principal¡¯s office, Tian Hanwen straightened his shirt and made a call with a rather solemn demeanor. Once connected, a smile immediately spread across his face, ¡°President Jiang, it¡¯s me. Tian, the principal from First Middle School.¡± Jiang Xuan had just come out from a meeting. Over the years, the Jiang family had always sponsored First Middle School and even allocated additional funds this time to improve the school cafeteria¡¯s meals. Last time, he went to eat at Godear with Xia Ye and noticed how much she enjoyed her meal, so he asked if she didn¡¯t like the school cafeteria¡¯s food. Xia Ye answered, ¡°It¡¯s just okay, not very tasty.¡± The next day, the school received the sponsorship. Tian Hanwen was emotionally moved. Previously, First Middle School had sent an invitation to Jiang Xuan for the opening ceremony, but he hadn¡¯t attended. But today, he made the call himself. Tian Hanwen said, ¡°President Jiang, you generously donate to our school every year but never attend our events. It really makes us feel uncomfortable, especially this year with the added funds for the cafeteria, which are somewhat excessive. Perhaps we could allocate some of that to other areas...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move it,¡± Jiang Xuan asserted, ¡°use it for improving the cafeteria¡¯s menu.¡± Although he had let the school allocate his previous donations as they saw fit and never interfered, this time he was particularly firm about the cafeteria, and while Tian Hanwen couldn¡¯t quite understand it, he immediately agreed, ¡°No problem, no problem.¡± These funds were enough to develop a five-star hotel-quality menu, complete with attractive appearance, delicious taste, and balanced nutrition. Tian Hanwen couldn¡¯t help but feel perplexed. So targeted, could it be that Mr. Jiang... has tried their cafeteria food? It wasn¡¯t that bad, was it? ¡°By the way, Mr. Jiang, in a little while, the school is planning to arrange a psychological seminar for the senior high students, mainly as a form of motivation before the college entrance examination, so I was thinking...¡± Jiang Xuan was flipping through the contract handed over by Shen Jing and blurted out, ¡°How much do you need?¡± Tian Hanwen felt a bit awkward, ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant, I wanted to invite Mr. Jiang to our school... Since Mr. Jiang has always been a sponsor and a very successful entrepreneur, there¡¯s no need to give a speech, just appearing would greatly motivate the students. I just don¡¯t know if Mr. Jiang has the time...¡± The invitation to the opening ceremony had vanished without a trace, so Tian Hanwen didn¡¯t have much hope this time either. Sure enough, the reply came quickly, ¡°I¡¯m quite busy recently, I don¡¯t have time.¡± Tian Hanwen¡¯s tone was a bit regretful, ¡°All right, if Mr. Jiang changes his mind, please call me anytime.¡± Jiang Xuan acknowledged with a sound, hung up the phone, handed the finished contract to Shen Jing, and walked into the office. Behind him, Shen Jing, holding the contract, narrowed his gossipy little eyes. As he was close by, he also heard what Principal Tian had said. Just as Dong Mao was about to enter the office with some tea, Shen Jing pulled him aside into the teahouse. Dong Mao carefully held the teapot, ¡°Hey, hey, slow down, don¡¯t spill my tea.¡± He just didn¡¯t want to deal with Shen Jing. An average person, with nothing remarkable but a pretty face. If it weren¡¯t for the president¡¯s sake, he could make him cry with just a move! Shen Jing pulled him back into the teahouse, asking mysteriously, ¡°You¡¯ve been with the president for a long time, besides Miss Xia, has the president pursued anyone else?¡± Dong Mao seriously recalled those long yet sweet months with his boss... Then firmly stated, ¡°No.¡± Shen Jing nodded meaningfully, ¡°That explains it, he lacks experience.¡± ¡°All this mystifying day by day,¡± Dong Mao glanced at him and was about to leave. Shen Jing pulled him back again, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed after being with the president for so long? His way of chasing girls just doesn¡¯t work! He does so much for Miss Xia all in secret, and Miss Xia doesn¡¯t know a thing, like the sponsorship for First Middle School, surely you know the president did it for Miss Xia, right?¡± Dong Mao nodded. Shen Jing continued, ¡°But when Principal Tian sent an invitation before, the president didn¡¯t go. And now when they personally call him, he still won¡¯t go!¡± Dong Mao felt it was quite typical, ¡°That¡¯s just his personality. When it comes to anything related to Miss Xia, he¡¯s always meticulous. He does these things for Miss Xia¡¯s sake, not expecting her to feel indebted...¡± He was confidently explaining, but Shen Jing couldn¡¯t listen anymore and interrupted, ¡°No wonder Mr. Jiang of Capital City can¡¯t make any progress chasing a girl after nearly a month, it¡¯s because you are too dense! The president isn¡¯t vocal, we must speak for him! Otherwise, how could Miss Xia ever realize how good Mr. Jiang is to her? Are you just waiting for her to take the initiative like last time? That¡¯s not acceptable at all!¡± Dong Mao usually hated listening to Shen Jing¡¯s babble, but today, Shen Jing really struck a chord with him. Chasing that young lady, it¡¯s been more than a month? If the real duration was disclosed, Shen Jing might actually faint from shock. Could it be that the lack of progress between them was all because he¡¯d been too inactive? Thinking this, Dong Mao wore a face eager to learn, moving closer, ¡°So, what do you suggest we do to help our boss?¡± Chapter 74 - 74 074 is a bit low-key and flirty, huh ?74: 074 is a bit low-key and flirty, huh... 74: 074 is a bit low-key and flirty, huh... Shen Jing leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words. Dong Mao deeply agreed, and without realizing it, even let out a ¡°giggle giggle giggle¡± sound. Shen Jing was startled. ¡°What¡¯s that sound you¡¯re making? Sounds like crowing.¡± Dong Mao realized the issue and immediately pursed his thin lips tightly, ¡°You¡¯re the one crowing, your whole family is crowing!¡± Jiang Xuan was oblivious to the two men gossiping about him in the tea room; his mind was elsewhere because ¡°Heaven Has No Eyes¡± had sent him another message. Now, the sight of this WeChat name no longer repelled him as it once did, even kindling some anticipation within. Anticipation for the messages ¡°Heaven Has No Eyes¡± sent him. Heaven Has No Eyes: About that meal we talked about last time, why not just go for it today instead of picking another date? Jiang Xuan superficially replied with just two words: Fine then. It appeared quite aloof. Internally: yes! Heaven Has No Eyes: Then I¡¯ll come find you after school tonight. Jiang: Wait for me after school, I¡¯ll come pick you up. At Beijing No.1 Middle School, it was just the second extended break of the day, and Xia Ye received the reply, remembering that starting today, they would also have evening self-study sessions. Heaven Has No Eyes: By the way, we don¡¯t get out of school until 8:55 pm, is that okay? The other party responded instantly with three words: I know. Xia Ye was stunned, he knew? But the sender quickly realized something was amiss and retracted the message to resend. Jiang: That¡¯s fine. Xia Ye¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. This guy seemed, a bit reservedly saucy... ** Under the influence of ¡°Leisure and Fun Record¡±, the Monday for the senior students of Beijing No.1 Middle School seemed to pass by faster than usual, even with the addition of several hours of evening self-study, it did not feel lengthy. In Class 1, ten minutes before the end of evening self-study, Zhao Yuhuan distributed the math test papers from the previous week and explained a multiple-choice question that many had answered incorrectly. She spent the entire day teaching math to both Class 1 and Class 19, but she had only assigned this set of papers to Class 1 because of its difficulty. She was well aware of the capabilities of Class 19¡¯s students; even had they taken it, only a few would have passed, and she didn¡¯t want to waste her effort on them. Rather than having the weaker students struggle with these advancement questions, it was better to focus on their basic knowledge and increase the average score. After all, her performance was judged by the outcomes of the class she served as head teacher. After explaining that multiple-choice question, Zhao Yuhuan noticed that virtually every student¡¯s desk held a Chinese literature book, indicating what they had just been studying during the evening self-study session. She had heard that the classical Chinese essay had been included in the required syllabus for the college entrance exam, but she didn¡¯t think there was a need to be so anxious about it. Perhaps it was because Emperor Yang taught Chinese literature that she had always been biased against it; past years¡¯ test scores had proven that the Chinese scores of good students were generally similar, around 110-120. Unlike with math, where there were significant score gaps between those who did well and those who did not. Zhao Yuhuan adjusted her glasses. ¡°Alright, a few days of memorization should do, don¡¯t fall behind in the other subjects.¡± The students chimed in agreement. When class ended, students put away their papers and started asking each other how far they had memorized that ancient text. Zhou Yao also asked Xia Yourong. Xia Yourong replied, ¡°I¡¯ve memorized the first five paragraphs already.¡± She answered with a carefully modulated volume so almost the entire front half of the classroom could hear her, and many admiring glances were directed her way. Tian Ye turned to look at her. ¡°Xiaorong, you have such a good memory, I¡¯ve only just started on the fourth paragraph.¡± Xia Yourong smiled modestly, ¡°This essay is indeed quite challenging, but it becomes easier to memorize once you understand its meaning.¡± But such a profound and refined essay isn¡¯t something just anyone can understand. If even the good students found it challenging, there was no hope for her embarrassingly poor-performing younger sister! She even felt that having Xia Ye memorize it would be a complete waste of such a fine essay! ** By the time school let out, it was already dark outside. Many streetlights in the campus were on, lighting the way home for the throngs of students. A car with its headlights on was parked at the road junction outside the campus. Jiang Yunzhou recognized it at a glance¡ªit was his younger uncle¡¯s car. Unexpectedly, not only had his younger uncle driven him to school on the first day of term, but he had also come to pick him up after the evening study session! He suddenly felt like he was about to become the reluctant pet of the bigwigs. What to do? So annoying! As he thought this, he ran towards the car with a grin that split his face from ear to ear. He naturally reached out to open the passenger door, only to find it was locked and couldn¡¯t be opened. He had no choice but to walk around to the driver¡¯s side and knock on the window. The car window slowly rolled down. Jiang Yunzhou said innocently, ¡°Uncle, the door¡¯s locked. I can¡¯t open it!¡± Jiang Xuan looked at him for two seconds, then ¡®hmm¡¯ed. Jiang Yunzhou: ¡°?¡± ¡®Hmm¡¯? He didn¡¯t unlock the door after hearing his words and just ¡®hmm¡¯ed in affirmation? What does that mean? Jiang Xuan smiled politely and clarified, ¡°I¡¯m not here to pick you up.¡± Jiang Yunzhou suddenly had even more question marks above his head. If he wasn¡¯t there to pick him up, then who was he there for? Did his younger uncle have other nephews at First Middle School? As a young girl¡¯s figure approached, Jiang Yunzhou finally realized. There might be no other nephews, but his younger uncle did have a niece. As Xia Ye passed by Jiang Yunzhou, she gave him a slight nod in greeting, followed by the sound of the car unlocking. Xia Ye walked to the passenger side, opened the door, and got into the car. Jiang Xuan started the car, turned the steering wheel, and drove away. Jiang Yunzhou just stood there, staring blankly as his younger uncle took away his Little Fairy. And left him in a cloud of high-end car exhaust! What on earth was going on?? Meanwhile, at the gate, two sneaky figures were looking in their direction. ¡°Xiaoruo, isn¡¯t that your family¡¯s car?¡± Zhou Yao asked with a face full of gossip. Xia Yourong¡¯s expression was grim: ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Zhou Yao exclaimed: ¡°Then why did Xia Ye get in the car? I definitely saw a man sitting inside just now. She couldn¡¯t be dating some rich guy, could she...¡± It was dark by then, and it was actually not very clear what the person in the car looked like, but Xia Yourong recognized Jiang Xuan¡¯s car, so she knew exactly. But she would never tell Zhou Yao that the man in the car was the very same Jiang Xuan whom Zhou Yao pestered Jiang Yunzhou about, wanting to get to know him¡ªthe consortium magnate. Xia Yourong pinched her wrist, subtly insinuating, ¡°My sister often doesn¡¯t come home until late at night, I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s gotten to know someone in society, but... it¡¯s not necessarily a wealthy person, right?¡± Zhou Yao thought the car looked pretty and belonged to someone of status, but after what Xia Yourong mentioned, she thought back carefully about the car¡¯s logo, indeed one she had never seen before. Could it be just some low-profile, no-name car with appearances to the contrary? Convinced, her envy disappeared, leaving only contempt on her face: ¡°We¡¯re still high school students; she stays out late at night without coming home. Don¡¯t your parents care?¡± Xia Yourong¡¯s face seemed troubled: ¡°There¡¯s no helping it, my sister is very good at hiding things, so Mom and Dad have no idea at all. If only others could see this side of her, though it might not be good for her reputation, it may help her recognize her mistakes sooner...¡± Zhou Yao appeared to be inspired, suddenly looking at her. Xia Yourong quickly pretended to be nervous and waved her hands: ¡°Forget it, forget it. As if I didn¡¯t say anything...¡± Chapter 75 - 75 075 Internal exclusive, not open to the public ?75: 075 Internal exclusive, not open to the public 75: 075 Internal exclusive, not open to the public But Zhou Yao had obviously heard, and she lifted her chin defiantly, ¡°If I had the chance to see her kissing and cuddling with that guy, I would definitely snap a photo!¡± Xia Yourong laughed, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Jiang Yunzhou walked over and, seeing the two of them looking in the direction of his uncle¡¯s departing car, knew they must be gossiping wildly. ¡°Don¡¯t guess blindly, they¡¯re just ordinary friends, pure friendship.¡± Seeing him say that, Zhou Yao blinked, ¡°Jiang Shao, you know that man?¡± ¡°He is actually my...¡± ¡°Yunzhou!¡± Just as Jiang Yunzhou was about to speak, a few boys came over and asked him for the math quiz papers. Seeing Jiang Yunzhou interrupted, Xia Yourong quickly grabbed Zhou Yao and left, ¡°Never mind, I don¡¯t even know him, he can¡¯t be anyone important.¡± Zhou Yao thought about it and felt that made sense. She escorted Xia Yourong to the Xia Family car, then suddenly remembered something and pulled out a very girlish peach-flavored soda from her bag, ¡°It¡¯s super trending on the short video platform lately, it¡¯s been sold out online, I finally managed to get one and brought it specially for you.¡± ¡°Em...¡± Xia Yourong tilted her head at the bottle, ¡°Sorry, except for purified water, I only drink tea and don¡¯t drink carbonated drinks.¡± Zhou Yao, slightly embarrassed, put the drink back into her bag, ¡°Okay then.¡± She hesitated for a few seconds but couldn¡¯t help asking Xia Yourong, ¡°Didn¡¯t you like to drink soda when you were a kid?¡± Xia Yourong had a somewhat strange expression on her face. Ever since Zhou Yao had transferred to their class and found out she was the Xia Family¡¯s heiress, she¡¯d been trying to cozy up to her in various ways. Xia Yourong found it normal though, after all, she was the Xia Family heiress, and everyone wanted to be her friend. But what was strange was that Zhou Yao kept bringing up something about kindergarten at the age of three, as if she was very familiar with her. Xia Yourong, who had been adopted by the Xia Family, had never attended kindergarten before and it was impossible for her to know Zhou Yao. However, she didn¡¯t want others to know about these things, so whenever Zhou Yao brought up their childhood, Xia Yourong always gave elusive responses, and this time was no exception. She flipped her hair nonchalantly, ¡°People always change.¡± Zhou Yao, hearing her explanation, finally reined in her puzzled look. Indeed, after so many years, it¡¯s certain that people would change. She remembered her best friend from her childhood who used to love big chicken legs, all kinds of snacks, and always paired them with a super refreshing ice-cold soda. But that was indeed a long time ago; she couldn¡¯t even remember her best friend¡¯s name anymore, only that her friend was the most pampered heiress of the Xia Family! ** Godear was so busy that there was absolutely no place to park on the ground. Jiang Xuan drove his car into the underground parking area. As soon as he had entered, another car wanted to follow him down. However, before that car could get to the entrance, the security guard lowered the barrier. A sharp-looking woman stuck her head out of the driver¡¯s seat, her tone full of confusion, ¡°Why can¡¯t we go in? That person just went in.¡± The security guard stepped forward politely to explain, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am, the underground parking area is Godear¡¯s internal parking area and isn¡¯t open to the public.¡± The woman didn¡¯t buy it, especially since she had an important person in her car, ¡°Your employees can drive such nice cars? Which department¡¯s employee just went in? Tell me, let¡¯s hear it!¡± The security guard: ... He only mentioned it was internal, but never said it was strictly for employees... But he didn¡¯t elaborate further, only bowing respectfully, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Just as the woman was about to say something else, Jian Manman, who sat in the passenger seat, slowly took off her sunglasses in a leisurely manner, ¡°Let it be, Jia sister, let¡¯s wait for a spot to open up above ground...¡± Chapter 76 - 76 076 I think you are overthinking it ?76: 076 I think you are overthinking it. 76: 076 I think you are overthinking it. Jia Mingmei, seeing her artist speaking like that, couldn¡¯t help but give a superior huff at the security guard and turned the steering wheel to head back. She thought to herself that this was just how discrete her artist was¡ªif the security knew that the person sitting in the car was the current hotshot actress, Jian Manman, he would surely regret the words he¡¯d just spoken. (Security: Jiang what? What Man?) As soon as the esports performance in Jiangzhou ended, Jian Manman immediately returned to Capital City. She hadn¡¯t expected that merely attending the competition as a guest would result in being roasted by netizens. They criticized her for singing out of tune and claimed she had always lip-synced during her career, and some even suggested that she¡¯d botched the singing because she saw her ex-boyfriend and regretted breaking up with him. She was clearly aggravated by Xia Ye! However, Jian Manman didn¡¯t care about what people online said. Such matters could easily be smoothed over with a couple of calls from Jia Mingmei. Right now, she had more important things to do. She had seen in a previous issue of a weekly magazine that the Jiang Corporation¡¯s jewelry brand was looking for an endorser for the next quarter. The jewelry by Jiang was a longstanding brand; the announcement of their brand ambassador always trended for several days each year. Leveraging their exceptional influence in the industry, Jiang could freely choose the most sought-after celebrities to endorse their products, boosting their visibility. For the stars chosen, it was undoubtedly a great honor. It was a mutually beneficial relationship between the merchants and the artists, maximizing profits for both parties. But Jian Manman¡¯s rush back to Capital City wasn¡¯t just about wanting to be the face of Jiang¡¯s brand¡ªthat would be too simple. She also wanted to become Jiang¡¯s... Jia Mingmei parked the car and accompanied her into the restaurant. Jian Manman only wore sunglasses yet had a full face of makeup, an oddly conspicuous attempt at being understated; it was hard to tell if she wanted to be recognized or not. But the waitstaff recognized her at a glance. They couldn¡¯t help but whisper to their colleagues behind them that while they had seen many artists who didn¡¯t look as good in person, they never expected Jian Manman to be so glamorous offline, truly worthy of a woman once doted on by the God Xia. Hearing such praises was nothing new for Jian Manman, and she didn¡¯t react much until she walked further in and saw a man at the entrance of a private room, whispering to a waiter. Jian Manman¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. It was like finding what she sought without even trying. It seemed that even the heavens were intent on matchmaking for her. She never expected that on her first day back in Capital City, she would have an unexpected encounter with Jiang Xuan. This man was a hundred times more charismatic than in the exclusive interviews in the weekly magazines. Even Jia Mingmei was surprised, ¡°Manman, is that President Jiang? You two must be fated. It seems like this endorsement might unexpectedly be a breeze~¡± After Jiang Xuan finished speaking with the waiter and inadvertently looked up, Jian Manman saw him glancing in her direction, his lips curling into a slight, indulgent smile. Jian Manman suddenly felt shy and bit her lip, whispering to Jia Mingmei, ¡°I think he seems quite fond of me, don¡¯t you?¡± Jia Mingmei also: ¡°I think...¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Jia Mingmei hadn¡¯t finished speaking when suddenly another voice interjected. Jian Manman and Jia Mingmei swiftly turned their heads toward the voice. Right behind them stood a young girl, her finger thoughtfully touching her chin, looking quite serious as if she was carefully analyzing the situation for them. And this girl was none other than Xia Ye, the one who had savagely mocked Jian Manman to the point of calling her ¡®eggplant-colored¡¯ in the video the other day! Chapter 77 - 77 077 Tang Monk Meat ?77: 077 Tang Monk Meat 77: 077 Tang Monk Meat Jian Manman pinched her hand, realizing what Xia Ye had said. Damn, she had overheard her whispering with Jia Mingmei! If Xia Xing heard about this, who knows what he would think of her! She pushed her sunglasses up again, now truly hoping not to be recognized by anyone around. ¡°The ¡®like¡¯ I mentioned just means normal appreciation, don¡¯t misunderstand,¡± she said. Xia Ye blinked earnestly, ¡°Or what?¡± Her question made Jian Manman feel even more embarrassed, as if Xia Ye had never thought of it any other way and it was her who was overthinking. Just as Jian Manman was about to explode, from a distance, Jiang Xuan walked toward them. Xia Ye was behind them at the moment. Without caring what others might think, Jiang Xuan walked up, lifted his hand to grab Xia Ye¡¯s wrist, and pulled her from behind those two women to his side. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked. The tone he used was tender and indulging, much like the look he had just given. Jian Manman realized that the look she thought was meant for her might have been for Xia Ye instead. What was their relationship? ¡°Mr. Jiang, I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here. I am an artist from Tianxing Entertainment, Jian Manman,¡± suppressing her inner turmoil, she put on a perfect smile with the skills honed from years in the industry and extended her hand graciously towards Jiang Xuan. Jia Mingmei smiled obsequiously and reached out her hand as well, waiting in line to shake hands. However, their extended hands embarrassingly hung in mid-air. Jiang Xuan¡¯s hand, still holding Xia Ye¡¯s wrist, showed no sign of letting go to shake hands with them. Jian Manman stared at their touching hands, her eyes slightly reddening. Yet, she figured, a mature and successful man like Jiang Xuan wouldn¡¯t fancy a high school student like Xia Ye. It must be just elder concern for a younger person. She had known before that the Xia Family was quite reputable in the Capital City, and it was not strange for them to know the Jiang Family. ¡°Someone you know?¡± Jiang Xuan asked Xia Ye. Xia Ye nodded, ¡°She¡¯s my elder brother¡¯s ex-girlfriend.¡± Jian Manman twitched the corner of her eye sharply. This girl was definitely doing it on purpose, emphasizing to Jiang Xuan that she and Xia Xing had a past. But was Xia Ye really doing it intentionally? Yes... she was! Xia Ye had just gone to the restroom, and unexpectedly, upon returning, she found her future companion being targeted by a ¡°fairy.¡± At the moment, Jiang Xuan was as precious to Xia Ye as a rare delicacy. It¡¯s just that Jian Manman was coveting his body, while she, his Spiritual Energy. Jian Manman could tell that Mr. Jiang was very fond of Xia Ye, so with Xia Ye creating trouble here, she definitely wouldn¡¯t benefit. Thinking this, she wisely said, ¡°I won¡¯t bother Mr. Jiang and Miss Xia any longer. I just got off the plane and haven¡¯t even eaten yet.¡± Jiang Xuan nodded slightly, his large hand gently patted Xia Ye¡¯s head, signaling her to follow him back to the private room. Watching the two leave, Jian Manman¡¯s lips curved upward. Seeing how Jiang Xuan doted on the younger generation, once she became his girlfriend, he would surely treat her even better. Unlike Xia Xing, that straightforward guy who only knew how to buy her things. Fortunately, the annual spokesperson for Jiang Jewelry was announced during the launch of the summer collection, so there was still time, and she could take it slowly. She believed that they would soon have a chance... to meet alone. Chapter 78 - 78 078 Night God ?78: 078 Night God 78: 078 Night God ** In the private room, ¡°Monk¡¯s Meat¡± Jiang Xuan sat at the end of the long table, lazily leaning back in his chair, his suit tailored neatly, shirt buttoned up to the last one, strangled by his tidy tie. The light fell on his face, making his ink-colored pupils translucent. Jiang Xuan watched Xia Ye eat with interest, ¡°You didn¡¯t accept my WeChat request before, why have you come to find me these days?¡± Xia Ye was tempted by his enticing spiritual energy-glossed skin, her smile sly, Jiang Xuan could almost see her fluffy silvery-white fox tail peeking out. She said, ¡°Because I want... to dual cultivate with you.¡± Jiang Xuan¡¯s pupils, dark as deep pools, contracted. Xia Ye observed his reaction and chuckled to herself, certain that her words had scared him. People nowadays don¡¯t know about dual cultivation. Seeing Jiang Xuan¡¯s thin lips part slightly, unsure of what he was about to say, Xia Ye hurriedly spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m just kidding~¡± Jiang Xuan: ... He was just about to say ¡®okay¡¯! And she tells him it was a joke? ** When Xia Ye got home that evening, Xia Xing had just entered the house too. He had returned on an evening flight from Jiangzhou. Mrs. Wu had the kitchen prepare some fresh dishes, and Xia Xing was eating in the dining room. Although the discussion about him in the competition was all positive, Xia Xing looked less spirited than usual. He scrolled through his phone while eating. The short videos were pushed to him based on his preferences. So what he scrolled through was nothing but esports, sneakers, and... Jian Manman. Xu He walked back and forth beside him several times, pretending to pass by, and finally found a moment he wasn¡¯t looking at his phone, decided to speak quickly, trying to say as much as possible before her son could interrupt her, ¡°Xing Xing, I met your Aunt Gu¡¯s daughter today, she used to play at our house when you were kids, chubby back then, you always teased her for being a little piglet, but I saw her today, and she¡¯s now actually...¡± ¡°Mom,¡± Xia Xing dragged his voice, ¡°I don¡¯t want to date right now.¡± Xu He: ... Great, she was speaking at double speed, almost bit her tongue, and still didn¡¯t finish, and... it was right at the most crucial point! She could have forced the rest out, but she really liked the little girl from the Gu family, and because of that, she was more afraid to say too much and trigger Xia Xing¡¯s opposition, which would ruin everything. Well, since they all live in Capital City, who knows, the two might just bump into each other. But, whether Xia Xing would recognize her, that¡¯s hard to tell~ Xia Yourong had just finished her homework and was also on her phone, scrolling through ¡®Manman Xing¡¯, a dedicated fan shipping her and Jian Manman, who had no actual interaction at the event, but through sophisticated editing, their scenes were made to spark with chemistry, full of couple vibes. All the deep gazes, hesitations before speaking, and pampering looks were purely the work of editing, let alone how impressive it felt, over 500,000 likes, with numerous top comments getting hundreds of thousands of likes. Xia Yourong casually placed her hand on her second brother¡¯s shoulder, phone in front of him: ¡°Second brother, look at how talented your fan is, you and Sister Manman didn¡¯t even look at each other on site, but after their edit, it¡¯s like you two are back together.¡± Xia Xing looked at the cut, at the hearts popping out around Jian Manman¡¯s bright smile, and tightened his grip on his chopsticks. ¡°Yeah, quite good at making something from nothing, pretty talented,¡± he subtly shifted to the side. Xia Yourong found no support for her arm, so she simply leaned on the back of Xia Xing¡¯s chair with one hand: ¡°Right? See how much I keep up with you, the short videos I¡¯m scrolling through are all about news related to you.¡± She continued scrolling for a while before heading over to the sofa area, picking a spot neither too close nor too far from Xia Ye to sit down. Xia Ye had her arm draped over the back of the sofa, her chin propped on that same arm, ¡°Showing that kind of video to Second Brother, what were you thinking?¡± Xia Yourong was momentarily stunned, then deliberately feigned a tone of astonishment, ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± Xia Ye pointed behind her, ¡°I¡¯m talking to the little red-dressed sister on your shoulder.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Xia Yourong instinctively turned her head, but the moment she did, she realized she had been teased and said in a lowered voice, brimming with disgust, ¡°Stop pretending to be nice here. You just got back and don¡¯t know anything about Second Brother. I saw his whole relationship with Sister Manman. Sister Manman is really nice, gentle, and kind, a rare gem in the entertainment industry. It¡¯s a pity they broke up, but Second Brother has moved on. He was just having a great time a moment ago.¡± Xia Ye stared at her face with no particular expression, then suddenly said, ¡°Can you shake your head for me to see?¡± Xia Yourong didn¡¯t understand why she was being asked to shake her head out of the blue, afraid she might have bugs on her, so she quickly did. She was terrified of bugs. No sooner had she finished shaking her head than she heard Xia Ye say seriously, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the sound. I thought there was a leak somewhere.¡± Xia Yourong pursed her lips tightly. What was that supposed to mean? Xia Ye leaned aside, playing on her phone, having no desire to deal with her at all. Jiang Yunyang had been inviting Xia Ye to play games frequently, even begging her to use a specific hero. She didn¡¯t want to, but he would whine and whimper, saying someone really wanted to see her use that hero. Who knew what he was up to. And now, at 10 PM, he was still online. The kiddo was pretty clever; normally at this late hour, when she received game invitations, Xia Ye would pretend to be asleep and not respond, but Jiang Yunyang would always send her a red envelope first, blasting her out of sleep, then invite her to play. Xia Ye was puzzled. How could she not control herself, wanting to click every time she saw a red envelope?! Xia Yourong heard the sound of Xia Ye starting a game and thought of something. She craned her neck and asked Xia Xing, ¡°Second Brother, do you know someone with a short video account called ¡®Night God¡¯? Is he from your team?¡± Xia Xing looked up at them, ¡°Night God?¡± Xia Yourong, ¡°Yes, Night as in evening, and God as in deity, always posting game clips on short video, really awesome.¡± She had been hearing Tian Ye mention this person lately. Xia Xing chuckled lightly, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Little Tiangao?¡± Xia Yourong looked incredulous, ¡°What? ¡®Night God¡¯ is my sister?¡± Xia Ye slowly raised her eyelids to glance at them. Then she heard Xia Xing explain, ¡°Yeah, I am Xia Shen, isn¡¯t Little Tiangao naturally Night God?¡± Xia Yourong patted her proudly arched chest, scared to death, so Second Brother was just kidding. She almost had her world rocked. ¡°Second Brother, you really had me¡ªI thought it was actually Little Sis ~¡± Xia Xing curled his lips, his tone affectionate, ¡°Anyway, the only ¡®Night God¡¯ I know is Little Sis, haven¡¯t heard of others. Definitely not from our team, whether it¡¯s from another team, I¡¯m not sure.¡± Xia Yourong obediently ¡®oh¡¯ed softly. She then glared at Xia Ye, who lay sprawled on the sofa, casually playing games. This ¡®Night¡¯, compared to that deity? Hands clumsier than feet! Chapter 79 - 79 079 The cafeteria has been upgraded! ?79: 079 The cafeteria has been upgraded! 79: 079 The cafeteria has been upgraded! The next day at noon, every student at First Middle School was talking about one thing. Today¡¯s lunch in the canteen was simply divine! Take Huixin Garden, the biggest canteen in the school, for example. As soon as you entered, you could immediately tell the stark difference¡ªuniform bun hairstyles, sanitary dresses, small white caps, and fully transparent face shields for the aunties. Each of them, having heard the news about their pay raise, was full of energy and determined to shine in defending the students¡¯ dietary hygiene. Lush green vegetables, multicolored nutrient-packed bean and grain porridge, glossy red braised chicken legs, and tender, fall-off-the-bone pork trotters. The rich aroma was overwhelming. As the students were moved to tears welling up from their mouths, they also felt embarrassed for their shy little wallets. This feast, wouldn¡¯t it cost twenty or thirty for each dish? But to their surprise. No 29, no 39, just 9.9 for one meat and two vegetable dishes! You can¡¯t lose out! You can¡¯t be fooled! Some mischievous boys, who had always looked down on the school canteen¡¯s food, would sneak out to a restaurant near the school at noon. After spending a good few tens for a meal that was neither delicious nor fresh, they returned only to hear their classmates talking about the upgraded school canteen, regret turning their guts in knots. However, Xia Ye, Tang Tianjiao, and Zou Wu, the trio, hadn¡¯t yet had a chance to taste this delicious food. When Emperor Yang boxed up his meal and returned to the office, he just happened to see Zhao Yuhuan reprimanding his three students. ¡°I must have had bad luck for eight lifetimes to teach your math class. It¡¯s the last semester of your senior year, and you still dare to copy homework? Who are you trying to fool?! Especially you, Zou Wu! Even ¦Á and ¦Â you managed to copy wrong! Copy this problem fifty times as homework!¡± Tang Tianjiao silently wiped the sweat from her forehead. She had initially copied it wrong too but luckily her desk mate had corrected it for her. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re always at the bottom every time we have an exam. Look at Class One¡¯s results¡ªthey¡¯re taught by the same teacher! You don¡¯t feel ashamed, but I feel like I¡¯m losing face!¡± As soon as Zhao Yuhuan finished her sharp-tongued remarks, she followed up by slapping the three homework books directly onto their faces. Unexpectedly, Xia Ye easily caught the homework book with one hand. Tang Tianjiao, although she didn¡¯t catch it, blocked it effortlessly, but Zou Wu got a good smack straight to the face. Zhao Yuhuan snorted in frustration, ¡°Teacher Yang, are these the good students you¡¯ve taught? So disobedient and not humble at all!¡± Xia Ye casually spun the homework book on his fingertip, ¡°What, I have to be hit by you to be considered humble?¡± ¡°Exactly, that really hurt,¡± Zou Wu covered his nose. Looking skyward, Zhao Yuhuan said, ¡°Incredible, Teacher Yang, I can¡¯t handle them, but as their homeroom teacher, you better take control immediately!¡± ¡°You three, come here!¡± Emperor Yang put down his boxed meal, called Xia Ye and the others over to face Zhao Yuhuan¡¯s schadenfreude gaze, and then suddenly changed his tone, ¡°You dare to copy that tigress¡¯ homework! Haven¡¯t you heard the saying? ¡®Better to offend a gentleman than a villain¡¯?¡± Zhao Yuhuan almost choked on her own spit! ¡°Teacher Yang! Are you using this as an opportunity to insult me under the guise of scolding students?!¡± ¡°Alright, even if you need to reprimand the students, you can¡¯t let them go hungry,¡± Emperor Yang looked at Xia Ye, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, right? Today¡¯s the first day the canteen improved its meals, go eat first.¡± The three of them agreed in unison. But no sooner had they stepped out when they heard Zhao Yuhuan slam a book on the desk behind them with a ¡°bang¡±, ¡°Eat what? The school spent a lot of money upgrading the canteen to provide nutrition for the key class students. Someone like you who is at the bottom of every exam doesn¡¯t deserve to eat at all!¡± ¡ª PS: Jiang Xuan: How dare you! Chapter 80 - 80 080 Special Agent Siblings ?80: 080 Special Agent Siblings 80: 080 Special Agent Siblings Tang Tianjiao bit her teeth in frustration and couldn¡¯t hold back, turning around and saying, ¡°Teacher Zhao, we¡¯ve paid for our meals too, so why don¡¯t we deserve to eat?¡± Zhao Yuhuan raised her chin haughtily. ¡°The same food, when eaten by good students, helps them memorize 20 words, but when you eat it, you can¡¯t even memorize one word. Tell me, isn¡¯t that a waste?¡± Zou Wu was absolutely furious. But their grades were indeed a lot worse than the class Zhao Yuhuan taught. In every test, be it big or small, they were always at the bottom. They just couldn¡¯t hold their heads up high. Even Yang the Emperor, clutching his chopsticks tightly, could only say with equal measures of humility and pride, ¡°Teacher Zhao! Don¡¯t go too far! Besides helping with studies, food has other purposes after being eaten!¡± Zhao Yuhuan only responded with continual cold laughter. Xia Ye¡¯s eyes gradually narrowed... Were their class grades... really that poor? When Tian Hanwen had let her choose which class to join, she really thought that any class would do. But now it seemed... She was, after all, the symbol of wisdom from Ear Mountain... ** After finishing a delicious meal, the three of them returned to the classroom and heard the students discussing the upcoming Monday assessment of the entire text of ¡°Leisure and Fun Record.¡± To gauge the progress of the students more directly, the entire senior year three would be having a dictation of ¡°Leisure and Fun Record¡± on the following Monday. Although it wouldn¡¯t be graded, this was still the first uniform minor test before the mock exams for the second semester of their senior year. A student, holding the textbook and scratching his head as he read, said, ¡°The fresh air is born as the pleasant sounds arise, and the delicate song solidifies as the white clouds are halted. The green bamboo of the Sui Garden... this is extremely difficult to memorize, what on earth is this even talking about?¡± ¡°The annotations below are even harder to understand than the text itself. Oh well, forget it. Our class always ranks last anyway; Brother Yang must be used to it by now and won¡¯t blame us.¡± In the midst of the students¡¯ despondent complaints, suddenly, a clear, remarkable voice began to flow: ¡°Stringed instruments, delicate songs...¡± Tang Tianjiao looked up at the ceiling, thinking the voice came from above. It was so close to her. But then she realized that this was actually coming from the mouth of her deskmate! Xia Ye held a pen between her fingers, applying just enough pressure to make it seem alive as it elegantly twirled from front to back and then circled around again. ¡°...Fine wines, exquisite writings,¡± she continued. ¡°The few lines you just quoted are describing these eight words.¡± Zou Wu, having just been provoked by Zhao Yuhuan, was still quite spirited and compared the ancient text to what Xia Ye had said. ¡°Stringed instruments, delicate songs, fine wines, exquisite writings... Hey, it really is in this order! Xia, your summary is much simpler than the explanations in the textbook. Why don¡¯t you explain the other sentences to us, too? Maybe this time our class can strive for second-to-last to avoid Zhao Yuhuan¡¯s constant disdain!¡± The fact that Zhao Yuhuan looked down on Class 19 was well known to them, and Zou Wu¡¯s words stirred some resentment in the class. Xia Ye opened the textbook, indicating her agreement. In no time, the students gathered around her. Even the little girls who had wanted an opportunity to speak with Xia Ye found their chance. No matter how difficult the sentences were, after Xia Ye¡¯s analysis, they not only easily understood them, but they could even feel the mood of the author when he wrote them. Later on, more and more students gathered around Xia Ye. Other classes passing by their back door thought they must have sneaked a gaming console into the classroom. They would never have imagined that Class 19¡¯s students were studying ancient texts! Tang Tianjiao¡¯s admiration for Xia Ye couldn¡¯t be more obvious, and she even decided to not only memorize the text but also to write it down and hang it in their Swordsmanship Hall as the essence of the dojo! Back in kindergarten, she only knew Xia Ye was skilled in combat; who would have thought she was so cultured too? However, she had heard that her deskmate only scored 100 out of 400 points on the basic entrance exam... Xia Ye seemed to notice her confusion and clarified in three words: ¡°I¡¯m partial.¡± Tang Tianjiao suddenly understood. As class time nearly approached, the students still hadn¡¯t had enough. A group of ¡®little blockheads¡¯ who hadn¡¯t quite caught on to studying, experienced the infectious power of literature for the first time. Tang Tianjiao protectively stood in front of Xia Ye, ¡°Break it up, break it up, can¡¯t you see my brother Xia¡¯s throat is smoking from talking!¡± She was afraid her precious deskmate would be worn out. ¡°Aw, I was just getting into it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve only covered one third?¡± Xia Ye closed the textbook, ¡°Continue at noon tomorrow?¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome! Brother Xia, I¡¯ll get your lunch for you tomorrow!¡± ¡°As a straight guy, do you even know what he likes to eat? Xia classmate, let me get it for you, I know, you love chicken legs the most!¡± Zou Wu was thoroughly impressed, at that moment, he felt the kick he received on the first day Xia Ye arrived had not been in vain, ¡°Learning the same things, just look at brother Xia¡¯s comprehension ability, he has thoroughly understood the article, it¡¯s as if he wrote it himself!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡± ¡°That¡¯s just amazing!¡± Xia Ye¡¯s eye twitched. Kind of amazing, kind of amazing. Because originally... it was written by her, anyway... ** During the remaining days of the week, there were only two Chinese language classes. Yet every time Emperor Yang came to teach, he felt like he¡¯d entered the wrong classroom. Before, he thought all the students sitting below the podium were his little adversaries. Now, it was almost as if he was seeking kindred spirits in a high and lofty place. Even the questions asked seemed more targeted than before. The other teachers all asked him how he had managed to motivate the students. Emperor Yang wasn¡¯t unwilling to tell them. The key point... he didn¡¯t know either! Finally, the weekend arrived. Big sister Tang Tianjiao gave her word, instructing everyone to go back and recite thoroughly. When she spoke, no one dared not to listen. Xia Ye felt like she had been hollowed out and swore that after getting drunk, she would never casually write anything again. A pit she dug two thousand years ago, had to be filled by herself two thousand years later. Early in the morning, the Xia Family kitchen was still preparing breakfast, Xia Ye went to the fridge to grab a soda, only to see Xia Xing sneaking out, ready to leave. He wore a set of black distressed denim with a white T-shirt underneath, his neck adorned with a couple of trendy metal chains, also sporting a fisherman¡¯s hat to cover his face. But even if his handsome face was covered, his star aura couldn¡¯t be concealed. Xia Xing didn¡¯t take his own car, seeming to avoid drawing too much attention. When he left, he specifically swapped vehicles with Wang Dahai. Putting on sunglasses and fastening his seatbelt, just as he was about to drive off, a small figure ¡®swooshed¡¯ into the passenger seat. ¡°Little Tiangao?¡± Xia Xing was taken aback, ¡°How come you...¡± Xia Ye somehow procured a pair of sunglasses and a fisherman¡¯s hat to match her second brother¡¯s, a mysterious smile playing on her lips, ¡°Bro, are you going to stalk your ex-girlfriend? I want to go too~¡±