The moment Jiang Xuan saw Xia Xiao Yu, his senses went on high alert.
But when he noticed her golden eyes were obviously in a normal state, he secretly sighed in relief.
No big deal; in this state, Xia Xiao Yu was just another naive, easily tricked rich girl.
So, Jiang Xuan steadied his fluctuating emotions and looked at her.
“小 Yu, what are you doing here at this hour? Don’t you know that men and women should keep a distance?”
“Last time, I let it slide because we’re childhood friends, but I didn’t expect my leniency would encourage your outrageous behavior.”
“If you leave my room right now, I can pretend this encounter never happened.”
Upon hearing Jiang Xuan’s words, Xia Xiao Yu’s golden eyes flickered, showing a hint of grievance.
She lowered her head and apologized, “Brother Xuan, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have barged into your room. I just missed you too much!”
“Alright, alright, off you go! I forgive you this time because of our childhood bond, but don’t let it happen again.”
Jiang Xuan said this, unaware that a mischievous glint had flashed in Xia Xiao Yu’s eyes.
Just as she turned to leave the room, Jiang Xuan nodded in satisfaction. To him, Xia Xiao Yu in her normal state was as obedient and easy to manage as ever. This was the ideal rich girl in his mind.
He even fantasized that if all his previous patrons were as easy to handle as Xia Xiao Yu, how great that would be!
However, just as Xia Xiao Yu reached the door, she suddenly stopped.
“Brother Xuan, I realize my mistake, and tomorrow morning I’ll go to Nangong Mansion to help clear up the misunderstandings.”
“Xiao Yu, you don’t need to clear any misunderstandings on my behalf; I’ve already sorted it all out.”
“Oh? I just happen to have something I want to give to Liu Yun sister. I’m sure she’ll like it.”
Jiang Xuan: “?????”
As Jiang Xuan pondered when Xia Xiao Yu and Nangong Liu Yun became such good friends, Xia Xiao Yu infused a bit of spiritual power into the recording stone in her hand.
In the next moment, an image appeared in Jiang Xuan’s room.
When Jiang Xuan saw the contents of that image, his pupils shrank slightly, and he froze in place.
Xia Xiao Yu let out a soft sigh, “This is my most precious recording stone, capturing the fleeting moment I had with Brother Xuan yesterday. I hope Liu Yun sister will like it as a gift.”
“Don’t worry, Brother Xuan, I’ll definitely help you explain everything. I won’t let Liu Yun sister misunderstand our relationship. We’re just childhood friends!”
Jiang Xuan: “!!!!!!!!”
Ever since he laid eyes on the recording stone’s image, every word Xia Xiao Yu spoke sent chills down his spine.
Realizing what was happening, he rushed forward to stop Xia Xiao Yu from leaving.
“Xiao Yu, since it’s rare for you to come visit me, I’ve thought it over. I haven’t treated you properly yet. Why don’t you stay a bit longer? We can chat!”
“But… didn’t you say that men and women should keep their distance? I’m afraid if I stay here too long, I might ruin your reputation. Maybe I should just go?”
“What are you talking about? The phrase ‘men and women should keep their distance’ is for strangers! You’re my childhood friend, so of course it’s different. Come, come, sit down properly!”
With that, Jiang Xuan took Xia Xiao Yu’s hand and firmly pressed her onto a wooden chair.
He then pulled out teaware and personally brewed her a pot of spiritual tea.
“Xiao Yu, I’m sorry! Your visit was so sudden, and I was a bit dazed. I almost forgot to treat you well. Sorry about that!”
“Really? But… you’ve never treated me like this before, and now I feel a bit overwhelmed.”
Jiang Xuan: “……”
After hearing Xia Xiao Yu’s words, the atmosphere turned a bit awkward. Coming back to his senses, Jiang Xuan quickly added, “It was my fault before! I was a bit reserved. I only just realized that you’re my childhood friend, and that makes it all different!”
“Oh? So you’re saying my sincerity moved you?”
Xia Xiao Yu lightly swayed her teacup, gazing at Jiang Xuan with a smile that was both playful and enigmatic.
“I never expected you to brew tea for me. But actually, I don’t want tea. I want to brew you!”
Jiang Xuan: “????????”
Hearing Xia Xiao Yu’s blunt remark, Jiang Xuan was taken aback, wondering how to respond. Did we need to be so direct about this?
Fortunately, Jiang Xuan quickly regained his composure and asked, “Xiao Yu, is the spiritual tea not to your taste? I can switch it out for you!”
“Eh? Didn’t Brother Xuan understand what I meant? How about this: you can feed me the tea yourself, okay?”
“Sure, no problem!”
With that, Jiang Xuan eagerly brought the spiritual tea to Xia Xiao Yu.
At that moment, however, Xia Xiao Yu changed her tune.
“Even though I’ve always trusted you, your sudden change in attitude today has me a bit wary. How about you drink a sip of the tea first, Brother Xuan?”
When Jiang Xuan heard this, he was shocked.
Was this still the naive childhood friend he knew? How could she become so clever after just one day apart?
No way! Jiang Xuan would definitely not use any tricks with the spiritual tea; after all, she was his childhood friend, and he’d never stoop so low.
But in Jiang Xuan’s eyes, Xia Xiao Yu’s distrust actually offered an opportunity. If played right, he could make her feel guilty and easily retrieve the peculiar recording stone.
There’s no way he’d let that thing get out. Otherwise, ruining his reputation was the least of his worries; the real concern was Nangong Liu Yun finding out!
He needed to keep control of that recording stone for his safety!
Outwardly, Jiang Xuan feigned a mix of anger and embarrassment as he glared at Xia Xiao Yu.
“Alright, alright! After all these years of friendship, you’re implying I’d plot against you? I’m earnestly brewing tea for you, and this is what I get in return—distrust!”
“Xiao Yu, I can’t believe you see me this way! Fine, I’ll show you just how ridiculous your doubts are. I’ll drink this tea!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Xuan snatched the cup of tea and gulped it down dramatically.
However, just as he was about to press/question Xia Xiao Yu, suddenly his lips were sealed shut for a moment before they were slowly released.
Xia Xiao Yu’s golden eyes twinkled with delight as she gently licked her red lips and looked at Jiang Xuan.
“Brother Xuan, the tea is delicious! I’m feeling a bit unsatisfied; thanks for the treat!”
Jiang Xuan: “???????”
Jiang Xuan had prepared plenty of arguments to confront Xia Xiao Yu, but her actions completely threw him off balance.
After a long pause, he finally came to his senses.
Jiang Xuan realized he had just fallen for the charms of his naive childhood friend.
At this moment, his internal voice screamed:
【What the heck is going on?! Xia Xiao Yu has changed way too much!】
【Oh no, we’ve totally switched roles! I can’t even predict her next move now!】
On the other hand, Xia Xiao Yu slowly spoke up again.
“Brother Xuan, did you see Nangong Liu Yun today and spend some one-on-one time with her?”
Hearing this, Jiang Xuan quickly denied it. “N-no, we didn’t spend time alone…”
“Oh? I was just asking casually. She’s your fiancée, after all. It’s perfectly normal for you two to be alone together.”
Jiang Xuan: “……”
Just as Jiang Xuan finally exhaled in relief, Xia Xiao Yu’s voice rang out again.
“By the way, Brother Xuan, do you think Liu Yun sister would be grateful to me for sending her this recording stone as a gift?”
In that instant, Jiang Xuan wanted to lay it all out to Xia Xiao Yu and tell her the fate of sending that gift.
But even if he did, she wouldn’t believe him; she was way too confident as a sect’s saintess.
It was clear to Jiang Xuan, from what he knew about Nangong Liu Yun, that if Xia Xiao Yu gifted her that recording stone, it would likely end up split in half, with Liu Yun saying something regretful like, “Sorry, I didn’t let you enjoy it.”
Her self-destructive behavior would normally merit respect for her fate, but now he was being pulled into it too.
He was also in that recording’s image and couldn’t find a trace of resistance due to the angle!
How infuriating! He had earlier vowed to resist to the d*ath!
Now, he was completely caught in Xia Xiao Yu’s trap!
Ultimately, Jiang Xuan had only one option: to stop Xia Xiao Yu from doing something foolish that would drag him down with her.
After weighing the pros and cons, a calm smile appeared on Jiang Xuan’s face.
“Xiao Yu, giving such a nice recording stone to Liu Yun would be a bit of a waste. After all, we’re childhood friends. How about you give it to me instead?”
Upon hearing this, Xia Xiao Yu gave him a teasing look.
“Oh? You want this? Well, I might consider it, but I wonder if you can afford what I want in exchange.”
While saying this, Xia Xiao Yu cheekily hugged Jiang Xuan.
Not fully understanding what was going on, Jiang Xuan did not resist and gently asked, “What is it that you want in exchange?”
“This thing is indeed quite precious. How about I offer you one hundred million top-grade spiritual stones?”
“When you mention spiritual stones, it does make me a bit sad. You should know I’ve never wanted such worldly possessions.”
As Xia Xiao Yu spoke, her hands wandered restlessly.
After a moment, she said slowly, “Tonight, I want to stay here. I hope you won’t refuse, Brother Xuan.”
Jiang Xuan: “!!!!!!!!”
