Qing Lin

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu followed their father and the Three Elders in seeing off the guests who had come to watch the Xiao Family's Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Before leaving, Ya Fei secretly tossed Xiao Yan a flirtatious glance, making his heart race and his face flush again.

Big Sister Ya Fei really is a temptress.

Xiao Yan lightly shook his head to steady himself. Just then, a familiar, brash voice reached his ears.

"Little Yanzi! Second Sister missed you to death!"

As the voice rang out, Xiao Yan was tightly embraced by a sturdy arm, while a hand constantly tousled his hair. A delighted smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face as well.

"Second Sister, long time no see~"

"Ah~ It's been a year, and you've grown quite a bit taller~" As she spoke, she turned Xiao Yan around to face her. "You've gotten much more handsome too~ You'll definitely find yourself a pretty wife someday!"

Looking at the bold woman before him, grinning broadly, Xiao Yan's eyes slowly softened with affection.

Xiao Li, Xiao Yan's Second Sister, was a dashing short-haired woman who was carefree and bold, with a personality more like a man's than a woman's.

"Sister Xiao Li, long time no see."

Xiao Yu, standing nearby, also softly greeted Xiao Li. Xiao Li responded with a smile.

"Oh~ Little Yu, you've become even prettier after a year apart~" Xiao Li then playfully pulled Xiao Yan over to face Xiao Yu. "So, what do you think of my Little Yanzi? Interested in becoming his wife?"

"Uh..."

The moment those words came out, awkward expressions appeared on both Xiao Yan's and Xiao Yu's faces. Xiao Yu's face reddened as she repeatedly waved her hands.

"Sister Xiao Li, don't tease me."

"Ha ha~ I was just joking, don't take it seriously~"

Xiao Li laughed heartily, but she failed to notice that the faint delight in Xiao Yu's eyes had been covered by a deep loneliness.

At this moment, Xiao Yan looked behind Xiao Li. Another long-haired woman, somewhat similar in appearance to Xiao Li but far more graceful and gentle in every movement, slowly approached.

Xiao Yan's eldest sister, Xiao Jing.

"Sister."

Xiao Yan called out softly. Looking at the younger brother she cherished so deeply, Xiao Jing's eyes radiated a tenderness almost maternal in nature.

"Long time no see, Yan'er."

Ever since Xiao Yan's mother had passed away, his two sisters, Xiao Jing and Xiao Li, had truly treated him like a priceless treasure. They never allowed him to suffer even the slightest grievance and did everything they could to make up for the motherly love he had lost.

And in truth, they had done exactly that.

During the period after Xiao Yan's mother died, it was precisely because of their constant care and protection that Xiao Yan had been able to emerge from the pain of losing his mother in such a short time.

To Xiao Yan, the Two People were undoubtedly extraordinarily important family.

Xiao Jing then looked towards Xiao Zhan and smiled softly.

"Father, how has your health been lately?"

"Ha ha ha~ Very good, very good! Now that you're back, I'm in an even better mood~"

Xiao Zhan laughed loudly. As he gazed at his two daughters, whom he had not seen for a year, the warmth unique to family welled up within his heart.

"You must be tired after coming back from so far away. I've always had your rooms cleaned, so go back and rest first. Prepare well for tomorrow's New Year!"

"Mm."

Xiao Jing nodded lightly. Xiao Zhan was indeed right; over the past few days, they had rushed back day and night without rest, afraid of missing the New Year, an exceptionally important occasion for the Xiao Family.

At this moment, Xiao Yan leaned slightly to one side and gazed at the person behind Xiao Jing in confusion.

"Sister, who is that behind you?"

"Ah, I was so happy to be home that I forgot to introduce her."

Xiao Jing came to her senses and gently pushed the petite figure behind her to the side. Only then could Xiao Yan clearly see her appearance.

She was a rather timid-looking Little Girl, with emerald-green long hair, emerald-green pupils, and a delicate oval face still retaining some youthful immaturity.

Though she was only a Little Girl, her figure had curves where it should, and her body was already quite full for someone of her build.

Although nothing about her appearance seemed to reveal it, for some reason, Xiao Yan always felt as though he were facing a snake when looking at her.

"This child is called Qing Lin. She is a child our Mercenary Group took in." Xiao Jing introduced her to everyone, her gaze toward Qing Lin carrying a trace of pity. "This child's background is rather complicated. I truly wasn't at ease leaving her alone in the Mercenary Group, so I brought her back with us."

"I see."

Xiao Yan nodded in understanding. He walked In Front of Qing Lin and slowly crouched down, smiling as he extended a hand toward her and spoke gently and kindly.

"Hello~ Qing Lin. My name is Xiao Yan. I'm Xiao Jing and Xiao Li's younger brother. Please take care of me~"

Qing Lin was slightly stunned as she looked at Xiao Yan, who was crouching In Front of her and introducing himself in such a gentle voice. After quite some time, she timidly extended her hand and lightly clasped his.

"H-Hello..."

"Mm~ Let's get along well over the next few days~"

Xiao Yan gently held Qing Lin's small hand and lightly shook it up and down.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan caught sight of something, and his expression abruptly froze.

Qing Lin reacted at once as well. She immediately pulled her little hand from Xiao Yan's grasp, turned, and hid behind Xiao Jing. After a long while, she slowly poked out her Little Head, tears glistening in her eyes as she apologized in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"I-I'm sorry... Qing Lin didn't mean to scare you..."

Qing Lin kept apologizing to Xiao Yan, looking as though she would burst into tears the Next Second.

Xiao Yu did not know what had just happened. Seeing Qing Lin's expression, her heart instantly ached for her. Pressing a hand onto Xiao Yan's shoulder while he was still crouching on the ground, she asked somewhat unhappily.

"Xiao Yan, what did you just do?"

"Ah... After All..." Xiao Yan scratched his head awkwardly as he looked at tearful Qing Lin. "It seems I was seeing things."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Xiao Yu Raised an Eyebrow, completely unable to understand what Xiao Yan meant.

Just then, Xiao Jing spoke.

"No, Yan'er, you weren't seeing things."

"Mm?"

Xiao Yan frowned and Looked Up at his eldest sister in confusion.

Xiao Jing, meanwhile, looked down at Qing Lin and said,

"Qing Lin, show everyone."

"Eh?!"

Hearing Xiao Jing's words, Qing Lin was suddenly startled and Looked Up at Xiao Jing with tears in her eyes.

"Leader Xiao Jing..."

Qing Lin murmured, As If she were pleading for something.

Xiao Jing smiled faintly and gently stroked Qing Lin's head.

"Don't worry. No one will dislike you."

"..."

Hearing Xiao Jing say that, Qing Lin remained silent for a long time. In the end, she lightly bit her lip, as if making up her mind, and extended one arm forward. With her other hand, she pulled back the sleeve tightly wrapped around that arm.

Then Xiao Yan and the others saw that the skin on Qing Lin's wrist was completely unlike that of a human. It resembled a snake's scales instead.

This is?!

Astonishment filled both Xiao Yan's and Xiao Yu's faces, and even Xiao Zhan was the same.

"You all know that the place where our Mercenary Group is currently stationed overlaps with the territory of the Snake-people race."

Xiao Jing gently stroked Qing Lin's head as she slowly revealed Qing Lin's origins.

"This child is the descendant of a human and a snake-person."