Apology and a VIP Card!

The bell for the coming-of-age ceremony had just rung when Xiao Ze, Xiao Xun'er, and Ya Fei made a dazzling entrance.

It was as though they were the true stars of the ceremony, drawing the attention of most of those present.

With a smile on his face, Xiao Ze quickly took Xiao Xun'er's hand and headed to the area for the Xiao Family's underage members.

Ya Fei remained perfectly composed as she returned to the VIP seats.

She had seen plenty of scenes like this, with all eyes upon her, over the years.

Xiao Zhan, standing on the platform, coughed and drew everyone's attention back.

"Thank you all for honoring us with your presence at the Xiao Family's coming-of-age ceremony..."

When Xiao Ze heard Xiao Zhan launch into an endless speech, the smile on his face stiffened slightly.

It seemed that no matter where one was, long-winded speeches were unavoidable.

The platform was occupied by the Xiao Family's core members, including the Patriarch and the elders.

As a member of the main branch, Xiao Ze was originally qualified to stand on that platform as well.

However, he wanted to keep Xiao Xun'er company, so he came to the area reserved for the Xiao Family's underage members.

Meanwhile, the protagonists of the day—the Xiao Family members coming of age this year—were gathered in another area, preparing to undergo their tests.

Xiao Ze glanced around and spotted someone in a corner waving at him.

Holding Xiao Xun'er's hand, Xiao Ze walked over and found Xiao Yan looking at him with a broad smile.

"Fourth Brother, you really saved my life!"

"Huh?" Xiao Ze was somewhat baffled. "Third Brother, no one around here is threatening your life. Why would you say that?"

"You don't know this, but before you arrived, nearly everyone was sizing me up."

"Especially those people in the VIP seats. Their gazes were practically tangible, like they wanted to see straight through my body!"

Still shaken, Xiao Yan said, "Luckily, you came and immediately drew all their attention away."

"Haha, Third Brother, it wasn't that serious. Even if I hadn't come, once the coming-of-age ceremony officially began, they wouldn't have kept staring at you."

Xiao Ze laughed and offered a few words of comfort, while Xiao Xun'er quietly stood beside him.

In front of Xiao Ze, she could be as lively as the girl next door, like a childhood sweetheart.

But before outsiders, Xiao Xun'er was usually rather aloof and unapproachable.

Even if someone tried to get close, they would be defeated by the coldness behind Xiao Xun'er's seemingly polite smile, which kept people at arm's length.

Xiao Ze chatted with Xiao Yan as they watched the coming-of-age ceremony.

This year's ceremony was utterly uneventful. There were no unexpected dark horses, nor any exceptionally gifted geniuses.

Throughout the tests, everything seemed entirely ordinary.

Some met the required Dou Qi standard and were overjoyed to be allowed to continue cultivating within the Xiao Family.

Others fell just short and walked off the stage in a daze, preparing to accept the Xiao Family's arrangements and become outer-steward managers.

As the Great Elder's grandson, Xiao Ning's talent was decent enough. He barely passed the test.

After Xiao Ze had beaten him into a pig's head, he had spent all his days cooped up indoors and stopped going out to cause trouble. He seemed to have matured quite a bit.

"Fourth Brother, by the way, did the Great Elder and the others come to apologize?"

"Huh? Where did that come from? Did the Great Elder... offend me?"

Xiao Ze could not help asking when Xiao Yan suddenly brought up the subject.

"Earlier, Xiao Ning came to apologize to me, and we buried the hatchet."

After giving it some thought, Xiao Yan decided to tell the truth and explained the entire matter from beginning to end.

"However, at the end, he asked me to put in a good word for him with you. I refused and told him to apologize to you himself."

"Then I wouldn't know. I've been staying in the back mountain this whole time and have barely returned home."

"Uh... then Xiao Ning probably couldn't find you. He'll likely come looking for you after the coming-of-age ceremony ends."

Xiao Yan had barely finished speaking when an elderly figure approached them.

"Xiao Ze, do you have time? This old man wishes to speak with you."

"...Great Elder?"

Xiao Yan could not help saying when he saw the sudden arrival.

"Hehe, this old man is no longer the so-called Great Elder..."

"Sure. Let's find somewhere secluded."

Xiao Ze was fearless. He could now trade blows evenly with the Great Elder, so he was not afraid of any tricks.

When they arrived at a secluded spot, they found someone already waiting there.

Xiao Ze's expression turned a little strange. It was none other than Xiao Ning!

"Xiao Ze, my grandson previously came into conflict with you. In a fit of anger, I also attacked you. I hope you can forgive us!"

The Great Elder spoke with complete sincerity, his face filled with apology.

Xiao Ning was the same, repeatedly bowing deeply to Xiao Ze.

"Hehe, Great Elder, what are you saying? Although you have temporarily been stripped of your elder's position, your contributions to the Xiao Family cannot be erased."

Xiao Ze had expected something like this before coming, but he had not expected the Great Elder to be so straightforward.

It took everyone to carry a sedan chair. He would not be stingy with a few kind words.

They were all members of the same clan. Could any conflict not be talked through?

"The conflict between Xiao Ning and me began because Third Brother was humiliated. Since Third Brother has no objections now, I naturally won't keep dwelling on this matter."

"Good, good, good! Xiao Ze, you are truly broad-minded! You are indeed the prodigy who will lead the Xiao Family to glory in the future!"

The Great Elder spoke in wild delight, pouring out one extravagant compliment after another.

Even Xiao Ze felt a little embarrassed listening to him. The Great Elder was usually so stern; who would have thought he was this good at flattery?

"Alright, Great Elder. Now that this matter has been settled, I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving first."

In the end, Xiao Ze truly could not stand competing in flattery with such an old fox.

He could not win. There was simply no way to win.

The Great Elder could always find the most ingenious angles from which to lavish praise on Xiao Ze.

If it were not for the Great Elder, Xiao Ze would never have known he had so many virtues!

Only after watching Xiao Ze leave did the Great Elder let out a long breath. Xiao Ning, meanwhile, looked at the Great Elder with worship in his eyes.

"Grandpa, how did I never know you were so good at praising people? Why have you never praised me?"

At his grandson's question, a flash of anger crossed the Great Elder's face. He smacked Xiao Ning on the head.

"If you had even one-tenth of Xiao Ze's diligence and achievements, I would praise you however you wanted!"

"The problem is that you can't do it! I gave you chances, but you were useless!"

"Ah, Grandpa, stop hitting me, stop! I wasn't a genius to begin with—if you keep hitting me, I'll become a mediocrity!"

Xiao Ning scurried away with his head in his hands and hurriedly pleaded.

Only then did the Great Elder stop.

He truly could not bear to beat his own grandson into a mediocrity.

"Xiao Ning, you must work hard and become someone capable!"

The farce between grandfather and grandson in that hidden corner finally came to an end.

By the time Xiao Ze returned, he discovered that the ceremony had entered its next stage.

The newly adult clan members would accept challenges from others.

"Where's my Third Brother?"

Xiao Ze returned to the original corner and found only Xiao Xun'er waiting there.

"Cousin Xiao Yan may have been unable to bear everyone's stares and left first?"

Xiao Ze looked around and found that no one was paying attention to this corner.

"Xun'er, after I left, did you not say a single word?"

"That's right. I'm not familiar with Cousin Xiao Yan, and we have nothing to talk about."

Xun'er said it as though it were only natural.

"Alright, I know why my Third Brother left."

While Xiao Ze was there, he could still chat with Xiao Yan, so the atmosphere was not too cold or awkward.

But once Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er were alone, Xiao Xun'er's aura became incomparably chilly and drove Xiao Yan away.

Xiao Xun'er wore a delighted smile. Of course she knew why Xiao Yan had left; that was exactly the outcome she wanted.

Earlier, Brother Xiao Ze kept chatting with Cousin Xiao Yan. I didn't even get a chance to speak!

Thinking of this, Xiao Xun'er moved closer to Xiao Ze and took his hand.

"Does Brother Xiao Ze have any plans for today?"

"After the coming-of-age ceremony ends, I plan to find Xiao Yu and ask about the exact enrollment date for Jia Nan Academy."

"Then after it's over, should we go out for another meal?"

Xiao Xun'er followed up naturally.

"That works... but this time, I'll treat."

"No problem! Xun'er is going to eat Brother Xiao Ze poor, hehe~"

The two chatted as they watched the Xiao Family members fight in the arena.

To be honest, it was boring not only for Xiao Ze, but for Xiao Xun'er as well.

The two of them often sparred in Dou Techniques, and both possessed highly refined combat skills.

In their eyes, the Xiao Family members' fights were nothing more than rookies pecking at each other.

Xiao Ze even took the opportunity to test Xiao Xun'er, asking her to point out the flaws in their battles.

Drawing on her understanding of combat, Xiao Xun'er swiftly analyzed the weaknesses in their techniques and their timing.

Fortunately, they were sitting in a corner. Otherwise, anyone who heard them would have been dumbfounded.

Their understanding of combat might have surpassed even that of some seasoned old mercenaries!

"Ah... it's finally over. If Brother Xiao Ze hadn't made me analyze the fights halfway through, I probably would have been bored enough to leave."

When Xiao Zhan formally declared the coming-of-age ceremony over, Xiao Xun'er finally spoke, stretching her body as she did so.

At that moment, a graceful figure walked over.

When Ya Fei saw Xiao Ze, a lovely smile bloomed across her face.

There was no one around this corner, so Ya Fei boldly spoke her mind.

"Young Master Xiao Ze... thank you for saving me earlier."

"This is a VIP Card from the Mite'er Family. You can receive discounts when purchasing items at the Mitel Auction House!"

Ya Fei took a crystal card from within her close-fitting inner garment. The card bore an exquisitely engraved Mite'er Family crest.

Xiao Ze accepted the card, which still carried a faint warmth.

"If I need anything, I'll visit the Mitel Auction House."

"Then Ya Fei shall await... Young Master Xiao Ze's visit. I'll take my leave now and won't disturb the two of you any longer."

Ya Fei said with a smile, waving farewell to them both.

Xiao Ze watched Ya Fei leave and prepared to take Xiao Xun'er to find Xiao Yu.

"Let's go find Cousin Xiao Yu."

"Not yet... Brother Xiao Ze, give me that card first."

Xiao Xun'er suddenly said. Without thinking much of it, Xiao Ze placed the card in her fair palm.

"Tsk, Miss Ya Fei certainly understands men. This card is even still warm..."

Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Ze with a teasing smile. Xiao Ze shrugged.

"Why are you looking at me? I don't care, and it's just a card with someone's body warmth on it. It's not like that would make me imagine anything."

Xiao Ze rolled his eyes and said to Xiao Xun'er, "Let's go. After asking about the date, I still have things to do."

"What things?"

"I plan to take a long trip!"

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