Xue Arrives

There will be another update after midnight.

Though there was much to see, it had only been a fleeting glimpse. Seeing that Aunt Xue had already fastened her cloak, Sun Shaozong hurriedly lowered his eyes again.

After all, she was Xue Pan's mother. Sneaking a glance or two was one thing, but it would hardly do to stare at her openly.

Unexpectedly, his timely change only left Aunt Xue feeling rather disappointed. She thought that her deliberate display of her figure had failed to catch his attention.

But Aunt Xue today was no longer the ignorant woman she had been three years ago.

Now that she had resolved to seek "justice," how could she give up halfway over such a minor setback?

Before Jia Baoyu entered the room, she deliberately cried out in surprise, "Ah! Why is there an outsider in this room?!"

Suppressing his urge to look more closely, he bowed with clasped hands. "This nephew greets Aunt Xue."

Thinking Sun Shaozong had not seen anything, she felt both unwilling and discouraged, and for a moment even forgot to return his greeting.

Fortunately, Jia Baoyu came hurrying in just then, carrying a large bundle and panting for breath.

Afraid he might notice something, Aunt Xue immediately scolded him first. "Baoyu, there's an outside guest in the room. Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

Jia Baoyu knew he was in the wrong, but he could not possibly acknowledge the words "outside guest" in front of Sun Shaozong.

So, grinning, he tossed the bundle onto the table and clapped his hands. "What are you saying, Aunt? How could Second Brother Sun be an outsider? Not only have our three families been friends for generations, but we are now related by marriage—just by way of Cousin alone, he could never be called