Leaving

The coming-of-age ceremony was incredibly tedious; the whole process was enough to make anyone's head spin!

Lin Yu sat below the stage, drowsy with sleep. He had been away from Xun'er for two hours already. He missed her... sob sob~~

"Damn Xiao Yu, actually taking my Xun'er away!" When I see you again, I'll definitely teach you a proper lesson!

"Brother Lin Yu!" Just as Lin Yu was about to fall asleep, a pleasant voice rang out.

"Xun'er!" Lin Yu immediately snapped awake and looked toward the voice, only to find that it was not Xiao Xun'er.

"So it's you, Xiao Mei. I thought it was Xun'er." Looking at the girl before him, whose purity and charm blended together in contradiction, Lin Yu felt a wave of disappointment.

"Brother Lin Yu seems unhappy to see me."

"It's nothing. Don't overthink it," Lin Yu said blandly.

"Then can I sit beside Brother Lin Yu?"

"Whatever!"

Xiao Mei gave Lin Yu a playful smile before sitting down beside him.

Lin Yu could only curl his lips at that.

Lin Yu did not actually have a very good impression of Xiao Mei. In the original story, when Xiao Yan had been a genius, Xiao Mei had eagerly tried to ingratiate herself with him. But when Xiao Yan fell from grace, she had deliberately distanced herself from him. Though her father had ordered her to do so, Lin Yu still could not accept it.

For all he knew, after her father learned that Lin Yu was a Dou Zun, he had sent Xiao Mei to curry favor with him.

Hearing Xiao Mei call "Brother Lin Yu" over and over made goosebumps rise all over his body.

Lin Yu lounged against the wooden chair. A light breeze drifted by, carrying the girl's delicate fragrance into his nose.

Lin Yu could not help leaning closer to take a sniff. Xiao Mei smelled pretty nice! One extra point!

"Brother Lin Yu, what are you doing..." Xiao Mei watched as Lin Yu slowly drew closer, feeling a little afraid.

"Ah... sorry. You smell rather nice, so I couldn't help asking a little more..." Lin Yu scratched his head awkwardly and gave a sheepish laugh.

"Is that so?" Xiao Mei looked at Lin Yu thoughtfully.

Avoiding Xiao Mei's gaze, Lin Yu secretly thought, I'm really awful. I was actually attracted by another woman's body fragrance besides Xun'er!

Suddenly, the entire venue fell silent. The crisp sounds of teacups continuously falling to the ground rang out.

Lin Yu looked toward Xiao Mei and saw that she, too, had been drawn to the scene onstage. Then cries of astonishment erupted from below the stage.

Lin Yu focused his eyes and looked. Oh! So it was Brother Xiao Yan! The four words "Dou Breaker's King of Swagger" truly lived up to their name!

Going from Dou Qi Three-stage to a one-star Dou Zhe in a single year—anyone's jaw would drop at that!

"Alright, next, let's invite Lin Yu to come up and say a few words!"

"Pfft!" Lin Yu had just raised his teacup and taken a sip when he sprayed it out before he could even swallow.

"Damn it, they want me to speak? That old bastard Xiao Zhan!" With no other choice, Lin Yu walked onto the stage looking utterly dead inside. He hated speeches the most!

"Why did the elders ask Lin Yu to go up and speak?" Xiao Yu could not quite understand.

Xiao Yu had only returned these past few days, so naturally, she did not yet know that Lin Yu was the Dou Zun rumored to be in the Xiao Family.

"Hehe, Brother Lin Yu is a Dou Zun!" Xiao Xun'er explained to Xiao Yu beside her.

"What! He's that Dou Zun from the Xiao Family?" Xiao Yu cried out in shock. She had never imagined that Lin Yu was that Dou Zun.

On the stage!

Lin Yu wore a black, narrow-sleeved Python Robe. Gold-threaded auspicious clouds were embroidered along the cuffs, while a vermilion-and-white-jade belt hung at his waist, adorned with an exquisite white jade pendant. He carried himself with elegant grace.

"Ahem... uh... hmm... My name is Lin Yu, uh... hmm... I'm a Dou Zun... hmm... I wish everyone... all their wishes come true... uh... may everything go well, everything go well!" Lin Yu squeezed out those few words only after several minutes.

The entire venue fell silent, staring fixedly at Lin Yu.

"Hehe... hehe..." Lin Yu also felt awkward. He scratched his head and laughed foolishly.

Fuck! I've really embarrassed myself this time! If anyone ever makes me give a speech again, I'll chop him up!

"Pfft, hahaha... Brother Lin Yu is too funny!" At that moment, Xun'er's laughter rang out.

Lin Yu's face darkened as he shot Xiao Xun'er a glance.

Seeing Lin Yu's look, Xiao Xun'er was startled and hurriedly covered her little mouth. Yet she still could not suppress her laughter, secretly giggling in a low voice.

Only then did the people below the stage react, and overwhelming applause immediately erupted.

Lin Yu covered his forehead with one hand.

Uh... wasn't that a bit exaggerated!

They were applauding after just a few words?

Everyone below the stage: Honestly, what you said was truly amazing! Just because you're a Dou Zun, anything you say is amazing!

Lin Yu: ...

Night

"Cousin Xiao Yu, I'm going back."

"Don't go back, Xun'er. Stay here tonight!"

"No, Lin Yu will..." Xiao Xun'er trailed off.

"Lin Yu, Lin Yu—he's all you think about all day! What's so great about him? If you don't go see him today, what can he possibly do?" Xiao Yu poked Xiao Xun'er's forehead in exasperation.

Xiao Xun'er pursed her lips and said nothing, her face full of grievance.

Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Xun'er's expression.

Why did she suddenly feel like the bad guy?

"Fine, fine. Go if you want to." Seeing Xiao Xun'er's aggrieved look, Xiao Yu felt bad as well.

"Okay! Goodbye, Cousin Xiao Yu!" In a flash, Xiao Xun'er ran off and vanished from sight.

"Why isn't Xun'er back yet? It's been an entire day! It must be that wench Xiao Yu, keeping my Xun'er from coming back!" Lin Yu sat alone at the stone table in the courtyard, grumbling.

"Lin Yu! I'm back!" Xun'er's voice came from nearby just then.

"Xun'er, you're finally back! Boohoo~ Lin Yu missed you so much, boohoo~" Lin Yu pulled a mournful face as he complained to Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Xun'er stumbled and nearly fell to the ground, her expression turning awkward.

Was this really Lin Yu?

Why did he look like such an idiot?

"Lin Yu, you... what's wrong?"

Lin Yu was sitting on the ground, his arms wrapped around Xiao Xun'er's long legs.

He continued wailing, "Xun'er, you were away from me for a full ten hours. You have to compensate me!"

Xiao Xun'er stumbled again.

"Then how does Lin Yu want Xun'er to compensate you?"

"Sleep with me tonight!"

Xiao Xun'er's mouth twitched.

So he was just looking for an excuse to sleep with her?

"Lin Yu, didn't Xun'er tell you that I... can't give myself to you yet?"

Lin Yu dropped his exaggerated expression, stood up, and looked seriously at Xiao Xun'er.

"I know. I just want to hold Xun'er while we sleep!"

Xiao Xun'er was startled by Lin Yu's sudden seriousness. Her pretty face reddened as her hands fidgeted helplessly.

Lin Yu looked so handsome when he was serious!

"Okay..."

On the bed...

Lin Yu held Xiao Xun'er from behind, his chin resting atop her head as he greedily inhaled the fragrance of her hair.

"Xun'er, I'm leaving tomorrow."

Xiao Xun'er, who had been lying there with her eyes closed and enjoying Lin Yu's tenderness, suddenly opened her eyes and turned to face him.

Her large, limpid eyes stared fixedly into Lin Yu's.

"So soon?" Xiao Xun'er looked at Lin Yu, her voice trembling.

"Didn't we agree a year ago? I won't be gone for too long—three years at most!" Lin Yu pinched Xiao Xun'er's nose, his heart filled with guilt.

Xiao Xun'er said nothing. She buried her head in Lin Yu's chest and pressed her entire body tightly against him.

Listening to Xiao Xun'er's gradually steady breathing, Lin Yu slowly fell asleep as well.

The next day

Morning

Lin Yu woke early. Looking at Xiao Xun'er in his arms and the faint tear tracks still on her face, he felt even more guilty.

He did not intend to wait for Xiao Xun'er to wake up. If she woke up and pleaded with him, he might not have the heart to leave.

Come to think of it, wasn't it about time for Xiao Xun'er to return to the Ancient Clan?

In the original story, she seemed to have returned to the Ancient Clan around this time, except she stayed several more years because of Xiao Yan.

Would Xun'er return directly to the Ancient Clan because of him instead?

Noon

Xiao Xun'er slowly woke up, sat up, and rubbed her bleary eyes.

Looking at the empty bed and the note on the table, tears kept welling up in Xiao Xun'er's eyes.

Trembling, she picked up the note from the table:

"If our love is meant to last, why must we be together day and night? Xun'er, wait for me three years. In three years, I'll go to the Ancient Clan and marry you!"

Damn, I finally left Wutan City!