The sudden intrusion, along with Xun'er's fiercely sharp questioning, instantly froze the air on the scene.
At this moment, not to mention Gu Yuan, even Xiao Yan, an onlooker, could sense the tension between the two. It had even reached the point of drawn swords and taut bows.
"Xun'er."
Gu Yuan's eyes were somewhat unfocused, and the hand he had extended froze unconsciously in midair.
"Don't call me Xun'er!"
Xun'er had clearly lost control of her emotions. Her chest heaved violently as she angrily rebuked, "When the Elder Council wanted you to take the Ancient Jade from the Xiao Family, what did you say?"
"This—"
Gu Yuan's expression changed slightly. He glanced at the equally stunned Xiao Yan beside him, and an unsightly look immediately surfaced in his eyes.
"What? You dared to do it, but you won't allow others to talk about it?"
Seeing his reaction, the disappointment in Xun'er's eyes deepened. She said coldly, "You said it yourself: as Senior Xiao Xuan's close friend, you absolutely could not commit such an unrighteous act!"
"If not for that, why would I have volunteered to go to the Xiao Family just to keep the Elder Council from putting you in an impossible position?!"
Upon suddenly hearing the truth, even with Xiao Yan's current composure, he could not help but be dazed for a moment. His eyes carried an indescribably complicated emotion.
Although he had long known that Xun'er's purpose in coming to the Xiao Family had not been pure, when the full story was truly laid bare before him, that silent disappointment still left his chest feeling stifled.
Ruoruo and Xun'er—one had approached him nominally for a transaction, the other nominally for friendship. Though both had tried to give everything for him, comparatively speaking, the former was easier to accept.