Mio Nord returned two days before Qi Bei and Princess Mingyue's engagement ceremony. He was the eldest legitimate grandson of the family head, Kodi Nord, and barring any accidents, he would inherit the position of family head in the future.
Therefore, Mio Nord's status in the Lineage went without saying. Among his generation, he was the strongest in both ability and prestige. He was a King-grade water-element mage, currently managing the Lineage's industries across the ten northeastern provinces, and was also an executive of the Golden Leaf Dynasty's Mage Guild.
When Qi Bei returned, the Lineage elders did not even let out a fart. But when Mio Nord returned, the normally elusive elders appeared one after another to ask after his health, and the Lineage was even holding a grand banquet that very night to welcome him back.
Why was the gap between people so enormous?
Qi Bei, however, was not jealous. This was the glory that a person with strength deserved.
The evening banquet was held in the enormous garden of the Nord Family, and every influential figure in the Imperial Capital had come.
Phantom was helping Qi Bei put on the robe she had sewn herself. There was no denying it—her craftsmanship was astonishing. The style and handiwork were even more exquisite than those of the royal tailors.
As Phantom fastened his belt, Qi Bei's heart warmed. He suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Phantom sank her sharp little teeth through his clothes into Qi Bei's sturdy chest and said in a delicate voice, "Young Master, if you don't behave, I'll really bite you."
"If you bite my chest, then I'll bite your butt. Go ahead and bite." Qi Bei chuckled cheekily.
Phantom was helpless, defeated by Qi Bei's lecherous behavior. She obediently stayed in his arms, not daring to move.
Qi Bei held Phantom in both arms and rubbed his cheek against her ear as he whispered, "I just wanted to hug you."
"Mm." Phantom answered softly like a cat and stretched out her jade-like arms to circle his waist as well.
With a warm, fragrant beauty in his arms, Qi Bei had no lecherous thoughts at all. It was just that, as he looked at the estate decorated with dazzling magic lights of every color, he suddenly found himself missing the multicolored neon lights of the streets from his previous life, as well as the beautiful girl who had once stirred his heart.
After a long while, Qi Bei gently pushed Phantom away and looked at himself in the mirror. Then he suddenly cried out, "Oh no!"
"What is it?" Phantom asked hurriedly, looking Qi Bei up and down to see whether anything was wrong.
"After putting on the clothes you made, I turned out to be so handsome and dashing. How many noble ladies and young girls will lose sleep over me?" Qi Bei grinned.
Phantom rolled her eyes at him. Still, it was true that Qi Bei had inherited his mother's outstanding looks: slightly curly golden hair and black eyes bright as stars. The combination gave him a somewhat bewitching air, yet when the fellow smiled, his expression was exceptionally pure.
"Young Master is a pretty boy," Phantom muttered.
Qi Bei had sharp ears. He looked at Phantom's beautiful eyes and said seriously, "This Young Master may be wearing the skin of a pretty boy, but I actually have the wildest heart. Don't believe me? Feel it."
As he spoke, Qi Bei pulled Phantom's little hand over and placed it against his chest.
Feeling Qi Bei's powerful heartbeat, Phantom snatched her hand back as if shocked by electricity and pushed him outward. "The banquet is about to begin. If you don't go now, you'll be late."
Qi Bei chuckled and walked out of his courtyard. Inside the room, Phantom wore a complicated expression as she clasped her little hands together, as though she were holding a beating heart.
Qi Bei had just arrived at the banquet when he happened to run into his eldest brother, Mio Nord.
"Big Brother," Qi Bei called indifferently. In his impression, this elder brother had never liked him.
Sure enough, Mio Nord merely gave a slight nod before brushing past him.
Qi Bei shrugged and looked around, wanting to find the figure of his actual blood brother, Huai'an Nord.
"Stop looking. Your big brother is hiding over there with my big sister, whispering sweet nothings." Feng Ruoyu appeared from who-knew-where, pouting unhappily.
"What is it? The two of them are already a pair. Why are you pouting?" Qi Bei picked up a glass of wine and a glass of fruit juice. As he spoke, he handed the juice to Feng Ruoyu.
"Of course I don't object. It's just that I suddenly feel a little superfluous. Qi Bei, why don't we make a pair too?" Feng Ruoyu said as she accepted the fruit juice.
"Pfft!" Qi Bei had just taken a large gulp of wine, and at her words, he sprayed it all out.
Qi Bei was tangled up again. It was true that he had thought about it too, but wouldn't that be inappropriate? In two more years... Fine, if the little beauty asked for it, perhaps he could start with a little kiss?
Qi Bei had just opened his mouth when Feng Ruoyu began giggling herself. "Qi Bei, you didn't actually take me seriously, did you?"
Qi Bei reached out, pinched Feng Ruoyu's plump little cheek, and pulled it outward. Putting on a stern face, he said, "Is Qi Bei a name you can call me? Call me Big Brother."
"Big Brother, dear Big Brother, my beautiful little face is going to swell..." Feng Ruoyu begged for mercy.
Qi Bei released her and said, "From now on, you have to call me Big Brother. If you call me by my name again, I'll spank you."
Feng Ruoyu made a face. "You didn't say anything when I called you Qi Bei just now."
"That was just now. Anyway, from now on, you have to call me Big Brother." Qi Bei's face grew slightly hot, and he felt embarrassed on his own behalf.
"Then what should I do if I want to call you Qi Bei in the future?" Feng Ruoyu asked, blinking her lake-green eyes.
"Cough, cough. Call me that when you grow up." Qi Bei coughed twice, openly seducing a little girl.
"I've already grown up." Feng Ruoyu thrust out her chest.
Qi Bei glanced at it and curled his lip disdainfully.
Feng Ruoyu lowered her head and looked at her still-flat chest, then at several noblewomen whose snow-white [***] were mostly exposed. She could not help feeling a little inferior. But she quickly consoled herself: she was still young. In a few years, her chest would definitely become as large and pert as her sister's.
"I'm not talking to you anymore." Feng Ruoyu stomped her foot and turned to leave. But soon, she turned around again and said with a grin, "My dear Big Brother, wait for me. In two years, I'll be qualified to call you by your name."
"Pfft!" The wine Qi Bei had just taken into his mouth sprayed out again. This mischievous little witch really understood everything in her heart.
Qi Bei held his wineglass and swept his sharp eyes around. When he spotted several groups of noble young ladies not far away, he started toward them.
"Fifth Brother, I heard long ago that you had returned. It's just that the academy has been terribly busy, and I couldn't get away. You won't blame Second Brother, will you?" Just then, Will Nord came over with three young men and spoke to Qi Bei with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
Will Nord was twenty-four years old and assisted in managing the affairs of Nord Military Academy.
Nord Military Academy was one of the three top academies in the Golden Leaf Dynasty. Its founder was Simon Nord, the first head of the Nord Family. Most of its graduates entered the armies controlled by the Nord Family and became core officers.
Thinking about it, the first family head's vision had truly been extraordinarily broad. He had realized the importance of talent long ago.
With Nord Military Academy, there was no need to worry about lacking a steady stream of future core forces.
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