Xiao Mei Visits

Xiao Jin looked at the girl before him, his eyes lighting up. "So it's little sister Xiao Mei. I thought you were some young lady from another family—you're so pretty."

"Xiao Jin, you're always joking. Mei'er isn't nearly as good as you say," Xiao Mei said coquettishly, her pretty face flushing.

"I'm not joking. Look at the younger generation of the Xiao Family—which young man isn't utterly captivated by you? That alone proves just how charming little sister Xiao Mei is."

Xiao Jin began sweet-talking again. If they were talking about the prettiest among the younger generation of the Xiao Family, it was naturally Xiao Xun'er.

However, although Xiao Xun'er appeared gentle and amiable toward everyone, she carried an air that kept people at arm's length. She always quietly did things alone. Other than Xiao Huohuo, she treated everyone else as though they scarcely mattered, making her difficult to approach.

Xiao Mei was different. Though she was somewhat proud, people could still exchange a few words with her. Coupled with her lively, active personality, she was actually more popular than Xiao Xun'er within the Xiao Family.

"Then does that include you too, Xiao Jin?" Xiao Mei asked playfully.

"Of course. You're so cute and pretty, little sister. Naturally, I like you too," Xiao Jin replied with a grin.

Xiao Mei's heart leaped with joy. "Then if I ask you a few questions, will you tell Mei'er?" She looked at Xiao Jin expectantly.

"Ask away, little sister. I'll tell you anything I can," Xiao Jin agreed to Xiao Mei's request without hesitation.

Xiao Mei was overjoyed. "Can you tell Mei'er how you managed to raise your Dou Qi by two stages in a year?" She gazed at Xiao Jin expectantly.

"Why ask something so simple? Naturally, I did it through relentless effort, along with talent," Xiao Jin said. Of course, he could not tell the truth.

Xiao Mei naturally did not believe him. "Xiao Jin, you're lying. I worked very hard this year too, but I didn't even break through a single stage of Dou Qi. Just tell me, please, big brother." Xiao Mei resorted to acting cute.

Unfortunately, Xiao Jin was immune to that. When it came to acting cute, Ya Fei, that enchantress, was far more alluring. Xiao Mei had not fully blossomed yet, so she naturally could not compare.

"Is there anything else you need, little sister? If not, I'm heading home first. It's almost evening, and my stomach is already rebelling."

Xiao Mei was rather surprised. Whenever the old Xiao Jin saw her, his face would turn bright red, and he would stammer whenever he spoke to her.

Why did he seem like a completely different person today? He no longer stammered when he spoke, he would not tell the truth when she asked him questions, and even acting cute was useless. He was nothing like the Xiao Jin from before.

"My father and mother aren't home today. I'm a little scared by myself. Can I visit your home, big brother?" Xiao Mei looked at Xiao Jin pitifully. She did not intend to give up just like that.

There was only a little over a month left until the family's Coming of Age Ceremony. The last time Xiao Xun'er had been tested, she had already possessed nine stages of Dou Qi. Nearly a year had passed since then, so she had likely almost broken through to the Dou Zhe realm.

I absolutely cannot fall too far behind her. Xiao Mei secretly made up her mind. If she wanted to break through to the ninth stage of Dou Qi before the Coming of Age Ceremony, she could probably only start with the young man before her.

Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er were considered the two most beautiful girls among the younger generation of the Xiao Family. The younger members of the family often compared them, and the result was obvious.

Whether in appearance, temperament, or talent, Xiao Xun'er had always been superior to Xiao Mei. Xiao Mei found that hard to accept. There was nothing she could do about appearance and temperament, since those were innate, so she could only cultivate diligently and hope to surpass Xiao Xun'er through hard work.

At the very least, she had to be better than Xiao Xun'er in one aspect. Unfortunately, her talent was also inferior to Xiao Xun'er's, and Xiao Xun'er had overshadowed her for all these years.

This time, she had to obtain a way to rapidly increase her Dou Qi from Xiao Jin. Even if she could not surpass Xiao Xun'er at the Coming of Age Ceremony, she at least had to reach the same level as her.

Xiao Jin looked at Xiao Mei in surprise. Naturally, he knew what Xiao Mei was after.

He glanced at the sky. It was getting late. The setting sun sank into the horizon like molten gold, dyeing the sky in a gradient of orange-red, rose pink, and pale violet. The clouds were rimmed with warm gold, while the buildings and trees on the ground were draped in gentle sunset light.

Xiao Jin had no time to admire the beautiful scene. Instead, he thought, This little girl isn't planning to use a honey trap on me, is she?

She is pretty, but she's too young. Nothing can happen anyway. Since she wants to use a honey trap on me, I'll let her suffer a little.

"Of course you can. You're welcome to visit my home, little sister. But it's nearly evening. Wouldn't it look bad if someone saw us?"

His words made Xiao Mei hesitate. Though they belonged to the same family, they had long since exceeded the bounds of collateral blood relatives within three generations. If people found out that she was visiting Xiao Jin's home late at night, there would inevitably be gossip.

Seeing Xiao Mei's indecision, Xiao Jin turned and left. "You should go home and rest early, little sister. It's almost dark, and I'm going home to eat."

Watching Xiao Jin nearly disappear from sight, Xiao Mei gritted her teeth and followed him. "Xiao Jin, wait for me! I'm scared alone at home. Could you take me in for one night?" Xiao Mei looked at Xiao Jin pitifully once more.

"Aren't you afraid people in the family will gossip?" "Let them gossip. There's nothing improper between us, so what's there to fear?"

"Since you don't mind, little sister, come home with me as my guest." Xiao Jin led Xiao Mei toward his courtyard. Along the way, several younger members of the family spotted them and cast strange looks their way.

Xiao Mei's little face reddened slightly, and she kept her head lowered as she followed Xiao Jin. This girl is rather cute. Xiao Jin did not dislike Xiao Mei.

Although in the original story, Xiao Mei had gradually drifted away from Xiao Huohuo after his talent vanished, then tried to cling to him again after his powerful rise, behavior that made onlookers frown deeply.

But Xiao Jin did not see it that way. This was, after all, a world where the strong preyed on the weak. It was perfectly normal for a woman to be pragmatic. Was Xiao Mei supposed to spend her whole life with someone who could only remain at the third stage of Dou Qi?

Besides, Xiao Mei had only been somewhat close to Xiao Huohuo when they were children. She had never had any substantive relationship with him. Wasn't that better than some of today's little fairy princesses?

After bringing Xiao Mei home, Xiao Jin headed toward the main hall. Xiao Ying was unusually free that day and was eating at home. He was sitting at the dining table in the main hall, waiting for Xiao Jin to return. When he saw Xiao Jin enter with Xiao Mei, his eyes lit up.

"Stinky brat, you finally came back. You brought a guest home without informing me in advance, so Grandpa could prepare more good food. You really have no manners."

Xiao Ying pretended to blame Xiao Jin for being thoughtless, but he was actually quite pleased. Xiao Jin was the only heir in the family. If Xiao Jin could help the family flourish sooner, Xiao Ying could not ask for more.

At this moment, Xiao Mei stepped forward somewhat embarrassedly. "Second Elder, I ran into Xiao Jin on the road. I'm alone at home today and was a little scared, so I asked Xiao Jin to take me in for the night. Please don't be angry with him."

Xiao Ying was quite satisfied to see Xiao Mei speaking up for Xiao Jin. Of course, he knew Xiao Mei. She was one of the most beautiful girls among the younger generation of the family, and her talent was not bad either. He was more than happy to see Xiao Jin grow close to Xiao Mei, so naturally he would not blame Xiao Jin. He had merely been putting on an act.