Xun Er and Ya Fei's First Encounter

Xun Er was still too young after all.

Ye Hao did not have to put in much effort before he managed to coax the information he wanted out of her.

He could confirm that she retained the memories from the second simulation.

As for the memories of Xiao Yan killing him in the first simulation, she had none of them.

He also learned from Xun Er that, over the years, Xiao Yan had tried to sneak into her room when they were children.

Ling Ying discovered him and threw him out.

After that, he kept pestering Xun Er, using all sorts of excuses to ask her to play with him, but she rejected every one of them.

Then there was the matter from three years ago, when Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had indeed regressed to the Dou Qi third stage.

However, this had not changed his personality. If anything, it made him even worse.

After hearing everything, Ye Hao furrowed his brows and fell into thought.

Thinking back to how Nalan Yanran had drawn her sword and attacked Xun Er the moment she saw her half a year ago!

Nalan Yanran should have retained the memories from the first simulation!

In that case, after every simulation, one person in reality retained the memories from it.

There probably would not be a situation where one person retained memories from multiple simulations, right?

Xun Er pressed Ye Hao about why he had been avoiding her and refusing to see her for the past half year.

Ye Hao then said that he had been secretly investigating the Jade Pendant over the past six months.

Upon hearing this!

Xun Er said, "So Hao Gege has been investigating the Jade Pendant. Don't worry, Hao Gege. Leave this matter to Xun Er. I guarantee that I'll have someone uncover the origins of this Jade Pendant as soon as possible."

As she spoke, Xun Er gently shook her fair arm.

The bell on her wrist rang out with a crisp chime.

Ling Ying emerged from the shadows nearby.

He first glanced at Ye Hao, then looked at Xun Er and saw that there was no anger on her face.

Only after confirming that she had not called him out to settle accounts did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Elder Ling, contact Elder Lu. No matter what methods you use, find out the origins of this Jade Pendant and who its original owner was as soon as possible."

"Oh, and do not alert the other party for now. We must avoid alarming them," Ye Hao added.

Xun Er said, "Did you understand?"

"Rest assured, Miss. This old servant will see to it at once."

Ling Ying accepted the order and hurriedly fled, afraid that he would be held accountable.

After Ling Ying left.

Xun Er clasped her hands behind her back and slowly walked up to Ye Hao.

She raised her head to look at him.

A peculiar light flickered in her beautiful eyes.

"Hao Gege, could you... take Xun Er to look at the stars and the moon, then tell me about what you've gone through these past years? Xun Er wants to understand Hao Gege's life over the years a little better."

"Let's talk about it another day. I need to go out."

"Where does Hao Gege want to go? Xun Er will go with you."

"Didn't you say you still had a mission here?"

"No mission is more important than Hao Gege."

"..."

After thinking it over, Ye Hao nodded in agreement.

After all, once Ling Ying received any information, he would definitely report it to Xun Er.

With her at his side, he would be able to learn of any developments immediately as well.

Hearing this, Xun Er beamed like a child, her peach blossom eyes curving into crescents with delight.

"Hehe, wonderful! I'll return to the Xiao Family early tomorrow morning to pack my things."

Several days later.

Xun Er brought Ye Hao to the Xiao Family.

Xiao Zhan and the three elders, who had not slept all night and had dark circles under their eyes, nearly cried when they saw Xun Er return.

"Xun Er, you're finally back. Are you alright?"

Xiao Zhan hurried over and asked with concern.

They had not slept for several days.

Xun Er shook her head. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Xiao. If not for Hao Gege that night, Xun Er would not have escaped danger."

Only then did Xiao Zhan turn his gaze toward Ye Hao.

The moment he saw his face—

Xiao Zhan's pupils suddenly contracted, and his straight back instantly bent. "Greetings, sir. We meet again."

He could not go wrong by treating someone Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni both handled with such care in this manner.

"We've met?" Ye Hao had no impression of him.

Xiao Zhan replied respectfully, "I was fortunate enough to see you at the Miter Auction House half a year ago. At the time, you were speaking with Miss Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni, so you did not notice me."

Xun Er's eyes flickered.

"I see."

Ye Hao had gone to the Miter Auction House so many times, and Ya Fei and Gu Ni had personally seen him off every time.

How could he possibly remember?

"Thank you, sir, for saving Xun Er. You are the benefactor of our Xiao Family. Please accept a bow from Xiao Zhan."

Xiao Zhan bowed respectfully.

"Please accept a bow from us as well."

The Three Elders of the Xiao Family immediately bowed too.

If anything had happened to Xun Er while she was in the Xiao Family—

The Xiao Family would have been finished.

"Father, you... what are you doing?!"

Xiao Yan was dumbfounded at the sight!

What made his anger surge even more was that the person they were bowing to was the very man who had taken Xun Er away and humiliated him!

Especially when he saw Xun Er's jade-like hands affectionately wrapped around Ye Hao's arm.

Xiao Yan trembled all over with rage!

"Yan'er, hurry and bow to our benefactor!"

Xiao Zhan urged.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt like his lungs were about to explode from anger!

The man had stolen the wife he had already claimed for himself, and now he had to bow to him?

What kind of nonsense was this?

At that moment, he felt like one of those useless husbands from certain television dramas!

Especially when he saw Ye Hao's calm, indifferent expression, he felt as though the other man was provoking him.

What was hateful was that he still had to bow to him at his father's command!!

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, finished bowing, and ran off.

He swore that one day, he would make Ye Hao repay this a hundredfold!

Afterward, Xun Er told Xiao Zhan that she was preparing to leave the Xiao Family and go with Ye Hao.

Xiao Zhan refused at first.

It was only after Tool Ling Elder stepped forward that Xiao Zhan agreed.

After packing her things, Xun Er left the Xiao Family with Ye Hao.

On the way, they ran into Ma Tao, Master Gu Ni's attendant.

He told Ye Hao—

After leaving behind a letter, Zhang San had vanished without a trace!

Upon hearing this—

Ye Hao immediately brought Xun Er to the Miter Auction House.

"Sir, you've arrived."

Ya Fei hurried forward to greet him.

When she saw that Xun Er was now beside Ye Hao, a trace of surprise and astonishment flashed through Ya Fei's eyes before vanishing.

When Xun Er looked at Ya Fei, her eyes were also filled with a hint of hostility. She affectionately held Ye Hao's arm, asserting her claim.

Ya Fei smiled.

"Sir, this is the letter Mister Zhang San left behind. Please have a look."

Gu Ni presented it with both hands.

Ye Hao took it, tore it open, and pulled out the letter.

[Little Hao, Third Uncle is very happy and relieved to see you growing stronger and stronger. But now that you have become so strong, Third Uncle can no longer help you.

So... by the time you see this note, I will have already left the Jia Ma Empire. Do not come looking for me.

Your task now is to become stronger as quickly as possible—the stronger, the better. Because there are some things that only you can do. Keep it up. Third Uncle believes in you.

—Left by Third Uncle]

Boom!

After reading it, Ye Hao used the Green Lotus Core Flame to burn the letter to ashes.

From those brief lines, Ye Hao gleaned several useful pieces of information.

First, Zhang San was probably only an alias. The title Third Uncle might have been genuine, and Zhang San's task had been to look after Ye Hao while his parents were away.

As for who had arranged it, it was highly likely to have been his parents, or... the Grandfather he had never met.

Second, Ye Hao and the others had not originally been from the Jia Ma Empire.

Just as Ye Hao furrowed his brow in thought, the two women in the room, though smiling on the surface, had already begun secretly sparring with each other.

While Ya Fei was pouring tea for her, Xun Er

began to press the issue.

"Big Sister Ya Fei, do you remember what you said half a year ago, when I came to ask you about Hao Gege with his portrait?"

Ya Fei blinked but did not answer.

Xun Er continued, "You told me with absolute certainty that you had never seen him. But Uncle Xiao told me that he personally saw you and Hao Gege chatting and laughing together."