"Get up."
Yan Lin stepped forward and helped Xiao Yi Xian to her feet, his handsome face brimming with a smile.
The young man's smile was gentle, warming the heart like the first sun of spring.
In truth, a certain fellow felt like a shady uncle who had successfully lured in a young girl, wearing a smile that said, "My scheme succeeded."
But you could know someone's face without knowing their heart. Xiao Yi Xian, too, was fooled by his harmless-looking smile and thought he was a good person.
Little did she know that all of this was part of his plan.
"Xian'er, can I call you that from now on?" After helping Xiao Yi Xian up, Yan Lin voluntarily took a step back. Only after letting go of her hand did he ask for her permission.
Now that he was Xiao Yi Xian's master, he could hardly keep calling her Xiao Yi Xian like an outsider would. That would be far too distant and unfamiliar, nothing like master and disciple.
Yet Yan Lin's sudden familiarity made the girl freeze slightly.
She had not heard that form of address in a very long time.
As she recalled, the last time had been before she turned ten.
"Mm."
The girl's voice was low and devoid of emotion. Her eyes felt sore and reddened as memories of the past stabbed at her heart.
Not wanting Yan Lin to notice, she had already lowered her head when she spoke.
Although she concealed it well and Yan Lin could not see her face, he could still sense that something was off about her emotions from her subtle voice and movements.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
Xiao Yi Xian raised her head. The emotion on her face had already returned to normal, and she even smiled