Xun'er's Little Sister and Xiao Yi Xian's Big Sister

Wutan City, West Market District, Yuhua Hall.

At a table in the corner, Xiao Yi Xian savored her breakfast, her gaze occasionally sweeping toward the entrance.

The hand clutching her jade chopsticks betrayed her true feelings. She was not as calm as she appeared.

Just as she lowered her head to eat a piece of pastry, she suddenly felt the light before her dim.

Raising her head slightly, she saw a slender young woman standing across the table. Dressed in a long purple gown, with exquisite features, jade-like skin, and an ethereal bearing, she looked like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.

The instant she saw her, a flash of insight crossed Xiao Yi Xian's mind, and she guessed the girl's identity. Her thoughts immediately became tangled.

Only when the purple-clad girl spoke with a smile did she return to herself. "There are too many people and too many eyes on the first floor. Would this sister be interested in joining me in a private room on the third floor?"

"Since little sister has invited me so warmly, of course I'm willing." A guess flashed through Xiao Yi Xian's heart, and she agreed without hesitation.

Xun'er led Xiao Yi Xian up to a private room on the third floor and had the shopkeeper send up a serving of each breakfast dish she usually enjoyed.

Once everything had been brought in, Xun'er spoke softly. "Seal the space. Do not let anyone hear the sounds within this room."

"Yes, Miss." A woman's voice answered.

An invisible spatial ripple spread out, enveloping the private room.

"Hello." Xun'er extended her hand toward Xiao Yi Xian. "Xiao Yi Xian, Sister."

"Hello." Xiao Yi Xian instinctively reached out and shook Xun'er's hand, forcing out a smile. "Gu... Little Sister Xiao Xun'er."

Facing someone as dazzling as Xun'er in every respect, Xiao Yi Xian could not help but feel inferior.

She had no father or mother and might even have been the one who caused her mother's death. Xun'er's father, meanwhile, was a Nine-Star Dou Sheng.

On that point alone, the gap between them was like that between stars in the heavens and mud upon the earth.

"Just call me Xun'er." Xun'er withdrew her hand, completely confirming the guess in her heart.

Xiao Yi Xian also had a Notebook Copy—an Observation Copy—and her purpose in coming to Wutan City was Brother Xiao Ting.

"Sister Xiao Yi Xian, do you want to meet Brother Xiao Ting?" Xun'er went straight to the point.

"I do." Xiao Yi Xian answered honestly, her eyes blazing. "I want to learn some things and verify the guesses I've held for so long. I want to know my future."

Xun'er nodded slightly and began eating breakfast with elegant movements. "Then tomorrow, I'll bring Brother Xiao Ting here and have the two of you meet by chance, so he won't grow suspicious."

"You're willing to help me?" Surprise flickered in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes.

She had thought Xun'er had come to warn her to stay farther away from Xiao Ting. That was how such stories were always written.

Seemingly guessing Xiao Yi Xian's thoughts, Xun'er said, "If possible, I would rather you not come into contact with Brother Xiao Ting. My intuition tells me that you hold an extraordinary position in his heart—or rather, in the hearts of the readers he mentions."

"White moonlight, cinnabar mark, an unfulfilled regret. You are Brother Xiao Ting's unfulfilled regret."

Xiao Yi Xian did not know whether it was an illusion, but she felt that Xun'er's tone carried a trace of jealousy.

"Then why..." Xiao Yi Xian parted her lips, wanting to ask why Xun'er was helping her instead.

But before the words left her mouth, she roughly guessed the answer.

Xun'er surely did not want to expose the existence of the Notebook Copy.

If she acted against Xiao Yi Xian, it would sooner or later arouse Xiao Ting's suspicions.

Better to guide than block. By helping her, Xun'er could keep matters within the scope she found acceptable.

"I don't have any other intentions." Xiao Yi Xian's thoughts raced, and she hurriedly stated her position. "I only want to verify the truth of what's written in the Not... in that, and confirm the matter I care about most. If possible, I want to learn something about my future."

"I believe you." Xun'er indicated that Xiao Yi Xian did not need to rush to explain. "But there's no need to speak so absolutely. No one can be certain of the future."

"Brother Xiao Ting is outstanding. Even I have fallen for him. If you develop other feelings after meeting him, that would be normal too."

"If you have the ability to become his confidante, I have no objection."

"Ah!?" Xiao Yi Xian's eyes widened, thinking she had misheard.

"Can't understand it?" Xun'er set down her jade chopsticks and sighed softly. "Brother Xiao Ting and I are childhood sweethearts. There's no problem with our feelings."

"Under normal circumstances, I would return to the Gu Clan in a few years, and my growth would certainly outpace Brother Xiao Ting's."

"I would always be stronger than Brother Xiao Ting, always able to help him, always feeding him off me."

At this, Xun'er gave a soft laugh before continuing. "A beauty's favor is difficult to repay. Based on what I know of Brother Xiao Ting, he would not do anything to betray me, and I would neither want nor agree to share him with anyone else."

"But things are different now. He awakened memories of his past life, and he also obtained Notes."

"Xun'er!" Xiao Yi Xian abruptly rose to her feet, staring at her in alarm.

"What is it?" Xun'er took a sip of clear tea, entirely composed.

"It's not that you can't say it, but how could you..." Xiao Yi Xian asked in confusion.

"I haven't violated the restrictions." Xun'er poured Xiao Yi Xian some tea, wearing a relaxed smile. "We can't tell others, but do you need me to tell you?"

Xiao Yi Xian instantly understood. She also had a Notebook Observation Copy, knew of the existence of Notes, and could read what was written in them.

She and Xun'er were both informed parties. Exchanging related intelligence would not be judged by the Notebook Copy as a "leak."

"But you're far too bold, saying those two words directly." Xiao Yi Xian still felt lingering fear.

"We've discussed so much already. If it counted as a violation, we would have been warned long ago." Xun'er remained calm as ever. She gestured for Xiao Yi Xian to sit and continued, "Brother Xiao Ting has Notes."

"Don't say those two words." Xiao Yi Xian felt her heart pound as she listened and warned her solemnly. "Sometimes, an unintentional mistake can harm you."

"I know your identity is special, that many experts are protecting you, and that you don't fear being overheard."

"But what if you get used to saying it and mention it in front of someone else? That would hurt you."

Xun'er could sense the sincerity in Xiao Yi Xian's tone, as well as her heartfelt gentleness. The wariness deep in her eyes quietly faded considerably, and she nodded with a smile. "Sister Xiao Yi Xian is right. One can never be too cautious about this matter. Shall we simply understand it without speaking of it?"

"Mm." Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly and lifted her teacup for a sip to calm herself.

"Back to what we were discussing." Xun'er propped her chin on one hand over the table. "Brother Xiao Ting knows too many things. Even without my help in the future, he can grow powerful at an astonishing pace. Even reaching the Dou Di level would only be a matter of time."

"Under such circumstances, I have no right to demand that he remain devoted to me alone. Women are also standard companions for the strong. If he wants a few confidantes, I may be unwilling in my heart, but I would not oppose it, much less leave Brother Xiao Ting because of it."

In the past, she had merely liked Xiao Ting as a person and had even considered letting him live off her for the rest of his life.

Now, knowing full well that Xiao Ting's prospects were limitless, that he was starting from the level of a Dou Di, she could not let go even from the practical standpoint of a young lady of the Di Clan.

Both emotion and reality made it impossible for her to let go, so she could only persuade herself to accept it.

Xiao Yi Xian roughly understood Xun'er's thoughts, but she was still somewhat puzzled. "Even if you can accept it, there was no need to tell me, was there?"

From a practical perspective, she might originally have had no such thoughts, or she might have been too intimidated by Xun'er's status, position, and strength to dare entertain them.

But after Xun'er said this, she might develop such thoughts—and she would no longer hide them.

"Of course I had to tell you." Xun'er saw through Xiao Yi Xian's thoughts, and her mood sank. "Because now, you and I are the same kind of person. We are truly alike."

"Have you not realized that the moment you gained the right to observe, you became completely different?"