Brother Yan's Embarrassing Past Nipped in the Bud

Behind the Xiao Clan's mountain.

Everyone sat down to rest after growing tired from walking.

Xiao Ce clasped his right hand behind his back and deliberately looked at Gu Xun'er. "Cousin Xun'er, you haven't said a word all the way here. Are you feeling sad because your father left?"

Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, and the others all looked over curiously.

That was naturally only part of the reason. On the other hand, Gu Xun'er's personality was simply like this; she only showed her childish side around those close to her.

Still, under everyone's gaze, Gu Xun'er nodded and admitted it.

Everyone immediately looked enlightened.

So that was why Cousin Xun'er had looked so unapproachable. She was sad!

"I see." As Xiao Ce spoke, he brought his right hand out from behind his back. When he opened his palm, a candy wrapped in colorful paper appeared in it.

"Ta-da!"

"If you're sad, Cousin Xun'er, have a piece of candy. Maybe you'll feel a little better after eating it. I was the same when my parents left."

The surroundings instantly fell a little quieter.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Li both parted their lips slightly, and their gazes toward Xiao Ce gained a hint of pity.

Gu Xun'er naturally noticed the suddenly strange atmosphere and subconsciously asked, "Your parents... left you in the Xiao Clan's care too?"

Xiao Ce shook his head.

"No, but they went somewhere very far away."

"Somewhere very far away?"

Gu Xun'er softly repeated the words. Before she could react, an abrupt voice cut in.

"Xiao Ce, what do you mean, somewhere very far away? Didn't your parents die two years ago?"

Xiao Ning blurted out carelessly, wearing an expression that plainly said, Who are you trying to fool?

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Xiao Yu's expression changed instantly. She abruptly raised her hand and fiercely smacked Xiao Ning on the head.

With a dull bang, the sound was especially clear in the quiet surroundings.

"Ow! What was that for?" Xiao Ning cried out, clutching his head with both hands. Tears nearly burst from his eyes.

"Xiao Ning, why do you always have so much to say?!" Xiao Yu glared at him and snarled through gritted teeth, raising her hand as if she were about to reward him with another blow.

Xiao Ning was immediately frightened stiff, not daring to move like a quail.

The bloodline suppression between elder sister and younger brother was displayed in full at that moment.

Gu Xun'er was slightly stunned, then immediately understood.

When she looked again at the candy Xiao Ce was offering and the faintly "lonely" smile on his face, her feminine sensitivity surfaced. Her gaze gained a touch of sympathy and heartache.

"He's so pitiful!"

Especially when she thought about how Xiao Ce was already so pitiful, yet he had still given her candy and comforted her, telling her not to be sad.

The more she thought about it, the more moved Gu Xun'er felt.

She reached out and gently took the candy from Xiao Ce's palm. A sweet smile appeared on her delicate, adorable face.

This smile was no longer polite and distant like before. It came from the heart and was full of warmth.

"Thank you for the candy!"

Xiao Ce was slightly stunned, then smiled. "You're welcome!"

Yet a rather shameless thought flashed through his mind.

Forgive me, forgive me. Mom, Dad, wherever you are, I really didn't mean to use you like this!

The thought existed for only an instant before Xiao Ce flung it to the back of his mind.

He was certain that his performance just now had not revealed the slightest flaw.

On the way back, Xiao Ning watched Xiao Ce and Gu Xun'er chatting back and forth, his face full of disbelief.

"No, bro, why?"

He had practically talked himself hoarse just now, yet Cousin Xun'er had not responded with a single word. How had Xiao Ce managed to chat and laugh with her just by giving her one piece of candy?

Could it be that Cousin Xun'er liked candy?

Sigh, why hadn't I brought a few pieces of candy with me today? Cousin Xun'er should have been closer to me.

Xiao Ning brooded to himself.

But no one paid him any attention.

By the time they returned to the Xiao Clan's main hall, night had already fallen.

Xiao Zhan and the three elders sat in the hall. They had clearly already divided up Gu Xun'er's "foster care fee."

Satisfied smiles hung on the faces of Xiao Zhan, the First Elder, and Xiao Hai.

The reason was simple.

The three of them had received the most valuable item among the "foster care fee"—Juqi Powder.

The Second Elder could do nothing about it.

The younger members of his family were simply too mediocre in talent. Using Juqi Powder on them would have been a complete waste.

The other three, however, were different.

All three of Xiao Zhan's sons had displayed considerable cultivation talent, especially his third son, Xiao Yan, whose talent was considered once in a century within the Xiao Clan.

The First Elder's granddaughter, Xiao Yu, was likewise highly talented. With the help of Juqi Powder, she would basically be guaranteed to enter the Dou Zhe realm before turning eighteen.

As for Xiao Hai, the Third Elder's grandson, Xiao Ce, his talent was second only to Xiao Yan's. He too was qualified to receive a dose of Juqi Powder.

Because of this, no matter how much the Second Elder coveted the Juqi Powder, he could only painfully give it up for the sake of the clan as a whole.

As they chatted idly, Xiao Ce's group entered from outside.

The instant they saw them, Xiao Zhan and the three elders looked toward Xiao Ce and Gu Xun'er, surprise flashing through their eyes.

They had not expected Gu Xun'er, who had looked so unapproachable not long ago, to already be capable of speaking with Xiao Ce. It seemed she would not take long to integrate into the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Zhan laughed heartily. "You've come at the right time. Xun'er, Uncle has already cleared out a courtyard for you. It's only a few dozen steps from Yan'er's courtyard. I'll have Yan'er take you there later."

"Near Xiao Yan?" Gu Xun'er subconsciously glanced in Xiao Yan's direction. Seeing his aloof expression, as though he were trying to look cool, she could not help frowning.

She shook her head and said crisply, "Uncle Xiao, can I live somewhere else? I'm not very familiar with Cousin Xiao Yan."

"Uh..." Xiao Zhan was slightly stunned and glanced at his son.

The reason he had arranged for Gu Xun'er and Xiao Yan to live so close together was selfish, in truth. He had hoped his son could build a good relationship early on with Gu Xun'er, whose background was mysterious.

But now it seemed that Gu Xun'er had not taken a liking to Xiao Yan. Instead, she was closer to Xiao Ce.

Still, Xiao Zhan could understand.

After all, compared to Xiao Ce's maturity, Xiao Yan might have good talent, but he was a troublesome child. Never mind other children his age—even toward his own father, he was sometimes indifferent and dismissive.

Xiao Zhan sighed inwardly, but he still smiled kindly on the surface. "Then where would Xun'er like to live?"

Gu Xun'er subconsciously looked at Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce immediately turned to his grandfather.

"Grandfather, isn't there an unused small courtyard near our home?"

"Why not let Cousin Xun'er live there?"

It was not as though he did not understand the principle of getting the advantage by being close.

If Gu Xun'er lived next door to Xiao Yan, wouldn't the original story still play out?

Xiao Hai's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, "Of course there's no problem!"

In truth, he was already overjoyed inside. His thoughts were much the same as Xiao Zhan's earlier ones; he too hoped his precious grandson could spend more time around Gu Xun'er.

Xiao Ce then looked at Gu Xun'er again. "What do you think, Cousin Xun'er?"

Gu Xun'er politely replied, "Then I'll have to rely on Cousin Xiao Ce to take care of me from now on!"

Xiao Ce beamed at her words, though the corner of his eye drifted toward Xiao Yan, who stood beside him with an unconcerned look on his face.

Brother Yan, Brother Yan, I'm helping you erase an embarrassing chapter of your past here!

No need to thank me!