Chance Encounter in the Marketplace, Ya Fei's Heart Skips a Beat

"I forgot to ask Xiao Qian what style she prefers." Upon arriving at the marketplace, Xiao Yu lamented with annoyance.

He was not short on money, but he was truly inept at picking out gifts, especially when it came to girls.

Recalling the past, the gifts he had given Xun Er were always fish, crabs, rabbits, various butterflies, or caterpillars.

Giving jewelry to a girl was truly a first for him.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

Suddenly, a sharp, feminine cry rang out from the front right.

In front of a stall, two women were being surrounded by a group of men.

From Xiao Yu's angle, he could only see their backs. Although he couldn't see their faces clearly, the figure of one of the women was curvaceous and graceful.

The group of men appeared to be from a mercenary group; their clothes were tattered and stained with dust, and their faces were filthy and covered in stubble.

Seeing one of them reach out to grab the woman, Xiao Yu stepped forward quickly.

After all, this was the Xiao Clan's marketplace. If word got out that someone was being harassed here, it would be bad for their reputation.

"Little lady, let big brother pamper you." The man reaching out had eyes full of desire, and drool flowed down the corner of his mouth.

They were a group of mercenaries who had just finished an expedition in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and had returned to the city to resupply.

After all, the Magical Beast Mountain Range was extremely dangerous, and their consumption of medicine was rapid.

Accustomed to trees and magical beasts, the sudden sight of two beautiful women caused this group to lose control of their wicked impulses.

Just as the man began to fantasize about the softness he would feel when his fingers made contact, a massive force suddenly surged from his wrist!

"Ah!"

The man felt as if his wrist had let out a "crack."

The pain instantly sobered him, and he saw a cold-faced youth standing in front of the women, one hand gripping his wrist.

"Let go! It's going to break! Let go!" the man shouted in agony.

Behind him, the other mercenaries swarmed forward, gripping the weapons in their hands.

They didn't say a word, but their vicious intent was laid bare!

Xiao Yu swept his gaze calmly over the group and said indifferently, "Who dares to make a move? I guarantee you'll be carried out horizontally!"

Hearing his chilling threat, the crowd couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation.

The man roared, "We aren't even afraid of magical beasts, are you really going to be scared by a brat who hasn't even grown his hair out yet?!"

The group immediately began to stir again.

Xiao Yu frowned, and before anyone could see clearly, they saw the man's body suddenly lift into the air and then slam down.

And that twisted arm was clearly broken!

The others no longer hesitated, roaring as they charged toward Xiao Yu.

Just then, a group of guards wearing Xiao Clan uniforms rushed over.

"Protect the Young Master!"

"Hurry!"

The leader recognized Xiao Yu's face and roared as he rushed forward.

Seeing dozens of people charging at them, the mercenaries were terrified and stood frozen in place.

The Xiao Clan guards surrounded the group.

One of the captains walked up to Xiao Yu and said, "Young Master, are you alright?"

Xiao Yu waved his hand and said coldly, "The security of this marketplace needs improvement. If we can't even protect our customers, who will dare to come to our marketplace in the future?"

The captain broke into a cold sweat and dared not argue, only promising that such a scene would never happen again.

Only then did Xiao Yu turn around, just about to offer an apology to the women.

He looked up.

He froze.

"Ya Fei?" Xiao Yu said in surprise.

Of the two women, the younger girl was currently blushing, her eyes filled with admiration and a hint of shyness as she stole glances at Xiao Yu's face.

The other woman, who possessed a more mature temperament, smiled generously and said, "Young Master Xiao Yu, you know me?"

Xiao Yu simply hadn't expected to run into her. After regaining his composure, his expression returned to normal, and he smiled, "As a beauty known to almost everyone in Wutan City, I have naturally heard of you."

Ya Fei pursed her red lips, the corners of her mouth curling up into a subtle arc.

Clearly, no woman would refuse a compliment on her appearance.

Especially a woman who loved beauty!

"Young Master, how should these people be dealt with?" the captain asked.

Xiao Yu turned his head and said, "We don't need to worry about them. There are very few people who can offend Miss Ya Fei in Wutan City and still end up with a good outcome."

As soon as the words fell, a group of people with panicked expressions ran over.

"Miss!" They bowed to Ya Fei, "We failed to protect you, please..."

"Say no more. Take them away, break one arm each, and have them kneel at the entrance of the auction house for a day!" Ya Fei cut them off.

Soon, the others dragged the group away.

Some wanted to stay behind to protect Ya Fei, but they were dismissed with the excuse that she was being accompanied by the young master of the Xiao Clan.

Ya Fei was decisive and acted like a powerhouse; her tone left absolutely no room for negotiation.

Before Xiao Yu could even react, he found himself accompanying Ya Fei on a stroll.

"Young Master Xiao Yu, are you not happy to be shopping with me?" Ya Fei asked with a smile, her eyes filled with curiosity.

This was her first time being this close to Xiao Yu, and the masculinity he had erupted with a moment ago was nothing like the "trash" everyone else described.

Compared to the sharp, exposed edge of his brother Xiao Yan, Xiao Yu possessed a sense of hidden restraint, like a weapon kept in its sheath, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Comparing the two, Ya Fei couldn't help but feel a sense of favor toward Xiao Yu.

Because she understood one truth.

The tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind!

Xiao Yu replied, "Miss Ya Fei, I have other matters to attend to, and besides..."

He paused, and Ya Fei grew curious, watching as his expression turned serious. "I am only accustomed to accompanying my wife while shopping. Are you perhaps trying to become my wife?"

Thump-thump.

In an instant, Ya Fei felt her heart racing like a startled deer.

Her eyes were filled with surprise.

Was I just teased?

She scrutinized Xiao Yu repeatedly; the youth before her was much younger than she was.

Furthermore, as the young master of the Xiao Clan, he recognized her and should have understood her status. Did he not know that her Mite'er Family was one of the three great families of the Jia Ma Empire?

"Miss, Miss, Young Master Xiao Yu has walked quite far." It wasn't until Xue Li tugged at her twice that Ya Fei snapped back to reality.

She remarked, "What a bold brat!"

Following that, Ya Fei took Xue Li and gave chase.

Under Ya Fei's recommendation, Xiao Yu bought a hairpin before leaving the market.

Thump-thump.

"Xun Er, are you in your room?" Xiao Yu stood outside a door.

He waited for a moment.

The door opened, and a young girl stood at the threshold. As the light shone upon her face, Xiao Yu felt as if the entire world had brightened.

The girl wore a pale green dress; her complexion was fair, her features exquisite. She said nothing, radiating a holy, unsullied aura as if a fairy had descended to the mortal world.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu's heart skipped a beat.

"Is something the matter?" Xun Er's expression was somewhat cold.

Hearing that distant, aloof tone, Xiao Yu couldn't help but offer a wry smile. "This is for you."

He took out the box containing the hairpin, opened it, retrieved the accessory, and under Xun Er's gaze, tucked it into her hair.

The jade hairpin, shimmering with a faint luster, matched the girl's temperament perfectly, making her look even more beautiful and transcendent.

The girl was like a fairy who had fallen into the mortal realm, one who might return to the heavens at any moment.

This made Xiao Yu unable to resist placing his hand, which he had just withdrawn, gently onto the girl's hair to ruffle it.

It was as if doing so might diminish that sense of her being detached from the world.

Xiao Yu came to his senses and realized his action was a bit too intimate. Fearing that Xun Er would strike him once she recovered, he turned and ran.

Inside the room, the girl bathed in the sunlight watched the youth's somewhat flustered back. A faint blush slowly crept up her fair, stunned cheeks.