[No, wait, you're really giving it to me?]
The moment he heard the notification, Xiao Yuan froze.
He had never expected to get a reward just for grumbling to himself, and the drop rate was so high, too. He could tell just from the name that it was powerful!
So caught up was he that he failed to notice the confusion and anger flickering across Xun'er's little face.
What had she just heard?
Someone was going to punch her and make her cry for a long time?
Her cool gaze swept over the crowd. Frowning, she glanced back at the tightly shut doors of the reception hall, then finally fixed her eyes on the Xiao Clan disciples of all ages gathered by the wall not far away.
"Hey, hey, she's looking over here!"
"She must be looking at me!"
"Get a grip, get a grip. She's obviously looking at me!"
One glance back was enough to set countless boys' hearts racing.
But the most excited of them all was a boy with a tender face and an air of arrogance.
Xiao Ning, Xiao Yu's younger brother, had fallen for the little girl the instant their eyes met. He decided that a girl like her was meant to be his wife!
Xun'er paid no heed to his ardent gaze. Her eyes continued to wander, as if she were searching for something.
Then, once again, that familiar voice rang out.
[Honestly, what's with all these brats dreaming all day? How many dishes have you had to drink yourselves this silly?]
[That's the Flame Emperor's wife, the lofty young lady of the Ancient Clan. What makes you think she'd ever look at you?]
[And even if she were willing, that old codger Gu Yuan wouldn't be. He's a nine-star Dou Sheng, for crying out loud! He's at the very pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent!]
This time, Xiao Yuan didn't get a reward for his grumbling.
He didn't know whether he'd used up all his luck or whether his complaint just hadn't hit the mark.
But he did know that the young lady of the Ancient Clan had turned her gaze toward them, and for some reason, his heart gave a sudden thump!
[No way, no way. That young lady of the Ancient Clan isn't looking at me, is she?]
[No, impossible. Absolutely impossible! Why would she look at me? She must be looking at Xiao Yan.]
After all, they were the male and female leads.
Although Xiao Yuan was confident in his looks—he was handsome even as a child, with a refined air and impeccable manners—he didn't think his appearance alone could attract the attention of this young lady, whose eyes were always turned skyward.
While he was grumbling to himself, the young lady of the Ancient Clan had already begun walking toward them, her steps light and graceful.
By now, she was certain of one thing: the voice was coming from the people in front of her.
"She's coming over. Little Yanzi, Little Yuan, which one of you do you think she's taken a fancy to?"
Xiao Li was still teasing them with a grin.
Xiao Yuan smiled awkwardly.
"I think it must be Cousin Xiao Yan. After all, Cousin Xiao Yan is the most talented of our generation."
Xiao Yan straightened his back at that, clearly pleased. Xiao Li nudged his shoulder and laughed.
"Give me a break. Xiao Yanzi's got talent, sure, but you're no slouch either. You've already condensed Dou Qi, yet you're still pretending you haven't!"
Every word they said reached Xiao Ning's ears.
A wave of jealousy rose in the young Xiao Ning, but he still struck what he thought was a handsome pose. Just as the girl was about to reach the others, he strode forward and blocked her path.
"You must be the girl Grandpa said would be staying with the Xiao Clan. My name is Xiao Ning. You can call me Cousin Xiao Ning. If you ever run into trouble here, you can come to me."
Xiao Ning thought his manners were flawless. He'd cast himself as a warmhearted big brother.
Unfortunately, Xun'er didn't even glance at him. She walked right past, and Xiao Li and the others burst out laughing.
Humiliated, Xiao Ning's face turned red. Tears welled in his eyes.
He was so angry he nearly cried.
He held back with all his might and managed not to burst into tears.
Watching the scene unfold, Xiao Yuan nearly laughed aloud.
[Serves you right. You put on a warm welcome and got a cold shoulder.]
[Who is Gu Xun'er? She's the peerless ice-cold heroine of the Dou Qi Continent, born with an air of pride. Sure, she's a hopeless romantic, but why would she care about the grandson of some elder like you?]
[Come to think of it, Yun Yun seemed pretty aloof before she turned into a hopeless romantic, too...]
As his thoughts raced, Xiao Yuan's inner monologue abruptly stopped. He froze on the spot.
There was only one reason.
That heroine, who kept everyone at arm's length, had come right up to him!
Her delicate little face, like a flower bud just about to bloom, held a hint of noble reserve amid its youthful beauty. A refined smile bloomed across it.
Her eyes concealed a mix of embarrassment and indignation.
What hopeless romantic?
You're the hopeless romantic!
But that breathtaking smile made Xiao Yuan forget the look in her eyes.
[A single backward glance, and a hundred charms were born; all the beauties of the palace paled beside her.]
That was the only line he could think of.
Though she was still so young, no one could find a flaw in that smile. Its unspoiled innocence alone could make every flower pale.
At that very moment, Xun'er heard that familiar voice again.
Now she was sure the voice she'd been hearing was coming from the boy in front of her.
But he hadn't said a word. Where was the voice coming from?
And how did he know so much, even about her origins and her father...?
With a hint of curiosity in her gaze, Xun'er held out her little hand and said softly,
"Nice to meet you. I'm Xiao Xun'er. Starting today, I'll be staying with the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Yuan reached out and gave her hand a light shake.
"...Hello. My name is Xiao Yuan."
[Xiao, like Xiao Xuan. Yuan, like Gu Yuan.]
Pfft!
Xun'er couldn't help covering her mouth as she giggled.
She felt as if she'd met someone interesting.
She'd never met a member of the Xiao Clan who knew about the Eight Ancient Clans and still showed them so little respect.
He even seemed to have no reverence for his own ancestors.
[Ding! Congratulations. You have obtained one Marrow Cleansing Powder.]
The familiar system notification rang in his mind again, but Xiao Yuan was completely oblivious. He only felt a chill crawl over his scalp.
People said that a so-called "white moonlight" was nothing more than an early infatuation sparked by beauty, mixed with a little deep-seated insecurity that made you adorn your beloved with a halo.
After years of loving someone you couldn't have, she became your white moonlight, and you became a slave to her light.
But at this moment, Xiao Yuan had to admit it.
He really did feel inferior.
Not long after, the reception hall doors opened, and several elderly men Xiao Yuan didn't recognize left the Xiao Clan.
The Xiao Clan's patriarch, Xiao Zhan, and several elders also emerged from the reception hall. They introduced Xun'er to the clan disciples and announced that she would be staying with the Xiao Clan.
"Something's off. Nine-tenths of it is definitely off."
Lying in bed after enduring Xiao Li's teasing the whole way back, Xiao Yuan stared at the ceiling and mulled it over.
Everything that had happened today was strange.
First, Xiao Xun'er had come over and introduced herself to him. According to the original story, wasn't she supposed to ignore everyone but Xiao Yan?
And she only grew close to Xiao Yan after nurturing his Dou Qi.
Then there was Xiao Yan. Sure, he hadn't gone through three years of setbacks and was pretty arrogant, but their relationship should still have been decent.
So what was that inexplicably resentful look he'd given Xiao Yuan on the way back?
It was like a straight-A student who'd always ranked first had suddenly been overtaken by a slacker.
Was he targeting Xiao Yuan just because he'd condensed Dou Qi?
That was awfully petty, wasn't it?
"Whatever. I'll stop thinking about it and take a look at today's rewards."
When you're stumped, ask the spring breeze.
He'd ask once it arrived.
That was just the kind of laid-back person he was.
But the moment he saw the reward description, Xiao Yuan shot upright in bed as if he'd risen from the dead.
"Holy crap, seriously? It's that damn powerful?!"