Ning Xiaochun's Shock, Living Off a Woman?

A young girl who looked to be about his age and dressed in a maid's uniform stumbled, likely because she was walking too quickly while carrying a heavy tray. The expensive-looking glazed tea set on the tray slid off with a crash, shattering into pieces on the polished floor.

The young maid, who had only arrived that day, turned deathly pale with fright.

"Young Sect Master, please forgive me! Sect Master, please forgive me! This servant didn't mean to! This servant deserves to die! I will pay for it! I will definitely pay for it..."

Shui Bing'er's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Her ice-blue eyes swept over the terrified maid before shifting to Ning Xiaochun.

She had seen too many noble youths fly into a rage over the slightest unintentional mistake by a servant, resulting in punishments ranging from whipping to being beaten to death or crippled.

The boy before her, who appeared to be the young master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, how would he react?

Her heart grew cold, and she braced for the worst, even hesitating over whether she should speak up for the poor maid. She knew, however, that she was a newcomer with little standing.

Yet, the expected scolding or whipping never came.

Ning Xiaochun merely glanced at the pile of shards, a look of "what a bother" crossing his young face, though it was clearly not directed at the maid.

"Oh, get up, get up. Why are you kneeling? It's just a tea set; it's broken, so it's broken. Why cry? If others see this, they'll think our Seven Treasures Glazed Sect is so poor we can't even afford to replace a tea set, or that we mistreat our servants."

The maid froze, forgetting to cry, and stared blankly at her young master.

Ning Xiaochun had already fished an exquisite Gold Soul Coin card from his robes and casually shoved it into the maid's hand.

"Here, there are one thousand Gold Soul Coins on this card, which should be enough to buy ten sets like that. Go buy a replacement, and keep the rest as a bonus for your shock—or rather, as your bonus for this month. Be careful when you walk from now on; you broke a cup this time, but if you trip yourself next time, it'll hurt, won't it? Go on, go on, and clean this up."

One thousand Gold Soul Coins! A bonus! The maid was completely stunned. Holding the card that felt light as a feather yet heavy as a mountain, she felt as if she were dreaming.

It wasn't until a sharp-witted older maid came over, gave her a gentle tug, and whispered a reminder that she snapped out of her daze. She kowtowed, laughing and crying at the same time, and began frantically cleaning up the shards, her eyes filled with an unbelievable sense of gratitude as she looked at Ning Xiaochun.

Shui Bing'er watched the scene quietly, a faint ripple passing through the depths of her ice-cold eyes.

This young master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect seemed... different from those spoiled brats.

At that moment, Ning Xiaochun had already dismissed the maid and turned to Ning Fengzhi.

"Dad! You're finally back! I have a major matter I want to discuss with you!"

He ran over and naturally grabbed Ning Fengzhi's sleeve.

"Oh? What could be a 'major matter' to my little Chun?" Ning Fengzhi smiled and ruffled his son's hair, his eyes full of doting affection.

He wasn't the least bit surprised by how his son had handled the maid. While the boy was timid when it came to external threats, he was always excessively generous with his own servants, provided they didn't cross his safety bottom line—something he called "increasing employee loyalty and reducing internal risk."

"I want to buy a piece of land!" Ning Xiaochun tilted his head up, speaking with righteous confidence.

"Buy land? The sect owns countless farms and estates. Which one has caught your eye? Dad will give it to you." Ning Fengzhi didn't care at all.

"It's not ordinary land, it's... a bit special."

Ning Xiaochun lowered his voice slightly, though it was still loud enough for Shui Bing'er nearby to hear.

"It's deep in the Sunset Forest. That land is very unique; it's a treasure trove. I read about it in an ancient book... buying it definitely won't be a loss."

Ning Fengzhi didn't even ask for details; he waved his hand and agreed immediately.

"Since you want it, Dad will find a way. With the prestige of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, plus enough sincerity and Gold Soul Coins, most things in this world can be negotiated. I'll keep this in mind."

"Thanks, Dad! You're the best!" Ning Xiaochun was overjoyed, hugging Ning Fengzhi's arm and shaking it. Only then did he seem to "notice" Shui Bing'er, who had been standing quietly to the side, and he leaned over curiously to look at her.

Ning Fengzhi took the opportunity to gently lead Ning Xiaochun in front of Shui Bing'er, a smile mixed with pride, anticipation, and a hint of mischief on his face.

"Xiaochun, don't just talk about the land. Come, let Dad introduce you. This is Shui Bing'er, from Tianshui Academy. She's five years older than you, and, well... she's also your birthday gift from Dad."

"A birthday gift?" Ning Xiaochun blinked his large eyes, looking at Shui Bing'er's beautiful but frozen face, then back at his father's "praise me" expression. He didn't react for a moment.

Giving a big sister as a gift? Even though she was very pretty, a gift that was a living person... that wasn't quite right, was it?

Ning Fengzhi leaned down, moved to his son's ear, and whispered in a volume he thought was quiet but was actually audible to everyone present:

"You brat, don't you always worry about having no one to protect you? Don't you always go on about 'core teammates' and 'bodyguards'? Dad found you the best one!

Bing'er has peerless talent and a limitless future. When she grows up, she will definitely be able to protect you well. I've already agreed with Bing'er and her master that when she comes of age, she will marry you and be your wife! How about it? Do you like this gift?"

The smile on Ning Xiaochun's face froze instantly.

As if struck by an invisible bolt of lightning, he went rigid. His mouth hung slightly open, his eyes widened into perfect circles, and he looked at Ning Fengzhi before snapping his head toward Shui Bing'er.

W... wife?!

A child bride?!

What kind of soul beast joke is this! I'm only six! Six years old, Dad! Even if you're going to arrange a marriage, isn't this a bit too early? And... you're just dumping her on me like this?

Doesn't this just make me a kept man? Is that really the kind of person I am?

Ning Xiaochun took a deep breath, and a smile even brighter and more "innocent" than before bloomed on his face.

He took a small step forward, looked up at Shui Bing'er, who was much taller than him, his eyes curving into crescents. His voice was crisp and carried just the right amount of curiosity and friendliness.

"Hello, Big Sister Bing'er! My name is Ning Xiaochun. 'Ning' as in the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, 'Xiao' as in big and small, and 'Chun' as in pure! Please take care of me from now on!"

He smiled without a hint of guile, as if he hadn't just heard the word "wife," as if this were just a normal, casual greeting.

Shui Bing'er: "...?"

She looked at the six-year-old boy before her, who had changed his expression in an instant and was now grinning from ear to ear. A massive boulder had finally been dropped into the frozen lake of her heart, sending violent ripples across the surface.

Is this... Ning Xiaochun? Her nominal... fiancé?

He really was just a six-year-old child! Although his eyes were lively and he appeared much sharper than an average child, his still-youthful face and short stature left no doubt about his age.

Shui Bing'er suddenly felt a deep sense of absurdity and helplessness. She had anticipated many possibilities—an arrogant playboy, a gloomy scion of a noble family, or even a good-for-nothing slacker—but she never expected it to be a little brat who looked... actually quite pleasant and sensible.

Especially when she recalled his attitude toward that little maid earlier, the casual generosity and "wealth" he displayed didn't seem... particularly detestable.

It even caused the intense repulsion and humiliation she felt regarding the transaction to fade just a tiny bit—at least the object of the arrangement wasn't someone repulsive.

But that was all. The engagement was a transaction, a shackle. She, Shui Bing'er, would never resign herself to fate just because the other party was a child who didn't seem annoying.

She nodded slightly, acknowledging Ning Xiaochun's greeting. The frost on her face showed no signs of melting, and her voice was as cold as a spring: "Shui Bing'er."

She was sparing with her words, her attitude distant.

Ning Xiaochun, however, seemed not to notice this coldness. He kept his brilliant smile and even asked curiously, "Sister Bing'er, what is your martial soul? Is it very powerful? My dad said you'll be able to protect me in the future, so you must be super good at fighting, right?"

Shui Bing'er: "..."

She suddenly felt that their monthly meetings in the future might not be as easy to handle as she had anticipated.

This Ning Xiaochun seemed... a bit too familiar. And what was with that sparkling light in his eyes, as if he were looking at a "high-quality bodyguard"?