Tang Wuyue: I'm a naive sweetie? Let me show you my astonishing wisdom!

"Xie Xie, why is your voice so hoarse!"

"Isn't it because of your brother!"

"My brother? Is he nearby? Did he sneak up and beat you up?" Tang Wuyue asked, puzzled, looking left and right but failing to see Lu Chuan anywhere.

Xie Xie looked at the naive Tang Wuyue and sighed helplessly.

"Is your head filled with Blue Silver Grass? I was shocked hoarse by your brother's excellence! Shocked, stunned, get it?"

"Oh, is that so!" Tang Wuyue suddenly realized.

She then lifted her chin with a hint of pride.

"Then you'd better get used to it. Last week, an eighth-rank Saint Craftsman who called himself the Blazing Dragon Douluo, claiming to be the president of the Shrek Academy Blacksmith Association Branch, wanted to take my brother as his apprentice to Shrek. My brother refused without even thinking about it."

"Pfft—cough, cough, cough!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Xie nearly choked on her own breath.

"Say that again?! An eighth-rank Saint Craftsman?! The Blazing Dragon Douluo?! And your brother refused?! Tang Wuyue, have you been reading too many novels?!"

"It's true! My brother said he barged into his private training session and didn't know how to respect people, so he turned him down!"

Tang Wuyue blinked.

Xie Xie was completely petrified upon hearing this.

After a long while, she finally regained her senses.

At the same time, the way she looked at Tang Wuyue changed.

The girl before her was no poor girl as she had described, but was clearly standing on a golden mountain filled with rich mineral deposits!

"Wuyue, does your brother still need a younger sister?" Xie Xie asked faintly.

Tang Wuyue shook her head. "He doesn't need one, but he does need a wife."

"A wife? Tang Wuyue, what are you trying to do?" Xie Xie's pretty face flushed red.

"I'm not trying to do anything." Tang Wuyue giggled. "I'm just asking you, my brother is so outstanding, aren't you tempted!"

Hearing this, Xie Xie's heart skipped a beat.

It would have been fine if Tang Wuyue hadn't said anything, but with those words, her heart felt as if it had been gently nudged by something.

The vague affection she had for Lu Chuan, at this moment, was like a pebble thrown into a lake, sending ripples spreading out in circles.

The images of Lu Chuan in her mind

began to appear one by one:

the youth's slender figure, his handsome face, the invincible aura he possessed during battle—

they all came rushing back uncontrollably, leaving her in a state of turmoil!

Seeing that Xie Xie was moved, a flash of cunning crossed Tang Wuyue's eyes, and she took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.

"Besides, I can tell you a little secret—

the main reason I can become stronger isn't because of the Spirit Fruit at all."

"Then what is it?" Xie Xie was stunned, taking the bait exactly as expected.

Seeing this, Tang Wuyue straightened up, the playfulness on her face gradually fading, replaced by a rare sense of seriousness.

"It's because of my brother!"

"Your brother? Lu Chuan!"

"That's right."

Tang Wuyue lowered her voice, as if sharing some earth-shattering secret, "I can tell you in confidence that the reason my Soul Power has increased so quickly is because my brother personally gave me a few pointers on meditation techniques."

This added weight landed squarely on Xie Xie's weak spot.

Unconsciously, she seemed... somewhat shaken!

Seeing a breakthrough, Tang Wuyue didn't give her a chance to breathe and continued to press her advantage: "If you want to receive his guidance, you surely have to offer something in return, right?"

"But my brother is a Level 6 Blacksmith who even knows several Title Douluos. What could you possibly offer that would move him?"

"Only by becoming one of his own will he ever consider telling you!"

"Xie Xie, don't you want to become stronger? Do you really want to be slowly left behind by me?"

Tang Wuyue's voice was like a siren's song, drilling bit by bit into Xie Xie's ears.

"I..."

Xie Xie opened her mouth, but her throat felt dry.

Reason told her that Tang Wuyue was definitely digging a hole for her to jump into.

But she had truly, undeniably grown stronger!

Moreover, she felt that Tang Wuyue wasn't lying; she was simply stating facts and reasoning.

Most importantly, whenever she thought of Lu Chuan—the way he handled everything with such effortless ease—and remembered that he was a prodigy even the Blazing Dragon Douluo couldn't recruit, she just...

"Interested..."

Xie Xie lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her shirt, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum, "So what if I'm a little interested?"

Tang Wuyue's eyes lit up at these words.

But before she could speak, Xie Xie suddenly looked up and explained:

"Don't get the wrong idea. The 'interest' I'm talking about is for the metal your brother forges, not for your brother! This young lady has seen plenty of outstanding people; he doesn't even make the list!"

"Yes, yes, of course, our Miss Xie Xie has high standards."

Tang Wuyue held back her laughter and nodded solemnly, "However, while my brother also has high standards, he likes those who are obedient best."

"Who wants to be obedient for him!"

Xie Xie's cheeks flushed bright red, like a ripe apple.

"So you don't want to be considered 'one of his own' by my brother anymore?"

Tang Wuyue pressed her advantage.

"..."

Xie Xie fell silent at once.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling her face in light and shadow.

After a long while, she suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with a touch of defiance, a touch of stubbornness, and a touch of expectation she hadn't even realized herself.

"Tang Wuyue, stop trying to play me."

"How would I dare to play you?"

Tang Wuyue leaned in with a smile.

"I just think that if you really become my sister-in-law, then we'll be family."

"When that time comes, never mind meditation techniques; even the Battle Armor metals you'll need in the future, my brother can cover them all!"

"Who, who wants to be your sister-in-law!"

Xie Xie retorted instinctively, but while her words were sharp, her heartbeat had completely lost its rhythm.

Seeing this, Tang Wuyue knew the time was right; as long as she provoked Xie Xie a little more, this red thread of fate would be tied for good.

"Oh my, didn't you just say your heart was moved?"

"I was moved by anger!" Xie Xie gritted her teeth.

"Alright, alright, moved by anger, moved by anger."

Tang Wuyue followed her lead, though her eyes were brimming with amusement.

"But I seem to recall someone saying it wasn't anger, but that they were moved by the metals my brother forges!"

"Can't... can't it be both?" Xie Xie's voice dropped involuntarily.

"Sure it can," Tang Wuyue rested her chin on her hand, leaning in with a beaming smile, "I just think you like my brother anyway!"

"You, you're talking nonsense!" Xie Xie retorted, her face flushing red.

Tang Wuyue looked entirely convinced. "How am I talking nonsense? Unless you prove you don't like my brother, I'm going to keep believing it!"

"How do I prove it?" Xie Xie gritted her teeth and asked, steeling herself.

"It's simple."

Tang Wuyue leaned in closer, a calculating glint flashing in her eyes.

"Accompany me to see my brother tonight. How about it? Do you dare?"

Xie Xie gave a cold laugh. "I'll go! Who's afraid of whom!"

But the moment the words left her lips, she regretted them.

Because by then, Tang Wuyue's eyes were already curved into crescents, looking just like a little fox that had successfully stolen a chicken.

"Great! Then it's a deal; no backing out later!"

"Whoever goes back on their word is a puppy!"

Tang Wuyue gave a crafty smile, while Xie Xie wished she could slap herself.

Only then did she suddenly realize, she had been played.

But the die was cast, and besides, she really was just a little bit moved!