Before long.
Outside the gates of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Dugu Bo had originally planned to look for the two of them along the commercial street in the main city. But as he passed Heaven Dou Academy, he sensed his granddaughter's presence below.
He landed and followed her aura to a corner, where Dugu Yan was crouched with her arms around her knees, secretly wiping away tears.
"Yan Yan? What are you doing here?"
"Didn't I tell you to bring that brat home so I could have a look at him?"
"Where is he? Did he reject you?"
Seeing his granddaughter in such a pitiful state, Dugu Bo was utterly shocked.
What was going on? Why was she sitting there secretly wiping away tears?
"Grandpa..."
"Waaah..."
The moment the girl saw Dugu Bo, she burst into tears.
She had meant to throw herself into his arms, but her legs had gone numb, and she stumbled instead.
Dugu Bo hurried forward to steady her, then used his Soul Power to check her condition.
"What on earth happened? Where is that brat? Why are you here all alone?"
Dugu Yan lifted her snow-white neck, her face full of grievance.
"Grandpa, Lin Yan really was snatched up by someone else! Waaah..."
"What?"
Over the next ten minutes, Dugu Yan recounted everything that had happened at noon that day to Dugu Bo, from beginning to end.
Dugu Bo was furious. At the same time, his face was full of exasperation.
He looked at his precious granddaughter, whom he had doted on since she was little, and couldn't keep his anger in check.
"I'm going to die of frustration! Where's that usual arrogant fire of yours?"
"She took him away? Then go snatch him back!"
Dugu Yan didn't answer his challenge. She simply dabbed at her little face and wiped away her tears, looking utterly wretched.
The sight left Dugu Bo speechless.
He hadn't expected Lin Yan to become so popular after showing off his talent and strength.
And he hadn't expected that his joking remark from a few days ago would really turn out to be prophetic.
That brat really had been snatched up by someone else—and by the Ye Family, no less, who had done him a great kindness.
That was right. The Ye Family had been kind to him and his granddaughter.
Whenever Dugu Bo's poison flared up, he went to Ye Rou'er for treatment. Although she couldn't completely resolve the poison from his Martial Soul, she could ease most of the symptoms.
It could even be said that Ye Rou'er had been instrumental in keeping him alive!
But...
"For generations, the Ye Family has passed down the Nine Heart Begonia. What they need most are Battle Spirit Masters, especially ones with outstanding talent and great strength."
"You let Ye Lingling take that brat away. Did you ever think about whether you'd still have a chance with him in the future?"
Dugu Bo looked at Dugu Yan, his expression conflicted.
Dugu Yan raised her eyes, still wearing that same pitiful little expression.
"But Lingling is my best friend!"
"She's my only friend at school. She's the only one who isn't afraid of my Martial Soul."
"..."
Her answer left Dugu Bo in another dilemma.
On one side was his granddaughter's future happiness; on the other was the family of the person who had saved his life. How was he supposed to choose?
Should he be a faithless villain and snatch Lin Yan back?
Or should he let the Ye Family court Lin Yan, leaving his granddaughter heartbroken?
Dusk blanketed the land.
Dugu Bo wrestled with the question for less than half a minute before making up his mind.
"Forget all that talk about best friends. Come on! Grandpa will help you snatch him back."
Dugu Bo pulled Dugu Yan up, about to fly toward Ye Mansion, but she looked utterly resistant.
"No!"
"Auntie Ye has always been so good to me. I don't want to do something like that."
As if! Just because her grandpa was a Titled Douluo, she was supposed to steal her best friend's future boyfriend? There was no way Dugu Yan could do something like that.
"Then you don't want that brat anymore?"
Dugu Bo's gaze burned as he stared intently at Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan:
"I... I..."
The girl stammered for a long time but couldn't get a word out.
Seeing her like this, Dugu Bo hauled her to her feet.
"Useless! You're going to drive me mad!"
"Listen to me. We're snatching Lin Yan back!"
"No, Grandpa!"
Meanwhile, at Ye Mansion.
Everyone was gathered around a campfire, chatting. They each held skewers threaded with Soul Beast meat, turning them now and then to cook it evenly.
"Little Yan, how's Auntie Ye's cooking? Did you like the food I made for lunch?"
Ye Rou'er smiled warmly. Together with her lovely features, her smile made people feel close to her at once.
Lin Yan grinned sincerely.
"Auntie Ye is an amazing cook. That was the best meal I've ever had in my life."
Lin Yan wasn't flattering her. That really had been the best meal he'd ever eaten.
He had been an orphan, and simply having enough to eat each day had been a blessing. Later, at Shrek Academy, the food in the cafeteria hadn't been anything special either.
Even at the Crown Prince's Mansion, the servants' cooking had been merely decent.
It couldn't compare to the huge spread Ye Rou'er had lovingly prepared that afternoon.
Beside the campfire, Ye Rou'er looked at Lin Yan's smiling face, then glanced at her daughter beside him.
"I'm glad you liked it! I'm glad you liked it!"
"You're still young, and you don't have any family nearby. From now on, whenever you're on break, come to Ye Mansion with your Sister Lingling. Whatever you want to eat, Auntie Ye will make it for you. How does that sound?"
With a child like Lin Yan, Ye Rou'er naturally coaxed him like a little kid.
Lin Yan answered obediently:
"Okay!"
The fat from the roasting meat dripped into the campfire, sending sparks flying.
Ye Lingling gazed at Lin Yan's tender, sweet face, illuminated by the firelight, and thought to herself:
Who wouldn't adore a little brother like this—someone you could watch grow up, who was strong and handsome?
He was on a completely different level from those useless noble brats.
I can't wait to see what he'll be like when he grows up!
As she thought this, the girl couldn't help smiling.
"Here, mine's ready. Have this one."
Ye Lingling handed Lin Yan the skewer she'd been holding and took the opportunity to move a little closer to him.
The two of them were almost touching.
In the firelight, the scene was so warm and romantic.
But just as Lin Yan was about to take the skewer...
A streak of emerald-green light plummeted from the sky, sailed right over the gate, and landed in the courtyard of Ye Mansion.
The powerful pressure of his Soul Power blew out the campfire. Charcoal and sparks scattered everywhere, and the warm scene was instantly thrown into chaos.
Everyone scrambled to their feet at once. Ye Lingling even pulled Lin Yan beside her into her arms to shield him.
"His Excellency Poison Douluo?"
Ye Rou'er's brows knitted together. Seeing that it was Dugu Bo, she quietly let down her guard a little.
She and Dugu Bo had been on good terms for years; he wasn't an enemy.
Since he'd caused such a commotion, he probably hadn't done it on purpose.
With that in mind, Ye Rou'er gave Dugu Bo a perfunctory bow.
"I didn't know Your Excellency would grace us with a visit. Please forgive my discourtesy."
Ye Lingling had also relaxed, the tension leaving her face. She turned to Dugu Yan in confusion.
"Yan Yan, what brings you here?"
"Are you feeling unwell again?"