You're a Little Ladyboy! Genderbent Chen Xin?!

"No, I really am a girl!"

Seeing that Lan Yu's face was practically screaming "I don't believe you," the "young lad" stomped her feet in frustration and hurriedly tried to explain.

As the dignified Young Sect Master of the Seven-Colored Precious Lotus Sect, this was the first time in her life she'd ever had to argue with a stranger about whether she was a boy or a girl.

Watching the "young lad" before him with reddened eyes, looking as if she were about to cry, Lan Yu helplessly rubbed his temples and softened his tone.

"Your surname is Ning?"

"Mm." The "young lad" nodded obediently.

"And you're the Young Sect Master of the Seven-Colored Precious Lotus Sect?"

"Of course." She lifted her chin slightly, revealing a fair neck, her face full of pride.

"Since you say you're a girl, why do the servants around you keep calling you 'Young Master Guang Zong'?"

Lan Yu raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of teasing. "Don't tell me your full name is Ning Guang Zong?"

"You're the one who's Guang Zong! My name is Ning Yurou!"

Ning Yurou stomped her foot in anger, her small face flushing bright red.

Seeing Tang Shan beside them trying to stifle a laugh at Lan Yu's teasing made her feel even more embarrassed, unable to lift her head.

She opened her mouth to explain, but after a long while, she couldn't get anything out, finally settling for a frustrated, "It's all Grandpa's fault!"

"Oh, for heaven's sake!"

Unable to make herself understood, she was so angry she started scratching her head, and seeing this, Lan Yu waved his hand helplessly. "Fine, fine, I believe you, alright?"

"Really?" Ning Yurou's eyes lit up instantly, her face full of surprise. "Then tell me, how did you figure it out?"

Am I just humoring her now, and this is going to go on forever?

Lan Yu raised a hand to stroke his chin, his gaze deliberately sweeping slowly over her, remaining silent for a long time.

She was fair-skinned enough, but her hair was a bit short, making her look like a tomboy.

"Well? Did you figure it out or not!" Ning Yurou stood with her hands on her hips, her initial anticipation turning into impatience.

"What's with the rushing? You're pushing so hard that now I can't tell anymore." Lan Yu simply gave up on trying to be serious.

"How can you be like this!" Ning Yurou's flat chest heaved with anger at his rogue-like attitude.

"Brother, stop teasing her, let's go." Tang Shan took Lan Yu's arm and persuaded him softly.

"No, you can't leave!"

Before Lan Yu could take a step, Ning Yurou panicked, rushing in front of them and spreading her arms to block their path. "You aren't going anywhere until we clear this up!"

"Are you ever going to let this go?" Lan Yu frowned, his own temper flaring.

As he spoke, he leaned down, pointed a finger at Ning Yurou's nose, and said word for word, "Listen well: even though you're quite fair-skinned, I don't think you're a girl at all. You're just a little trap who's biologically male but identifies as female!"

"F-fair-skinned?"

Ning Yurou was stunned for a moment, repeating the word softly, before her expression changed drastically. She raised her voice at Lan Yu, "I am not a little trap!"

"This gentleman, to insult our Young Sect Master in such a way is surely inappropriate."

Ning Fan, standing to the side, stepped forward with a furrowed brow, his tone laced with indignation.

A casual joke was one thing, but when it concerned the dignity of the Young Sect Master, he, an outer sect deacon, could not stand idly by.

Besides, the Young Sect Master was already furious; if he didn't show his stance now, what would happen if the sect came after him later?!

After all, he, Ning Fan, didn't have two god-grandmothers to back him up!

"Ning Fan, stand down. You don't need to worry about my affairs."

Ning Yurou snapped without looking back, then grumbled indignantly, "If you all didn't go around calling me 'Young Master' all day, would people misunderstand?"

The Sect Master is the one who started it, what can an outer sect deacon like me do?

Thinking of this, Ning Fan sighed and retreated behind Ning Yurou once more.

Just then, a voice familiar to Lan Yu drifted over from the other end of the corridor, unhurried and carrying a refined, easygoing air.

"My dear brother, why the rush? You left without even saying a word to your elder brother."

Xue Qinghe walked over slowly, a gentle smile on his face.

His gaze swept calmly over the group, and when it landed on Ning Yurou, his brow furrowed imperceptibly before returning to normal. He walked straight up and took Lan Yu's hand.

Qian Renxue, you really are like a ghost that won't go away. I hadn't been gone long, and you're already chasing after me?

Lan Yu smiled faintly and replied, "I had some urgent business, Brother Xue, please don't take offense."

"By the way, I specifically told Big Sister Xue about it. Didn't she tell you?"

The smile on Xue Qinghe's face stiffened for a split second.

Calling me 'Big Sister Xue' to my face, but 'Big Sister Xue' behind my back?! Lan Yu, it seems I really should discipline you properly!

Xue Qinghe muttered to himself, but on the surface, he just laughed it off. "Perhaps I simply forgot."

Seeing Lan Yu just smiling at him without saying a word, she had no choice but to change the subject and look at Ning Yurou: "Yurou, why are you here?"

The moment Ning Yurou saw Xue Qinghe, her body instinctively shrank back.

They know each other?!

"Brother Qinghe..."

She replied in a low voice. When asked for the reason, she stammered for a long time without being able to give a clear explanation. Finally, catching a glimpse of Ning Fan behind her, she hurriedly said, "Ning Fan, you tell him!"

Me?!

I'm going to find someone to transfer me out of this position as soon as I get back. I really don't want to work as an outer sect deacon for even one more day!

Ning Fan bit the bullet and stepped forward, first bowing to Xue Qinghe before recounting the sequence of events.

During this time, Ning Yurou kept glancing over to glare at Lan Yu.

Once he finally finished, Ning Fan immediately retreated to the side, eyes fixed on his nose and nose on his heart, staring blankly at the wall in front of him.

This wall is truly, impressively wall-like.

I'm sorry, Young Sect Master, but spinning lies in front of a "mature" crown prince is just asking for trouble.

The scene fell silent instantly.

Xue Qinghe suddenly turned his head and looked at Ning Yurou with an expressionless face.

Ning Yurou's heart skipped a beat. Thinking that things were looking bad, she hurriedly looked at Lan Yu, her tone full of ingratiation: "Um... little brother, can we settle this?"

"What do you think?" Lan Yu said with a mocking smile.

"Ah, Brother Qinghe, please don't tell my grandfather!" Ning Yurou panicked, her tone pleading.

Before Xue Qinghe could speak, a sound of footsteps came from afar, followed immediately by an easygoing, hearty voice: "Don't tell me what?!"

Is this ever going to end? I just wanted to ask for directions; why is it like fighting a boss, one after another?

Lan Yu frowned and looked over, only to see a middle-aged man dressed in a plain white brocade robe walking over with a tall, upright posture.

Beside him was a woman with a tall figure, dressed in a sword robe, her long silver-white hair tied behind her head with the remaining strands falling over her shoulders and back. Her face was refined and elegant, showing no trace of the passage of time.

"Qinghe pays respects to Teacher." Xue Qinghe bowed, his tone carrying a hint of reverence.

Seeing this, Lan Yu and Tang Shan hurriedly cupped their hands in salute.

Is this an older Ning Fengzhi?!

And is that a gender-bent Chen Xin beside him?!

Damn it, this world has truly gone off the rails!

"Qinghe, there is no need for this. There is no need for such formalities between master and student." Ning Rongxin stepped forward and patted Xue Qinghe on the shoulder.

Ning Rongxin's gaze swept over Lan Yu and Tang Shan, nodding slightly in acknowledgement, before turning his eyes to Ning Yurou, who was wishing she could hide herself away.

"Yurou, what was it you just didn't want Qinghe to tell your grandfather?"