"No, I really am a girl!"
Seeing that Lan Yu's face plainly said "I don't believe you," the "young man" stomped her feet in a panic and hurried to explain.
She was the dignified young sect master of the Seven-Colored Precious Lotus Sect, and in all her life, this was the first time she'd had to argue with a stranger over whether she was a boy or a girl.
Seeing the "young man" before him with reddening eyes, looking as though she was about to cry, Lan Yu helplessly pressed his fingers to his temples and softened his tone.
"Your surname is Ning?"
"Mm." The "young man" nodded obediently.
"And you're the young sect master of the Seven-Colored Precious Lotus Sect?"
"Of course." She lifted her chin slightly, revealing her fair neck, her face full of pride.
"If you say you're a girl, then 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 stamped her foot in anger, her little face flushing bright red.
Seeing Tang Shan beside her laughing at Lan Yu's teasing only made her so embarrassed she could hardly raise her head.
She opened her mouth to explain, but couldn't get anything out for the longest time. In the end, all she managed to blurt out was, "It's all Grandpa's fault!"
"Aiya!"
Unable to explain herself, she was so angry she scratched at her head. Lan Yu saw her and helplessly waved a hand. "All right, all right. I'll believe you, okay?"
"Really?" Ning Yurou's eyes lit up at once, her face full of delight. "Then tell me, how did you figure it out?"
Wasn't she just going to keep pestering him until he humored her?
Lan Yu raised a hand to rub his chin, deliberately letting his gaze drift slowly over her from head to toe. He didn't say a word for a long while.
She was quite fair-skinned; her hair was just a little short, so she looked like a tomboy.
"Well? Have you figured it out yet?" Ning Yurou put her hands on her hips, her expectant expression turning impatient.
"Why are you rushing me? You're rushing me so much that now I can't tell anymore." Lan Yu decided to brazen it out.
"Why are you like this?" Ning Yurou was so annoyed by his shameless attitude that her flat chest heaved up and down.
"Brother, stop teasing her. Let's go," Tang Shan said gently, linking her arm through Lan Yu's.
"No, you can't leave!"
Before Lan Yu could take a step, Ning Yurou panicked and hurried in front of them, spreading her arms to block their way. "No one's leaving until you explain yourself!"
"You're really not going to let this go, are you?" Lan Yu frowned, losing his temper too.
As he spoke, he bent down, pointed a finger at Ning Yurou's nose, and enunciated each word. "Listen up. You're quite fair-skinned, but I don't think you're a girl at all. You're a biological male and a psychological female—a little sissy!"
"F-Fair-skinned?"
Ning Yurou first froze, then repeated the word softly. Her expression changed in an instant, and she raised her voice at Lan Yu. "I'm not a little sissy!"
"Sir, insulting our young sect master like this is rather inappropriate."
Ning Fan, standing to the side, frowned and stepped forward, a hint of anger in his voice.
An ordinary joke would have been one thing, but this concerned the young sect master's dignity. As an outer-sect steward, he couldn't just stand by.
Besides, the young sect master was already angry. If he didn't take a stand, what if the sect came after him later?
After all, Ning Fan didn't have two god-grandmothers to back him up!
"Ning Fan, step aside. My business is none of yours."
Ning Yurou snapped without looking back, then grumbled indignantly, "If you people didn't call me 'Young Master' all the time, would anyone have gotten the wrong idea?"
The sect master was the one who started calling her that. What could an outer-sect steward like me do about it?
Thinking this, Ning Fan sighed and stepped back behind Ning Yurou.
Just then, a familiar voice came from the other end of the corridor, unhurried and carrying a hint of refined warmth.
"Dear brother, what has you in such a hurry? You left without even saying a word to your elder brother."
Xue Qinghe walked over at an unhurried pace, a gentle smile on his face.
His gaze passed lightly over the group. When it landed on Ning Yurou, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then returned to normal. He walked straight up and took Lan Yu's hand.
Qian Renxue, you're really everywhere. You just left, and now you've caught up with us?
Lan Yu replied with a faint smile, "Something urgent came up. Please don't take offense, Brother Xue."
"Oh, right. I made sure to tell Big Sister Xue. Didn't she tell you?"
The smile on Xue Qinghe's face froze for an instant.
You call me Sister Xiao Xue to my face, then Big Sister Xue behind my back?!
Lan Yu, it seems I really need to discipline you properly!
Xue Qinghe cursed him silently, but laughed it off aloud. "Perhaps I forgot."
Seeing Lan Yu only smile at him without replying, she had no choice but to change the subject and look at Ning Yurou. "Yurou, what are you doing here?"
The moment Ning Yurou saw Xue Qinghe, her body instinctively shrank back.
They know each other?!
"Brother Qinghe..." she answered softly.
When asked what had happened, she stammered for a long time without managing to explain. At last, she glanced at Ning Fan behind her and hurriedly said, "Ning Fan, you explain!"
Me?!
When I get back, I'm finding someone to transfer me out of this post. I swear, I don't want to be an outer-sect steward for one more day!
Ning Fan braced himself and stepped forward. First, he bowed to Xue Qinghe in greeting, then carefully recounted what had happened.
Throughout the explanation, Ning Yurou kept shooting glares at Lan Yu.
As soon as he finished, Ning Fan immediately stepped aside, lowered his eyes, and stared intently at the wall in front of him.
This wall sure looks like a wall.
Sorry, young sect master. Making up a story in front of a "seasoned" crown prince is just asking to embarrass yourself.
The scene fell silent in an instant.
Xue Qinghe suddenly turned and looked at Ning Yurou, his expressionless face unreadable.
Ning Yurou's heart sank. Realizing this was bad, she hurriedly looked at Lan Yu, her voice full of appeasement. "Um... little brother, can we make peace?"
"What do you think?" Lan Yu replied with an amused smile.
"Ah, Brother Qinghe, please don't tell Grandpa!" Ning Yurou immediately panicked, her voice pleading.
Before Xue Qinghe could answer, footsteps sounded in the distance, followed by a hearty, easygoing voice. "Don't tell me what?!"
Is this never going to end? I just wanted to ask for directions. Why does this feel like fighting a boss, one after another?
Lan Yu frowned and looked over. A middle-aged man in a plain white brocade robe, with a tall, straight figure, was walking toward them at an unhurried pace.
At his side was a tall woman in a sword robe. Her silver-white hair was tied behind her head, with the remaining strands falling over her shoulders and back. Her features were strikingly clear, and she showed no trace of age.
"Qinghe greets you, Teacher," Xue Qinghe said, bowing with a hint of respect.
Seeing this, Lan Yu and Tang Shan hurriedly cupped their fists in greeting.
Is this an elderly Ning Fengzhi?!
And is the one beside him Chen Xin after a gender swap?!
Damn, this world has really gone off the rails!
"Qinghe, there's no need. A teacher and student like us needn't stand on ceremony." Ning Rongxin stepped forward and patted Xue Qinghe on the shoulder.
After casting a glance at Lan Yu and Tang Shan, Ning Rongxin gave them a slight nod of greeting, then turned to Ning Yurou, who looked as if she wanted to disappear into the ground.
"Yurou, what were you just telling Qinghe not to tell Grandpa?"