Unfathomable

The familiar yet indifferent male voice snapped Ya Fei out of her joy.

She discovered that Xie Tianxiao was sitting in a chair beside her, watching her.

Her face reddened at once. She hurriedly rose to her feet and, after regaining her usual composure, thanked Xie Tianxiao, "Ya Fei thanks you for your gift, sir."

"Thanks to your Gathering Qi Powder, Ya Fei was able to enter the Dou Zhe stage."

"Otherwise, Ya Fei would likely have remained at the ninth stage of Dou Qi for several more years."

After speaking, Ya Fei gave another slight bow to Xie Tianxiao.

"Hmm, you're not using your Mite'er Family status to pressure me now?"

Xie Tianxiao took a sip of the clear tea on the table and leisurely asked Ya Fei in return.

"Ya Fei misunderstood you, sir. Please forgive my offense."

Ya Fei lowered her head and spoke respectfully.

But when she recalled what had just happened, her face flushed with embarrassment.

If Xie Tianxiao had not suddenly fed her a Gathering Qi Powder at the very end, she truly would have thought he intended to use his overwhelming strength to possess her.

Although she had used her family to threaten him earlier, given her standing within the clan, even if she were taken by a super expert suspected to be a Dou Emperor—

The family probably would not say anything. They might even be more than willing to offer her to him.

After all, what did sacrificing a woman with no cultivation talent amount to if it meant gaining the favor of a Dou Emperor?

"Given your beauty, I am indeed interested in you."

"However... I still have some patience. I will not force you to do anything you do not wish to do."

Xie Tianxiao spoke calmly. He still liked Ya Fei, the future Queen of Gold, very much.

Therefore, if he could win her heart, that would naturally be best. If he could not, he would not mind simply taking her body.

After all, Ya Fei could barely be considered a female lead. She was breathtakingly beautiful and exceptionally talented in business. How could Xie Tianxiao possibly let someone else have her?

Hearing this, Ya Fei was startled and hurriedly said humbly, "Sir, Ya Fei is merely an auctioneer. My status in the family is low as well. I am not worthy of you."

"I have no need for you to be worthy or unworthy. You only need to know that I am interested in you."

Xie Tianxiao's tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable dominance.

"Yes, Ya Fei understands."

Hearing the meaning behind his words, Ya Fei sighed inwardly.

It seemed that, in his eyes, she no longer had any room to choose.

Still, she found it somewhat strange. Logically speaking, someone like him, who could casually give away a fourth-grade pill and was suspected to possess the strength of a Dou Emperor, should have had no difficulty obtaining her.

Just like earlier—if he had truly wanted to force himself on her, she would have been utterly unable to resist.

Afterward, even the Mu Clan, to whom she was betrothed, might not dare say anything. They might even cast her aside without hesitation.

Yet although he had never concealed his desire for her, he had not done so. He had even said that he would not force her to do anything she was unwilling to do.

Even his earlier act of forcing her had only been because she did not want to accept the Gathering Qi Powder. He had merely used his strength to make her take it, allowing her to break through to the Dou Zhe stage.

This series of actions left Ya Fei unable to understand his attitude or the meaning behind his words.

Could he be trying to pursue her?

The thought suddenly surfaced in Ya Fei's mind, making her pretty face grow warm.

She secretly scolded herself for being so hopeless, for actually harboring fantasies about a strange man.

Yet she had to admit that she had developed a faint trace of curiosity toward Xie Tianxiao.

"It is good that you understand."

"I am Xie Tianxiao. You need not keep calling me sir. I do not like it."

Xie Tianxiao looked at Ya Fei and spoke calmly.

"Since you do not like how Ya Fei addresses you, may Ya Fei call you Mister Tianxiao?"

After thinking for a moment, Ya Fei asked tentatively.

"That is fine. I do not mind being addressed that way."

Xie Tianxiao nodded slightly in agreement.

Xie Tianxiao did not mind Ya Fei changing how she addressed him from sir to mister. On the contrary, he thought it was rather good.

It also showed that Ya Fei no longer feared or rejected him as much as before.

Hearing Xie Tianxiao's answer, Ya Fei let out a breath of relief and smiled. "Then Ya Fei shall call you Mister Tianxiao."

Xie Tianxiao nodded and said, "Since I have achieved my purpose in coming here, I shall take my leave."

With that, he stood and prepared to depart.

"Mister Tianxiao, please wait." Seeing this, Ya Fei hurriedly called out.

"Hmm? What else is it?"

Xie Tianxiao turned to look at Ya Fei and asked.

"Mister Tianxiao, you gave me the Gathering Qi Powder and helped Ya Fei break through to the Dou Zhe stage."

"Ya Fei has yet to properly thank you," Ya Fei said respectfully.

Then, she took a crystal card bearing the Mite'er Family crest from her storage ring and handed it to Xie Tianxiao. "Ya Fei knows that, given Mister Tianxiao's status, you do not lack wealth or material goods, so—"

"This is a VIP card of the Miteer Auction House. As long as you carry this card to any auction house of the Miteer Clan, you will be able to—"

Before Ya Fei could finish, Xie Tianxiao interrupted her. "I understand. Not only will I receive the distinguished treatment of your auction house—"

"The tax rate for auctioned items will also be reduced from five percent to two percent."

"I appreciate your goodwill, but I have no need for something from your family."

"If you truly wish to thank me, then properly cultivate your business talent."

Xie Tianxiao did not give Ya Fei a chance to speak and rejected her outright.

With his current strength, some Mite'er VIP card was truly meaningless.

If he wished, the entire Jia Ma Empire would have to change its surname to Xie.

"Mister Tianxiao, this..."

Hearing Xie Tianxiao's rejection, Ya Fei was left speechless.

She understood that Xie Tianxiao's status was noble, but what was with him acting as though he already knew what she was going to say?

Although her current authority only allowed her to issue the lowest tier, even if he truly was a Dou Emperor, he should not look down on a Mite'er Family VIP card, should he?

And how did he know that she had some talent for business? He had even told her to study it more diligently?

Ya Fei was deeply puzzled, as though he understood her completely.

"Enough. You need not say anything more."

"Focus on honing your business skills. As for your thanks, you can offer it another day."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Tianxiao's figure flashed, and he vanished.

Watching Xie Tianxiao leave, Ya Fei stood rooted to the spot, unable to recover for a long while.

After a long time.

Ya Fei let out a soft sigh and murmured, "Xie Tianxiao, is it? What a man full of mysteries."

She could not fathom his thoughts, much less understand why he had acted toward her in such a manner.

As I wrote further on, I realized that this part in the first thirty-eight chapters drove many readers away.

To explain, Ya Fei and Xiao Yi Xian in the chapters in the thirties were somewhat too fawning, but I did not have much time to rethink and revise it. I can only make sure the protagonist does not act like this later on, and the characters' personalities will also be adjusted somewhat, overall moving toward the mindset of a Dou Saint.