Auction (I)

Changing into a white young master's outfit made the young Li Chenfeng look even more spirited.

His originally adorable features had not grown awkward with age. Instead, they had become increasingly refined.

He took Nalan Yanran, who had already been clamoring for her brother to hold her, from Qing'er's arms and seated her securely on his shoulders. Then the three of them left the inner courtyard.

"Young Master!"

A young man dressed in a black guard's uniform saluted Li Chenfeng as he emerged from the courtyard.

"Mm. A Fei, we're going to the Miter Family!"

"Yes!"

The guard was named Nalan Fei, a protector personally chosen for Li Chenfeng by Old Master Nalan.

Though he was only twenty-five years old, he already possessed the strength of a Seven-Star Great Dou Master and could be considered a cultivation genius.

One had to know that Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan, as the head of the Xiao Family, had only been a Great Dou Master at the beginning of the story.

That was also why Nalan Yanran had looked down on Xiao Yan back then. One was the worthless son of a minor family whose strongest member was merely a Great Dou Master, while the other was the heir of one of the empire's three great families and a disciple of the sect master of the Yunlan Sect, the Jia Ma Empire's strongest sect. With either identity, the proud Nalan Yanran could never accept a worthless man as her future husband.

Nalan Fei had likewise been personally selected by Nalan Jie to protect Li Chenfeng after Li Chenfeng cultivated Dou Qi at the age of five.

Naturally, Li Chenfeng would not refuse such an arrangement.

By the time the group of four reached the gates of the Nalan Family, a carriage had already been prepared.

He lifted Nalan Yanran down from his shoulders and climbed into the carriage with Qing'er. Under Nalan Fei's protection, the carriage slowly set off toward the Miter Family.

Inside the carriage, Li Chenfeng teased little Yanran while letting his mind drift. Even he did not know what he was thinking about.

Only when A Fei's voice came from outside did Li Chenfeng come back to himself. By then, little Yanran, who had been playing in his arms, had quieted down and was staring at her brother with wide eyes.

Her eyes blinked adorably.

With a smile, he rubbed the little rascal's head, then got out of the carriage amid Yanran's protesting giggles.

Someone was already waiting at the entrance to the Miter Family estate. After all, the visitors were the young master and young lady of the Nalan Clan, and they did not dare show the slightest neglect.

"Young Master Feng, Miss Yanran!"

An elderly man in a brocade robe saluted Li Chenfeng and Nalan Yanran as they stepped down from the carriage.

"Hehe, thank you for waiting for us, old steward," Li Chenfeng said with a smile.

Though this old steward was not one of the Miter Family's higher-ups, he was an elder who had served Miter Tengshan, the Miter Family's patriarch, for decades. His standing within the Miter Family was extremely high, and it was said that his strength was formidable as well. Naturally, Li Chenfeng treated him with due courtesy.

"May I ask where Sister Yafei is now?"

"Hehe, Miss Yafei is already waiting in her courtyard. Allow this old man to lead Young Master Feng and Miss Yanran there."

"Then I'll trouble you," Li Chenfeng said with a nod.

Although he was already very familiar with the route from the main gates to Yafei's courtyard, this was still someone else's home, so it was better not to be too casual. After all, he represented the Nalan Clan and could not lose their dignity.

Following the old steward for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they finally came upon an exquisite courtyard.

At the courtyard gate, the old steward stopped and bowed to Li Chenfeng. "Young Master Feng, Miss Yafei is inside. Please enter. This old man shall take his leave first."

"Thank you, old steward." Li Chenfeng returned the salute before turning and entering the courtyard. Qing'er followed behind him, while Nalan Fei waited outside.

At the center of the courtyard stood a small pavilion. Inside, a girl in a red dress sat on a stone bench, watching the group of three approach.

"Sister Yafei," Li Chenfeng greeted her with a smile.

What he received in return, however, was an eye roll and a cold snort.

Li Chenfeng immediately rubbed his nose awkwardly. He knew why the girl opposite him was angry and began considering how to soothe her.

"Sister Yafei!"

This time, the voice was clear and childish, obviously belonging to a little girl.

"Oh my, Yanran, you've grown so much in just a few days! And you've gotten prettier too!"

Yafei picked up little Yanran, who had run over to her, looking utterly affectionate. Yet her words made Li Chenfeng beside them even more awkward.

"Alright, alright. This time it was my fault. I shouldn't have gone so long without coming to see you, Sister. I'll accept any punishment. As long as it makes you forgive me, I'll do anything!" Li Chenfeng said helplessly, raising his hands in surrender.

"Hmph, hmph!"

The girl let out several cold snorts. Glancing at Li Chenfeng, who looked as though he was saying I was wrong, punish me, she said coolly, "I'll let you off this time for Yanran's sake. But if you dare go another ten days without coming to see me, just wait and see whether I pay any attention to you afterward!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chenfeng knew she was no longer angry. This sort of thing had happened more than once, and every time it ended with him admitting his mistake and her using Yanran as an excuse.

Sometimes, it had become a little private amusement between them. Only Nalan Yanran, who was always used as their excuse, remained confused, not knowing what her brother and Sister Yafei were doing.

"As punishment, you have to spend the whole day playing with Yanran and me!" Yafei said, looking at Li Chenfeng seated beside her.

At some point, this fellow whom she had once regarded as a younger brother and playmate had entered her heart.

At fifteen, she was at an age when her feelings were still hazy, yet Li Chenfeng's image had long since been deeply imprinted in her heart.

"I heard there's an auction at the Miter Auction House today. Why don't we go take a look?" Li Chenfeng suggested.

"Okay, okay! I want to go! I want to go!"

An auction was a lively place, and it held considerable appeal for a child like Nalan Yanran.

Yafei glanced at Li Chenfeng, knowing that he must be interested in something being auctioned, so she nodded lightly. "Then let's go to the auction. I happen to want to see how those auctioneers conduct an auction."

As long as the young man was by her side, she did not really care where they went.

Her words, however, stirred Li Chenfeng's thoughts. In the novel, Yafei would grow up to become an outstanding auctioneer. Had she already developed such aspirations at this age?

Still, Li Chenfeng did not want his woman to stand on a stage in the future, flaunting her charms before others.

But Yafei had only mentioned it casually for now, and Li Chenfeng could not really say anything. He could only keep the thought in his heart and tell her when the opportunity arose.

He did not like the idea of her becoming an auctioneer!