Teasing and

"What? A Third-Rank Qi-Recovery Pill!"

After saying that, Gu Ni withdrew, leaving only Xiao Yan and Ya Fei in the room.

Ya Fei frowned slightly. It was not that she doubted Gu Ni's words, but if merely leading the way could earn someone a Third-Rank pill, just how wealthy was Xiao Yan? As for the possibility that he was putting on a show to save face—he would first need to possess a Third-Rank pill, wouldn't he? She turned back to look at Xiao Yan's faintly smiling face.

This man... was doing it on purpose! Ya Fei realized. Though she did not know what his goal was, there had to be a reason for him to flaunt his wealth.

With that thought, Ya Fei immediately cast aside their earlier unpleasantness, and a brilliant smile bloomed on her face.

"Hehe, I never expected Young Master Xiao to be so generous. What can Ya Fei do for you today?" Ya Fei swayed her willow waist, which set countless men's hearts aflame, and slowly walked over to sit beside Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan gestured toward the teacup on the table. Ya Fei immediately understood and smilingly brewed him a cup of tea.

After taking the tea Ya Fei had prepared, Xiao Yan savored a sip before slowly saying under her expectant gaze, "You know, that initially gentle yet barbed tone of yours was actually more appealing. How about going back to that?"

Ya Fei's eyelid twitched, and the teapot in her hand nearly flew out. The corners of her beautiful lips twitched uncontrollably.

Calm down, calm down, Ya Fei. You're someone who will return to the clan headquarters and take charge. What is this little matter? I can endure it!

Taking a deep breath, Ya Fei forcibly suppressed the urge to smash the teapot over Xiao Yan's head and said with a smile, "Since Young Master Xiao likes it, I shall revert to it. But it is not that Ya Fei is narrow-minded. It is simply that Young Master Xiao's behavior is rather unbecoming of a young master from a distinguished family!"

Oh! Not bad! She could endure even that! Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. As the woman he knew to possess the greatest talent for business, Ya Fei would be needed to handle many matters for the Xiao Clan in the future. Though Xiao Yan did desire her body, he had always been cautious when it came to serious business. If Ya Fei could not pass his test, he could only consider making her a decorative vase and assigning the real work to someone else.

The spoiled young master expression vanished from Xiao Yan's face, and his expression turned serious. "All right, I won't tease you anymore. I came here today mainly because I hope to obtain some alchemy materials through the Mitel Auction House. Here is the list. Take a look."

Seeing Xiao Yan finally get down to business, Ya Fei could not help but sigh inwardly in relief. She reached out to take the slip of paper he handed over, quickly scanned it, and a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

"These are all materials for first- and second-rank pills. Wutan City's market should be able to gather some of them. Since Young Master Xiao specifically came to the Mitel Auction House, I presume you need quite a large quantity?" Ya Fei asked Xiao Yan, her red lips parting as a strange gleam shone in her eyes.

What a clever woman. Xiao Yan curled his lips and replied, "That's right. For the materials listed on that slip, the Xiao Clan needs one hundred sets of first-rank pill materials and thirty sets of second-rank pill materials every month. Is that a problem?"

Upon hearing that, Ya Fei calculated in her heart. Given Wutan City's scale, it certainly could not meet such a large demand for medicinal ingredients. However, the Mitel Auction House had branches throughout the country, so it would not be difficult as long as she coordinated between them. It was just that...

"Young Master Xiao, as far as I know, Wutan City should not be able to consume so many pills, should it?"

First-rank pills were manageable, but second-rank pills catered to the Dou Master market. There were only so many people of that level in all of Wutan City. Even counting passing travelers, there were fewer than a hundred. They simply could not absorb a monthly output of dozens of pills.

"So what do you think?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and asked in return.

Looking at Xiao Yan's faintly smiling face, Ya Fei felt as though he had seen through all her thoughts. Yet she ultimately decided to speak. "Young Master Xiao, if there are surplus pills, could they be entrusted to the Mitel Auction House for sale? Rest assured, we will certainly offer you a satisfactory price."

Xiao Yan nodded, pretending to ponder it over. "Well... it's not impossible. After all, selling to anyone is still selling, right? But..."

As Xiao Yan reached the end, he suddenly drew out his voice. Though Ya Fei knew he was deliberately keeping her in suspense, she could only play along. "But what?"

Xiao Yan suddenly leaned his face closer. To avoid bumping into him, Ya Fei had no choice but to lean back, but their faces were still only a fist apart. Her towering peaks were also slightly distorted from the contact.

"Are you certain you mean entrusting them to Mitel, rather than to you?" Xiao Yan asked with a faint smile.

Ya Fei's eyes contracted. She immediately understood what Xiao Yan meant, but instead of answering directly, she feigned confusion and asked, "What does Young Master Xiao mean? Ya Fei does not understand~"

Seeing this, Xiao Yan shrugged and sat back up. He knew she understood, and she knew he knew she understood. But their relationship was still too shallow, so it was clearly not the time to discuss anything further.

"Very well. Come find me whenever you understand." Xiao Yan said, "Prepare the items on this list as quickly as possible. What is the soonest you can have them ready?"

Ya Fei thought for a moment, estimating their stock and the time needed to transfer goods from other branches. "The soonest would be the evening after tomorrow."

"Fine, we'll go with what you said. I'll come collect them the evening after tomorrow." With that, Xiao Yan drained the tea on the table in one gulp, turned, and walked toward the door.

? He was leaving just like that? Wasn't that far too fast? Shouldn't they normally have a polite chat to get to know each other better? Ya Fei would not have minded if it were someone else, but there was something she wanted to confirm with Xiao Yan.

"Wait!" Her pleasant voice rang out once more.

As if he had expected it all along, Xiao Yan immediately stopped. A faint smile flashed across his lips as he turned around and said, "Is there anything else, Miss Ya Fei?"

Ya Fei lightly bit her silver teeth and looked somewhat resentfully at the man before her, who did not know how to cherish a woman at all. "As far as I know, the Xiao Clan did not have an alchemist before today. So, Young Master Xiao Yan, are you buying these materials to refine them yourself?"

After speaking, Ya Fei stared intently at Xiao Yan's expression, hoping to obtain more useful information.

"Well... I can only tell you that I did indeed learn quite a bit about alchemy during my years away from home. As for the rest, you will find out in the future." Xiao Yan smiled mysteriously, then left without looking back.

Xiao Yan could have stated it directly, but when pursuing a girl, one always had to make her curious about him first.

Xiao Yan's approach could not be called flawless; it could even be said to be very straightforward. But coupled with his genuinely formidable strength, it was enough to hook people's interest.

Just like Ya Fei now, even though she knew he was doing it deliberately, there was nothing she could do. After all, someone capable of mass-refining second-rank pills was not a second-rank alchemist. At the very least, he had to be third-rank! Faced with such formidable strength, even if she did not want to, her old habits would make her mind start working on its own.

Before she knew it, Xiao Yan's figure often occupied Ya Fei's thoughts.