"Wait for me!"
Xiao Wu raced toward the villa in a blur.
In the dining room, Ning Rongrong held a cup of warm tea. She looked puzzled when Xiao Wu came running in.
"Xiao Wu, where did you go? Up and out that early? That's not like you."
Xiao Wu gave Zhu Zhuqing a baleful look.
"Don't ask. Last night, Zhu Zhuqing said she wanted to watch the moon and eat carrots. I thought I'd be refined for once too.
"So I went out early to wait for her. I spent the whole night freezing outside and never saw her."
Zhu Zhuqing was slowly eating a fried egg with her knife and fork. She looked up in confusion.
"You can see the moon from the bedroom. Why would I go outside?"
Xiao Wu choked on her reply, ducked her head, and silently went back to breakfast.
"Pfft! I can't take it. Xiao Wu, your occasional flashes of brilliance have struck again."
Ning Rongrong burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking.
Xiao Wu's ears drooped. Pouting, she gripped her knife and sawed hard at her steak.
The knife kept scraping against the porcelain plate. Screech—screech—
She muttered under her breath:
"Go on, laugh... As if you weren't the one I nearly tricked into eating natural fertilizer."
"..."
"We're eating. Could you not bring up something so disgusting...?"
"Heh-heh~~"
Meanwhile.
Inside the Sect Master Manor.
A short-haired blond man in sumptuous noble attire sat across from Ning Fengzhi.
Exquisite tea and pastries were set out on the table. All the attendants had withdrawn, leaving the two men alone.
"Uncle Ning, I hope my unannounced visit hasn't disturbed you."
"No need to stand on ceremony, Qinghe. What brings you here so early?"
Xue Qinghe set down his chopsticks, a gentle smile on his