The next day, word came from the Xiao Household, asking Lin Xiaotian to join them on the journey to Senior Dongli's location.
Leading the party was Xiao Changsheng, patriarch of the Xiao Household, accompanied by Xiao Jingxin, the household's treasured daughter.
Lin Xiaotian was surprised. Why had Xiao Changsheng come in person?
Xiao Changsheng looked at him, in excellent spirits.
"Lin Xiaotian, have you settled comfortably into our Xiao Household? My daughter has mentioned you several times. You should spend more time with my Xin'er from now on."
Hearing this, Lin Xiaotian immediately understood what was going on and replied:
"Thank you for your generous regard, Patriarch. The Xiao Household is a fine place. Brother Jingli, especially, gave me a very favorable impression of it. Unfortunately..."
Xiao Changsheng's expression darkened slightly, and he sighed:
"The blame for that lies with our Xiao Household. Though I wasn't the one who made the decision, even if I'd been in charge, Jingli would probably still have had to be sacrificed."
Lin Xiaotian said no more and gave a slight cupped-fist salute.
Xiao Jingxin came over, pointed toward the household's many carriages, then singled out one of them and said:
"Young Master Lin, come with me."
Lin Xiaotian looked at her, then at the patriarch.
Xiao Changsheng smiled easily:
"You young people should get to know each other. Though I'm the patriarch, I'm also a father... A capable man who has room for Nian Ci surely has room for my daughter too."
Lin Xiaotian did not object on the spot. He saluted again and followed Jingxin into the carriage.
The carriage was lavishly furnished, predominantly in pink, with fragrant incense burning inside. At a glance, it was clearly the young lady's private carriage.
"Wouldn't it be rather improper for a man like me to