The Long-Legged Xiao Yu

Once Hai Bodong's footsteps had faded into the distance, only Xiao Yan and Ya Fei remained in the lounge.

Ya Fei came back to her senses, and an uncontrollable surge of joy welled up inside her.

She was clever enough to understand the key to it all in an instant.

With her relationship with Xiao Yan, let alone being pushed forward by the family as a bargaining chip for a marriage alliance, even rising into the Mittel Family's management, or even taking charge of the entire family one day, as Elder Hai had said, was no longer an unattainable dream.

At the thought, the boulder that had hung over her heart for years finally crashed to the ground.

Having cast off the restraint and deference she had shown before the Supreme Elder, Ya Fei returned to her usual bewitching self.

She moved gracefully over and sat beside Xiao Yan, propping her cheek on one hand as her alluring eyes fixed on him, making no effort to hide her curiosity and playful interest.

She truly wanted to know what means this young boy before her possessed that could make even a Dou Huang expert willingly bow his head in submission.

"Sister Ya Fei, could you not look at me like that every time... I'm still a child." Under her stare, Xiao Yan's scalp prickled. He immediately covered his chest and put on a pitiful, helpless expression.

"What, are you afraid your big sister will eat you?" Ya Fei couldn't help laughing at his act. Her red lips curled into a smile, growing even more bewitching.

"That's hard to say." Xiao Yan gave her a serious once-over.

His gaze slid from her enchanting face down to the graceful curves just visible beneath her qipao, then he nodded solemnly.

"You naughty little brother, do you think your big sister is some demon who eats people without spitting out the bones?"

Ya Fei gave a coquettish scold and raised a hand as if to hit him, but in the end, she merely let it fall lightly on his shoulder and gave him a playful pat.

The touch was so light it could barely be felt. Paired with her coy, charming expression, it was hardly a hit at all—she was plainly acting coy.

Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback by her playful gesture. He sighed inwardly: as expected of Ya Fei. Her ability to get the balance just right was something no one else could imitate, even if they tried.

Every frown and smile, every move and gesture, sent out a lethal charm without her even seeming to notice. She was simply too much to handle.

After staying with Ya Fei a little longer and learning about the progress of the two families' cooperation, Xiao Yan hurriedly took his leave and fled the Mittel Auction House.

Watching the boy's rather flustered retreating figure, Ya Fei finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. Her crisp laughter echoed through the empty lounge for a long time.

Back at the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan walked slowly through its grounds, his gaze passing over every brick and tile, every blade of grass and tree along the way.

Seeing how dramatically the Xiao Clan had changed in just one year, satisfaction and joy welled up in his heart, beyond words.

Witnessing his family grow stronger step by step with his own eyes felt even more refreshing than any elixir.

As he walked, a figure approached from ahead, a faint layer of worry clouding her face.

Xiao Yan instinctively looked up. The first thing to catch his eye was a pair of long, fair legs, straight and slender.

He could recognize someone by her legs alone.

In the Xiao Clan, aside from Xiao Yu, he couldn't think of anyone else with such peerlessly beautiful legs.

"Tsk... Cousin Xiao Yu's legs really are a rare sight in this world." Xiao Yan's gaze lingered on those beautiful legs for a moment longer than it should have, and he murmured under his breath.

"Little Pervert, what are you looking at?" Xiao Yu came closer and noticed Xiao Yan's undisguised stare. The worry on her face immediately vanished, replaced by a flush of embarrassment and anger.

Although Xiao Yan hadn't done anything as disgraceful in this life as sneaking a peek at someone bathing, he had loved staring at her legs since childhood. Add to that his habit of sweet-talking, and over time, he had left Xiao Yu with the deep impression of a "Little Pervert."

So whenever they crossed paths, Xiao Yu couldn't help threatening to beat him up.

"Come on, Cousin Xiao Yu, could you stop calling me Little Pervert every time? It really hurts my bright and upstanding image, okay?" Xiao Yan spread his hands and smiled innocently.

"You just met me and you're already staring at my legs. If you're not a Little Pervert, who is?" Xiao Yu put her hands on her hips and retorted, embarrassed and indignant.

Hearing that, Xiao Yan sheepishly scratched his head and muttered, "Well, your legs look so good."

Though he had only muttered it, Xiao Yu heard every word.

The girl's cheeks immediately burned red. Ashamed and annoyed, she said nothing, simply lifting the jade-like leg she was so proud of and sweeping it toward Xiao Yan's head with a gust of wind.

Slap!

Xiao Yan reacted swiftly and caught Xiao Yu's smooth, fair ankle in one hand.

The touch was warm and smooth, so pleasant he didn't want to let go.

Along with that sweeping leg came the girl's faint, sweet scent, wafting toward him.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, you can scold me all you like, but why are you getting physical?" Xiao Yan held her slender ankle in his large hand, a carefree smile on his face.

With Xiao Yu's current cultivation, not even a Dou Zhe yet, she couldn't hurt him in the slightest, even if he stood there and let her kick until she ran out of strength.

"Little Pervert! Let go of me!" The warmth against her ankle sent Xiao Yu into a fluster. She struggled to pull her leg back, but couldn't break free from his iron-grip hand.

"Ninth Stage of Dou Qi... Not bad. Cousin Xiao Yu, you've been working hard at your cultivation." Xiao Yan sensed her cultivation level and understood. He offered a token compliment, then let go.

"None of your business." Xiao Yu quickly pulled her leg back and looked down at the ankle, which had turned faintly red where he had squeezed it. She rubbed it and muttered in embarrassment and annoyance.

Thanks to Xiao Yan, she had also advanced to the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi ahead of time.

If she could successfully break through to Dou Zhe before Jia Nan Academy's recruitment, the treatment she received at the academy would be entirely different.

But without Qi Gathering Powder to assist her, if she failed to break through, she would not only damage her meridians, her cultivation would fall straight back to the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi.

That was the real reason for the worry between her brows.

Xiao Yan watched her rubbing her ankle with her head lowered, then noticed the lingering cloud of worry between her brows. He had already guessed most of it, so he smiled and said, "Let me guess... Cousin Xiao Yu, are you worried about breaking through to Dou Zhe?"

"Y-You knew?" Xiao Yu was embarrassed as he hit the nail on the head.

"Not only that. I also know you're in urgent need of a dose of Qi Gathering Powder, but you're too embarrassed to ask me for it." Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and leaned closer to Xiao Yu, grinning like he was asking to be punched.

Xiao Yu was even more embarrassed when he exposed what was on her mind, and couldn't find the words to respond.

She did want Qi Gathering Powder. In the whole Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan was probably the only one who could get his hands on it.

But given how she usually acted all fierce and aggressive, she just couldn't bring herself to ask him. She had been considering gritting her teeth and taking a gamble on her own.

Xiao Yan remembered that in the original story, Xiao Yu had only barely broken through to Dou Zhe several years later. This time, without his involvement, she would probably fail as well.

Looking at Xiao Yu's adorable, embarrassed and annoyed expression, Xiao Yan couldn't help laughing, and his voice softened a little without him realizing it. "If you want it, just tell me. There's no need to be embarrassed. We're family. Come by my place tomorrow to pick it up."

Xiao Yu stared blankly at Xiao Yan.

For some reason, she suddenly felt that this Little Pervert, who never seemed serious when he smiled, was actually quite handsome. She found him much easier on the eyes, too.

But when the thought shifted, she couldn't help letting her imagination run wild again.

Xiao Yan had specifically told her to come to his place to pick it up. Was he going to take the opportunity to make some strange request? As she thought about it, a blush spread from her cheeks all the way to her ears.