Xiao Yu's Long Legs

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

As Ya Fei recovered from her shock, joy surged through her, impossible to contain.

She was sharp enough to grasp the heart of the matter in an instant.

With her connection to Xiao Yan, she no longer had to fear being offered up by the family as a bargaining chip in a marriage alliance. As Elder Hai had said, joining the Mittel Family's leadership one day—even taking charge of the entire family—was no longer an impossible dream.

The weight that had burdened her for years finally lifted.

Free of the restraint and deference she had shown before the supreme elder, Ya Fei returned to her usual alluring self.

She glided over and sat beside Xiao Yan, resting her cheek on one hand. Her captivating eyes fixed on him, making no effort to hide their curiosity and amusement.

She desperately wanted to know what this young man had done to make a Dou Huang expert willingly bow to him.

"Sister Ya Fei, could you stop looking at me like that every time? I'm still a child." Her stare made Xiao Yan's scalp tingle. He clutched his chest and put on a pitiful, helpless look.

"What, afraid I'll eat you?" His act drew a laugh from Ya Fei. Her red lips curved, and her smile grew all the more enticing.

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

His gaze traveled from her alluring face to the graceful curves half-hidden beneath her qipao. Then he nodded with perfect seriousness.

"You little rascal. Do you take me for some man-eating temptress?"

Ya Fei scolded him playfully and raised a hand as if to strike. In the end, she only gave his shoulder a featherlight pat.

The touch was so gentle it barely counted. Paired with her half-indignant, half-coy expression, it looked less like a blow than a show of affection.

Xiao Yan paused, caught off guard. That's Ya Fei for you. She knew exactly how far to go. No one else could imitate that knack, however hard they tried.

Every smile, every gesture radiated irresistible charm without her seeming to try. She was almost too much to handle.

After staying a little longer to hear how the cooperation between their families was progressing, Xiao Yan hurriedly said goodbye and all but fled the Mittel Auction House.

Watching the young man's rather flustered retreat, Ya Fei finally burst out laughing. Her clear laughter lingered in the empty lounge.

Back at the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan walked slowly through the grounds, taking in every brick, every plant along the way.

The changes that had transformed the Xiao Clan in just one year filled him with a satisfaction and joy he could scarcely describe.

Seeing his family grow stronger step by step with his own eyes felt better than any miraculous medicine.

As he walked, someone approached from ahead, a faint worry clouding her face.

Xiao Yan glanced up. The first thing he saw was a pair of long, pale, beautifully straight legs.

He really could recognize her by her legs alone.

In the Xiao Clan, who besides Xiao Yu could have legs like those? He could not think of anyone.

"Honestly... Cousin Xiao Yu's legs are something else." Xiao Yan's gaze lingered on them a moment too long as he murmured to himself.

"What are you looking at, Little Pervert?" Xiao Yu came closer and caught his undisguised stare. The worry on her face vanished, replaced by an embarrassed flush.

In this life, Xiao Yan had never done anything as outrageous as spying on someone bathing. But ever since they were children, he had loved staring at her legs, and his teasing mouth had only cemented his reputation as a "Little Pervert" in her mind.

So whenever they met, Xiao Yu inevitably threatened to beat him up.

"Come on, Cousin Xiao Yu, could you stop calling me Little Pervert every time? It's bad for my sterling reputation." Xiao Yan spread his hands and smiled innocently.

"You stared at my legs the moment we met. If you're not Little Pervert, what are you?" Xiao Yu retorted, hands on her hips and cheeks burning.

Xiao Yan scratched his head awkwardly and muttered, "It's your fault for having such gorgeous legs."

He had muttered it, but Xiao Yu heard every word.

Her cheeks flared crimson. Embarrassed and furious, she said nothing more. She simply lifted one of those legs she was so proud of and swept it toward Xiao Yan's head with a rush of wind.

Smack!

Xiao Yan reacted at once, catching her smooth, pale ankle firmly in his hand.

Her skin felt warm and silky. It was hard to let go.

The sweep of her leg also sent the faint fragrance of her body drifting toward him.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, you can call me names, but why resort to kicking?" Xiao Yan held her slender ankle, smiling as though nothing had happened.

Xiao Yu had not even reached Dou Zhe yet. She could kick him until she exhausted herself, and she still would not hurt him in the slightest.

"Little Pervert! Let go of me!" The warmth around her ankle sent Xiao Yu into a panic. She tried to yank her leg free, but his hand held fast like an iron clamp.

"Ninth Stage of Dou Qi... Not bad. You've been working hard at your cultivation, Cousin Xiao Yu." Xiao Yan sensed her level, offered a token compliment, then released her.

"None of your business." Xiao Yu pulled her leg back at once. Looking down at the faint red marks on her ankle, she rubbed it and muttered crossly.

Thanks in part to Xiao Yan, she had reached the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi ahead of schedule.

If she could advance to Dou Zhe before Jia Nan Academy began recruiting, she would receive very different treatment there.

But without Qi Gathering Powder to help her, a failed breakthrough would damage her meridians and send her cultivation straight back to the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi.

That was the true cause of the worry between her brows.

Xiao Yan watched her rub her ankle and noticed the concern still lingering on her face. He could guess what was troubling her. "Let me guess... You're worried about breaking through to Dou Zhe, aren't you?"

"How... how did you know?" Xiao Yu flushed with embarrassment at having her thoughts laid bare.

"I also know you urgently need Qi Gathering Powder, but you're too embarrassed to ask me for it." Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and leaned closer, wearing an infuriating grin.

Xiao Yu grew even more flustered. She could not find a word to say.

She did want Qi Gathering Powder. In the entire Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan was probably the only one who could get it for her.

But after all the times she had bared her teeth at him, she could not bring herself to ask. She had been thinking of gritting her teeth and taking the gamble herself.

Xiao Yan remembered that, in the original story, Xiao Yu had barely managed to reach Dou Zhe several years later. Without his help this time, she would probably fail.

Her flustered, indignant expression made him smile, and his voice softened without his realizing it. "If you want it, just tell me. There's no need to be embarrassed. We're family. Come to my place tomorrow and pick it up."

Xiao Yu stared at him, stunned.

For some reason, the Little Pervert with the irreverent grin suddenly seemed rather handsome. She found him much easier to look at, too.

Then her thoughts took another turn, and her imagination ran wild.

He specifically wants me to go to his place to get it. He isn't going to use that as a chance to make some strange demand, is he? The more she thought about it, the farther her blush spread, all the way to her ears.