"Well..."
Qian Renyue's question stumped Little Phoenix too. He pouted and said, "Xiao Lu Vine and the Blue Silver Emperor both get such pretty names. Why can't I, Little Phoenix, have one too? Master, you're playing favorites!"
"I'm not playing favorites."
A moment later, the fragrance of tea curled through the air.
Qian Renyue said, "Yaxin already had her name, and Yaxin named Jiu Lan. Say, Little Phoenix, if you really can't think of anything, why not ask Yaxin to name you?"
Xiao Lu Vine??
Little Phoenix thought it over, then refused with righteous conviction. "No!"
"Why not?"
"She's not my master. Why should she name me?"
Qian Renyue said, "Didn't you think the name I gave you was too tacky? Ask her. She can give you one that isn't."
"..."
Little Phoenix twisted his mouth. "Master, this isn't even about whether it's tacky anymore. You're obviously just fobbing me off!"
"Because I can't be bothered to think."
Qian Renyue glanced at Little Phoenix and said nothing more.
"You!"
Little Phoenix knitted his brows tightly. He raised a hand and pointed at Qian Renyue, but couldn't find the words.
Just then, Jiu Lan led Hu Liena and Xie Yue inside.
"If you behave well, I'll give you a good name."
Qian Renyue looked up at Hu Liena and smiled faintly at the newcomers, then lowered her eyes to glance at Little Phoenix.
Behave well?
Little Phoenix's eyebrows slanted into a deep frown. Instinctively, he looked up at Hu Liena and Xie Yue as they approached him and Qian Renyue.
Those two?
Before Little Phoenix could think any further, the pair had reached them.
"Second Young Lady."
Xie Yue bowed in greeting.
Hu Liena also offered her greetings, but said nothing more.
Qian Renyue gestured with her eyes for them to