I want you to work by my side

To avoid embarrassing himself, Xiao Yan hurriedly shifted his attention to the old man in green, his gaze finally settling on the old man's chest.

There were no gold stars embroidered there. Instead, there was something resembling a medicinal furnace.

On the surface of the furnace, two silver ripples shimmered with a noble glow.

Ya Fei's attention was not on Xiao Yan. Looking at Xiao Chen, she said with a smile, "Senior, this is Master Gu Ni of our auction house. He is a Second-Rank Alchemist."

Xiao Chen nodded lightly. He already knew all this.

Xiao Yan's brows, however, rose instinctively.

This was his first time meeting an alchemist other than Yao Lao.

The old man's face glowed with health. Although his green robes looked ordinary, light seemed to flow faintly through them.

His ordinary, aged face bore a trace of barely concealed arrogance, something every alchemist possessed.

Yet that trace of arrogance instantly vanished without a trace when Xiao Chen looked at him.

The middle-aged man carefully picked up the jade bottle from the table and handed it to Gu Ni.

Taking the white jade bottle, Gu Ni gently sniffed its refreshing fragrance. Not daring to conduct any further tests, he turned to Ya Fei and said, "The quality is exceptional. Whoever refined this must be an Advanced Alchemist!"

Hearing this, Ya Fei immediately smiled eagerly at Xiao Chen and asked, "Senior, do you intend to auction this spiritual liquid?"

"Yes. What do you think it is worth?"

Covering her red lips with her delicate hand, Ya Fei chuckled softly, her full breasts tracing breathtaking curves. "Senior, this spiritual liquid can aid cultivation at the Dou Qi Stage. It is worth quite a fortune."

Xiao Chen nodded slightly and remained silent.

Looking at the Xiao Clan ancestor before her, who looked just like a youth, Ya Fei's delicate brows drew together slightly.

It seemed the beauty she took such pride in had failed to have any effect on this Xiao Clan ancestor.

That made sense. She had heard this Xiao Clan ancestor had lived for thirty thousand years. What sort of beauty had he not seen?

She helplessly pursed her rosy lips, feeling somewhat disappointed.

Exchanging a glance with Master Gu Ni beside her, she lightly bit her red lip with her pearly teeth and could only ask in a soft, gentle voice, "Senior, most of Wutan City's businesses are now in the Xiao Clan's hands. I would like... would like to know your stance toward our Mittel Auction House."

"My stance toward the Mittel Auction House?" Xiao Chen smiled faintly.

"Yes." Ya Fei wore a smile, but her heart grew tense.

Xiao Chen lowered his gaze to Ya Fei's snow-white feet, concealed beneath her tight red dress. After a moment's silence, he said softly, "Everyone else, leave. Xiao Yan, you too."

For Ya Fei to have become the Mittel Auction House's chief auctioneer, she was naturally no lamp that burned little oil.

Having read the original work many times, Xiao Chen knew this woman was not merely a decorative vase blessed with beauty.

Alone in the room with Xiao Chen, Ya Fei felt a little nervous, her tightly clenched hands slick with sweat.

Living in Wutan City, she had long since thoroughly investigated the recent news of the Xiao Clan ancestor Xiao Chen's emergence.

Whatever the truth might be, the mere ability to drain Wutan City of its Dou Qi was enough to show how terrifying this Xiao Clan ancestor's strength was!

Lightly biting her red lip with her pearly teeth, Ya Fei secretly studied Xiao Chen from the corner of her eye.

He was tall and slender, with a handsome face and bright eyes beneath his brows. Both his physique and bearing were outstanding.

Yet the faint curve at the corners of his mouth kept Ya Fei from regarding him as an ordinary youth.

She knew very well that the Xiao Clan's rapid rise in strength and the destruction of the Jia Lie Family and Ao Ba Family were all because of the Xiao Clan ancestor before her.

"You're very nervous?" Just as Ya Fei's thoughts raced, Xiao Chen suddenly spoke in a level voice.

The smile on her face stiffened slightly. After several breaths of silence, Ya Fei answered honestly, "I'm afraid there aren't many people who could remain calm before you, Senior..."

Xiao Chen raised his brows, then suddenly tilted his chin toward a nearby chair. "Sit."

Not daring to hesitate, Ya Fei obediently complied, moving with light, graceful steps to sit opposite Xiao Chen.

Her alluring, elongated eyes stared at the floor with a hint of nervousness.

"Were you surprised that I came?" Looking at the obedient Ya Fei before him, Xiao Chen's gaze grew slightly distant before he asked with a faint smile.

Ya Fei brushed aside the dark hair that had fallen across her forehead, pursed her red lips, and said with a wry smile, "Mostly, I couldn't believe you would come in person, Senior."

Hearing this, Xiao Chen nodded lightly.

"Actually, I came specifically for you."

"Senior, do you mean...?" Hearing Xiao Chen's words, Ya Fei immediately spoke somewhat timidly.

Yet a carefully concealed flash of delighted surprise passed through her beautiful eyes.

"I've looked into you. I think very highly of you."

Xiao Chen leaned back slightly, shifting his posture, then said, "I want you to work by my side. Are you willing?"

Although his words differed somewhat from what she had imagined, they were not too far off. Ya Fei's pretty face flushed slightly as she said, "It would be my honor to work by your side, Senior."

Then the corners of Xiao Chen's mouth lifted. "Do you know how to warm a bed?"

Ya Fei's expression froze on the spot.

Xiao Chen waved a hand. "You seemed too nervous, so I was only joking. Besides, this weather hardly calls for someone to warm the bed."

Ya Fei immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Her eyes shifted, and she suddenly realized that this Xiao Clan ancestor did not seem as difficult to get along with as she had imagined.

Handsome, powerful, and humorous too...

"Now I'll ask you again. Are you willing to work for me?" Xiao Chen lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers.

"Of course I am." Ya Fei raised her head, her eyes smiling.

"You should know what I want you to do. By the way, does the imperial capital know about me?"

"The news hasn't spread."

"Senior, do I look like the sort of foolish woman with a large chest and no brains?" Ya Fei spread her hands innocently.

Staring earnestly at Ya Fei's chest, Xiao Chen finally nodded after a moment. "Your chest certainly is large. Unfortunately, whether you have any brains will depend on your performance from now on."

"..."

With Xiao Chen taking liberties with her while wearing such an earnest expression, Ya Fei could only smile helplessly.

Even setting aside Xiao Chen's status and strength, his exceptionally handsome looks alone made it difficult to dislike him.

Ya Fei could not help reflecting that she really was a creature who judged by appearances...

"Then what do I need to do now?" Ya Fei watched Xiao Chen a little nervously. This was the question she wanted to ask most.

Being able to work beside someone as powerful as Xiao Chen was naturally a good thing, but she had her own concerns and boundaries.

"Carry on as usual. Do whatever you ought to do. Don't worry. With me here, the Mittel Family will be yours in the future." Xiao Chen shrugged.

Yet his casual words made Ya Fei's breathing quicken.

"I look forward to working together." Xiao Chen smiled and extended his hand.

"From now on, I'll be there whenever you call." Gracefully extending her delicate hand, Ya Fei smiled radiantly.

Nodding, Xiao Chen shook that soft, delicate hand, then released it and rose.

Ya Fei hurriedly stood as well.

"I was joking earlier. I believe in your abilities and your intelligence. Give the Xiao Clan's businesses a helping hand."

With that, Xiao Chen smiled lightly, turned, and left, clean and decisive, without the slightest dragging through mud or water.

Standing where she was, Ya Fei watched the youth's figure recede, shaking her head with a wry smile. "To think the Xiao Clan actually has an ancestor. It's truly hard to believe."

"I really don't understand that girl from the Nalan Family. How could she break off her engagement to Xiao Yan? Ah, I'm afraid Nalan Su will regret it enough to cough up blood in the future."