Travel: Imperial Capital arc (2): old stories from the south of the city

Meanwhile, on Aemeath's side...

"Sister A-Xue is quite strong!" Aemeath exclaimed as she watched Xiao Xue huff and puff as she carried her rather heavy suitcase into the house.

"I learned it from doing tours and cosplay," Xiao Xue wiped the sweat from her forehead. "And I also learned a little self-defense."

"Wow, that's amazing!" Aemeath clapped enthusiastically.

"Actually, one slap from you could send me back to the ground and regrow..." Xiao Xue said with a dark expression.

After packing her luggage, Xiao Xue, as one of the hosts, naturally took Little Ai on a tour of the courtyard house, introducing the location, layout, and purpose of each area so that Aemeath could have a basic understanding of the place.

But Little Ai was clearly more curious about something else at that moment.

"Speaking of which, didn't Sister A-Xue and A-Yu have a bad relationship before?" Aemeath asked suspiciously. "I heard him say at the airport entrance that you used to look down on him."

"Uh... if I told you I used to beat him up, would you beat him up for him?" Xiao Xue blinked a couple of times, a little flustered.

To be honest, even Hajiling would be dizzy for a while if Little Ai really punched her twice, let alone Lao Xue.

"Hmm... maybe?" Aemeath said with a bright smile, "After all, revenge is a dish best served cold."

(How is this proverb used?)

"To be honest, these are all old stories. Do you really want to hear them?" Xiao Xue asked again to confirm. "Honestly, when you're out having fun, just enjoy yourself. Don't gossip about things that aren't relevant; it'll ruin your mood."

"A-Yu rarely talks to us about himself. Every time we ask, he brushes us off with excuses like 'Let bygones be bygones,'" Aemeath sighed. "But I really want to know more about him."

Looking at Little Ai's serious profile, Lao Xue hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

"Well, he didn't ask me to keep this a secret anyway, so it's no big deal to tell you." Xiao Xue shrugged and smiled. "As for the changes in our relationship, that goes back a few years."

"So that's how it is. Although my cousin and I did dislike each other at first, after going through so many things, our relationship has gradually normalized." Xiao Ling summarized her relationship with her cousin.

"That doesn't sound like a very pleasant experience..." Iuno frowned. "Thanks for your hard work, Blank."

"Is this a common problem in large families...?" Ciaccona Kong, who had listened to the whole thing, felt quite moved.

"It's alright, at least by my eldest uncle's generation, the people in charge have become much more open-minded. They always ask for the opinions of the family members," Xiao Ling said with a smile. "Back then, my mother always went against my grandfather, and my eldest uncle acted as a buffer between them, until my mother couldn't stand my grandfather's domineering ways anymore and ran away from home."

"If your life is planned out so clearly by others, then there's no point in living it," Iuno nodded in deep agreement.

"I'm also very fortunate that my mother isn't a pampered little flower in a greenhouse, but rather an ice queen standing proudly in the wind and snow," Xiao Ling said with a gentle smile. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here."

At the same time, Xiao Yue, who was sitting in the courtyard, suddenly sneezed.

"Achoo!"

"Sister Yue, why did you suddenly sneeze? Did you catch a cold?" Lynae, who was sitting next to her, handed her a tissue.

"Thank you," Xiao Yue said with a smile. "I don't think I'll catch a cold, but I keep feeling like someone's cricketing behind my back."

Lynae had packed her luggage earlier and was feeling a bit bored with nothing to do when she suddenly saw Xiao Yue sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun and lost in thought. So she went over and chatted with this elder for a while.

"Speaking of which, I've been wanting to ask this for a while now. Why didn't Uncle and the others let you, Sister Yue, come and help?" Lynae's eyes were full of questions. "After all, there's strength in numbers, isn't there?"

"That's a long story~" Xiao Yue stretched and a look of reminiscence appeared between her brows.

"Back then, I couldn't accept my father's autocratic ways, so I ran away from home in a fit of anger. I was gone for more than ten years. By the time my uncle Xiao Yu found me, I had already developed health problems due to long-term overwork."

"My older brother and sister have spoiled me since I can remember. They would always find a way to give me things that I couldn't get from my grandfather," Xiao Yue said with a gentle smile. "So, the first thing they did when they found me was to take me and Xiao Yu back to our family. My second sister even personally took care of my health."

"Sister Xiao Ji is a doctor?" Lynae asked in surprise. "But the clothes she makes are of very good quality, comparable to those made by Chisa's parents."

"Actually, fashion design is just a hobby for her," Xiao Yue explained. "Her main focus is on traditional Chinese medicine, and she's mentored quite a few outstanding students."

"Oh, I see. No wonder I could smell herbs on her."

Xiao Yue and Lynae turned to look at the source of the sound at the same time, and saw Lupa coming out of her room, who had just overheard their conversation.

"Where were you two talking about? Do you mind having another pair of ears?" Lupa asked with a warm smile.

"Please sit down, there's another seat here." Xiao Yue smiled and gently patted the seat to her right, gesturing for Lupa to sit down.

"Yay! Here I come!"

Lupa sat down to Xiao Yue's right with great delight and joined the conversation. The three of them chatted about their past over tea, and seemed to be having a very pleasant time.

"I never knew you had such a 'glorious era,' Sister A-Xue!" Aemeath smiled teasingly.

"Ugh--I didn't even want to mention it anymore, but every time I think back to myself back then, my toes dig out of shape..." Xiao Xue said, feeling utterly exhausted.

"It's quite normal to be blinded by love," Aemeath said with a smile, trying to comfort her. "They say beauty Xi Shi in the eye of the beholder, and we can't help but see the person we like through a lover's lens."

"Think positively, at least you weren't fooled by his sweet talk, were you?"

"Yeah, it's good that my cousin is here. I heard he got into fights in high school. I thought he was one of those good-for-nothing hooligans back then."

"A-Yu couldn't possibly be that kind of person. He would always use his power to protect others, never to bully the weak."

"Your current appearance is a case of beauty being in the eye of the Xi Shi," Xiao Xue teased.

"Lover? No, no~ We're a proper couple now~" Aemeath pointed out seriously, "We've even done everything we're supposed to do."

"Huh?" Xiao Xue is not responding.

Wait, is it progressing that fast? It's only been less than half a year, right? Is this correct?

(Yes, yes, oh no, oh yes.)