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Xun'er's delicate, porcelain-like face curved into a faint, knowing smile. "Brother Xiao Yan, do you know the background of this Miss Ya Fei?"
"I don't," Xiao Yan admitted honestly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But perhaps you do, Sister Xun'er?"
"In the Jia Ma Empire," Xun'er began slowly, her voice calm but carrying weight, "there are three great aristocratic families that stand above all others.
Miss Ya Fei belongs to the Mitel family ... the wealthiest of them all."
Her clear, jewel-like eyes flickered as she continued, "She is not just any member ....she's a direct descendant.
In fact, she's practically in charge of the entire auction house here in Wutan City."
"The Mitel family?!" Xiao Yan's eyes widened.
He had heard of the name before. In comparison, the Xiao family's influence seemed almost insignificant.
No wonder his father had personally escorted him to this banquet.
If he refused the invitation, he might unintentionally offend someone whose influence far exceeded their own.
That could put his father in a very difficult position.
But another question nagged at him.
"Xun'er… how do you know all this? I doubt even my father knows these details. Where did you hear it from?"
For the briefest moment, Xun'er's expression faltered .....a tiny crack in her otherwise calm mask.
Then she smiled again, soft and mysterious, saying nothing.
Seeing her dodge the question, Xiao Yan sighed and gave a helpless smile.
Although Xun'er bore the same "Xiao" surname, she wasn't related to him by blood.
He had never met her parents, and every time he tried to ask, her usual warm smile would vanish, replaced by guarded silence.
There was even… a trace of fear in her eyes.
Her background was a mystery .... one Xiao Yan had never been able to unravel.
No matter how cleverly he probed, she always had a way of turning the conversation aside.
"Well, it's getting late," Xiao Yan said at last, glancing at the dimming sky. "Sister Xun'er, you should rest."
He turned and walked away, his figure retreating down the path.
Xun'er stood there, watching his back. Her eyes were calm .....serene like a lotus untouched by dust. But deep within, her thoughts rippled.
After a long silence, she spoke softly into the air.
"Uncle Ying… come out."
From behind a towering tree, a shadow detached itself from the darkness ..... silent, smooth, and unnervingly quick. The figure knelt respectfully behind her.
"Miss, what are your orders?" the shadowy man asked in a low, steady voice.
"Tomorrow, follow Brother Xiao Yan," Xun'er instructed. Her voice remained calm, but a trace of authority sharpened her tone. "Protect him in secret. And while you're at it… find out what this Miss Ya Fei truly intends."
"Yes, Miss," Uncle Ying replied without hesitation. Then, like mist under the sun, he vanished.
Xun'er's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint chill settling on her otherwise gentle features.
"Miss Ya Fei… calling for Brother Xiao Yan so suddenly… what exactly are you planning?"
She paused, her gaze turning cold as the winter moon.
"No matter who you are… you had better not harbor ill intentions. Otherwise…"
Her words trailed off, but the unspoken threat lingered in the air like a blade's edge.
-------------
The next day
The sun was already high, flooding the room with warm light.
The red couch was a disheveled mess, its silken sheets tangled .... silent proof of last night's intense passion.
Ye Wu lay asleep, one arm wrapped possessively around Ya Fei's slender waist.
The woman in his arms stirred first. Carefully slipping free, Ya Fei sat up, her lips curving into a sweet smile as she gazed at his sleeping face.
Without waking him, she glided across the room, her movements graceful, and began to wash and dress herself.
When she returned, she leaned over the bed and gently nudged him. "Brother Ye Chen , it's getting late. Xiao Zhan and his son will be here soon."
Ye chen's eyes opened slowly. He blinked against the sunlight, muttering, "Already this late?"
Realizing the luncheon with Xiao Zhan was imminent, he swung his legs off the bed and began to prepare. As a true disciple of the Yunlan Sect, he couldn't afford to appear careless .....he needed to radiate strength and presence.
Only with a commanding aura could he keep Xiao Zhan and his son in check.
A mischievous smile curved his lips as he glanced at Ya Fei. "Sister Ya Fei, won't you join me in the bath?"
Ya Fei, now dressed in elegant robes, rolled her eyes. "I've already washed."
"Really? Is it clean? Let me check for myself."
Before she could react, Ye Chen swept her into his arms in a sudden princess carry and strode toward the bath.
"You rogue! Put me down!" she protested, wriggling. But against his iron grip, her struggles were in vain.
"Fine," she huffed, surrendering, "I'll do it myself."
She stepped into the bathroom ahead of him, her tone shifting. "Brother Ye Chen , let me scrub your back."
He agreed with a satisfied nod.
One by one, her robes slipped away, revealing skin as pale as jade. In public, Ya Fei was an untouchable goddess ...regal, aloof, and worshipped by countless admirers. But here, before Ye Chen , all that majesty melted away, replaced by a quiet, almost submissive tenderness.
In this world where the strong were revered and the weak held no power, women without cultivation had little choice but to lower their pride. Ya Fei understood this better than anyone — and she had learned how to survive in the cracks between giants.
Half an hour later, they emerged from the bath, Ye Chen dressed immaculately in his robe, checking his reflection in the mirror.
Ya Fei busied herself tidying the room. The chaos from last night was… too private for a maid's eyes.
Though usually composed, her cheeks flushed slightly at the sight of certain "traces" left behind.
At last, Ye Chen straightened his collar and gave a satisfied nod.
"Let's go. Xiao Zhan and his son should be here by now."
The two left the room together — just as, outside the manor gates, Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan arrived.
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