Regarding Ye Qiu's request for help, Fengzhi agreed very readily. In a few days, he would arrange for Ye Qiu to enroll in school.
When they returned to the small courtyard Fengzhi had arranged for them, Ye Qiu carried Xiao Lan in a princess carry.
She was so full she couldn't move her legs, and if he carried her on his back, it would press on her stomach and be uncomfortable.
"If you eat this much again next time, I won't bother with you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Qiu suddenly felt a surge of spirit power from his heart, and his level instantly broke through to 24.
The blaming expression on his face froze.
"Brother? What were you just saying?" Xiao Lan looked at him teasingly and triumphantly.
"Ah? Haha… I, I was saying… Next time you can eat more!" Ye Qiu chuckled awkwardly, his face burning.
Having tasted the sweetness, he suddenly felt he had been too loud just now.
"No, no, Xiao Lan feels so uncomfortable, ugh~" She patted her round belly, unable to help but let out a burp.
She wrapped her arms around Ye Qiu's neck and whispered into his ear, "Now Xiao Lan and Brother are the same level! Brother needs to work harder, or Xiao Lan will also be stuck."
"Got it!" Being lectured by his own sister felt somewhat strange.
"Mwah~!" A slightly greasy lip print landed on Ye Qiu's face.
Xiao Lan giggled, "This is Brother's fuel! Hehe."
'This is true 'fuel'!'
He helplessly glared at her.
In the evening, Ning Rongrong's eyes were a bit red and swollen, as if she had just cried.
"Miss Ning, are you alright? Are you here to find Xiao Lan?"
Hearing Ye Qiu's voice, she hadn't noticed it before, but now it sounded particularly harsh. Thinking of the vicious words of those people earlier, she felt deeply saddened.
"Do you hate me too?"
"Ah?" Ye Qiu didn't understand why she would ask that, but he knew the answer to this question!
"How could I!"
"You're lying to me!" Ning Rongrong stepped forward, grabbing his collar, looking up at him, her eyes wide with anger. "If you don't hate me, why did you ignore me so many times before! And why do you always call me Miss Ning, Miss Ning!"
"Uh..." Ye Qiu rubbed his nose, a little awkward at being exposed directly.
"So... do you also think I only cause trouble, that I'm spoiled, rude, inconsiderate, and malicious...? That I'm useless except for my identity as Miss Ning!"
She blurted out many words in one breath.
The more she spoke, the more she cried. Ye Qiu didn't know what she had gone through when she went to apologize.
"Answer me! Wuwu..." She tugged at Ye Qiu's clothes, her fists raining down on his chest.
Looking at the somewhat out-of-control Ning Rongrong, Ye Qiu felt a headache coming on.
Big Sister! How am I supposed to answer you like this?
He didn't let her continue her antics, and three tomoe appeared in his eyes, hypnotizing her.
"Brother~ Why is it so noisy?"
Xiao Lan walked out, her eyes still hazy with sleep, rubbing her eyes with a small hand, letting out a surprised sound, somewhat puzzled.
"Huh? What's wrong with Sister Rongrong?"
Ye Qiu couldn't help but shoot her a sideways glance. In just the time it took for one meal, their relationship had reached this point?
Sister, sister, she kept calling.
"It's nothing, she'll be fine after a good sleep!"
Ye Qiu picked up Ning Rongrong and placed her in the room.
...
In the distance, atop a spire, stood two figures.
"Fengzhi, will you be alright doing this?"
"Uncle Sword, let's consider this a lesson for her! Her temper really needs to change! I'll handle the relatives of those disciples!"
"What do you plan to do with that kid Ye Qiu?"
"We'll celebrate him grandly! Such a genius is worth our efforts to win over, not to mention both siblings are monsters!" Fengzhi smiled, 'Buy one get one free, definitely not a loss!'
"Oh, and regarding the matter Ye Qiu asked me to help with, I plan to introduce him to Qinghe. I imagine young people will have more to talk about!"
"What about Rongrong?"
Sword Douluo wasn't very good at these things; he was more concerned about his own little princess. He also noticed that she had a good impression of Ye Qiu.
"Let Rongrong's situation take its natural course... Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's little princess won't have trouble finding a husband!"
Although he said that, Fengzhi still secretly shook his head, 'If her temper doesn't change, it might not be easy.'
...
After entrusting Ning Rongrong to Xiao Lan's care, Ye Qiu had been sitting cross-legged on the bed, cultivating.
He didn't even know when she woke up or when she left the courtyard.
He also didn't know how Xiao Lan comforted her, but when she left, aside from her eyes being a bit red and swollen, she was no longer so sad.
Her steps were even a bit light...
Outside, moonlight spilled down, adding a touch of softness to the flowerbed in the courtyard.
Xiao Lan was by the window outside, secretly peeking in Ye Qiu's direction. Seeing that he was still immersed in cultivation, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, looking back every three steps, she walked towards the courtyard gate, tiptoeing stealthily, sticking her head out the main door.
As if she had found something, her eyes lit up, and she waved towards the outside, keeping her voice as low as possible, fearing she would disturb others.
"Sister Rongrong~ Over here!"
"Xiao Lan..."
"Shh!"
Ning Rongrong walked over and was about to speak when Xiao Lan interrupted her with an outstretched index finger.
"Sister Rongrong~ Did you bring the stuff?"
Looking at her strangely, Ning Rongrong could only follow suit, leaning close to her ear and speaking softly.
"I brought it, but what are you doing..."
"Brother won't let me drink, so let's be careful and don't let him find out! I don't want Brother to be angry."
After saying that, Xiao Lan tiptoed and led Ning Rongrong into her room.
"Xiao Lan Meimei, one more..."
"Uh, Sister Rongrong, cheers!"
The sound of clinking glass cups came from inside.
After a long time, Ning Rongrong's surprised cry and the sound of shattering porcelain came from Xiao Lan's room.
"Ah! Xiao Lan~ Put it down!"
Crash! Bang!
"Xiao Lan... Let go of me! Ah~!"
Ye Qiu, sitting cross-legged on the bed, his ears twitched. He seemed to hear someone calling for help.
So he got up, following the sound.
"Brother~"
"Xiao Lan! Let go of me~! I'm not Ye Qiu! Ah~!"
Standing outside the door, Ye Qiu listened to the sounds coming from inside, his face full of peculiar expression.
Click!
As soon as he opened the door, Ye Qiu furrowed his brows. A strong smell of alcohol assaulted him.
On the table were two wine glasses, and on the floor were shattered pieces of a wine bottle.
His gaze shifted, and a 'Chuan' character appeared between Ye Qiu's eyebrows, with several black lines appearing on his forehead.
On the bed, Xiao Lan's face was flushed, her fair skin turned crimson, her hair disheveled, her eyes slightly narrowed, and her mind unclear.
She was pressing Ning Rongrong beneath her, clinging to her like an octopus, biting her indiscriminately.
"Ye-Ye Qiu! Quickly move her! Ah~ Xiao Lan! Don't grab randomly! My clothes!"
Ning Rongrong had several tooth marks on her face, and her clothes were disheheveled.
Ye Qiu walked forward with a cold face, pinching the back of the drunken Xiao Lan's neck and lifting her up.