Chapter 29: It Was Deliberately Unintentional
"Xiao Yu cousin, you've already reached Three-Star Fighter after a year?"
Xun'er, seeing this, smiled and leaned over to ask.
"Xun'er, hehe, I heard that you've already become a Fighter. With such talent, you're probably not far behind Xiao Yan from back then."
Xiao Yu nodded and then complimented with a smile.
"Not at all, Brother Xiao Yan was a Fighter at the age of ten and reached Five-Star Fighter by twelve! Xun'er can't compare to Brother Xiao Yan!"
Xun'er shook her head at this and sighed.
"That's true, Xiao Yan really amazed the entire family back then!"
Xiao Yu seemed to recall Xiao Yan's terrifying speed in cultivation, and a hint of emotion appeared on her face.
"However, your talent seems even more terrifying now. You've already reached the fifth segment of Fighting Qi within a year, which is a level you could only reach in three years before!"
Xiao Yu then looked at Xiao Yan, exclaiming in awe.
"Since I've cultivated once before, it's naturally easier now, and I've worked harder than before. After all, these past three years without Fighting Qi haven't been easy," Xiao Yan said with a carefree smile.
"Mm, nice!"
Xiao Yu smiled with satisfaction but then looked somewhat concerned and asked, "By the way, I heard from Xiao Ning that Xiao Yuan has already become a Two-Star Fighter? What happened? You three have always been close, so I thought I'd ask you two. Did he take any pills or overdraw his potential?"
"Don't worry, Xiao Yu cousin, Xiao Uncle and the three elders already checked, and there's definitely no problem," Xun'er said with a gentle smile.
Upon hearing Xun'er's words, Xiao Yu felt relieved and then asked, "Alright, I haven't seen him in a year. I really miss him. Do you two know where he is?"
When the topic came back around, Xiao Yan and Xun'er exchanged a knowing glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.
Luckily, after some delay on their part, Xiao Yuan and Ya Fei had already gone quite far.
"Uh, Third Brother was sent by Father to attend to some guests. How about Xiao Yu Jie waits for a while? After the coming-of-age ceremony officially starts, you'll be able to see him."
Xiao Yan quickly came up with an idea and spoke hastily.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's face visibly showed a sense of disappointment, but she quickly recovered her smile and said softly, "Alright, I'll wait a little longer. By the way, in a few months, the Jia Nan Academy's enrollment will begin. You two should practice hard. I'm telling you in advance that my mentor will be in charge of the enrollment, so it all depends on how you perform to make me look good!"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. He wasn't particularly keen on going to Jia Nan Academy.
After all, with the teachings of Yao Lao, Jia Nan Academy didn't seem that impressive to him!
"The coming-of-age ceremony is about to start!"
At that moment, Xun'er suddenly spoke up to remind them.
Xiao Yu stopped talking, instead looking expectantly at the stage, but she didn't see the young man she was hoping to see.
As everyone took their seats, the coming-of-age ceremony officially began.
The ceremony's procedures were extremely tedious, almost to the point of being mind-numbing.
Sitting in the audience, Xiao Yan looked at his peers on the stage, manipulated like puppets, and couldn't help but rub his forehead. He smiled wryly at Xun'er beside him, "This coming-of-age ceremony is just self-inflicted misery."
"Family rules are like this, just bear with it," Xun'er responded.
Xiao Yuan's voice gradually approached from the distance, and just before Xiao Yan could say anything, Xiao Yu spoke first.
"Xiao Yuan, have you missed me?"
Xiao Yuan helplessly sat down in an empty seat beside her and sighed, "If I'm not mistaken, Jia Nan Academy should not be on a regular break right now. Are you really okay leaving on leave?"
Xiao Yu's eyes brightened upon hearing this, "You know about that? You're so concerned about me?"
Xiao Yuan fell silent.
He was starting to regret sitting down.
He didn't know why, but Xiao Yu had always been very fond of him since they were young.
At first, perhaps it was simply because she found him easy on the eyes, and also because Xiao Yuan was more mature and steady compared to his peers.
However, four years ago, when Xiao Yan's talent started to fade and Xiao Yuan began to shine after taking control of the market, Xiao Yu's enthusiasm for him had only grown stronger.
Out of love for Xiao Yan, she had also treated him well during his fall, frequently standing up for him.
"As a cousin, it's normal to care about my older cousin, right?" Xiao Yuan sighed with a headache.
"Hmph, keep being stubborn. I've known you since you were little. Do you think I don't know what's in your heart?" Xiao Yu smirked proudly and chuckled softly.
"Isn't it possible that we're only one year apart, so we practically grew up together?" Xiao Yuan sighed helplessly.
Although it was much quieter when Xiao Yu wasn't around, Xiao Yuan wasn't quite used to it. After all, since childhood, Xiao Yu had always been the one pulling him into conversations and making him play.
"Exactly, childhood sweethearts!" Xiao Yu eagerly nodded in agreement.
"Mm."
Xiao Yuan fell silent again.
After a moment, he couldn't help but ask, "What exactly have you been learning at Jia Nan Academy?"
Though Xiao Yu had always been clingy, she had never directly said anything like this before, especially with such implied affection.
Xiao Yan and Xun'er, sitting nearby, had their faces slightly tense, but their eyes were filled with amusement.
It had been a year, and Xiao Yu really had changed a lot.
"Hmph, who said I haven't been studying well? Look, I've reached Three Stars!" Xiao Yu said proudly, puffing out her chest.
Xiao Yuan couldn't help but be drawn to her. He noticed that on the light purple school uniform that was stretched at her chest, there were three golden stars.
"How about it, impressive, right?"
Xiao Yu spoke while slightly lifting her chest.
"Indeed, impressive."
Xiao Yuan looked away, nodding seriously.
"Looks like Xiao Yu Jie has gained a lot at Jia Nan Academy."
Hearing Xiao Yuan's praise, a bright smile appeared on Xiao Yu's delicate face.
Looking at Xiao Yu's smile, Xiao Yuan was slightly lost in thought.
Putting aside their almost nonexistent blood relation, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yu could indeed be considered childhood sweethearts.
"By the way, I heard you're a Two-Star Fighter now, hehe, I knew you could do it. Come, let me see what your Fighting Qi attribute is."
Then, as if finally remembering "business," Xiao Yu affectionately grabbed Xiao Yuan's hand and started probing.
Xiao Yuan smiled and activated his Fighting Qi.
"Ice attribute?"
Feeling Xiao Yuan's pure Fighting Qi, Xiao Yu was certain, then picked up her teacup, smiling joyfully, "Quick, freeze the tea for me."
Xiao Yuan didn't say anything but still used his Fighting Qi on his hand, then lightly tapped the teacup, causing the tea inside to freeze.
"Xiao Yuan! You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Xiao Yu glared at him with raised brows, feigning displeasure, lightly punching Xiao Yuan on the arm.
"No, I was deliberately careless!" Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Hmph!"
Xiao Yu shot him a fierce look before popping the ice from the teacup into her mouth, crunching it as she chewed.
Not bad, it was indeed quite refreshing.
(END CHAPTER)
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