Apart from Zhao Shuning, who was completely stunned, the Viper on the stage was also in disbelief.
He felt a bit awkward. After all, being told that he was liked by an elder brother who had bullied him for years in public was something that no one could accept right away.
Besides them, Xie Yuan, who was watching from the side, also had a face full of annoyance.
This rascal Xie Yu had no idea what he was talking about.
"Xie Yu, so you have such a strange preference?"
"Me? What strange preference do I have? I'm just admitting my mistakes. Xie An, you mustn't doubt my words. Every word is true. There's not a single lie. Please forgive me, okay?"
The crowd below the stage erupted into an uproar and started whispering to each other.
"Isn't the young master fond of girls? The other day on the boat, he even wanted to take the eldest miss of the Zhao family back as a maid. For all these years, hasn't the young master only been interested in beautiful women?"
"Who knows? You see, after those girls were brought back to the mansion, the young master never touched them. They just served as maids. Maybe those were just his actions to cover up his true feelings."
"You have a point. Why didn't I notice before? It turns out the young master has been living so hard all these years."
"Exactly. Since the young master came, the young master has always been picking on him. Now it seems that he just wanted to get the young master's attention."
"The human heart is unfathomable."
"The human heart is unpredictable."
"The face is human, but the heart is that of a beast."
The servant quickly covered his mouth after realizing what he had said and forced out an embarrassed smile.
And Xie Yu on the stage still hadn't reacted.
Zhao Shuning covered her face and didn't dare to look at the situation below. She used to think this young man named Xie Yu was smart and quick-witted, but now it seemed he was nothing special.
Then she looked at Zhao Xiangxiang beside her.
When Zhao Xiangxiang heard what Xie Yu said, her face changed.
"Zhao Xiangxiang, don't think too much. You know Xie Yu's nature. He's probably just speaking incoherently and doesn't know what he's saying."
Zhao Xiangxiang turned around and said, "Why are you telling me this? What Xie Yu does has nothing to do with me."
Zhao Shuning just smiled and didn't say anything else.
The fight below the stage had obviously reached a fever pitch.
Forget it. It's all fate. Let's see if Xiao An will buy this.
"Xie An, why aren't you saying anything?"
Nonsense. After you said such things, how do you expect him to reply?
"Xie An, can you forgive me? Can we get along peacefully from now on? I'll definitely treat you well from now on."
Xie An turned around and didn't want to look at Xie Yu.
But Xie Yu was quick. He immediately ran to the other side of Xie An and looked at him with a "sincere" look in his eyes.
"Xie An, please forgive me, okay? I promise I'll listen to you from now on. Whatever you say goes."
The spiritual energy in Xie An's body became a bit unstable.
Was Xie Yu out of his mind? Why was he suddenly being so obsequious to him? Could it be that, as he said, he really liked him?
Xie An shook his head, trying to get this absurd thought out of his mind.
"Xie Yu, what on earth are you up to?"
Xie Yu sneakily leaned in and asked, "If I tell you, will you forgive me?"
Xie An immediately jumped far away.
"Look, you still won't forgive me."
Xie An looked at Xie Yu and wondered if he had hit Xie Yu too hard before and made him stupid.
"If you have something to say, say it quickly."
Xie Yu took small steps and got closer to Xie An, whispering softly, "Um, could you please not compete with me for the control of the area north of the Huai River?"
Xie An was stunned.
The people below the stage didn't know what earth-shattering news Xie Yu had whispered to Xie An on the stage that made him look so surprised.
Then, Xie An finally understood.
Thank goodness, it was just this.
"You said all those things to me just for this?"
Xie Yu kept nodding and said "sincerely", "Can you promise me?"
"I never had the intention of managing the area north of the Huai River in the first place. Besides, that's the territory Uncle Xie gave you." Xie An's mind was all on Shui Yunsheng. He didn't want to waste extra time dealing with other things.
He had promised her that when they met again, he would give her a gift. He was determined to make the world's number one sect and become the senior's most capable assistant in the future.
Xie Yu let out a sigh of relief. It seemed he had really judged a gentleman's heart with a villain's mind.
"However, since you're so concerned, I might mention it to Uncle Xie."
"Xie An, I—"
Seeing the relaxed look on Xie An's face, Xie Yu realized that the previous words were just Xie An teasing him.
Xie An smiled, lifted his feet, and walked off the stage.
For some reason, he felt in a great mood.
As he was walking, Xie An's sharp ears caught some movement upstairs. He looked up and saw a girl laughing so hard that tears were almost coming out.
She was wearing a light blue dress, and her long hair fell smoothly on her clothes. She looked so cute and charming when she laughed.
That face was very familiar.
It was Zhao Shuning, the former leader of the Shui Yunsheng Gang.
Why was she here?
The Viper's heart skipped a beat. He thought Zhao Shuning looked so familiar. This familiarity wasn't because she was Zhao Shuning, but because she resembled someone in his memory. He just couldn't remember who it was.
Seeing her laughing so happily, the Viper first looked puzzled, and then his face turned red.
Zhao Shuning's position was just right, with a clear view.
Presumably, she had seen all his and Xie Yu's actions, expressions, and words.
That was why she was laughing so happily.
After getting off the stage, Xie An immediately returned to his room.
He left many people standing there, looking stunned.
Xie Yu bounced up to Xie Yuan at this time and flattered him, "Father, look, I'm getting along peacefully with Xie An as you wanted. Aren't you happy?"
Xie Yuan gave Xie Yu a meaningful look.
Then, Xie Yuan flicked his sleeves and left the competition area.
"This old man has such a strange temper. No matter what I do, I can never meet his expectations. Let him be. Anyway, the area north of the Huai River is still mine. Xie An said he wouldn't compete with me, and he won't."
Xie Yu was feeling very smug. He looked up at the maids.
For some reason, since he got off the stage, the maids' eyes had been following him. When he won a competition in the past, he never saw them being so worshipful of him.
Could it be that he had become even more handsome?
That was why these maids couldn't bear to take their eyes off him?
Thinking this way, Xie Yu's steps became even more ostentatious.