Fortunately, Zhao Xue heard the commotion outside and rushed out in time.
Taking a look, he realized that none of the people involved were easy to offend.
He quickly invited everyone into the house.
At this moment, Zhao Shuning was talking to Ye Xingchen.
"Xingchen, if you want to go back, could you wait until you've recovered from your injuries?"
"Sister, the longer I stay here, the more dangerous it will be for your Zhao family. Now, you have such a wonderful family. I can't bring misfortune to you."
"What nonsense. You're my younger brother."
"What about the Lin family?"
"Leave the matter of the Lin family to me. By the way, since you've offended the Lin family, if you go out, you'll surely be hunted down and have nowhere to stay. Here, I'll write you a letter. Go to Changwu Fort in Zhoujiang and find Situ Yun. After Situ Yun knows it's you, he'll take you to meet the Chu siblings. Wait until after my birthday banquet. There will be some conflicts between me and the Lin family. It's not appropriate for you to stay here."
Ye Xingchen nodded.
"I'll follow whatever you arrange, sister."
Zhao Shuning's considerations and thoughts were much more comprehensive than Ye Xingchen's.
"Miss, Miss Kong and the others have arrived. They want you to go to the front hall to receive them right away."
"Okay."
The maid withdrew.
Zhao Shuning turned back to Ye Xingchen and said, "Come with me."
Ye Xingchen got up and followed Zhao Shuning to the front hall.
The people of the Zhao family all knew that Zhao Shuning was very close to this young man surnamed Ye, but they were tight - lipped. They knew that there were some things they shouldn't ask, so they would never say an extra word.
When Zhao Shuning led Ye Xingchen there, Du She (Poisonous Snake) also arrived.
Seeing Du She, Ye Xingchen knew he should be his sister's friend, so he nodded at him.
But Du She's face suddenly turned bright red. Without even giving a basic response, he walked into the main hall.
Ye Xingchen was utterly confused.
He looked back at Zhao Shuning. Zhao Shuning was first looking blank, and then there was a hint of a smile in the corner of her eyes.
After entering the house.
Kong Shishuang stood up and said, "Zhao Shuning, long time no see. Come on, give me a hug."
After returning Kong Shishuang's enthusiastic hug, Shuang'er also rushed over.
The gifts they brought were all the best things from Yanyu Tower.
Ling Sese stepped forward and gave two books to Zhao Shuning.
"I know it's not easy for you to travel the world. These two books are the statistics of some risky areas on the Nine - State Continent and some local forces I've collected over the years. I don't know if they'll be helpful to you. It's all my sincere wish, so I'm giving them to you."
Zhao Shuning quickly took them. These two books would be very useful to her in the future.
At this time, Jun Jiu said, "Zhao Shuning, why can't you see me?"
"Jun Jiu? Why are you here too?"
"Here, for you."
Jun Jiu handed a wrapped gift box to Zhao Shuning and then said, "I was just worried that your sharp tongue had offended too many people. I was thinking that maybe no one would come to your sixteenth - birthday banquet and you'd feel lonely. Well, now it seems I've overthought it. It's so lively here, all noisy."
Kong Shishuang naturally knew that Jun Jiu was referring to her.
She wasn't angry because her attention was on Xie An at the moment.
"Alright, everyone must be tired from the journey. Go back to your rooms and rest first. Our banquet will officially start in two days."
Zhao Shuning talked with Kong Shishuang and the others for a long time.
After that, the servants led them to the guest rooms.
After those people left, Du She also planned to go out. With Ye Xingchen here, he always felt uncomfortable. Thinking of what had happened that day, Du She still felt ashamed to face Zhao Shuning.
"Xingchen, could you help me entertain Xiao An? I'll go and check if those yards are comfortable for them to stay in."
"Okay."
Xie An smiled at Zhao Shuning, looking a bit awkward.
As soon as Zhao Shuning left, he immediately wanted to follow her out.
"Are you Du She, the leader of Shuiyunsheng?"
Ye Xingchen spoke, and Du She had to stop.
"Sister asked me to take you to your yard. Just follow me."
Xie An had to lower his head and follow Ye Xingchen reluctantly.
"I've heard of Shuiyunsheng. Over the years, you've managed Shuiyunsheng very well. Sister must be very grateful to you."
Xie An didn't say a word.
Ye Xingchen continued, "Did you always stay in Lanxin Pavilion when you came here before?"
"Yeah."
"Are you used to it?"
"Yeah."
"If you need anything, just tell me. Sister will be very busy these days and may not have time to take care of you."
"Yeah."
"By the way, your name is Xie An, right? I'm Ye Xingchen. Can I call you Xiao An from now on?"
"No."
Ye Xingchen turned back in surprise and said with a faint smile, "I thought you'd only say 'yeah'."
As they walked forward, Du She became quiet again.
Ye Xingchen said, "I always feel like you have some opinions about me. I think you may have some misunderstandings. Zhao Shuning is my sister. We're just siblings."
"Yeah."
"I can tell that your attitude towards my sister is different from others. Sister also approves of you very much. Xiao An, in the future, if you feel lonely and unbearable, you can come to me."
Du She thought: Didn't he say not to call him Xiao An?
He stopped in his tracks.
Ye Xingchen said, "It may sound strange to you, but sometimes I can see what some people are thinking. You're actually very lonely in your heart. You have a lot of words but no place to pour them out, right?"
Du She gave a low "yeah".
Then he quickly shook his head.
The young man's words seemed to have a kind of magic that made people unconsciously want to pour out everything to him.
For some reason, when Ye Xingchen called him Xiao An, it was so natural that Du She didn't feel the slightest bit of aversion.
Normally, when Xie Yu called him Xiao An, he would get a cold stare from Du She.
Maybe it was because Ye Xingchen was thin, pale - faced, and his words were so gentle.
Although he was a man, he could easily arouse the protective desire in other men's hearts.
Du She shook his head. What was he thinking?
"Here we are."
"Thank you."
Du She entered Lanxin Pavilion. Just as he was about to close the door, Ye Xingchen gently placed his hand on the door.
Du She asked, "Is there anything else?"
"What I said just now was serious. If you have anything to say, you can come to the Zhao family and tell me. I won't be here in a while."
Du She asked in surprise, "Where are you going?"
"To where I should go."
After Ye Xingchen said that, he turned around and walked back the way he came.
Du She stepped out of his room and asked behind him, "Why are you telling me these things?"
"Because—"
Ye Xingchen turned back, and the smile on his face was so gentle.
"I think we're kindred spirits."