Chapter 4: Xiao Yu

"Who are you calling small? Where exactly am I small?" Xiao Yu, hearing this, immediately became like a ruffled kitten. She pounced on Xiao Se from behind and began to playfully claw at him.

Feeling the softness behind him and the faint, sweet fragrance radiating from the young girl, Xiao Se felt his face flush. He sighed, "It’s certainly not small."

"You—" Hearing Xiao Se’s suggestive remark, Xiao Yu felt a mix of delight and shy indignation, a seductive blush instantly spreading across her pretty face.

Xiao Se was quick-witted. Before an awkward atmosphere could settle, he changed the subject: "Xiao Yu, is there something you need from me?"

"What? Can’t I come to see you unless there’s a reason?" Xiao Yu let go of him and scolded.

"Of course you can. You’re always welcome," Xiao Se laughed.

The story of how they met was quite comical. When Xiao Se first returned to the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yu’s grandfather, the Great Elder, had introduced them in hopes of fostering an alliance. Xiao Yu, however, had resisted vehemently, mistakenly believing her grandfather was trying to arrange a marriage. Being a spirited girl, she refused point-blank and made quite a scene. Xiao Se, preferring his peace, simply went about his own business and never sought her out.

That changed one day when Xiao Se went to the back mountains of the Xiao Clan to find a place to train. He happened upon Xiao Yu, who was about to undress for a dip in the hot spring. Knowing the original story, he was aware that Xiao Yan would soon arrive to peek. Wanting to deny Xiao Yan that advantage, Xiao Se stepped out just as she was about to remove her outer garment, warning her that Xiao Yan would be coming to train soon and that she should proceed only if she didn't mind being watched. Then, he turned and left.

Xiao Se never knew exactly what happened that day, but ever since then, Xiao Yu’s attitude toward him had undergone a 180-degree turn. It had even become somewhat intimate.