Chapter 33: So It’s Leng Xiao—Why Is He Here?

The man stood tall and straight, his phoenix eyes slightly upturned, their depths like a lake shimmering with shifting light. An aura of cool detachment enveloped him, making him seem as distant and untouchable as the moon in the sky.

Even in a long gown washed nearly white, he resembled jade among stones, a cypress among pines—a peerless beauty unmatched in this world.

Wen Nuan Nuan already guessed who this was.

Who else but Leng Xiao could live up to “a peerless beauty unmatched in this world”?

Finally, she understood what it meant to stand like an orchid or a jade tree, to smile like the bright moon entering one’s embrace.

Yes, the originally cool and detached male lead, the jade-like, cypress-like Leng Xiao, was now faintly smiling!

And she—her hair loosely tied up, her expression fierce, her mouth stuffed full of steamed buns.

Just as she had said earlier, the sauce from her buns didn’t just drip to the corners of her mouth—it could run all over her hands. And now, it was proven!

This scene was too beautiful; Wen Nuan Nuan didn’t dare dwell on it.

Inwardly, she cursed the pointy-faced, monkey-cheeked man half to death. Why did he have to show up now, of all times, when Leng Xiao was here?

She had originally planned to leave Leng Xiao with an impression of gentleness, virtue, kindness, and grace.

Then, naturally and logically, she could cling to his coattails.

Now, forget it. Better to think about how to be self-reliant.

“Sister-in-law, Eldest Brother is here!” Leng Tian called out excitedly, pulling the flatbed cart from behind.

Thanks! She had eyes; she could see.

Wen Nuan Nuan felt like crying but had no tears.

How could she have known Leng Xiao would come to the city?

If she had known, she would have played the delicate flower and left it all to him.

“Eldest Brother, did you come to see Sister-in-law? This guy is disgusting—he dared to harass her!” Leng Yun pointed angrily at the pointy-faced, monkey-cheeked man.

“Mm, I saw.” Leng Xiao’s deep voice held a hidden trace of amusement.

Wen Nuan Nuan was so embarrassed she could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with her toes!

Wah, Leng Xiao saw everything.

Even her standing with hands on hips, pointing at the pointy-faced man, calling him an ugly toad with wild ideas, a head like a dung bucket—he saw and heard it all!

Whatever. With a defeated sigh, Wen Nuan Nuan hung her little head. As long as she wasn’t embarrassed, the embarrassment belonged to someone else.

Leng Xiao’s amused gaze shifted to Yang Ming. Those impossibly beautiful phoenix eyes turned sinister and ruthless, sending chills down one’s spine.

“Come, let’s talk in the alley.” His clear, cool voice was neither loud nor soft, without fluctuation, yet it carried an intangible, oppressive force.

As if sensing danger, Yang Ming shook his head violently and tried to bolt.

But the tall, slender Leng Xiao grabbed him, lifting him like a chick, and strode straight into the nearby alley.

Pained, agonized screams echoed from within, soothing Wen Nuan Nuan’s heart with satisfaction.

Served him right!

Didn’t he ever consider how important reputation was to a woman?

A lust-blinded scumbag.

After his activity, Leng Xiao emerged, flexing his wrist. The solid muscles all over his body subtly bulged from the exertion, yet his face remained cool and detached.

As if he hadn’t just gone to beat someone up, but to savor a cup of tea or compose a poem.

Wen Nuan Nuan’s previous understanding was completely overturned. She had thought the young, powerful minister was a frail scholar who used words, not fists.

But listening to the painful wails from the alley not far away, then looking at Leng Xiao’s calm, indifferent expression before her—no matter how she looked, he didn’t fit the image of a frail scholar.

One could only say he had nothing to do with frailty.

“Let’s go.” Leng Xiao lifted his gaze expressionlessly. Seeing the girl’s dazed look, he lowered his eyes to conceal the ruthlessness in their depths and asked softly, “Did I scare you?”

“Huh?” Wen Nuan Nuan snapped out of her trance and replied naturally, “No, you drove away the bad guys for me. How could that scare me?”

She wasn’t someone who couldn’t tell right from wrong or appreciate kindness!

“Mhm.” A clear, cool voice responded softly.

The three little ones followed behind very conscientiously, thoughtfully keeping a small distance.

Wen Nuan Nuan’s heart was screaming in refusal—she didn’t need their conscientiousness and thoughtfulness, thank you very much!

What should she do now?

Just thinking about how this exceptionally talented young man beside her would one day coldly and ruthlessly order ‘her’ execution, she instinctively felt uneasy.

The methods, the atmosphere described—even when she was just reading about it, she had been trembling with fear. Now, it had truly become her reality.

“Eldest Brother said you admire me and came here for me?” The cool voice was faint, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Wen Nuan Nuan thought, of course. Someone who could dominate the court in just a few years—how could she easily discern his emotions?

If he were the type to show his feelings, he wouldn’t have become the Chief Grand Secretary who held sway over the court. He would have died countless times long before that!

“You’re a little fairy, and you have a treasure?” The cool voice continued questioning.

Wen Nuan Nuan felt somewhat embarrassed. If her appearance had been impeccable earlier, she might have had the nerve to admit it.

But what kind of little fairy has messy, loose hair?

What kind of little fairy stands with hands on hips, pointing and shouting at people?

What kind of little fairy eats steamed buns until her mouth is greasy?

Even if she had the nerve to admit it, with Leng Xiao’s meticulous mind, he would never believe her.

Sigh, Eldest Brother really told Leng Xiao everything.

Without holding back a single detail.

Truly, he was the number one figure in everyone’s hearts—his influence was just too formidable.

“The treasure is real, but I’m not a little fairy. I said I don’t know why I came here either. Do you believe me? Honestly, I’m quite baffled myself. I really didn’t mean to.” Wen Nuan Nuan fiddled with her fingers awkwardly, her expression unconsciously tinged with dejection.

After all, Leng Xiao was different from Eldest Brother. Would he believe such a bizarre story?

Would he turn her over to the authorities as a demon or monster?

Or distrust her and guard against her.

Transported to this unfamiliar world, Wen Nuan Nuan felt anxious and uneasy—afraid of being distrusted, afraid of being feared.

“Let’s just say you came here for me.” The deep voice remained faint, as if discussing some trivial matter unrelated to him.

Wen Nuan Nuan looked up at Leng Xiao in surprise. He lowered his gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Like a gentle breeze, bright and clear.

Could it be anything more than this?

Wen Nuan Nuan inwardly marveled—truly worthy of being the male lead.

His open-mindedness, his ability to accept things, his intelligence and emotional intelligence—she truly felt inferior!

He even gave her a face-saving reason.

Since Leng Xiao was so reasonable, she should show her sincerity too.

“Don’t worry, I won’t cling to you. You mentioned earlier that if we go to Jingcheng and find a suitable karmic affinity for me, you’d see me off to marriage as an elder brother. I think that’s an excellent proposal!” Honestly, whether there was a karmic affinity or whether she married or not, Wen Nuan Nuan didn’t really care. What she sought was, of course, Leng Xiao’s status as her elder brother.

With this golden thigh by her side, who in Jingcheng—or even the entire world—would dare bully her?

In this ancient era where human life was as cheap as grass, having a powerful golden thigh was like having a cheat code.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but as soon as she finished speaking, Leng Xiao’s expression darkened a few shades.

Wen Nuan Nuan thought uneasily to herself, had he discovered her true intentions?

Did he think she was trying to take advantage of him?

“I won’t take advantage of you for nothing. You know I have a treasure. During this time, I’ll treat the three little ones and you very, very well, ensuring you have everything you need.

In return, once you have power and influence, just look out for me a little. You won’t lose out—this deal is quite a bargain, isn’t it?” Nuan Nuan dangled the bait.

Beside her, Leng Xiao remained silent for a long time.

So long that Wen Nuan Nuan began to worry he wouldn’t agree, her unease growing, until Leng Xiao finally spoke.

“Alright.”

Wen Nuan Nuan’s heart began to burst with fireworks.

Excellent! Leng Xiao had agreed.

Having resolved the issue with Leng Xiao, Wen Nuan Nuan’s anxious heart settled.

From now on, she could peacefully live her days in warmth and comfort.