Chapter 30: Big Sister, I’m not a kid anymore

Dong Xue carried the freshly brewed tea and walked quietly into the inner room.

In the room, there was a soft couch.

It was still the one commonly used by the lord, but—

Three years ago, the ordinary soft couch now had densely embedded gemstones in its armrests and backrest. The gemstones were polished smoothly with excellent color, shining brightly even in the dim room, dazzling the eyes.

On the soft couch, a layer of fur from the polar snow wolf was laid out, a huge piece that was fluffy, warm, and comfortable, covering the entire couch.

At this moment, on the soft couch adorned with gemstones and covered with fur from the polar snow wolf, a beauty in a black dress was half-reclining.

The beauty had a cold expression, and a hint of laziness in her brows and eyes softened that coldness, making her appear only a bit aloof.

A fluffy creature like a furball nestled in the woman’s arms, with the same lazy demeanor, occasionally yawning with a small mouth.

As Dong Xue entered the room, the half-reclined Nan Yuan lazily opened her eyes.

“Lord, the tea is here,” Dong Xue whispered.

Three years later, when facing the Lord with a changed temperament, Dong Xue still felt a bit uneasy.

Three years ago, she secretly sought out the old housekeeper and saved those servants. She thought the lord would be angry when she found out, and she even prepared herself to be demoted to a lowly maid.

However, the Lord never mentioned that matter and instead let her continue serving by his side.

She became the only high-ranking maid that others could only admire from a distance.

“What time is it?” Nan Yuan sat up a bit, and her bare feet stepped on the snow fox fur on the ground.

“Lord, it has just passed the Youshi hour.”

(T/N: Youshi hour is between 5-7 p.m.)

Nan Yuan expressionlessly looked outside the window. “He’s not back yet?”

Dong Xue had long mastered the ability to understand the Lord’s intentions with just a few words. Hearing this, she replied, “The young master may have gone hunting for spirit beasts again.”

After saying that, she respectfully bowed to the Lord and voluntarily withdrew.

Nan Yuan had no reaction, but the fluffy creature in her arms, Xiao Tang, made a human-like gesture of spreading its paws.

The fur they were lying on was from the fierce Polar Snow Wolf. The ground was covered with the fur of the elusive and fast Snow Mist Mountain Snow Fox, suitable for stepping on with bare feet. The inner room was almost filled with these things.

Oh, and there were several more of Yuan Yuan’s fluffy capes.

Was that kid planning to exterminate all the long-haired spirit beasts outside Snow City?

Nan Yuan yawned and patted Xiao Tang’s plump little butt. “Xiao Tang, go call Ah Qing back. It’s almost time for dinner.”

Xiao Tang crossed its paws and said, “Hmph, it’s always me. This time, it’s your turn.”

Nan Yuan stared at its round body and asked, “Why are you so lazy?”

Xiao Tang: …

Angry, clearly, Yuan Yuan was lazier than it!

In the end, Nan Yuan didn’t ask for the little creature’s opinion and directly carried the round creature out.

Outside Snow City, the heavy snow had just stopped, and at a glance, the sky and earth seemed to merge into a vast expanse of white.

Snow Mist Mountain.

A young man in black armor was fighting with a spirit beast that resembled a mix between a wolf and a leopard.

The spirit beast was massive, but the young man was incredibly fast. After several evasions, he ruthlessly stabbed the creature’s neck with a dagger, then slashed across its abdomen.

In an instant, a chilling fierceness flashed in the young man’s eyes.

“Ah Qing.” Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind, followed by a yawn.

The hostility in the young man’s eyes faded away, and he quickly turned around, revealing a face that was ugly and unbearable. When he saw the person who had arrived… —

In an instant, a bright smile appeared on his face, and his pair of pitch-black eyes were shining brightly.

“Sister, why did you come?” The young man’s voice still carried a lingering childishness, and amid its clarity, there was an unmistakable joy.

Since the first time he did a task for the Lord, Pei Ziqing could speak. It was the woman in front of him who cured his mute condition.

In these few years, the woman had given him too much, and this was just one of them.

Nan Yuan rubbed the furball in her arms, which was also yawning, and casually said, “I came out for some fresh air. Staying inside always makes me want to sleep. By the way, I came to pick you up.”

Upon hearing the latter part, Pei Ziqing’s eyes became even more gentle, and he said with a smile, “If Sister wants to sleep, go ahead. I guarantee that no one in the mansion dares to say anything.”

With this smile, the lump on his face gently swayed, becoming even more unsightly.

But he didn’t mind. Sister never thought he was ugly; she even liked it when he smiled.

Xiao Tang used its small paws to tidy up its fur, heartlessly exposing someone: “Yuan Yuan is lying. She specifically came to pick you up and insisted on bringing me out to feel the cold wind.”

Nan Yuan:…

“Sister?” There were two bright flashes in Pei Ziqing’s eyes.

Nan Yuan had little resistance to the expression of this little guy. She explained lightly, “Cultivation is not something to rush. You’ve been away for a long time, so I came to check on you.”

Pei Ziqing immediately revealed a shy yet joyful expression, “Sister, are you worried about me? But I want to become stronger quickly so that I can protect Sister in the future.”

Nan Yuan coldly said, “I don’t need anyone to protect me.”

She was a formidable figure, someone everyone feared. Those who begged for mercy were always others.

However, the filial devotion of the little guy she had raised for three years was quite pleasing to Nan Yuan.

Seeing the young man’s head droop, Nan Yuan added, “You’re still young. There’s no rush.”

“I’m not young anymore!” Pei Ziqing retorted.

“Oh?” Nan Yuan looked him up and down, then reached out to pat his head.

The young man’s expression stiffened for a moment, instantly guessing what she was going to say.

“Ah Qing, it’s been three years, and why haven’t you grown much?” she remarked.

Compared to three years ago, the little guy had indeed become more robust, but he was still a little short, probably only half a head taller.

Other families’ sixteen-year-olds were already discussing marriage, and her own little guy still looked like a child?

Nan Yuan couldn’t help but reflect.

Could it be that she hadn’t raised him well enough?

“Sister, look, these are the snow foxes I hunted today—three of them. It’s just right for Sister to make a big cloak!” Pei Ziqing held the well-prepared snow fox fur in front of Nan Yuan, looking at her expectantly.

“I already have plenty. Are you trying to hunt down all the fur-bearing spirit beasts on the mountain?” Nan Yuan didn’t even spare a glance at the fur and rejected his action.

The gleam in the young man’s eyes dimmed, and he pursed his lips.

With this calm expression again, how far did he have to go for Sister to burst into laughter as he saw in his dreams?

“Let’s go back.”

Pei Ziqing nodded and silently followed the woman.

Nan Yuan turned to look at him, noticing his empty hands, and couldn’t help but pause. She reminded him, “Ah Qing, you forgot to bring my snow fox fur.”

Pei Ziqing’s expression instantly brightened, and he cheerfully said, “I’ll go get it right away!”

Xiao Tang muttered, “Yuan Yuan, he’s really immature.”

Nan Yuan: Indeed, he insisted on her admitting she liked it in person, or else he’d rather throw it away.

Such a proud and childish kid.