Chapter 21: System, Your Host Is About to Kick the Bucket

Lin Yu toyed with the jade pendant in his hand, unhurried and showing no sign of continuing the conversation.

Chen Xingmiao could no longer sit still and ran to his side. "Big brother, you’re the best. You wouldn’t make things difficult for us, would you?"

Lin Yu’s movements came to an abrupt halt. He slowly raised his eyes, meeting Chen Xingmiao’s bright, expectant gaze as she stared at him, beaming.

"I..." Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Ziyu stood up. With a long reach, he pulled Chen Xingmiao behind him, shielding her firmly with half his body before speaking steadily. "Mr. Lin, if you have any requests, please, just state them."

Lin Yu glanced at Xiao Ziyu indifferently, a cryptic smile playing on his lips, and he shook his head slightly. His gaze returned to the jade pendant in his hand, his eyes filled with contemplation as he murmured softly, "Some things cannot be kept simply because one wishes to hold onto them."

Xiao Ziyu gently took Chen Xingmiao’s hand. He did not respond to Lin Yu, but the fleeting smile that flashed in his eyes held a hint of triumph.

Chen Xingmiao stood to the side, a giant question mark forming in her mind. What was going on? What kind of riddle were these two speaking in?

"You may leave first. I have matters to discuss with him alone," Lin Yu said, gesturing for her to exit.

Was she being kicked out? She forced a smile and left the study.

Inside the room, the two men discussed something, but even though Chen Xingmiao pressed her ears against the door, she couldn't hear a thing. It was strange—since when was soundproofing in ancient times this effective?

Refusing to give up, she pressed her body closer to the door, trying to listen more clearly. Suddenly, without warning, the door swung open. Caught off guard, she lost her balance and tumbled forward into the room.

History truly repeated itself in astonishing ways. Was she going to make a fool of herself again? As she muttered this to herself, she fell into a soft embrace.

It felt so soft, quite pleasant to the touch. She grabbed at it, rubbing against it contentedly, only to look up and see Xiao Ziyu glaring down at her with a dark expression.

"I didn't mean to!" She straightened up instantly, her head bowed so low she nearly buried it in her chest, her brows knitted together. It was mortifying; why did she always end up in such embarrassing situations?

"Let’s go home," Xiao Ziyu said coolly.

Chen Xingmiao couldn't help but peek back into the room. Xiao Ziyu caught her with a sharp, piercing glance, grabbed her arm with a firm hand, and repeated, "Home."

"Husband, what did you two talk about?" she asked curiously.

Xiao Ziyu shook his head, saying nothing as he dragged her away.

"Wait, wait." She stopped and looked from the study to Xiao Ziyu. "He still refuses to take you on? I'll go talk to him again; it’ll definitely work."

As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled her hand away and turned to go back. Xiao Ziyu looked at his hand, still suspended in the air, took a deep breath, and said slowly, "In seven days, I can go to the academy."

Hearing this, she stopped abruptly, then quickly returned to his side, asking with surprise, "Really? Lin Yu agreed to take you as his student?"

Xiao Ziyu nodded, though his calm face showed no sign of joy. Chen Xingmiao, however, spent the entire walk home calculating what to prepare, looking every bit like a concerned mother.

Back home, Xiao Ziyu picked up a book as usual, ready to head to the courtyard. She was quick; she grabbed him, pressed him back into his seat, and pulled up a stool to sit right next to him.

Xiao Ziyu looked at her, his eyes full of suspicion, wondering what she was up to now.

"Husband, what did you talk to Xiao Zilin about last night? What business did you have with him?" she asked directly.

"I already told you, it has nothing to do with you." Xiao Ziyu turned his head away, avoiding her gaze, and picked up his book, intent on leaving.

She rose quickly to stop him again, her tone pleading, "Just tell me, maybe I can help you."

"Hmph." Xiao Ziyu let out a cold laugh, shook her hand off forcefully, and walked out of the bedroom on his own.

What a foul temper! Chen Xingmiao stood with her hands on her hips, looking as if she were watching a rebellious child. Fine, if he wouldn't tell her, she would ask someone else.

She threw on a coat and headed out. Xiao Ziyu, sitting on a stone bench, glanced up at her but ultimately returned his gaze to his book, saying nothing more.

She rushed to Xiao Zilin’s bedroom and began pounding on the door. "Who is it?" a voice asked impatiently from inside.

As the door opened, a look of disbelief flashed across Xiao Zilin’s eyes.

"What wind blew my sister-in-law here?" Xiao Zilin asked with a sinister smirk, stepping aside. "Come in."

Chen Xingmiao glanced at him with disdain and didn't move. "I'm asking you, what did you say to my husband last night?" she demanded directly.

Xiao Zilin raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over her with a meaningful look that made her skin crawl. She thrust two fingers toward his face. "Look again, and I’ll dig your eyes out!"

Xiao Zilin, not expecting this, flinched and stumbled backward. "Don't act so high and mighty. You're only here because that dog, Xiao Ziyu, agreed to my demands."

Demands? Why was everyone making demands lately? First Xiao Ziyu, then Lin Yu, and now Xiao Zilin. Was there no creativity left?

Chen Xingmiao curled her lip and said, playing along, "Fine. So, what do you want me to do, brother-in-law?"

Xiao Zilin leaned in, grabbed her, and pulled her into the room. He wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her chin with the other, his tone lewd. "What do you think?"

Ugh! She suppressed the urge to vomit and forced a smile. "If we do this, will you agree to my husband’s request?"

Xiao Zilin snorted, his eyes narrowing. "That pathetic wretch wants his cheap mother's ashes? I was just bluffing him. I never expected him to actually hand you over to me."

The little villain's mother's ashes were still in their hands? Chen Xingmiao frowned; this was something she hadn't anticipated.

Xiao Zilin smiled and whispered in her ear, "When he refused my terms that night, I thought he loved you so much. I didn't realize he was just putting on a show. Why don't you just stay with me?"

This was going too far! Wasn't this trampling on the little villain's dignity? Chen Xingmiao could take it no longer; she kicked him right between the legs.

He staggered backward in pain, unable to straighten up.

"Tell me, where are the ashes?" She pulled a hairpin from her hair and lunged, grabbing him by the collar.

Xiao Zilin grabbed her by the throat, his face turning vicious. "You bitch, do you think you can threaten me?"

She had been careless; she had forgotten this guy was a martial artist. But could they be more original? Why did these characters always resort to choking? She had just been choked by the little villain yesterday!

"Kill me if you have the guts, or you'll regret it!" she gasped out, her mind spinning and her vision blurring.

"Fine, if you're looking for death, I'll grant it!" A flash of cruelty crossed Xiao Zilin’s eyes, and he tightened his grip, lifting her right off the ground.

Her feet dangled in the air as she struggled helplessly. *Xiao Liu, help! Your host is about to kick the bucket!*

Just then, a cold light flashed. A sharp blade, carried by a biting wind, whistled through the window and flew straight toward Xiao Zilin's hand.