Chapter 25: Stories from Childhood

“I’ve been to the Qing family estate with my father before. I ran to the backyard to play and saw her. She was squatting on the ground with her back to me, and I saw a mole on the back of her neck. I asked a servant of the Qing family, and he said it was the Qing family’s fifth young miss. Just now, when Qing Mei had her back to us, I happened to see it…” Qin Ke said.

However, no sooner had she finished speaking than she received another slap from An Siqin.

“How could she possibly be that trash from the Qing family? Would Cousin Qingcheng let a piece of trash stand by his side?”

Although An Siqin had already roughly confirmed that Qing Mei was indeed the fifth young miss of the Qing family, she was unwilling to admit it. If it were true, it would mean that she, the most gifted eldest young miss of the Anmu Palace, was inferior to the Qing family’s most useless fifth young miss—and that Cousin Qingcheng was treating Qing Mei so well. She had heard before that the fifth young miss of the Yue City Qing family was breathtakingly beautiful but was nothing more than trash. Even back then, she had held a grudge against this person whom others described as having a beauty that could topple kingdoms.

“But… but she really is the Qing family’s fifth young miss. I’m certain of it now.”

Qin Ke defended herself, still oblivious to the situation. What made her feel even more aggrieved was that An Siqin had inexplicably slapped her twice.

“Talk nonsense again! She cannot be that trash from the Qing family!”

An Siqin turned around and stormed off in a huff.

“Hey… hey… Siqin, wait for me! I was wrong, I was wrong.” Qin Ke obediently followed behind An Siqin, having completely forgotten about the two slaps.

Nan Qingcheng, Qing Mei, and Tian Chenyun were sitting in a room on the third floor of the Gucheng Inn. Tian Chenyun was enthusiastically telling Qing Mei stories about his childhood with Nan Qingcheng. Qing Mei listened attentively, while Nan Qingcheng, sitting beside her, watched Tian Chenyun with a face as black as ink. However, Tian Chenyun ignored him completely.

“You have no idea. Big Brother has been an ice-cold statue since he was a kid. Very cold. When our second brother, Beitang Xiaoyang, first met Big Brother, he wanted to say hello and ask for his name. In the end, Big Brother just stared at him coldly the whole time. Eventually, Second Brother couldn’t help but burst into tears. It scared his parents half to death, and they even asked if Big Brother had been bullying him.”

Tian Chenyun was laughing so hard he was gasping for air, leaning over the table and slapping it repeatedly. Qing Mei tilted her head and glanced at Nan Qingcheng with a sheepish expression. Was he really that terrifying? Why did she feel like Nan Qingcheng was actually smiling… So, she reached out a small hand and poked his smooth cheek.

“Nan Qingcheng, did you really never smile in the past?”

Nan Qingcheng, who had been looking gloomy just a moment ago, turned his head and immediately flashed a bright, sunny smile at Qing Mei.

“Not at all. Don’t listen to his nonsense.”

Fine… Qing Mei decided not to ask anymore.

“Let me out, let me out! I’m bored to death.”

Yan Lie’s voice rang out in Qing Mei’s mind.

“Why do you want to come out?”

“It’s so boring in the space… I’ve slept enough, I want to come out and play.”

“Alright, no causing trouble! Do you hear me?”

“Got it, got it. I promise not to cause any trouble.”

The two communicated through their thoughts. With a flick of Qing Mei’s mind, that little ball of Yan Lie appeared on the table in front of her. However, it startled Tian Chenyun, who was leaning over the table. Tian Chenyun reflexively slapped Yan Lie, causing the creature to yelp in pain.

“Xiao Yun… he is my artifact spirit.”

Qing Mei spoke up just in time, otherwise, Tian Chenyun was ready to slap him again.

“What? An artifact spirit?”

Tian Chenyun picked up the baring-its-teeth Yan Lie. Yan Lie let out a series of ‘awoo-awoo’ cries, but no one could understand him. Tian Chenyun examined him closely, then suddenly looked shocked and dropped Yan Lie onto the floor.

“This… this… is this a Blazing Fire Fox? Sister-in-law, do you have the Purple Flame Ring?”

Tian Chenyun stared at Qing Mei in astonishment. Legend had it that the artifact spirit of the supreme treasure, the Purple Flame Ring, was a powerful Blazing Fire Fox. But… looking at this little thing… it didn’t seem very powerful.

“Don’t call me sister-in-law…”

Qing Mei picked up the Yan Lie that had been dropped on the floor, feeling speechless.

“Alright, sister-in-law. So, sister-in-law, do you really have the Purple Flame Ring?”