"What the hell are you doing?" Dong Qinghan had been putting on the air of an older cousin, smiling as he looked at Yang Kai, but the moment the girl sprayed him, he was left in a wretched state, his image completely ruined.
"Him... him... it's him!" The girl pointed a slender, jade-like finger at Yang Kai, her face a picture of shock.
Dong Qinghan finally managed to brush the tea leaves off his head. Frowning at her words, he asked, "What do you mean, 'it's him'? Speak clearly."
"That's the person I bumped into outside the gorge! That jerk who grabbed me and threw me out!" the girl hurried to explain.
Dong Qinghan was stunned. He turned to look at Yang Kai, then back at the girl, a flash of disbelief crossing his round face.
Well, what a coincidence...
Yang Kai was equally bewildered. He hadn't expected this mischievous girl to show up here. This was a Dong family property, and for her to be sharing a table with Dong Qinghan, her status must be no ordinary one. Could it be...
A thought struck him, and a vague suspicion began to form in his mind.
"You still dare show your face in front of me!" The girl recalled the ordeal from that day and her anger flared anew. With Dong Qinghan and the Wind and Rain dual guards backing her up, she immediately grew bold. Baring a row of silver teeth, she darted up to Yang Kai, lifted her smooth chin, and gazed down at him triumphantly—mimicking some mannerism she'd picked up from who knows where. "Hee hee, what's that saying again? Heaven has a road and you won't take it; hell has no door and you barge right in! You're dead meat!"
Despite her words, there wasn't a trace of genuine anger or killing intent on her face. If anything, she was looking at Yang Kai with great interest.
Yang Kai grinned. "So this is how you treat the person who saved your life?"
As he spoke, he gave the top of her head a light smack.
The girl's big eyes narrowed, her body shrank a full head shorter on the spot, and she darted back like a rabbit, hiding behind Dong Qinghan while glaring at Yang Kai through gritted teeth, putting on the bravado of a fox borrowing a tiger's ferocity.
"Watch your manners!" Dong Qinghan said sternly, his round face set in a strict expression.
The girl immediately straightened up and shouted at Yang Kai, "You watch yours!"
"I'm talking to you!" Dong Qinghan turned and glared at her.
"Huh?" The girl froze.
"Whatever else, he saved your life. Can't you even say thank you? A girl your age, with absolutely no manners—what kind of upbringing is that!" Dong Qinghan scolded with an air of authority.
"I won't! If he hadn't thrown me back that day, I could have escaped into Medicine King Valley!" The girl stomped her foot and made a face at Dong Qinghan.
"Disrespectful little brat—get out!" Dong Qinghan slammed his hand on the table in exasperation.
The girl's small mouth twisted, and her eyes immediately reddened. She stormed out in a huff.
Before leaving, she shot Yang Kai a venomous glare.
Once the girl was gone, Dong Qinghan shook his head with a bitter smile and exchanged a glance with the Wind and Rain dual guards. The two immediately released their divine sense, and after a moment, nodded at Dong Qinghan.
"Sit," Dong Qinghan gestured.
Yang Kai plopped down, poured himself a cup of tea, and asked with a frown, "That girl just now..."
"Yan'er. You've met before."
Yang Kai couldn't help but smile wryly. So if that was the case, she really was his cousin?
He never expected that casual shout from that day would actually turn out to be true.
Dong Qingyan—Yang Kai had a faint impression of her, but the only time he'd ever met her in his life was ten years ago. Back then, she was just a little girl running around behind Dong Qinghan. After ten years, how could he have recognized her?
"A girl changes eighteen times before she's grown..." Yang Kai shook his head repeatedly. Not only hadn't he recognized her, she probably hadn't recognized him either. Who could remember things from childhood so clearly?
"Yan'er said that a few days ago, a boy about her age saved her life. I never expected it was actually you." Dong Qinghan let out a sigh. Sometimes the world really was that coincidental.
"Just a chance encounter." Yang Kai gave a modest nod, making no claim to credit. Not only had it taken very little effort that day, the person he'd saved turned out to be his own cousin—hardly worth bringing up.
While the two were talking, Dong Qingyan had returned, tiptoeing her way back toward them. In her hand she clutched an ancient jade piece that radiated faint waves of energy. The waves spread out and masked her entire aura.
The concealment was thorough—even a Shenyou Realm expert using divine sense would fail to detect her.
Before long, Dong Qingyan crept up to the door like a cat and pressed her small ear against it, eavesdropping.
Yang Kai seemed to be well-acquainted with Dong Qinghan, which naturally piqued her curiosity. Moreover, her brother almost never scolded her like that—in fact, he'd actually chased her away just now.
Dong Qingyan immediately suspected they had some secret to discuss, which was why her brother had deliberately sent her off. Hmph, hmph... This young lady is going to find out exactly what you're talking about.
The voices from inside drifted out. Dong Qingyan bit her red lip, her small face flushed crimson, her nerves on edge.
Though tense, she was also thrilled. During her time in the Dong household, she'd used this ancient jade to overhear countless secrets—she was a seasoned hand at this.
"So why'd you come here?" Dong Qinghan looked at Yang Kai and asked.
"I need your help with something."
"What kind of help?"