Xu Mu sighed inwardly. Could these two be destined nemeses?
"What are you doing here?" he asked, since she'd already greeted him.
"My father likes antiques. His birthday is coming up, so I thought I'd pick out a gift for him," Shen Wanning explained. Suddenly noticing Dai Xingluo beside him, she asked curiously, "And this is…?"
"I'm his cousin," Dai Xingluo answered evenly. "We're picking out antiques."
"Oh?" Shen Wanning looked surprised and turned to Xu Mu. "Do you know much about this stuff?"
"A little." Xu Mu smiled.
"Great! Could you help me choose something? I want to get my father a fine piece of jade," Shen Wanning said with a smile.
"Sorry, big brother already has plans to help me choose," Dai Xingluo chimed in with a smile.
Xu Mu shot her an awkward glance. We're starting this already?
Catching his look, Dai Xingluo said in a singsong, passive-aggressive tone, "Looks like this 'younger sister' misspoke—so it's the younger sister's fault, then."
There it was, that "tea" energy. Looking at her then, with a trace of grievance flickering in those beautiful eyes, she truly did seem a little pitiful.
As a woman, Shen Wanning saw it at once: this girl was oozing "green-tea" behavior. If she were really a cousin, how could she talk like that? Most likely she was just another distasteful woman Xu Mu had found somewhere.
Anger pricked at Shen Wanning. She'd only just started to see Xu Mu in a better light—and he was still like this?
[Favorability −1]
She even felt indignant for herself. He liked her, yet also liked this kind of woman. In his eyes, was she on the same level as this "green tea"?
[Favorability −1]
"Xu Mu, it's fine—help her buy first. It won't take that long. After you're done with her, help me pick something," Shen Wanning said.
Before, she wouldn't have bothered. If he got fooled, that was his problem. But now she felt Xu Mu wasn't bad—especially with that musical talent—so she decided to help drive off this "tea" girl.
"Forget it, forget it. It's this 'younger sister' who's being petty. Big brother, go with big sister; don't mind me," Dai Xingluo said calmly, giving Xu Mu a sidelong glance.
"Perfect. Xu Mu, let's go then," Shen Wanning said, giving Dai Xingluo no face at all. This retreat-to-advance routine—did she think Xu Mu was an idiot?
"Heh… Shen Wanning, I'll stick with my younger cousin today. I did promise her first," Xu Mu said, a bit helpless.
He was, in a way, trying to protect Shen Wanning—keeping her away from Dai Xingluo. The Dragon King hadn't returned yet; if Dai Xingluo targeted Shen Wanning now, no one would save her. They were only acquaintances, but he didn't want anything to happen to her.
Hearing this, Dai Xingluo's lips curved into a smile—aimed at Shen Wanning, as if declaring victory and looking down on her.
"Damn it!" Shen Wanning's temper flared. She was the dignified eldest daughter of the Shen family; did this woman really think she had no bite?
"What are you laughing at?" Shen Wanning snapped, pointing at Dai Xingluo.
Xu Mu immediately turned to look—only to find Dai Xingluo wasn't smiling at all, her face all innocence.
"Big sister, did this younger sister somehow offend you?" she asked, pitiful as a doe. "Alright, then—it's the younger sister's fault."
"Cut the act. Do you really think Xu Mu is stupid enough to be fooled by a green-tea routine like yours?" Shen Wanning said bluntly, deciding to call it out.
"What green tea? All I see is a considerate little sister," Xu Mu said, displeased. "Shen Wanning, why do you have to be so harsh?"
Standing behind him, Dai Xingluo flashed another smile—this time not contemptuous, but mocking.
"You're still laughing?" Shen Wanning glared, then turned that glare on Xu Mu. "Fine—go be with your dear 'younger sister'!"
She strode off.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Didn't Xu Mu study music to pursue her? Then why was he swayed by this woman? Couldn't he tell she was classic green tea? Men—pig brains!
…
Of course Xu Mu knew—he knew the plot. He knew exactly what kind of person Dai Xingluo was. He'd done what he did to protect Shen Wanning. If he'd left Dai Xingluo and gone with Shen Wanning, it might have triggered Dai Xingluo's jealousy. Given his current relationship with Dai Xingluo, she probably wouldn't target Shen Wanning—but you never know. And since he didn't have deep ties with Shen Wanning, and he still needed Dai Xingluo right now, reason and sentiment both said he should stand on this side.
"Who was that big sister just now?" Dai Xingluo asked. "She seemed a bit fierce."
"Just a friend," Xu Mu replied with a smile. "And what's with you? I never said I was taking you treasure-hunting today."
"Because I do have business today—and I don't want anyone interrupting." She pointed toward the antique shop beside them. "Come with me."
Xu Mu nodded lightly—he knew Li Zizai was inside.
Following her in, he immediately saw Li Zizai at the counter. He still put on the basic act.
"It's you?" Xu Mu's face tightened, and he took several steps back.
"It's alright—he's one of us," Dai Xingluo said with a glance at him. "I only just found out he was the one who chased you that day."
"Sorry about that, brother," Li Zizai put down his magnifying glass and said. "I really wanted the manual you had, but I never intended to harm you."
"What's your relationship?" Xu Mu asked Dai Xingluo.
"His name is Li Zizai. He runs this antique shop—but I funded it. You can think of him as… staff," Dai Xingluo said with a smile.
As she spoke, she took out the bronze shard from earlier. "Here—returning this to you."
"No need. A Profound-Rank technique can be cultivated from the text alone. I already took photos," Xu Mu said with a slight shake of the head. "Since I gave it to you, it's yours."
[Favorability +10]
"Then this younger sister won't stand on ceremony with big brother," Dai Xingluo said, putting the shard back down.
"What's your name, young man? You seem to know quite a lot about these things," Li Zizai said, pouring tea for Xu Mu.
"Xu Mu. I don't know much—just a bit here and there," Xu Mu replied with a smile.
"You're a martial artist too?" Li Zizai handed him the tea.
"I didn't even know what a martial artist was before. I once met an old man who said my bones were remarkable and gave me a few pills," Xu Mu said casually, unwilling to reveal his cards. "After that, I managed to grasp Internal Force."
"Old Li, skip the small talk—get to the point," Dai Xingluo said with a smile.
"Alright."
Li Zizai suddenly grew serious and looked straight at Xu Mu. "What do you think of my lady?"