Chapter 67 – A Chance Encounter on the Way to Qi Xiang's Mansion

August 15th, the last days of the summer heat, the eighteenth day of the seventh lunar month!

Ye Kuang pulled his suitcase along the bustling corridor, paying little attention to the surrounding scenery and crowds.

Instead, he was constantly contemplating where to go next. The image of his parents seeing him off lingered in his mind, filling his heart with reluctance.

Ye Kuang had rarely traveled far from home before. Now, not only did he have to journey for his studies, but he also needed to think about how to advance his Martial Studies further.

It could be said that his time was fleeting and simply not enough.

“Beep, beep, beep…”

Just then, a car slowly approached, honking repeatedly at the pedestrians.

Hearing the sound, Ye Kuang looked up and was met with a familiar face, startling him into exclaiming, “Huh? Why is it you?”

“Hehe, Little Brother, get in the car quickly!”

Ye Kuang: “Xiao Ya, it’s been a few months, and you’ve grown so much. I bet in no time, you’ll be as beautiful as your mom!”

The beauty in the driver’s seat couldn’t help but blush at these words, though she remained silent.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ya giggled incessantly: “Really? I’m the universe’s most invincible, super adorable little fairy! Of course, I’ll be a hundred times prettier than Mom—no, wait, I can’t compare to Mom. Mom is the most beautiful person in the world…”

By then, Ye Kuang had already gotten into the car.

“Sister Xuan, long time no see,” Ye Kuang said with a smile, but before he could finish, Xiao Ya wrapped her arms around his neck, eagerly asking him all sorts of questions.

Vroom!

Amid the roar of the engine, the car sped away into the distance.

Xiao Ya: “Mom, don’t drive so fast! You might scare Little Brother.”

Ye Kuang: “It’s alright, Xiao Ya.”

Xiao Ya: “Hmph, I’m ignoring you now.”

Without a doubt, the two people Ye Kuang had encountered were none other than Ya Xuan and Xiao Ya—the mother and daughter he had once saved.

Ya Xuan: “Xiao Ya, stop fooling around. Call him Uncle, not Little Brother.”

Xiao Ya was clearly displeased upon hearing this, puffing out her cheeks in frustration: “I refuse! Mom said anyone less than ten years older than me should be called either Sister or Brother.”

Ya Xuan: “Xiao Ya!”

Xiao Ya: “No… I won’t… I just won’t.”

Seeing this, Ye Kuang couldn’t help but laugh: “Sister Xuan, it’s fine. Hearing Xiao Ya call me Little Brother makes me feel younger, hahaha.”

Xiao Ya: “Really? Little Brother, Little Brother, Little Brother. I called you three times—does that mean you’re three years younger now?”

Ye Kuang couldn’t hold back his laughter at this and quickly agreed: “Yes, Xiao Ya, you’re amazing.”

As he spoke, his large hand met Xiao Ya’s small one in a high-five, their interaction radiating the warmth of a brother and sister’s bond.

Ya Xuan: “Little Ye, where are you headed?”

Ye Kuang replied: “Normal Knowledge Academy.”

“Huh?” Ya Xuan was taken aback, blurting out in surprise, “You’re a student there?”

“Yes, why?” Ye Kuang said calmly.

Before Ya Xuan could respond, Xiao Ya chimed in gleefully: “Wow, Little Brother, we’re really fated! My mom is the homeroom teacher there.”

Hearing this, Ye Kuang was so shocked he couldn’t utter a single word.Destiny brings together souls across a thousand miles, while those without fate remain strangers even when face to face. Yet when old acquaintances meet in foreign lands, it feels either like triumphant success or a reunion so fresh it seems like the first encounter—both intimate and novel!

“Hehe, little brother, why have you gone quiet?” Xiao Ya chirped with evident glee, her tone dripping with schadenfreude. Then, as if uncorking a bottle of chatter, she launched into a torrent of complaints: “My mom is seriously impressive—she’s even earned a nickname at school. Everyone calls her Abbess Miejue. People tremble at the sight of her, and even car tires burst in her presence!”

Ya Xuan: “…”

“Oh…” Ye Kuang couldn’t hide his astonishment. Recovering, he relaxed into a laugh and asked, “Xiao Ya, if your mother is so beautiful, how did she end up with a name like Abbess… Miejue?”

After speaking, he genuinely felt perplexed. His eyes lingered on Ya Xuan, utterly unable to reconcile the elegant woman before him with such a fearsome title.

Eager to explain, Xiao Ya immediately spilled everything without hesitation.

It was only then that Ye Kuang realized how vast and strange the world could be—where anything seemed possible.

As it turned out, despite having countless admirers at school, Ya Xuan had never accepted advances from any male teacher. Moreover, she was a single mother from an esteemed family!

Hearing this, Ya Xuan could no longer maintain her composure. “Xiao Ya!” she scolded sharply.

But Xiao Ya, contrary to her usual self, kept the words flowing like machine-gun fire: “Little brother, what do you think? Surprised, right? How about you become my dad? Mom was just talking about you the other day. Besides… I’ve never known what it’s like to have a father.”

Her expression suddenly fell, eyes brimming with genuine sorrow.

Ya Xuan had been ready to reprimand her, but at the sight of her daughter’s distress, she swallowed the words.

Meanwhile, Ye Kuang felt his heart clench and begin to race uncontrollably. Glancing at Ya Xuan through the rearview mirror, he saw her equally flustered and at a loss—leaving him unsure what to think.

If he were honest, Ya Xuan was stunning. Any man would likely feel the urge to win her over, Ye Kuang mused to himself.

Xiao Ya: “Little brother… have you thought about it?”

Ya Xuan: “Xiao Ya, please stop this. Little Ye is still a student. It’s impossible for us…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Ya burst out indignantly: “What do you mean, impossible? Mom always says, ‘Save a life, and you owe a debt as vast as a flowing spring.’ I can’t be Brother Ye’s girlfriend, but you can!”

Only then did Ya Xuan realize something: despite her youth, Xiao Ya was mature enough to weaponize her mother’s teachings against her—and was already showing signs of rebellion.

Unyielding, Xiao Ya pressed on: “Brother Ye, what do you say?”

Ye Kuang was rendered speechless. He understood all too well what Xiao Ya truly longed for.

A fatherless child, she clearly yearned deeply for paternal love—solid and unwavering as a mountain.

Gently stroking her hair, Ye Kuang gently guided her: “Xiao Ya, you’re still young. These topics aren’t for you yet. Think about how hard your mom has worked to raise you all these years. Your words might be well-intentioned, but sometimes they could unintentionally trouble her.”

Tilting her head, Xiao Ya asked uncertainly, “Really?”Seeing this, Ye Kuang continued, “Yes… For example, when Xiao Ya refuted those words earlier, you thought it was right, but in reality, it hurt Mom. Of course, your brother knows you meant well for Mom, but in the adult world, some things are complicated. They can’t be explained in just a few words, nor can your brother simply agree with a single promise.”

Ye Kuang paused briefly before adding, “When considering matters, Xiao Ya should think about how your mother and I feel. You should ask about our wishes. Only when both sides are willing is it the best way to address things… Understand?”

“Oh…” Hearing this, Xiao Ya’s eyes immediately grew misty with tears, as if she had realized a serious mistake—she had unintentionally hurt her mother.

“Mom, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, Xiao Ya. You’re the most sensible child in the world and will always be Mom’s treasure.”

“Wah… sob…”

“Don’t cry, Xiao Ya. If you cry and mess up your face, you’ll turn into a little messy kitten, and that won’t look pretty anymore…”

(Silence here, omitting thousands of words.)