Chapter 3: Ye Xi
Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang from outside the courtyard.
Zhou Huai frowned slightly.
At this critical juncture, who would be looking for him?
Butler Fu said in a low voice, “Young Master, this old servant will go open the door. You should first put your Clone...”
Zhou Huai nodded. With a thought, he controlled Yasuo to quickly flash and hide in ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the secluded storeroom.
Immediately, his consciousness returned to his main body.
As soon as he opened his eyes in the wheelchair, he heard Butler Fu’s respectful voice from outside the door: “Young Master, Miss Ye has come to see you.”
Miss Ye?
A delicate figure instantly appeared in Zhou Huai’s mind.
The original owner’s childhood sweetheart — Ye Xi.
The apple of the eye of the Ye Family in Tianhai City.
“Please invite her in quickly,” Zhou Huai said gently.
No sooner had he spoken than a graceful figure stepped in.
The newcomer was dressed in a light green long dress, outlining the Young Miss’s exquisite curves.
Her skin was like snow, her eyes bright and teeth white, and there was an ethereal and refined aura about her as she looked around.
It was Ye Xi.
“Zhou Huai Gege!” The Young Miss’s voice was clear, with a hint of urgency.
Ye Xi quickly walked to Zhou Huai’s side, naturally sat down in the chair next to him, her clear eyes filled with concern and heartache.
“I just heard about you being kicked out of the Zhou Family, so I rushed over immediately.”
“I knew you would definitely come here.”
As she spoke, she gritted her silver teeth and said angrily, “That Liu Yuru, she’s truly vicious! She actually kicked you out!”
“And her son, Lu Qi, isn’t any good either!”
“Uncle Zhou too, his eyes must be blind!”
Listening to Ye Xi’s heartfelt defense, a warm current surged in Zhou Huai’s heart.
In this world, the original owner didn’t have many true friends, and Ye Xi was undoubtedly the most important one.
Of course, this friendship also contained the original owner’s youthful, awkward, and complex admiration.
If not for that sudden attack that left the original owner a cripple...
Perhaps... he and Ye Xi would have already been engaged.
Even so, Ye Xi had never distanced herself from him over the years.
Instead, she often came to visit, showing meticulous care.
She even once mustered the courage to confess to the original owner, saying that even if Zhou Huai Gege could never stand up again, she would be willing to stay with him forever.
Unfortunately, she was cruelly rejected by the original owner, who was extremely self-conscious and sensitive at the time.
Even so, Ye Xi still didn’t give up.
Despite immense Family pressure and multiple warnings from elders to cut ties with Zhou Huai, she remained unwavering.
From time to time, she would still bring homemade snacks to see him.
Zhou Huai looked at the kind and persistent Young Miss in front of him, a gentle smile appearing on his face: “It doesn’t matter. Leaving that cold cage, I actually feel relieved.”
“Actually, I’ve wanted to leave for a long time.”
𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Ye Xi gazed at him, and seeing that his expression was not feigned, she gently nodded, her tone becoming a bit lighter: “That’s good! It saves me from seeing Liu Yuru and her son’s disgusting faces again!”
As she spoke, Ye Xi suddenly lowered her voice and leaned in mysteriously: “Oh, by the way, Zhou Huai Gege, I have good news to tell you. Do you want to know?”
Zhou Huai raised an eyebrow, cooperatively asking: “Oh? What good news?”
Ye Xi’s eyes curved into crescent moons, with a hint of smugness: “I also completed my class change today! It’s an A-Grade Light-element Class — Holy Light Chanter!”
“When my Rank gets higher and my strength stronger, I might be able to help you dispel the curse power on you and make you stand up again!”
Zhou Huai understood in his heart that this curse power was incredibly strange, and even those renowned Light-element healing Great Masters were helpless against it. How could Ye Xi, who had just changed classes, easily resolve it?
But a hopeful smile bloomed on his face: “That’s wonderful! Xi’er, I’ll be relying entirely on you from now on!”
As he spoke, Zhou Huai naturally reached out and gently held Ye Xi’s soft hand, which was resting on her lap.
The original owner was self-conscious and withdrawn, but he would not be.
If he didn’t actively seize such a good Young Miss, he would truly be a fool.
Hmm, the little Young Miss’s hand was smooth and soft, with an excellent feel.
Startled by Zhou Huai’s sudden intimate gesture, two intoxicating blushes instantly flew onto Ye Xi’s fair face, and her heart pounded like a startled deer.
But she didn’t pull her hand back, merely lowered her head slightly, letting him hold it.
The two chatted warmly for a long time until the night grew darker outside the window, and only then did Ye Xi reluctantly get up to leave.
“Zhou Huai Gege, starting tomorrow, our Tianhai City’s ‘Trial Tower’ will reopen.”
“I might need to focus on leveling up recently, so I won’t be able to visit you often for a while.”
As she spoke, she took a crystal card from her small bag and slipped it into Butler Fu’s hand: “Butler Fu, there are one hundred thousand great xia currency in here, and the password is Zhou Huai Gege’s birthday. Please take good care of Zhou Huai Gege during this time.”
Butler Fu dared not accept it and repeatedly waved his hand to decline.
Ye Xi, however, didn’t give him a chance to refuse. She put down the card and then, with a red face, quickly left without looking back.
Butler Fu held the crystal card, looking troubled as he turned to Zhou Huai.
Zhou Huai, however, smiled casually: “Butler Fu, just accept it for now. We indeed need this money now. If there’s a chance in the future, we’ll return it to her twofold.”
The Trial Tower, huh...
Zhou Huai’s eyes flickered slightly.
This Trial Tower was an Elementary dungeon specially built by the authorities for novice Class holders, opening only during specific periods each year.
It had a total of twelve floors, with increasing difficulty for each challenge.
It was said that if one could break the record for a certain floor, or even the overall clearance record, they would receive generous rewards provided by the authorities, and even have a chance to obtain rare equipment or skill books.
A clear thought formed in Zhou Huai’s mind.
“In that case, tomorrow, let Yasuo also go and challenge the Trial Tower!”
Zhou Feng pushed open the gate of the Zhou Family villa.
Night had already fallen, and the dining room lights were bright.
Liu Yuru and Lu Qi were sitting at the dining table.
Zhou Feng took off his coat, his brows slightly furrowed.
He walked over and sat down in the main seat.
“Where’s that kid Zhou Huai?” he asked.
Liu Yuru picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, her expression calm.
“Kicked him out.”
Her voice showed no ripple.
Zhou Feng paused, his chopsticks suspended in mid-air.
“Kicked him out?” he repeated, with a hint of surprise.
Liu Yuru looked up, her eyes cold.
“He changed to an E-Grade Class, a piece of trash.”
“Is he staying in the Zhou Family to embarrass us?”
A mocking curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
“And he doesn’t understand gratitude at all.”
“We raised him for so many years, yet he actually said he wanted to cut ties with the Zhou Family.”
“Such an unfilial son should get out and fend for himself!”
Zhou Feng’s face was somewhat grim.
He clenched his fists, then released them.
“You... how could you just kick him out?”
Liu Yuru sneered.
“What?”
“Are you feeling sorry for him?”
She stared at him with sharp eyes.
Zhou Feng immediately put on a smile.
“How could I.” He waved his hand.
“He’s so useless, it’s only right that he’s kicked out of the Zhou Family.”
“If he says he wants to cut ties, then that’s perfect.”
“I’ll just pretend I never had this son!”
Only then did Liu Yuru retract her gaze with satisfaction.
“That’s more like it.”
She looked at Lu Qi, a smile appearing on her face.
“I have good news for you.”
“Qi’er completed his class change today.”
“An A-Grade Class, Blazing Mage!”
Her tone contained undisguised pride.
Zhou Feng looked at Lu Qi, his face appropriately showing a mix of surprise and admiration:
“An A-Grade Blazing Mage? Good! Very good! Qi’er is indeed promising!”
Lu Qi grinned, appearing a bit shy.
Liu Yuru snorted.
“What’s the use of just talking?”
She glanced at Zhou Feng.
“As a father, shouldn’t you show some appreciation?”
Zhou Feng laughed heartily.
“Of course!”
“Qi’er, whatever you want, just say it!”
Lu Qi chuckled, then tentatively spoke:
“Uncle Zhou, I heard... that elder brother Zhou Huai was almost engaged to Miss Ye Xi of the Ye Family back then, but it was delayed because elder brother... was physically inconvenient.”
“Since elder brother is now... no longer capable, how about giving this opportunity to me?”
“To be honest, I’ve also admired Miss Ye Xi for a long time!”
Zhou Feng’s expression stiffened upon hearing this, then he burst into laughter:
“So it’s about this! No problem! Of course, no problem!”
“Even if you didn’t say it, I already had this intention!”
“If our Zhou Family can form a marriage alliance with the Ye Family, that would definitely be a strong alliance, a great thing!”
He patted Lu Qi’s shoulder, his tone filled with expectation: “Tomorrow, Tianhai City’s Trial Tower will open. You must perform well and strive to shine in front of Ye Xi!”
“By then, that Young Miss of the Ye Family will naturally look at you with new eyes!”
Lu Qi’s face was filled with confidence and arrogance as he patted his chest and promised: “Uncle Zhou, you can rest assured! A mere Trial Tower, I will definitely take the top spot!”