"..."
Zhao Tong remained silent, stubbornly looking at Chen Ye, his hands clenched tightly, refusing to step forward and bow.
"You stubborn child!"
Zhao Yushuang sighed softly, feeling very disappointed.
Tsk...
Chen Ye raised his eyebrows with interest.
Why is this guy staring at him with bloodshot eyes?
He clearly hasn’t done anything, right?
Chen Ye naturally patted Zhao Yushuang’s shoulder, generously:
"Yu Shuang, no worries. Your nephew is also straightforward. It’s normal for young people to have some arrogance. I’ve interacted with him before, I’m used to it."
Zhao Tong watched the scene, his eyes nearly splitting.
Patted... Patted?!
That filthy hand of Chen, actually patted his aunt?!
And the most crushing part was,
His aunt, who always had a cleanliness obsession and hated being touched by men, not only didn’t shy away but her eyelashes trembled slightly, showing a bit of coyness.
"Sorry for the embarrassment."
Zhao Yushuang sighed softly, her voice gentle, then turned to Zhao Tong with a severe tone,
"Tong’er, see how magnanimous Brother Chen is! He not only doesn’t blame you, he’s even pleading for you!"
Zhao Tong stared at Chen Ye’s hand still resting on his aunt’s delicate shoulder.
That hand, long and strong, pressed unabashedly on the thin fabric of his aunt’s clothing.
Whether forgotten to take back or deliberately provoking him... Yet his aunt seemed oblivious.
"Thank... Thank him?"
His voice trembled, fingernails embedded deep in his palm,
"Aunt, you want me to thank him? He oppressed me before, even beat me..."
"Enough! If you persist in being unreasonable, don’t blame your aunt for being harsh! Brother Chen has always been kind, how would he bully a junior like you? Not to mention, earlier Guardian Zhou provoked him, Brother Chen not only didn’t get angry but even saved his life."
Zhao Yushuang’s beautiful eyes glary as she interrupted her nephew’s nonsense.
She stepped forward, extended a jade finger, tapping Zhao Tong’s forehead in disappointment.
This was her affectionate gesture towards her nephew in the past,
But now it made Zhao Tong’s nose sour, his chest boiling with emotions.
"Kind? Such kindness!"
He felt like it was the biggest joke he’d ever heard, eyes red,
"In your eyes, he’s the kind gentleman, and I’m the unreasonable clown, right?!"
Especially seeing his aunt’s face angrily defending Chen Ye against him, Zhao Tong felt like going mad.
"Since Aunt likes this outsider so much, I won’t stay here to bother you!"
"I’m leaving! Is that not enough?!"
After shouting these final words, Zhao Tong swirled his sleeves, stumbling and turning to rush down the steps.
He ran extremely fast, his silhouette staggering, nearly tripping, utterly embarrassed.
"Tong’er! Stop right there!"
Zhao Yushuang shook with anger, harshly calling out.
But this time, the always obedient nephew seemed not to hear, disappearing around the mountain path’s bend in the blink of an eye.
"That ungrateful brat..."
Zhao Yushuang bit her silver teeth, her chest heaving intensely, a powerful wave of emotions.
But seeing the deserted mountain path, the anger in her eyes quickly dissipated.
After all, blood is thicker than water.
That’s her brother’s blood and flesh, also the nephew she raised with care from a young age.
Though unruly, though incompetent, usually he was extremely filial to her as his aunt.
Now seeing him run off so distraughtly, even forgetting to use Spiritual Power, if he happens to fall on the mountain path or does something foolish...
Zhao Yushuang softened.
She turned around, looking troubled at Chen Ye, her voice gentle,
"Brother Chen... I’m really sorry."
"I don’t know what madness struck the kid today, he’s usually spoiled but not to this extent."
She sighed, her brows colored with a touch of worry,
"I ultimately can’t feel reassured. Brother Chen, I’m afraid I can’t escort you down the mountain today, I have to check on that brat, lest he really gets himself into trouble."
Though Zhao Yushuang wanted to spend more time with Chen Ye, she was more worried about her nephew.
Seeing her so torn, Chen Ye understandingly nodded:
"It’s fine, blood is thicker than water, I understand. You should go, I’ll take Qing Jun back myself."
"Thank you, Brother Chen, for understanding."
Zhao Yushuang gave him a grateful glance, her peach blossom eyes shimmering, seemingly filled with unspeakable words, eventually forming a gentle bow.
...
On the pine-laden path halfway up the mountain, Zhao Tong was running, struggling with each step.
"Impossible... Why would Aunt be with him..."
The more he thought, the more desperate he felt.
Years ago,
He admired True Inheritor Bai, and that’s why he had conflicts with Chen Ye... Later, True Inheritor Bai indeed favored that guy!
True Inheritor Bai was one thing, he knew his standing.
But why now, even his only loving aunt is taken away by that man?
He hadn’t run far when suddenly a sound broke through the air from behind.
Zhao Tong froze.
He quickly turned around.
In the dusk, a streak of Flowing Light broke through the sky, landing hurriedly not far from him like a Fairy descending to dust.
The person’s hairpin was slightly disordered, her expression anxious, it was his aunt who was scolding him for Chen Ye earlier.
"Tong’er! Why are you running! Don’t you care about your life?! Sigh, you’re no longer a child..."
Before Zhao Yushuang steadied herself, the scolding came.
Though stern in tone, the concern within was unmistakable.
Seeing this scene,
The previously despairing Zhao Tong was stunned.
Wait... Aunt actually left that pretty boy and came after him first?
Still feeling stubborn: "Aunt, you should go accompany that Chen guy!"
Zhao Yushuang was surprised, she chuckled helplessly:
"Silly boy, what are you babbling about. Do you perhaps misunderstand my relationship with Instructor Chen?"
Seeing Zhao Tong silent.
Zhao Yushuang’s heart jumped, she wondered if her relationship with Brother Chen seemed this intimate to others.
But now wasn’t the time to ponder.
She said softly: "The sect’s task this time is heavy, only with Instructor Chen’s help could I prepare enough Pills... Yet you brat, at this critical moment not even considering your aunt, you went to offend Instructor Chen."
Saying this, Zhao Yushuang paused, her beautiful eyes flashing, reluctantly adding,
"Your aunt is merely going along with the act..."
Zhao Tong was stunned.
Going along with the act?
He looked at his aunt’s beautiful face blankly, as if coming to a realization.
So that’s it!
Aunt is just forced, it was his misunderstanding!