Chapter 138: You're Here to Mooch a Meal, Aren't You?

"Xiao Hu, Xiao Chen, your problem is beyond the scope!"

Just as Xia Zhimeng was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground, a familiar voice came from the doorway of Ting Yu Xuan.

Hoo~

Xia Zhimeng let out a long sigh, relieved!

She glanced toward the doorway and saw Ye Qingran, with Han Xing's smiling eyes, strolling gracefully into Ting Yu Xuan.

Xia Zhimeng's eyes flickered slightly, flashing a hint of slyness.

She suddenly felt mischievous.

"Hello, Miss Ye, I am Xia Zhimeng," she stepped forward to greet, her face showing no familiarity.

"What, you used to call me 'Sister Ran' back in Jiu Fu Lin, and now you're being distant?"

Xia Zhimeng's mouth twitched.

"Ran jie, you recognized me?"

"Our children can all recognize you; if I couldn't, wouldn't that be a loss of face?"

Xia Meng went silent.

Does this whole family all have hawk eyes?

"Hehe, Ran jie, when did you recognize me?"

Ye Qingran thought for a moment, "I started suspecting when I first heard your name, and I was certain when you first hunted a Spirit Beast."

Xia Meng: "……"

So I was recognized from the start—how awkward.

"When I hunted the Spirit Beast, how did you tell? Clearly the technique I used wasn't from the Xuanjing Department!"

"Even if it's not a Xuanjing Department technique, your gestures still carry traces. Under the guidance of the Summer Venerable Envoy, you've studied Xuanjing Department methods for years; you can't change that overnight."

Xia Zhimeng suddenly understood.

"Ran jie, you're truly perceptive! Anyone else would never have seen it!"

Ye Qingran smiled faintly and gave no reply. Though Xia Zhimeng's words were flattering, they were also true. She had concealed herself well; ordinary people would find it hard to see through. But she was different—having been a top assassin in a past life, her observation was superb, so seeing through Xia Meng's disguise was natural.

Sitting on a stone bench under the locust tree, two cute kids gathered around, shouting for mother to hug and kiss them, clingy to the extreme.

Xia Zhimeng was even more surprised.

When she first arrived, the two kids were aloof; why are they now like clingy imps at Ye Qingran's side?

"What brings you to me?"

Thinking of her purpose, Xia Zhimeng felt a surge of anger.

She recounted every detail of what had just happened in front of the Xiao Family shop, and Xia Zhimeng gritted her teeth and said, "That Ye Huanhuan—I once thought she was decent, but now it's clear she's all about appearances, never the heart!"

After hearing Xia Zhimeng's account, Ye Qingran showed little reaction.

The three Zhao Shi mother-daughters could do such a thing; it seemed unsurprising.

However, their motive was worth probing.

"Hey, Ran jie, why aren't you angry?"

"What's there to be angry about? They've done similar things before; just get used to it."

Those words made Xia Zhimeng sound sorrowful.

She imagined that, since the Zhao Shi mother-daughter were so ruthless, Ye Qingran must have had a hard time all these years.

"They intend to harm me, and I haven't even expressed anything; why are you already feeling sad?"

Ye Qingran laughed.

"Ran jie…"

Xia Zhimeng felt that her Ran jie truly had it tough; all these years, enduring slurs, the concubines and younger sisters in the mansion weren't good either, being beset on all sides, truly difficult.

Yet she remains magnanimous, unshaken by favor or disgrace, taking things calmly, which truly earns admiration.

"Ran jie, from now on you are my model to learn from!" Xia Zhimeng suddenly said.

Ye Qingran was stunned. She truly didn't know how, in a moment, she became the learning target of the Summer Venerable Envoy's prized pupil.

"Learn what from me? Getting pregnant before marriage? Achieving nothing?"

Xia Zhimeng frowned, "Ran jie, don't say that. All the past is just a prologue; what's gone is gone. In the future you'll surely shine brilliantly and dazzle everyone!"

"You believe me so readily?"

"Yes! I'm always good at judging people."

Xia Zhimeng stood in the sunlight, her eyes clear and pure, untouched by dust.

"Come sit, don't block my sunlight there."

Xia Zhimeng obediently sat opposite Ye Qingran, and Han Xing poured tea for each of them.

Mo Xiaohu and Fu Qianchen also behaved, not disturbing Ye Qingran, and ran off to play.

"Ran jie, after the hunting gala, have you seen Wuhen?"

"He should still be in Xiliang City, saying he'll stay for a while."

"Alright, let's find a time and call him out for a gathering."

…

When night fell, Xia Zhimeng suddenly realized she'd been out longer than she thought.

After saying goodbye, Xia Zhimeng hurried back to Xia Fu.

As night closed and lanterns lit, during dinner, a guest arrived at Ting Yu Xuan.

"National Master, why are you coming so late?"

Ye Qingran, preparing dinner, looked at the National Master standing at the door, a bit surprised.

"Come take a look at the child."

The National Master replied in a flat tone.

For a moment, Ye Qingran couldn't tell whether the National Master had really come to see the child or had some other motive.

Fu San behind her curled his lips, thinking this excuse was really convenient.

Fu Qianchen glanced at his own father, blinking skeptically. He didn't believe Father Lord had come to see him.

Excuse!

"Well, come in then."

Since they said they were here to see the child, Ye Qingran naturally couldn't refuse to let them in.

Looking at the just-set dinner, Ye Qingran couldn't help asking, "National Master, have you had dinner yet?"

"Not yet."

"Well, how about eating something here?"

That question really hit the National Master's heart.

His purpose for coming at this time was actually quite clear: just to mooch a meal. However, the aloof National Master would naturally not admit it.

Therefore, after Ye Qingran's inquiry, he even pretended to ponder... for a second.

"Fine then!"

His words were half-hearted; hearing them, Fu San behind him rolled his White Eye straight up, inwardly complaining that his lord, Your Majesty, was being hypocritical, and at this moment his heart might well be bursting with joy.

The National Master had just lifted his robe and sat down when the complaint from his own son came.

"Father Lord, you're not actually here to see me, but to mooch a meal, right?"

Cough!

Indeed, the National Master who had come to mooch a meal felt a hint of embarrassment, though he concealed it well.

However, before he could figure out how to deal with the white-eyed wolf son, another complaint came from his other son.

"I don't think so!"

Fu Hanxiu looked at Mo Xiaohu, feeling immensely relieved.

He even thought that, once he became this child's stepfather, he would surely dote on him!

But Mo Xiaohu's next sentence made his mouth twitch.

"I think, National Master Uncle, you came to see the beautiful mother!"