Chapter 1226

"My legs are numb." Ouyang Xiaoqian shot Ximen Wudi a reproachful look and rubbed her calf.

"Hehe, you can't go on like this. Let me carry you." Having said that, without giving her a chance to refuse, he scooped Ouyang Xiaoqian up around the waist.

"Brother Ximen Wudi, put me down." Ouyang Xiaoqian's face flushed red, and she gave Ximen Wudi's chest a gentle push.

"No way." Ximen Wudi grinned, carried Ouyang Xiaoqian to the bedroom.

A mischievous smiling face suddenly leaned close, startling Ouyang Xiaoqian into a full-body shiver; she hurriedly burrowed into the covers.

"Uh, I'm not going to do anything." Ximen Wudi rubbed his nose and said sheepishly.

"You… what do you want to do?" Ouyang Xiaoqian asked warily.

"I…" Ximen Wudi froze on the spot—he really hadn't meant to do anything.

"I just wanted to tease you." Seeing Ximen Wudi's utterly glum expression, Ouyang Xiaoqian clutched her belly and laughed and laughed.

"If you laugh at me again, I'm going to tickle you." Ximen Wudi pretended to be mortally offended, put on a fierce, fiendish look, and reached his demonic claws toward Ouyang Xiaoqian.

"Brother Ximen Wudi, stop it!" Ouyang Xiaoqian trembled all over like a flower shaken by the wind and hurriedly begged for mercy.

"No tickling."

"Alright, alright, alright, no tickling."

"You said it."

Ximen Wudi had no choice but to withdraw his demonic palm. Only then did Ouyang Xiaoqian let out a breath of relief, then blinked her big, dewy eyes and gazed at Ximen Wudi.

"Brother Ximen Wudi, my dad is taking me to Jingcheng tomorrow. Can you come with me?" Ouyang Xiaoqian asked expectantly.

"To Jingcheng?" Ximen Wudi was slightly taken aback.

"Yes, my dad told me to bring you along for fun."

"Alright then, I'll go with you tomorrow." Since it was Ouyang Batian's invitation, Ximen Wudi naturally wouldn't refuse.

"Yay!" Ouyang Xiaoqian cheered with joy, popped right out of the covers, threw herself into Ximen Wudi's arms, pounded his chest a few times, and cooed: "I love Brother Ximen Wudi the most, I just adore Brother Ximen Wudi."

"You little lass, how did your skin get so nice?" Gazing at Ouyang Xiaoqian's translucent, dewy complexion, a strange feeling welled up in Ximen Wudi's heart.

"It's the effect of soaking in a spirit spring." Ouyang Xiaoqian said sweetly with a smile.

"So that's how it is." Ximen Wudi suddenly understood. "Then I'll prepare one for you every few days from now on. I guarantee your skin will be even more radiant."

"Really?!" Ouyang Xiaoqian was overjoyed at the news, threw her arms around Ximen Wudi's neck, and kissed him.

"Oof!" Ximen Wudi froze on the spot.

"Hehe!" Ouyang Xiaoqian secretly giggled. "Brother Ximen Wudi, why don't you stay the night here tonight?"

"I…" Ximen Wudi hesitated.

His current strength was far too weak; if he stayed the night, it could easily cause trouble.

Although Ouyang Batian was very powerful, distant water couldn't quench a nearby thirst. If they ran into a master, he probably wouldn't even get a chance to escape.

"I still need to cultivate!" Ximen Wudi declined tactfully.

"Ah!" Ouyang Xiaoqian drooped her head in disappointment at the news.

"By the way, Xiaoqian, why are you living here? Don't your parents care about you?"

Ouyang Xiaoqian sighed.

"My parents are doing business out of town and haven't come back in a long time."

"Then aren't you homeless?" Ximen Wudi frowned.

"It doesn't really matter, I have friends." Ouyang Xiaoqian said, then clapped her hands.

"How could I forget? I can go stay at her place." Ouyang Xiaoqian jumped up excitedly.

"Sure." Ximen Wudi nodded.

"Thank you, Brother Ximen Wudi."

"Shall I book tickets for you?"

"I want to take the train!" Ouyang Xiaoqian pouted, clearly hating the train.

"Alright, then train tickets it is." Ximen Wudi took out his phone, booked three train tickets, then dialed Xia Tong's number.

"Ximen Wudi, you're back in the country?" After the call connected, Xia Tong's excited voice came from the other end.

"Yeah, I just got off the plane."

"That's great, where are you now? I'll come find you right away." Xia Tong shouted impatiently.

"Don't rush. I still need to report to the company. Tomorrow morning at six, I'll pick you up at the school gate."

After hanging up, Ouyang Xiaoqian blinked her bright eyes and curiously sized up Ximen Wudi.

"It's been so long since I saw you, and you've actually changed your number—and changed it so fast I don't even recognize you."

"Haha, can't be helped. Your Brother Ximen Wudi has gotten even more handsome." Ximen Wudi grinned smugly.

"Pfft~" Ouyang Xiaoqian was so amused by Ximen Wudi's exaggerated tone that she couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing.

Inside Ximen Wudi's heart, however, waves churned violently.

He thought back to the years he had spent with Xia Tong.

Ximen Wudi's family circumstances were extremely poor, and he was also poor at socializing—no one was willing to associate with him at all.

So Ximen Wudi was always alone, and only Xia Tong brought him food every day, keeping him company.

Gradually, the two of them developed feelings and clung to each other.

However, Xia Tong was a rich family's daughter, while Ximen Wudi was just a poor loser; the gap between them grew wider and wider.

Finally, Ximen Wudi's mother passed away from illness, and his father became a habitual drunkard. Ximen Wudi's life grew ever more grueling.

To earn money and buy a house, Ximen Wudi dropped out of school and joined the army, and through hard work passed the entrance exam for a military academy. He finally achieved brilliant results in the troops and was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

However, Ximen Wudi didn't dare tell anyone about these things, not even his father.

But even so, Ximen Wudi's father still looked down on him in every way, thinking Ximen Wudi wasn't doing anything proper and was making a complete mess of his life.

Ximen Wudi couldn't be bothered to argue, because he knew that no matter what he said, his father wouldn't believe him.

Xia Tong was different — she always supported him, encouraged him, and even spoke up for Ximen Wudi in front of her parents.

Gradually, the two lovers' relationship was finally exposed to the eyes of their families.

"My father won't let us be together. My mom actually agrees, but my grandfather doesn't." Ouyang Xiaoqian suddenly said in a low voice.

"Why?" Ximen Wudi asked, surprised.

"My grandfather thinks the gap between our statuses is too big, and he's afraid it'll affect our marriage."

"That doesn't really matter, as long as your parents agree." Ximen Wudi said with a faint smile to Ouyang Xiaoqian.

"Sigh." Ouyang Xiaoqian let out a heavy sigh. "You think my parents would agree? They've been hoping I'd marry out long ago."

"Who is your father?" Ximen Wudi asked.

"My dad is Ouyang Batian, the richest man in Huaxia!" Ouyang Xiaoqian proudly raised her head, her face full of worship and pride.

"Uh... richest man?" Ximen Wudi couldn't help but smile wryly and shake his head. This world was really too small — he hadn't expected Ouyang Xiaoqian to actually be the richest man's daughter.

No wonder Ouyang Xiaoqian's attire was so extravagant — designer clothes all over, even her cosmetics were top international brands, and she had dedicated servants attending to her.

"Brother Ximen Wudi, do you look down on my family?" Ouyang Xiaoqian said, pouting.

"Not at all, don't overthink it. It's just that the gap between our family backgrounds is too big."

"Hmph, you just don't think I'm good enough." Ouyang Xiaoqian pouted, looking wronged.

"I..."

"Brother Ximen Wudi, I know your family's conditions aren't great, I don't mind." Ouyang Xiaoqian gently bit her red lips and said softly.

"Xiaoqian..."

"Brother Ximen Wudi, promise me, don't leave me, okay?"

"Okay." Ximen Wudi nodded firmly.

"Wow, that's great!" Ouyang Xiaoqian excitedly hugged Ximen Wudi, resting her head on his shoulder, looking utterly happy.