"You're not asking why?" Madam Yue found Xiao Man's straightforwardness a bit jarring.
"I am a physician. Maintaining patient confidentiality is a physician's principle. Since Madam Yue does not wish for this to be known, I naturally will not tell anyone," Xiao Man said softly. "You don't want Ah Ran to know, also because you fear Ah Ran will worry."
"You are such a thoughtful child. No wonder Ran'er likes you." Madam Yue looked at Xiao Man. "For some reason, when I first saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity, as if I had met you somewhere before."
"Perhaps we met in a past life," Xiao Man said jokingly.
"Perhaps," Madam Yue nodded with a smile. "Xiao Qin, do you like Ran'er?"
"I do. Ah Ran is like my own brother to me," Xiao Man replied, her voice devoid of emotion. Her gaze drifted to Yue Ran in the distance. Wasn't he just like her own brother?
A moment later, Xiao Man stood up to leave. "Madam Yue, I shall take my leave!"
As she stepped out of the Purple Jade Pavilion, Xiao Man was intercepted by Huo Tong'er.
"Miss Huo."
"Brother Xiao Qin..."
"Miss Huo, please just call me Xiao Qin." Xiao Man interrupted Huo Tong'er. She had no desire to be called "sister," especially now that she knew she had a younger brother.
Madam Yue was content with her current life. Xiao Man felt like a villain, intending to barge in and ruin her happiness. Xiao Man chose to retreat. She could not offer her blessings, but she did not wish to harm Madam Yue, after all, she was her birth mother.
"Xiao Qin, can we talk privately?"
"Miss Huo, please."
Huo Tong'er led the way towards the garden. The Heavenly Sword Sect's garden was vast, but rarely visited. Everyone was too busy cultivating, aiming for a higher level, and consequently, greater power and status. Apart from guests, few people idled in the garden.
"Xiao Qin, you and Brother Ran are very close. Do you know if Brother Ran has someone he fancies?"
"I do not know."
"You don't know, or you are unwilling to tell me?"
"I do not know," Xiao Man replied calmly. Not only did she not know, but even if she did, she wouldn't tell Huo Tong'er. Who knew what schemes Huo Tong'er might have? If she told Huo Tong'er, and Huo Tong'er secretly plotted against Ah Ran's beloved, wouldn't Xiao Man become an accomplice?
"Brother Ran and I have been childhood sweethearts, growing up together..."
"If my memory serves me correctly, Miss Huo grew up in the Huo family, while Ah Ran grew up in the Heavenly Sword Sect. How could you have grown up together?" Xiao Man interrupted Huo Tong'er. In the past, she might have feigned politeness, but now, she had no such inclination.
Her mother had been found, but she was no longer her mother. She was the wife of the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Yue Ran's mother, but she had no relation to Xiao Man. Xiao Man's purpose in coming to the Heavenly Sword Sect was now solely to find and retrieve Chen An's soul.
"You dislike me greatly. Why?"
"Miss Huo, you misunderstand. To me, you are merely a stranger. There is no like or dislike."
Huo Tong'er stared into Xiao Man's eyes for a long time, unable to discern any emotion: "You are very unhappy. Did my aunt scold you?"
"Aunt?" Xiao Man let out a cold laugh. "Indeed, her current identity is a young lady of the Huo family. It is not wrong for you to call her aunt."
Huo Tong'er felt that Xiao Man's words held hidden meaning. She circled Xiao Man, then stood before her. Her peripheral vision seemed to catch something. Suddenly, she grabbed Xiao Man and pulled open her collar. "Help! I'm being molested!"
Xiao Man watched Huo Tong'er's staged performance with a cold expression. Huo Tong'er then fell to the ground, crying dramatically and shouting for help.
"Tong'er, are you alright?" Yue Zhong was the first to appear by Huo Tong'er's side, helping her up. "Xiao Qin, how dare you molest Sister Tong'er!"
Xiao Man slowly removed her outer robe, as if discarding something dirty, and threw it aside. Then, she conjured a flame and burned the robe to ashes.
"Are you blind?" Yue Ran's voice rang out. He quickly walked to Xiao Man's side. "Why did you destroy your outer robe?"
"It's dirty."
Yue Ran immediately took off his own outer robe and draped it over Xiao Man. "You didn't call for me when you left. If I hadn't noticed you were gone, who knows what slanders people would have thrown at you."
"Brother Ran, Xiao Qin... she bullied me."
"You? You're worthy of her bullying?" Yue Ran said coldly. "Huo Tong'er, I used to think you were just a bit spoiled and arrogant. I didn't realize you were also despicable and shameless!"
Huo Tong'er's face instantly turned pale. She looked at Yue Ran in disbelief. "Brother Ran, how... how could you say that about me?"
"My second brother would never molest you!" Yue Ran stared at Huo Tong'er, his eyes filled with disgust. "Don't come near her again, or don't blame me for being impolite! Second Brother, let's go."
Huo Tong'er glared at the receding figures of Yue Ran pulling Xiao Man away. The tears she had been holding back finally burst forth, and she began to weep loudly. "What am I lacking that he would humiliate me like this?"
"Tong'er, it's not that you are lacking, but that Seventh Brother doesn't understand your worth." Yue Zhong helped Huo Tong'er up. "Let me escort you back to your room."
"I don't want to go back. What if Aunt sees..."
"Then come to my place for a cup of tea and calm yourself," Yue Zhong said, supporting Huo Tong'er as he led her to his courtyard.
Huo Tong'er represented the influence of the Huo family. Yet, Yue Ran had rejected such a significant alliance. In Yue Zhong's eyes, this was utter foolishness. He would not let such an opportunity pass. By exploiting the situation, he could sow discord between Huo Tong'er and Yue Ran, fostering resentment and hatred. He was confident that Huo Tong'er would then be willing to help him.
"Second Brother, are you alright?" Yue Ran keenly sensed Xiao Man's unhappiness. "Don't take Huo Tong'er to heart. She's just a madwoman."
"It has nothing to do with her."
"Then did my mother say something to you?" Yue Ran asked cautiously. They had gotten along so well during lunch. What had his mother said to her in the time he was away?
"Ah Ran, are you happy?" Xiao Man suddenly asked.
"Of course, I'm happy. I have a father and a mother." Yue Ran paused. "And you."
"In your eyes, are your parents happy?"
"My parents are practically soulmates. Although my father is very strict with me, he dotes on my mother. He grants her every wish. After marrying my mother, he never took another woman. My father loves my mother dearly, and my mother loves my father just as much." Yue Ran looked at Xiao Man with envy. "I also hope that the girl I love will feel the same way, and we can be together day and night."