"Qianyun, why are you here?" Su Xingchen's face was filled with joy.
Yu Qianyun thought of the scene she had just witnessed and inexplicably felt a bit superfluous.
"What, I can't come?"
"No, I'm just a little surprised," Su Xingchen quickly explained, his gaze involuntarily flicking towards Xing Yuan. She didn't seem like a kind person!
He hadn't seen her much these past few days, mainly because he didn't know how to interact with these relatives and had been deliberately avoiding her.
Xing Yuan looked at the two of them and felt she shouldn't be a third wheel. She said directly, "You two chat! I have other things to do, so I'll be going now."
"Okay, good!" Perhaps due to some lingering after-effect, Su Xingchen was a little afraid of her.
It wasn't until Xing Yuan disappeared that Su Xingchen pulled Yu Qianyun into his room, ready to tell her what had happened recently.
Yu Qianyun followed him all the way into the room. Her eyes were filled with confusion. This should be where the host family lived. It seemed that Su Xingchen had not suffered during this time but had been treated as an honored guest.
"Qianyun, you absolutely wouldn't guess what's happened these past few days!" Seeing someone he trusted, Su Xingchen couldn't help but pour out his story.
"Didn't I tell you before that my parents died young and I was alone at home? Turns out, a few days ago, someone suddenly told me that the parents who raised me were not my biological parents at all."
Yu Qianyun, being intelligent, heard this and her eyes widened with disbelief. This meant he really had some connection to Xing Yu City.
"That guy just now, he's actually my biological brother. Tell me, how can such a magical thing happen in this world?"
"That's not right! With such a big event, why is there no news outside? And are you sure this news is true?" Yu Qianyun regained her senses, fearing Su Xingchen might be used, and quickly helped him analyze the inconsistencies.
"I'm sure about that. And their family is powerful, they have no reason to lie to me. I heard it happened during the chaos in Xing Yu City, and the news was very tightly sealed. They've been looking for me all these years." Su Xingchen had thought it through carefully; there was nothing about him that was worth scheming for.
Yu Qianyun asked nervously, "Then... what are you going to do next?" Are you leaving?
"I don't know! I just feel so sorry for those who trusted me." Su Xingchen looked at the person in front of him and silently repeated in his heart, and also sorry for you.
Yu Qianyun smiled, radiantly.
Yu Qianyun placed her hands on Su Xingchen's shoulders and said earnestly, "Achen, you have never wronged anyone. Moreover, your current identity actually makes it easier for you to act."
"You must have heard of Xing Yu City. Your ancestors were merchants and left considerable wealth to their descendants. Even in the entire Yu Kingdom, its overall strength ranks among the top."
"And, Xing Chen is said to be the next successor of Xing Yu City. As his elder brother, you can take your brothers with you to develop in Xing Yu City. I believe that sooner or later, your dream will come true."
Su Xingchen was encouraged, his dejection vanishing from his eyes, "Qianyun, you're so smart, how could I not have thought of that?"
Yu Qianyun looked at the smiling Su Xingchen, a smile appearing at the corner of her lips. It's not that you didn't think of it, it's just that you can't accept the fact that you have more relatives for now.
Su Xingchen was happy for a moment, then turned and hugged Yu Qianyun, his eyes full of tenderness, "Qianyun, are you willing to go with me?"
Yu Qianyun was startled, not expecting him to say that so suddenly.
"Qianyun, before, I knew my status was low and I lived a precarious life. So I didn't dare to make any promises to you, because I was afraid that if I died one day, you would be reluctant to part with me."
"But now I want to be selfish and tell you my feelings. You know, in this chaotic world, if I go to Xing Yu City, my future path is uncertain. I don't know if I will ever return, so are you willing to go with me?"
Yu Qianyun's eyes welled up with tears, feeling a little moved, but she still pushed him away.
"Achen, you know. My father only has me as his relative. I like you, I've never hidden that. But I can't leave my father here alone. I'm sorry!"
Su Xingchen looked disappointed but understood, "I was inconsiderate. Qianyun, believe me, I will definitely find a way to satisfy both sides as soon as possible."
"Okay!"
The two embraced tightly.
Meanwhile, Xing Yuan was preparing to go to the appointment.
Qi Wen had chosen a secluded private residence for their serious discussion.
"You're here!" Qi Wen looked at the person arriving and personally made a gesture to invite her in.
Now that it was just the two of them, Qi Wen was ready to have a good talk with Xing Yuan.
"What do you think about the matter I mentioned last time?" Qi Wen poured a cup of wine and placed it in front of Xing Yuan.
Xing Yuan picked up the wine glass and smiled, "I think Brother Qi's proposal last time was not bad. But you have to give me something useful! Otherwise, if you go back on your word one day, I won't be able to find you."
Qi Wen's eyes were also full of smiles, "I am certainly sincere. I have a sister. Why don't Brother Xing go and see her? If we can form a marital alliance, it would be the most stable alliance."
"I'm afraid that won't work. I don't want to let your sister down. If the alliance fails and we become enemies, it would be a loss that outweighs the gain."
"An alliance is fine, but it needs to be in a different form. My Xing family ancestors had some wealth. I can be the one to decide to contribute a portion as a show of sincerity. Brother Qi, why don't you also provide land deeds or munitions as collateral?"
"If either party defaults, these items can be taken. The gap in our strength is not large. If we were to fight, it would only benefit others in the end."
"Good! Then it shall be as you say. I agree to this matter as well." Qi Wen thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Xing Yuan raised his wine glass and drank it down in one go, "Then, happy cooperation!"
"Happy cooperation!" Qi Wen also downed the wine in his glass heartily.
Xing Yuan said earnestly, "By the way, there's one more thing. Our Xing family has always disliked conflict, so if Major General Qi can win in the end, please open the city gates and let us return to our old profession, continuing to do business."
"Alright! If that's the case, the day I establish the nation will be the day the Xing family reopens their businesses across the country." Qi Wen smiled, and the wariness in his eyes gradually faded.
He had decided to cooperate with them precisely because he had heard of the Xing family's good reputation. What he hated most was never the enemy, but a teammate who might stab him in the back.