The November weather in Tianyu City was bleak and quiet. Although winter had officially begun, it wasn’t quite freezing yet. Every day after school, you could always spot a few spirited young guys in thin clothes at the school gate. They usually hung out in small groups, their faces flushed red as they chatted and laughed. Whenever a gust of wind blew by, all you’d hear was a chorus of sharp hisses as they sucked in cold air through their teeth.
Some of the older folks would look at them and always say something like: “Ah, to be young again. When I was their age, I was taking cold showers in the dead of winter…”
Cao Yan was different from them. She was one of those spirited young girls, with her ponytail tied high at the back of her head. She had a slender, somewhat lean figure, and a fair, delicate oval face that gave off an air of aloofness—like she was keeping the world at arm’s length.
Suddenly, a boy’s voice called out from behind her: “Classmate Cao Yan, if I remember correctly, your house is in Sujia Village on the west side of town, right? We’re heading the same way—want to walk together?”
“Thank you, class monitor, but no need. My family’s coming to pick me up.” She wasn’t trying to be cold to anyone in particular, but her voice sounded icy regardless.
The boy smiled awkwardly. “Ah, okay then. If you ever need any help in the future, just let me know. Everyone in our class is really friendly.”
Cao Yan nodded. “Mm.”
This was her third day at No. 2 High School. Because her parents were going through a divorce, she had no choice but to follow her mother to stay with her aunt.
The two sisters were very close—when one was in trouble, the other would never stand by and do nothing.
Cao Yan had pretty good memories of her aunt. She had doted on her when she was little, and she still did now, treating her like her own daughter.
Her uncle was the same way—just as loving as her aunt.
But still…
Cao Yan frowned, remembering clearly that her aunt’s family had a cousin who used to love making her cry. Now, three years had passed without seeing him, and she’d heard he’d become a Transcendent.
And today, he was coming home!
Cao Yan felt a little anxious, not knowing if this cousin of hers would still bully her like he used to.
“Yan Yan, what are you spacing out for?”
“Ah, Uncle, you’re here.” Cao Yan snapped back to reality and quickly greeted her uncle.
“Mm, your cousin Mo should be home tonight. I’ll have your aunt whip up a big feast later—you two cousins can catch up properly.” Su Wenlong had barely finished speaking when something seemed to occur to him. His expression turned a bit strange, but he quickly composed himself and acted as if nothing had happened.
Cao Yan gave a soft “oh” and got into Su Wenlong’s new car.
Halfway there, she couldn’t help but ask: “I heard my cousin Mo is a really powerful Transcendent. Do you know just how powerful he is, Uncle?”
“Uh…” Su Wenlong stiffened his neck, thinking for a moment. “Really, really powerful.”
Cao Yan immediately grew worried: He probably won’t bully me anymore now, right? And if he does, I absolutely cannot cry!
She quietly chanted “go, go, go” three times in her heart to pump herself up.
Before she knew it, the car had pulled up to the Su family home. Su Xiaoxiao came bounding out from afar to greet them, but the moment she spotted Cao Yan, her doggy face turned sour and she let out a low, rumbling growl—”grrrr.”
Su Wenlong scolded her on the spot: “You stupid dog, it’s been days now and you still don’t recognize Yan Yan? Keep barking and I’ll skin you and make dog stew!”
At that, Su Xiaoxiao yelped, turned tail, and ran off, making a racket of “wah wah wah” as she went.
Su Mo happened to be walking out the door holding Momo in his arms, and the dog just kept circling around his feet, looking utterly frantic.
Su Mo bent down and soothed her for a good while before she finally calmed down—but she still kept baring her teeth in Cao Yan’s direction.
“Uncle, good to see you. And this must be Yan Yan.” Su Mo now addressed his own father as “Uncle” without any hesitation, and it rolled off his tongue smoothly. Su Wenlong, looking at Su Mo in Ye Qingyi’s form, naturally felt no awkwardness either.
“That’s right.” Su Wenlong replied with a smile, then introduced her: “Yan Yan, this is your cousin Mo’s girlfriend, Qingyi.”
Cao Yan’s gaze swept briefly over her face, and she said flatly: “Sister Qingyi.”
Just then, Ye Qingyi also stepped out the door, being pulled along by a middle-aged woman who looked remarkably like Yu Xiaowen, asking her all sorts of questions.
“Cousin Mo!” Cao Yan’s voice carried a hint of pleasant surprise.
Ye Qingyi smiled naturally, walked over, and gave her high ponytail a little tug. “Not bad—you’ve got quite the heroic girl vibe.”
Cao Yan’s face flushed a little. “Don’t pull it—you’re messing up my hair…”
But deep down, she inexplicably felt relieved: Thank goodness… thank goodness…
Sometimes, being overly polite doesn’t necessarily mean respect or good manners—it can also be a sign of distance.
How many childhood friends, who once roughhoused with each other, end up exchanging nothing but pleasantries when they meet again?
It’s not just people like Runtu and Xun Ge’er, who had class differences between them—even ordinary folks from the same walk of life are no exception.
So when Cao Yan realized that cousin Mo in her heart was still teasing her just like before, she felt a warm sense of fulfillment.
“Don’t just stand around—come inside where it’s warm. Dinner will be ready soon.” Yu Xiaowen called out from the kitchen, wearing her apron.
Yu Xiaoting pulled Ye Qingyi with one hand and her own daughter with the other as she headed toward the living room. Su Mo’s eyes flickered, and he glanced at his father. Su Wenlong spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
His expression seemed to say: That’s just how your aunt is.
As soon as he entered the living room, he saw his aunt beaming at the two girls, chattering nonstop: “Little Mo, you and our Yan Yan grew up together—childhood sweethearts, really. I was worried that after all these years apart you might have grown distant, but I see you’re still as close as ever. Seeing that, your aunt can finally rest easy.”
As a girl, Ye Qingyi acutely sensed something off and quickly smiled: “Yan Yan is my little sister. We’ve always had a good relationship as siblings.”
With that, she beckoned Su Mo to come sit beside her. Of course, he didn’t refuse, settling down next to her with Momo in his arms. Momo immediately started waving her little arms and legs, laughing and babbling with her tiny mouth: “dede…”
Cao Yan glanced toward the kitchen. “I’ll go help Auntie cook.”
Yu Xiaoting yanked her back. “Your uncle’s already helping in the kitchen. Don’t go causing trouble. Stay here and catch up with your cousin.”
Then she turned to Su Mo and said in a flat, lukewarm tone: “Huh, what’s your name again… oh, Qingyi, right? The siblings haven’t seen each other in so long—they must have a lot to talk about. We shouldn’t disturb them.”
Cao Yan’s face changed, and this time she stood up straight. Yu Xiaoting couldn’t hold her back.
“Sigh, you child, where are you going?”
“I’m going to help Auntie cook.”
“The kitchen’s too small—can’t fit that many people… Hey, why won’t this child listen!”
She shot an unfriendly glare at Su Mo before chasing after her.
Cao Yan hadn’t gone far when Yu Xiaoting grabbed her and pulled her into the side room. The sound of the door slamming shut was heard by everyone.
“Mom, what exactly are you trying to do?” Cao Yan shook off her mother’s hand, furious. “This is Auntie’s house, not ours!”
Yu Xiaoting said dismissively: “Your aunt is my own sister. Now that I’ve got nowhere else to go, her home is my home.”
Then her face turned serious. “And you—you’re completely clueless. Didn’t you see I was trying to set you up with Little Mo? If you two can get together, then in the future…”
“Mom!” Cao Yan’s eyes were red, her voice forcibly lowered but filled with despair: “How many times do I have to tell you—he’s my brother!”
“He’s not blood-related. Since ancient times, there have been countless cases of cousins getting together. As long as we can find a way to make him break up with that Ye Qingyi, you still have a chance… Ah, no—!”
The last three words came out at the top of her lungs, startling Yu Xiaowen in the kitchen. She rushed over to the side room in a panic and found her niece Cao Yan’s face dripping with blood.
The girl stared defiantly at her mother, a bloodstained fruit knife in her hand.
“Yan Yan!” Yu Xiaoting’s eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the floor.
