The Fault Lies with the Sister

Xu Mu sighed inwardly. Could it be that these two were truly a perfect match made in heaven?

“Why are you here?”

Since she had greeted him, Xu Mu naturally had to respond.

“My father has a fondness for antiques. His birthday is coming up soon, so I thought I’d come help him pick out a gift,” Shen Wanning explained. Suddenly, she noticed Dai Xingluo standing nearby and curiously asked, “And who is this?”

“I’m his cousin,” Dai Xingluo said calmly.

“We’re looking at antiques,” she added with a composed expression.

“Oh?” Shen Wanning was full of surprise. She looked at Xu Mu and asked, “Do you know much about these old things?”

“A little bit,” Xu Mu replied with a faint smile.

“That’s great! Could you help me pick something? I want to find a beautiful jade piece for my father,” Shen Wanning said cheerfully.

“Sorry, my brother already has plans today. He’s going to help me choose something,” Dai Xingluo said with a smile from the side.

Xu Mu glanced awkwardly at Dai Xingluo.

Is this how it’s going to start?

Noticing Xu Mu’s look, Dai Xingluo sneered sarcastically, “Looks like my sister said the wrong thing—guess it’s her fault, not mine.”

The vibe was unmistakable.

Looking at Dai Xingluo now, Xu Mu’s eyes flickered with a trace of grievance, almost pitiful.

As a woman herself, Shen Wanning immediately saw through it—this woman was dripping with passive-aggressive malice.

If she really was his cousin, how could she speak like that?

Most likely, she was just another disgusting woman Xu Mu had dragged into his life.

Shen Wanning’s anger flared inside. She had actually started to think better of him before, but now she saw the truth.

[Affection -1]

She felt sorry for herself. Xu Mu liked her, but he also liked this woman.

Did he really see her and this kind of woman on the same level?

[Affection -1]

“Xu Mu, since you’re going to buy her something anyway, it won’t take much time. After she’s done, you can help me pick something,” Shen Wanning said.

If this had been before, she wouldn’t have bothered with Xu Mu at all. He deserved to be fooled by this woman.

But now, she thought Xu Mu was actually not a bad guy.

Especially with his musical talent, she decided to help him out.

By kicking that green tea bitch away.

“Enough, enough. It was my sister being petty. Brother, you should just go with your sister and not worry about me,” Dai Xingluo said coolly, glancing at Xu Mu.

“That works perfectly. Xu Mu, let’s go,” Shen Wanning said, refusing to give Dai Xingluo any face. This kind of retreat-then-advance trick? Did she really think Xu Mu was a fool?

“Heh, Shen Wanning, I think I’ll go with my sister first. After all, I promised her before,” Xu Mu said helplessly.

He was trying to protect Shen Wanning in his own way—keeping her away from Dai Xingluo.

The Dragon King wasn’t back yet. If Dai Xingluo made a move on Shen Wanning now, no one would be there to save her.

Though Xu Mu and Shen Wanning barely knew each other, he didn’t want to see her get hurt.

Hearing this, a smile suddenly appeared on Dai Xingluo’s face.

That smile was directed at Shen Wanning, as if announcing her victory and looking down on her.

“Ugh!”

Shen Wanning’s temper flared up. As the proud eldest daughter of the Shen family, being looked down on by a woman like this—did she really think she had no backbone?

“What are you laughing at?”

Shen Wanning pointed at Dai Xingluo and snapped coldly.

Xu Mu immediately turned around, looking at Dai Xingluo, only to find that she wasn’t laughing at all. Instead, her face was innocent and pitiful.

“Sis, did your little sister do something to upset you?”

Dai Xingluo looked somewhat pitiful. “Alright, it’s my fault.”

“What are you pretending for? Do you really think Xu Mu is stupid enough to be fooled by your fake sweetness?”

Shen Wanning decided to be blunt and brought the matter up directly.

“What fake sweetness? All I see is a thoughtful and considerate little sister!”

Xu Mu’s expression darkened slightly. “Shen Wanning, why do you have to speak so harshly?”

At this moment, Dai Xingluo stood behind Xu Mu, flashing a smile—not one of disdain this time, but a mocking one.

“You’re still smiling?”

Shen Wanning glared fiercely, then turned to Xu Mu. “You and your ‘good little sister’ can be together!”

With that, she strode off.

The more Shen Wanning thought about it, the angrier she became. Xu Mu was studying music just to pursue her, wasn’t he?

So why was he being ensnared by this woman?

Couldn’t he see that she was such a manipulative “green tea” type?

Men really are all thick-headed!

……

Of course, Xu Mu knew exactly what was going on. After all, he understood the story well and knew what kind of person Dai Xingluo was.

His earlier behavior was just to protect Shen Wanning.

If he had ignored Dai Xingluo and openly sided with Shen Wanning, it might have provoked Dai Xingluo’s jealousy.

But judging by the current relationship between Xu Mu and Dai Xingluo, she was unlikely to go after Shen Wanning.

Still, better safe than sorry.

Besides, Xu Mu and Shen Wanning weren’t that close yet.

For now, he still needed Dai Xingluo on his side, both emotionally and logically.

“Who was that elder sister just now?” Dai Xingluo asked Xu Mu, “She seemed a bit fierce.”

“Just a regular friend.”

Xu Mu smiled at Dai Xingluo. “What’s up with you? I never promised to take you to find the treasure today.”

“Because I really have something to do and don’t want others to bother me.”

Dai Xingluo spoke as she pointed toward an antique shop nearby. “Come with me.”

Xu Mu nodded lightly. Of course, he knew that Li Zizai was inside that shop.

Following Dai Xingluo inside, Xu Mu immediately spotted Li Zizai sitting behind the counter.

Still, he had to keep up the pretense.

“Is that you?”

Xu Mu’s face turned serious as he took a few steps back.

“It’s fine, he’s one of us.”

Dai Xingluo glanced at Xu Mu and explained, “I only just found out that the person chasing you that day was him.”

“Brother, sorry about that. I really wanted the technique you have, but I never intended to harm you.”

Li Zizai put down the magnifying glass in his hand and said to Xu Mu.

“What’s your relationship?”

Xu Mu looked at Dai Xingluo and asked.

“He’s Li Zizai, the owner of this antique shop. But I’m the one who funded it, so you can think of him as just an employee.”

Dai Xingluo smiled at Xu Mu.

As she spoke, she walked toward the counter and took out the bronze piece she had previously taken. “Here, this belongs to you.”

“No need, the Xuan-level cultivation method can be practiced just by reading the text. I’ve already taken photos of it earlier.”

Xu Mu shook his head gently. “Since I’m giving it to you, then it’s yours.”

【Favorability +10】

Dai Xingluo put the bronze token back down. “Then I won’t be polite with you, brother.”

“Little brother, what’s your name? You seem to know a lot about these things.”

Li Zizai walked over to a nearby table and poured a cup of tea for Xu Mu.

“My name is Xu Mu. Actually, I don’t know that much—just a little bit.”

Xu Mu smiled.

“Are you a martial artist too?”

Li Zizai, holding the teacup, came to stand beside Xu Mu and asked.

“I didn’t even know what a martial artist was before. It’s just that once, I met an old man who said I had an extraordinary bone structure and gave me some pills.”

Xu Mu definitely wouldn’t reveal his true background, so he made up a reason casually. “After that, I mastered Ming Qi.”

“Old Li, cut the crap. Let’s get straight to the point.”

Dai Xingluo laughed from the side.

“Alright.”

Li Zizai suddenly looked serious as he turned to Xu Mu. “What do you think of my lady?”