The three of them stepped into the teahouse. The owner seemed to recognize Bibi Dong. The moment he saw the trio come in, he respectfully welcomed them and led them upstairs to a private room by the window.
"Xiao Se, do you still remember this place? Back then, when we snuck out to play, you were the one who brought me here." Bibi Dong removed her veil, then moved with practiced ease as she took out a tea set from the cabinet and brewed five cups of steaming hot tea.
"The fragrance is nice. Looks like it was roasted recently." Xiao Se lifted a cup, took a light sip, and then shook his head helplessly. "I have a vague impression, but honestly, I can't remember the details."
"It's alright. You'll remember it slowly." Bibi Dong spoke softly.
He nodded. Perhaps to distract himself, Xiao Se let his gaze fall onto the cups on the table. Counting Long Kui, there were only four people—yet there were five cups of tea. He blinked and asked in surprise, "Is someone else joining us?"
Just as he finished speaking, the private room door opened and a beautiful girl stepped inside.
She wore a white robe, her long, golden hair cascading down like a waterfall. Her skin was fairer than snow, her nose bridge straight, and her slightly narrow phoenix eyes carried a natural air of sharpness. Her features were stunning—among the women Xiao Se knew, aside from Bibi Dong, Long Kui, and the now long-legged Medusa, almost no one could stand on equal footing with her. Even the still-developing Xiao Xun'er and "little kitten" paled a little in comparison.
When the golden-haired girl entered, both Long Kui and the little kitten gasped at her beauty—then immediately shot fierce glares at Xiao Se, as if he had done something wrong. He stared back, utterly confused.
The girl's gaze swept the room calmly. When her eyes landed on Xiao Se, a complicated look flashed through them. She let out a small "hmph," nodded to Zhu Zhuqing and Long Kui, and finally looked at Bibi Dong. The moment her eyes met Bibi Dong's, her expression brightened instantly.
"Mom, I thought you wouldn't come this year!" Closing the door behind her, she walked gracefully to Bibi Dong's side and settled into her embrace with a smile.
"I was held up by something for a few days," Bibi Dong said, gently stroking the girl's head with obvious affection.
From their exchange, Xiao Se immediately guessed the girl's identity—Qian Renxue.
But seeing this mother and daughter—whose relationship in the original story was absolutely terrible—acting so loving and harmonious… Xiao Se's mouth twitched involuntarily. By all logic, since he had already used Bie Tian Shen, Qian Xunji shouldn't have been able to cause trouble. So… where exactly did this Qian Renxue come from?
"Ahem… Dong'er, this girl is…?" Xiao Se cleared his throat and pretended not to know.
Bibi Dong's eyes curved with a mischievous smile. "She's the Xue'er I told you about."
"Xue'er, this is Aunt Long Kui. And this is Zhu Zhuqing, the new little sister I just recognized—you can call her Zhuqing. As for him—"
Before Bibi Dong could finish, Qian Renxue suddenly stood up, walked to Xiao Se, and said:
"Dad?"
"Pfft—!" Xiao Se couldn't hold it in. The tea he just drank sprayed right out. Fortunately, he turned his head quickly, or Qian Renxue would've taken a faceful of tea.
Seeing Xiao Se's reaction, Bibi Dong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Long Kui exchanged looks. The same wicked smile appeared on all three beautiful faces.
Xiao Se coughed twice, trying to regain his composure. "Um… Miss Xue'er… I'm fourteen years old." He absolutely refused to believe she was his child. Even if his soul had spent more than thirty years inside Bibi Dong's body, that didn't magically allow them to have a child. (He had firsthand experience with this, courtesy of Hongkui.)
"I know," Qian Renxue nodded calmly.
"Then why…?" Xiao Se's mouth twitched.
"Aren't you the person my mom has been waiting for all these years? So calling you 'Dad' isn't wrong." Qian Renxue shrugged, her bright eyes glinting with a faint, sly light. She glanced toward the other three women. "Mom, Aunt Long Kui, Zhuqing—am I wrong?"
"Xue'er is right," Bibi Dong, Long Kui, and Zhu Zhuqing all said in unison, nodding with matching mischievous smiles, their eyes shimmering with playful intent.
Seeing that identical glint in their eyes, Xiao Se felt another twitch at his lips. He forced a dry laugh. "Let's… follow Zhuqing's example and just address each other normally. You can call me Xiao Se, or like Dong'er does—Xiao Se. I'll call you Xue'er."
His flustered response finally broke the last bit of restraint in the three women. The trio covered their lips as they burst into soft laughter.
"Dong'er… whose daughter is she? Don't tell me she's that useless teacher of yours'…" Xiao Se sent a private voice transmission to Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong shook her head gently, smiling. "Once you remember everything, you'll understand."
Seeing that she refused to explain, Xiao Se turned his gaze to Long Kui, who was still laughing quietly. "Long Kui, you know something, don't you?"
"Brother, I'm sorry… I promised Sister Dong'er I wouldn't tell you." Long Kui said this even as she covered her lips, shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.
"Zhuqing?" Xiao Se turned to Zhu Zhuqing.
"I still haven't forgiven you for your womanizing," she said coolly—though even she couldn't hide the tiny smile tugging at her mouth. For once she had some leverage over him, and she clearly wasn't planning to let it go.
And so, none of the three beauties would give him an answer. They spent the rest of the gathering with Qian Renxue calling him "Dad" every now and then—each call piercing him like a needle—until their conversation finally came to an end.
Near dusk, amid Bibi Dong's reluctant farewell and Qian Renxue's eyes shimmering with strange emotion, Xiao Se returned to the Dou Qi Continent with Long Kui and Zhu Zhuqing.
Ding—Seven-Day Douluo Tour has ended. Host has returned to the Battle Through the Heavens Continent.
Hearing the system's voice inside his mind, Xiao Se slowly opened his eyes. The familiar layout of the room entered his view.
This was the guest room inside the Mittel Auction House headquarters.
"Brother… did we already come back?" Long Kui's soft voice echoed in his heart.
"Mm. We're back." Xiao Se nodded and walked out of the room.
Exiting the corridor and stepping into the main hall, he immediately spotted Hai Bodong leaning casually by the window.
"You're out already? Looks like you gained a lot this time. You're really a little monster." Hai Bodong examined him with a serious gaze before clicking his tongue in amazement.
"Just a lucky breakthrough," Xiao Se shrugged. He poured himself a cup of tea. "You waited specifically for me at this time—did something happen?"
"Rumors are spreading outside. They say the champion of the Alchemist Tournament was rewarded with the Breaking-Sect Pill formula. Your reputation now completely overshadows Pill King Gu He." Hai Bodong turned around, grinning.
"Who leaked that information?" Xiao Se narrowed his eyes.
"Relax. No one dares set their sights on you. They'll be too busy trying to curry favor." Hai Bodong rolled his eyes at Xiao Se's suspicious expression and explained.
(End of Chapter)
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