On the auction stage, Feiying smiled at Ye Yu, but her impression of him had soured considerably.

As an auctioneer, she despised those who disrupted the flow of the bidding.

Initially, she had found him tolerable. While not handsome, he was pleasant to look at, and his talent was undeniable.

But he was so petty, so inconsiderate of her position on stage.

Normally, she wouldn’t mind a minor interruption, but her sister was watching from a private room. She wanted to impress her.

She glanced up at the second floor and saw Lan Mulian stepping out of a room, her gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on a specific private room. She walked towards it gracefully.

Strange… what is she doing? Feiying wondered.

Lan Mulian had initially decided not to attend the auction after receiving the Luminous Soil from Mu Zhi’an, but she had changed her mind, wanting to see her sister in action.

Feiying shook her head, dismissing those thoughts, and focused on the auction, drawing the crowd’s attention back to the items being presented.

…

In the private room, Mu Zhi’an sipped his tea, his hand beneath the table gently caressing Ye Qian’s, his expression calm, but his heart pounding with anxiety.

Ye Yu’s such a sore loser. He can’t win, so he calls for backup?

Since regaining his memories, he had been in control of the situation, manipulating the Gongsun family and the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce, eliminating the black-robed man, even acquiring the Heavenly Dao Aura.

The only unexpected event had been the appearance of the World Devouring Serpent Empress, but she was far too powerful for him to handle.

This time, however, he realized that things were spiraling out of control.

Ye Yu’s earlier words had been a simple attempt to mock him for wasting money on a useless trinket.

But Ye Lingxuan would still repay him.

And he could even use that repayment as an excuse to spend more time with her, to improve their relationship.

In other words, Ye Yu was playing checkers, while Mu Zhi’an was playing chess.

However, with the addition of these unexpected variables, Ye Yu had somehow managed to checkmate him.

Mu Zhi’an took another sip of tea, contemplating his options.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Qian asked, noticing his troubled expression.

Ye Lingxuan also looked at him, her brow furrowing slightly. “If you’re not feeling well, we can escort you back to the manor.”

Normally, he would be delighted by their concern, seeing it as a sign of progress in his courtship.

But now…

He shook his head, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Just thinking about something.”

“But your hands are sweating. Are you sure you’re alright?” Ye Qian asked softly.

He had been holding her hand beneath the table. She could feel his body heat.

He waved his hand dismissively. “Really, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

He heard footsteps approaching, and his heart sank.

The auction was still in progress. He clenched his fist, covering his mouth, and coughed loudly, trying to imitate a gruff voice.

“Cough, cough, cough”

He wanted to dissuade whoever was outside from entering, but his coughs, they only drew Bai Ruoxi in.

She pulled open the curtain, her beauty as captivating as ever, her white dress accentuating her delicate figure, her expression a mixture of innocence and vulnerability.

Any other man would be filled with a desire to protect her, to hold her close and cherish her.

But to Mu Zhi’an, her appearance was like a lit fuse.

Her usual aloofness was gone, replaced by a cold, emotionless gaze. She stared at him, then at the Ye sisters.

Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian also studied her, their eyes filled with curiosity.

“Can I help you, Miss Bai?” Ye Lingxuan asked, smiling politely.

Bai Ruoxi glanced at Mu Zhi’an, then turned to Ye Lingxuan, her voice soft and sweet. “I’m looking for someone.”

“Who?”

Ye Lingxuan glanced at Mu Zhi’an again, a playful smile on her lips. “Could it be Young Master Mu?”

She continued, “I heard he pursued you for a while, but you rejected him.”

“But then I heard you two were quite affectionate at the sparring arena. Is that true?”

Bai Ruoxi didn’t answer, her gaze sweeping over the two sisters.

She first noticed Ye Lingxuan, her elegance and poise undeniable.

Then, she looked at Ye Qian, who had withdrawn her hand from Mu Zhi’an’s grasp and was now staring at the floor, her cheeks flushed.

Sensing their gazes, she smiled nervously, about to speak, when Mu Zhi’an interrupted, pouring Bai Ruoxi a cup of tea.

“What brings you to the auction house so early, Ruoxi? Are you looking for something specific?”

“Have a seat and some tea,” he said, smiling warmly.

She glanced at him, then at the Ye sisters, her expression unreadable.

She sat down, surprisingly not confronting him about his presence with other women.

She simply leaned forward, taking a sip of tea, her ample bosom pressing against the table, dwarfing the two sisters beside her.

An awkward silence filled the room.

But that awkwardness… it calmed Mu Zhi’an’s nerves.

He wasn’t afraid of awkwardness. He was afraid of her anger, her sharp accusations.

She had been about to say something dangerous, but he had interrupted her.

She was, as he had assessed, gentle and passive. Unlike other women, she wouldn’t lash out. She would simply worry about him.

Ye Yu’s seemingly devastating attack, it was still within his control.

He had to take charge, to ease the tension. He smiled, about to speak, when the curtain to the room fluttered, someone pulling it open.

A beautiful woman in a moon-white robe, her hair held in place by a white ribbon, a veil covering her face, entered the room.

She glanced at them, then looked at Mu Zhi’an, her eyes cold, a mixture of amusement and anger swirling within them.

Senior Sister?!

His smile vanished, his body stiffening.

Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian also stared at her, surprised.

They recognized her, but they hadn’t expected the examiner to appear at the auction in this private room.

Had she entered the wrong room? Or was she like Bai Ruoxi, looking for someone?

They both looked at Mu Zhi’an.

Senior Sister and Mu Lang, they’re definitely close, Bai Ruoxi thought to herself, her eyes losing their sparkle.

Mu Zhi’an, feeling their gazes upon him, calmly set down his teacup, forcing a smile.

“S-Senior Sister, what brings you here? I thought you weren’t interested in auctions.”

Lan Mulian surveyed the room, a faint smile playing on her lips, hidden beneath the veil. “I came here looking for someone. And I happened to find you.”

“You said you were busy today and couldn’t accompany me to the auction. I thought you had something important to do, but it seems you had other appointments.”

She looked at him, her gaze cold.

“He told me something similar a few days ago,” Bai Ruoxi said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. Even the other women in the room felt a pang of sympathy for her.

She looked at Mu Zhi’an, her voice gentle. “Mu Lang, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Silence descended upon the room, heavy and suffocating.

A simple endearment had silenced them all.

Mu Zhi’an hadn’t expected her to use the term he had playfully suggested.

In this era, women addressed their beloveds by their surname, followed by “Lang.”

Her words were a subtle declaration of ownership, yet they were unobjectionable, since he had been the one to suggest it.

Despite her gentle demeanor, she had played her cards masterfully.

Ye Qian, her heart sinking, lowered her head, her newfound joy replaced by a quiet sadness. She didn’t express her disappointment, simply withdrawing into herself.

Ye Lingxuan also stared at Bai Ruoxi, her expression cold.

She sensed the possessiveness in her words.

Mu Zhi’an’s kindness had warmed her heart, and while she didn’t harbor any romantic feelings for him. Bai Ruoxi’s declaration felt like a challenge.

Lan Mulian’s expression was hidden beneath the veil, but her eyes had turned colder.

They had exchanged countless letters in the past few days, his words filled with longing and affection. She had developed a fondness for him, despite their age difference. Hearing Bai Ruoxi’s endearment sparked a complex mix of emotions within her.

Ye Yu, frozen outside the room, stared at them, speechless.

He had come here to mock Mu Zhi’an, but now… he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Ye Qian, after a long silence, looked up at Bai Ruoxi, her eyes red-rimmed. “Miss Bai, are you joking?”

Bai Ruoxi had always despised Mu Zhi’an. She and her sister had often seen him trailing after her like a lovesick puppy, only to be ignored.

And now… she was calling him “Mu Lang”?

Bai Ruoxi shook her head, her gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an, her voice soft. “I wouldn’t joke about something like this. I’ve already introduced him to my parents, and…”

She blushed. “We’ve… cultivated together.”

“….”

The atmosphere froze, even Lan Mulian’s expression shifting slightly.

Ye Yu, his heart sinking, stumbled backwards, overwhelmed by a wave of shock and jealousy.

They had only been together for a short time, yet their relationship had already progressed to that level…

And why was the examiner involved with him? Wasn’t she an inner disciple of the Two Polarities Sect?!

His earlier amusement at Mu Zhi’an’s predicament was now replaced by a burning envy.

But at least, his cousins would finally see Mu Zhi’an for the scoundrel he was. That was his only consolation.

He felt a surge of helpless rage, his goddess stolen by a villain.

Mu Zhi’an, his scalp tingling, remained silent.

He couldn’t speak, couldn’t offer any explanations.

He was the center of this storm, and anything he said would be wrong, only fueling their anger.

But there was a way out. His reputation might be tarnished, but he had anticipated this eventually.

Everyone makes mistakes.

He was panicking, but he wouldn’t give up.

He understood Bai Ruoxi.

He understood the other women as well.

This crisis, it seemed insurmountable, but there was a solution.

After all, he had already established a reputation as a womanizer, a frequent visitor of pleasure houses.

They were all aware of his past, but his charm, his behavior towards them, it had made them overlook it.

His presence at the auction house with the Ye sisters, his revelation about his relationship with Bai Ruoxi, had simply reminded them of his other side.

He couldn’t speak, but someone else could.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay