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Xiao Yi stood aside, watching Tao'er happily drinking her porridge, and knew that he probably wouldn't be able to perform well today.

He coughed lightly and said, "Tao'er, take your time eating. I have something to do, so I'll head out first."

After you finish your porridge, go to bed early.

You haven't had a proper rest these past few days.

But as soon as he took a step, he saw Ah Chen sit down in front of Tao'er, staring intently at her as she drank her porridge, his gaze as focused as if he were looking at some rare treasure.

Xiao Yi stopped in his tracks, turned around and walked back, frowning as he looked at Ah Chen: "Young Master Ah Chen, why aren't you leaving yet?"

Ah Chen looked up, his face blank with an innocent expression: "I just arrived, why do I have to leave?"

I have to stay with Atao until she finishes her porridge. If she's not full, I can bring her another bowl.

He spoke with such confidence that he didn't seem to realize anything was wrong.

Xiao Yi's face instantly darkened, and his voice lowered slightly: "No, it's nighttime. You and Tao'er are alone in a room, a man and a woman. If word gets out, wouldn't that ruin Tao'er's reputation?"

What does "a man and a woman alone together" mean?

Ah Chen pointed to the two little ones with crumbs all over their mouths and retorted in a serious tone.

"Besides me and Atao, there are also Ayan and Huanhuan in this room!"

"How can four people be considered a lone man and woman?"

Ayan and Huanhuan looked up at the same time, glanced at the two adults who were about to clash, then looked at each other, shook their heads in unison, and sighed like little adults: "Sigh, these two are at it again."

Tao'er, who was drinking porridge, finally realized belatedly that something was wrong.

She put down her spoon, looked at Xiao Yi's ashen face, then at A-Chen's self-righteous expression, and couldn't help but rub her forehead.

"Alright, alright."

She waved her hand, her tone tinged with helplessness, "Brother Shi Qi, Brother A Chen, it's already dark. It's not appropriate for the two of you men to stay in my room. Please go back to your own rooms."

Xiao Yi and A Chen looked at each other, neither willing to leave first.

After a brief standoff, the two simultaneously snorted coldly, one flicking his sleeve and the other putting his hands behind his back, and walked out one after the other.

As they reached the door, they bumped shoulders with each other, almost knocking the door frame askew.

Tao'er watched the two figures disappear through the doorway, shook her head, and sighed with a wry smile, "Sigh, when did these two turn into two hedgehogs?"

Holding the last bite of jujube cake, Ayan said in his childish voice, "Sister Tao'er, they're like those two big roosters at the village entrance, fighting every day."

Huanhuan nodded in agreement and said seriously, "Yes, fighting."

Tao'er couldn't help but laugh out loud, rubbed the two little ones' heads, and picked up her porridge bowl to continue drinking.

The faint sounds of Xiao Yi and A Chen bickering could be heard outside, their voices rising higher and higher, and Tao'er could only smile helplessly.

An hour later, Dongkui walked in with a smile on her face, covering her mouth, her eyes and brows revealing joy.

Tao'er was leaning against the couch reading a novel when she saw her like this and couldn't help but laugh: "Sister Dongkui, what are you laughing at?"

Could it be that Brother Qingfeng has secretly prepared some big surprise for you?

"Little Peach, you're so naughty..."

Dongkui blushed, patted her lightly, and then glanced at the two children still playing nearby. She lowered her voice and scolded, "The children are still here, so don't tease me."

I laughed because of Brother Shi Qi and Young Master Chen.

"Oh? What happened to them?"

Tao'er raised an eyebrow and put down the novel in her hand.

"Didn't I tell them to go back to their rooms and rest?"

Could it be that these two have caused some trouble again?

"Where?"

Dongkui covered her mouth, her eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and helplessness.

"The two of them didn't even go back inside. They grabbed Brother Qingfeng and started fighting in the courtyard."

Brother Qingfeng was so entangled that he couldn't get away, becoming their punching bag. He couldn't afford to retaliate, so he could only endure it.

Upon hearing this, Tao'er immediately felt sorry for Qingfeng.

That kid was really unlucky; now he's become a human punching bag.

"Who won the duel in the end?"

Tao sat up straight, her tone a mixture of excitement and regret.

"It's a pity I didn't see it with my own eyes; it must have been quite a lively scene."

"Of course, Brother Shi Qi won."

Dongkui sighed, her tone full of sympathy.

"Even though Young Master Chen is an extraordinary figure, he is still far inferior to someone like Brother Shi Qi."

"As expected."

Tao'er nodded, then leaned closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"And what about your partner?"

Are you injured?

"My home...?"

Dongkui was taken aback, then her face turned even redder, and she shoved Tao'er in feigned anger.

"Hate!

Peach Sister is teasing me again!

When did Brother Qingfeng become part of my family?

He has nothing to do with me...

He...he inevitably suffered some minor injuries.

"It's truly a case of 'when the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat suffer.'"

Tao'er sighed deeply, her tone tinged with pity.

"Poor Brother Qingfeng..."

"Little Peach, what do you mean?"

Why don't I understand?

Dongkui tilted her head, looking completely bewildered.

"It's nothing."

Tao waved her hand, her tone becoming more relaxed.

"Those big men are tough and thick-skinned, so a few superficial injuries are nothing to them."

It's nothing more than a friendly exchange of martial arts skills.

I have some excellent wound medicine here; please take it to Brother Qingfeng later.

As she spoke, she quietly took out a delicate little porcelain bottle from her spatial storage.

It contains a special medicine made with spiritual spring water, and its effects far surpass those of ordinary medicines.

After all, Qingfeng's injuries were ultimately caused by himself.

"Thank you, little peach sister!"

Thank you, Peach Sister!

Dongkui accepted it with both hands, her face full of excitement, her voice light with joy, "You're so kind!"

"Silly girl, what are you thanking me for?"

Tao'er smiled and pinched her cheek.

"We're all family, no need to be so formal."

Dongkui carefully put the medicine bottle away, then suddenly her eyes lit up. She lowered her voice, a hint of gossip in her eyes, and asked, "Little sister Tao'er, tell me, which of those two do you like better?"

Tao'er didn't hesitate, her tone calm and decisive: "I don't like any of them."

Of course, I don't dislike it either.

In my eyes, they are all friends, brothers.

Why?

Dongkui got a little anxious and started rambling on and on.

"I think they are both very good, and they are both very, very good to you."

Although Brother Shi Qi looks cold and aloof, he is incredibly handsome, tall and imposing, and a great hero.

Young Master Chen is gentle and refined, with an otherworldly air, a bright and clear mind, tender and considerate, knowledgeable and cultured...

"These two are such good people, how come you don't like either of them?"

After listening, Tao'er sighed softly, her tone serious and not perfunctory: "Sister Dongkui, you're absolutely right."

They are excellent, good-looking, and genuinely good people.

But right now, I don't want to be in a relationship. I just want to coast along and be a carefree salted fish.

Dating is too tiring; it's not for me.

She paused, but didn't say the rest of her sentence.

In ancient times, men often had multiple wives and concubines, and she really didn't want to share a cucumber with others, finding it dirty.

If there are scumbags everywhere in modern times, how much more so in ancient times with its strict social norms?

Outside the window, the wind under the eaves seemed to pause for a moment.

Xiao Yi and Young Master Chen had finished their fight sometime earlier and were standing not far from the door.

Tao'er's words, word by word, fell clearly into the ears of the two of them.

Xiao Yi's expression remained unchanged, but the light in his cold eyes suddenly dimmed, like a candle flame that had burned out.

He lowered his eyes slightly, remained silent for a moment, then turned and walked into the hidden door.

Young Master Chen remained as gentle and refined as ever, but the faint smile on his lips could not be maintained in the end.

He stood there, as if his feet were nailed to the ground. After several breaths, he slowly lifted his feet and silently followed.