The Cycle of Reincarnation in the Four-Courtyard House: A Journey Through the Heavens

Faced with such a direct and bold question about private matters, even Li Xiao, whose spiritual realm was incredibly powerful, couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

He looked down at the girl's anxious yet expectant eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips, and answered truthfully, "I'm still single! But..."

The moment the first half of the sentence fell, Ren Tingting's tense heartstrings suddenly relaxed, and an undisguised joy welled up in her heart, her eyebrows and eyes brightening instantly.

Before this joy could spread, the sudden "however" from Li Xiao's mouth instantly made her heart leap into her throat. All her previous happiness vanished, and her eyes filled with tension and unease as she held her breath, waiting for him to continue.

Li Xiao spoke calmly and frankly, stating the truth: "However, I also have a close female friend abroad."

These words were like a small stone, gently striking Ren Tingting's heart, leaving her momentarily stunned.

The joy on her face slowly faded, replaced by a look of confusion and helplessness.

Her voice held a barely perceptible dryness and disappointment as she softly asked, "Mr. Li...do you have a girlfriend abroad?"

Li Xiao nodded slightly, without hiding anything: "Yes, she is English and currently resides in Cairo, where she works at the local library researching ancient Egyptian culture."

"Cairo...is that a city in Egypt?"

Ren Tingting frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and asked softly with some uncertainty.

The people of the Dragon Kingdom in this era were mostly uneducated, narrow-minded, and had a low level of education, knowing very little about the situation overseas.

However, Ren Tingting was a college student who had received a modern education. She had a broad perspective and had studied world history and geography. She had a vague impression of distant and exotic place names such as Egypt and Cairo.

"That's right!"

Li Xiao nodded gently and patiently explained to her: "Cairo is the capital of Egypt and an ancient city with a civilization that has been passed down for thousands of years. Like our China, it has a profound and long history."

Hearing this, the disappointment in Ren Tingting's eyes faded considerably, replaced by curiosity and excitement: "So it really is there! When we were in world history class, the teacher specifically talked to us about Egypt, the pyramids, and the Nile River, but there was very little information about it in the textbooks. I've always been very curious about the customs and culture there!"

The young girl, with her pure and vibrant spirit, temporarily forgot about Li Xiao's romantic confidante overseas and enthusiastically inquired about the customs, ancient civilizations, and exotic stories of foreign countries.

Seeing her bright, curious eyes, Li Xiao patiently began to explain to her the current state of affairs, customs, and political landscape of various countries around the world, unveiling the mystery of distant lands one by one.

During their conversation, Li Xiao also learned that Ren Tingting was currently studying at a women's college in the provincial capital, and that she had come back from the provincial capital to attend the moving of the coffin of the Ren family's patriarch.

The two chatted for a long time, about everything under the sun, from ancient times to the present, and more than an hour had passed before they realized it.

The sun was already setting outside the window, and the light was gradually dimming. Only then did Ren Tingting come back to her senses.

She turned to look at the darkening sky outside the window, quickly stood up, straightened her skirt, and said softly, "It's getting late, I have to go back so Father won't worry. I'll come see you again tomorrow, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiao slowly stood up and asked with apparent interest, "I happen to be quite interested in our folk customs, feng shui, and burial practices. Your family is moving graves tomorrow; could I accompany you to take a look?"

Upon hearing this, Ren Tingting's eyes lit up instantly.

She nodded vigorously, her tone light and cheerful, "Of course! I'll come first thing tomorrow morning and take you there myself!"

Seeing the girl's bright, joyful eyes, Li Xiao's gaze fell slightly, noticing her slender, delicate wrist. He then took out a small, exquisite women's watch from his pocket.

The watch is entirely silver-plated, with a delicate and elegant dial and simple yet refined patterns. It was the most popular style of women's watch overseas during the Republic of China era, and it perfectly complemented the temperament of women.

He held out his hand to Ren Tingting and said, "This is a women's watch that I brought back from abroad. It's not very valuable, but I'll give it to you as a souvenir."

Ren Tingting looked down at the exquisitely crafted silver watch, her heart filled with joy and sweetness.

She quickly waved her hand gently, somewhat embarrassed, and declined, saying, "Brother Xiao, this gift is too precious; I cannot accept it."

Li Xiao didn't care. He stepped forward, took her slender wrist, and gently put the watch on her wrist and fastened the strap.

"It's alright, this watch suits your style perfectly. Just wear it well." Li Xiao's tone carried an undeniable air of domineering authority.

Ren Tingting looked down at the exquisite watch on her wrist. The silver dial made her wrist appear even whiter and more delicate, and a sense of peace and warmth quietly filled her heart.

The next morning, as dawn broke, the warm, soft sunlight streamed through the courtyard windows, casting dappled golden rays across the ground and making the tranquil courtyard appear serene and peaceful.

A crisp knock on the door broke the silence inside.

Li Xiao opened the door, and a graceful and slender figure stood outside.

Today, Ren Tingting changed out of yesterday's pink dress and wore a simple and clean long dress. The skirt was simple and gentle, which made her look elegant and refined, gentle and quiet. Her figure was graceful and slender. Standing in the morning light, she looked particularly pure and moving.

Seeing Li Xiao open the door, Ren Tingting's eyes immediately lit up with a sweet smile: "Brother Xiao, have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet, I just finished washing up."

Hearing this, Ren Tingting's smile deepened, and as if presenting a treasure, she discreetly held up the exquisite food box hidden behind her back: "That's perfect! I went to the town's main street early this morning and bought freshly made soy milk, fried dough sticks, and steaming hot xiaolongbao. I brought an extra portion, let's eat together!"

"Okay, thank you very much, Tingting." Li Xiao nodded with a smile.

With permission granted, Ren Tingting carried the food box into the house. She was always thoughtful and considerate, and thinking that Li Xiao, a grown man, must be neglecting his daily life while living alone in a house, she decided to tidy up his bed first.

But the moment her gaze fell on the bed, she couldn't help but pause slightly.

The bed inside was made meticulously, with the quilts folded into neat squares and sharp edges, the pillows placed upright, and even the floor was clean, tidy, and orderly, without the slightest mess.

Seeing this scene, Ren Tingting felt a deeper understanding and affection for Li Xiao.

She had assumed that a grown man would be prone to being capricious in his daily life, but she never expected him to be so self-disciplined and orderly.

You can tell from his bedroom that Li Xiao is a clean and disciplined man.

Ren Tingting's admiration and affection deepened even more, and she smiled, feeling increasingly confident in her excellent judgment.

She walked happily to the dining table and arranged the breakfast from the food box.