Depression

  The darkness gave people a more sensitive feeling, and Xi Mei's whole body was pinned in someone's arms, with a strong palm still resting on her waist.

  His heart was pounding, what's wrong with this guy, is he after money or life, can't he at least say something?

  But this person remained silent and didn't say a word, what was he thinking?

  His back was stuck to a warm chest, and he estimated that his own height of less than 1.4 meters could only reach the other person's chest, resistance was useless, the enemy was too strong.

  At this time, to an outsider, one person sat on the stool with a calm and peaceful expression, while another was tightly bound in his arms, and both were silent. If you didn't know better, you'd think they were just two people having a lovers' quarrel.

  The warm breath was right next to his ear, and his neck was occasionally tickled by his breathing.

  Sister Xi guessed that with such a skilled technique, he must be an old hand. But in the past few days, there hasn't been any news of kidnappings in Anping Town either?

  Besides, at her age, who would abduct her? Unless, this person wants to sell herself to that kind of place?

  The more he thought about it, the more frightened and tense he became. Xuan Yuan Lie could clearly feel that under his rough palms, the other person's eyelashes were fluttering even more violently.

  Is she afraid? Xuan Yuan Lie thought, but unfortunately he had never tried being afraid before, so he didn't know and wouldn't understand Xi Mei's current feelings.

  Feeling the force on her waist getting smaller and smaller, Xi Mei didn't have time to let out a breath.

  Just as she felt that man's claws were reaching for her slender white neck, at the moment when Xi Mei thought they would be stuck in a stalemate for some time.

  A sharp "tearing" sound pierced the air, and the little person in Xuan Yuan Lie's arms turned pale instantly, their lips also becoming bloodless in an instant!

  "Alright, good fellow, let's discuss this matter, let's discuss it." The voice was crooked, and Xi Mei discussed with that person.

  Now her situation is really like the saying 'call heaven and heaven doesn't respond, call earth and earth doesn't answer', this time she's not so lucky, ran into a pervert, looks like this time it's really going to cost her life.

  Father and mother, I'm sorry, daughter can't be by your side to take care of you anymore, thinking of happy times with sister is now filled with sorrow.

  Cough cough, I have to say, Xi Mei you're thinking too much.

  Only a piece of his yellow shirt was torn off, revealing a delicate white shoulder. Xuan Yuan Lie touched the mark on it, and finally, a smile appeared on his icy face that had been frozen for years.

  Then, his line of sight moved up, but he didn't see the familiar jade pendant hanging from his neck, and Jun's face suddenly became stiff.

  Just as Xi Mei was about to give up in despair, a voice like snowflakes whispered in her ear, "Where's Yu Pei?"

  At this time, Xi Mei wouldn't think of anything like a jade pendant anymore.

  After hearing the unfamiliar voice, she thought someone was asking her for a jade pendant.

  "I, I don't have a jade pendant, but I can ask my parents to send one over. You, you won't kill me." Unconsciously, her voice trembled with a hint of tears.

  For a while, neither of them spoke, and they just stood there in silence. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Xi Mei, she suddenly heard footsteps coming from the corridor outside.

  Xi He's clear and bright voice came over, "Xi Mei, are you there?"

  Xi Mei heard this, her whole body shook, she had already been caught and couldn't let San Jie get involved too. Taking advantage of the momentary relaxation of the person behind her, she stomped on his foot with all her might, then loudly shouted, "San Jie..."

  She hadn't even had time to shout "Run away" when she felt a sharp pain in her neck, and then she knew nothing...

  At this time, Xi He, who was searching outside, seemed to have heard Xi Mei's voice in a daze. She took two steps forward and called out tentatively, "Xi Mei?"

  Of course, at this time, no one responded to her.

  Xihe shook her head, thinking to herself that she must have misheard. She turned around and walked back the way she came, muttering to herself, "This Xi Mei, I told her not to run around wildly but she still does it all the time, really doesn't let people worry about her."

  After the footsteps in the corridor disappeared, Xuan Yuan Lie returned his gaze to Xi Mei's body.

  All I saw was her quietly lying in her own arms, sleeping peacefully.

  Alas, I didn't think you'd use such great force to slap him down. It's already a blessing that he didn't die. Now this person has finally quieted down.

  Looking at the grown-up Xi Mei, Xuan Yuan Lie really couldn't connect the memory of that delicate little girl with the lovely young lady in front of him.

  Time is truly a magical thing.

  Just then, a light knock came from outside the door. Xuan Yuan Lie withdrew his gaze from his lap and said indifferently, "Come in."

  The door creaked open with a "creak", and Xu Peifeng walked in gently from outside, then closed the door behind him.

  But what did he see when he walked in? His high and mighty master was actually hugging a girl?!

  A hint of joy emerged in his heart, and this Master Gu said that their master had never been with a woman since childhood, and if a woman accidentally touched the corner of his clothes, the master would take it off on the spot and never wear that piece of clothing again.

  But everything in front of him completely overturned his idea, it seems that the master has opened up, isn't he still holding someone's little girl?

  However, master, isn't this girl a bit young?

  Shaking his head, when his gaze fell on the familiar little face, Xu Peifeng's eyeballs almost dropped out. This, this wasn't Xi Mei's little girl?

  "Master, young master?" He took a step forward and asked anxiously.

  Although the person in front of him is the one he will serve for his whole life, the little girl in his arms is also a part of himself that he cannot put down.

  Ever since he was assigned to protect this little girl who had only a tiny bit of power, he was undoubtedly resentful.

  But as he gradually got in touch with her, he knew her and all the people in Chen's family, he found that he really enjoyed this life, not just protection, but truly treating her as his sister.

  Affection and friendship can really turn a man with a heart of iron into a gentle soul, and he is no exception.

  For these fugitives, kinship is an invisible and intangible thing. However, in the nearly five years of living together, Xu Peifeng had to admit that he had completely integrated himself into the Chen family.

  Looking at his master's dull and unclear eyes, a cold sweat broke out on Xu Peifeng's body.

  Finally, after a long wait, the master's indifferent voice came from beside his ear, "What happened?"

  Xu Peifeng composed himself and said, "Master, someone has been sent from the palace to announce an imperial decree. The Emperor knows you've come here."

  After finishing speaking, he held his breath and waited for the master to speak. He thought to himself that although this emperor was quite intimidating, but the people of the world feared him, they didn't fear him, they were just like a tiger without claws, what's there to be afraid of?

  After a while, Xuan Yuan Lie said in a low voice, "Where is he now? I'll go see him."

  Xu Peifeng respectfully said: "It was at the government hostel in Anping Town that the servant did not bring him into our mansion."

  He stood up and handed over his delighted younger sister to him, saying, "You take care of her first, then come find me afterwards."

  Thus, Xu Peifeng finally put down his hanging heart, he was really afraid that the master would open his mouth and say: "Take this girl away."

  He was truly at a loss then.

  But what on earth is this master thinking? He looked at Xi Mei, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms, and shook his head helplessly, saying softly, "You..."

  After settling down his sister Ji, he rushed towards the direction of the government inn.

  The tea house was bustling with people coming and going, no one noticed these two men, or rather, no one had the time to notice them.

  The young waiter darted back and forth in the bustling hall, while in the kitchen, several cooks were sweating profusely, busy with their tasks.

  Although busy, no one's face showed any dissatisfaction. The boss explicitly stated that after finishing the work for these two days, he would give everyone a big red envelope during the New Year, which delighted them.

  So they won't be afraid of being tired, on the contrary, they hope there are more people.

  Qin the shopkeeper, this time also disregarding identity or not, this time, only saw him standing at the door, with a apologetic face to the newcomer, said: "This young fellow, it's not that I didn't prepare a nice room for your master, but actually, the second floor has already been booked by someone else."

  But the young man opposite him also made a bitter face and said, "Then what do you say we should do? A few days ago, my wife had this hot pot dish at Cuilinglong and knew that you have it here, so she specifically asked me to order a table to invite people. However..."

  Both sides were in a difficult situation, at this time, Qin Zhuang proposed to him, "You see, I'll use the food box to bring this soup base to your wife, and your wife can entertain guests at her own home, so we can both get out of this predicament."

  Helpless, it seems that this is the only way out now. The young servant finally relented and said, "Alright, then please hurry up."

  "Alright, alright," said Qin hastily, and then he himself took on the role of a waiter and went to the kitchen to give orders.

  Finally, he wiped away another drop of sweat that had formed on this cold winter day and thought to himself, "This business is too good, it's also a worry."

  Finally, the chaotic noon was over. At this time, not only Xiao Er and the cook, but also Wang Ziheng and Xi He were all exhausted to the point of collapse.

  Wang Zihan sat in a chair, poured himself a cup of tea, and thought to himself, "I'm sure that silly girl Xi Mei is over the moon now?"

  After taking a sip of tea, I suddenly realized that in this chaotic afternoon, I seemed to have really not seen any sign of Xi Mei. According to reason, it shouldn't be like this, right?

  Turning his head, he asked Xi He, who was equally exhausted, "Have you seen that little girl Xi Mei?"

  Xi He was taken aback and said: "I haven't seen her since early on, and at noon when there were a lot of people, I didn't think much of it..."

  After speaking, both of them saw something was off in each other's eyes. Knowing her personality well, they knew that according to Xi Mei's nature, she would definitely be present at today's gathering no matter what.

  Noticing something was off, Wang Zihan anxiously asked the shopkeeper, "Have any of you seen Fourth Miss today?"

  Everyone said they didn't see anything.

  Noticing something was off, Wang Zihan said in a low voice, "Now, everyone stop resting and get moving. Find Fourth Miss for me."

  She and Xihe also got up and walked upstairs...