Chapter 28: Never got to see Senior Brother

“Xiaomeng!?”

Shen Ye’s face turned pale in an instant.

Why is she here?

She wasn’t ready to meet Lin Xiaomeng.

Or rather, she had no idea how to face the Junior Sister she’d grown up with, in her current form.

She couldn’t face her at all.

Shen Ye nervously pinched the hem of Lin Xiangyi’s clothes.

She had no idea if Master had spoken with her Junior Sister.

If not, then she would have to handle this herself.

“Sis!”

Lin Xiaomeng ran over with a smile, reaching out to take the bags from Lin Xiangyi’s hands.

“What are you standing there dumbfounded for? Why did you buy so much stuff? Don’t we have everything we need at home?”

She chattered while eyeing the bags in Lin Xiangyi’s hands.

Then, her gaze naturally drifted past him, landing on Shen Ye behind him.

“And, this pretty young lady here—aren’t you going to introduce her?”

She flashed a sly grin and nudged Lin Xiangyi’s side with her elbow.

“Don’t tell me… she’s my sister-in-law?!”

“Ouch!”

Lin Xiangyi rapped her on the head out of nowhere.

“Don’t talk nonsense. This is your Senior Brother’s friend.”

He noticed the subtle fidgeting of the girl behind him, patted the small hand clutching his sleeve, and said calmly:

“It’s not convenient to introduce her while standing here. Let’s head inside first.”

With that, he called out to the girl behind him:

“Come on in, Xiao Ye.”

“Oh, okay.”

Shen Ye answered, carefully sidestepping her Junior Sister, and followed Lin Xiangyi into the house.

Leaving Lin Xiaomeng frozen in place.

What?

Xiao Ye!?!

She covered her mouth to stop herself from gasping out loud.

My Little Turtle.

Is that a word I just heard come out of my Second Senior Brother’s mouth?

Oh my god, isn’t the only person in the whole world who calls him that supposed to be Master?

Hearing that word is about to make my little heart burst.

And most importantly, Grand Senior Brother just accepted it!?

She’s not bothered by it at all?

“Xiaomeng?”

Lin Xiangyi’s voice came from the living room.

“What are you spacing out for? Go make some tea.”

“Oh, oh oh.”

Lin Xiaomeng snapped back to reality and scurried after him.

As she brushed past, she glanced at the uneasy Shen Ye, a sly smile curling at her lips like a little fox.

Well, now I know one thing.

Big Brother doesn’t know about Grand Senior Brother’s identity.

This is going to be,

so interesting!

“She’s an important guest. Take good care of her. Don’t be rude.”

Lin Xiangyi set the shopping bags on the table, instructing his sister who was about to head into the kitchen.

“I know, I know~”

Lin Xiaomeng dragged out her words, waving it off dismissively.

As if. How could Grand Senior Brother count as a guest?

On the other side, Shen Ye quietly slipped into the living room and silently sat down on the single-seat sofa.

“Ah—”

She let out a long sigh.

If Master hasn’t said anything, how am I supposed to explain this to Xiaomeng?

But Xiangyi should help explain things for me, right?

I hope this identity of mine can hold up.

Before long, Lin Xiaomeng came out of the kitchen, holding two cups.

“Here, please.”

Shen Ye picked up the cup, only to find it bubbling. She looked down.

…

Why is it cola?

Well, that’s just like this girl.

She lifted the cup and took a sip. The refreshing fizz shot straight to her head, washing away the last trace of heat left on her from being outside.

But we should be meeting for the first time, right? Is this really how Xiaomeng treats guests?

I don’t remember her being like this.

Could it be… the Junior Sister knows something?

Shen Ye poked out her little tongue and licked her lips. The sweetness of the cola suited her taste just fine.

She looked up at Lin Xiaomeng, only to lock eyes with her.

“What’s your name?”

Lin Xiaomeng took a sip from her own cup, asking with a beaming smile.

She still held onto a sliver of hope that she’d misheard that name.

“Um, I, well…”

Shen Ye scratched her cheek and avoided her gaze, saying shyly:

“My name’s Xiao Ye…”

The girl’s voice was so low it was almost inaudible, but Lin Xiaomeng’s ears caught it crystal clear.

“Pfft—!”

Shen Ye snapped her head up.

What was that sound?

She looked at Lin Xiaomeng. The girl was holding her cup, innocently sipping her cola as if nothing had happened.

Did I mishear?

“I see.”

Lin Xiaomeng set down her cup, her eyes curving into crescents.

“Since you’re Grand Senior Brother’s friend, can I call you Xiao Ye-jie?”

“Ah, sure.”

Shen Ye nodded, but inside she was still puzzled.

Did I really hear some weird noise just now?

Meanwhile, beneath her calm exterior, Lin Xiaomeng’s heart was churning like a storm, countless little monsters brawling inside her head.

Huh?

Really?

This girl is really my Grand Senior Brother?

She actually calls herself “Xiao Ye.”

She wiped the cola she’d sprayed at the corner of her mouth, quietly sizing up Shen Ye across from her.

Senior Brother, don’t you think it’s a little too unfair for you to be in this form, having people call you such a cute name?

And your voice is so nice!

Soft and cool at the same time, just like how you look!

But wait, didn’t they say Senior Brother is a spirit being?

Where’s the thing I’m most looking forward to?

The thing all beast girls have! Bring it out! I can’t wait!

Lin Xiaomeng rubbed her hands together, unable to sit still, her expectant little eyes darting all over Shen Ye.

Shen Ye felt uneasy under the stare.

“Um, Xiaomeng?”

She spoke up awkwardly.

“Hmm? What’s up, Xiao Ye-jie?”

Lin Xiaomeng immediately withdrew her gaze, put on a smile, and looked seriously at Shen Ye.

“Is there something on my face? I noticed you kept staring at me.”

Lin Xiaomeng shook her head at that, her tone sincere:

“Nope, I was just thinking that Xiao Ye-jie is really pretty. Such a cute girl.”

Such a cute girl…

A cute girl…

A girl…

Shen Ye felt like she’d been struck by lightning. Her whole body froze like a weathered statue, as if a single gust of wind could blow her into dust.

The tiny figure in her heart fell to its knees.

I, Shen Ye, Grand Senior Brother of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Got called cute by the Junior Sister I raised from a young age.

orz.

“Why did you pour cola?”

As the two were talking, Lin Xiangyi’s voice came from the kitchen, tinged with helplessness.

“Is that what you serve a guest?”

Lin Xiaomeng didn’t even turn her head, answering with full confidence:

“What about it? Who drinks tea these days? Such an old antique.”

“…”

Lin Xiangyi walked over, glanced at the cup in Shen Ye’s hand, and sighed.

“Cola’s fine too. What about mine?”

“Hehe, pour it yourself.”

“No manners in front of a guest.”

Shen Ye wisely played the little transparent.

Right now, she had no standing to join in on the siblings’ conversation.

“Oh right, bro.”

Lin Xiaomeng suddenly hopped off the sofa like she’d remembered something, ran into her room, and came back out with a bunch of stuff.

“I brought you some little gifts.”

She sat back down, rummaging through her bag while chatting casually:

“I bought quite a bit this time. I even made a special trip back up the mountain to give a gift to Master too.”

Hearing that word, Lin Xiangyi’s hand paused mid-motion, a flicker of deep thought passing through his eyes.

He looked up at Lin Xiaomeng.

“Xiaomeng.”

“What’s up?”

“When you went back up the mountain this time,”

He paused for a moment, then asked casually:

“Did you see your Grand Senior Brother?”

Dun-dun-dun.

Shen Ye’s face went white in an instant, her eyes shooting wide open.

It’s over.

Everything’s over now.

So the Junior Sister has already met with Master?

Then she definitely knows I’m not on the mountain!

It all depends on how Master explained things to Xiaomeng. She must have handled it, right? She must have!

Master, save me!

“Senior Brother?”

Lin Xiaomeng tilted her head, her gaze seemingly casual, yet somehow deliberate, flicking toward Shen Ye.

Shen Ye met that look, and her heart nearly stopped.

At an angle only Shen Ye could see, a meaningful smile curled at the corner of her lips.

“Never got to see him.”