Chapter 184: Sir’s House is Quite Large

"Thank you."

Klisa took the red envelope prepared by Xu Xi.

Her expression was earnest, and she held it against her chest with both hands.

"Thank you, brother."

Xu Moli giggled, still the same as when she was a child, happily taking the New Year's money from Xu Xi's hand.

Following that, Xu Xi led Wu Yingxue out of the kitchen.

"Pop! — Pop-pop!"

Fireworks cracked outside, bursting into a brilliant display of multicolored light. As they pierced through the glass of the corridor, they bloomed into exquisite shapes formed by light and shadow.

They looked like flower buds ready to bloom, and also like swaying, rippling water.

"Sir, did you not prepare a portion for me?"

On the way to Xu Xi's bedroom, Wu Yingxue blinked, the colors of the fireworks landing in her eyes, refracting a glistening glow.

"Do you want one?"

"I thought you wouldn't be interested in it."

Xu Xi chuckled, placing his hand on the bedroom doorknob, pressing and turning it gently; the door opened in response.

"Whoosh, whoosh," fireworks exploded in the sky outside the house.

Streams of light overflowed.

Sparks scattered sparsely in all directions, quickly dissipating into the pitch-black night.

The meaning of New Year's money is the hope that the recipient will be safe and sound.

Regarding the Princess, regarding Little Master Wu, regarding the now-grown Wu Yingxue, Xu Xi naturally hoped she would be safe.

But unlike his sister and the witch, she was not someone who met him and lived under his wing in her most fragile state.

When Xu Xi met Wu Yingxue, the girl herself was already a sufficiently strong person.

She would shed tears, but she would also cry and stand up again; she would feel dejected, but she could continue to move forward strongly.

As a Martial Artist who lived by her convictions, Wu Yingxue's own safety was already held firmly in her own hands, needing no one else to provide it.

The role Xu Xi played was more about guiding her in the right direction.

"Yingxue, if you want one, I will prepare one for you right now."

"No need, Sir."

The Princess clasped her hands behind her back, her smile bright: "I am not a child; it is just a bit of New Year's money, it doesn't matter if I don't have any."

Perhaps it was just Xu Xi's imagination, but he felt that when Wu Yingxue mentioned the word "child," her tone was slightly heavier.

The house was quiet, fully manifesting the chill of winter.

"Is that so? Since you say so, then I won't prepare one," Xu Xi instinctively wrapped his clothes tighter around himself, pushed the door open to enter the bedroom, and led Wu Yingxue into his room.

The room was not large, with very few pieces of furniture inside.

It presented a simple, clean style.

Soft light lit up from both sides, a slightly yellowish tint within the incandescent white, emitting a silent, faint warmth, illuminating the tall wooden collection cabinet with clear grain.

Anyone who walked into the room would be attracted to it at first glance.

This was only because the items placed inside were too peculiar—whether it was the porcelain sugar jar filled with candies, the charred Magic Wand, or the unremarkable little paper flower.

"This is Sir's room? It feels… very similar to the one in the Wu Realm."

Wu Yingxue looked curious as she followed Xu Xi into the room.

Afterwards, under her gaze, Xu Xi walked to the collection cabinet, used a key to open the cabinet door, and took out the paper flower from the third compartment.

The paper flower was ordinary; its Materials were just common paper, but at the same time, it was flawless and magnificent, appearing as warm and gentle as a real flower.

"Yingxue, this is what I wanted to give to you."

"That paper flower from the past ended up in my hands by coincidence, and I thought, since you are back, I should return it to you."

"After all, you used to like it so much."

As he spoke, Xu Xi extended his palm toward Wu Yingxue.

On his palm, the white-brown paper flower lay quietly, its petals curling in silence.

"How nostalgic…" The girl's eyes were complex as she pinched the flawless paper flower with her fingers, rubbing it lightly, and the paper flower began to spin in her hand.

When the momentum of the spin faded, the paper flower lay still again while swaying.

It was returned to Xu Xi by the Princess.

"Sir," she spoke softly, "let this flower continue to stay in the cabinet."

"You don't intend to take it with you?" Xu Xi asked in confusion.

"No."

Wu Yingxue revealed a peaceful smile and shook her head slightly at Xu Xi: "Out with the old, in with the new. For me, it is better placed here with you, Sir."

The Princess still loved the paper flower.

She loved it dearly.

This was the first gift that the big idiot Sir had given to the Princess.

However, compared to keeping the paper flower by her side, the mature and grown-up Princess felt it was better to let it remain in Xu Xi's collection cabinet.

That way, Xu Xi could see the paper flower every day, and in turn, think of the Princess's existence.

And—

Wu Yingxue's gaze shifted slightly, looking towards the sugar jar and the Magic Wand in more prominent positions.

Martial Artists are competitive.

Wu Yingxue was a Supreme who had achieved her status through life-and-death battles; she had never had a past of surrendering without a fight, and this time was naturally no exception.

"Sir, let this flower stay here with you."

The girl smiled brilliantly as she said this to Xu Xi again.

"Then… alright."

The development of the situation was a bit unexpected for Xu Xi, but he respected Wu Yingxue's thoughts.

He opened the cabinet door, cradled the paper flower, and placed it back into the third compartment.

At this moment, Wu Yingxue, watching Xu Xi's actions, suddenly asked a strange question.

"Sir, does the position in this cabinet always remain the same?"

Xu Xi replied: "Sometimes it changes, sometimes it doesn't."

The Princess seemed deep in thought, vaguely understanding something.

A moment later, the smile on her face became even brighter.

"I understand, thank you for your guidance, Sir."

No, what exactly do you understand?

Xu Xi felt the air grow even colder. He looked at the Princess in front of him, then looked at the collection cabinet to the side, a premonition rising in his heart that the future war for the collection cabinet would become even more intense.

But then again, the collection cabinet itself was already quite intense and unstable.

Adding the paper flower to the mix, it didn't seem like such a big deal, did it?

Thinking this, Xu Xi turned the key and locked the cabinet door.

With that, everything Xu Xi wanted to do this evening was complete—from the gifting of New Year's presents to the final destination of the paper flower, everything had a result.

Perhaps it wasn't perfect, but it was a successful New Year's Eve nonetheless.

Xu Xi exhaled a long breath, feeling satisfied, but looking at the girl in front of him, he suddenly remembered a crucial matter.

"Yingxue, do you have any plans for what you want to do on Earth?"

"Well…"

Wu Yingxue pondered.

It seemed she hadn't thought about it herself.

"I should stay in the vicinity, protecting the safety of everyone in the Qiuhuo Army, as well as your safety, Sir."

"For me, those are the only things I can do."

"No…"

"Occasionally, I should still come to your house, Sir, and spar with those two."

It wasn't to compete for Xu Xi, nor for any other purpose.

Wu Yingxue's intentions were very simple; she was just itching for a fight and couldn't find any opponents, so she wanted to spar with the two Supremes.

Finally, she made a request to Xu Xi.

"Sir, your house seems quite large; could you save a room for me?"

"I might come by to bother you from time to time."