Chapter 3: Ye Xi

Just at this moment, a doorbell ring abruptly sounded outside the courtyard.

Zhou Huai frowned slightly.

At this critical juncture, who would come to look for him?

Steward Fu said in a deep voice: "Young Master, this old servant will go open the door. You should first put away the Clone…"

Zhou Huai nodded, his mind stirring as he controlled Yasuo to quickly flash and hide inside a secluded storage room.

Immediately afterwards, his consciousness returned to his main body.

Just as he opened his eyes in the wheelchair, he heard Steward Fu's respectful voice coming from outside the door: "Young Master, Young Miss Ye has come to see you."

Young Miss Ye?

A dainty and charming figure instantly surfaced in Zhou Huai's mind.

The original owner's childhood sweetheart — — Ye Xi.

The precious pearl of the Ye Family in Tianhai City.

"Quickly invite her in," Zhou Huai said gently.

Just as his voice fell, a graceful figure had already stepped inside.

The newcomer was wearing a light green long dress, outlining the young girl's exquisite and well-proportioned curves.

Her skin was fairer than snow, with bright eyes and white teeth, and as she glanced around, she naturally possessed a lively and refined temperament.

It was precisely Ye Xi.

"Brother Zhou Huai!" The young girl's voice was crisp, carrying a bit of urgency.

Ye Xi walked quickly to Zhou Huai's side, naturally sitting down on the chair beside him, her clear eyes filled with care and heartache.

"I just heard about the matter of you being driven out of the Zhou Family, and I rushed over immediately."

"I just knew that you would definitely come here."

Between her words, she was already biting her silver teeth in secret, saying angrily: "That Liu Yuru is truly as vicious as a scorpion! To think she actually drove you out!"

"And that son of hers, Lu Qi, is no good thing either!"

"Uncle Zhou is the same, his eyes are truly blind!"

Listening to Ye Xi's heartfelt defense, a warm current surged in Zhou Huai's heart.

In this world, the original owner did not have many true friends, and Ye Xi was undoubtedly the most important one.

Of course, mixed within this friendship was also the original owner's naive and complex affection from his youth.

If not for that sudden surprise attack that reduced the original owner to a cripple,

perhaps… he and Ye Xi would have long since set their engagement.

Even so, over these years Ye Xi had never distanced herself from him.

Instead, she frequently came to visit him, taking care of him meticulously.

She even once mustered up the courage to confess to the original owner, saying that even if Brother Zhou Huai could never stand up for the rest of his life, she would still be willing to accompany him forever.

Unfortunately, she was cruelly rejected by the original owner, who was extremely self-abasing and sensitive at the time.

Even so, Ye Xi still did not give up.

Enduring the enormous pressure from the Family and the repeated warnings from her elders to cut off contact with Zhou Huai, she never wavered in the slightest from beginning to end.

From time to time, she would still bring small pastries made with her own hands to see him.

Zhou Huai looked at the kind and persistent girl before him, a gentle smile revealing itself on his face: "It doesn't matter. Leaving that ice-cold cage, I instead feel relieved."

"Actually, I had wanted to leave long ago."

Ye Xi gazed at him, seeing that his expression did not look like pretense, and only then gently nodded, her tone also becoming a bit lighter: "That's fine too! It saves us from seeing those disgusting faces of Liu Yuru and her son again!"

As she spoke, Ye Xi suddenly lowered her voice, leaning in closer with a mysterious air: "That's right, Brother Zhou Huai, I still have some good news to tell you, oh. Do you want to know?"

Zhou Huai raised an eyebrow and cooperatively asked: "Oh? What good news?"

Ye Xi's eyes curved into crescents, carrying a trace of small smugness: "I also completed my class change today! It's an A-Rank Light-type profession — — Holy Light Singer!"

"When my Rank is higher and my strength is stronger, maybe I will be able to help you dispel the curse power on your body and let you stand up again!"

Zhou Huai understood clearly in his heart; this curse power was bizarre beyond compare, and even those long-established Light-type healing Great Masters were helpless against it. How could it be easily resolved by Ye Xi, who had just undergone a class change?

But on his face, he raised a hopeful smile: "That's simply wonderful! Xi'er, I'll be entirely entrusting myself to you from now on!"

As he spoke, Zhou Huai naturally reached out his hand, gently grasping Ye Xi's tender hand resting on her lap.

The original owner was self-abasing and reticent, but he certainly wouldn't be.

Such a wonderful girl — if one didn't actively seize the chance, that would truly be a fool.

Mhm, the little lass's hand was both smooth and soft, feeling exceptionally great to the touch.

Taken aback by Zhou Huai's sudden intimate gesture, two wisps of intoxicating rosy blush instantly flew across Ye Xi's fair and pretty face, her heart pounding like a deer running wild.

But she did not pull her hand back, only slightly lowering her pretty head, letting him hold it.

The two of them chatted tenderly for a long while, until the night outside the window grew thicker, and only then did Ye Xi reluctantly stand up to take her leave.

"Brother Zhou Huai, starting tomorrow, the Trial Tower of our Tianhai City is going to reopen."

"I might need to concentrate on leveling up recently, so I won't be able to come see you often for a short period of time."

As she spoke, she took out a crystal card from her portable small bag and shoved it into the hands of Steward Fu beside her: "Steward Fu, there are one hundred thousand Daxia Coin inside here, and the password is Brother Zhou Huai's birthday. Please take good care of Brother Zhou Huai during this period of time."

How could Steward Fu dare to accept it? He waved his hands repeatedly to decline.

Ye Xi didn't give him the chance to refuse; after putting down the card, she blushed and quickly left without looking back.

Holding the crystal card, Steward Fu looked toward Zhou Huai with a troubled expression.

Zhou Huai, however, smiled casually: "Steward Fu, accept it first. We do indeed need this money right now; when there's a chance in the future, we can just return it to her twofold."

The Trial Tower…

Zhou Huai's gaze flickered slightly.

This Trial Tower was an Elementary dungeon specially crafted by the authorities for novice Professionals, and it only opened during specific time periods each year.

It totaled twelve floors, with layer-upon-layer challenges and increasing difficulty.

It is said that if one could refresh a certain floor or even the overall clearance record, they would be able to obtain generous rewards provided by the authorities, and there was even a chance to obtain rare equipment or skill books.

A clear thought formed in Zhou Huai's mind.

"In that case, tomorrow, let Yasuo also go and make a dash into that Trial Tower!"

Zhou Feng pushed open the front door of the Zhou Family villa.

The night was already deep, and the lights in the dining room were bright.

Liu Yuru and Lu Qi were sitting right in front of the dining table.

Zhou Feng took off his coat, his brow locked slightly.

He walked over and sat down in the main seat.

"Where is that brat Zhou Huai?" he asked.

Liu Yuru picked up a chopstick of vegetables, her expression bland.

"Driven out."

Her voice could not detect any ripples.

Zhou Feng's movement paused, his chopsticks stopping in mid-air.

"Driven out?" He repeated it, carrying a trace of surprise.

Liu Yuru raised her head, her gaze icy.

"He changed his class to an E-Rank profession, a mere piece of trash."

"Is it embarrassing to keep him in the Zhou Family?"

The corners of her mouth hooked into a sarcastic arc.

"And he doesn't understand gratitude at all."

"We raised him for so many years, yet he actually said he wants to sever relations with the Zhou Family."

"An unfilial son like this should just roll out and fend for himself!"

Zhou Feng's expression was somewhat ugly.

He clenched his fists, then loosened them.

"You… how could you directly drive him out?"

Liu Yuru sneered.

"What?"

"Are your heartstrings tugged?"

She stared at him with sharp eyes.

Zhou Feng immediately put on a smile.

"How could that be." He waved his hand.

"Since he's so trashy, driving him out of the Zhou Family is also as it should be."

"Since he said to sever relations, that's just right."

"I'll just pretend I never gave birth to this son!"

Only then did Liu Yuru retract her gaze with satisfaction.

"This is more like it."

She looked toward Lu Qi, a smile emerging on her face.

"Tell you some good news."

"Qi'er completed his class change today."

"A-Rank profession, Blazing Flame Mage!"

In her tone was uncontainable smugness.

Zhou Feng looked toward Lu Qi, his face timely revealing an expression intertwining surprise and praise:

"An A-Rank Blazing Flame Mage? Good! Good indeed! Qi'er truly has a promising future!"

Lu Qi grinned widely, appearing somewhat shy.

Liu Yuru let out a humph.

"What's the use of just talking?"

She glanced at Zhou Feng.

"As a father, shouldn't you show something?"

Zhou Feng laughed heartily.

"That's naturally the case!"

"Whatever Qi'er wants, just speak up!"

Lu Qi chuckled craftily, speaking with a bit of probing:

"Uncle Zhou, I heard… back then, Eldest Brother Zhou Huai almost set an engagement with that Young Miss Ye Xi of the Ye Family, but later because Eldest Brother… his body was inconvenient, it was delayed."

"Since Eldest Brother is now… already a lost cause, why not let this opportunity be given to me?"

"To not hide it from you, I have also admired that Young Miss Ye Xi for a long time!"

Hearing this, Zhou Feng's expression stiffened for a moment, and then he laughed heartily:

"So it was about this matter! No problem! Of course no problem!"

"Even if you didn't say it, I've long had this intention!"

"If our Zhou Family can form a marriage alliance with the Ye Family, that would definitely be a strong-on-strong combination and a tremendously great event!"

He patted Lu Qi's shoulder, his tone filled with expectations: "Tomorrow, the Trial Tower of Tianhai City is going to open. You must perform well and strive to shine brilliantly in front of Ye Xi!"

"At that time, that girl from the Ye Family will naturally look at you in a new light!"

Lu Qi's face was filled with confidence and arrogance, slapping his chest to guarantee: "Uncle Zhou, you can rest assured! A mere Trial Tower, I will definitely seize the first prize!"