Chapter 044: What on Earth Is This?

Old Xuan was fuming as he spoke, “That divine physician is your man, isn’t he, little fox? Isn’t your reach getting a bit too long? I went all that way, and you still managed to have someone drag me back!” If it weren’t for his concerns about Ye Zifei’s status, Old Xuan would have liked nothing more than to twist Ye Zifei’s ear.

Ye Zifei scratched his own ear and said, “Old Xuan, what do you mean by that? I know nothing of any such thing.” He looked at Old Xuan with great grievance, as if he were being falsely accused.

“Still pretending with me!” Old Xuan’s anger flared. He hadn’t suspected that his return to Dragon City had anything to do with Ye Zifei, not until just a moment ago at the Ou family’s house, when he overheard Ou Xinlai’s words. Only then did he realize he’d fallen for the schemes of this sly little fox.

Sure enough, when he randomly sought another divine physician for an opinion, problems immediately arose. His heart was indeed weak, but his death was hardly imminent. The reason he had fallen ill was entirely due to a certain heartless little fox, who had dispatched someone to give him medicine to frighten him. Did Ye Zifei not fear that he might take those pills, fall ill along the way with no one to help, and simply perish?

“I say, little fox, do you like my granddaughter too? Are you trying to pursue her?” Old Xuan narrowed his eyes. The kind of person capable of such trickery, without him noticing, were few and far between—and the one before him was the most cunning of all.

Old Xuan’s heart ached; he’d been played round and round by this little fox, and only discovered the scheme by accident. If Ou Xinlai hadn’t slyly suggested breaking off her engagement to Xuan Ye, and if the self-assured gleam in her eyes hadn’t made Xuan Ye beside her dazed, Old Xuan might never have realized that, in truth, Ou Xinlai possessed a remarkable charm.

Any man with keen eyes would recognize Ou Xinlai’s merits.

Seeing her confidence, for some reason, Ye Zifei’s face leaped into Old Xuan’s mind. He suddenly wondered if his return to Dragon City had been deliberately orchestrated. Then he noticed that upon his return, certain people’s wishes were being fulfilled.

Old Xuan had always known the hearts of those in the Xuan family.

Since his return, only Ou Xinlai had asked him for help.

At that moment, Old Xuan felt as though struck by lightning.

He was convinced that, in the entire country, no one could have so thoroughly manipulated him except Ye Zifei. (Though Old Xuan would soon discover that a second such person had already appeared.)

Why would Ye Zifei go to the trouble of helping Ou Xinlai lure him back? Ou Xinlai wanted to break off her engagement—did Ye Zifei wish to see her disengaged from Xuan Ye? Was Ye Zifei, that old fox, a kind-hearted soul? Nonsense!

Thinking this through, Old Xuan immediately understood: Ye Zifei had orchestrated the whole affair to help Ou Xinlai break her engagement with Xuan Ye, so he’d sent someone to fool him into believing his end was near.

What was even more humiliating was that the great Old Xuan had been so thoroughly deceived by a young upstart.

Thinking of how Ye Zifei had toyed with him, Old Xuan felt utterly disoriented.

Thus, Ou Xinlai’s last glance at Old Xuan, seeing him leave with such apparent excitement, was not true elation, but Old Xuan reeling from the blow, caught in a fit.

If Ou Xinlai had observed closely, she would have noticed that Old Xuan’s limbs were trembling and stiff as he departed. Unfortunately, he walked too quickly for anyone to notice. Once he confirmed his suspicions, Old Xuan immediately sought out Ye Zifei for a reckoning.

“Does Old Xuan not adore Lai’er? You wish to make her your granddaughter. I believe, given your affection for her, you will surely grant her heart’s desire. How could you bear to see her wed a man she does not love?” Ye Zifei squinted, grinning at Old Xuan, neither denying nor confirming his words.

“You don’t have to admit it. I know it in my heart. If you wish to steal my granddaughter, you’re dreaming.” Old Xuan felt a mixture of love and hate for Ye Zifei. He hated Ye Zifei’s cunning, but couldn’t deny that through this scheme, he had discovered a junior he truly admired and wished to claim as his granddaughter.

“Lai’er will surely thank you for your kindness, Old Xuan. And Xuan Ye, too, will appreciate your goodwill as an elder.” Ye Zifei showed no fear of Old Xuan’s warning. As for how to pursue a woman, he had his own plans.

If Lai’er agreed, could Old Xuan stop it?

Though he’d been played by Ye Zifei, Old Xuan could not vent his anger. After returning to the Xuan family, he considered it better to formally adopt Ou Xinlai as his granddaughter as soon as possible. Losing to Ye Zifei was no matter; once Ou Xinlai became his granddaughter, he would ensure she put Ye Zifei in his place.

When Old Xuan proposed adopting Ou Xinlai as his granddaughter, the entire Xuan family objected. Many reminded him that Ou Xinlai and Xuan Ye were engaged; if he adopted Xuan Ye as his grandson, then Ou Xinlai would become his granddaughter-in-law.

Upon hearing Old Xuan formally bring up the matter, Xuan Ye became angry. If not for the difference in their seniority, Xuan Ye would have confronted Old Xuan, asking whether he had lost his mind—how could he adopt an outsider as his granddaughter and entrust everything to Ou Xinlai?

In the eyes of the Xuan family, all Old Xuan possessed belonged to the family.

Xuan Ye considered this and immediately wrote a letter to Ou Xinlai, deciding to change his plans. As Ou Xinlai had said, even if their engagement were broken, the Xuan family would still seek advantage from the matter. He had planned to use Ou Xinlai for greater gain, but with Old Xuan’s intervention, everything changed.

Since Old Xuan favored Ou Xinlai so much, Xuan Ye could reluctantly accept her.

With this thought, Xuan Ye realized he felt lighter and happier, not the usual resentment. He didn’t pause to consider why, but immediately sent his letter to Ou Xinlai.

Upon receiving Xuan Ye’s letter, Ou Xinlai cursed aloud, swearing and wishing she could grab Xuan Ye and give him a thorough thrashing. What nonsense!