Chapter 399: Children Don't Understand, No Need to Be Harsh

"Uncle?"

This single word not only completely froze Fu Yinhong, but even Liu Jing was left in a daze.

How could this "uncle" be someone none of them had ever seen before?

Even if their experience in the Chengzhu Fu wasn't extensive, everyone present had at least several years under their belt. How could they have never heard of such a figure?

Liu Jing was so frightened that she immediately released her restraints, and any desire to fight back was instantly suppressed.

"Received suspicion, passive value, 12."

Xu Xiaoshou rolled his eyes inwardly.

He hadn't expected Fu Zhi to take it seriously and say it out loud in front of everyone...

He called me "Shou brother," shouldn't it be "bo" for older brother?

Ah, spit—that's not the point!

The point is, calling Fu Yinhong like this, how embarrassing for her!

She didn't even want to be called "sister," after all!

Fu Yinhong was stunned for a long while before she snapped out of it. She abruptly broke free from the embrace that had turned ice-cold and stared deeply at Xu Xiaoshou for a long time.

Xu Xiaoshou shrugged his shoulders.

"You're Xu Xiaoshou?"

"Received doubt, passive value, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou almost burst out laughing. So, she couldn't even believe her own eyes?

Fu Zhi first handed over a bottle of Danyao, then swiftly smacked it on his own daughter's head.

"No manners at all."

"I told you this is your uncle, and you still dare to call him by his full name?"

"How about it? From your expressions, have you met before?"

Fu Yinhong was knocked unconscious on the spot.

More than met!

Just earlier in the banquet hall, she had dealt with this guy's mess!

But why...

In the time it took to go to the bathroom, when she turned back, this person had become her uncle?

What was wrong with the world?

Was it her mistake, or had the Great Dao been forcibly twisted?

Fu Zhi, observing his daughter's expression, had already figured out something.

Could it be that Xu Xiaoshou was really as young as he appeared?

And had some connection with his daughter?

They knew each other?

Even if he guessed as much, Fu Zhi felt no awkwardness.

He glanced at Xu Xiaoshou and laughed heartily, "I can see that I'm a few years older, so calling myself your brother isn't too much, right?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked a bit strange and nodded slightly without responding.

Terms like "certain brother" were just casual ways to get closer.

But if you took it seriously, that wouldn't work.

You could call a stranger "Shou brother" to build rapport when meeting, but if you relied on being older and said "Shou younger brother," that would be entirely different.

It might even lead to an immediate fight, and you wouldn't live it down.

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't that hot-tempered; he was happy to skip past Fu Zhi as a "younger brother" and instead treat them as his nephews.

Seeing Fu Yinhong's expression of shock turning to utter disbelief, he waved his hand casually.

"You're too kind, Fu brother."

"The kid just acted out of line; no need to be too harsh."

As Xu Xiaoshou spoke, his gaze swept over Liu Jing, lingering on her shocked face before settling on Fu Yinhong.

"You agree, right, Xiaohong?"

Fu Yinhong was on the verge of exploding right there.

She wasn't the gentle type to begin with, and as the deputy commander of the Jinwei Army, she exuded even more martial authority.

Now... Xiaohong?

She hadn't held it against him for calling her "sister" at the Danta earlier, but now this?

You're going with Xiaohong today?

Fury surged in Fu Yinhong as she swallowed the Danyao and leaped into the air again.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

She gritted her teeth and said, "Tonight, if I don't beat you until you're crawling on the ground, you won't know what... ouch!"

But before she could get far, Fu Zhi grabbed her with one hand and yanked her back down hard.

"Nonsense!"

Fu Zhi's tone was genuinely angry as he scolded, "Are you disobeying now?"

This reprimand left Fu Yinhong utterly deflated.

She pouted, her eyes instantly dimming, her entire aura vanishing, leaving only a look of grievance.

Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but under Fu Zhi's stern gaze, the girl didn't dare utter a word.

"Received curse, passive value, 1."

"Received longing, passive value, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled and walked over, looking at the woman with her hands clenched at her sides, not daring to move, and couldn't help but praise, "So well-behaved."

Fu Yinhong: ???

She turned back, her gaze like daggers, slashing back and forth across Xu Xiaoshou's detestable face thousands of times!

Xu Xiaoshou, never one to let such verbal jabs slide, remarked lightly, "What a stubborn girl."

This casual tease made Fu Yinhong clench her fists, dig her toes into the ground, and nearly throw a punch at his face.

As Xu Xiaoshou approached, Fu Yinhong's mind had already run through every imaginable torture device on this guy.

Damn it...

Back in the back street of Duojin Merchant House, why did she hold back her impulse and not kill him on the spot!

Ahhh!

"Heh."

Xu Xiaoshou walked past her with a chuckle, and instantly, his information panel's passive value surged again.

He didn't look at her anymore but turned serious. "Where's my shimei?"

Fu Zhi suddenly felt awkward.

He stared at the pit in the ground and tugged at his face. "There was a Tian Shu Ji Pan here originally. I was thinking of discussing it with you, Shou brother..."

"Then?"

"Then the flower sea exploded. I first pulled her inside, and later I thought..."

"What about the disk?"

Fu Zhi didn't expect him to hit the nail on the head each time, and a black line appeared on his forehead. "Lo-lost it."

Xu Xiaoshou: ...

Although he had already suspected as much, confirming that his shimei had been stolen still ignited an uncontrollable anger in him.

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's expression change slightly, Fu Zhi quickly turned to the others.

"What are you looking at? Go find her now."

"Seal off the Chengzhu Fu first. Don't you know someone's missing?"

He glanced at Fu Yinhong and snorted, "Keep causing trouble, and she'll really get away."

Liu Jing tensed up, feeling like she might be next, and immediately took the order, leading people away in a flash.

She didn't dare stay in this cursed place any longer.

That Xu Xiaoshou—who knew how he got connected to the boss? Even Fu Yinhong had to call him uncle. If she stuck around, she might get dragged in too!

Better to slip away first!

Fu Yinhong watched everyone leave and took a step, wanting to follow.

With Xu Xiaoshou around, she couldn't stay either.

"You stay!"

But Fu Zhi spoke up directly.

Fu Yinhong's steps halted. "I have things to do..."

"What things? Let Liu Jing handle the search. What can you help with? You're just a Zongshi!"

Fu Yinhong was so angry her teeth itched.

What was wrong with being a Zongshi?

A Zongshi was already strong, wasn't it? Wasn't that enough?!

She was about to argue when Xu Xiaoshou chimed in, "Let her go."

Fu Zhi frowned. His idea was that if Xu Xiaoshou had achieved so much at such a young age, his talent would surpass anyone in Tian Sang County.

He wanted to play matchmaker for them.

But maybe the guy didn't want that?

Oh well.

Let it be fate.

"Fine."

Fu Zhi sighed and looked at his daughter. "Go ahead."

Fu Yinhong pursed her lips, staring at her father in disbelief.

In that moment, she felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Did her words as a daughter carry less weight than one from Xu Xiaoshou?

So, love really does fade, doesn't it?

She looked up at the sky, her eyes wandering, tears glistening.

Seeing her standing there, Fu Zhi felt a spark of joy in his heart.

Changed her mind?

"Hmm?"

"Decided to stay?"

Fu Yinhong was startled, her body trembling as she vanished in a puff, like smoke.