The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　"You're such a charming and adorable girl, Nian."

　"Meow... I, I'm my brother-in-law's little lover, waah~!"

　And so, Nian was marked with a strange mark, explored strange places, and was given a strange identity.

　"What's wrong, Xi?"

　Nine-Colored Deer looked at her friend who suddenly started sneezing again and thought that her constitution shouldn't be that bad, but she still thought about finding her some more clothes to wear later, so that she wouldn't be unable to cope with the change of seasons.

　"It's nothing. It's just... sob."

　Yumoto wanted to say something, but when she looked up, she let out a mournful cry.

　"You know, I told you not to draw like that, and now look what's happened, your neck hurts!"

　The nine-colored deer massaged her neck, while also scolding her for the consequences of disobeying.

　"Ugh. My neck, my neck is okay... but for some reason, my head feels a bit heavy."

　"You're just not getting enough sleep. A good night's sleep will make you feel better."

　"Okay... I'll go lie down for a bit later."

　Xi rubbed her neck while looking at the roof.

　Why hasn't that guy surnamed Chen sent any news yet? Even if he's not coming back, he should at least write a letter or something.

　Well, she didn't miss him at all. She was just thinking that when he came back, she could get revenge for all the bullying he'd caused her. She'd make him suffer while she shut herself away from everyone, leaving him only able to drool over her.

　When that time comes, that guy will definitely be unable to resist coming to beg her. When that time comes, hmph.

　Thinking of something happy, even the usually composed Xi couldn't help but smile.

　Xi never expected that this wait would last until autumn.

　"Nine-Colored Deer, why are you waking me up now?"

　Having changed into a light cotton coat and wrapped up like a little dumpling, Xi looked at her friend, who was in high spirits early in the morning, and didn't quite understand where her joy came from.

　"Today is the day Ah Xu comes back. I heard that Xiao Xi's sisters are coming back with her too."

　"Oh. It's just Nian and Sister Shu."

　Xi covered her mouth and yawned slightly.

　He appeared indifferent, but in his heart he was already thinking about how to strike up a conversation with Qilin without seeming too eager.

　"Come on, come on."

　Standing at the entrance of the Celestial Master's Mansion, Xi looked in the direction the Nine-Colored Deer was pointing and saw a familiar pack animal cart slowly approaching.

　"Phew, I'm finally back!"

　The first one to jump off the bus was the noisy guy who wanted Xi to cover her ears.

　"Xiao Xi."

　Secondly, there's her good older sister who makes her very happy.

　"Hey, little melon girl."

　"..."

　But looking at the swaying blue-haired woman, three question marks popped into Xi's head.

　Sister, who are you? Why did you get off this bus?

　"Sister Shu. Your sister."

　But Xi still obediently greeted them and introduced her friends to her sisters.

　"Hey, hey, Xi, what about me? I'm your sister too!"

　Why didn't you call me?

　"Who are you?"

　Xi didn't want to pay any more attention to this guy, and her eyes followed the space between her two older sisters to the car.

　"And the one surnamed Chen?"

　But the other person hasn't come down yet, where is he?

　"Little Ruins? He went to see that true dragon."

　"Hmm? Tch."

　"You care about him so much? I'm clearly your older sister, yet you care about your little lover first. Xi, this really hurts me."

　Nian raised his arm and put his arm around her shoulder, saying things that made Xi Gua jump up and down but couldn't escape.

　"Who? Who cares about him! It's just that our business is very important, and we can't do without him."

　"uh-huh."

　"What the hell are you humming about!"

　"Alright, Nian, stop bullying Xi. Let's go inside and talk slowly."

　Shu also chatted with the Nine-Colored Deer, who had a similar temperament, for a few minutes. Watching the two sisters bickering, he told them to pack their luggage first.

　When does he plan to start working on this project?

　After chatting about everyday matters and getting to know each other better, Xi, no longer wanting to pay attention to the increasingly awkward looks from her older sisters, went straight to the point about the New Year.

　"I know I know."

　The young man raised his hand and began to speak.

　"Breaking off the old year definitely happens during the New Year. At that time, we'll turn the old year into the biggest firework and bang it off. Then everyone can have a good New Year."

　"So... everyone has been found."

　"We found them all. That brat was really hard to find; the whole family had to work together to find him. I'm definitely going to give him a good talking to during the New Year's dinner!"

　"That's right. You've wasted everyone's time."

　These two sisters weren't without their moments of shared hatred and indignation.

　They are much more likely to breathe on their siblings who are close to them in terms of birth order and relationship than on those who are closer to them.

　"Xiaoxi, why are you unhappy?"

　After the meeting, everyone went about their own business. Nian took Shu and Ling to see Yu and get some food along the way, while Xi stayed in Chen Lingxu's house, lost in thought.

　"How could I be unhappy? Nine-Colored Deer, don't worry about me."

　How could she be unhappy that the man surnamed Chen didn't go home to see his family first?

　"I'm going to take a nap. You go ahead and do your thing."

　"Well, that's fine."

　The door closed, and Xi vaguely thought about the clothes she had drawn. With so many people in the house now, she could only show them to him by bringing him into the painting. But if she brought him into the painting, could she still kick him out?

　What if he really isn't interested in those light and thin clothes?

　Where will he sleep tonight? At Nine-Colored Deer's, or... Sister Shu? It can't be... at Nian's place, can it?

　Xi had already noticed that her two older sisters had very subtle looks in their eyes when they mentioned Chen Lingxu. She was very familiar with it, after all, she had been through the same thing herself.

　No wonder that guy surnamed Chen stayed in the wilderness and didn't come back; he was enjoying the bliss of having multiple wives.

　Xi Yue thought about it and her mind became more and more confused, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

　"Why are you lying here? Hmm?"

　She didn't know when, but someone asked her this question in her ear.

　"Wait, wait for someone."

　Who is coming?

　"Who are you waiting for?"

　"Hmm... someone surnamed Chen."

　"The one surnamed Chen? Who is the one surnamed Chen to you?"

　The person's breath felt warm against my ear; it felt so familiar.

　So, how should she answer this question?

　Who is the person surnamed Chen to her?

　"He's someone I both hate and don't hate the most."

　"I hate you, but I don't hate you? What kind of feeling is that?"

　"You're so long-winded... What business is it of yours whether I like him or not? Why keep asking me..."

　"Really? So you like this person."

　"Hmph...So what if I like it?"

　"How much do you like it?"

　How much do you like it?

　Xi thought to herself.

　"If there were someone who could save you from danger when your life was hanging by a thread, your family was falling apart, and you were lonely and afraid, and bring you a new life so that you could live without worries, what would you do for them?"

　"I'll really like her. I'll like her to death."

　Yes.

　Like it to death.

　But this problem...

　Xi looked up suddenly, but there was no one beside her, and she was the only one in the room.

　Was that a dream? Why would she suddenly dream about that guy? Could it be because she misses him too much?

　Xi rubbed her head, preparing to go find the Nine-Colored Deer or see her sisters. For a moment, without Nian's noisy presence beside her, she felt a little empty.

　"Woo!"

　As the door opened, someone else entered the house.

　Xi was jolted off balance by the impact and almost fell on her bottom, but the other person grabbed her and pulled her into their arms.

　"What, you can't wait to see me after such a short time? Hmm? Xi Bao?"

　The familiar voice, the familiar embrace—without a second thought, Xi knew who this most hated guy was.

　"Hey, you surnamed Chen. You... Waaah! What are you doing! I just got back..."

　She wanted to say something, but as soon as she looked up, he grabbed her waist, lifted her up, and kissed her. Xi's resistance and punches were then entangled around his neck, making it easier for her to reach him comfortably.

　"What am I doing? I've been away for so many days, of course I've missed you. Come on, let's have a three-hundred-round battle."

　"What 'three hundred rounds'? Do you think you're some fierce warrior from a storytelling performance?"

　Xi pounded his shoulder, tickling him.

　The tickling motion was taken as a sign of relaxation and invitation; the person had already been embraced and drawn into the painting.

　Three hundred rounds... I hope I can still make it to dinner tonight.

　Having just set a trap for Little Dragon Girl, Chen Lingxu naturally wanted to strike while the iron was hot and devour her completely. Not only that, Chen Lingxu also wanted to feed her Da Rou Bang while making her repeat those words from her dream a thousand times over, so that her body and mind would become his own.

　-

　"Ha, this winter is really cold."

　In previous years, only cold winds blew through Baizao, as the underground Originium veins were constantly drained of energy, making it difficult to see snow even in winter. This year, however, snow fell for unknown reasons, the temperature was lower than usual, and even the river froze.

　Seeing Nian run into the house, Xi frowned. Just as she was about to dodge, Nian caught her red-handed and stuffed his cold hand into her collar.

　"Nian! You're asking for it!"

　"Haha, can't catch up, can't catch up!"

　They were playfully bickering early in the morning.

　The old men who did their morning exercises in the courtyard shook their heads when they saw this.