"Sister, why do you say that?"
Jiang Xun asked, confused, "I think Young Miss Jiang Mei is a very nice person."
"Little brother, you don't understand. Jiang Mei originally had feelings for that beast, but then she went missing while on a mission in a Fan Realm Small World."
"She was missing for about half a year. I heard she was taken away by a Disciple from a large Sect touring the Lower Realm and served as a maid for half a year."
"Four years ago, that beast discovered Jiang Mei was missing and left the Family's station, claiming he was going to rescue her, but he was probably out reveling."
"After Jiang Mei returned to the Jiang Family herself, that beast was sent back several months later by a Flying Sword."
Jiang Xun listened quietly to Jiang Xun'er's account, growing even more confused.
"Sister, from what you're saying, Young Miss Jiang Mei didn't do anything wrong, did she? I think she's quite strong."
"Oh, little brother, your sister is doing this for your own good."
Jiang Xun'er subconsciously didn't want her little brother to interact with other women, so she continued to speak ill of Jiang Mei.
"Jiang Mei really isn't a good woman. I used to know her, and she was arrogant and bossy, with the temper of a Young Miss."
"Although I heard she has reined it in a lot since she came back, that might all be a facade. Little brother, you must not be fooled."
"Sister, don't worry. Many people are participating in tomorrow's Family event. I'm just going to make friends with Young Miss Jiang Mei."
Seeing that her little brother was determined to go, Jiang Xun'er pouted, and her mood instantly soured.
Jiang Xun didn't say anything more. He just went into his room and found a few new outfits his sister had bought him, planning to wear one of them tomorrow.
The next day, at the "Winding Stream Party" event.
This event offered generous rewards, was hosted by the Family, and took place once every three years.
Many Jiang Family members participated, and the rules of the event were simple.
Everyone sat around the banks of a circular stream, drinking, barbecuing, and chatting with each other.
The Elder hosting the event would randomly place horn cups throughout the stream. These horn cups might have various defensive Spells or corresponding riddles on them.
If someone could break the Spell or solve the riddle, they could take the horn cup and earn points.
The more points earned, the higher the ranking.
If someone forcibly took a horn cup but couldn't break the Spell or solve the riddle, their eligibility to participate would be revoked, and they could only sit on the bank, unable to receive any rewards.
The riddles and Spells for each "Winding Stream Party" were different, mainly depending on which Elder was hosting the event.
For example, this year was hosted by the Fifth Elder, and most Jiang Family members knew that the Fifth Elder enjoyed literary pursuits, so the riddles for this "Winding Stream Party" event would likely be related to poetry and songs.
Arriving at the event on time, Jiang Mei instantly saw Zhou Fan. She quickly walked over to him.
Today, she had changed into a form-fitting gown. Although it was tightly wrapped, it perfectly showcased her graceful figure.
Seeing this, Zhou Fan recalled when he was still in the Fan Realm, and Jiang Mei had led a group of Jiang Family members to provoke him with an arrogant air.
Then, Jiang Mei was locked in a small dark room by him and severely punished for three days and three nights.
That was his first encounter with a Cultivator with a Fire Spiritual Root; not only was it warm inside, but it truly knew how to burn.
After an exchange of glances, Jiang Mei linked her arm through Zhou Fan's, allowing Zhou Fan to fully feel her substantial weight.
After the two found a less crowded spot to sit down, Jiang Mei, disregarding the surprised looks of those around them, still tried to lean into Zhou Fan's embrace.
Zhou Fan lightly coughed and used Divine Sense to tell Jiang Mei that Jiang Xun'er had secretly followed him and was currently peeking at them from nearby.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mei understood her master's plan and maintained a distance appropriate for close friends, no longer pressing close.
On the surface, the two were laughing and chatting, but Jiang Mei was now a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator and also possessed Divine Sense.
She was using Divine Sense to whisper various suggestive words to her dear master, Zhou Fan, who hadn't done much proper work this past year and almost couldn't hold back.
If it weren't for the large crowd at the event, Zhou Fan would have truly wanted to 'rectify' this 'little wooden hook,' the Jiang Family Old Ancestor's beloved daughter, on the spot.
Jiang Xun'er watched her little brother and that bad woman, Jiang Mei, 'flirting' from a distance, feeling a tightness in her chest. The fruit she was eating tasted sour and astringent, not sweet at all.
She wanted to rush over and separate them, take her little brother home, and make him only hold her hand and stroke her head.
Jiang Xun'er recalled that soul-stirring day again, the warmth and joy her little brother had brought her, which she simply couldn't forget.
Even in the dead of night, lying in bed, Jiang Xun'er couldn't help but imagine her little brother still by her side, holding her in a princess carry, and then...
Emotion urged Jiang Xun'er to boldly confess, to claim her sunny and handsome little brother as her own, but reason told Jiang Xun'er that her innocent and pure little brother had always regarded her as his sister. How could she have such thoughts?
Jiang Xun'er's heart was incredibly conflicted, and she also felt a bit scared.
She was afraid her little brother wouldn't fancy her. If she confessed and was rejected, she might even lose her only Family member.
She was also afraid her little brother would be snatched away by someone else, gradually reducing his interactions with her, his sister, and eventually, she would be alone again.
Jiang Xun'er suffered in her heart all day long, until night fell, and this "Winding Stream Party" event concluded in Perfection.
Zhou Fan and Jiang Mei left together, and Jiang Xun'er quickly got up to follow.
But as she followed, Jiang Xun'er realized she had lost them.
After searching for an hour without finding the two, Jiang Xun'er could only return to her small courtyard alone.
She knocked on the west room door, hoping so much that her little brother had already returned home, would open the door with a smile, and give her a big hug.
But, as expected, there was no answer from the west room.
Her little brother hadn't come home; instead, he had been enchanted by that bad woman, Jiang Mei, and taken away by her...
Jiang Xun'er returned to the east room, crestfallen. She sat cross-legged on the bed, trying to calm her mind to Cultivate.
She tried hard to tell herself that her little brother was already an adult, and it was perfectly normal for him to like a girl and enter a relationship and marry her.
But this was too fast!
And why did he have to look outside? Am I not pretty enough?
Jiang Xun'er's heart was in turmoil, completely unable to calm down.
She couldn't Cultivate, so she could only lie on the bed, staring at the ceiling with unfocused eyes.
Suddenly feeling a bit cold, Jiang Xun'er pulled her blanket tighter, her long legs clamping her clothes. She thought back to that unforgettable day again.
That night, Jiang Xun'er couldn't sleep...
She stayed up until dawn, then got out of bed with a somewhat listless expression.
She washed her bedding and clothes, then hung them in the courtyard to air dry naturally.
Afterward, Jiang Xun'er began to cook her little brother's favorite dishes. Once they were ready, she kept them warm with a Spell and sat on a stool, waiting for her little brother to come home.
But the entire morning passed, and her little brother still hadn't returned.