The person on the phone was silent for a moment. After a few seconds, they said slowly, "If it's Cui'er, you don't need to say anything more."
"No, it's my high school classmate?"
"Who is it? Is she pretty? Have you been in contact before? Aren't you delivering food...?" Su Jinxiu's voice suddenly rose an octave.
"Uh..."
The sudden wave of jealousy left Liu Nanfeng flustered.
"I just met her while delivering food."
So, Liu Nanfeng recounted the events in broad strokes.
"A yoga instructor, she must have a great figure then?"
"Definitely not as good as yours."
"What about her looks?"
"Definitely not as pretty as you."
"Stop it, you just know how to say sweet things."
Su Jinxiu's tone became noticeably lighter. Clearly, Liu Nanfeng's answers had pleased her. It was true, no matter how old a woman got, she still needed to be doted on by a man.
"They just met an old classmate and invited you for a meal, and you're treating it as if she's seducing you? Aren't you being a bit too dramatic? Are you too narcissistic, or are you overthinking things?"
"How could that be? I have my reasons for saying so."
"Oh? Then tell me why you think she's trying to seduce you."
"Firstly, although she's my high school classmate, we weren't close. We barely exchanged a few words in three years. Her being so overly enthusiastic upon seeing me is completely unreasonable."
"Perhaps she's just grown up and become more socially adept."
"Let me finish first."
"Secondly, she acted too casually upon seeing me. You know I'm delivering food right now, and it's so hot outside. I'm sweating profusely, and anyone would be disgusted..."
"I wouldn't be. Also, have you been drinking enough water..."
"Let me finish, don't interrupt."
"Alright then."
Su Jinxiu was as well-behaved as a child.
Although Su Jinxiu was a mature older sister, she often displayed a childish side in front of Liu Nanfeng.
"But she didn't show the slightest bit of disgust. Instead, she intentionally or unintentionally moved closer to talk to me. This is highly illogical."
After hearing Liu Nanfeng's explanation, Su Jinxiu also felt something was amiss.
"Thirdly, I didn't smell any body odor on her..."
"Ew, you smelled her? That's so perverted." Before Liu Nanfeng could finish, Su Jinxiu immediately became jealous.
"Can you wait until I finish speaking?"
"Okay, but you have to explain it clearly to me."
Even though Liu Nanfeng couldn't see Su Jinxiu, he could imagine her pouting expression through her words.
"My physical condition has improved, and my sense of smell has become much more acute. She was so close, so naturally I could smell her scent."
"She was sweating so much, even her chest was soaked with sweat, yet there was no sweat smell at all. Instead, it had a faint fruity fragrance. I remember you've been using perfume with this scent..."
"Because you like this scent."
"Yes, I like this scent. So, tell me, do you think it was just a coincidence that she used the same perfume as you?"
After Liu Nanfeng's analysis, Su Jinxiu had a sudden guess.
"You think it's the same people who tried to forcibly take you away last time?"
"Yes."
Liu Nanfeng had suspected this from the moment he went downstairs.
"Are you going to meet her tonight?" Su Jinxiu asked.
"Of course not. Knowing she has ill intentions, why would I meet her?"
"It's still better to meet her. I'll have Cui'er accompany you then."
"Uh, why?"
"Perhaps you're just overthinking things, and she genuinely just wants to catch up."
Liu Nanfeng was momentarily speechless. If she just wanted to catch up, why did she emphasize those three words so heavily?
"Alright then, we'll talk about it tonight. I'm going to find Hongjin now; she should have arrived already."
"Okay, it's hot, drink plenty of water," Su Jinxiu reminded him.
"Okay, I know." He hung up the phone.
On the other side, Su Jinxiu, who had been smiling while on the phone, immediately put on a serious expression the moment the call ended.
After some thought, she dialed Su Huaimei.
"Sister, what's wrong? Are you worried I'll be taken advantage of?"
Su Huaimei was a little surprised to receive Su Jinxiu's call.
"What do I have to worry about you? I believe Han Xiangning wouldn't dare do anything to you."
"Sister, the way you say that, shouldn't you be worried about what *I* might do to Han Xiangning?"
"Don't underestimate Han Xiangning. She's been with us for so many years. Don't you know what kind of person she is?" Su Jinxiu said sternly.
Unlike her two sisters, Han Xiangning didn't receive immense opportunities at the beginning of her cultivation. She had to rely on her own efforts to secure a place in the demon realm. How could she be a simple character?
"Alright, I understand. You still haven't told me why you called."
"Han Xiangning has made a move again," Su Jinxiu said.
"What? I just warned her, how dare she?"
Su Huaimei was greatly angered by this. It was a clear sign of disregard for her warning.
"It must have been planned beforehand."
Su Jinxiu recounted everything that had happened to Liu Nanfeng to Su Huaimei.
Su Huaimei furrowed her brows upon hearing this, a rare expression of worry on her face.
"She wants to use her beauty to disrupt the relationship between you and my brother-in-law?"
"Yes. She's not breaking any rules by using this method, and as long as she denies it, she can completely distance herself."
The rules Su Jinxiu mentioned were established by the demon race more than fifty years ago. To jointly resist the human tide, demons were forbidden from killing each other.
After all, the demon population was dwindling, and coupled with the human tide, their living space was severely compressed. If they continued to kill each other, they would likely face extinction and disappear from the historical stage.
Although there were no severe penalties for breaking this rule, everyone was willing to abide by it.
One had to admit that the overall quality of demons was quite good.
"Then let my brother-in-law have his way with her and make her lose both the battle and the stake," Su Huaimei said angrily.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Besides us two sisters, there will be no third woman."
Seeing her sister's anger, Su Huaimei muttered softly, "You never know."
"What did you say?" Su Jinxiu's voice rose considerably.
"Nothing, I was just saying," Su Huaimei quickly replied.
"Tonight, you'll accompany Nanfeng to meet her. Let her give up this idea."
"What? Me? Then what about you, Sister?"
"I have something to do tonight," Su Jinxiu said.
"What is it?" Su Huaimei immediately pressed.
"Why ask so many questions? Just perform well tonight and make her retreat."
"Understood. Then I need to dress up nicely this afternoon so I don't embarrass my husband."
"It's brother-in-law," Su Jinxiu corrected.
"Got it," Su Huaimei grumbled with dissatisfaction and hung up.
Su Jinxiu put away her phone and looked out at the vast river, the surging water flowing endlessly.
...
"One, two, three, four... four..."
When Liu Nanfeng arrived, Feng Hongjin was indeed already there. She sat in the shade of the embankment, her back to the river, counting something with her head bowed.
Liu Nanfeng tiptoed closer and glanced over, somewhat surprised. The little koi was counting gold, which was what she had called the yellow stones in the conch shell.
"After four is five." Seeing her struggle to get past the number four, Liu Nanfeng couldn't help but offer a reminder.
The little koi startled and then, upon seeing Liu Nanfeng, jumped up excitedly, lunging towards him, scattering the gold in her hands.
Liu Nanfeng caught her and asked, "Have you been waiting long?"
Feng Hongjin shook her head.
"I just arrived too. Sister Yu Chan said it was too early, and the sun would turn me into a dried little fish."
"Haha, add some salt, and you'll be a little salted fish," Liu Nanfeng chuckled, lightly tapping her small nose.
Every time he saw this little koi, his mood involuntarily improved.
"Oh."
She suddenly remembered the yellow stones and quickly struggled out of Liu Nanfeng's embrace to pick up the scattered yellow stones one by one.
"Sister Yu Chan said these are gold, like money, and can be used to buy delicious things."
"Really? Where did so much of it come from?"
Although she said that, there wasn't much. These gold pieces were only about the size of a thumb. Even though there were many, the smelted amount was small. Moreover, Liu Nanfeng noticed that some yellow stones were mixed in.
"Where did all these come from?" Liu Nanfeng asked.
"This is the wages my mother gave me for helping her,"
The little koi stood with her hands on her hips, her head tilted back, looking quite proud.
"Is this from your mother too?" Liu Nanfeng picked out a few yellow stones from the pile.
Feng Hongjin immediately shook her head.
"I picked these up in the water. I don't have to work, and there are so many," the little koi said, beaming with pride.
Alright, I thought your mother was tricking you, but it turns out you picked them up yourself. That makes sense.
Liu Nanfeng really didn't want to dampen her spirits, but some things had to be explained clearly to her, otherwise, it would form a wrong perception.
Upon hearing that the yellow stones she picked up were worthless, the little koi felt a bit disappointed. However, when she saw the delicious food Liu Nanfeng brought, this slight disappointment vanished without a trace.
She placed the small handful of gold into Liu Nanfeng's palm.
"For you," she said.
"For me?" Liu Nanfeng asked in surprise.
He had expected the little koi to ask him to buy her food, but she was giving them to him directly.
Feng Hongjin nodded, then added, "With money, you won't have to work. Working is so hard."
As the little koi spoke, she wiggled her eyebrows, looking incredibly cute and making Liu Nanfeng burst into laughter.
"Then is it very hard for you to help your mother with her work?" Liu Nanfeng asked, petting her small head with a smile.
Feng Hongjin tilted her little head in thought, first shaking her head, then nodding.
"What do you mean?" Liu Nanfeng asked, puzzled.
"I can't play happily." Feng Hongjin said.
So that was it. Helping her mother wasn't tiring, but she couldn't play happily, hence the nod and shake of the head.
Liu Nanfeng sat down with her leaning against the embankment, taking out the pastries and juice he had brought.
The little koi didn't stand on ceremony and began to eat and drink heartily.
"Did you go back to your hometown?"
"Yes, didn't I tell you in the conch shell?"
"I'm just asking, hehe. What's a hometown? Is it a wife's home?"
"No, it's my mom and dad's home."
"Don't you live with your mom and dad? Did they not want you anymore?" The little koi asked, her eyes wide with astonishment.
Then, with teary eyes, she asked, "You're so pitiful. Why don't they want you? Is it because you're not good?"
"Neither. It's because I've grown up and need to live independently," Liu Nanfeng explained with a wry smile.
This little koi was truly too innocent, too kind, and too adorable.
The little koi paused upon hearing this, then asked, "When you grow up, you have to live independently? Leave your mom and dad?"
Liu Nanfeng nodded.
Upon hearing this, the little koi's mood immediately dropped. "Then I don't want to grow up. I don't want to leave Mommy. I really like her."
"Oh? Your mother must like you a lot too," Liu Nanfeng said, gently stroking her small head with a hint of pity.
"Of course! Mommy likes me a lot. She says I'm her favorite little fish." The little koi said this with immense pride.
"You're so cute, everyone will like you," Liu Nanfeng smiled.
"No way! I think Sister Ao doesn't like me. She's so fierce and doesn't play with me," Feng Hongjin pouted, expressing her displeasure.
However, Liu Nanfeng didn't think so. Ao Jiangyue might just have a reserved personality and didn't dislike the little koi. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been secretly protecting her.
Thinking of this, Liu Nanfeng looked around, checking if Ao Jiangyue was nearby.
Seeing Liu Nanfeng scanning the surroundings, Feng Hongjin also turned her head and looked around, mimicking his actions.
"What are you doing?" Liu Nanfeng asked curiously.
"I'm copying you! *Giggle giggle giggle*..." The little koi giggled.
She accidentally choked on a pastry and started coughing loudly.
Liu Nanfeng quickly picked up the juice beside him and gave her a few sips. The little koi let out a hiccup and blew a bubble. She immediately started giggling again.
Watching the little koi's happy demeanor, Liu Nanfeng's mood seemed to lift as well.
"By the way, your Sister Su wanted to ask if you want to be our guest tonight. She'll make something delicious for you."
The little koi's eyes lit up at this, and she nodded repeatedly, but with caution, she asked, "Is that bad kitty also coming?"
Liu Nanfeng shook his head. Just as the little koi was about to show her happiness, she heard Liu Nanfeng say, "Moyu is our family's pet and has always been at home."
The excited expression that had just appeared on the little koi's face froze, shifting from excitement to astonishment.
"Sigh..."
She sighed and said helplessly, "Then I won't go. I don't like kitties."
"Why? Kitties are so cute, why are you afraid of it? You're the great ancient dragon, *roar, roar*..." Liu Nanfeng mimicked the little one's behavior from last time.
"*Giggle giggle giggle*..." The little one laughed so hard she swayed.
Then she also let out a roar and blew a bubble.
Happy times always passed quickly. Feng Hongjin ultimately did not agree to the evening invitation. She said she would visit tomorrow, and she would bring her weapon.
Liu Nanfeng was very curious about what her weapon was. When he asked her, she wouldn't say, just grinning foolishly and telling Liu Nanfeng it was a secret.
After bidding farewell to Feng Hongjin and seeing that it was getting late, Liu Nanfeng decided not to take any more orders and rode his bike home.
However, the moment he opened the door, he saw two Su Jinxius standing in the living room.