Chen Yuan wanted to call, because the Didi (ride-hailing app) had arrived, and he didn't want to keep the driver waiting too long.

However, he also felt that Xia Xinyu might be anxious and question why he had come.

After all, in her eyes, he probably wasn't the type to finish the exam early and still pass the preliminary round.

Sending a text message felt even more abrupt.

Therefore, he chose to send a voice message, striking a balance – neither too abrupt nor dismissive.

Soon, a message came back from her.

Xia Xinyu: Where are you? I'll have someone pick you up.

Chen Yuan: No need, I've already called a Didi.

As soon as he finished typing, she quickly sent an address. Knowing Xia Xinyu's personality, she probably didn't want to waste the driver's time, rather than not wanting to be picked up.

"Driver, go to Nanxi Village, you know it?"

"Okay."

The driver gave an okay sign and fastened his seatbelt.

Xia Xinyu: Did you get in the car?

Chen Yuan: Yeah, I'm in. Should be there soon.

Xia Xinyu: Can you call?

Chen Yuan: Sure, but don't bother if you're busy.

As soon as he sent that message, Xia Xinyu, having received the "sure" reply, instantly made a WeChat call.

His heart skipped a beat. Chen Yuan didn't know why, but he felt a little flustered.

But he was clearly overthinking it. Xia Xinyu on the other end of the phone had a very gentle tone: "Chen Yuan, it must have been hard coming all the way from Xia Hai. I'm really touched that you came."

See? What was I worried about?

This is Saint Xinyu, after all. She wouldn't blame me.

"It's what I should do, no need to be polite."

"Don't say that, it's a bother to you."

Wait, something's not right. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her tone, but this isn't Saint Xinyu!

"Okay, social niceties over."

"..."

Seriously, does a woman exist who can say social niceties so rationally even when she's angry?

First comes politeness, then comes the attack.

Sure enough, after being polite to Chen Yuan, Xia Xinyu began to question him with a completely emotionless voice: "Chen Yuan, why did you leave the exam early?"

Chen Yuan didn't know what to say, his mind went blank, and then he thought of lying: "I didn't, I came after I finished the exam..."

"Liar!"

He still stepped on a landmine. The lie immediately triggered Xia Xinyu's emotions. She said angrily, "The exam ends at five in the afternoon. To get here from Tanxiang, and arrive today, you'd have to take the 4:58 PM high-speed train, then transfer to a bullet train, and then take a car to even have a chance..."

"You actually wanted me to come, didn't you?"

Xia Xinyu became more and more agitated and serious as she spoke, but Chen Yuan simply interrupted her with a sudden question, stopping her emotions in their tracks.

After ten seconds of silence, she finally spoke with a sob in her voice: "Of course!"

"Then I came, and you're still throwing a tantrum at me?" Chen Yuan asked with a helpless smile.

"Didn't I tell you? Things that are important to you... are even more important to me..." Xia Xinyu seemed to be wiping away tears, speaking intermittently, "I don't want you to give up so easily because of this kind of thing..."

"Believe first," Chen Yuan interrupted again.

"Believe..."

"Yeah, I did well on the exam, I finished every question, and I knew how to do more than 80% of them." Facing Xia Xinyu's insecurity, Chen Yuan promised with considerable confidence, "After you get back, we can study the opponents for the main competition."

"Re-really?"

"How many times have I lied to you since we met?"

"..." Chen Yuan's words silenced her, and after the silence came resolution, "I believe you. Just now... I was anxious. I thought you had given up."

"Wipe away your tears, and properly greet the guests. I'll be there soon."

"... Okay."

Xia Xinyu probably knew she should pull herself together, so the sobbing gradually subsided, and finally turned into a concerned, "It's dark on the road, be careful."

After resolving things with his 'heart treasure', Chen Yuan hung up the phone.

Now that it was clear, there wouldn't be any more 'conflicts' when they met.

When he couldn't hear the other person's thoughts, Chen Yuan was indeed a little helpless and easily flustered.

So, to solve the problem, he could only use sincerity.

You actually wanted me to come, didn't you?

He couldn't guarantee anything about other people, but at least he could exchange Xia Xinyu's sincerity with his own.

After taking a deep breath, Chen Yuan leaned back in his seat and rested for a while.

When the car was only three minutes away from its destination, he opened his bag, took out a black short-sleeved shirt, and took off the white t-shirt he was wearing.

The driver, seeing a naked torso in the rearview mirror, hurriedly averted his gaze.

[He's not going to skip out on the fare, is he?]

[I'm not that kind of person anymore...]

I'm not that kind of person either!

Wait, I'm not that kind of person anymore...

Driver, pull over!

Pull over! Let me out!

Or I'll jump out of the car!

"Is it that family with the spirit hall up ahead?" the driver asked nervously.

"Yeah, just drop me off here."

With his bag on his back, Chen Yuan got out of the car three houses away.

Looking at the old two-story building with the spirit hall in front of him, he felt a little nervous and didn't go straight over.

Instead, he first looked at his phone. Xia Xinyu hadn't sent him a message, probably because she was too busy.

23:54.

It was too late.

And there were only six minutes left before his superpower refreshed.

Although it would be weakened and retained, the extent of the weakening, how to trigger it, and what the cost would be were all unknown...

He used to think that Chao Zi was a bit of a Jian Zong (Sword Tomb, referring to mental instability), messing with his mental state, but now that he had lost it, he felt uneasy, especially walking here, facing Xia Xinyu's family that he was about to meet. Could he really handle it with ease?

Just as he was thinking this, someone suddenly walked over, and it seemed like they were coming towards him.

"Are you Chen Yuan gege (older brother)?" A middle school student-looking boy walked up to him and asked with a somewhat non-standard Jingnan accent.

"Um... I am." Chen Yuan nodded.

"I'm Xinyu-jie's (older sister) younger brother. Come with me~"

The boy happily led Chen Yuan over there.

[This is the really good classmate that Xinyu-jie said was coming from Xia Hai, sure enough he's handsome.]

[My dad even told me to call him gege enthusiastically.]

[Really? Do I look like I don't have that kind of awareness?]

Your awareness is alright, but your inner thoughts are a bit much.

Soon, he reached the house with the spirit hall.

Because the banquet was tomorrow, there weren't many people sitting there. They were all close relatives and friends.

Seeing Chen Yuan arrive, a somewhat burly man immediately came to greet him, his face full of smiles: "Xiao Chen is here, Xinyu is inside."

[Although Xinyu repeatedly explained that he's a classmate, a friend, but a male classmate who came all the way from Xia Hai, and rushed over right after the exam... Haha, those who understand, understand.]

Indeed, those who understand, understand. There's no need to explain to those who don't.

Being led by the uncle, Chen Yuan also saw Xia Xinyu's other relatives. They were also smiling at him in greeting.

Logically speaking, he should be received by Xia Xinyu's father's side of the family.

But both of her parents had passed away, and both funerals were being held together.

The aunt was a woman, so the heavy responsibility fell on the eldest uncle.

This was a very important relative, on the same level as the aunt.

The aunt still looked as stern as ever, but when her eyes met his, she also smiled and nodded slightly.

These moments of usually being strict but showing genuine affection are the most touching.

At this moment, regardless of anything else.

To them, he was a guest who had come all the way from Haidong, worthy of all respect.

Following the uncle, Chen Yuan saw Xia Xinyu kneeling on a cushion, dressed in white mourning clothes.

At this moment, the uncle also let go of the arm he had around him.

Remaining calm, Chen Yuan walked to the front of the mourning hall, lit three incense sticks, bowed ninety degrees to the two portraits, and paid his respects three times.

At the same time, Xia Xinyu also bowed to him three times.

After that, he inserted the incense into the ashes. After turning around, these relatives, according to their relationship with Xia Xinyu, very tactfully surrounded him.

First was the eldest uncle who had brought him in, holding his hand tightly and saying sincerely, "Thank you, Xiao Chen, you've worked hard! Stay at home for a few more days, don't leave too early."

[If Xinyu is going to Xia Hai to continue studying, besides her aunt, this is the person she relies on the most...]

"You're too kind, the ride wasn't hard."

"Xiao Chen." The aunt walked up to Chen Yuan. This woman, who had always been a legend, took the initiative to show goodwill, "You should rest well tonight."

[From the sound of his voice, he's the same boy from last time, right? Although Xinyu doesn't talk about it, the two of them definitely have an unusual relationship. And, he looks like that boy in the No. 11 Middle School uniform from last time...]

"Okay... Um, um."

Damn it, so scary.

I'm going to flee from the No. 11 Sect overnight!

Just after responding to the aunt, Chen Yuan saw an old man getting up from his seat, so he quickly stepped forward and bent down, supporting him.

But the old man still insisted on getting up, his hands, as rough as tree bark, grasped Chen Yuan's hand, and he said with tears in his eyes, "Thank you... Thank you..."

[He's a city kid, Xinyu is a country kid, and her parents are dead, sigh...]

"You're too kind, Xinyu is doing well."

No one else knew why Chen Yuan added the last sentence, only he knew what he was responding to.

Then, the other relatives also came forward to shake hands and exchange greetings, including the honest and taciturn uncle-in-law.

If he was her middle school classmate, perhaps the relatives wouldn't have made so many interpretations. But he, who had come from afar from Xia Hai, already had a different meaning in their hearts.

But out of respect for Xinyu, they wouldn't make any teasing comments.

After this process was completed, Xia Xinyu, who had been kneeling on the cushion, stood up, walked to Chen Yuan's side, grabbed his arm with her hand, and led him out of the main hall: "You haven't eaten, have you? I'll make you some noodles."

Just like that, under everyone's gaze, Xia Xinyu naturally led him away.

Her kitchen was next to the house, only one story, but it was a separate room, made of cement.

Xia Xinyu walked in front, and Chen Yuan followed behind.

The two of them didn't speak.

Each of them was at a loss for words.

Until they were about to enter the door, Chen Yuan suddenly felt something stuck to his hair, so he stopped and touched his hair.

Xia Xinyu couldn't help but smile when she saw Chen Yuan, and then quickly restrained her smile, told him to lower his head, and reached out to his head: "My kitchen hasn't seen anyone this tall, you bumped into a spider web."

"My bad."

Seeing that she was having some trouble, Chen Yuan lowered his head even further.

Xia Xinyu carefully removed the spider web and brushed away the dust.

"Thank you."

Facing Chen Yuan's thanks, Xia Xinyu nodded slightly, and then looked up at this boy who was full of fatigue, sleepiness, and hunger, said nothing, just let their eyes meet.

For no reason, a faint smile.

[Chen Yuan, thank you.]

It was probably less than a minute, or several seconds, before his superpower refreshed.

And in these last moments, he heard Xia Xinyu's inner voice.

After arriving here, many people, or rather everyone, had expressed their gratitude to her, and repeated it again and again, afraid that the emotion wasn't sincere enough.

They were also using gratitude to conceal certain expectations and desires.

But that was how it should be.

People should be like this, expressing their feelings directly, frankly, and accurately, letting the other person perceive your feelings, and feeling that it was several times stronger than what they had imagined.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Seeing that Chen Yuan's gaze was on her, Xia Xinyu, whose eyebrows and eyes were gentler than the spring breeze, asked with a smile.

Yes, everyone was expressing their emotions with words.

Only this silly girl was different.

She,

Used her heart-speech.