60. Feeling uncomfortable

Good morning, Brother Xie!

"Um."

"Brother Xie, have you had breakfast yet?"

"have eaten."

"Brother Xie, look! Yue'er has styled her hair in a new way today!"

Xie Wenling glanced down—two little buns on the little girl's head each had a red ribbon tied to them, swaying with her movements.

"good."

Although she didn't know if the word "good" meant the same thing as what she thought it meant, the little dumpling still beamed: "Moon thinks it's pretty too!"

Afterwards, although Xie Wenling's response remained brief, the little dumpling was unaffected and kept chattering away the whole way.

"Thank you, brother. Yue'er brought some osmanthus candy. It's so delicious! Yue'er will share half with you!"

"No need."

Upon arriving at the palace gate, we disembarked and walked.

"Brother Xie, look over there, there's a little kitten!"

Xie Wenling looked in the direction she pointed and sure enough, there was a palace cat lazily lying on the wall sunbathing.

He had just looked away when he felt his sleeve being gently tugged.

"Thank you, brother..." the little dumpling suddenly lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "Actually, Yue'er knows that you are not a talkative person."

Xie Wenling paused slightly: "...?"

The little dumpling tiptoed and whispered, "You're just shy, aren't you?"

Xie Wenling: ?

No, he really doesn't like to talk.

He reached out and gently pressed his hand on the little girl's head, turning her head back: "...Watch where you're going."

The little dumpling was gently turned back by him, but still wouldn't give up, tilting her head up and opening her little arms: "Thank you, brother, hug me!"

Xie Wenling looked down at her, his tone indifferent: "Go by yourself."

"But it's so far..." the little dumpling pouted, her eyes wet with tears, "My feet hurt..."

Xie Wenling ignored her.

The little girl tugged at his sleeve and shook it, pleading softly, "Just a tiny little hug! Please~"

Xie Wenling frowned almost imperceptibly, but finally bent down and stiffly picked her up.

His arms were tense, and he looked uncomfortable.

The little dumpling didn't mind at all; on the contrary, she was extremely happy.

Just like when the Grand Tutor first held her!

The Grand Tutor was initially fierce, while Brother Xie was cold and aloof.

But it doesn't matter, she believes he will become just as adorable as she is!

The little dumpling hugged Xie Wenling's neck and pressed her face against his shoulder: "Brother Xie is the best!"

Xie Wenling's body stiffened visibly, but he ultimately didn't put her down: "...Don't move around."

Just then, a wary voice came from the entrance of the Wenhua Hall—

"Who is this...?"

Qu Zijin stood on the steps, but his gaze fell on Xie Wenling with a scrutinizing look.

He had originally come out to pick up Jin Lanyue, but when he saw a strange man holding her, he quickly walked over.

Xie Wenling raised his eyes and met Qu Zijin's gaze, his expression still indifferent: "Xie Wenling."

"Grand Tutor!" The little dumpling turned around in Xie Wenling's arms and introduced them to the two of them happily, "This is Yue'er's Grand Tutor! Grand Tutor, this is Brother Xie!"

—It's as if nothing was introduced at all.

After the two took turns introducing themselves, Qu Zijin only knew that the person opposite him was called Xie Wenling, but he still nodded in acknowledgment, pretending that he knew his identity: "So you are Young Master Xie."

Qu Zijin reached out to take Jin Lanyue's hand: "Teacher, it's time for class."

The little dumpling snuggled closer to Xie Wenling, hugging his arms even tighter: "Brother Xie, take me inside!"

Qu Zijin's hand froze in mid-air, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He whispered, "Teacher, don't let just anyone hold you. Be careful not to run into bad people. Some human traffickers specialize in kidnapping children."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wenling, who hadn't intended to speak, suddenly spoke up: "I'm not a human trafficker."

"Young Master Xie has misunderstood." Qu Zijin said this, but his tone carried a hint of sharpness. "It's just that the child is still young, so we must be careful."

Xie Wenling glanced at him, sensing the slight hostility, and felt a surge of displeasure and wariness: "If I am suspicious, isn't it even more suspicious that you call a three-year-old child 'teacher'?"

He rarely spoke more than a few words, but he successfully angered Qu Zijin: "The reason why I call her 'teacher' is something that the Marquis of Beiding and his wife understand, yet Young Master Xie doesn't? It's clear that you don't understand her, nor are you familiar with the Marquis of Beiding and his wife. In that case, what's wrong with my suspicion?"

He stared at Xie Wenling, waiting for him to get angry or retort.

But to my surprise, he nodded frankly: "Yes, you're right, I'm not familiar with it."

Qu Zijin was stunned.

Finally realizing the smell of gunpowder, the little dumpling, who had been anxiously trying to break up the fight, was stunned.

Huh?

It seems like the problem was solved without her even having to lift a finger?

The standoff just now didn't stir up the slightest ripple in Xie Wenling's heart; perhaps in his eyes, it didn't even qualify as a standoff.

Qu Zijin's anger subsided, and seeing his frank attitude, he even felt a little guilty for judging a gentleman by his own petty standards.

The next second, Xie Wenling spoke calmly: "Similarly, I don't know you well, and I don't trust you."

Hearing this, Qu Zijin's guilt vanished, and his anger returned: "You..."

"I'll take her to the Wenhua Hall and then leave," Xie Wenling interrupted the spellcasting, refusing to argue. "I won't harm her."

Qu Zijin felt as if he had punched cotton.

Something feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on why.

It just doesn't feel right.

at the same time--

[Task Completed]

After your efforts proved fruitless, you reflected on the situation.

Finally, if you feel you don't know how to solve a problem, then leave it to someone else!

You've assigned this matter to Qu Zijin.

Qu Zijin quickly achieved his goal, successfully getting Xie Wenling to promise not to harm him.

Congratulations!

[Reward Received: Advanced Healing Talisman]

Yay! Mission accomplished!

She knew the Grand Tutor would succeed!

In reality, Xie Wenling didn't say anything more, but simply carried Jin Lanyue into the Wenhua Hall.

Qu Zijin followed beside him, his gaze occasionally falling on the little dumpling.

Normally, when this little dumpling sees him, she would happily come over and hold his hand, but today she only cared about sticking to that Brother Xie's arms, laughing happily—because the mission was completed—and didn't even glance at him.

He couldn't help but cough lightly, trying to get attention: "Teacher, have you memorized the poem we taught the other day?"

The little dumpling then turned its head and blinked: "I memorized it! 'Moonlight shines before my bed, a great hero... uh...'"

She suddenly got stuck.