"Let's chat?" Xia Xiang calmly tugged at Jiu Wu's sleeve, leaned closer to him, and whispered.

"Chatting" Jiuwu appeared arrogant, but she was actually a little happy inside; it was good that they could chat.

So Xia Xiang gave some instructions and led Jiu Wu to a secluded place.

——

"Brother Xia Nian, who exactly is that person?" Zhang Fei scratched his head. "Didn't your sister say she didn't know him? Why is she going with him? Aren't you worried?"

“They probably know each other, they’re just having a tiff.” Rex stared at the direction the two had left with a gloomy expression.

"Shall we wait for them here?" Zhang Fei asked with a bitter expression, looking in that direction as well.

“No need, let’s go back to the hotel.” Rex shook his head. “She’ll contact Siman after she’s finished dealing with it.”

"I don't want to go back to the hotel, just let me sleep outside." Zhang Fei's head throbbed at the mention of going back to the hotel.

That hotel—it's a long story.

"Fei, that hotel is the best we could find, so don't be picky." Guan Yu patted his shoulder. "Just hang in there, this is all part of your training."

“There is a grand event going on in the Eastern Han Dynasty recently, so it is indeed difficult to find hotels.” Cao Cao laughed heartily. “If you gentlemen do not mind, you can stay at my residence.”

"As the student council president of Dong Han Academy, I should also share the burdens of the students of Dong Han Academy. I wonder what you all think?"

"Okay, okay!" Zhang Fei grinned foolishly, leaning closer to Cao Cao and asking, "Are you going to eat and stay for free?"

"Free food and lodging," Cao Cao nodded with a smile.

"Then thank you very much, Chairman." Zhang Fei clasped his hands in thanks and quickly agreed.

"Fei..." Guan Yu felt something was amiss and wanted to dissuade him, but he was persuaded by Zhang Fei's coaxing and Cao Cao's words.

"Brother Xia Nian, where are you and Xia Xiang? Come along too." Cao Cao looked at Rex, who was quietly watching the direction Xia Xiang had left.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Chairman," Rex said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "I'll listen to her."

“Alright,” Cao Cao nodded. “Then let’s go back to the Cao residence and wait for Xia Xiang. She and that gentleman should be talking for a while.”

So the group followed Cao Cao back to his residence.

——

"What are you talking about?" Jiu Wu asked arrogantly, arms crossed. Then, dissatisfied that Xia Xiang was so far away from him, he tugged at the red ribbon and pulled her a few steps closer. "You're so far away from me, I can't hear what you're saying."

"Let's talk about how to untie this." Xia Xiang studied the [A Thousand Miles Connected by a Single Thread] bracelet on her wrist.

"I don't want to talk about this, let's talk about something else." Jiu Wu frowned, his eagerness cooling down a bit.

"For example?" Xia Xiang could only let him restrain her, and spoke indifferently.

Seeing her like this, Jiu Wu frowned even more deeply, feeling that she seemed a little strange, as if she had become a different person.

Xia Xiang is now completely calm and can no longer remember why she wanted to secretly return to the Iron Dimension to find Jiu Wu.

It's kind of funny to think that she could be so conflicted.

The two of them stared at each other silently, waiting for the other to speak.

Jiu Wu sighed and compromised first, "Are you injured?"

"No, thank you for your concern." Xia Xiang relaxed upon hearing his concern, but then, thinking it best not to talk for too long, she quickly urged, "Jiu Wu, what exactly did you come here for?"

He didn't come to the Silver Dimension to find her, did he?

"I'm here to see you," Jiu Wu said directly, no longer wanting to beat around the bush.

"Does my family know I'm missing?" Xia Xiang's calm expression cracked for a moment.

She was hung up on by that despicable Zuo Ci, and Xiu will definitely report it to the Alliance Leader. Her mother and the others will probably find out too.

"Xiu only reported to the Alliance Leader, and will keep it a secret for you." Jiu Wu felt a little sorry for her when he saw her worried look. "Can you promise me that you won't take any more risks next time? I'll be very worried."

As Jiu Wu spoke, he slowly approached Xia Xiang.

He was absolutely certain that he liked her, that he had liked her since childhood. Every time he introduced himself to others as Xia Xiang's childhood sweetheart, he was always taken as a joke, and Xia Xiang probably thought he was joking too.

She will never know what efforts he made just to see her.

Xia Xiang looked away from his burning gaze, but her wrists were tied and she couldn't run away, so she could only interrupt, "Thank you, Brother Jiu Wu. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

“No,” Jiu Wu shook his head. “You must listen to me finish before you can leave.”

"Do you have any other questions?" Xia Xiang's voice trembled almost imperceptibly, hoping he would say something, but also afraid of what he might say.

This complex and heavy feeling made her very uneasy, and she hated this uncontrollable emotion.

"You've heard about the alliance leader's previous proposal to arrange a marriage between me and Hu Yanqing, haven't you?" Jiu Wu said, staring intently at Xia Xiang's expression.

"Yes, I've heard Master and the Alliance Leader mention it." Xia Xiang frowned and nodded, not understanding what he meant by bringing this up now.

"What's your opinion?" Jiu Wu asked, frowning.

Deep down, he hoped she would stubbornly disagree, or even argue with him, but just not avoid him, and not be so cold and distant.

"From a public perspective, it's beneficial to the stability of the Iron Dimension. From a private perspective, I personally don't think it's so appropriate," Xia Xiang analyzed calmly.

She actually wanted to say that this shouldn't have much to do with her. But since Jiu Wu looked so expectant, she could only offer her analysis.

"Why do you feel something's wrong?" Jiu Wu couldn't suppress the excitement in his voice. He grasped her arms and even wanted to hug her to confirm that she was real.