Gu Xingxiao was naturally overjoyed and full of confidence at the task assigned to him by his lord, especially since it was his first task.

"Please rest assured, my lord, I will certainly entrust you with a cheerful and outgoing young master Cheng."

Cheng Yan: ? ? I've just been assigned this task?

Shen Bei'an looked at Cheng Yan again, "If Xing Xiao has done anything wrong, just tell me in time, no need to be polite."

“I know that Sister Tian has also enrolled you in some classes, but you can’t attend them here for the time being. Xing Xiao has a lot of practical experience, so he should be better than the teachers Sister Tian arranged for you. Just stay by his side and learn well.”

Cheng Yan knew that Shen Beian meant well and was trying to help him.

He also knows how many people want to learn from Gu Xingxiao but haven't had the chance yet.

Moreover, this Young Master Xiao seems to be the temporary mentor of the sixth young master of the Gu family.

With a blushing face, she said, "Thank you, Fifth Master."

Shen Beian waved his hand dismissively, "Alright, I've got a few documents here, let's take a look together..."

Throughout the entire process, Shen Beian never mentioned why Cheng Yan was in a bad mood when they first came in.

This is Cheng Yan's private matter and has nothing to do with him.

It can only be said that Gu Xingxiao is worthy of having followed Gu Nanyan since childhood and later being transferred to Fuyun Island to become the person in charge of Wushang Loulan. Even though he doesn't know much about the domestic situation, he is not at all inferior when it comes to the discussion.

On the contrary, Shen Beian, who did not know much about the empire, mostly listened to Gu Xingxiao and Cheng Yan talking.

“My lord, you will inevitably have many interactions with Young Master Hua in the future. Mr. Hua is almost always at the He Shou Wu Research Institute and has very little free time.”

"Although your subordinates may also interact with Young Master Hua, it would be better for you to go in person as a matter of etiquette."

After learning that he would be following Shen Bei'an in the future, Gu Xingxiao searched overnight for all the information Feng You needed about Shen Bei'an.

Shen Bei'an's personal information is absolutely top-secret, and outsiders naturally cannot obtain it.

But the Gu family members are different, especially Gu Nanyan's subordinates.

They knew all of Shen Bei'an's interests and hobbies, not for any other reason than to better take care of this pampered master.

Therefore, it was not surprising that Gu Xingxiao knew that Shen Bei'an and Hua Yueli did not get along and would quarrel whenever they met.

Shen Bei'an pulled out a large cushion from somewhere and hugged it to his chest, resting his chin on it. He glanced at Gu Xingxiao with slightly raised eyes, his voice tinged with helplessness, "I know..."

The sound was drawn out for a very long time.

The thought of having to directly hand over the reins to that arrogant Hua Yueli in the future made Shen Beian extremely annoyed.

We've never gotten along since we were kids, and we still don't get along now.

"Alright, that's enough for today. It's about time, let's go have dinner." Shen Beian glanced at the time, casually placed the cushion on the chair, stretched, and relaxed.

“By the way, Ziyan,” Shen Beian looked at Cheng Yan, as if he had suddenly thought of something.

"What's wrong, Fifth Master?" Cheng Yan was packing his things. After spending the afternoon with Gu Xingxiao, he wasn't so afraid of him anymore. Instead, he had a different understanding of this "poisonous snake" and even thought he was quite good, no, he should be said to be quite outstanding.

That makes sense, though; anyone who can work under the eldest son must be top-notch.

"If you want to see her, you can contact me anytime. She comes every day, and she will come to pick us up after dinner tonight to go to the auction."

Shen Bei'an didn't know what Cheng Yan's impression of Ning Yao was, nor did he have any interest in probing into her personal privacy.

Judging from Ning Yao's expression, she seemed to care a lot about this younger brother.

Cheng Yan was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Shen Bei'an to say such a thing. A smile appeared on her delicate face. "I understand, Fifth Master, thank you."

Master Shen is truly a very, very good person.

Master Shen waved his hand dismissively and walked outside.

Gu Xingxiao wasn't in a hurry. With his long, slender, fair fingers hooking a tassel, he tilted his head and leaned slightly closer to Cheng Yan, exuding a wicked aura.

Cheng Yan almost fell over because he lost his balance.

Gu Xingxiao reached out and pulled and pushed Cheng Yan directly into the chair, perfectly and properly!

“Young Master Xiao…” Cheng Yan had never seen Gu Xingxiao like this before. His face was pale and his voice trembled.

"My lord treats you very well, doesn't he?" Gu Xingxiao curled his lips, standing a meter away from Cheng Yan. Although he was talking to Cheng Yan, his eyes were lowered and looking at the brocade pouch at his waist.

His voice was languid yet magnetic.

Cheng Yan didn't know what Gu Xingxiao's purpose was, so he simply answered truthfully, "Of course! Fifth Master treats me very well!" His words were firm and without the slightest hesitation.

"Since the lord treats you so well, I suppose Young Master Cheng would also like to do something for the lord?" Gu Xingxiao slowly raised his head and glanced at Cheng Yan.

At this moment, Cheng Yan felt like prey being targeted by a ferocious beast!

They will be devoured in the next second.

His body trembled slightly; he didn't understand why Gu Xingxiao said that.

"Why aren't you saying anything, Young Master Cheng?" Gu Xingxiao remained standing in place, his gaze burning, looking at Cheng Yan as if he were looking at a meal on a plate!

“I…” Cheng Yan didn’t know what to say, and just stared blankly at Gu Xingxiao.

Gu Xingxiao felt that this Young Master Cheng was truly as stupid as a pig.

"I've heard that Young Master Cheng's biological father is Ning Xiao of the Ning family, an elder of Fuyun Island. Is that true?" Gu Xingxiao asked slowly, toying with the brocade pouch in his hand.

Upon hearing Ning Xiao's name, Cheng Yan's face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of any color.

He tried to speak, but found himself unable to utter a single word.

“Ning Zhang is your half-brother, Ning Yao is your sister from the same parents, and the Third Young Master Tang in the capital is also your sister from the same parents.”

Gu Xingxiao spoke slowly, word by word.

His voice was sweet and alluring, like honey.

Cheng Yan felt as if the air around him had been completely consumed, and his breathing was already very heavy, let alone speaking.

“My lord is kind-hearted, and as his subordinate, I naturally don’t want him to do anything that would make things difficult for him.” Gu Xingxiao continued, “Young Master Cheng will marry Young Master Fu Jiu in the future. My lord has given you enough status, so you probably won’t need anyone else after that.”

At this point, Gu Xingxiao's smile deepened. "Young Master Cheng, the Lord treats you so well, so don't do anything to make things difficult for him in the future, okay?"

Cheng Yan's face was pale. Although she was terrified of Gu Xingxiao, she burst out at this moment, "I won't do anything to make things difficult for Fifth Master!"

"I, I, I would never do anything to make things difficult for Master Shen!"

"I will not... I will not plead for anyone in the Ning family!"

With his hands clenched into fists beneath his wide sleeves, Cheng Yan resembled a furious little beast.

Despite being yelled at like that, Gu Xingxiao laughed instead, "That's good then. I hope Young Master Cheng will remember what I said today."

"This matter is not something the lord should know. What does Young Master Cheng think?"

He remained calm and indifferent.

Cheng Yan replied tremblingly, "Of course."

He also didn't want Shen Bei'an to know these things.

Gu Xingxiao nodded. "Excuse me, Young Master Cheng." With that, he turned and left.

——

Gu Xingxiao—the venomous young master, the beloved of the zither-playing master Ji Lüqi~