Xiao Qi remained silent for a long time, his already resolute face casting an even heavier shadow in the sunlight.
Wan Yuechi suddenly realized he shouldn't have asked the question so rashly.
"I didn't intend to do anything."
He remained silent for a long time before answering.
After everyone was disappointed, they stopped paying attention to him. Xiao Qi had never been a very sociable person, and he would always disappear when everyone got into the conversation. Over time, no one wanted to talk to him anymore.
Only Wanwan felt that Brother Xiao was different; he was handsome when he spoke and handsome when he didn't speak.
And it's not as fierce as everyone says at all!
With her little head propped up on her hand, Wanwan's thoughts had already drifted far away.
Brother Xiao always looks unhappy; he must have a lot of worries weighing on his mind.
If only Brother Xiao could forget all those troubles.
The conversation about wishes ended as the sun sank into the sea. Wan Suizhou left Xiao Qi alone on the beach and asked him to keep her company while they discussed the issue.
"When Confucius was discussing ideals with Zilu, Zeng Xi, Ran You, and Gongxi Hua, only Zeng Xi's elegant and tranquil aspirations resonated with him the most. Today, when the children are discussing this, although you have not spoken, you do not seem like someone without ambition."
Wan Suizhou noticed that Xiao Qi's aura was different and wanted to take this opportunity to ask him.
Xiao Qi remained silent.
"Why won't you speak?" Wan Suizhou asked directly.
"Everyone has their own aspirations; students just don't want to casually express their ambitions."
Xiao Qi awkwardly avoided the question. Seeing that he would not say no matter what, Wan Suizhou did not press him further and asked a few more academic questions, which Xiao Qi answered fluently.
Hearing their conversation from afar, Wanwan was certain that Xiao Qi must have three thousand strands of hair.
Brother Xiao is only three years older than her. It must be very difficult for such a young girl to bear so many troubles every day!
Wanwan made up her mind that she would definitely try to cheer him up and distract him so that he wouldn't feel so bad!
The next day, Wanwan began to implement her little plan to distract Xiao Qi. Whenever she saw Xiao Qi frowning as he read a book, she would go to him for help.
"Brother Xiao, Wanwan can't reach that candy jar, can you help Wanwan get it?"
"Brother Xiao, my back hurts so much. Can you come with me for a walk?"
"Brother Xiao!"
Throughout the day, Xiao Qi could only hear Wanwan calling for his help.
He didn't know why this little dumpling was being so clingy to him today, as if she wanted to hang on him.
Wanwan also realized that her plan seemed to be useless. Xiao Qi's brows were still furrowed from time to time, and when he was quiet, he still had a cold expression, showing no signs of improvement.
Oh dear, why is her Xiao-gege so hard to please!
Suddenly, Wanwan had a brilliant idea. She shuffled her short legs over to Xiao Qi and squeezed in front of him. "Brother Xiao, how about going to the beach with Wanwan? Wanwan will tell you a big secret!"
Xiao Qi was puzzled. Wanwan winked at him playfully, then reached out and took his hand, leading him towards the seaside without further ado.
The two, one big and one small, arrived at the beach under the cover of night and stood on the shore.
Wanwan took out the seashell her master had given her and emitted sound waves specifically for communication between mermaids.
Ordinary people cannot hear such sound waves, but Xiao Qi could vaguely make out the general idea.
After calling out to her master, Wanwan obediently stayed where she was, waiting for her to appear. While waiting, she looked at Xiao Qi with bright eyes and said proudly, "Wanwan is showing Brother Xiao her master! Wanwan's master is very powerful!"
Before she finished speaking, a small mound of water rose from the calm sea. It was unclear what it was in the darkness, but Wanwan excitedly shouted, "Master! Master! Wanwan is here!"
As expected, the water surged towards the two of them. Xiao Qi's eyesight wasn't as good as Wanwan's, and he could only vaguely make out a human figure. The waves under the moonlight were even more unrestrained. Before Xiao Qi could clearly see the outline of Wanwan's master, she had already arrived not far from the two of them.
The person under the moon wore a blue robe, with a light blue gauze over it, which floated gently with the sea breeze, like a fairy descending from the moon.
She possessed an outstanding temperament, with exquisite features, curly hair, and a seashell adorning her forehead, making her seem otherworldly.
"Look, this is Wanwan's master! Wanwan's master's name is Lan Xuerong! Isn't it a beautiful name! Master, this is Brother Xiao Qi. Brother Xiao is a very kind person and always takes care of me!"
Wanwan excitedly took Lan Xuerong's hand, and Lan Xuerong also reached out to stroke Wanwan's head. After listening to her introduction, she looked up at the little figure under the moon.
Dressed entirely in black, Xiao Qi was almost completely hidden in the darkness, which he was happy to do. When he met Lan Xuerong's gaze, he showed neither joy nor sorrow, a look that no ordinary child would have.
Lan Xuerong became interested, feeling that his features were extremely familiar. After searching her memory, she found an old friend.
"Your name is Xiao Qi? I know your mother."
A compassionate love shone in Lan Xuerong's eyes, a blue hue that seemed to tug at the heartstrings under the gentle moonlight. Her eyes held a tenderness unique to speaking to a child. "Your mother and I are old acquaintances. Your mother's name is Fang Qingyue. Her birthday is every Mid-Autumn Festival, and she loves those mooncakes the most..."
Lan Xuerong smiled, but perhaps because of the cool moonlight, her smile carried a hint of coldness.
Xiao Qi frowned. He himself knew very little about his mother, yet she could describe her in great detail.
Moreover, he had lived in anonymity for a long time, and very few people knew his parents' names.
How could Lan Xuerong possibly know?
"You're right, my mother's name is indeed Fang Qingyue."
After all, she was Wanwan's master, so Xiao Qi replied to her respectfully, feeling a little curious but not resistant.
"Oh dear, Master, Master." Wanwan grabbed Lan Xuerong's arm and shook it, jumping up and down anxiously. "Don't just talk to Brother Xiao, talk to Wanwan too. Wanwan called Master tonight because she has something to say."
“Okay.” Lan Xuerong never had a temper with Wanwan. She bent down and got closer to Wanwan. Wanwan immediately stood on tiptoe and whispered something in her ear, asking her to make her Xiao-gege’s troubles disappear.
Lan Xuerong covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
“Alright, Master has always been very accommodating to Wanwan’s requests. Wanwan, please give me the mermaid pearl first.”
Upon hearing this, Wanwan quickly and deftly rummaged through her small purse and poured the mermaid pearl into Lan Xuerong's hand.
Suddenly, a blue light appeared at Lan Xuerong's fingertip and touched the mermaid pearl.
Then came a blinding white light, and Wanwan was sucked into that tiny mermaid pearl!
"Wanwan!" Xiao Qi was shocked. He was about to grab Lan Xuerong and ask her questions when he saw her plunge into the sea. He didn't even catch a ripple.
Helpless, Xiao Qi had no choice but to return to face the glowing mermaid pearl still floating in mid-air.
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