By the time he arrived at the Pei residence, it was already past one in the afternoon. Looking at the dilapidated old neighborhood, Lin Xiao sighed with emotion.

After all, Pei Donglai was the War God of the Western Region. He had performed countless meritorious services for the country. If he had wanted to, there would have been no need for him to live in such a shabby place. Yet he chose to reside here, which spoke volumes about his noble character.

Standing at the door, he knocked. Soon, the door was opened by a girl of about eighteen or nineteen.

The moment Lin Xiao saw her, he felt as if he'd been frozen in place. A line of poetry immediately surfaced in his mind: "Eyebrows like verdant hills, eyes like autumn waves."

Yesterday, at the security team office, someone had mentioned that Pei Donglai's sister was very beautiful and was also the famous campus belle of Jinling University. Lin Xiao had assumed it was just a joke. But now, seeing her breathtaking beauty with his own eyes, he realized it was all true.

Although this girl is a bit less stunning than Su Qingning, the pure aura she exudes is something Su Qingning doesn't possess. That's not to say Su Qingning isn't pure; she just has her own kind of splendor. For example, the captivating charm in Su Qingning's every glance and smile is something this girl can't match.

"Who are you looking for?" she asked, her voice as crisp and clear as a warbler's song in a valley.

Lin Xiao smiled. "Oh, my name is Lin Xiao!"

The girl's beautiful eyes lit up, and a shy blush instantly colored her charming face. "Oh, hello! Please, come in. My brother is cooking!" she said, seeming a bit flustered.

"Sure!" Lin Xiao replied with a smile as he entered the apartment.

The place wasn't large, only about fifty square meters, and lacked even a single decent piece of furniture. It was practically bare-walled. However, it was very clean, and the exquisitely beautiful lotus flower blooming in the living room was a delightful sight.

Pei Donglai, who was busy in the kitchen, heard the voices and quickly came out. Seeing that it was Lin Xiao, he offered a rare smile. "Captain, you're here!"

Lin Xiao nodded. "Don't make too many dishes!"

"Understood, understood! Yanzi, pour the Captain a glass of water. I'll be done in a minute!" Pei Donglai instructed.

The young woman obediently acknowledged him.

"Is your name Pei Yanzi?" Lin Xiao asked.

The girl nodded shyly.

Lin Xiao laughed. "That's a nice name. Don't worry about the water; I'll be drinking with your brother in a bit!"

However, Pei Yanzi seemed not to have heard him and deftly poured him a glass of water anyway. Lin Xiao had no choice but to reach out and take it. As his fingers accidentally brushed against hers, her charming face instantly turned as red as an apple. The glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor with a crash.

Pei Yanzi panicked, immediately crouching down and scrambling to clean up the mess. Lin Xiao quickly bent down to help, and their heads accidentally bumped into each other.

Pei Yanzi's lovely face grew an even deeper shade of red. "Mr... Mr. Lin, I-I can get it!"

"I'd better do it. Your skin is so delicate, and this glass is sharp. It would be terrible if you got cut!"

These words sent Pei Yanzi's heart racing. Plenty of people had shown concern for her before, but she had never felt anything unusual. How could a single sentence from Lin Xiao send such ripples through her heart?

"It's... it's fine. My skin isn't that delicate. I should do it. You're our guest; we can't have you doing this!" Pei Yanzi said quickly, her voice trembling, though whether from nervousness or something else, she couldn't tell.

Lin Xiao smiled. "Then let's clean it up together. After all, I'm partly to blame!"

Without another word, Lin Xiao began picking up the pieces. He was incredibly fast. Before Pei Yanzi had barely even started, Lin Xiao had already cleared away most of the glass shards.

Just as they finished, Pei Donglai emerged from the kitchen carrying plates of food. It was a sumptuous spread, with eight or nine dishes in total. Lin Xiao glanced at them and saw they were all hearty, substantial dishes of fish and meat. Clearly, Pei Donglai had poured all his sincerity into this meal.

"I have to ask, Pei Donglai, are you trying to feed a pig?"

Pei Donglai laughed awkwardly. "Captain, that's not what I meant. I just wanted to treat you to a good meal to properly thank you!"

Lin Xiao waved his hand dismissively. "Stop right there. If you say another word of that meaningless crap, I'm leaving now."

Pei Donglai immediately fell silent.

The dining table wasn't big, and it was a bit cramped with the three of them sitting together.

"Captain, to you," Pei Donglai said, raising his glass. He had wanted to say a few more words of thanks, but remembering what Lin Xiao had said, he decided against it.

Lin Xiao didn't refuse. After clinking glasses with Pei Donglai, they both drained their cups.

Lin Xiao had just set his glass down when Pei Yanzi diligently refilled it. She then raised her own glass. "Mr. Lin, I'd also like to toast you. Thank you for saving my brother!"

Looking at the glass in her hand, Lin Xiao asked, "Yanzi, do you drink alcohol?"

Pei Yanzi shook her head shyly.

"Then just have a soft drink; you shouldn't be drinking alcohol!"

"No, I must offer you this toast!" Pei Yanzi insisted stubbornly.

Well, since the girl insisted on drinking, Lin Xiao didn't try to persuade her further. He lightly clinked his glass against hers and drained it in one go.

Pei Yanzi also tipped the glass back. The next second, her brows furrowed tightly, her beautiful face contorted in a pained expression. A fit of violent coughing followed.

Pei Donglai quickly patted her on the back. "Drink slower," he said softly.

Pei Yanzi stuck out the tip of her pink tongue. "I'm fine, brother!"

Despite her words, her fair face was already flushed a deep crimson, making her look as delicate and ravishing as the lotus blooming in the living room.

Watching her, Lin Xiao couldn't help but think to himself, "She's truly beautiful!"

After a few more drinks, the sound of someone kicking the door suddenly echoed through the apartment. The loud noise startled Pei Yanzi, and her face turned deathly pale. It seemed this wasn't the first time she had experienced something like this.

Pei Donglai, however, rose with a grim expression and walked to the door. Just as it opened, a sharp-featured woman with sunken cheeks swaggered in, followed by a young man around Lin Xiao's age.

Upon seeing these two, Pei Yanzi's face grew even paler, and fear crept into her captivating eyes.

"Well, look at this nice meal! But what's with the stinking beggar? Pei Donglai, don't tell me you've fallen so low that you're now hanging out with beggars!" the sharp-featured woman mocked.

A murderous glint flashed in Pei Donglai's eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Pei Yanzi asked in a trembling voice, "Second Aunt, why... why are you here?"

The woman sneered. "I'm here to arrange your marriage, of course!"

At these words, Pei Yanzi's fear intensified, so much so that her entire body began to tremble.

"Second Aunt, my sister will never marry that idiot!" Pei Donglai stated coldly, his anger palpable.

The sharp-featured woman scoffed. "Hmph, she won't marry him? Fine. Then get out of this apartment!"

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