novelraw Chapter 417: You Know I Don’t Want to Answer, Yet You Ask
Chapter 417: You Know I Don’t Want to Answer, Yet You Ask
Shui Qiu Bai stood at a precise distance from Huo Shao Yan—not too far, not too close—wearing his usual stern expression.
Huo Shao Yan, who harbored an instinctive fear of his cousin, felt his legs tremble uncontrollably at the sight of him. With a grin more pitiful than a cry, he stammered, “Cousin…”
Shui Qiu Bai swept him a cold glance.
“Fairy Liu Yun, while my cousin may be unworthy, his mind is intact. Since you’ve graced the Water Realm with your presence, it’s only proper that I fulfill my duties as host.”
Surprisingly, Shui Qiu Bai hadn’t come to reprimand Huo Shao Yan but instead extended a polite invitation.
Yu Zhao gave a slight nod. “Since Young Master Shui insists, I shall oblige.”
Whether deliberate or not, none of them mentioned Feng Jiu Si.
Once outside, Yu Zhao walked in the center while Huo Shao Yan and Shui Qiu Bai flanked her on either side.
In the Water Realm, Shui Qiu Bai’s reputation preceded him, and the trio’s striking appearances and refined demeanors naturally drew attention as they strolled through the streets.
Huo Shao Yan basked in the crowd’s interest, clasping his hands behind his head as he swaggered along. “Look at this! The great Young Master Huo is always in the spotlight.”Yu Zhao delivered a sharp retort, “Funny, most people seem to be talking about me and Young Master Shui. Doesn’t seem like you’re much of a topic.”
Huo Shao Yan was momentarily stumped before mumbling, “It’s the same thing.”
Shui Qiu Bai, reserved by nature, lacked the patience and detail of Feng Jiu Si when playing the guide. However, his generosity was unparalleled. If Yu Zhao so much as lingered on an item, he would promptly purchase it, leaving both her and Huo Shao Yan unable to stop him.
Eventually, Yu Zhao concocted an excuse to end the outing prematurely.
Not long after returning to her room, Shui Qiu Bai sent over all the items he had bought.
Yu Zhao refused to accept them.
The man delivering the items immediately knelt and kowtowed, his forehead thudding loudly against the floor.
Unable to bear it, Yu Zhao chose to shut the door instead.
Out of sight, out of mind.
…
The following morning, the man and his goods were nowhere to be seen when Yu Zhao stepped out of her room.
Feng Jiu Si was standing under the corridor. The sunlight illuminated his features, casting a soft glow over his refined face.
Hearing her footsteps, he looked up. His graceful and handsome countenance softened like a gentle spring breeze.
Yu Zhao quietly observed him for a long moment before a faint smile appeared on her lips.
“Kept you waiting.”
Feng Jiu Si’s throat released a barely audible chuckle. “It is my honor.”
…
The Shui family’s auction was divided into two sessions. The first featured items from the Southern Region, which, though pricey, were not rare. The second session was the highlight.
Normally, Feng Jiu Si, Huo Shao Yan, and their companions only attended the second session. This time, however, they had arrived early to accommodate Yu Zhao’s schedule.
The Feng family had a private booth at the Shui auction. As soon as Yu Zhao and Feng Jiu Si arrived, they were escorted to an exclusive room.
From this vantage point, every corner of the auction hall was visible.
They had barely settled in when the door was flung open. Tu Xiao stormed in, his aura brimming with indignation.
“Feng Jiu Si, you’ve got some nerve!”
Feng Jiu Si lazily glanced at him but said nothing.
Undeterred, Tu Xiao plopped down across from him without a hint of politeness.
Since Tu Xiao had already barged in, Feng Jiu Si couldn’t very well throw him out. Instead, he opted to ignore his presence entirely, focusing solely on his conversation with Yu Zhao.
Tu Xiao, of course, wasn’t one to be overlooked. The moment Feng Jiu Si finished a sentence, Tu Xiao would cut in, making his presence impossible to ignore.
After a few rounds, even Feng Jiu Si’s temper began to fray. But before he could respond, two more uninvited guests burst in: Huo Shao Yan and Shui Qiu Bai.
“What a lively gathering! Count me in!” Huo Shao Yan exclaimed, helping himself to a seat beside Feng Jiu Si and grabbing a plate of snacks off the table.
Shui Qiu Bai merely nodded at the group with his usual indifference before finding an empty seat.
Though the booth was spacious enough to accommodate the newcomers, Feng Jiu Si’s expression betrayed his growing displeasure. Yet, for Yu Zhao’s sake, he maintained his composure.
Huo Shao Yan, however, was far less restrained. He alternated between pestering Yu Zhao about why she had rejected Shui Qiu Bai’s gifts and interrogating Shui Qiu Bai about the auction’s star items, leaving no room for peace.
Amid his ramblings, the first session of the auction officially began.
Yu Zhao compared the auction to those in her own world and found the procedures and bidding methods remarkably similar. It didn’t take her long to grasp the rules, after which she devoted her attention to the items being sold.
“Next is item number eighteen: the Star Domain Map, which includes coordinates for eighty percent of the Southern Region’s small worlds and a portion of the Northern Region’s small worlds. Starting bid: two thousand superior-grade spirit stones.”
At the mention of the Star Domain Map, Yu Zhao straightened slightly in her seat. After listening to its description, a brief disappointment flickered across her face. Then her gaze grew resolute.
She was determined to win this map.
“Three thousand superior-grade spirit stones.”
Her voice, amplified through the sound system, resounded throughout the hall, drawing all eyes to the booth above. The crowd exchanged glances, their tacit understanding clear—they would not compete.
Inside the booth, everyone stared at Yu Zhao, their expressions betraying faint unease.
Huo Shao Yan blurted out, “What do you need a Star Domain Map for?”
“To collect it,” Yu Zhao replied nonchalantly.
Her answer was half-hearted, a transparent excuse anyone could see through.
Huo Shao Yan huffed. “If you don’t want to say, just don’t. No need to lie!”
“You know I don’t want to answer, yet you ask?”
Huo Shao Yan fell silent, clearly stumped.
The others, sensing his defeat, wisely kept quiet.
“Thud, thud, thud!”
“Congratulations to the esteemed guest in Booth One for winning item number eighteen!”
While they had been talking, the auctioneer announced the result.
Yu Zhao exhaled softly, relief washing over her.
Her lips curved into a subtle smile as she observed the varied expressions around her.
The auction proceeded smoothly after that. Yu Zhao refrained from bidding again, giving the impression that her earlier enthusiasm had been nothing more than a whim.
…
Five days later, the first session of the auction concluded.
Under the watchful gazes of Feng Jiu Si and the others, Yu Zhao paid for the Star Domain Map and received it from the auction staff.
As they exited the venue, they encountered Jin Yuan and her companions in the corridor.
The moment Jin Yuan saw Yu Zhao, her expression soured, disdain written plainly across her face.
“Jin Yuan, Fairy Liu Yun is my fiancée. You’d best show some respect,” Feng Jiu Si stepped forward, shielding Yu Zhao from Jin Yuan’s hostile gaze with a cold warning.
Though silent, Tu Xiao and the others subtly shifted their positions, making it clear whose side they were on.
Jin Yuan’s gaze swept over the group before she let out a derisive laugh. “I thought you were different from the rest. Seems I was wrong. Let’s see how long this lasts. Let’s go!”
She shoved past Feng Jiu Si, brushing against Yu Zhao’s shoulder as she stormed off, her face an impassive mask.
Her companions, lacking her confidence, muttered awkward apologies before hurrying after her.
Yu Zhao watched Jin Yuan’s retreating figure, silently clenching her fists.