C9 He Was Not like the Other Rich Young Masters

The man had cold, aloof eyes and a face so handsome it seemed sculpted, making it hard for anyone to look away. His hair was tied back with a jade crown, and though he appeared to be around 23, his simple white robe couldn't hide his imposing presence, highlighting his tall, commanding stature.

Who was this man? Was he just a passerby or someone from this village? How could such a refined man be in this remote, impoverished place? Yet, from the stern look on his face, he didn't seem like the typical wealthy young man. Could he be an assassin, living in seclusion around here?

Thinking of TV shows where assassins usually don't harm the innocent, Luo Lingyan felt a surge of courage. "Hello," she greeted him with a smile, noticing the string of stone frogs tied around his calf. "Are you catching stone frogs to sell, or are they for your own meal? I bet you're keeping them for yourself, right?"

When the man ignored her, Luo Lingyan muttered to herself but continued gathering dendrobe. As she reached for a clump near a rock crevice, the man reached past her hand. After a frog's croak, he pulled a stone frog from the crevice.

"Wow, you're amazing! Can you teach me? I want to catch some too..." she said, noticing his cold stare again. Unconsciously, she pouted slightly before focusing back on picking dendrobe. It wasn't entirely Mo Xuxiao's fault for being annoyed; before Luo Lingyan arrived, he rarely missed, but he had just failed twice.

After gathering the dendrobe, Lingyan tried to mimic the man's patience in searching for stone frogs. As luck would have it, she spotted one nestled in a crevice. "There's one here..."

Remembering that stone frogs are quick to flee at any sound, she held her breath and lunged forward. But before she could touch it, the frog leaped away to another spot.

"Hey, can you teach me? Please?" Lingyan asked, swallowing her pride as she approached the man.

"Figure it out yourself," Xuxiao replied curtly.

"Fine, if you won't teach me, it's no big deal. It's all about being quick and sharp-eyed, right? Practice makes perfect," she muttered, though she was hoping for some secret tips.

He hadn't even held her accountable yet, and she was already blaming him? Her dismissive attitude caught Xuxiao's attention, and he scrutinized her closely.

She had a nearly perfect face, with captivating eyes that were both expressive and alluring. Though her clothes were worn, her graceful demeanor suggested she wasn't just a refugee hiding out on his island under the guise of visiting relatives. Instead, she seemed more like a misplaced phoenix among the refugees.

Moreover, she didn't seem to recognize him, showing no signs of the usual deference.

He had strictly forbidden outsiders from entering the island, yet someone still dared to take the risk. Must have a death wish.

Did she just arrive on Xuxiao Island? Or was she scheming to get close to him?

“Do you think I’m a promising student and want to take me under your wing? I know everything from astronomy to geography, unmatched in the world. Don’t believe me? Try teaching me,” Luo Lingyan joked, noticing his gaze had softened from its earlier sternness.

After all, she was eager to try the local delicacy.

“Your bragging skills are truly unmatched,” Mo Xuxiao replied with a slight smirk. This girl was quite amusing, but could her slight frame really keep the bed warm?

“Who’s bragging? I’m just stating facts,” she retorted, noticing his demeanor turning cold again. Knowing the Drunken Fish Grass needed at least another fifteen minutes to work, she began weaving some vines by the stream.

“Make another sound, and I’ll chase you off.”

“Yeah, right. The water and birds are noisy too. Why don’t you chase them off?” Luo Lingyan ignored his sour expression, sat on a rock by the stream, and started singing mischievously while weaving her basket.