Chapter Sixteen: Senior Brother Returns

"Mm, I won't bully you," Zhongli Yu paused, "but that's impossible." With that, he bent down and kissed her, not letting go until her cheeks were flushed red again. Reluctantly, he finally released her. "I just can't help but bully you. What am I to do?" His voice was low and hoarse, impossibly alluring.

"You rogue." Zhan Yan punched him, but there was little strength behind it. Her whole body was soft as she hung onto him.

It took a long while for the two of them to recover from their earlier passion. Zhan Yan was still cradled in his arms.

"Our senior brothers have been away for two years. They should be coming back soon," Zhan Yan said, unable to hide the anticipation in her eyes.

"Oh? Do you miss them so much?" he asked in a deep voice, a hint of jealousy in his tone.

"Mm, I do." She nodded, not realizing there was anything wrong with missing her senior brothers.

Zhongli Yu's face darkened as he sulked, saying nothing.

Noticing his silence, Zhan Yan was puzzled. What was wrong with this man? Why had he suddenly stopped talking? She looked up at him and saw his lips pressed together in displeasure. Confused, she couldn't understand why he was upset for no reason. Clearly, this man had a bad temper, she thought to herself.

Seeing her bewildered expression, Zhongli Yu smiled bitterly in resignation. It seemed he cared for this woman far more than he realized; even the mention of another man made him uncomfortable.

"Miss, Young Master Qinghan and Young Master Qingyang have returned and are heading to the main residence," Qingyun's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Oh? Speak of the devil, and he appears. There really are some people you just can't mention," Zhan Yan laughed lightly.

"Who is this 'Cao Cao'?" The man seemed to have caught another male name and couldn't help but ask.

"He's a remarkable figure," Zhan Yan replied with amusement. People of this era wouldn't know who Cao Cao was.

"How remarkable?" He seemed dissatisfied, still not having recovered from his earlier jealousy—and now even more so. She really did know a lot of men.

"He was..." Zhan Yan started to explain, then realized this wasn't the time for such a discussion. "Our senior brothers are back. Let's go out and see them." She grabbed his hand and headed outside, her steps light and her mood bright.

Seeing her take his hand so naturally, Zhongli Yu couldn't help but grin broadly. All his earlier jealousy vanished without a trace.

As soon as they stepped out the door, they saw two young and handsome gentlemen approaching. One appeared to be about twenty-one or twenty-two, mature and steady, his lips slightly pursed, giving him a serious air—this was Gu Qinghan. The other was perhaps only in his teens, the corners of his mouth lifted in a gentle smile, his eyes seductive yet friendly—this was Gu Qingyang.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, you're back!" Zhan Yan ran over and cheerfully tugged at their sleeves. She called them brothers, saying in her own words that, since she didn't have brothers in her previous life, she had to claim two in this one to make up for it—a thought she kept to herself, content now that her goal was achieved.

Seeing her, the lines on Gu Qinghan's face softened as he smiled and patted her head, the picture of a caring elder brother. Gu Qingyang picked her up, spun her around a few times and cried out joyfully, "Little Sister, you’ve grown even more beautiful after two years!" When he put her down, he didn't forget to give her a thorough once-over, about to lavish more praise when a man pulled Zhan Yan into his arms.

"And who are you? Where did you pop up from?" Gu Qingyang finally noticed Zhongli Yu.

"I am her future husband," Zhongli Yu answered before Zhan Yan could speak.

"What? Little Sister, when did you get married? How come I didn’t know?" The news was so shocking that Gu Qingyang didn't even process the word "future."

"Ha, not married yet," Zhan Yan coughed awkwardly, inwardly vowing never to admit she’d sold herself off ten years ago.

"If you’re not married, how are you her husband? Give me back my little sister!" Gu Qingyang wailed like a child whose candy had been snatched away.

"Enough. What kind of behavior is this, making such a fuss?" A stern voice interrupted—it was Gu Qinghan, obviously far more composed than his younger brother.

"I am Gu Qinghan. May I ask your name, sir?" Gu Qinghan addressed Zhongli Yu, his expression impassive.

"Zhongli Yu," he replied evenly, giving no title before his name.

"So you are Prince Chun. I have long heard of you," Gu Qinghan said flatly.

"I don’t care what prince you are, you can’t take my little sister," Gu Qingyang continued, his tone full of dissatisfaction.

"Gu Qingyang, you may go inside now," Gu Qinghan said, frowning and lowering his voice.

"I have other matters to attend to today. I'll take my leave," Zhongli Yu said coolly. Understanding the siblings would want to talk, he wisely excused himself. Gu Qinghan nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"Yan’er, I’ll come see you another day," Zhongli Yu said gently to Zhan Yan, then disappeared from Wuyou Valley.

Gu Qingyang stared, wide-eyed. What kind of lightness skill was that? He couldn't even tell which direction the man had left.

Zhan Yan's lips twitched. Show-off! He never used such skills when leaving before. But seeing Gu Qingyang's look of awe, she finally understood and couldn't help but find it amusing.