“Who are you talking about?”

Lin Xi’s expression changed in an instant; the hint of femininity on her face vanished without a trace, replaced by a stern look.

Xiao Hu paused for a moment, then said slowly, “Ming Kai—Sao Zi’s elder brother, the man who was rumored to have died—is real. I’ve seen him—he’s right here, in your home.”

Xiao Hu had considered keeping this secret. After all, the fact that Ming Kai specifically came over when Xixi was asleep meant he was trying to avoid her as well.

But after thinking it over carefully, he decided to be honest with Lin Xi. He couldn’t explain the other reasons, but sincerity and trust were things he felt absolutely essential in their relationship. So he took the initiative to bring up the subject.

Lin Xi had already stepped down from Xiao Hu’s arms and stood frozen in place for a long while before looking up at him and asking, “He… he came to see you?”

“Yeah!”

Xiao Hu nodded, his heart suddenly feeling a bit uneasy for some reason. But he didn’t regret it.

So he tentatively reached out his large hand, placing it beside Lin Xi’s small one, and gently grasped her hand. Seeing that she didn’t resist, he tightened his grip even more—so tightly that he would never let go of her.

“He… why did he come to see you? What did he say to you?”

Lin Xi asked.

Xiao Hu didn’t hide anything and answered frankly, “He’s worried you might be in danger, so he tried to trick me into leaving here and taking you with me.”

Lin Xi’s eyes were already brimming with tears.

Xiao Hu went on, “He’s also worried…”

Here he paused briefly, letting out a sigh before continuing, “He… he’s also worried I’m not good enough for you. He urged me to read more and to draw closer to your inner world.”

Xiao Hu then took Lin Xi’s other hand as well, holding both of her small hands warmly in his own palms, staring straight into Lin Xi’s tearful eyes. “Seeing is believing—this guy… he really is a very, very good person! I haven’t read much, so I can’t think of the right words to describe him, but I do know: he’s truly a very, very good person!”

Tears streamed down Lin Xi’s face. “I know!”

Then there was a long silence. The only sound was Xiao Hu briefly releasing one of his hands, raising it to Lin Xi’s face to gently wipe away the tears on her cheeks.

“Xixi, do you want to know what I said to him?”

After wiping away Lin Xi’s tears, Xiao Hu once again took both of her hands, his burning gaze fixed on her tear-streaked little face, as if waiting for her follow-up question.

Sure enough.

After two choked sobs, Lin Xi asked, “So… what did you say?”

“I told him I’m not going anywhere—I’m staying right here, by your side. Since you can’t let go of him and Sao Zi, you’re bound to stay here to help them, the brother and sister, avenge their grudges. So I’ll stay too, helping you, Xixi, to avenge them and settle this score once and for all!”

Xiao Hu explained everything in detail, then, under Lin Xi’s moved yet surprised gaze, added with a smile, “That’s my answer to whether I should leave here with you. So Xixi, don’t worry that I’ll be fickle or just run away from all this. Do whatever you want—though I can’t promise my brain is as sharp as yours, Feng Ge’s, or Sao Zi’s, and I certainly wouldn’t dare compare myself to that big brother Ming Kai, I can guarantee that from now on, whatever you ask me to do, I’ll definitely get it done! If I fail, I’ll bring my head to see you!”

“I understand!”

End of Chapter 156: Counterattack 82