The communication became much easier once Lei Sanshao's purpose for the trip was clarified as not being about the white jade dice in her hand.
After briefing Lei Sanshao on her itinerary for the next three days, he cautioned Xia Qingtian to avoid trouble, but didn't delve into how she managed to offend both the Tang and Miao families simultaneously.
For Lei Sanshao, it was almost impossible for anyone to anger these two major families to the point of requiring pursuit and evasion, unless that person was Xia Qingtian.
Then, everything made sense.
This girl was a walking disaster magnet!
After escorting Lei Sanshao out of the Yue family residence, Xia Qingtian let out a sigh of relief, her gaze darkening slightly.
Even if Lei Sanshao didn't know about the treasure now, it was inevitable that he would find out later.
It was only a matter of time.
If it was a secret she knew, it was only a matter of time before others did too.
"Is this also your man?" Er Ya's voice interrupted Xia Qingtian's thoughts. She smirked, her lips curling into a mischievous grin, and said, "Not bad. The one from yesterday had a nice butt, and this one has a good waist."
"You!" Xia Qingtian frowned, her brows knitted together. "Did I teach you nothing last night? Try that again, and I'll pinch your face."
"Nya nya nya~" Er Ya stuck out her tongue and made a face before darting away.
Watching Er Ya's retreating back, Xia Qingtian shook her head helplessly and headed straight for Er Ya's room.
As soon as she entered, Xia Qingtian heard Er Ya complaining to Xia Shang.
"She causes trouble herself, and then she wants to pinch my face. Xia Shang, you have to protect me~" Er Ya cupped her cheeks, leaning her head on Xia Shang's shoulder in a clingy manner.
"Qingtian wouldn't do that," Xia Shang quickly said, waving his hands. "Qingtian is very reasonable."
"I don't care! You have to protect me!" Er Ya assertively pulled Xia Shang's arm, making him wrap it around her shoulders. Then, Er Ya hugged Xia Shang's waist, shrinking herself into him like a koala.
Xia Shang, unable to do anything about Er Ya, could only sigh in exasperation. His already gloomy face became even more formidable.
Seeing how clingy Er Ya was with Xia Shang, Xia Qingtian found it hard to imagine the despair that would cloud Er Ya's beautiful, clear eyes if she were to learn that Xia Shang should rightfully have the surname Miao, and belonged to the Miao family she despised the most.
Thinking of this, Xia Qingtian's temples throbbed with discomfort.
"For now... let's not tell her yet..." Xia Qingtian sighed softly and said, "Little Uncle, let's go back to your room for a bit. I have something to discuss with you."
"Roar~ Are you going to lay your hands on my Xia Shang again?" Er Ya puffed out her cheeks, looking at Xia Qingtian. She tightened her grip around Xia Shang's waist. "No way! Xia Shang is Er Ya's!"
"He's my little uncle," Xia Qingtian said speechlessly. "Can't your thoughts be a bit more normal?"
"You have one with a nice butt, one with a good waist, and you're missing a wild one, that's my Xia Shang!" Er Ya held up a hand, counting on her fingers. "Xia Shang, be wild for her."
"Er Ya, stop messing around." Xia Shang probably guessed that Xia Qingtian was looking for him to discuss the dice and the Miao family.
"I don't care! If you don't get wild, I won't let go!" Er Ya hugged Xia Shang tightly again, burying her face in his chest and muttering, "Xia Shang... you've changed..."
Xia Shang had no choice but to extend his right hand, forming a claw shape, and waved it a little in the air, letting out a small "Awooo~".
"Cute..." Xia Qingtian couldn't help but comment at the sight.
"Cute..." Er Ya looked up at him, dazed, then turned back and pointed at Xia Qingtian, warning her, "Xia Shang is mine! You can't have any improper thoughts just because he's so cute!"
"He's my little uncle..." Xia Qingtian's lips twitched slightly.
"Uncle... isn't that even better?" Er Ya raised an eyebrow.
"Xia Shang, I've changed my mind," Xia Qingtian said after taking a deep breath. "Go back to your room and wait for me. I'll try to fix this one's thought process first, and then I'll find you."
"Huh?" Er Ya blinked, suddenly having a bad premonition. She immediately let go and became incredibly well-behaved, saying, "Well, if you have important matters to discuss, go ahead and talk. You guys go talk~"
Xia Shang glanced at Xia Qingtian, then at Er Ya, gave Er Ya a look that said "good luck with that," and quietly left Er Ya's room.
Xia Qingtian closed the door behind her and pulled Er Ya to the bedside, launching into a lecture. "Er Ya, what did I tell you last night? Hmm? Look at my Qingyu, she's the same age as you, have you ever heard her say things like that? Why are you like this... And look at our Qingyu... Moreover, our Qingyu... Our Qingyu... Qingyu..."
Er Ya pursed her lips, watching Xia Qingtian. In her mind, only one electronic voice repeated endlessly: Save me! Save me! Save me!
This went on for two hours.
"You reflect on yourself properly!"
When Xia Qingtian left Er Ya's room, Er Ya was completely deflated.
Seeing Xia Qingtian arrive so late, Xia Shang silently sympathized with Er Ya for three seconds.
"Little Uncle, this is your dice." Xia Qingtian handed back the white jade dice she had taken from Xia Shang earlier.
Xia Shang didn't reach out to take it. Instead, he looked at the small dice in Xia Qingtian's outstretched palm with a very serious expression.
"Little Uncle?" Seeing that Xia Shang wasn't taking it, Xia Qingtian was a little confused. "What's wrong?"
"I don't want it," Xia Shang said after a long pause. "I... I can't bear such a great responsibility."
Xia Qingtian could understand Xia Shang's thoughts. This dice was related to the entire Miao family, involved the Lu family, who had been wiped out, and that so-called treasure.
Even Xia Qingtian, who had accompanied Xia Shang through this experience firsthand, found it difficult to connect these chaotic and grand events to Xia Shang.
"Little Uncle, this dice was given to you by your grandfather before he passed away." Xia Qingtian took Xia Shang's hand and placed the dice in his palm. "Even if you really don't want to bear all this, you should find a reliable Miao family member whom you believe can bear it, okay?"
Holding the smooth white jade dice, Xia Shang asked hesitantly, "Miao Tong... can he?"
Xia Qingtian's mind conjured the image of Miao Tong, who looked somewhat similar to Xia Shang and always had a smiling demeanor. She hesitated, "Miao Tong... still needs to be evaluated."
She had a feeling that Miao Tong... wasn't a bad person, but she felt that he was somewhat treacherous, and very dangerous.
"Qingtian, it's better to keep it with you for now," Xia Shang said, pushing the white jade dice back into Xia Qingtian's palm. "It's not safe with me. What if it gets lost?"
This was Miao Laotou's遺物 (yíwù -遺物), and it involved something like a treasure. Xia Shang had only held it for a short while, and he already felt a bit flustered.
"Little Uncle, wealth can move people's hearts... not to mention this is one of the three keys to the treasure." Xia Qingtian said helplessly, "Do you really have to test me like this?"
"It's just one of the three keys. Having this one is useless." Xia Shang chuckled lightly. This harmless smile on his face appeared slightly distorted and sarcastic.
"Then... what if I told you... I have the second dice... here?" Xia Qingtian pouted and said softly.
"???"