Chapter 36: Keep It Up, Brother-in-Law 13

Xining frowned slightly. "Didn't I tell you to go and help?"

Molly curtsied slightly and bowed. "Miss Elsa said it wasn't necessary."

Well, great. Despite all her precautions, the woman had still managed to get herself kicked out!

Having Molly lead the way, Xining followed, holding up the hem of her long, floor-sweeping black magic robe. Seeing the door shut, she frowned. What kind of person acts like that? What was she trying to hide behind closed doors?

She reached out and knocked on the door, politely and gently.

There was no movement from inside, so she continued knocking, unhurried and steady: "Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock."

Yeyu stood to the side, clutching his staff and leaning against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched her.

She looked like a diligent woodpecker searching for a pest-ridden tree, tapping away at the wood incessantly. Even without a reply, she remained undeterred, continuing her rhythmic knocking. Even if the door remained closed, such persistent knocking would surely kill any man's interest.

After a full two minutes, the door finally swung open. Elsa stood in the doorway, brimming with irritation, her voice significantly lower. "What is it?"

Ignoring the anger and the eye-rolling, Xining acted as if she saw nothing, putting on an innocent, kind, and sweet persona. "I just came to see if there was anything I could help with."

"No!" Elsa tried to slam the door shut, but Slan, standing behind her, caught it.

"Since you are settled, I shall take my leave." Slan moved as if fleeing a plague; despite his attempts to maintain his composure, his pace quickened.

Elsa’s eyes burned with fury, and this time, she didn't bother keeping up the fake smile.

Xining remained unruffled. She offered Elsa a small curtsy before chasing after Slan. By this time, Yeyu had vanished, and Molly was nowhere to be seen—no doubt she had slipped away to avoid the awkwardness. Xining couldn't care less.

Slan walked straight to the small lounge area where drinks were kept, poured a glass of water, and drained it in one gulp.

Seeing Slan like this, Elsa must have really come on to him!

The thought made Xining burn with indignation. Coming on to him the moment she arrived? She was being far too desperate. Perhaps she was spurred on by the Maria situation—this supporting character, with her alchemist and mage lineage and a crumbling family to revitalize, was desperate to cement the relationship. She wanted to create a *fait accompli*, knowing that with Slan’s virtuous, honorable character, he would feel obligated to take responsibility.

Slan finished the entire glass of cold water, and his boiling blood finally began to settle. The empty glass in his hand was taken away by a slender hand and set aside.

Su Yun stood before him, watching him quietly with her harmless, blue eyes.

After what had just happened, Slan felt a sense of betrayal toward Maria. Facing Maria’s sister, he felt too ashamed to meet her gaze.

"Brother-in-law, is that Elsa a dog or something? Why did she gnaw on your neck like that?"

His neck? Slan hurried to turn and look in the mirror. Sure enough, there was a rose-colored mark on his neck; against his pale skin, the red was particularly glaring.

"This..." Slan was embarrassed and found it hard to explain.

"It’s not good for people to see this. Is there any magic to remove it?" Xining remained calm and thoughtful.

Slan thought for a moment, then used his hand, adorned with a magic ring, to brush over the mark. The mark didn't disappear, but he used a bit of illusion magic to conceal it.

Those blue eyes continued to look at him, watery and wide. "Are there any others on your body?"

Uh… Slan blushed.

"If there are, get rid of them quickly, or you’ll be laughed at." After offering her consideration, Xining sighed softly and shook her head. "Miss Elsa is certainly open-minded—a real 'heroine' among women. My sister is much more reserved; she would rather fight than do something like that."

A wife should be virtuous. How could such a gaudy, cheap woman become the wife of a great clan’s patriarch?

Slan felt that since Su Yun wasn't blaming him—her attitude was so kind and her emotions so calm—he began to worry instead. "You aren't angry with me?"

Xining gave a contemptuous smile. "If a mad dog lunges to bite you, why blame yourself for attracting it? The mouth belongs to the mad dog. Brother-in-law, don't be so kind-hearted in the future. When dealing with mad dogs, just knock them away with a stick. If you can't bear to knock them away, just knock them unconscious. Your magic can even best my sister; can't you handle a few mad dogs?"

It was true that because of his pride, he hadn't been able to push Elsa away when she threw herself at him… Slan felt even more guilty. He lowered his head like a child who had made a mistake. "Oh, I see."

Xining almost burst out laughing. This man was more adorable and rarer than a giant panda; she couldn't let anyone else snatch him away.

If even the heroine could be dragged down from her pedestal, what was one supporting character?

Xining continued to play the role of the gentle, thoughtful younger sister-in-law, planting seeds of doubt in Slan’s mind. "Brother-in-law, don't feel guilty. We are from great clans; there are too many people eyeing our status and wealth. My sister has to fight off two or three shameless things every month!"

This was psychological guidance, meant to associate Elsa with these "shameless things."

Xining put on a look of upright integrity, as if she were radiating an aura of justice. "She even taught me that a girl shouldn't be too frivolous for the sake of her reputation. Once married, one's own reputation and dignity belong to the husband’s family as well."

Without any blame, her words only highlighted Maria’s better qualities, making Slan feel even more ashamed. He hadn't used stronger measures to refuse Elsa because he had never encountered such a shameless woman before. She had used magic to lock the door and then lunged at him—he had been completely stunned at the time.

"So, brother-in-law, that is why my sister is so fierce. I hope you can understand and bear with her. If she marries you, she will definitely love you and your children very much. Whoever dares to bully you or the children, she will drive these shameless things out, just as she would protect the family honor."

Xining patted Slan on the shoulder gently. "Keep it up, brother-in-law!"

With that, she left, leaving Slan to reflect on his own.

Once he thought it through, he would know whether to marry a lady of quality or a gaudy, cheap woman!

In the original plot, Slan could have made excuses about being busy with important matters to avoid staying over, thereby pushing Elsa away. But now, the original host was alive, the manor was still standing, and Slan and Maria met every other day—who knew if they were dueling or flirting?

Elsa must have found out, which was why she had rushed over to snatch him away.

"Hey," Yeyu appeared, still leaning against the wall with his usual lazy air, clutching his staff that was taller than he was. "You’re quite something. I didn't expect that Maria, who only has looks, would have such a sharp-witted sister."

She had originally intended to ignore him, but now that such a high-level supporting character was trying to steal the host’s brother-in-law, she needed to secure all possible effective forces.

Xining stopped and turned to face Yeyu. "I’m the same as Elsa, only Elsa’s family is more destitute, and she is more desperate to get your brother. Of course, I cannot agree with her methods."

Yeyu raised an eyebrow, his crimson lips pressed into a tight line.

Xining looked him straight in the eye. "I am willing to admit that my motives are not pure. Is she? Furthermore, my sister would never do anything low and shameless. If Slan doesn't like her, I will leave immediately."

Xining turned and headed back to her room. Yeyu didn't follow, nor did he speak.

In truth, she was actually quite low and shameless herself—encouraging Slan to tear off Maria’s clothes and get intimate was also a way of forcing a *fait accompli*. But that was something Slan was willing to do, not something Maria had forced upon him. That was her own low and shameless behavior, not Maria’s.