"Let me formally introduce you to the genius exorcist of our Ghost Train Corps—’Master Maimai’." Ke Qirui’s voice echoed in the silent carriage, reaching the ears of the four from Lake Hunting.

As such, they all turned their eyes towards the shortest girl in the hoodie within the carriage.

Su Zimai was taken aback, her face turning completely red, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed all at once.

She was already in a bad mood, and she never expected the leader would introduce her like that in front of the four exorcists recognized as the world’s strongest, akin to praising a third-level chess player in front of a world champion.

If she was considered a genius, then what were these four standing in front of her? It was utterly humiliating; thinking of this, Su Zimai looked up, staring straight at Ke Qirui, with silent resentment and annoyance in her eyes.

"Is there something on your mind, Master Maimai?" Ke Qirui took a puff of his cigarette, put it down, and asked with a smile, "Next time, you can introduce yourself. Our Maimai always opens up only in front of her people."

She actually hoped Su Zimai could change her mood, not always immerse in the grief of losing family, for day after day, it made her entirely absent-minded.

In this respect, Ke Qirui did quite well.

At this moment, Su Zimai wished she could lock Ke Qirui in the magic wardrobe immediately, then send it outside of the carriage, and let her spend her days with the giant bee with three pairs of wings.

Of course, whether it would be possible is another matter. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Leader, we’ll settle this later," Su Zimai muttered, annoyed.

"Why later?" Ke Qirui asked quietly.

"Once I see Grandpa, I’ll tell on you," Su Zimai said, "I’ll say his precious daughter bullied me, and see whose side he takes."

"Oh my, our Maimai has found a backing, huh?" Ke Qirui laughed, "But I actually haven’t been in much contact with my foster father for a while. When he occasionally contacts me, it’s also about you. My relationship with him is quite strained."

She thought, "Hmm... should I say I’m too rebellious, or he’s too rigid? Probably both, I guess?"

"So Su Wei Grandpa doesn’t get along with his two daughters." Su Zimai was taken aback, "He doesn’t get along with my mom or you either."

"His personality is just not suitable to be a father. Loving peace but fearing loneliness; he’s terrifyingly contradictory," Ke Qirui said, "He even clings too tightly to his own set of rules, stubborn and intractable; anyone around him for long would find it annoying."

"You speak about your foster father like that?" Su Zimai glanced at her disdainfully.

"Why not?" Ke Qirui said calmly, "But he’s quite a good grandfather, so he doesn’t need to appear in front of you every day, yet can secretly care for you and plan your future. Where else would you find such a good grandfather in the world?"

"Stop it, I haven’t even met him," Su Zimai frowned a bit.

"No way around it; that’s just how he is." Ke Qirui smiled.

By then, Lin Xingshi had already moved his gaze away from the window. She tilted her head curiously, watching Su Zimai and Ke Qirui’s conversation.

Su Zimai was momentarily at a loss, unsure of how to react.

"I’ve already met Xiaomai, together with Nine Crows," Zhuge Hui said casually, waving a folding fan, "Back when we were dining in Li Jing, wasn’t her brother there too? What was his name again... Gu Wenyu?"

Su Zimai was stunned.

She bowed her head in silence for a moment, then turned to look at Zhuge Hui, whose face was smiling, as picturesque as his eyes gleamed with the clarity of a blade.

Lin Xingshi then raised an eyebrow, quickly reaching out to wrap an arm around Zhuge Hui’s shoulder.

"What’s up? Did I say something wrong?" Zhuge Hui asked.

Lin Xingshi whispered in his ear, "Her brother just passed away, don’t bring it up."

Zhuge Hui was taken aback, then glanced at Su Zimai, lifting his fan to cover his face, "That thing I just said? No way, it’s only been a month, and he’s gone?"

"Yeah." Lin Xingshi nodded, "Old Crow went to his funeral yesterday. It’s a complicated situation. If you’re interested, you can ask him about it later."

"Ah, this is so awkward..." Zhuge Hui tapped his head with his fan, looking at Su Zimai apologetically. She was expressionless, just quietly watching him.

At that moment, Lin Xingshi spoke, politely curling her lips into a smile at her, "Hello, ’Genius Exorcist Master Maimai,’ right?"

"Don’t call me that, I’m Su Zimai." Su Zimai said calmly.

"I’m Lin Xingshi, the current captain of Lake Hunting." Lin Xingshi said, crossing her arms, "We probably met once at Lin Zhengquan’s funeral?"

"Yes, I’ve seen you once."

As Su Zimai spoke, she cautiously and suspiciously sized up the thick-browed and big-eyed teenager.

She imagined it a bit in her mind; although Lin Xingshi’s features were somewhat androgynous, she would definitely look beautiful with long hair.

However, she deliberately dressed herself in a masculine style, blending indistinguishably, not only drawing her eyebrows but also cutting her hair short like a guy, except for that strikingly noticeable braid that didn’t match her hair color.

Su Zimai had heard from the leader that Lin Xingshi’s dressing style was because the Lin family stipulated that every chosen Lake Hunting leader could only be male, a rule as unchanging as time.