Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 96: A Beauty [2] (Edited)

Xiao Pei hurriedly followed as Fang Yuan strode ahead without waiting.

He gave Du Juan a hasty wave, flashing his best grin. "We’ll talk later, my lady!"

Du Juan merely offered a polite nod in return before turning and walking off with the same graceful composure.

Meanwhile, Fang Yuan and Xiao Pei made their way toward the southern wing of the Phoenix Soul Pavilion, the part of the estate housing the alchemy branch.

As they walked, Xiao Pei grew visibly tense, shuffling forward with a dry gulp.

"Shaoge..." he began, voice unusually nervous. "We’re still friends, right?"

Fang Yuan gave a light chuckle. "Of course we are. That’s exactly why I’m taking you to meet a real beauty."

Xiao Pei paled. "It’s not your au—"

But before he could finish, a new voice overlapped his.

"Brother!" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Both men instantly turned their heads.

Fang Tian and Fang Mei were walking toward them from the opposite side of the path.

Fang Tian gave a casual wave while Fang Mei offered a polite smile.

Fang Yuan grinned. "Well, look who it is."

Xiao Pei bowed with exaggerated politeness, "Young Master Tian, Lady Mei."

Fang Yuan clapped Xiao Pei on the shoulder. "Let me introduce you properly. This is Xiao Pei—the man who helped the Fang family during our financial crisis ten years ago. Without him, we might’ve already been swallowed by our enemies long ago."

Fang Tian’s brows lifted as realization dawned. "Ah! So you’re Uncle Da Pang! I’ve heard the name."

Xiao Pei’s face darkened. He turned sharply to Fang Yuan. "Uncle?! Am I really that old now?"

Fang Mei giggled behind her sleeve, trying to suppress her laughter.

Fang Yuan just chuckled and waved his hand. "Titles come with merit, Brother Xiao."

Then, his gaze fell on Fang Tian again, expression softening. "What brings you two here so early in the morning?"

Fang Tian stepped forward, expression unusually serious. "Brother, I have something I wish to share with you. Before I depart."

Fang Yuan’s smile faltered for a brief second, and a touch of melancholy seeped into his voice. "...So it’s finally happening."

The mood shifted instantly.

Even Xiao Pei, moments ago full of grumbling and complaints, stood quietly.

Fang Tian hesitated, then added, "Brother, before I go... there’s something I truly wish to confide in you. Please, don’t turn me away."

Fang Yuan looked at him for a long moment, then smiled faintly and nodded. "Alright. I’ll be at the Moonview Pavilion. When the sun is at its highest."

"Okay, Brother."

With a respectful nod, Fang Tian turned and left with Fang Mei quietly trailing behind him.

Fang Yuan stood still for a moment, watching their figures retreat.

He let out a slow sigh, then straightened up followed by a cheerful grin.

"Brother Xiao. Come, let’s go meet this beauty I promised you."

Xiao Pei, who had just been silently watching everything with genuine sympathy for Fang Yuan, felt all that pity evaporate in an instant.

He muttered under his breath, "Tch... I was pitying a devil in disguise..."

Then said louder, "No no, Brother Fang, I suddenly... don’t want to meet this beauty of yours anymore."

Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Why not? You tried to flirt with her ten years ago. Backing out now?"

Xiao Pei backed away with both hands raised in defense. "I knew it! It’s your aunt, isn’t it?! No no no! I refuse. Brother, let’s go do something more productive instead. Sparring, alchemy, digging holes, anything but that!"

Fang Yuan couldn’t hold back his laugh as he pulled Xiao Pei along anyway.

Xiao Pei, still stuck at the early stage of Qi Transformation, didn’t stand a chance.

To Fang Yuan, pulling him was as effortless as tugging on a sack of radishes.

"Brother Fang!" Xiao Pei cried out, heels skidding against the stone path. "We’re friends! Brothers! You can’t bully me like this—ahhh! Stop!"

Fang Yuan only smiled wider, completely ignoring his protests. "You’ll thank me later."

Xiao Pei kept squirming in Fang Yuan’s grip, still being dragged like a sack of spirit potatoes.

"Brother Fang!" he cried again, desperate. "I know you’re not the type to bully people with your power! You’re just joking, right? Please, let me go!"

Fang Yuan chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Ah... It seems you don’t know me well enough after all."

Just then—

"Husband!"

Fang Yuan jumped. A genuine shock.

That voice, it hit him like thunder.

He spun around on instinct. And there she was.

Lin Zhaoyue.

Wearing a radiant smile, glowing like a thousand suns, and looking entirely too pleased with herself.

Fang Yuan gulped.

Xiao Pei also gulped. His voice came out in slow, stunned fragments.

"Brother Fang... You... are... already... married?"

Before Fang Yuan could even open his mouth—

"Yes!" Lin Zhaoyue beamed, stepping forward gracefully. "You must be Xiao Pei! I’ve heard so much about you."

"You... know me?" Xiao Pei blinked, caught completely off guard.

Fang Yuan interjected quickly, slipping between them like a shield. "She’s a stalker. Ignore her."

But Lin Zhaoyue only giggled. "Of course I know you. You’re Fang Yuan’s best friend. And as his wife, shouldn’t I know who he spends his time with?"

Xiao Pei stood there blinking, lost, and just nodded dumbly.

Fang Yuan sighed and gave her a sideways glance. "What brings you here?"

She pouted slightly and said in a sheepish voice, "I ran out of resources."

"Resources?" Fang Yuan raised a brow, confused.

"Mhm. The supplies in the cave... they’re all gone."

"What!?" Fang Yuan’s eyes widened. "Are you mad? Those were just random junk I tossed in there years ago! Half of it should’ve turned to powder by now!"

He stepped forward in a flash, pressing a palm to her forehead with rising dread.

"You didn’t actually eat any of it... did you?"

His mind was already racing, expired beast cores, molding pills, dried spirit meat...

"Xiao Pei!" he shouted, alarmed. "Go call Doctor Mu! She might’ve poisoned herself!"

As he frantically checked her condition, Lin Zhaoyue leaned in, wrapping her arms around him and sniffing.

"Mmm~ husband... you really do care for m—"

Suddenly, her expression froze.

Her nose twitched faintly.

She glanced at Fang Yuan, her eyes widening just a touch then quickly turned her head away.

"...I-I’m fine," she mumbled, her voice suddenly meek. "Really. I’m okay."