141: Chapter 141: The Bet 141: Chapter 141: The Bet The tune ended; Heaven and Earth fell into silence, and the small courtyard regained its tranquility once again.
Only Ye Xuan sat alone under the moon, lost in thought, his mind pondering unknowns.
“Wood… Woody… who… who are you, really?”
Although Gu Xiaoxiao was just a fisherwoman with limited horizons, she was not foolish.
She deeply understood that a person capable of playing such a piece couldn’t possibly be ordinary.
“Who I am is not important.
What’s important is that I never believed there could be such a thing as a truly virtuous person in the world, yet here you are before .”
A gentle breeze blew through, lifting a few strands of Ye Xuan’s hair.
His eyes appeared as deep as an ancient pond, causing Gu Xiaoxiao’s lips to purse before she broke into a smile and said, “Is that why you stay by my side?”
“Perhaps,” Ye Xuan responded hoarsely.
…
Days passed, and the small river village remained peaceful and serene, devoid of the city’s clamor and noise, yet filled with tranquility and harmony.
Apart from going out to sea to catch fish with Gu Xiaoxiao every day, Ye Xuan would play his zither for leisure when he had nothing else to do, with Gu Xiaoxiao becoming his only devoted listener.
On this day, the young Gu Beichen was returning ho.
Because his school was far from ho, he could only visit twice a month.
This made Gu Xiaoxiao prepare so delicious food to treat her brother.
In the kitchen!
Wafts of delicious aromas drifted out as dish after dish of exquisite food was brought to the table by Gu Xiaoxiao, while Ye Xuan observed quietly, engrossed in an ancient to, his deanor slightly solemn.
Creak!
The sound of the front door opening ca, and there appeared young Gu Beichen, his clothes dirty and ragged with several tears, his eyes slightly red as if he had just been crying.
“Little brother… what happened?” Gu Xiaoxiao asked anxiously upon seeing her brother’s state.
“Sis, do we have to be bullied because we’re poor?” The young boy burst into his sister’s arms, sobbing, tears unstoppable in his eyes.
“Did… did you get into a fight with your classmates?” Gu Xiaoxiao asked, her face complex and her voice slightly tired.
“Sis, I listened to you and didn’t fight back, but they called an orphan, nothing but a poor fisherman’s boy, saying I’d be a nobody all my life.”
“Alright, stop crying,” Gu Xiaoxiao soothed in a soft voice.
“Though we are poor, we do not steal, we do not rob, and we certainly don’t harm anyone.
We may be poor, but we have dignity.
If you study hard, you will surely beco soone of worth in the future.”
“Ha!”
Suddenly, a scoffing laugh cut through the air, startling the siblings as they turned to look at Ye Xuan.
At that mont!
Ye Xuan laid down the book, his eyes peering through the veil of his hair at the young boy as he said in an eerie and inexplicable tone, “Do you want not to be bullied?”
“Wood… Woody… you…?” Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, the young boy bit his lip, yet still nodded.
“It’s actually quite simple.
When you go to school tomorrow, find whoever insults you the most and hits you the hardest, beat them until they surrender and beg for rcy.
From then on, no one in school will dare to bully you,” said Ye Xuan with a calm voice that was filled with an alluring demonic power.
“But… but I can’t beat him,” the boy muttered weakly.
“Can’t beat him?”
Ye Xuan laughed, a cold laugh that said, “You’re wrong.
As long as your heart is cruel enough, your thods ruthless enough, you will definitely be able to beat him.
Once you defeat the fiercest person at school, all the other students will fear you, and naturally, no one will bully you again.”
“Really…
really?” the youth said in a daze.
“Whether it’s true or not, you can try,” Ye Xuan said.
After finishing these words, he stopped talking and picked up the book again, watching it calmly.
However, this statent greatly changed Gu Xiaoxiao’s expression, and she hurriedly warned the youth, “Little brother, you must not do this.
Rember that you’re a kind person.
If you do this, wouldn’t you beco a bad student yourself?
How would that be any different from those who bully you?”
“If I find out you’ve been fighting at school, see how I’ll deal with you.” Gu Xiaoxiao glared at Ye Xuan and then loudly warned her little brother.
“Sister, I understand.”
Under the influence of Gu Xiaoxiao’s stern authority, the youth quickly nodded in response, but excitent flickered in his eyes, clearly Ye Xuan’s words, like a “Demon Spell,” were deeply etched in the youth’s mind.
Dinner was quickly finished, and the youth, Gu Beichen, reverted to his spirited self, watching a television show.
Gu Xiaoxiao, with anger on her face, pulled Ye Xuan out the door.
In the narrow courtyard, Gu Xiaoxiao and Ye Xuan stood facing each other.
“Blockhead, you’ve gone too far.
How can you teach my brother like this?” Gu Xiaoxiao rebuked.
“People are bullied because they are kind; horses are ridden because they are ta.
Don’t you understand this principle?” Ye Xuan said calmly.
“You…
that’s fallacious reasoning.” Gu Xiaoxiao’s face turned red with anger, struggling to find words in her fury.
“To be born human, one must be kind, and as long as we harbor goodness in our hearts, we will surely be rewarded.” Gu Xiaoxiao held firm to her beliefs.
“Oh?”
Ye Xuan said softly, “Since you believe in the inherent goodness of humans, but I believe in the inherent evil, let’s make a bet to see which of us is right or wrong.”
Ye Xuan’s words made Gu Xiaoxiao raise her voice, “How do you want to bet?”
“Just bet on whether Gu Beichen will do as I say or not,” Ye Xuan said evenly.
“Fine, let’s bet.
But I tell you, little brother has never been in a fight since he was a child; he’s a kind kid, and you will undoubtedly lose.” Gu Xiaoxiao stomped her foot heavily and turned to go back inside the house.
Watching Gu Xiaoxiao’s angry departure, Ye Xuan’s eyes narrowed with a drift, and his hoarse voice said, “If the world were made of people like you, would there be so much strife?”
…
The next morning.
As the first rays of sunlight rose from the East, the youth, Gu Beichen, also left the house.
After receiving Gu Xiaoxiao’s earnest instructions, the youth hurried off to school.
Ye Xuan stood in the attic, watching the retreating figure of the youth and drawing a mysterious smile around his lips.
“Gu Xiaoxiao, when you see the changes in your brother, will you still believe in the boring concept of inherent human goodness?” Ye Xuan’s hoarse voice sounded.
Half a month quickly passed by.
On this day, as Gu Beichen ca ho, just like usual, Gu Xiaoxiao had prepared a al waiting for her brother’s return, until the evening sun set, and the sound of brisk footsteps ca from outside the door.
“Sister, I’m back.”
Without waiting for Gu Xiaoxiao to co out to greet him, she saw Gu Beichen push open the front door, stride into the house, but the scene before her made Gu Xiaoxiao freeze on the spot.
What…
did she see?
The youth, Gu Beichen, in brand-new clothes, designer sports shoes, and holding a plethora of gifts in his hands, stood before Gu Xiaoxiao, his face full of excitent.
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