Chapter Four: The First Intimate Encounter

In the eyes of everyone, the fourth young master of the Xiao family, Xiao Fei, had become mad a month ago, and more recently, he had lain unconscious for seven days and nights. Others might not know the reason, but the third concubine, Li Qingfang, was crystal clear about it. For it was she, in secret collusion with Xiao Yong—Xiao Fei’s cousin by seniority—who had poisoned Xiao Fei.

Xiao Fei's father was the eldest son of Lord Xiao. Lord Xiao’s second son, Xiao Dingguo, had two sons: Xiao Yong and Xiao Yi. The third son, Xiao Fuguo, also had two sons—the elder named Xiao Zhen, and the younger, Xiao Xing.

As the saying goes, “A dragon begets nine sons, each unique,” and this was vividly true of Lord Xiao’s descendants. The eldest line, Xiao Anguo’s branch, was known for loyalty and valor, but the second and third branches were a mixture of dragons and snakes, hard to distinguish the loyal from the treacherous.

Xiao Yong, however, was undoubtedly a venomous and cunning man. When the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, he turned traitor and became a national disgrace. He was punished by his uncle Xiao Anguo, who broke one of his legs and struck his name from the family register. Because of this, Xiao Yong bore a deep grudge against his uncle’s family. After their downfall, he added insult to injury, refusing to spare Xiao Fei—the last blood of the eldest branch. He even procured an exceedingly deadly poison, “Heavenly Silkworm Powder,” from Japan. This poison was colorless, tasteless, and fatal; the victim first showed signs of epilepsy, then fell unconscious, and after seven days and nights in a coma, would surely die.

Today was supposed to be the day Xiao Fei’s soul departed for the Western Paradise. This was precisely why the third concubine dared to come and threaten Liu Susu today. Yet, to her utter astonishment, Xiao Fei had not died. They could never have dreamed that not only would Xiao Fei survive, but he was now possessed by the soul of a young man from the 21st-century future, equipped with alien super-technology.

Thus, when Li Qingfang saw Xiao Fei standing behind her, her eyes nearly popped out in shock. Just moments ago, she had felt someone touch her, but by the distance between them now, it was impossible for Xiao Fei to have done it. What on earth was happening?

“You, you, you—it was you…” Li Qingfang was so shocked and angry she could barely speak.

“What do you mean, me? What did I do to you?” Xiao Fei grinned mischievously.

Prior to being poisoned, Xiao Fei was indeed such a character—idle, rascally, and fond of flirting, though he had never actually harassed Li Qingfang. After all, by seniority, she was his stepmother.

“Little scoundrel, was it you who touched me just now?” Li Qingfang finally blurted out.

“You? Please! I wouldn’t be interested in touching you. You’re old and worn, your skin is yellowing, your chest sags, your wrinkles are multiplying—no old man would covet you, let alone a handsome young master like me.” Xiao Fei said deliberately, though in truth, he had been the one to touch her. Ordinarily, no one could have done so from such a distance, but he was no ordinary man anymore.

“You! You little bastard!” Li Qingfang was almost beside herself, her features twisted with rage. Throughout history, women everywhere have shared one trait: an obsession with appearance. Such a malicious assessment was more than the beauty-loving Li Qingfang could bear. “Let’s see how I deal with you! Ah—”

In her fury, Li Qingfang grabbed a brick from the ground, prepared to explode, when suddenly she was slapped across the face.

“Remember this. If I ever hear those three words from your mouth again, there will only be one outcome for you: death!” Xiao Fei said coldly. In his memory, the former Xiao Fei had suffered those words for eighteen years, due to his mother’s lowly birth—she was not his father’s legitimate concubine, merely a subordinate’s daughter given as a gift. Now, however, Xiao Fei would never again allow such humiliation.

Shock—utter shock! Li Qingfang had never imagined Xiao Fei would dare strike her. She knew he was a troublemaker, but she never expected him to hit his own stepmother.

Liu Susu was even more astonished. Seeing the cold resolve in Xiao Fei’s face, she found her brother-in-law suddenly unfamiliar, a feeling she could not describe.

While Liu Susu was still dazed, Xiao Fei walked straight toward her. “Sister-in-law, you’ll never have to suffer from that woman again. What belongs to us, I will get back for you.”

Heavens—was this truly the same idle, sickly brother-in-law she had known? How had he changed so completely and suddenly? Doubt filled Liu Susu’s heart.

Yet, since marrying into the Xiao family, Liu Susu had endured humiliation and bullying. How she longed for a man to offer her a strong shoulder in her moments of weakness, to stand up for her when she was wronged—just as Xiao Fei was doing now.

However, she had never imagined that man would be Xiao Fei. The former Xiao Fei was, by any measure, not much of a “man.”

Liu Susu did not speak, but nodded at Xiao Fei with quiet gratitude. Tears uncontrollably streamed down her face, like pearls on a broken string—tears mixed with grievance, resentment, helplessness, but above all, relief, for in Xiao Fei, she saw hope.

“Sister-in-law, why do you like crying so much? From now on, you’re not allowed to shed another tear.”

As Xiao Fei spoke, he reached out to wipe her tears, but Liu Susu instinctively avoided his hand.

Seeing the affection between Xiao Fei and Liu Susu, Li Qingfang was even more enraged. “You shameless adulterers! I won’t let you get away with this. Just you wait!”

Knowing she was no match for Xiao Fei, Li Qingfang turned and ran off to find reinforcements.

Hearing herself called an adulteress, Liu Susu turned a shade of anger she had never before shown, as if she might kill Li Qingfang with her bare hands.

Her cheeks flushed, her lips pursed, and her chest heaved with indignant breaths—a sight that made Xiao Fei lose himself for a moment. But he understood that for a virtuous woman of this era, especially one like his sister-in-law, to be misunderstood and insulted was an agony beyond ordinary endurance.

Thinking this, his heart ached for her, and a wave of tender protectiveness surged within him. He unconsciously raised a hand and placed it gently on her shoulder, meaning to say, “Sister-in-law, don’t be angry. With me here, you will never be bullied again.” But before the words left his lips, a sharp slap landed on his left cheek, burning with pain.

Xiao Fei was stunned. He had never been slapped by a woman before.

Really? Was it necessary for that? He only touched her shoulder! he thought, disgruntled.

After striking him, Liu Susu herself looked regretful, her face showing a complex mix of emotions, uncertain what to say or do.

The two stared at each other in silence for several seconds before Liu Susu finally burst out, “Uncle, don’t ever behave in such an improper way again, or I won’t be polite!” With that, she turned and fled into the thatched cottage, slamming the door behind her.

She was gone, leaving only her lingering fragrance. When her soft, red palm connected with his fair cheek, it was so swift and sudden it was almost electric—his first intimate contact with Liu Susu since coming to this world.

In truth, Xiao Fei had not meant the slightest impropriety; he had only wanted to comfort her. But he realized that in this era, even a touch on the shoulder was tantamount to a serious crime—especially between a younger brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Women of the past were not to be touched lightly.

By now, dusk had fallen. The sky was quietly studded with stars. Across the way, the kerosene lamp in his sister-in-law’s room flickered, casting her graceful silhouette against the window. Her curves and her waterfall of hair were enough to haunt any man’s dreams.

The lamp’s glow danced, shadows floated—a scene of exquisite beauty.

Xiao Fei stood transfixed, lost in reverie, unable to tear himself away.

Before long, Liu Susu opened her door and stepped out, gracefully making her way to him. Seeing him still rooted to the spot, she seemed slightly surprised, paused for a moment, and then said, “Uncle, you should rest. I’ll go prepare a meal for you.”

“Oh yeah!” Xiao Fei couldn’t help the phrase that popped into his mind.