Xue said bluntly, “I’ve awakened my innate bloodline. Besides, the White Deer is actually the bloodline closest to that of the Divine Deer. Currently, the Li family and Marshal Bruce appear to be in a cooperative relationship on the surface, but in truth, the Li family is essentially subservient to him.”
Ruan Ling’an gave him a deep look before turning away, saying, “Let’s go.”
This indicated he was willing to give Xue a chance to talk.
As for why Xue sought out Ruan Ling’an rather than someone else, it was simply because Ruan Ling’an was the easiest person for him to reach.
The White Deer clan has long been suppressed by the Abyssal Giant Deer clan, monitored so closely that even their friendships and contacts are meticulously tracked.
Only because the Li family is currently too occupied to interfere was Xue able to find an opportunity, with his clan’s help, to temporarily evade their surveillance.
Whenever a member of the White Deer clan shows Jingshen, they are taken away under various pretenses, and by the time any news surfaces, they are either fallen beasts or broken individuals.
Even in their growth process, they cannot choose their own schools or fields of study.
Although the White Deer clan clearly possesses the purest blood of the Divine Deer, they remain trapped within an invisible cage.
Xue’s chronic illness stems from his childhood when he was pushed into freezing water by members of the Li family’s direct line. Left without timely rescue, he was eventually pulled out in a near-drowned state, but he received no proper treatment, leaving lasting ailments.
In Ruan Ling’an’s dorm room, Xue calmly presented their terms for cooperation.
The White Deer clan has been suppressed to the point of losing everything—except themselves and the entirety of the Divine Deer bloodline.
This includes the Li family.
However, Xue does not acknowledge the Li family as the rightful possessors of the Divine Deer bloodline.
“You’re using the people of the Divine Deer bloodline as bargaining chips? Did you ask for their opinions?”
Ruan Ling’an leaned against the sofa, watching him.
Xue responded, “Why should I ask for their opinions?”
His green eyes held only indifference. “During the cosmic war ten thousand years ago, the White Deer branch sacrificed everything, all the adult White Deer, to protect the entire Divine Deer bloodline, leaving behind only the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the young.”
He lowered his gaze, hiding the hatred in his eyes. “The Abyssal Giant Deer took advantage of the situation to usurp power. The other branches did not resist. Now, we’re only reclaiming what belongs to us. They were protected ten thousand years ago, so what right do they have to bargain with us now?”
The smile on Ruan Ling’an’s lips widened; he liked people with this level of arrogance.
“Alright, but you’ll have to discuss this matter with the old man in my family.”
Xue looked at him. “I want to ask you a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Are those Edelweiss plants temporary, or are you cultivating them?”
After a pause, he continued, “Perhaps I should rephrase—does your family have someone with a talent similar to a wood-element ability?”
As soon as he finished speaking, an overwhelming oppressive force swept over him.
Xue’s face grew paler, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his fingers trembled slightly.
But his gaze remained locked with Ruan Ling’an’s.
After about ten seconds, Ruan Ling’an withdrew the pressure.
“You’re very clever.”
That was all he said in response, but the person across from him seemed to relax, and then… passed out.
Ruan Ling’an: “…”
He felt as though he’d been tricked.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he called for someone to take Xue to the infirmary.
As for the potential partnership with Xue, Ruan Ling’an only wrote up a summary of the conversation and sent it to the email of the old man back home, leaving the decision to him.
Soon after, he received a reply—just a time and place.
It seemed they were going to meet in person.
But they could wait until Xue woke up to address that.
—
At the Ruan family home…
Ruan Shu was diligently studying her kindergarten curriculum, as she was about to start school soon!
The closer it got to the start date, the more nervous Ruan Shu became.
It was mostly because of her last visit to the kindergarten. The experience had left her feeling a bit anxious, worried that she might embarrass herself again as she had last time.
“Miss, you’ve been studying for two hours already. You can take a break,” her tutor reminded her gently.
Ruan Shu put down her workbook and responded in a soft voice, “Okay.”
Although she hadn’t officially started school yet, she had been studying kindergarten material through self-study and online courses.
This was the benefit of advanced technology.
However, the kindergarten curriculum nowadays resembled what used to be first- and second-grade material in her previous life.
Luckily, Ruan Shu had a good memory and strong learning ability. Even though the material was completely new to her, by following along carefully with online courses, she had already completed the first semester’s content and was now working on the second semester.
After closing her online lesson, she took her “Pink Maiden”—a little mushroom dressed in a skirt that Ruan Shu had crafted herself—and headed outside.
With the weather turning colder, Ruan Shu wore a thick dress, warm boots, and a fluffy, snow-white shawl.
The skirt on her Pink Maiden mushroom was really just a piece of fabric wrapped around its stem, fashioned into a puffy skirt, which looked quite adorable. Pink Maiden loved it especially.
“Do you think it’s going to snow soon?” Ruan Shu asked the butler.
The butler nodded. “Based on previous years, it should start around the time of your school start date, Miss.”
Many planets didn’t have the distinct four seasons like Blue Star.
Some, like the Snowfall Star, experienced perpetual snow with no thaw.
Others remained in constant drought—these were typically barren planets, inhospitable to life due to a lack of water sources.
Some planets had a perpetual spring, perfect for agriculture.
On the main planet, the climate was roughly divided in half—a snow season and the other seasons.
The reason they chose to settle on this planet initially was simply because of its size and central location in this star field, surrounded by numerous mining planets and others suited for agriculture—all revolving around the main planet.
That year, the first snow happened to fall on the very day Ruan Shu started school.
On that crisp morning, she climbed out of bed, opened the window, and, seeing the snow falling outside, gasped in amazement, her little mouth open wide.
“Wow~”
“Chirp chirp!”
Pink Maiden, still dressed in its little skirt—now in a soft pink shade—chimed in excitedly as well.
“I’m going to school today,” Ruan Shu said as she gently patted its mushroom head. “Be good and stay at home, okay?”
She cupped her hands around Pink Maiden and set it down on its little bed.
Now, Pink Maiden’s bed was beautifully decorated, with a touch of whimsy and childlike charm. The stone Ruan Shu once thought was a regular rock, which was actually a snake’s egg, was now wrapped in a lovely knitted cover, which she had adorned with delicate little details. She had even crafted a small lampshade for the luminous pearl, placing it nearby as a nightlight.
The area around the bed had become a miniature forest, designed by Ruan Shu herself. She’d transformed the table into a lush green “mossy” landscape—though the moss was fake, she did have a small terrarium with real moss. Little decorative mushrooms and tiny trees, all handmade by Ruan Shu, added to the enchanting scene.
It was her own cozy little forest.