Chapter 04 - First contact

When the trio arrived at the Xia's manor, they were greeted by maids and escorted to a waiting room.

After about ten minutes of wait, a steward arrived to call them.

"I apologize for the wait. Lord Xia is ready to receive you. If you could follow me."

They nodded and followed behind him, arriving at the door of a large room.

The steward opened the door and waited out.

They then entered before looking at each other.

It was a huge room, full of decorations of various kinds and furniture, in the back of it there were three people.

A middle-aged man sitting at a desk reading documents, behind him respectively at his right and left were standing a sturdy, tall man and a veiled enchanting young lady.

Ying Wu advanced before his nephews and respectfully paid respect to the middle-aged man while profoundly bowing.

"I pay respect to Lord Xia!"

Seeing him, Xia Hongyi nodded and approached uncle Wu patting his shoulder, beckoning him to stand up.

"Ying Wu, you never cease to amaze me! Within a few years, the production of your field has increased tenfold, and the many agricultural techniques you thought of have brought my Xia clan great benefits. You truly made this Lord look upon you.

I think another promotion is coming up for you."

Hearing that uncle Wu was in seventh heaven, his lips twitching from joy.

'Huh?! A promotion so early... That has to be a dream. Right?!

Wait, that couldn't have been possible without little Yuan help.'

"Lord Xia, you flatter me, but it was only possible thanks to one of my nephews."

Saying that, he glanced back at his fostered nephew, which to his surprise, was not at all nervous at being in the presence of a man of Lord Xia's calibre.

There was nothing he could do but be proud of him.

Then he shifted his gaze to Ying Yue, who seemed to ignore the status of the person in front of her. After the initial greeting and a moment of curiosity for the Xia clan, she looked at Fang Yuan while humming softly.

Uncle Wu didn't know whether to laugh or cry about that.

Seeing the opportunity created by uncle Wu, FangYuan doesn't waste it, immediately stepping forward, cupping one hand in the other, slightly bowing his head.

"Greetings, Lord Xia. This junior is Fang Yuan."

Also, being named Yin Yue stepped forward to pay respect.

"I pay respect to Lord Xia. This little one is Ying Yue."

Xia Hongyi was surprised by this development and started to analyze both. The young girl seemed to disregard his presence which left him gobsmacked, but the young man left him even a more significant impression.

'This young man... I'm sure he's the one Manager Wu referred to as responsible for the agricultural improvement, the acclaimed Farmer Saint... Huh? His eyes.'

The middle-aged businessman had heard rumours about him but believed in them only in the limit of the possible.

'He seems to have about the same age as my children, but his bearing...'

As a man who has seen many things in this world, Xia Hongyi could immediately tell that this young man was not simple.

His businessman instinct told him to have a good relationship with him at any cost.

"Oh, you thought of such genius methods?"

Even his son and daughter were surprised since they heard the rumours of an individual with heaven-defying agricultural skill, know as Farmer Saint.

In a few years, he had earned the Xia clan a considerable sum and was a selfless person, not even asking for a promotion or absurd rewards.

They never imagined that he was just a boy about their age!

Without realizing they both developed a good impression of him.

Fang Yuan just nodded. Xia Hongyi, in response, smiled at him without asking anything else. He looked behind, introducing the people behind his back.

"These are my children, Yuanba'er and Qingyue'er."

Then the mentioned above stepped forward, a somewhat timid huge young man and a breathtaking young lady.

"G-Greetings, this young master's name is Xia Yuanba!"

The young man seemed uncomfortable pronouncing his status as a young master, while the young lady had a cold tone of voice, but strangely it appeared attractive to hear.

"Greetings... Xia Qingyue."

As she greeted them, Xia Qingyue unveiled her face leaving Ying Yue and uncle Wu stunned by her beauty.

She has a pair of indescribably stunning eyes as if the world's essence laid deep within.

Her skin was fair and flawless as clear jade, her tender lips, which were an attractive pinkish rouge, seemed as though God himself personally painted them with extreme care, were astonishingly beautiful.

The moment she revealed her face, an absolute brilliance seemed to have obstructed every other colour.

Seeing Xia Qingyue's face, Fang Yuan maintained the same expression as before, gave her a slight bow of the head and moved toward Yuanba to start a conversation.

That shocked all the people in the room, and Xia Qingyue, the most concerned, couldn't stop her lovely lips to twitch.

It was the first time in her life a member of the opposite gender disregarded her. Since young, anyone has always tried to get close to her, and in recent years, men even more.

Not knowing why she felt a little annoyed, but she put the matter on the back of her mind, shaking her head.

Seeing Fang Yuan's action, Ying Yue beamed a lovely smile and quickly gazed contemptuously at Xia Qingyue before looking back at him.

Uncle Wu showed a proud smile to his nephew. The heck, even he was mesmerized by this young lady.

'What a mental fortitude! This uncle should learn from you.'

Lord Xia was surprised as well and nodded in the young man's direction with approval.

Whereas Xia Yuanba was delighted at the thought of perhaps making a new friend, his only one was his brother-in-law.

Fang Yuan, albeit outwardly maintaining a poker face throughout this, was excited to see her.

He thought to be capable of being unfazed against beautiful women. After all, what kind of beauties had he never seen before?

He was a player in his former life, so he had his fair share of girls. That apart, be in films, tv series, social networks and the rest of the internet, he has seen an immeasurable number. However, Xia Qingyue still was outstanding.

However, that wasn't the reason for his excitement, but what she could give him...

'The Nine Profound Exquisite Body! IT WILL BE MINE!'

For this reason, he approached their first meeting in such a way, not trying to get close to her but just acknowledging her presence.

Treating her as a person like everyone else, that's all.

He was creating in her head the idea that he was different from others men or suitors, arousing her interest.

Obviously, without other opportunities and especially power to back him, Fang Yuan would not go anywhere.

Xia Qingyue value power above all, power that could help her attain her dreams.

In the end, in this universe, as in his past one, the law of the strongest prevails.

Needless to say, he didn't escape his eyes her reaction when he preferred to interact with Yuanba over her.

'Pff, just because you're pretty, the world should be at your feet?

You thought that I would be simping around like the other men you've dealt with until now? What a joke.

Beauty is ephemeral and compared to eternal life... It counts for nothing.'

Then the young man deemed that approaching Yuanba was the best choice.

He's a loyal person that would never betray a friend, the perfect subordinate.

"Young master Xia, your physic is sturdy and tall as Mt. Tai.

I'm sure you are a dragon among man!"

Hearing the tone used by the young man, Xia Yuanba was amazed.

"Huh? Young master? You can call me Xia Yuanba or even b-brother Yuanba if you want!"

Fang Yuan laughed at that and patted his shoulder.

"That's perfect for me, Senior brother! You can call me junior brother Yua-"

Xia Yuanba, this time didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and he cut him off right away.

"W-Wait, what Senior brother! I'm only fourteen!"

"Huh? Yes, and I'm not fifteen but in my thirties..."

Fang Yuan then took a crestfallen look.

"Why is Senior brother making fun of me?"

Thus, Fang Yuan and Yuanba continued to joke with each other, seeing that Xia Qingyue and Lord Xia were elated because Yuanba never had a friend apart from Xiao Che.

Uncle Wu and Lord Xia talked about business, and the latter was even more able to understand what kind of agricultural genius was the Fang Yuan.

At the same time, Xia Qingyue and Ying Yue just exchanged a gaze, but didn't interact.

The former was listening to the business discussion between her father and Manager Wu, whereas the latter was looking at her dear brother, listening his exchange with Xia Yuanba.

Soon after, Xia Hongyi gazed at Fang Yuan in a business-like tone.

"Fang Yuan, or maybe you prefer I address to you as Farmer Saint?"

The young man waved his hand when answering.

"Lord Xia, you can simply call me by my name."

The middle-aged businessman smiled and then continued.

"Good, selfless and humble, what rarity these days.

I heard from your uncle that apart from agricultural techniques, you invented something else.

From his description, it seems extraordinary, and you would like to sell it in series..."

Arriving at the point, he stopped momentarily.

"This Lor- no, for you is Senior, you could use my Xia clan to take care of the sales. Every source of income will be yours. We have already benefited too much from your insights."

Hearing that uncle Wu was shocked, whereas little Yue and Yuanba didn't know what the meaning of that was.

Still, Xia Qingyue instead managed to understand what was said before in her father's conversation. Shocked, she placed her jade hand on her charming lips.

Fang Yuan seemed unfazed by the proposal. He just bowed his head.

"Senior Xia, thanks for the proposal, but I have to refuse."

As he said that uncle Wu almost fainted, Ying Yue looked at her uncle, amused by his reaction, before returning her gaze to her dear brother.

Lord Xia was maintaining eyes contact with Fang Yuan. Seemly lost in thoughts.

Xia Yuanba exchanged confused looks with her sister, but soon the latter's eyebrows crouched in a cute frown while gazing intently at the young man she just man.

However, Fang Yuan, the centre of attention, was still casually standing, calm and comfortable as if there was nothing significant enough in the offer he has just refused.

Alternative title: 'Uncle Wu's heart attack', 'You think you're hot shit just because of some simps?', 'DAGA KOTOWARU!'