Nine Star Burden

regardless of what the truth was.

“He has indeed grown a little taller,” said Xia Yan, who popped up out of nowhere and walked towards Jiang Xiao.
She then pressed a hand on his head before sliding it towards her forehead.

Xia Yan got a great shock and took a step back to scan him from head to toe.
After a while, Xia Yan pointed at Jiang Xiao and exclaimed, “Remove your shoes!”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

“You silly child.
How are they supposed to enter and change out of their shoes if you keep blocking the entrance?” said the beautiful Mrs.
Xia, who stared at Xia Yan while chiding her.
She then quickly urged the siblings to enter.

“But you did grow a little taller.” Xia Yan entered and moved closer to Jiang Xiao.
This time, they were both wearing the same type of slippers, so they could not lie about their heights.

“Oh? I’ll measure my height later.” Jiang Xiao’s interest was piqued.
At 16 years old, he was indeed at the age where he should be experiencing a growth spurt.
If he didn’t grow taller during this period of time, it would be difficult for him to grow again in the future.

Xia Shanhai was still drinking tea on the balcony and being a good host while the ditzy Xia Yan brought Jiang Xiao inside to get his height measured.

Fortunately, Han Jiangxue was well-mannered.
She went to the balcony to greet Xia Shanhai.

“Tsk, tsk, you’re actually 1.74 meters tall,” Xia Yan said while pressing Jiang Xiao against the door of her room.
There were several lines drawn on the door, which were annotated with Xia Yan’s height and the date that the measurement was taken.
“You’re as tall as me when I was in middle school.”

Jiang Xiao chuckled and said, “You’re already in Year Three of high school now.
Three years have passed, but you seem to be about the same height.”

“Shut up.” Xia Yan chided and pushed Jiang Xiao away before standing beside the door.
“Help me take a look.”

“Ah…” Jiang Xiao tilted his head and looked at the lines to see that the last time Xia Yan measured her height was two years ago when she was in Year One.
She was 1.76 meters tall back then, and he reckoned that she should have grown by three or four centimeters.

“What are you waiting for? Grab a ruler.
There’s one beside my desk.” Xia Yan chastised while glancing at Jiang Xiao.

Xia Yan was over the moon after getting her height measured because she was now 3.1cm taller than the line she had drawn.

179.1 cm?

Provided she was genuinely 1.76 meters when she drew the line.

Jiang Xiao was equally overjoyed.

Although he didn’t have a wholesome diet in the past month that they were training in the snowfield, the vigorous training and the nourishment of the Star Beads had helped him grow by 2cm.
At this rate, he might really grow to 1.8 meters tall one day.

“Did you move out of your parents’ home when you were in Year One?” Jiang Xiao asked.

“Huh?” Xia Yan was slightly stunned, but she was soon reminded of the markings that she had made on the door.
She rubbed his head forcefully and said, “You’re indeed a little intelligent, but this is the end of our conversation.”

Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulder.
He could tell from the tension between Xia Shanhai and Xia Yan, that they probably had a huge conflict in that year.

Xia Yan’s mother, He Zeyun, was rather kind and gentle towards Jiang Xiao, regardless of what she truly thought about him.

During the meal, she even specially thanked Jiang Xiao for the Blessing.

Jiang Xiao thought to himself, Just be thankful that you fainted.

If you were awake, you probably wouldn’t be thanking me now.

Jiang Xiao was not making groundless guesses, because Li Qingmei had already tried to talk to him on WeChat countless times before.

Jiang Xiao was a brave person who could remain dauntless despite facing the White Ghouls and mercenary corps.
Why would he be afraid of an ordinary woman?

Without hesitation, Jiang Xiao immediately muted all notifications from Li Qingmei’s number on WeChat.
Even till now, he had never dared to reply to her.

Before dinner even ended, Jiang Xiao’s mobile phone began to ring again.

Jiang Xiao secretly whipped out his mobile phone and looked at his WeChat app, only to realize that Li Qingmei had sent him several messages.
The notification tone was for Li Weiyi’s number.

59 Tulong Street: Help me out.
Reply her.

Jiang Xiaopi-mischievous-or-not: ???

59 Tulong Street: She’s driving me mad.

Jiang Xiaopi mischievous-or-not: Well, you have to suffer because she’s your girlfriend.

59 Tulong Street: There were plenty of people that day and she does feel really awkward about it.

Jiang Xiaopi mischievous-or-not: Shouldn’t you be blamed because you were the one who told me to give her a Blessing? Why are you putting the blame on me instead?

59 Tulong Street: But… it was your light that made her make those strange sounds.

Jiang Xiaopi mischievous-or-not: So you’re trying to matchmake us?

59 Tulong Street: Jiang! Xiaopi!

Jiang Xiaopi mischievous-or-not: Love is a ray of light, so green that you’ll panic.

…

“I’ll go!” Li Weiyi dropped his mobile phone and put a hand on his forehead before rubbing his handsome face.
“This kid is toxic…”