Ye Qiu finished reading Qian Duoduo’s diary, feeling both amused and irritated.
Could this be the legendary simp right by his side?
He glanced at Qian Duoduo, whose face was flushed with extreme embarrassment.
“The kid takes your surname after being born, you’re that impressive, huh? Does your dad know?”
Ye Qiu said, “You’d better show this to your granddad. That way he won’t need to stay in the hospital.”
The Qian family was, after all, a百年望族 (century-old prominent family) from Suhang, a scholarly household. If Old Man Qian found out he had such an unfilial grandson, he’d probably be furious enough to drop dead.
“Give me back my phone.” Qian Duoduo snatched the phone from Ye Qiu’s hand.
Changmei Zhenren, still unaware of what was going on, asked, “Little brat, what are you two talking about?”
“None of your damn business!”
“Who asked you to butt in!”
Ye Qiu and Qian Duoduo spoke in unison, both glaring at Changmei Zhenren.
“Fine, pretend I didn’t ask.” Changmei Zhenren lowered his head and took a couple of bites of food, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he asked again, “What were you just saying?”
“Eat!”
Ye Qiu said coldly, his face full of displeasure.
He’d figured it out now, this old man and young guy in front of him were no good—one unreliable, the other a simp.
What a headache!
During the meal, Qian Duoduo glanced at Ye Qiu, hesitating to speak.
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it,” Ye Qiu said gruffly.
“Big brother, do you know my father?” Qian Duoduo asked.
“No.”
“Then do you know my granddad?”
“Nope.”
“Then why did you grab… I mean, why make me stick around with you?”
Qian Duoduo couldn’t wrap his head around it.
If there’s no connection at all, why nab me?
Crazy!
Ye Qiu warned, “Don’t ask so many questions. Just remember this: finish your business and head back to Suhang soon. Don’t linger in the capital, or you’ll get yourself into trouble.”
This kid Qian Duoduo was inexperienced and naive, staying in the capital was dangerous for him.
“You sound just like my granddad. Before I came to the capital, he said the same thing to me.” Qian Duoduo asked, puzzled, “Do you have some tie to our Qian family? Or maybe someone in your family does?”
“Shut up!”
Ye Qiu shot Qian Duoduo a fierce glare.
Qian Duoduo was terrified of Ye Qiu and immediately clamped his mouth shut, saying no more.
After the meal, the three left the restaurant.
Qian Duoduo, very自觉 (dutifully), got into the driver’s seat to start the car, but Ye Qiu grabbed him by the collar and yanked him out.
“Big brother, what are you doing? You’re not going to kill me, are you?” Qian Duoduo’s face paled in fear.
Ye Qiu’s methods against the Zhang brothers were something he’d seen with his own eyes, and it left him uneasy.
“If I wanted to kill you, would I wait until now?” Ye Qiu let go of Qian Duoduo and said icily, “You can go.”
“Big brother, you’re not tricking me, right?” Qian Duoduo found it hard to believe.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Ye Qiu said, “Remember what I told you earlier—don’t hang around in the capital, get back to Suhang as soon as possible.”
“Got it.” Qian Duoduo still didn’t believe Ye Qiu would let him off so easily and said, “Big brother, how about I drive you instead…”
Ye Qiu’s face darkened. “Get lost!”
Qian Duoduo was so scared he nearly wet himself.
Ye Qiu got into the driver’s seat and was about to start the car when he saw Qian Duoduo slinking back.
“What do you want now?” Ye Qiu asked, his expression unfriendly.
“Big brother, I thought it over and figured I owe you an apology. What happened outside the auction house earlier was my fault. Thanks for letting me off.”
Qian Duoduo bowed to Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu’s expression softened a bit.
But then Qian Duoduo leaned toward the car window, pulled out his phone, and said to Changmei Zhenren, “Taoist, let’s add each other on WeChat. Next time you’re in Suhang, I’ll take you to find some girls.”
“Sure thing!” Changmei Zhenren pulled out his phone.
Ye Qiu’s temper flared. He suddenly started the car, leaving Qian Duoduo standing there alone.
Qian Duoduo stood in place, watching the car drive off, muttering to himself,
“You really think I’d take the Taoist to find girls? I just wanted to ask him about your background.”
“Ye Qiu, I’ve got you memorised.”
“Hmph, hitting me on the head, threatening me all the time, saying you’d kill me—who do you think you are?”
“The capital isn’t my turf, so I’ll let it slide. That’s me being generous. But if you ever come to Suhang one day, I won’t let you off.”
…
In the car.
Changmei Zhenren asked, “That kid’s from the Qian family in Suhang?”
“You figured it out?” Ye Qiu asked.
Changmei Zhenren smirked. “I know your personality well enough. If he weren’t from the Qian family of Suhang, would you have let him go so easily?”
“Ye Qiu, you did the right thing. That kid’s a bit of a slacker with no real cunning. If he stayed in the capital, he’d get himself into trouble sooner or later.”
After a while.
Changmei Zhenren suddenly said, “Little brat, stop the car.”
Ye Qiu pulled over, turned to look at Changmei Zhenren, and said irritably, “What do you want now?”
Changmei Zhenren said, “Little brat, things in the capital are done. It’s time for me to head back to Longhu Mountain.”
“You should stay with me,” Ye Qiu said. “In your current state, it’s safer to stick by my side.”
“Your medical skills are impressive, but they can’t heal the injuries I’ve got,” Changmei Zhenren replied.
“You really want to leave?” Ye Qiu still didn’t want Changmei Zhenren to go.
“Actually, yesterday I had Tang Fei buy me a plane ticket,” Changmei Zhenren said. “I’m heading back to Longhu Mountain this time to do something big.”
“What big thing?”
“You’ll find out when the time comes.” Changmei Zhenren pushed open the car door and, after stepping out, said, “Little brat, if you don’t hear from me in three months, come to Longhu Mountain. Dig me out of my grave and burn me.”
Seeing Changmei Zhenren’s resolve, Ye Qiu said, “Old thing, let me drive you to the airport!”
“A farewell of a thousand miles still ends in parting. This is far enough! Ye Qiu, take care!”
Changmei Zhenren gave Ye Qiu a deep look, his eyes full of reluctance, then turned decisively and walked away.
Ye Qiu sat in the car, watching Changmei Zhenren vanish into the crowd, his eyes gradually welling up.
He feared this parting might be forever.
…
Half an hour later.
Ye Qiu arrived at Bai Bing’s residence.
It was a three-story standalone villa with a courtyard outside, about a hundred square metres, planted with flowers and plants.
As he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Master Du’e sitting on a stone bench, talking with Bai Bing.
“Master, what are you doing here?”
Ye Qiu was quite surprised, since this was his first time at Bai Bing’s place too.
“Amitabha.” Master Du’e stood up, looked at Ye Qiu, and smiled. “Benefactor Ye, I’ve been waiting for you.”
Bai Bing smiled beside him. “The master’s been waiting for you for quite a while.”
“Master, you’re looking for me?” Ye Qiu asked curiously.
Master Du’e nodded slightly.
“I’ll go inside and wash some fruit for you two!” Bai Bing tactfully got up and headed into the house.
Ye Qiu, full of confusion, asked, “Master, what brings you to me?”
Master Du’e smiled and asked, “Benefactor Ye, are you interested in the Six Meridians Divine Sword?”
