Chapter 10: The Little Money Man

Chapter 10

"Go to Sui Garden," He Qingchen said.

"Okay, Mr. He," Xu Yan responded, then tapped the switch to raise the partition, separating the interior of the car into two spaces.

For a moment, the back seat was quiet. Jian Xi had gotten over her earlier grievances and didn't know what to say—after all, she hadn't had any contact with He Qingchen for four years!

Although she knew there was no awkwardness between them, she didn't know where to start.

After a while, He Qingchen asked, "When did you come down from the mountain?"

"April 3rd," Jian Xi answered honestly.

"The Daoist temple..." He Qingchen said halfway.

Jian Xi naturally knew what he wanted to ask and nodded, helpless and depressed, "The Daoist temple closed down!"

He Qingchen put his hand on her head and rubbed it, saying gently, "Then will you come live with your brother from now on?"

Jian Xi's eyes turned red again and she choked out, "Okay."

She scolded herself silently for being so easily upset; she wasn't a child anymore. How could she cry in front of her brother after just a little grievance?

Having grown up with her, how could He Qingchen not know what she was thinking?

He held her as he did when she was little, letting her sit on his lap while gently wiping away the tears on her face.

He knew Jian Xi seldom cried. Even when the martial arts training with Xuan Yi Daoist was so arduous, she never shed a tear. She just endured until she could curl up in his arms at night and cry about how much it hurt.

Although he was only four years older than Jian Xi, since he took her in, he had kept her by his side as she grew from a chubby toddler to a young lady, never missing a day of her growth!

Not until four years ago when sudden changes happened in the family was he forced to leave her when she was fourteen.

He Qingchen gently stroked her back, casually asking, "Did your martial brothers and sisters go back?"

Jian Xi shook her head. "They all came back a week before Master passed away. Master even asked them to stay an extra day, which was very unusual. I guess the elderly man knew something, that's why he made an exception to keep them longer. When Master was on his deathbed, he told me not to notify them, so they still don't know that Master has already..."

Shen Xiaoheng had wondered before how a Daoist temple that cultivated character could raise someone with such a 'fickle' personality. And now here was another one!

What he didn't know was that the two of them were not the only ones who did not match the personality nurtured by the Daoist temple. There were six more!

He Qingchen asked some more questions about what Jian Xi did after coming down the mountain.

She told him as Sui Garden approached.

He Qingchen held her hand as they went in.

Having received the message from Xu Yan, the lobby manager of Sui Garden had already prepared He Qingchen's private room.

The lobby manager glanced at their interlocked hands and was secretly surprised before quickly looking at Jian Xi's face.

It wasn't that he was gossiping but he needed to remember Jian Xi's face. That way, if the young lady came alone next time, he would recognize her. This was the first time the boss had brought a woman here. He had to serve them well!

Feeling the lobby manager's gaze, Jian Xi also glanced at him. She frowned briefly then quickly looked away, scanning the surroundings. Her eyes finally landed on the fire extinguisher in the corner.

Her actions did not escape He Qingchen's notice. After ordering her favorite dishes, he had the lobby manager leave.

Only the two of them were left in the private room.

"Fire?" He Qingchen poured her a glass of orange juice and placed it in front of her.

Jian Xi smiled. He could always tell what she was thinking or about to do from just a gesture or expression!

Seeing her smile, He Qingchen's mouth also curved up slightly. "When?"

Jian Xi drank some of the orange juice, narrowed her eyes, put the glass down and said, "Around noon tomorrow, right during mealtime. Someone tampered with the fire extinguishers here."

"Okay, I see," He Qingchen said calmly.

Jian Xi looked at He Qingchen, her gaze moving down to his neck.

The top button of He Qingchen's shirt was undone, so she immediately noticed the red braided string she had made with her own hands. The corners of her lips curved happily!