NOVEL NEXT
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..."
He Qingchen guessed what happened. If all of them had suddenly left B City urgently, it would definitely have caused some disturbances!
So she had been busy with everything alone during that time?
He held Jian Xi tighter. "Our Xiao Xi has worked hard!"
"No, I should do all that. I'm just upset with myself for not keeping the Daoist temple. Brother, am I useless?" Jian Xi looked up at He Qingchen slightly, asking in a sad tone.
He Qingchen flicked her forehead, his tone heavier, "Don't say that!"
That flick just now had used some strength. Feeling the pain, Jian Xi shrank back into He Qingchen's arms immediately.
The cold scent on He Qingchen's body comforted her. She relied on it a lot.
She remembered when she was little, she would fall asleep in his arms every night. Not until she turned eight did he stop letting her sleep with him. When she asked why they couldn't sleep together anymore, he said she had grown up and was a big girl now, so she had to sleep by herself.
However, she would always sneak back into his bed and snuggle under his quilt after he fell asleep. He was helpless against her!
"I'll take care of the matter with the Daoist temple," He Qingchen said.
His words pulled Jian Xi out of her reminiscence. She immediately wriggled out of He Qingchen's arms and waved her hands in refusal. "No need, no need. I have to do this myself. After all, it was left to me by Master. I need to earn money myself to revive the Daoist temple."
The corners of He Qingchen's lips curved up slightly and his eyebrows quirked in amusement as he looked at her. "You? A hundred yuan a day?"
Here it comes. This damn smile and tone. Her brother would talk to her like this and make this expression whenever he mocked her. Jian Xi felt a little indignant. "Humph, I've already figured it out. I want to use your name. Give me a bank card under your name. I'll deposit the money I earn into your bank account, so it won't be under my name. When the Daoist temple is revived, I'll start saving up. And when I get married in the future, you can sign the Daoist temple back to me. You'll have to return the rest of the money to me too!"
He Qingchen flicked Jian Xi's forehead again. "Little money grubber!"
She grinned. "Hehe, I admit I'm a little money grubber. I can't help it since I have no fortune. The less you have of something, the more you like it. So now all I can think about is money!"
Jian Xi was completely exposing her true nature, but only to He Qingchen would she act like this. In front of others, she was always calm and composed.
Just as He Qingchen only had patience and gentleness for Jian Xi.
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!