“What?” Lu Shiyu cocked her head.
Xiang Ning quickly waved. “Nothing, I just thought it was a coincidence. Do you know her?”
“Yes, she’s a good friend of mine. But based on your reaction, I don’t think you know who she is. Anyone who’s listened to her songs would react very differently.” Lu Shiyu grinned. When she mentioned Annot’s name, people usually asked if it was the phenomenal singer she was referring to. Xiang Ning barely reacted, as if he hadn’t heard of her. Perhaps he knew her name but hadn’t seen her face?
When Lu Shiyu and Anran arrived at the hotel, they saw that Annot was wearing her hoodie with a loose hood, so, with Xiang Ning’s personality, it was likely that he hadn’t noticed her face. That made sense. Who in the world wouldn’t daydream for a second, then talk about her with a glowing face when her name was mentioned?
“Really? I can take the job, but… will they trust me?” Xiang Ning grinned. He was aware that he was quite young. “Shouldn’t they pick someone with more experience?”
“How do I put this? We can’t pick just anyone. I think you’re capable enough for this, and due to her childhood, Annot doesn’t like strangers. She can barely stand the people closest to her touching her skin. That’s why we need to find someone younger with a cultivation of about tier four,” Lu Shiyu said with a smile. “Although I know you aren’t tier four yet, I still think you’re as capable as one.”
“Oh, I see.” Lu Shiyu’s explanation was similar to the information Xiang Ning had. Young and capable. But he was confused about the ‘repulsed by strangers’ part. The girl he met yesterday was definitely Annot, but she didn’t show any signs of discomfort when he was close. He even applied medicine on her knee.
“Also, this is something she voluntarily said—she hopes you’ll be able to make it. Probably because you protected her once already and she has a good impression of you. So she isn’t as repulsed by you as she is by other strangers.”
Xiang Ning nodded. “Alright. Just let me know when I’m needed.”
“Really? Thank you, Team Leader~” Lu Shiyu giggled.
......
Time passed slowly.
That evening, it was time to leave.
“Big… big brother Xiang Ning, can… can you stay? What if… what if the bad guys come again?”
“Yeah, big brother! They’re evil! When I grow up, I’ll be a martial artist like you so I can protect Grandpa Director!”
Two little girls chattered away as they pulled on Xiang Ning’s arms, though their personalities were on the opposite ends of the spectrum. They were cute, though. Xiang Ning squatted down and stroked their heads. “Don’t worry, they won't come again. I believe you two will become strong when you grow up, that way you can protect Grandpa Director and everyone else!”
“Mm!” The more passionate little girl clenched her fist determinedly. “I will!”
What about the shy girl? She whined, “Big Brother Xiang Ning, can I marry you when I grow up?”
“What? How could you take him for yourself? Didn’t we agree to look for him together when we’re older? I want to marry him, too!”
The two girls loudly chattered and everyone heard them. Lu Shiyu gave them a tender smile. She used to be them, but she understood that sometimes memories were better than reality.
Xiang Xiaoyu gave the same smile as Lu Shiyu but no one knew if she was thinking the same thing.
Liu Ruoxue and Li Zimo were touched. Due to their family backgrounds, they had never visited a place like this before. They were aware of Xiang Ning’s past, but that was merely on paper. It was vastly different to see it for themselves and get to know him on a deeper level. How much had he suffered in the past to be able to handle the stress now?
Fang Rou, on the other hand, was trying not to laugh because Xiang Ning looked so awkward.
“Uh.…” Xiang Ning scratched his head, unsure of what to say. Finally, he took a deep breath. “Your big brother is like a big tree, I’m here to shield you from the wind and rain. I’ll always be there if you need me, but you’ll grow up. Then you’ll be able to see the world beyond the big tree. Although there are dangers outside, if you two want to protect Grandpa Director and everyone else, you have to grow up, too. The world is like a forest, and I’m just one of the trees.” Xiang Ning’s eyes were fixed on the girls as he very slowly explained, yet everyone heard him clearly.
Grandpa Director and the rest of the teachers nodded. Xiang Ning was right, the future was a forest awaiting them.
The kids didn’t completely understand, but it made a little sense to them. Xiang Ning’s speech brought in a new era in itself, though that’s a story to tell much later.
This visit had been fruitful for many parties, though the one who’d benefited most was Fatty Wang, who not only received the right to sell dimensional rings, but also won the hearts of the children. He was overjoyed by the relationships he built with the kids. He had become the second most popular figure there.
No one spoke on the way home as they reminisced about the day’s events.
......
On the road, Xiang Ning held his sister’s hand as they slowly walked back home.
“Big Brother, we’ll be together forever, right?”
“Haha, why’re you talking like the kids? See, you’re already a spiritual cultivator and you’re a lot more talented than I am. When I was your age, I was just in the Physical Tempering stage.”
She smiled at him, then let go and skipped ahead of him, twirling as she giggled, “Dummy!”
Xiang Ning couldn’t help but be confused.
……
On the other side, Fatty Wang’s father, Wang Youjia was sullenly drinking. He was a large man, and right now he looked depressed. “Sigh, I was so close. Honey, do you think I’m useless?”
The lady next to him was his wife. She wasn’t attractive by society’s standards, but despite being part of a rich family, she still emitted a kind and humble aura. “Don’t give up, darling. I’m happy as long as our children are alright.”
Wang Youjia emotionally clutched his wife’s hand. Very few people knew that both of them had been regular commoners from the lowest layers of society that, together, built a successful business that was known across Marsh City.
“What?” Lu Shiyu cocked her head.
Xiang Ning quickly waved. “Nothing, I just thought it was a coincidence. Do you know her?”
“Yes, she’s a good friend of mine. But based on your reaction, I don’t think you know who she is. Anyone who’s listened to her songs would react very differently.” Lu Shiyu grinned. When she mentioned Annot’s name, people usually asked if it was the phenomenal singer she was referring to. Xiang Ning barely reacted, as if he hadn’t heard of her. Perhaps he knew her name but hadn’t seen her face?
When Lu Shiyu and Anran arrived at the hotel, they saw that Annot was wearing her hoodie with a loose hood, so, with Xiang Ning’s personality, it was likely that he hadn’t noticed her face. That made sense. Who in the world wouldn’t daydream for a second, then talk about her with a glowing face when her name was mentioned?
“Really? I can take the job, but… will they trust me?” Xiang Ning grinned. He was aware that he was quite young. “Shouldn’t they pick someone with more experience?”
“How do I put this? We can’t pick just anyone. I think you’re capable enough for this, and due to her childhood, Annot doesn’t like strangers. She can barely stand the people closest to her touching her skin. That’s why we need to find someone younger with a cultivation of about tier four,” Lu Shiyu said with a smile. “Although I know you aren’t tier four yet, I still think you’re as capable as one.”
“Oh, I see.” Lu Shiyu’s explanation was similar to the information Xiang Ning had. Young and capable. But he was confused about the ‘repulsed by strangers’ part. The girl he met yesterday was definitely Annot, but she didn’t show any signs of discomfort when he was close. He even applied medicine on her knee.
“Also, this is something she voluntarily said—she hopes you’ll be able to make it. Probably because you protected her once already and she has a good impression of you. So she isn’t as repulsed by you as she is by other strangers.”
Xiang Ning nodded. “Alright. Just let me know when I’m needed.”
“Really? Thank you, Team Leader~” Lu Shiyu giggled.
......
Time passed slowly.
That evening, it was time to leave.
“Big… big brother Xiang Ning, can… can you stay? What if… what if the bad guys come again?”
“Yeah, big brother! They’re evil! When I grow up, I’ll be a martial artist like you so I can protect Grandpa Director!”
Two little girls chattered away as they pulled on Xiang Ning’s arms, though their personalities were on the opposite ends of the spectrum. They were cute, though. Xiang Ning squatted down and stroked their heads. “Don’t worry, they won't come again. I believe you two will become strong when you grow up, that way you can protect Grandpa Director and everyone else!”
“Mm!” The more passionate little girl clenched her fist determinedly. “I will!”
What about the shy girl? She whined, “Big Brother Xiang Ning, can I marry you when I grow up?”
“What? How could you take him for yourself? Didn’t we agree to look for him together when we’re older? I want to marry him, too!”
The two girls loudly chattered and everyone heard them. Lu Shiyu gave them a tender smile. She used to be them, but she understood that sometimes memories were better than reality.
Xiang Xiaoyu gave the same smile as Lu Shiyu but no one knew if she was thinking the same thing.
Liu Ruoxue and Li Zimo were touched. Due to their family backgrounds, they had never visited a place like this before. They were aware of Xiang Ning’s past, but that was merely on paper. It was vastly different to see it for themselves and get to know him on a deeper level. How much had he suffered in the past to be able to handle the stress now?
Fang Rou, on the other hand, was trying not to laugh because Xiang Ning looked so awkward.
“Uh.…” Xiang Ning scratched his head, unsure of what to say. Finally, he took a deep breath. “Your big brother is like a big tree, I’m here to shield you from the wind and rain. I’ll always be there if you need me, but you’ll grow up. Then you’ll be able to see the world beyond the big tree. Although there are dangers outside, if you two want to protect Grandpa Director and everyone else, you have to grow up, too. The world is like a forest, and I’m just one of the trees.” Xiang Ning’s eyes were fixed on the girls as he very slowly explained, yet everyone heard him clearly.
Grandpa Director and the rest of the teachers nodded. Xiang Ning was right, the future was a forest awaiting them.
The kids didn’t completely understand, but it made a little sense to them. Xiang Ning’s speech brought in a new era in itself, though that’s a story to tell much later.
This visit had been fruitful for many parties, though the one who’d benefited most was Fatty Wang, who not only received the right to sell dimensional rings, but also won the hearts of the children. He was overjoyed by the relationships he built with the kids. He had become the second most popular figure there.
No one spoke on the way home as they reminisced about the day’s events.
......
On the road, Xiang Ning held his sister’s hand as they slowly walked back home.
“Big Brother, we’ll be together forever, right?”
“Haha, why’re you talking like the kids? See, you’re already a spiritual cultivator and you’re a lot more talented than I am. When I was your age, I was just in the Physical Tempering stage.”
She smiled at him, then let go and skipped ahead of him, twirling as she giggled, “Dummy!”
Xiang Ning couldn’t help but be confused.
……
On the other side, Fatty Wang’s father, Wang Youjia was sullenly drinking. He was a large man, and right now he looked depressed. “Sigh, I was so close. Honey, do you think I’m useless?”
The lady next to him was his wife. She wasn’t attractive by society’s standards, but despite being part of a rich family, she still emitted a kind and humble aura. “Don’t give up, darling. I’m happy as long as our children are alright.”
Wang Youjia emotionally clutched his wife’s hand. Very few people knew that both of them had been regular commoners from the lowest layers of society that, together, built a successful business that was known across Marsh City.
