The little red rashes on my skin still itched persistently, but I no longer had the energy to pay attention.
This was the first time I took the initiative. Naturally, Si Jiangchen wouldn't turn me down. He was even more wild than in the previous days...
I was forced to struggle for breath but dared not make a sound.
This was the old mansion, and the sound insulation was poor. I was afraid that my shameful moans would be heard by Si Tong, who lived in the same courtyard.
Noticing that I was distracted, Si Jiangchen became even more relentless.
"Um..." I finally couldn't help but let out a cat - like whimper.
"You're the one who provoked me... Xiao He."
Si Jiangchen pressed his forehead against mine and murmured, "Actually, I wanted to let you off today..."
Before he could finish his sentence, I took the initiative to kiss him to shut him up.
Who would believe his words!
While I was having porridge, he had his eyes on me... I was all too familiar with that look!
Due to my provocation, he tossed me around for most of the night before finally carrying me into the bathroom. I fell into a deep sleep before the bath was even finished.
... I wondered what kind of room he had prepared for me.
Just before I fell asleep, there was a faint sense of anticipation in my heart...
I was woken up by the ringing of a WeChat video call.
Half - awake, I picked up my phone and found that it was Ma Su calling.
It was... half past ten in the morning.
Had I really slept until the sun was high again?!
I quickly sat up. It was quiet all around. I was indeed in another small bedroom. Unlike Si Jiangchen's cold, gray - themed room, this bedroom was filled with classical furniture that exuded a sweet, woody aroma. Even the bed I was lying on was a step - in bed with a moon - white canopy.
"Hello?"
I answered the call while tidying my messy hair.
"Miss Du!!"
On the video call, Ma Su was dressed like an elite. She had big, wavy reddish - brown curls and wore a pair of sunglasses. Her exquisitely made - up face showed a look of horror that was out of sync with her elegant appearance. "Sorry to bother you!"
She saw my sleepy face in my pajamas.
"It's okay. What's up?!" I rubbed my eyes.
"Could you... could you come to the Water World?" Ma Su was obviously outdoors. The bright sunlight made her face glow red. She coughed a few times and then took a deep breath before saying, "We're filming a variety show here, and something has gone wrong."
"Okay!"
I had made an appointment with Ma Su yesterday to help her deal with her health issues. In order to have good fortune in these years, she had burned away her own life force. Now she was coughing up blood. If I didn't help her soon, she might not survive this summer!
After hanging up the phone, Ma Su sent me a location. According to the navigation, it was by a natural reservoir on the outskirts of Beijing, at least three or four hours' drive from the city center where I was.
"Sister Xiao He?"
Si Tong's little head poked in through the moon - shaped door. "Hehe, Dad told me not to disturb you while you were sleeping, so I've been waiting outside. Now that you're up, I'll go tell Dad that it's time for breakfast."
"Thank you, Tongtong. Tell your dad that I have something to do today and I need to go to the outskirts of the city."
I said to Si Tong while rushing into the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.
The skin that had been treated with ice packs last night had sweated a lot. The red rashes had subsided a bit, and even the hickeys left by Si Jiangchen had become more prominent...
"What, going out?"
Si Jiangchen came into the room after hearing Si Tong's report.
"Yeah, it seems that something has happened to Ma Su. I promised to help her. Otherwise, she might not live for a few more days!"
I had already washed my face. When I turned around, I saw Si Jiangchen leaning casually against the door, looking at me.
"Uh..."
I wanted to say something else, but he had already pulled me into his arms. His long fingers, with a faint smell of tobacco, brushed across the skin on my neck. "Are you feeling better? Actually, you don't have to worry about them."
"Ma Su is a bit naive."
I grabbed his fingers and said, "She's been taking on bad luck and disasters for others."
"Yeah. She's not naive. She's not only taking on disasters for others herself!" Si Jiangchen let me hold his fingers. "The entire Taoran Media is a huge formation that constantly siphons off fortune. How long can those artists under her stay popular?"
"No way! How could she do such a thing?!"
I was even more shocked. I had seen people sacrifice their lives for the ones they loved and those who framed others for their own well - being. But I had never seen someone harm both her own life and others' for someone else!
"So, why bother with her? Your allergy isn't cured yet. You'd better rest at home."
Si Jiangchen pinched my face.
"I can't rest even more!"
I shook my head repeatedly. "Won't she harm more people then? I have to go and take a look!"
Actually, I also had my own selfish motives. The promised reward of at least one million yuan from her was also an unspoken reason for me to go...
"Lend me a car and a driver. It's a long way."
I pushed him out of the room and started changing my clothes on my own.
When I quickly changed my clothes, grabbed my bag and went out, I saw Si Jiangchen holding Si Tong's hand and standing at the door.
"What's this about?"
I looked at the lunch boxes in their hands, puzzled.
"Sister Xiao He, Dad said we're going to visit a variety show crew today. I can go too." Si Tong lifted the lunch box in her hand. "We're in a hurry. We'll eat this on the way."
I glanced at Si Jiangchen. He gave a faint smile. "I'm free today. I'll join you on a family outing."
At this moment, there was a car horn outside the red - lacquered gate.
Ji Chen rushed over.
Si Jiangchen handed the lunch box in his hand to Ji Chen and told him to send the breakfast to the hospital.
Only then did I belatedly remember Du Wenzhong... I hadn't bought breakfast for him again.
"... Thank you." I felt a bit ashamed.
Si Jiangchen was so meticulous that he even remembered such a small thing clearly. In contrast, I, as his granddaughter, seemed a bit unfilial.
Si Jiangchen drove. Si Tong and I sat in the back row eating breakfast. On the way, I received a call from my grandpa, who praised the delivery guy I had found today for being good - looking and the breakfast he delivered for being to his taste. He told me to buy breakfast like this in the future!
Sweating nervously, I told him that I had a big deal to attend to today and didn't have time to accompany him.
Du Wenzhong waved it off on the phone and told me to focus on making money. Du Peilin was in the ward today, and they had a great conversation. He told me not to worry.
Du Peilin must have gone to keep an eye on Wu Mingyu. Those two scumbags would probably have a worse fate than death once they were targeted by him!
After hanging up the phone, Si Tong and I continued to eat. Today's breakfast was still ginseng and white rice porridge for replenishing qi. According to Si Tong, her dad had gotten up early in the morning to make it.
It had a sweet taste with a hint of bitterness, making it hard to stop eating.
The Water World, where Ma Su had sent the location, was beside a reservoir on the outskirts of Beijing. There were overlapping green shades and the gurgling sound of water. There were also artificial waves. It was a good place to escape the summer heat.
However, the Water World was eerily quiet today. To avoid any distractions during the filming, the place had been cleared in advance. The huge playground was empty, and only the occasional chirping of birds made it seem a bit eerie and desolate...