Tang Hao's Message in the Letter

Ye Qiu went to Old Jack's house, where he only sat for a while, ate some snacks, and took two carrots.

After leaving behind more than ten Gold Soul Coins, he headed home.

Ever since Xiao Wu became the big sister of Notting Academy, Xiao Chenyu had covered the meal expenses for all the work-study students. As a result, Ye Qiu had actually saved up quite a few Gold Soul Coins, including what he had earned from Xiao Wu and the extra provisions Master Ma Xiunuo had given him.

These days, Ye Qiu could be considered quite wealthy in Holy Soul Village—he could even be called the richest person there.

Ye Qiu did not feel sorry about giving away more than half his savings. It was easy enough for him to earn money, since he had no need to make any hidden weapons. The important thing was that he had grown up eating their food, so he still had to provide for them.

A coarse burlap sack hung around Ye Qiu's neck, filled with carrots, as he led Xiao Wu toward his home.

"Ye Qiu, where is your home?" Xiao Wu asked softly, nibbling on a carrot and tugging at the hem of his clothes.

"Are you just making conversation?" Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. She had clearly seen his memories, so how could she not know where his home was? "Just say what you want to say."

From what Ye Qiu knew of Xiao Wu, no matter how foolish she was, she would not ask such a simple question.

Xiao Wu pouted, wrapped her arms around Ye Qiu's arm, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "I want to know... why do you want me to stay away from Tang San?"

"I'll find a time to tell you later. But if you want to get close to him, I won't stop you." Ye Qiu frowned. If he had not been afraid of frightening Xiao Wu, he would have told her long ago about Tang Hao, the Titled Douluo.

Noticing that Ye Qiu was a little unhappy, Xiao Wu hurriedly explained, "N-No, I don't want to get close to him! I've always listened to you."

"Loosen up a little. It's hot when you cling so close!"

Hearing Ye Qiu's disdainful voice, Xiao Wu realized that she had used too much force. But she was telling the truth—she had turned down Tang San's requests to spar many times.

Before long.

Ye Qiu returned to his wooden house.

Separated by wooden boards and a door curtain, it had one bedroom, one living room, and one bathroom. Though small, it had everything it needed.

"All right, we're here."

Ye Qiu took out a key from his clothes and, with a certain sense of ceremony, opened the battered old door.

Xiao Wu followed closely behind him.

"Ah~ I'm exhausted!"

Not caring about the dust on the bed, Ye Qiu flopped straight down onto it.

Seeing Ye Qiu's cheeks flushed red from exhaustion, Xiao Wu could not help rolling her eyes. Other than cultivating and bullying her, Ye Qiu was always this lazy.

Xiao Wu stood where she was, looking around the tiny room. It was cleaner than Tang San's home, but much smaller, seemingly divided from a single room into several areas. When she looked back at Ye Qiu, something extra appeared in her eyes.

Ye Qiu got up and began looking for rags and a washbasin, cleaning up his somewhat dirty little home. "Silly rabbit, what are you standing there for? Don't tell me you plan to watch me do all the work alone?"

"..."

Xiao Wu fell silent for a moment. Her lips moved as if she wanted to object to what he called her, but she ultimately said nothing. Blushing, she merely asked, "D-Do you have any extra rags and washbasins?"

"No need to be so restrained. They're all worthless old things. Go look for them yourself—use whatever you find." Ye Qiu raised a brow and waved his hand. Everything in this wooden house was practically an antique anyway. He had barely bought anything new, and he certainly would not need any of it in the future.

"Mm." Xiao Wu nodded slightly. As she turned to leave, she scrunched up her little face and looked at Ye Qiu somewhat aggrievedly. "Don't call me rabbit anymore."

Her voice no longer carried the same force as before. Instead, it sounded almost like a plea.

After saying that, Xiao Wu lightly stepped toward the bedroom.

Watching her back, Ye Qiu scratched his head in confusion. He did not think he had bullied her, so why had she suddenly become so obedient? Though he had been single all his life, after being connected to her heart for so long, Ye Qiu understood how this rabbit felt about him.

Sometimes, when Ye Qiu went shopping and liked staring at other still charming women while paying Xiao Wu little attention, she would get so angry that she deliberately caused trouble and asked to be beaten.

Things were progressing faster than Ye Qiu had expected. Could this be the bonus of the Love Continent?! Or was trading sincerity for sincerity really this quick? Ye Qiu shook his head, putting away those little thoughts. There was still a long future ahead of them; it was too early to think about such things now.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn.

When Ye Qiu had finished cleaning the cramped bathroom and the table in the living room, he entered the bedroom and saw Xiao Wu kneeling on the wooden bed, giving the planks a thorough wash with a soaking-wet rag.

Ye Qiu froze for a moment, then rubbed his forehead speechlessly. "Tell me... are you really stupid? You got the bed so wet. When is it ever going to dry?"

"Ah?! I-I didn't know..."

Xiao Wu was also stunned. Sitting back on her knees atop the bed, she wore a bewildered expression.

She had never done this sort of thing before.

Looking at Xiao Wu's ash-gray hair, her dust-covered face, and her soaked clothes, Ye Qiu opened his mouth but found it hard to criticize her further.

"Then get down first and take a bath. I'll handle the rest myself." Ye Qiu waved his hand, telling her to hurry down from the bed.

"All right."

Xiao Wu nodded gently.

As Ye Qiu took the rag from her, he reminded her, "If cold water won't do, I boiled some hot water under the eaves earlier. The temperature should be about right. If I'd kept boiling it, I could've skinned you rabbit."

After hearing Ye Qiu's words, Xiao Wu, who had been a little touched, immediately darkened.

"Ye Qiu! I told you not to call me rabbit!"

At noon, the blazing sun hung high in the sky.

Outside Tang San's blacksmith shop, Ye Qiu was carrying several lunchboxes as he walked over.

"Little San, Little San!"

Before he even reached the door, Ye Qiu shouted inside.

Tang San was inside, cleaning up that pile of stinking liquor bottles and using hidden weapons to nail rats and cockroaches to death. Hearing Ye Qiu call out, the filthy, dust-covered boy frowned. Remembering what his father had written in the letter, he immediately walked out of the room.

"Ye Qiu, what did you need me for?"

Ye Qiu shook the things in his hand. "What else could it be? I'm bringing you food, of course. Grandpa Jack knew we'd only just gotten home and probably had nothing to eat, so he specially made portions for us. The old man has trouble getting around, so I brought them over."

With that, Ye Qiu curled his lip. He knew Tang San had plenty of food stored in his Twenty-Four Bridges on a Moonlit Night, but this was the old man's kindness, after all.

"Then thank you."

Tang San smiled faintly. Though he had food, he wanted something hot even more.

"No problem. Here, this one's yours—still-hot shit for a meal."

Ye Qiu grinned as he placed the lunchbox in Tang San's hands.

Tang San's mouth twitched. Ye Qiu's strange pause was truly hard to compliment.

The words "boxed meal" were clearly supposed to go together.

"By the way, where's Xiao Wu?"

"Don't worry, she's still at my place waiting for me to bring her food. She's alive and kicking. If there's nothing else, I'll head back first." Ye Qiu waved his hand, with no intention of staying long.

"Mm."

Tang San nodded. There was plenty of time. He was in no hurry to make Ye Qiu submit to him and follow his lead.

Wishing everyone a happy life!