Her ruby-red eyes gazed toward the mouth of the harbor, her thoughts a mystery.
She gently stirred the river with her feet.
The tranquil surface was disturbed by the movement, ripples rolling slowly outward.
The river water on a summer morning wasn't cold. If anything, it felt pleasant.
It was easy to tell that the little girl had been waiting for quite some time.
Honestly, Fang Xun was a little surprised.
There were still half an hour to go before their appointed time.
He'd thought he was early enough.
He hadn't expected Ningguang to arrive even earlier than he had.
It was clear from this that the little girl took their contract very seriously.
"Brother Fang Xun, you're here~"
Hearing footsteps, Little Ningguang instinctively turned to look.
When she saw that it was Fang Xun, a joyful smile spread across her face.
She looked like a child in kindergarten waiting for the end of the day so she could go home.
At last, she'd spotted the parent who'd come to pick her up.
Fang Xun nodded, then asked with a smile, "Little Ningguang, have you been waiting long? You didn't have to come so early."
"We still have half an hour before our appointed time. You only need to get here before then."
Seeing how sensible Ningguang was made Fang Xun both happy and concerned for her.
Fang Xun's concern warmed Ningguang's heart.
Not wanting him to worry, she quickly replied, "Brother Fang Xun, I only just got here, actually. I haven't been waiting long."
"But I still had to come early. I'm the guide, and you're the guest."
"What kind of thing would it be to make a guest wait for their guide?"
"Besides, Brother Fang Xun has been so, so good to me."
"I don't want you to have to wait. I don't mind waiting a little longer myself."
The little girl blinked her clear, bright eyes and answered with earnestness.
Children from poor families were often like that.
They were perceptive and sensitive.
Little Ningguang cared a great deal about other people's feelings.
And when someone like Fang Xun was so good to her,
how could Ningguang bear to disappoint or upset him?
Hearing the little girl's answer moved Fang Xun a little.
This little girl was just too sensible.
She even had a kind of silly stubbornness deep down.
A silly girl like that was adorable.
So he had to look after her.
Fang Xun gently patted Ningguang's little head and asked, "Little Ningguang, have you planned out today's itinerary?"
Ningguang nodded, then replied happily, "Brother Fang Xun, I've already planned it all out. I even made a schedule!"
As she spoke, Little Ningguang took a sheet of paper from inside her clothes.
On it was the itinerary she'd carefully written out.
Though Little Ningguang came from a poor family, she had beautiful handwriting.
It was elegant and pleasing to the eye.
It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say it belonged to a young lady from a distinguished family.
What surprised Fang Xun most was that
Little Ningguang's schedule wasn't messy at all. It was orderly and clearly thought out.
Could a six- or seven-year-old really make a schedule like this?
Fang Xun had to admit,
even before she'd made her fortune, Ningguang had already shown excellent management and critical-thinking skills.
Who wouldn't like a little rich girl like her?
If he could marry her, he'd have reached the pinnacle of life.
When Fang Xun didn't say anything, Ningguang assumed he didn't like her plans.
The little girl panicked and hurried to ask, "Brother Fang Xun, what's wrong? Is there a problem with my schedule?"
"If you don't like something, I can change it."
"Please don't be mad, okay?"
Seeing how worried and upset Little Ningguang looked, as though she were about to cry,
Fang Xun couldn't help but chuckle. He gently pinched her pretty cheek.
It was smooth and delicate, soft as silk.
The poor little waif's cheek felt pretty nice to pinch.
"Little Ningguang, you've got it wrong. I don't think there's anything wrong with your schedule."
"On the contrary, I think you've planned it very well. It's really great!"
Fang Xun knew
that putting together such a packed schedule must have taken Ningguang a lot of effort.
He should give her some well-deserved praise.
Hearing Fang Xun say that, Ningguang finally relaxed. "I'm glad you like it, Brother Fang Xun. I was afraid you wouldn't."
Fang Xun looked over the schedule and said, "Little Ningguang, I can tell you put a lot of effort into this. Thank you."
Looking at the schedule, Fang Xun could tell that Ningguang had put her heart into it.
The little girl really wanted to show him all of Liyue, without missing a single thing.
Hearing Fang Xun thank her, Ningguang seemed a little overwhelmed.
"Brother Fang Xun, please don't thank me. It's what I should do."
"Besides, if anyone should be thanking someone, it should be me thanking you for helping me so many times."
"Yesterday, my mother was diagnosed with a serious illness. The money you lent me became the money that saved her life. Thank you so much!"
Ningguang paused, then continued, "Brother Fang Xun, please don't worry. I'll find a way to earn more Mora and pay back the fifty thousand you lent me as soon as I can!"
Though the little girl's voice still sounded childish, her expression and tone were full of determination.
Fang Xun hadn't expected Little Ningguang to bring up paying him back so directly.
Since Ningguang had put it that way,
he took the opportunity to ask, "Little Ningguang, how are you planning to earn fifty thousand Mora? Are you going to keep selling Starconches?"
"Selling Starconches won't be enough to earn that much. I think you need to find a different job."
Ningguang clearly hadn't figured out how to make money yet, and she couldn't answer right away.
"I agree that selling Starconches isn't enough, but I haven't thought of a new way to earn money yet."
Fang Xun looked straight at Little Ningguang, then asked, "Would you like to work as my secretary?"
"If you work as my secretary for a month, the fifty thousand Mora I lent you can count as your salary. You won't have to pay me back."
"After a month, if you decide to keep working as my secretary, I'll still pay you fifty thousand Mora—and maybe even more."
Fang Xun had wanted to bring Ningguang onto his side for a long time.
Having the little rich girl manage his assets would practically let him make money with his eyes closed.
Fang Xun paused, then continued, "And during this time, I'll pay you overtime as well."
"You just said your mother is seriously ill."
"Even after the fifty thousand Mora is spent on her treatment, won't she need time to recover? Won't that cost money too?"
"If you work as my secretary, I can give you ten thousand Mora in overtime pay upfront. You can use it to help your mother recover. What do you say?"
Hearing the terms Fang Xun offered,
Ningguang froze for a moment, then instinctively assumed he was joking.
After all, fifty thousand Mora a month was a lot.
Ningguang would have been doing very well to earn twenty thousand Mora in a month.
And even that was only when business was good.
Compared to that,
a job paying fifty thousand Mora was obviously far more tempting!
More importantly,
Fang Xun was even willing to give Ningguang ten thousand Mora in overtime pay upfront.
And just as Fang Xun had said,
even after Ningguang's mother recovered, she would still be very weak and need time to recuperate.
That would cost money too.
Before you continue