Qian Renxue's Troubles

"Your father just complained to me in the Pope Palace."

Qian Xunji coughed twice, then pretended to be dumbfounded.

"What are you complaining about?"

"You said your daughter pretended not to recognize you at the school gate."

Qian Xunji pulled her hand away from the doorknob, put it in her pocket, adjusted her posture, and shifted her weight from her left leg to her right leg.

"Can this be called complaining? I was just saying it casually."

Qian Renxue turned to look at Qian Xunji, "Dad, are you angry?"

"No, how could Dad be angry?"

"Let's go inside."

"Okay," Qian Renxue replied readily.

Qian Xunji pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Bibi Dong carry Qian Renxue inside first.

The family walked through the storefront of the grocery store, lifted the curtain behind the counter, and went into the inner room.

Liu Xiulan was already busy in the kitchen.

The rest of the people went through the inner room, pushed open the back door, and entered the backyard.

Qian Xunji sat down on the bamboo chair, leaned back, and looked up at the loquat leaves above him.

Bibi Dong carried Qian Renxue to sit on another bamboo chair. Then, Qian Renxue moved a small bamboo stool herself and sat down next to Bibi Dong.

After a moment of silence...

I could hear the sounds of a neighbor's child crying and adults scolding him from afar; the crying stopped after a few moments.

Bi Dashan asked, "Have Xiao Xi and the others arrived yet?"

"Lingluan and the others have arrived in Suotuo City."

"The Holy Temple over there is short-staffed. Suotuo City has developed rapidly in recent years, and the number of Soul Master has more than doubled. The original branch temple can no longer keep up. It's good for them to go there and gain some experience."

Bi Dashan, "Xiao Xi came here once before she left, bringing Xiao Xiao with her."

"Xiao Xiao clung to her father's leg and wouldn't let go, crying so loudly that the whole street could hear it."

Qian Renxue looked up from the small bamboo stool. "Xiao Xiao, you went too?"

Bibi Dong nodded. "Yes, he's with his parents."

Bi Dashan said, "Your mother and I originally wanted to leave her here."

"We both wanted to take her, but she didn't want to."

He paused, sighed, and said, "She cried so much when we carried her to the car, her voice was hoarse. Your mother and I could only stand at the door and watch her leave."

Bibi Dong tucked her hair behind her ears and sighed, "Of course, a two- or three-year-old child is closer to their parents, and no matter how close they are to their grandparents, they can't replace their parents."

Qian Renxue sat on a small bamboo stool, resting her chin on her hands, and nodded after listening.

"Yes, unlike me, a left-behind child."

Upon hearing this, Qian Xunji leaned back in the bamboo chair, her lips twitching slightly. She turned her face towards the loquat tree, pretending to look at the moon.

We had been separated for four years due to certain reasons.

Qian Renxue still seems to harbor some resentment.

Bibi Dong reached out and gently stroked Qian Renxue's nose. "It won't happen again. Besides, Xiao Xue is Soul Master now, so she can come with us on missions instead of being left alone at home waiting."

Upon hearing Qian Renxue's eyes lit up.

"Yes, I also think Xiao Xiao should stay with her parents."

"Anyway Suotuo City isn't far, I'll go see her when I have time."

"Besides, it's not far. It only takes two days by carriage. Once my Soul Power is higher, I can run there myself."

"You're still a child yourself, yet you're already thinking about visiting even younger children."

"I'm not a child anymore." Qian Renxue took her hand off her head.

"I beat a guy who's several years older than me at the academy today."

Bi Dashan smiled kindly and gently, "My granddaughter is the most amazing."

Just then, Liu Xiulan's voice came from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready!"

Qian Xunji stood up from the bamboo chair. "Let's eat in the backyard, it's cool there."

Qian Renxue got up from the bamboo stool, then turned and ran into the house, saying, "I'm going to get the bowl."

"Mom will help you get it."

After finishing dinner, in the bathroom.

Bibi Dong helped Qian Renxue take off her clothes first.

Qian Renxue lifted her foot, letting Bibi Dong help her take off her pants, and then stepped onto a small bamboo stool to enter the bathtub.

Bibi Dong also took off her clothes, stepped into the bathtub, and sat down opposite Qian Renxue.

The bathtub was just big enough for two people to sit facing each other, knee to knee.

Next, she reached over the edge of the basin, picked up a towel, soaked it, wrung it out until it was half dry, and then used it to wipe Qian Renxue's face.

Qian Renxue closed her eyes and tilted her head back, letting her wipe her face.

"Xiao Xue." Bibi Dong re-soaked the towel, wrung it out, and draped it over the edge of the basin.

"Do you want to hunt for Soul Ring? You happen to be two short."

Qian Renxue's current Soul Power is level 33. According to the optimal Soul Ring ratio, she can still absorb two more Soul Ring.

"Not yet."

"Why?"

"Soul Ring cannot be concealed by disguise."

"I am currently Lin Xue, level 18, with one Soul Ring."

"If I go and hunt for a new Soul Ring now, Lin Xue won't be able to keep up the act anymore."

Bibi Dong thought for a moment and asked, "But if they knew you were hiding this from them, would they be angry?"

Qian Renxue remained silent...

She had thought about this: what if one day they discovered that Lin Xue didn't exist at all, and that she was Qian Renxue, the young lady of the Spirit Hall?

Will they still hold his hands like that?

Will they still hold hands and go shopping after school?

Will we still be friends?

"I... I don't think so."

"Who knows? Everyone is different. Some people don't care, while others will remember it forever."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue frowned, looking troubled.

"But I'm afraid it will create a sense of distance, and I don't like that."

In her past life, she was surrounded by people who were distant from her.

Everyone either treated her with utmost respect or had ulterior motives.

In this life, she finally gained a group of people who didn't care about her fame but only about her, and she didn't want to lose them.

Bibi Dong looked at her, reached out and smoothed her brows, "We'll talk about that later, no rush."

Qian Renxue nodded, a smile appearing on her face. "Yes, I'll help Mom wash her hair."

"OK."

Bibi Dong rose from the bathtub, her skin as white as jade.

She stepped out of the bathtub and then sat down in the high chair.

Qian Renxue picked up the small porcelain jar containing soapberry paste from the rim of the basin, scooped out a piece with her finger, and the white paste melted in her palm, creating foam.

She applied the foam to Bibi Dong's hair, then ran her fingers through the strands, gently massaging from root to tip.

Her fingers were small, but she used her strength very carefully.

Bibi Dong closed her eyes, enjoying the service her daughter provided.

"Xiao Xue."

"Um?"

Do you think Mom's hair looks better when it's white, or when it used to be?

"They all look good."

Bibi Dong turned her head to the side, a smile playing at the corner of her eye.

"Real?"

"Really, I love any mom."

"My sweet baby has such a sweet tongue, give Mommy a kiss."

"I'm washing my hair."

"It's okay, come here."

Qian Renxue said with a hint of arrogance, "Alright then."

Then, Bibi Dong kissed him on the cheek, and then she kissed him on the other cheek.