When I'm Not Here, Treat Him as Your Grandfather

"Su Chen, this is the Dugu Clan's residence. Make yourself at home and don't be restrained."

Dugu Bo's residence was exceedingly luxurious, far from the modest conditions he had described.

That made sense. Given Xue Ye's efforts to win him over, let alone a single residence, even a higher office and richer rewards would not have been too much to ask.

Dugu Yan, trailing behind them, grumbled inwardly.

Make himself at home? Was that some kind of hint to me?

"Grandfather, can you finally tell me who this little guy is now?"

Dugu Bo snorted. "Yan Yan, don't be so rude."

You still dared to call him a little guy?

Did you know that if he wanted to, he could call me a little guy?

After being reprimanded, Dugu Yan felt a stifling discomfort in her chest.

Wasn't this guy obviously younger than me? If I can't call him a little guy, am I supposed to call him Little Uncle?

"Then what should I call him?"

Even Dugu Bo hesitated this time.

"This Su Chen... little friend is an old friend of mine despite our age difference. You can call him... call him..."

After agonizing over it for quite some time, Dugu Bo still did not know what Dugu Yan should call Su Chen.

Since he and Su Chen were already treating each other as equals, he could not exactly have his granddaughter treat Su Chen as a younger brother, could he?

Even if he himself did not mind, he had to consider whether Su Chen would be willing.

While Dugu Bo struggled, Dugu Yan's thoughts raced.

An old friend despite their age difference?

That was quite an age difference to overlook.

Even if Grandfather had gone mad, he would not become old friends with a child so young, would he?

She felt that her earlier wild guesses had definitely been wrong.

Even if this Su Chen was Grandfather's illegitimate son from a late-life romance, it would still make no sense to call him an old friend despite their age difference.

Could he be of an even higher generation, some distant young grandfather from the Dugu Clan?

The large eyes exposed beneath Ye Lingling's veil gleamed with intense curiosity as she pretended not to care and secretly glanced at Su Chen several times.

"Old Poison, there's no need to make this so complicated. Just have her call me by my name."

"Old Poison?"

Dugu Yan glanced repeatedly at Dugu Bo.

Forget a child—even throughout the entire Heaven Dou City, no one dared address her grandfather like that.

Dugu Bo first glared at Dugu Yan, then said to Su Chen,

"That wouldn't be appropriate. Yan Yan is from a younger generation, so calling you by name would be somewhat disrespectful."

"There's nothing disrespectful about it. Everyone can address each other however they see fit. A name is just a label meant for people to use."

"Very well."

Dugu Bo stopped agonizing over it.

"I'll arrange a place for you to stay first."

Dugu Bo directly assigned the largest main residence in Dugu Manor to Su Chen.

After arranging everything, Dugu Bo said,

"If you need anything, just tell Yan Yan and have her handle it. If she can't manage it..."

Dugu Bo turned to Dugu Yan.

"Yan Yan, take the token Xue Ye gave me into the palace and ask Xue Ye for help, understand?"

Dugu Yan clicked her tongue in amazement.

This was no Little Uncle—he was practically a little ancestor. The Dugu Clan had clearly gained a tiny forefather.

When had Grandfather ever been so considerate toward anyone? Even toward her, he had never gone this far.

She became even more curious about Su Chen's identity.

Was there anyone on Douluo Continent who could make Grandfather treat them like this?

Not even disciples of the Upper Three Sects could, right?

But she quickly realized something.

"Grandfather, are you leaving again?"

"That's right. I have something important to do. During this time, stay home and take good care of Su Chen."

"Huh? You're really leaving?"

He had been gone for months, and now that he had just returned, he was leaving again. Dugu Yan had no idea why Dugu Bo had suddenly become so busy, and he even seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it, full of vigor.

She did not know that Dugu Bo, heading toward a bright future, possessed inexhaustible strength and boundless fighting spirit.

The results of working for Lord Thunder God were important, but attitude was important too.

He had to let Lord Thunder God see his efforts!

That way, even if he had no merit, Lord Thunder God would at least remember his hard work, right?

After giving his instructions, Dugu Bo prepared to head for the secluded waterfall Thunder God had mentioned.

"Grandfather, I'll see you off."

Dugu Yan followed closely behind Dugu Bo.

"You just came back and you're leaving again. I still have so many questions to ask, like why did your hair and eye color change? Did the poison backlash become worse?"

Dugu Yan chattered away with questions the entire way.

Dugu Bo gave brief answers to a few of them.

He did not tell Dugu Yan about the Poison Nerve Scripture yet.

His understanding of the Poison Nerve Scripture was still shallow, and Dugu Yan was still far from suffering a poison backlash, so there was no need to rush into teaching it to her.

Moreover, the Poison Nerve Scripture was of great importance. No matter how much he trusted Dugu Yan, he still had to guard against the possibility of it being leaked.

"Grandfather, just quietly tell me—what exactly is Su Chen's background?"

Only after seeing him to the gates did Dugu Yan ask.

"You don't need to concern yourself with that. You only need to know that you must take good care of Su Chen, and you absolutely must not offend him. This is not a reminder; it is an order. Remember it well."

Dugu Bo gave the instruction with utmost solemnity.

Su Chen carried the hopes of both himself and the entire Dugu Clan. There could not be the slightest carelessness.

He kept his eyes fixed on Dugu Yan's, waiting for her response.

"I'll remember."

It was the first time Dugu Yan had seen such a serious expression on Dugu Bo's face.

"Good. In any case, while I'm not home, treat him as if he were me. Everything in the Dugu Clan is at Su Chen's disposal."

After giving a few more instructions, Dugu Bo finally set off.

Only after Grandfather's figure had disappeared from sight did Dugu Yan come back to herself.

While Grandfather was away, treat Su Chen as Grandfather?

Had Grandfather found her another grandfather?

Dugu Yan had a Title Douluo for a grandfather. Others had always respected and taken care of her, so this was the first time she had encountered a situation where she needed to respect and take care of someone else.

Just as she pondered how to strike the right balance, Ye Lingling walked over.

When Dugu Yan had chased after Dugu Bo, Ye Lingling had not followed.

She knew Dugu Yan would surely have many questions for Dugu Bo, and as an outsider, it was best for her not to tag along.

But Dugu Yan had not returned for quite some time, so she came out to look for her and found Dugu Yan muttering to herself alone.

"Yan Yan, what are you thinking about? Did Senior Dugu leave?"

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up.

One person's plan might fall short, but two people's wisdom could make up for it.

It did not matter if she was not good at this herself. She had a smart, considerate best friend.

Ye Lingling had taken care of her plenty of times already, and Ye Lingling was a healing-type support Soul Master. Supporting and caring for teammates was practically her nature.

There was nothing wrong with that.

"Lingling, I'm counting on you!"

Ye Lingling was utterly bewildered.

"What bad idea are you plotting this time?"

"How can you call it a bad idea? We sisters share blessings and hardships alike. My business is your business, and we have to split the nourishing porridge Grandfather brought me equally."

"Go ahead. What do you need my help with?"

Inside the room, Su Chen, now settled in, did not immediately lie down and rest.

But he did not cultivate Soul Power either. Instead, he continuously recalled all kinds of good, bad, happy, and enraging memories, stirring up the Good Thought and Evil Thought within himself.