"Knock, knock~"
"The door's open."
A voice came from inside.
She opened the door and saw Li Ping'an writing at a table.
"Sir."
"Miss Liu, it's been a while."
"Sir, what are you writing?"
"Spring couplets. The New Year's almost here, after all," Li Ping'an said.
"Have you settled in comfortably here, sir?"
"It's quite nice." Li Ping'an nodded.
"Then I'm relieved. I brought you a few small gifts."
"Thank you, Miss Liu."
Liu E saw that Fierce Tiger again, or rather... Biao.
Sensing her gaze, Biao glanced her way.
He sniffed, said nothing, and quietly chopped vegetables with his claws, looking utterly meek and honest.
Beside him, Old Ox was mixing filling. A ball of kneaded dough sat nearby, as though they were preparing to make dumplings.
This scene... was as bizarre as could be.
Liu E shook her head and prepared to take her leave.
"Wait, Miss Liu. This is the rent your young master paid on my behalf before. Please pass it on to him."
"The rent?" Liu E paused slightly. "My young master already bought this house and gave it to you."
"Oh? This..."
"Sir, there's no need to think about paying him back. This is nothing to my young master. Just consider it... payment for keeping him company and chatting with him these past days."
With that, Liu E left before Li Ping'an could say anything more.
Li Ping'an could not help smiling. If keeping someone company and chatting could earn money, this money was far too easy to make.
But although they had said he need not repay it, he could not simply accept that with a clear conscience.
At Cloud Mountain in Qi Province, a road ran along the foot of the mountain.
A man stood on that road. He was fairly