"Huh? Bring my friends over?" After her initial surprise, Cui Qianqian shook her head like a pellet drum. "No. It's not convenient at home. I don't want to bring them over!"
To the bewilderment of Xue Ning, Wen Xiancheng, and Xue Ruigao, Cui Qianqian refused the young woman without the slightest hesitation.
After spending more than a month together, they had all come to understand Cui Qianqian a little.
Cui Qianqian was actually very easygoing. She was simply rather withdrawn and not much of a talker.
Unless something unusual was going on, she would never have refused so decisively.
Seeing this, Xue Ning quickly backed her up. "We still have things to do. It really isn't a good time."
As she spoke, she signaled to Wen Xiancheng and Xue Ruigao with her eyes and made to leave.
The young woman stopped the three of them. "The master instructed me to make sure I brought you over. If coming over delays your business, we're willing to compensate you."
As she spoke, the young woman touched a brand-new Storage Ring on her finger with her right hand.
A small pouch instantly appeared in her hand.
Offering the pouch to Xue Ning, the young woman said, "There are a hundred high-grade spirit stones in here. That should be enough compensation."
"He really is the richest man," Xue Ning murmured. "Throwing around so much money just like that."
She snatched the pouch and looked at Cui Qianqian with a pitiful, pleading expression.
Cui Qianqian frowned and said helplessly, "Fine, let's go!"
Under the crowd's envious gazes, the group climbed into the car.
Throughout the journey, Cui Qianqian wore a dark expression and said nothing.
Although Xue Ning really wanted to talk to her, seeing her like this, she did not dare open her mouth.
At last, the car drove into a luxurious villa complex, then stopped in front of a garden-like property.
Even though Wen Xiancheng had lived two lives, he had never seen such extravagant surroundings.
Led by the young woman, Wen Xiancheng and the others entered the villa.
In the living room, a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair sat on a sofa, leafing through a book.
While she was still at the doorway, the young woman announced, "Master, the second young miss and her friends are back."
The middle-aged man immediately stood and came to greet them, his face wreathed in smiles. "Hello there, youngsters!"
Wen Xiancheng: "..."
Xue Ruigao: "..."
Xue Ning: "..."
The three had originally assumed that, as Dai City's richest man, someone like Cui Shang would be aloof and expressionless, looking as though everyone owed him a million or more.
Wen Xiancheng had even imagined a scene that often appeared in television dramas: Cui Shang looking down on their group from on high, cold as frost, then tossing down a large bag of high-grade spirit stones and saying, "These are all yours. I have only one condition: leave my daughter."
To their surprise, reality was nothing like they had expected.
Cui Qianqian went up to him. "Dad, did you need us for something?"
Smiling, Cui Shang rubbed Cui Qianqian's head, mussing her hair and provoking a flurry of complaints from her.
His eyes narrowed to slits as Cui Shang said, "Can't your dad see you just because he misses you? I heard you've moved in with a few friends and are happily keeping busy every day. I just wanted to know what extraordinary youngsters could get along so well with my precious daughter."
The young woman abruptly interjected, "It's only because Madam and the eldest young miss aren't home. They returned to Dai City today and went to visit the old madam. The master was home alone, so he invited you over."
Cui Shang gave an awkward chuckle and said to Xue Ning, Wen Xiancheng, and Xue Ruigao with an embarrassed expression, "Don't listen to Lili's nonsense. I'm Dai City's richest man, wealthy enough to dominate the region. How could I possibly be afraid of anything like that?"
Huang Li said, "I'll keep watch outside. If Madam and the eldest young miss return, I'll follow our usual arrangement."
With that, Huang Li turned and left.
Only then did Cui Shang say to Xue Ning, Wen Xiancheng, and Xue Ruigao, "Have a seat, youngsters. What would you like to eat? I'll get it for you."
Xue Ning asked curiously, "Can I call you Uncle Cui?"
"Of course!" Cui Shang said, as though it went without saying.
Xue Ning asked, "Uncle Cui, you're so rich, and you live in such a huge villa. Why don't I see a single servant?"
"Because I like doing things myself, of course! You mustn't forget your roots just because you have money, understand?" Cui Shang rose and brought seven or eight bags out of a room as he spoke with a perfectly serious expression.
Cui Qianqian sighed. "Dad, you obviously sent them out shopping because you were afraid they'd tell Auntie and my sister I came back. There's no need for this. I really am fine on my own."
Wen Xiancheng and Xue Ruigao exchanged a glance.
Just as she herself had said, Cui Qianqian really was an illegitimate daughter.
Although her father, Cui Shang, seemed to care about her a great deal, she seemed very reluctant to see him.
The word "awkward" was written all over Cui Shang's face.
Walking over to Cui Qianqian, Cui Shang set the various fruits on the table and said gently, "Sweetheart, don't be like this. I wronged you and your mother, but I really am doing my best to make amends. I believe that once your auntie is a little older and your sister has grown up some more, they won't be so harsh."
Cui Qianqian gave a self-mocking smile. "Dad, I'll say what I've always said. If you truly want what's best for me, don't come looking for me again. I'll remember your kindness. But I really don't want to get tangled up in your family. I saved all the spirit stones you gave me before, so you don't need to worry about me suffering. Besides, I can earn money myself now."
Looking at Wen Xiancheng, Cui Qianqian said, "The four of us founded Cui Qianqian Studio. This is our boss. Last month, the deposits on our orders alone came to seventy-four high-grade spirit stones. He gave Ning'er and me a third, enough to cover my living expenses for a month."
"Oh! That's amazing!" Cui Shang clapped, looking over Wen Xiancheng and the others with admiration. "You're so young, yet you can already earn that much!"
Turning to Wen Xiancheng, Cui Shang asked curiously, "What sort of orders do you take that make so much money? You're far more capable than I was at your age."
Wen Xiancheng's face flushed a little.
What did he amount to in front of Dai City's richest man?
If Cui Shang's expression had not been so genuinely admiring, Wen Xiancheng would have taken those words as mockery under any other circumstances.
Wen Xiancheng said, "We use illusion arts to work on textbooks. This time, we're using illusion arts to help the school create a lesson."
"Impressive, impressive!" Cui Shang applauded. "That's putting every talent and resource to its best use! My precious daughter is excellent at illusion arts. You've got a good eye, lad!"
Cui Qianqian quickly said, "Dad, don't interfere in our business."
"I won't. Why would I interfere?" Cui Shang said with a smile.
Cui Qianqian's expression darkened. "If I find out you've been interfering behind our backs, I won't ever come here again."
Cui Shang nodded and stroked Cui Qianqian's tousled hair. "All right, I won't interfere. Now that I've met your friends today and seen how outstanding they are, I can rest easy."
"Ding, ding, ding." Suddenly, a phone chimed three times.
Cui Shang's expression changed drastically. He hastily stood and motioned for Cui Qianqian and the other three to get up. "Quick! Hide!"
(End of chapter)
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