Watch closely!

This outing kept them out until midnight, and the two of them got back right on time.

Ye Qi'an and Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian had gotten so bored that they had started playing Go to pass the time.

When he saw that the two youngsters who had gone out were finally back, Ye Qi'an immediately asked with concern, "How was it?"

Ye Xunzhi happily handed him a bowl of malatang. "Great! Everything tastes good when you go out for a walk. Third Brother, I brought you something tasty."

Taking the malatang, Ye Qi'an said, "At least you have a conscience. But don't stay out so late next time."

Ye Xunzhi said, "Got it~"

[Actually, we were done by ten. The remaining two hours were mainly spent keeping Sister Qian Li company to help her unwind.]

[If I weren't still a minor, the natural course of events would've been for us to go get drunk at a bar tonight, hit the dance floor together, and party for three days and three nights!]

[Three days and three nights! In the dead of night! Don't stop dancing!]

Hearing the earworm singing by his ear, along with Ye Xunzhi's throat-tearing delivery, Ye Qi'an wore a mask of agony.

You little girl, you even want to get drunk?

Very well. It was time to put a whole list of safety lessons on why girls shouldn't go to bars alone on the agenda.

While Ye Qi'an suffered through the demonic music assaulting his ears, Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian warily watched his beaming granddaughter.

"What are you up to?"

"Grandpa, I brought you malatang. Come on, try some," Qian Li said with a smile. She recommended it enthusiastically. "It's delicious. I guarantee it'll open the door to a whole new world for you."

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian glanced at it and coldly turned his head away. "I'm not eating it. This stuff is all junk food. I couldn't care less about it."

After saying that, he added, "You should eat less of it too, before it gives you some kind of health problem."

Qian Li wasn't angry at his rejection. Instead, she simply picked up a bite with her chopsticks.

"Grandpa."

"What?" Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian turned back in confusion, only to have a bite of malatang unexpectedly stuffed into his mouth.

With it in his mouth, neither eating it nor spitting it out seemed right.

Wasting food had no place in the old man's principles. Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian glared daggers at his granddaughter.

"Mmph, mmph, mmph... Hm? Hmm... Oh!"

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian's chewing slowed.

"Watch closely. This old man is thinking, what kind of bland, watery life have I been living all these years?"

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian picked up the takeout container and examined it nonchalantly.

"Watch closely. Some people seem indifferent, but they've actually already started secretly checking the logo. Unfortunately, there's nothing at all on the bowl."

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian's brows knitted tightly.

"But that's all right. To find this malatang shop, turn left when you leave the hospital, then cross a crosswalk and you'll see it. It's called The World's Best Malatang. You get twenty percent off every Wednesday, and if you sign up for a membership card, you get thirty percent off."

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian understood. In that case, getting a membership card really was the better deal.

Wait, who was narrating for him?!

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian whipped his head around. Ye Xunzhi was crouching behind him, her hands cupped into a megaphone.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm being your spiritual mentor." Ye Xunzhi held out two fingers with an origami heart between them. "Grandpa Qian, this is for you."

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian snorted and turned his head aside. "Don't want it."

She had just thoroughly embarrassed him, and she thought one tiny heart could buy his forgiveness? Wishful thinking!

Ye Xunzhi said, "This contains all the delicious takeout I've ordered over the past ten-plus years, with phone numbers and shop names, all recorded, along with my apology."

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian disdainfully tucked the heart into his pocket. "I'll reluctantly accept your apology. Don't do it again."

Qian Li: This old man would still be stubborn even in death.

Ye Qi'an: I never knew you were this kind of teacher.

Sensing their almost tangible gazes, Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian turned around and exploded. "What are you two laughing at?!"

Amid the laughter beside her, Ye Xunzhi sat back down on the sofa, still chuckling. Her neck tilted, and she shut down and fell asleep in a second.

Ye Qi'an: *???*

At least get home before you fall asleep! Who's paying the fare now that you're asleep?!

Second Brother's car hadn't had enough gas. They had been pressed for time on the way here and hadn't had a chance to fill up, so they had taken a taxi.

Answer: the Qian family would step in.

Senior Chinese Medicine Physician Qian transferred a hundred yuan to his broke disciple, put away his phone, and looked at Ye Xunzhi on his disciple's back, puffing his beard in disdain.

"Children are such a nuisance."

Qian Li likewise transferred a thousand yuan. "I have no other requests. Just don't mistreat your little sister."

After a three-second pause, she looked at Ye Qi'an with a broad smile. "How about you let me look after her? I'll pay you five thousand a day."

Ye Qi'an said, "..."

Thanks for the offer, but your five thousand could very well cost me everything I own.

Over the next three days.

Ye Xunzhi followed Ye Qi'an to the outpatient department in the mornings, the research institute in the afternoons, and Myriad Wonders Hall in the evenings, running off her feet every day.

Ever since Ye Xunzhi had displayed her talent at Myriad Wonders Hall that night, Ye Qi'an had felt as though he had opened some incredible mystery box.

He wanted her to take a look at the outpatient department and get some exposure to the research institute too. He wanted her to try everything.

At first, Ye Xunzhi obliged every request, but gradually she started slacking off. Whoever wanted this rotten life could have it. She certainly wasn't living it anymore.

To motivate her to work, Ye Qi'an found new ways to feed her every day. Through his tireless efforts, Ye Xunzhi reluctantly agreed to devote a third of her energy to work.

The rest of the time, she was either finding somewhere to lie down or on her way to eat and drink.

Yet despite being this lazy, after three days, not only had she not gained weight, she had lost three jin!

This astonishing discovery made Old Master Ye suspect for a time that Ye Qi'an wasn't feeding his little sister.

Ye Xunzhi held her phone as she video-called the old man.

"No, why would Brother refuse to feed me? I've been eating really well, three meals a day. He just likes squeezing labor out of me, a child worker, and taking away my sleeping time, that's all..."

Ye Xunzhi paused there and smiled, pretending to be strong.

"It's all right. He's my Third Brother, after all. As the saying goes, you should endure more hardship while you're young so you'll be used to it when you're old."

Ye Qi'an had just come out of the restroom and was thinking about how to get his little sister to work harder when Ye Xunzhi jogged over and handed him the phone. Ye Qi'an took it.

"What's wrong?"

He looked at the screen in confusion and saw his familiar grandfather wearing a stern expression.

*!!!*

"Grandpa, did you need me for something?"

Old Master Ye said, "Ye Qi'an, you brat, you've really gotten capable, haven't you? You've even learned to exploit child labor? Did I raise you to exploit your younger brothers and sisters? Do you believe I'll take a hammer to you?"

Ye Qi'an said, "..."

I'm innocent!

Having successfully held up her third brother, Ye Xunzhi happily hugged a pillow and went off to find somewhere to slack off.

Then, the next day, she received some terrible news.

"Final exams?!"