Chapter Seventy-Four

  Yu Cai did not go home that afternoon. After all, she would soon be going to a faraway place for school by herself and didn't want her parents to worry more than they had to.

  After Jiexi returned, Yucai went to the internet cafe. The manuscript fees in her hands had accumulated a lot again. She must take advantage of the time before the house prices rose comprehensively to add some security for her future.

  The next afternoon, Yu Zai found a clinic to get an IV drip and continued searching online until the evening when she finally confirmed a house on the outskirts of the provincial city that was about to be demolished.

  Yu Cai's ideal place to settle down was in the provincial city, where she had interned after graduation. She wanted to return there because it was a city that was neither too big nor too small, making it very suitable for living. Many of her relatives were also there, and it was close to home. Yu Sai's job after graduation was also there, making it her first choice. Although she now had Qi Shu Fan, who knew what would happen four years later? Perhaps her love for Qi Shu Fan would fade away with time, just like her fondness for Fei Yuan Fan...

  Yu Cai, who had made up her mind, set out early the next morning with her documents and arrived at the house of the person who wanted to sell their house at 10:30 as scheduled. The male owner of the house was surprised to see that Yu Cai was just a young girl.

  Yu Cai pretended not to notice, carefully inquired about the situation, and agreed on a price. Because the family was anxious to move to another city, the price was relatively cheap. Yu Cai had enough cash in hand, so at noon, she invited the male owner to lunch, and in the afternoon, the two went together to handle the formalities.

  Yu Cai was just eighteen years old three months ago, and he was very proud of himself for finally having legal power. He was also afraid that his parents would not agree with him, and he was worried about the consequences if they found out.

  After completing the formalities, Yucai asked the male owner to help find a familiar and reliable person to rent out the house. The male owner agreed and exchanged mobile phone numbers with Yucai.

  Yu Zai felt refreshed and clear-headed after handling everything, but realized it was getting late. She wasn't sure if she could still catch a bus back home, and the male owner mentioned that a family was looking for a house, so they might have news tomorrow. So, she decided to find a hotel near the pedestrian street and stayed there, finding a barbecue restaurant where she ordered a lot of roasted meat and ate slowly.

  Yu Cai didn't know what kind of mentality made her sit here eating barbecue, but as she ate, a smile slowly crept up to the corners of her mouth. It turned out that sometimes recalling the things they had done together by herself could also be a kind of happiness.

  When Yu Cai was savoring the sweet flavor of the spicy meat skewers, Qi Shu Fan was somewhat absent-mindedly accompanying Qiao Mei Chen by her side.

  "What shall we eat, Shu Fan?"

  "It's up to you."

  "Every time it's me who chooses, this time it's your turn, I don't even know what you like to eat," a discontented and pouting voice.

  Qishu Fan smiled and said, "I really chose it, but who knows if it won't meet your expectations again, and then you'll blame me again."

  Qiao Meichen pinched his arm, "I like what you like".

  "Let's go have some barbecue then."

  Qiao Meichen wanted to say that barbecue was both unappetizing and unhealthy, but remembering her own words earlier, she could only nod in agreement.

  So, on a very hot day, in the barbecue shop where there were not many people eating, Qi Shu Fan easily saw Yu Cai classmate who was distracted on one side and eating without delay on the other.

  Yu Cai stared blankly at Qi Shu Fan, unable to help but exclaim, "Life is indeed full of unexpected encounters!"

  "Xiao Cai, why are you alone here?"

  "Come to take care of something, Uncle Biao, who is this?"

  Qishu Fang's expression was somewhat unnatural, "This is Aunt Qiao, Xiao Cai, summoning people."

  Qiao Meichen smiled upon hearing Yu Cai's words and said kindly, "It's Little Cai, I often hear your uncle mention you."

  Although Yu Cai was skeptical about the authenticity of this sentence, she still looked at Qi Shu Fan with a smile that was not quite a smile. "Dear uncle, although I appreciate your subtle humor, I'd like to ask, are you sure this beautiful sister is an aunt and not... an aunt-in-law?"

  Qiao Meichen's face turned red with anger and she scolded, "You little girl, how dare you tease your uncle!"

  Yu Cai couldn't help but laugh, "I speak quickly, please don't mind."

  "How come?" Qiao Meichen sat down beside Yu Cai, "Last time I said I wanted to see you and Shizhi, but your uncle said you were shy, look at this, what a shy appearance?"

  Qishu suddenly came back to his senses from embarrassment, "Xiao Cai, how did you end up here?"

  "I came to take care of something, and it was too late to go back, so I found a place to stay around here. Feeling hungry, I came here to eat something," Yu Cai's explanation was very detailed, but she didn't mention what the thing was that she had come to take care of.

  "Where do you live?"

  "Not far from here, XX Hotel."

  Qibook frowned, "You've arrived, why didn't you come find me? A little girl staying in a hotel by herself, what kind of image is that?"

  "Dear Uncle, you are busy with a million things, how can I bother you again and again? And I'm leaving early tomorrow anyway, it's really not necessary," Yu Zai thought to himself that he should have just taken a taxi back instead, even if it was more troublesome and expensive, rather than staying here and playing Tai Chi with Qi Shu Fan.

  "Let's go check out and head back home with me."

  "Dear uncle, if we cancel the house rental, we won't get our money back. Wasting is a very bad behavior."

  "How much is it? I'll make up for you."

  Yu Cai's face turned red with rage, "Dear uncle, every time you speak in this tone, I really have the urge to punch someone".

  Qiao Meichen burst out laughing, "Xiao Cai is really funny when she talks, Shu Fan, bring her out more often to hang out with us."

  "Beautiful sister, you're being too kind and doing a bad thing. Although I don't care, my dear uncle will inevitably use that tone again, saying 'Xiao Cai, tell me, how much money do you need to disappear? I'll give it to you!'"

  Qiao Mei's eyes sparkled as she glanced at Qi Shu Fan, "I didn't expect your uncle to be so interesting in private".

  "Beautiful sister, as long as you are willing to dig, you will find that my uncle has more than one interesting place."

  Qiao Meichen laughed even harder, and Xi Shu Fan rubbed his temples in a headache, saying, "Xiao Cai, you're building your happiness on my suffering."

  Yu Cai pouted, handing a skewer of meat to Qiao Mei Chen, "Help yourself!" After that, she bowed her head and pretended to eat seriously, admiring her own mental strength with all her might. What's called being in the zone? This is what it means to be in the zone!

  Qiao Meichen glared at Qi Shufan with a hint of annoyance, beckoned the waiter over and said, "Xiaocai wants to order something else."

  Yu Cai said vaguely with a mouthful of barbecue, "No need, I just ordered a lot and can't finish it."

  Qiao Meichen and Qi Shufan randomly ordered some dishes, and the few of them chatted and laughed as they ate. Qiao Meichen was quite talkative, with a straightforward and generous personality, Yu Cai gradually found herself liking her more and more. She thought that if Qi Shufan had someone like this by his side in the next life, it wouldn't be bad at all. Looking at her appearance, she probably wouldn't mistreat Qi Shufan either.

  After dinner, Qiao Meichen dragged Yu Cai to the mall, wanting to give her a gift. Yu Cai reluctantly agreed, with an attitude of not caring about losing or gaining anything, and after some persuasion, she followed Qiao Meichen into the mall.

  Qiao Meichen probably got used to being generous, pulling her to look at all the jewelry and accessories. Yu Cai naturally made a face like she didn't like anything, Qiao Meichen seemed not to plan on asking for her opinion either, having her try one piece after another, then asking Qi Shu Fan if it looked good or not.

  Actually, Qi Shu Fan also had the intention of testing Yu Cai's heart, and quietly observed her without making a sound. As a result, he found that Yu Cai's performance was perfect, and for a moment, he couldn't make up his mind either.

  Yu Cai couldn't bear to part with even half a point, and tried them on one by one. As she stroked the glittering gold, silver, pearls, and precious stones, she suddenly thought of the first time her mother had bought these things for her, and how uneasy and frightened she had felt. She hadn't expected that in just three short years, she would already be used to them...

  "Xiao Cai, try this."

  Yu Cai was about to put the necklace around her neck when Qishu Fan stopped her hand, "It looks better tied in your hair."

  Yu Cai raised her head and looked at him, then carefully examined the necklace in her hand. The delicate platinum chain was set with extremely small diamonds, simple without any extra embellishments. The chain was quite long and should have been wrapped around her neck twice. Yu Cai untied the hairband on her head, took out a few black small hairpins from her bag, wound the chain into several circles, and secured it to her hair in a flowing style.

  Qishu Fan couldn't help but smile, "It's just like what Xiao Cai often says - low-key luxury."

  "Dear uncle, aren't you afraid that I will easily go from being frugal to being extravagant, but find it hard to go back from being extravagant to being frugal?"

  I believe you.

  "But I'm a bit skeptical of myself, and besides, wearing something like this on my head, I'm really afraid that others will rob me."

  Qiao Meichen smiled and said, "Xiao Cai, you're still young, wearing this others can't tell, just this one, waiter, trouble you to pack it up".

  Yu Cai took off the chain and handed it to the waiter.

  After browsing jewelry, Qiao Meichen helped Yu Cai choose a set of clothes before leaving the mall.

  Qishu took Yucai away and retreated from the room, saying to Qiaomei Chen, "Meichen, I'll send you home first."

  "You're alone at home and you have to go to work, why don't I go take care of Xiao Cai?"

  "It's okay, Xiaoyi is already so big, no need for you to take care of her anymore. Besides, I've also hired an auntie."

  Qiao Meichen bit her lip and reluctantly agreed.

  Yu Cai hummed coldly in her heart and turned her head to look outside the car.