Chapter Seven

  Ming Xiao Xi walked home with a worried and melancholic expression.

  What to do? She didn't ask for leave from the restaurant yesterday and didn't go to work, the manager must be very angry. I don't know if she can keep her job or not. Also, even if the manager is kind enough to let her continue working, Makihara Fuyuki will still suspect something with her long working hours. But if she doesn't go to work, their living expenses won't be enough to get by... What to do...

  She looked up at the sky in confusion and sighed, wondering if she tried hard to think of a solution, could the problem be solved?

  Ming Xiao Xi took a deep breath, puffed out her chest and walked forward. With the belief that there is no dead end in life, she was confident that she could find the perfect solution to overcome any obstacle.

  As she walked, her eyes suddenly blinked, and oh, the two people standing on the street seemed to be Bing Yujian's and Feng Jiancheng's mothers...

  Fūin-sama glared at Hyōrin with a fierce gaze: "You shameless woman! How dare you show your face in front of me?!"

  "This is a coincidence."

  "How dare you defy me?! You think I don't know that you've been following me, waiting for an opportunity to provoke me when no one is around!"

  Hyōga bowed to her: "Fūjin-san, farewell." She turned around and was about to leave.

  Fujin grabbed her collar: "Want to run?! It's not that easy! I'll take you to the police station, I'll sue this little vixen! Every day pretending to be coquettish and trying to seduce men, do you think I don't know?! Give up your heart, I'm telling you, as long as I'm alive for a day, you won't get away with it!"

  The onlookers gradually increased in number.

  Fujiwara's wife grew more and more excited as the crowd gathered: "Come quick and see! Look at this thousand-year-old fox spirit! She'll try to seduce any man!"

  She fiercely pinched the icy white cheek of Xue Bai: "Let me tear off your fox face! Want to seduce men? You little slut! I'll make you die a terrible death!"

  Bing Jue clenched her teeth and endured, two painful tears silently sliding down the corners of her eyes...

  "Stop!"

  Ming Xiao Xi rushed out of the crowd: "You're going too far! Let her go!" She rushed forward, grabbed Madame Fūin's wrist, and with a slight effort, Madame Fūin's hand that was exerting force on Hyōga's eyes relaxed.

  "How can you do this to Ling, what did she do wrong?" Ming Xiaoxi questioned the frightened Fēng Jiān fū ren (Mrs. Feng), "You insult her again and again, and she tolerates you again and again! Such a kind girl, why won't you let her go? What did she do wrong? She didn't do anything wrong! It's you!..."

  "Xiaoxi, forget it."

  "Pupil..."

  "I still have something I need to attend to, thanks for today." Ice Extreme's eyes nodded at her and turned around, leaving quietly.

  "Don't go!" Mrs. Kazama watched as her "enemy" was about to leave and immediately sprang into action.

  Ming Xiao Xi grasped her tightly: "What else do you want?!"

  Fujiwara's wife struggled with all her might but couldn't escape his grasp. Her eyes wide with anger, she shouted: "You! You...!"

  Ming Xiao Xi hastily covered her mouth: "Don't scold me, I have a bad temper."

  Akane dragged Kazama to a very high-end café. (Although it pained her wallet, she thought that in such an elegant setting, Kazama wouldn't easily go berserk.)

  Without Ice Blue Eyes, Mrs. Fuuin suddenly became somewhat different from what she had imagined.

  Her face was pale, her hair disheveled, and there was a deep sorrow between her eyebrows.

  "You must have been very beautiful when you were young." Ming Xiaoxi exclaimed, taking a closer look at Mrs. Kazehaya, whose features were delicate and her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting.

  Mrs. Kazami was taken aback, her right hand gently touching her face: "When I was young... was I beautiful?", she smiled wryly, "Perhaps I was..."

  For some reason, her faintly bitter and sorrowful smile was like a needle that suddenly pierced Ming Xiao Xi's heart.

  "You shouldn't be like this." Ming Xiaoxi murmured softly to herself.

  "Ah... you're... you're Taro's classmate... I think I've seen you before..."

  "My name is Ming Xiaoxi, I'm a junior of Kazama-senpai." She stuck out her tongue, "Sorry, Kazama-san's mom, I was rude to you just now."

  "You must be joking..."

  "No!" Ming Xiaoxi shook her head, "Everyone has their own quirks. Like me, I'm not afraid of anything, but I just can't stand cats. One time, I went to my teacher's house for a visit, and suddenly, a cat ran out from under the bed. I let out a loud shriek and jumped onto the teacher's bed with my dirty shoes still on! It was my first time visiting my teacher's house, and I was so embarrassed!"

  The lady of Kazehaya was amused by him, and her smile shone as brightly as sunlight.

  Akane was stunned: "Kazuma's mom, you look great when you smile, just like Kazuma. No wonder he can be so handsome, it's all thanks to you."

  "You're really clever, no wonder Cheng likes you so much."

  Ming Xiao Xi stared with her mouth agape: "Ah...... does Senpai like me?"

  "Cheng gets along well with his classmates, but he never brings them home. You're the first classmate of his that I've met."

  A happy feeling ran through Ming Xiao Xi's entire body: "Hehe, really?"

  "But I lost face in front of my friends at Chuo, didn't I..." Mrs. Kazama suddenly looked very dejected.

  Ming Xiao Xi grasped her hand firmly and said: "Feng Jian Xue Sheng is the senior I most admire and like, you are his mother, I also have great respect for you."

  "And now, the Fūin-mama in front of me and the Fūin-mama from just a moment ago are completely different people. I'm sure that in Sempai's heart, you are the most elegant and loving mother in the world. The few times I've seen you before were all when you were facing Tsubasa, and to be honest, I didn't like you then. But people have many sides, and at this moment, I think you're so beautiful, so sorrowful...I'm actually starting to like you..."

  "Fūgai Mama, I don't agree with the way you treat Hitomi, but I believe that in front of her, you become like that for a reason. Your reasons may not be right, but I can see that while you're hurting her, you're also hurting yourself."

  "Why don't you just let her go? She herself didn't really do anything wrong, did she? You're being like this, Kazama-senpai is really worried..."

  Kazehaya's wife lowered her long eyelashes and spoke in a soft voice: "Touma, are you worried?"

  “……”

  "I know he's worried about me and Bing Xue Tong... He's such a kind child... But what does kindness bring to people, anyway?"

  Her tone gradually became more agitated: "Kindness... do you know what happens to kindness?..."

  "Kaze no Mama, you calm down."

  "Calm... I haven't been calm for over a decade... Just thinking of her... I... " Mrs. Kazama covered her mouth with her hand, but the sorrowful words still leaked out bit by bit.

  "There was a young girl, very young, very beautiful, and very happy... One day, she unfortunately fell in love with an unknown man... The people around her advised her that he was approaching her for the sake of her father's money and status... The girl didn't believe it, thinking that there was such a thing as true love in this world... She married him..."

  "Feng Jian's mother..." Ming Xiao Xi looked at her worriedly, "Are you alright?"

  "After marrying him, the girl finally realized that she was wrong... He was as cold to her as a block of ice... His heart only had power and status... There wasn't even a woman he would use his life to love..."

  Mrs. Kazami smiled vaguely: "But... it doesn't matter... the poor girl thought love could change everything... so she tried every way to please her... hoping he would just take a good look at her... but... but... the appearance of that woman completely destroyed her last bit of illusion..."

  She suddenly grasped Ming Xiaoxi's arm tightly, her eyes gleaming with madness: "Do you believe it? She was the girl who brought herself back home... she was tattered and famished... she was a beggar... a beggar... not even a bit pretty..."

  "The girl gave her food, clothes... and finally, fearing she couldn't make a living, kept her at home... The girl treated her like a sister, telling her all her inner thoughts... She shared everything with her... She considered her her best friend... She could give her anything... except for her husband..."

  "Do you know what happened to that foolish girl? Mrs. Kazama's fingernails dug deep into Ming Xiaoxi's flesh, "Can you guess?"

  "Fujiwara-sama..." Akane Mio's heart skipped a beat as she tried to stop her from continuing.

  "This girl already has a two-year-old lovely son... In order to take care of him, she sometimes sleeps in her son's room... That cheap woman... that cheap woman..." Mrs. Kazama's breathing began to quicken, "Every time the girl goes to take care of the child, she would run into the girl's room and seduce her husband!... Using her lewd body to entice that shameless man!... When the girl found out, it was already too late... That cheap woman even said... she became pregnant with that man's child..."

  Mrs. Kazami's eyes emitted a terrifying glare: "Do you know what that cheap woman said?... She said the girl is an idiot...... a fool...... She's not even a beggar...... She came here just to get that man...... And then...... she ridiculed her...... saying she already had that man's child...... The girl can get out...... She wants to take her place......"

  "What then?" Ming Xiaoxi was drawn in by her story.

  "Then?......" Mrs. Kazama burst out laughing, "Hahahaha, that cheap woman is just a blind fool!... How could that ruthless man possibly let his 'spotless' reputation be tarnished?! How could he bear the shame of abandoning his wife?!... So... the cheap woman started making trouble... She found many many reporters... Causing a huge stir throughout Japan... In the end, the man didn't even become Prime Minister that year..."

  Ming Xiao Xi was already unable to make a sound.

  "Haha, isn't it funny? That stupid and greedy cheap woman, apart from making the girl she took in become a laughing stock that year, ended up with nothing... She slinked away with her tail between her legs... leaving behind a cheap brat... She was shameless to the point of not even taking her own child with her..."

  "Hahaha, hahahahaha," Mrs. Kazama laughed more and more wildly, "You haven't heard anything more ridiculous than this, have you... Haha... Hahahahahahaha... Ha... Hahaha..."

  She laughed more and more hastily, laughed more and more breathlessly, her face became redder and redder, as if she was going to suffocate from laughing...

  Akane Fūin began to feel something was off: "Fūin-san, what's wrong?"

  "Mrs. Fuu!"

  "Fuujin-sama!!"

  Fujiwara no Teika's mansion.

  Before leaving, the doctor seriously said to Kazama Chidori: "Kazama's wife has a very weak nerve, try not to stimulate her from now on."

  "Ah, yes, sir. You've worked hard."

  Ming Xiao Xi followed Fūin Kazuki quietly into the second floor bedroom, where they saw that Mrs. Fūin had already woken up and was smiling at them.

  Kazehaya's wife beckoned her over: "Akane, come here."

  Akane gently sat down beside her bed: "Kazama-san, are you feeling better?"

  "I'm fine." She stared at Ming Xiaoxi, "Did I scare you..."

  "No! I've troubled you, I'm really sorry!"

  "I... I said too much today... you..."

  Ming Xiao Xi raised her palm: "Feng Jian Mama, I just listened to a story, don't worry, my memory is very poor, from childhood to adulthood, not a single poem can be recited completely."

  Mrs. Fuwa smiled gently: "You child..."

  "Ah! Alright! Fujinomiya-san, I won't disturb you anymore. You should get some rest."

  "Cheng, keep Xiaoxi company and ask her to stay for dinner."

  "It's okay, I..."

  This dinner was only enjoyed by Feng Jiancheng and Ming Xiaoxi. The large dining hall, two rows of servants lined up to serve them, making Ming Xiaoxi feel very unnatural until the end of the meal. She looked at this luxurious hall, wow, it's even bigger than an ordinary swimming pool, with a glossy marble floor, expensive sofas scattered around, and in the most eye-catching place in the center was a white piano that looked valuable just by looking at it.

  Akira Mino sat on the piano chair, occasionally tapping the keys: "Kazami-senpai..."

  Kazehaya suddenly smiled: "Akane, why do you always call Fuyu's name directly, but always call me 'upperclassman'?"

  "Ah......this......" Ming Xiao Xi thought carefully, "Maybe it's because I admire Senpai too much, Senpai is really a god-like person."

  "Just call me by my name."

  "Hey... you... ah!" Ming Xiao Xi blinked her eyes, "I don't know why I feel a bit strange, like there's some kind of blasphemy."

  "Dummy!" Fūin Makoto laughed and patted her head.

  "Senior, why do you and Liu Bing both like calling me silly girl? Am I really that silly?"

  "You're really a silly girl!" He laughed even harder.

  Ming Xiao Xi looked at him strangely: "Why do you look so good? My mood is not good at all." She lay down dejectedly on the side of the white piano.

  "What's wrong?"

  Ming Xiao Xi said listlessly: "Why is there trouble in the world? Why does everyone have unhappy things?"

  "This afternoon, didn't your mother say a lot of things to you?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "Thank you. My mother has been feeling depressed all along, and being able to talk to you about some things is also a good way for her to vent. It's just that her melancholy seems to have shifted onto you now."

  "I used to think that my aunt's views were simple, but now I realize that many things can't be judged by appearance alone, and people may have more unknown emotions in their hearts."

  "You seem to have grown up."

  Ming Xiao Xi sighed and said, "Growing up comes at the cost of pain. Senpai, please comfort me, I don't want to be a sad little woman..."

  Feng Jian Cheng's eyes were as gentle as spring water: "Let me play a tune for you."

  The melodious piano sound was like a clear spring, cool and clear, slowly seeping into Ming Xiao Xi's heart. She quietly watched his slender fingers nimbly jumping on the black and white keys, lightly flowing out of the gentle melody. This melody gradually, gradually eased her tense mood...

  Ming Xiao Xi gazed at those flying hands, in the dreamlike music, unknowingly saying a lot of words.

  "You also know, the night before last, I came back very late, Liu Bing was very angry... I want to let you know, I didn't go out to play, nor did I not want to come home, I don't want to lie... But... I've lied a lot recently... My heart is uncomfortable... Senpai... I don't want to lie to you... I went to work... Because there's no money at home... I couldn't let Liu Bing know... He would be sad in his heart... But how can we live without money?... And I couldn't ask my family for it... Liu Bing wouldn't be able to come back home either... The only option is to go to work, right?... But... If he finds out, he really will be furious... However, the working hours are just that long... What can I do, Senpai?... Am I very foolish?... Can't solve any problems..."

  The music gradually came to a stop.

  Fengjian Cheng raised her right hand: "Xiaoxi, did you know I have another skill?"

  "What?"

  "I can read palms, and I'm very accurate. Come on, let me take a look at how your worries will develop..."

  "Really?!" Ming Xiaoxi exclaimed excitedly, stretching out her hands, "Quick, quick help me take a look!"

  "Hmm..." Fūinji Tsuru carefully looked and finally lifted her head with joy, "You're a lucky girl, your troubles will be resolved automatically in two days, no need to worry."

  "Really? Really?" Ming Xiao Xi excitedly jumped up, "You're not teasing me?"

  Fūin's eyebrows furrowed: "Didn't you just say I was like a god? Now you don't believe me?"

  Ming Xiao Xi covered her mouth: "Right, you're even more powerful than the gods, senior! The palm reading you did must be the most accurate!", she pulled Feng Jian Chen's hand back and forth, "Thank you, senior, thank you, senior!"

  Feng Jian's eyes sparkled with amusement: "Silly girl..."

  At last, on that day, Ming Xiaoxi finally began to live happily again...

  "Tōji-senpai, what was that?" Akira Maki looked at Tōji Hiro with wide eyes.

  Tōji Hiroshi furrowed his brow: "The manager told me that you haven't gone to work at the restaurant for three days. Why?"

  "Because... because I thought the timing wasn't right, and every time I went back home it was already around 1 or 2 in the morning... so... ah, Tōji-senpai, could you please apologize to the manager on my behalf? I didn't even say hello before leaving, it's really not good of me..."

  "So you don't need money anymore?"

  "This... hehe... thanks for your concern, senior. I'll figure something out myself."

  "Tohji Hiromu gazed at her intently: 'Why are you only willing to tell your concerns to Tetsu, but not a word to me?'"

  "Ah...... what did you say? I didn't quite catch it." Ming Xiaoxi blinked in confusion, wondering what he had just muttered to himself.

  Toji Hiroshi took a deep breath: "I have a job I can offer you."

  "What?"

  "My father's company is in need of a part-time little sister. Working hours are from 5 to 7 every afternoon, and the job involves cleaning, serving tea, and some trivial matters."

  "Really!" Ming Xiaoxi jumped up excitedly, this time slot was just right for her, and the nature of the work was also within her power. It seemed that Fēng Jiān Chè's palm reading was quite accurate.

  Wait a minute...

  Akane Hoshi gazed up at Tōji Kōsuke: "Is it true that Kazama-senpai asked for your help?"

  "...". Tōji Hiroshi said nothing.

  "It must be Fūjin-senpai who asked you to, otherwise how could you have appeared so timely......" Ming Xiaoxi sniffled, why was Fūjin-senpai so good to her, it made her heart feel sour and bitter...

  "You can come to work today. The salary is the same as in the restaurant."

  "No! Dong Si Xue Chang, is this job specially taken care of for me? Isn't the company's working hours from 9 to 5? At five o'clock, everyone has already gone off work, why would they still need a little sister?"

  "Ordinary companies are from 9 to 5, but my father's company has a lot of business and customers all over the world, so they often have to work overtime after 5 o'clock. That's why we need someone who can work at special times." Tōji Hiromu explained patiently, "You'll understand when you come to the company."

  "Really?" Ming Xiao Xi gradually became excited again, "Thank you Dong Si Xue Chang! However... can I make a small request..."

  "Go on, what's wrong with it."

  "You just mentioned salary..."

  "Just like when we were at the restaurant."

  "That's not right. Dong Si Xue, I have to work 5 or 6 hours in the cafeteria, but Xiao Mei only needs to work for 2 hours, how can our salaries be the same?" Ming Xiao Xi shook her head, "I really need this job you provided me with, and I don't want to give it up, but I want to earn what I deserve through my own efforts, not extra sympathy or help. So, please Dong Si Xue, agree with me that my pay will be the same as the other little sisters, okay?"

  Tōji Hiroo kept staring at her, and finally nodded lightly.

  "Great! Thanks, Dong Si Xue Sheng!" Ming Xiao Xi rushed up to give him a big hug. "I'm starting work tomorrow afternoon."

  Tōji Hiroo, who was being hugged by her, quietly felt somewhat unnatural.

  Evening.

  Ming Xiao Xi hesitated, looking at Maki no Kōri who was sitting by the window reading a magazine. Should she tell him about going to work for the company? How should she tell him? What would his reaction be? Would he mess things up? She held onto her tea cup, unable to make up her mind.

  "Ming Xiao Xi." Muye Liubing suddenly spoke up.

  "Ah!" Ming Xiaoxi was startled, and the hot tea splashing out of the cup scalded her hand. "Ow..."

  "Clumsy fool! Come here and let me take a look if it's serious or not."

  Ming Xiao Xi obediently walked over, stretched out her hand for him to see: "Don't worry, I have thick skin and tough flesh, knives and guns can't penetrate."

  "Your face is all red, yet you say it's nothing." Makino Ruki glared at her, "Does it hurt?"

  She smiled: "Hehe, it doesn't hurt." She looked at him curiously, "Are you worried about me?"

  Makino glared at her again and said irritably, "Yes, I was worried about you. Are you satisfied now?"

  Ming Xiao Xi smiled slyly like a little cat who had stolen something, and it seemed that Liu Bing was becoming more and more interested in her.

  Makino Rie snatched the magazine and "thwacked" her on the head: "You naughty girl, did you intentionally scald yourself to get my attention?"

  "I didn't..." Ming Xiao Xi pouted, "It's all because you suddenly called me and scared me half to death."

  "I was just about to ask you, what's with the sneaking glances all night? What kind of trick are you planning?" Makino Ruruichi stared at her tightly.

  "What a ridiculous idea! How dare you say such unpleasant things? I'm Ming Xiao Xi, a straightforward and upright person!" She retorted indignantly.

  "Oh?......" He chuckled lightly, "Then tell me, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking of me? Naughty girl."

  Ming Xiao Xi pushed him: "Don't laugh anymore, you're not laughing properly, and you've lost all the cold beauty of a young boy. I...I have something to say to you..." She suddenly hesitated again, was this the right thing to do? Would there be any aftereffects?

  “……？”

  Forget it, let's take things one step at a time and deal with what's in front of us first.

  Ming Xiao Xi unfolded her brightest smile: "Do you know what my ambition is?"

  "What?"

  "My father runs Taiwan's most famous 'Changsheng Wuguan', and my goal is to help my father make the martial arts hall prosperous in the future. Not only should there be a 'Changsheng Wuguan' in Taiwan, but also all over the world. In this way, Chinese martial arts can be promoted, and people who love martial arts can easily learn it to strengthen their bodies. However, the promotion of martial arts can no longer completely follow the traditional ways of the past, and advanced business concepts and management methods are needed to make it accepted by more people around the world. Therefore, the professional direction I will choose to study in the future is - Business Administration."

  Makino stroked her soft long hair: "That's good."

  "So," Ming Xiao Xi had made up her mind, "I'm going to start fighting for my ideals from now on. Today, Dong Si Ge told me that his father's company just happens to be short of a part-time worker. I think this is a good opportunity, isn't the Dong family one of Japan's top conglomerates? If I can go there to work, I'll be able to get familiar with business activities earlier on, and it will be of great help to my dream coming true."

  Makino's hand stopped in mid-air: "You've said so much, but it all boils down to one thing - you want to go work."

  Ming Xiao Xi hastily shook her head: "No, I'm here to absorb as much successful business experience as possible, for future preparation."

  "What can a little girl learn from this?"

  "Oh, I can ask more questions, I'm the all-knowing Ming Xiao Xi!" She lifted her head and gazed at him longingly, "Ice, I don't want to sneak off without telling you, but I really do want to go, will you agree? Please?"

  Makino Ryu's attention was caught by a word she had just spoken: "You called me... Ice..."

  "Ah......" Ming Xiaoxi's ears turned red, "You heard it...... I always feel that calling you 'Liu Bing', 'Liu Bing' is so troublesome...... So......"

  "Xiao Xi..." Muyexi hugged her with a moving emotion, "You called my name... sounds nice..."

  "Then... can I just keep calling you that?"

  He gazed at her and nodded, with a brilliant light shining from his crystal-like eyes.

  "Ice... Ice..." Why did just calling out his name make her whole body rush with a kind of happy feeling?

  Makino Ryu's lips finally touched hers.

  This kiss, like a dream, was soft and gentle, with a tenderness that made one's heart drift away. Slowly, slowly, thread by thread, it took away Ming Xiao Xi's last wisp of soul...