Chapter Six

  Ming Xiao Xi found a very secluded veranda in the large mansion of Mu Ye, where only two simple bamboo chairs and a small table were placed. What was surprising was that on such a cold winter day, the veranda was surrounded by a kind of unknown vine plant, which was lush and green, giving people an illusion as if spring had already arrived.

  She sat on a wooden chair holding a book and gazing quietly, with a long-lost sense of calm in her heart.

  Hehe, I've found you. Grandpa Makino walked over with a smile, carrying a tray with a teapot and two tea cups in his hands.

  Pastor Makiya, "Ming Xiaoxi hastily took over the tray in his hand and put it on the table, then supported him to sit in another chair." How did you carry things yourself? Why didn't you ask someone for help?

  Pastor Makino picked up the teapot and filled both tea cups with tea: "My body is still very strong, this little exercise doesn't count for much. Come on, try some of my personally brewed tea."

  Ming Xiao Xi savored a mouthful: "Hmmm... it should be top-grade Tieguanyin."

  Hehe; Uncle Makino nodded: "Not many kids can sit still and taste tea, Xiaoxi you are truly rare.

  She shook her head: "I don't know much either, it's just that my father loves drinking tea, so I also know a bit."

  Grandpa Makino slowly took a sip of tea: "Tea... is a good thing, although it's light but lingering, with a refreshing aroma that can make people savor for a long time. I used to like drinking strong liquor, but in the past two years, I've become fascinated with drinking tea... Tea is still better, why didn't I discover this earlier?"

  Ming Xiao Xi looked at the old man in front of her, his smile couldn't hide the endless vicissitudes between his eyebrows, although the muscles on his face had relaxed, but he could still vaguely see the severe contours of his youth. She didn't know much about him, but she also knew that "Pastoral Group" was developed and expanded into Japan's No. 1 underworld organization under his hands.

  Pastor Makino met her inquiring gaze: "Why are you here?"

  "Huh?"; She didn't quite understand.

  He hesitated for a moment: "Why aren't you by Liu Bing's side, but instead appear alone here?"

  Oh; Ming Xiao Xi smiled and said: "He seems to have something to take care of, I don't want to disturb him."

  "Yes, recently the club has been having a lot of trouble, and it's all weighing on Liubing's shoulders. He's really tired." Old Man Makino stirred his tea cup: "Xiaoxi, have you ever thought about helping him out?"

  "What?"; she was startled.

  Pastor Xiao raised his head, his eyes fixed intently on her: "Xiaoxi, I've been observing you for a long time. Your skills are excellent, your reaction to things is quick and agile, and you have a lot of courage. If you're willing to lend Flowing Ice a helping hand, the revival of the 'Pastor Group' is just around the corner."

  Ming Xiao Xi's eyes stared at him without blinking.

  "Join 'Makino Group'! Not only will 'Makino Group' be yours, but the whole of Japan will also be yours!" His tone became more and more high-pitched.

  Ming Xiao Xi slowly put down the teacup in her hand on the table, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and her voice was very slow and low:

  Isn't the price you've paid already high enough?

  Crash! Grandfather Makino's teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

  His body was trembling like a leaf in the wind, and his voice was also trembling: "You... know something?"

  Ming Xiao Xi thought for a moment: "I don't know much, but from what I do know, I think you've already paid too high a price."

  Pastor Yeyeye painfully closed his eyes: "Xiaoxi, I understand what you mean. For the 'Pastor Group', I not only paid with my life, but also paid with my two sons."

  It should also include your daughter-in-law, the father of your daughter-in-law and the childhood of your grandson." She added what he had left out: "Many many people have paid a heavy price for your wish.

  But he suddenly opened his eyes and emitted an urgent glow: "So many people have made sacrifices for the 'Pastoral Group'. If you give up on it now, won't all its previous efforts be in vain?

  Ming Xiao Xi's voice was tinged with sarcasm: "You call that 'sacrifice'? I think it's 'sin'. Ambition and desire are the most terrifying things in the world. They can drive people mad, and in their madness, they will harm many innocent people. But ultimately, they will also bring about the downfall of the person who is driven mad."

  His old face trembled slightly.

  I don't want Ice to become a madman." She looked at him firmly: "I will use all my efforts to pull him out of this quagmire. I don't want him to have blood on his back, even if it's someone else's. I want him to live in this world with a clear conscience and without any guilt.

  Grandpa Makino stood up from his chair, shaking: "Why are you here? I've always thought that you don't fit in with the atmosphere of this place. You're a child who can't tolerate even a bit of darkness in your eyes, don't you feel pain being here?

  Ming Xiao Xi also stood up: "I don't particularly like this place, but I like ice."

  Grandpa Maki patted her young shoulder with his aged hand: "Alright, alright, now I can rest assured... Xiaoxi, don't think ill of Grandpa, I still have some attachment to the foundation of 'Maki Group', but Liubing is after all my only grandson... I will carefully consider your words..."

  Ming Xiao Xi covered his weak hand with her palm and said apologetically, "Pastor Ye, I may have said some improper words, but I had no malicious intent, please forgive me."

  Pastor Mu smiled and said: "Xiaoxi, I've been wandering the world for decades, how could I not see through it? You're a good kid, Bing'er really has vision. Ah... if I had met a woman like you back then, maybe things would be very different today... Hehe, I'm going in, you take your time reading."

  Ming Xiao Xi picked up the book and gently supported his arm: "I'll go in with you, let me make a few small dishes to apologize to you today, what do you want to eat?"

  An old man and a young boy walked hand in hand into the house, with no hint of any unpleasantness between them...

  After finishing dinner, the sky had completely darkened.

  Makino Ayumi changed into a white outfit and stood quietly beside, watching Ming Xiao Xi. She stuffed the last book into her bag, picked up the now-empty thermos, looked up at him with a smile and said: "Alright, I'm all packed, we can head back."

  He frowned slightly: "Stay here, don't go back."

  Ming Xiao Xi's eyes widened in surprise: "How can that be! You're a guy full of evil thoughts."

  A faint shadow floated across Makino Ryu's handsome face, he hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "Recently, something might happen at Akana Daiki's place, I don't want you to be in any danger."

  Ming Xiao Xi anxiously ran to his side: "What about you? Will you be in danger?"

  He sighed and patted her head: "I was afraid he would have no way to deal with me, so I thought of using you as a pawn."

  Really? Ming Xiao Xi smiled: "You're fine, that's all that matters. As for me, you don't have to worry, I'm the number one Ming Xiao Xi in the world, how could I possibly lose out?"

  Makino Ryu pulled out something from her pocket, grasped her hand and placed it in her palm: "This is for you."

  Ming Xiao Xi suddenly had an idea and hastily returned it to him: "What is this?"

  Handgun, huh?; Makino Rumi was fiddling with that small silver thing:; Haven't seen one before?

  "What's with the tone?" She puffed out her chest: "Of course I know it's a handgun, and I also know that this handgun is the latest development in the United States, known as the smallest in the world and the most powerful."

  Makino Ayumu stared at her in surprise: "You really know?"

  Of course, one of my cousins is a police captain, she's very fascinated with all kinds of weapons and often shows me pictures or real things. Ming Xiaoxi said proudly: "Sometimes my cousin even takes me to the shooting range for practice, and I'm pretty accurate too."

  Then why are you so afraid of it? He placed the silver small pistol in his palm.

  I'm not afraid, I just don't want to provoke this guy who might bring bloodshed."; Ming Xiao Xi looked at him solemnly: "You want me to use it for self-defense?"

  He nodded.

  No need! She smiled lightly and pulled out a slingshot from beside her: I have this!

  Makino Ryu laughed: "This kind of childish play?"

  She wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction: "This is the best self-defense weapon I've thought of for a long time. It's small and portable, can effectively deter enemies without causing too much harm, and its ammunition can be readily available, such as stones, glass, even peanuts, hard candy, and buttons. It's economical and practical, isn't it better than a handgun?"

  He shook his head: "I think it's inappropriate, if Chi Ming Da Qi really acts on you, this slingshot..."

  Ming Xiao Xi put away the slingshot and gently hugged his arm: "Don't worry about me. I'll be very clever, if there's any danger, I'll run away immediately, that's all right, isn't it?"

  Makino Ryuichi pulled her into his arms, gently placing his chin on top of her head: "You're the most important person to me, I don't want you to get hurt at all."

  His words made her heart float lightly. She hugged his body tightly and said softly: "You also have to promise that you won't get hurt again, you don't know how hard it is for me to see you getting hurt... I want to hold you like this for a lifetime, and you also have to hold me like this for a lifetime, so both of us will be fine."

  Makino's breath was deep and long, as she carefully wrapped her soft body tightly around him, tighter and tighter, wanting to hold her forever within his own...

  The final exams are approaching day by day, and the students of Rende Academy are becoming increasingly tense. Although it is a prestigious school in Japan, it attaches great importance to students' grades in order to ensure teaching quality. If a student's exam results are extremely poor, he will face a very miserable fate.

  In order to cope with the exam, she can give her relatives in Taiwan a satisfactory transcript. During this period, Ming Xiaoxi reduced the number of times he went to see Pastor Ye's ice flow, and devoted himself to his studies. She studied hard day and night, but found that she didn't seem to be cut out for studying, and many problems still didn't make sense no matter how many times she looked at them.

  Alas! The classmates in the classroom had all left, and even Koizumi, who usually loved to chat with her, had slipped away early to study at home. She listlessly packed up her things and headed home, hoping that after dinner, as she sat down at her desk, inspiration would strike like a spring, and even the most difficult problems would be solved with ease.

  Sister Ming!!! Dong Si Hao Xue burst in, drenched in sweat: "I've finally caught you!"

  "What are you grabbing at? I'm not a thief." Ming Xiao Xi glared at her uncomfortably.

  "Huh? Ming sister, you don't seem to be in a good mood!"; Dong Si Hao Xue gave a mysterious smile: "Let me guess why you're not happy... Is it because of the final exams?"

  Ming Xiao Xi smiled and curled up her lips: "Yes, you're really clever."

  Ah!"; Dong Si's excited shriek: "Then thank me!"

  Ming Xiao Xi hastily covered her ears: "What are you thanking me for? Thanking me for bursting my eardrums?"

  "Ah," Dong Si Hao Xue pulled down her hand and said hastily: "I thought of a good way to make you pass the exam with flying colors."

  Ming Xiao Xi's eyes sparkled with excitement.

  "Please, Fūin-ji brother, give us extra lessons!"; "Tōji Kōsetsu excitedly cheered: "How wonderful!"

  Ming Xiao Xi's eyes fell as she lowered her head: "You still haven't given up, have you......"

  Being able to get Wind Interval brother is a lifetime of happiness, I will not give up! "; Tōdai Kōsetsu's chest was full of ambition.

  Then you can just go by yourself, why did you bring me along as a spare tire?

  No way!"; Tōji Hiro said in disappointment: "Mom won't let me go to Kazehaya's place... But with you, it'll be different. We can openly visit Kazehaya's apartment, how great is that?!

  I'm not going. Ming Xiao Xi refused her: "Last time I listened to your proposal, it was so embarrassing afterwards. This time I don't know what kind of tricks you have."

  "Goodness gracious, please, Ming sister, what can I do to review my lessons?"; Dong Si's bitter pleading: "And besides, last time Feng brother only tutored you for one night on geometry, how many points did you get on the test afterwards?"

  Full marks.

  Ming Xiao Xi's eyes blinked, and she felt a little moved.

  Long ago knew that shouldn't have trusted Dong Si's Hao Xue, Ming Xiao Xi dispiritedly buried her head in the book, blaming herself for the thirty-second time in her heart.

  Dong Si Hao Xue was not here to learn, she was like an excited little bird tightly wrapped around Kazami Chidori, non-stop talking, non-stop laughing, and making all sorts of sounds, so that Ming Xiao Xi couldn't even get guidance from Kazami Chidori, let alone a quiet place to review her homework.

  A crystal vase on the coffee table in the living room with a few elegant lilies caught the attention of Tōji Kōsetsu.

  "Ah!"; Tōji Hōsetsu exclaimed in admiration: "This flower arrangement is so artistic and unique! Fūjin-nii, did you arrange this yourself?"

  Feng Jian Cheng smiled: "Just casually put the flowers in."

  Wow!"; Her voice of admiration grew even louder: "Just casually, you can create such a great work. I've seen the masterpieces of Liu Sheng, the grandmaster of flower arrangement, but none of them are as lively and atmospheric as this lily bouquet of yours.

  Ming Xiao Xi turned her head to look at the lily that she had been praising, and thought it was indeed very beautiful. But did flower arrangement really have so much to learn? She didn't quite understand.

  "Huh? Fujiki-san, you don't have a piano here!"; Toudou Hirosetsu made another discovery.

  Fujiwara nodded: "None."

  "What a pity."; Her small face wrinkled: "I originally thought that tonight I could hear a song you played specially for me. Why don't you put a piano here too?

  Xiaoxue, "Feng Jiancheng smiled lightly and said:" What did you come here for?

  "Finally get to talk to you, Wind Interval brother!"; Dong Si's Hao Xue didn't hesitate: "I've never had the chance to have a good conversation with you without being disturbed. It's been so hard for me to see you lately, what are you busy with......"

  Fūin Kazuki: "Aren't you here for supplementary lessons?"

  No!"; Dong Si Hao Xue shook his head vigorously: "That's just an excuse to trick my mom into coming here!"

  Ming Xiao Xi collapsed onto the table, haha, she's really honest.

  Feng Jian Cheng looked at Ming Xiao Xi, who was covering her ears with both hands, trying to eliminate all the noise: "Xiao Xi, you're here to review your lessons, right?"

  "No! No!" ; Dong Si Hao Xue rushed to her side, stretched out his "magic palm" and secretly pinched the flesh on her waist, forcing a smile: "Ming sister is not here to learn, she's here to relax."

  "Ouch, this little girl pinched her so hard! Ming Xiaoxi turned her head and glared at her fiercely. Dong Si Haoyue hurriedly let go of his hands, carefully and obsequiously smiling as he said: "Sister Ming..."

  Ming Xiao Xi let out a long sigh and said to Feng Jian Cheng who was staring at her: "Senior, you don't have to bother with me anymore. I'm just a poor smoke bomb after all."

  Fūin's smile was more radiant than the snow on Mt. Fuji, and it took away Hōsetsu's breath at Tō-ji Temple. She gazed at him with misty eyes, murmuring: "Fūin-nii..."

  Xiaoxue, he said to her: "I'll give you a few comic books, you sit quietly on the sofa for an hour, and I'll help Xiaoxi with her homework, okay?"

  "An hour..."; she hesitated.

  Fūjin Chō smiled again: "You've grown up, you should learn to calm down."

  Toji was once again captivated by his smile: "Well, an hour later..."

  "It's up to you, how is it?"; Fūma Satoshi promised her.

  There was a faint, very clean and refreshing scent on Feng Jiancheng's body, which lightly floated into Ming Xiaoxi's heart, making her feel suddenly smarter. As long as it was his voice patiently explaining things to her, everything seemed to become so simple and easy to understand all at once. Ming Xiaoxi eagerly brought out all the things she didn't understand to ask him, and after his guidance, she felt that those obscure and difficult places could be grasped very easily.

  Akane Mino watched intently as Kazehaya wrote out the math problems on a piece of paper for her, "Oh, I see! That's how it is!" she exclaimed, looking up at him with delight: "Senpai..."

  It was as if her movements were too fierce, and in the instant she lifted her head, the distance between her and Fūinji Tōru was only an inch. Her lips almost brushed against his cheek. However, perhaps they had already touched, because her lips suddenly felt a warm sensation, and on his face flashed a unnatural expression.

  Ming Xiao Xi knew she should pretend nothing had happened, shouldn't think too much about it, but her thoughts couldn't help but drift back to that one time, the chaos of that one time, the awkwardness of that one time, and the...

  Feng Jian Cheng slowly turned his head, only to find that she was staring at him with a very dazed expression. He lightly coughed: "Ah, Xiaoxi, did you understand?"

  Ming Xiao Xi was suddenly startled, her hand nervously waving.

  "Ah!"; The pen in her hand stabbed fiercely into her own face, the pain bringing tears to her eyes.

  Xiao Xi! Feng Jian Cheng looked at her tensely.

  Sister Ming, what's wrong? Dong Si Hao Xue heard the voice was off and immediately ran over: Oh my god, how did you get a big ink stain on your face?

  Feng Jiancheng used his clean handkerchief to gently wipe away the ink from Ming Xiaoxi's face, then observed that his eyebrows furrowed: "Xiaoxi, it seems like the pen tip pierced your skin."

  "What's going to happen? Will Ming sister break her appearance?!"; Dong Si Hao Xue was very anxious: "I see people getting tattoos are using things to pierce the ink into their skin, what if Ming sister gets a tattoo on her face in the future? How ugly would that be?"

  No way, Ming Xiao Xi fearfully reached out her hand to touch the wound on her face, she was just having some wild thoughts, retribution didn't have to come so quickly, did it?

  Feng Jian Zhen hastily grasped her hand: "Don't move around, I'll take care of it for you."

  He took out a medicine box from the room, took out a very small knife from it, disinfected it with alcohol, and carefully used its fine tip to gently pry into Ming Xiao Xi's wound. He comforted her, saying: "Don't be afraid, it won't hurt, don't move, it'll be okay soon."

  Ming Xiao Xi didn't feel any pain at all, just a bit cool, and then she heard Feng Jian Cheng smiling and telling her: "It's okay, it's nothing."

  Dong Si's eyes widened as he looked up: "Sister Ming, is the ink really gone?"

  Kazehaya handed her a mirror and smiled lightly: "Don't worry, it's still the lovely Akane Minamoto."

  Ming Xiao Xi took a closer look and nodded, her face only had a slight flush, no ink marks were left. She looked at Fēng Jiàn Chén with gratitude: "Thank you, senior..."

  Fūin Kazuki patted her head and smiled: "Be more careful next time."

  Dong Si said with a smile: "Exactly, Ming sister, why are you so weird, poking the pen at your own face?"

  Ming Xiao Xi looked embarrassed and lowered his head, gesturing "guilty as charged".

  After this small storm, Ming Xiaoxi's one-hour study time had also passed. Moreover, she didn't have the mood to read books anymore, so she sat on the sofa and listened to Dongsi Haoyue and Kazehaya chatting.

  Tōji Hōsetsu suddenly remembered something very important: "Kazama brother, I heard from outside that a personal painting exhibition of yours will be held in a week, is it true?"

  Art exhibition? Fujikiri's art exhibition? Ming Xiaoxi looked at him curiously.

  Feng Jiancheng smiled lightly: "That's a few friends who want to co-host an art exhibition, because there aren't enough works, they temporarily asked me to send over a few paintings, it's not my personal exhibition."

  Is that so? Dong Si's eyes widened: "But outside, it's your image being used for promotion, and the exhibition tickets are in high demand. Are they taking advantage of you?"

  Feng Jianxiao smiled very calmly: "Actually, their own strength is not bad, they just lack some fame. If my joining can provide them with a good opportunity to show off, what's the big deal?"

  Fujiwara brother, you are the best person in the world. Toudou Hiroaki looked up at him with reverence, then thought for a moment and said with shining eyes: "Then, your works should all be finished, right? Are they placed here? Can I take a look first?"

  Ming Xiao Xi was also excited: "Ah, senior, I've never seen your paintings before! I really want to see them too!"

  "Huh?"; Tōji Hiroseto thought it was surprising: "Sister Ming, you've never seen Fūjin's paintings before? That's truly a shame. Fūjin's works are known as 'Japan's treasures' and are national treasure-class gems."

  Feng Jian chuckled helplessly: "Xiao Xue, you believe whatever nonsense is written in the newspaper?"

  I believe!"; The response was from Ming Xiao Xi: "It's not believing in the newspaper, but believing that no matter what the senior does, it must be the best!"

  Sister Ming has spoken out my mind!"; Dong Si Hao Xue clapped his hands excitedly.

  Ming Xiao Xi blinked her eyes and gazed at Feng Jian Cheng with longing: "Senior, may I take a look at your painting? Although I'm not sure if I can understand it."

  His bright eyes looked at her and then again at her, finally saying: "Okay, let me get some out." He stood up and walked towards a room on the east side.

  Tōji's eyes widened in surprise as she shouted: "Fūjin-nii, is that your studio? I want to see it!" She rushed past Fūjin and burst into the room.

  Xiaoxue! Feng Jiancheng wanted to stop him, but it was too late. From the painting room came Dongsi Haosnow's voice of surprise: "Wow! So many paintings! So beautiful!"

  Curious Ming Xiaoxi also followed. The painting studio was not very big, but there were many oil paintings on the wall, and some were piled up on the ground in a mess. What caught people's attention most was that in the middle of the studio, there was a very delicate easel, and on the easel, it was covered with a piece of cloth, making what was inside look very mysterious.

  Ming Xiao Xi forced herself to shift her gaze away from the canvas, focusing on the completed paintings on the wall. She found that Feng Jian Chen's works were all landscapes, beautiful and serene landscapes that seemed almost otherworldly, evoking a sense of longing and nostalgia in her. They made her involuntarily fall into deep thought, recalling her innocent childhood, good wishes, and all the moving moments and joys in her life...

  As she looked, her gaze was drawn again to the painting on the ground. The work still depicted a landscape, still beautiful, but with many more melancholic connotations. The sorrow in the landscape was light, as light as a snowflake, yet it couldn't be blown away, leaving an icy chill that lingered, perhaps melting, but without a trace after melting, and a kind of desolate loneliness that could not be found anywhere.

  Ming Xiao Xi was somewhat flustered and raised her head, her eyes searched around before meeting Feng Jian Cheng's. He had been staring at her for a long time, with an air of desolation that seemed to have been painted into a picture.

  Her heart skipped a beat and she exclaimed: "Upperclassman!..."

  Kazami Chidori seemed to be slightly stunned for a moment, but soon smiled again. His smile was still warm, making Ming Xiaoxi wonder if the loneliness she saw earlier was just her illusion.

  "Wow, Fūin-nii!"; Tōji Hōsetsu started praising again: "I really like these paintings of yours! How can you paint so beautifully?"

  Fujiwara no Sai smiled lightly: "It's just something I drew when I was bored, it doesn't have any meaning."

  But does it reflect your mood? "; Ming Xiao Xi stared at him: "Have you been unhappy lately?

  He smiled again, with a somewhat complex smile: "The feeling brought out by the work is related to the emotions of the painter, and also to the emotions of the viewer."

  "What are you talking about? I don't understand. Is anyone unhappy? Why not come and play with me?"

  Ming Xiao Xi said with a bad temper: "Will you be happy if I play with you?"

  "Of course!"; Dong Si Hao Xue patted his chest and said: "I can accompany you to chat, go shopping, eat, tell stories, play games, dance, sing. Oh, I also have a special skill, which is telling jokes, guaranteed to make your belly ache and unable to straighten up. Don't believe me? I'll tell one now, there was once...

  The next time became Dong Si's Hao Xue joke special, Ming Xiao Xi regretted why he said "happy" and "unhappy" earlier, causing himself to be overwhelmed by a pile of poor jokes, and had to squeeze out a smile, painfully "holding his belly in laughter".