Chapter 90: A Favor Returned with Grace
Chapter 90: A Favor Returned with Grace
In the living room, Li Zian reached for a teacup with his bandaged hand, wanting to take a sip of tea. Before his hand could touch the cup, Mu Chuntao quickly reached over and picked it up first.
“Master, your hand is injured. Let me help you drink,” Mu Chuntao said as she brought the teacup to Li Zian’s lips. She looked at him with adoring eyes, waiting for him to drink.
Li Zian felt somewhat awkward, but he still leaned forward and took a sip of the tea.
His hand didn’t really need to be bandaged with gauze—it would heal on its own soon without even leaving a scar. But he had to bandage it anyway. Partly, he didn’t want Du Linlin to see that his palm was fine, and more importantly, he needed to show the “cost.”
See, I cut my palm and bled to save your father. You can’t be stingy when paying, right?
“Would you like another sip?” Mu Chuntao’s voice was gentle.
Li Zian replied softly, “No, thank you.”
Only then did Mu Chuntao put the teacup down.
In the past, he might have sighed and wished Yu Meilin could be this gentle and attentive. But now, he didn’t even think about Yu Meilin anymore.
Yu Meilin didn’t cherish him, but Mu Chuntao treated him like a treasure. While Mu Chuntao was being so tender and close to him, why would he think about Yu Meilin?
Du Linlin walked out of the hospital room, her steps light and quick.
Mu Chuntao leaned close to Li Zian’s ear and whispered, “When she talks about money later, you go to the bathroom. I’ll handle it.”
Li Zian nodded.
Du Linlin approached, her face full of joy. “Master, you truly have magical hands that bring back the spring. My father is much better now. The instruments show his heartbeat has reached over 60, and he can move his hands and feet a little. You could say my father had one foot already in the Gate of the Underworld, but you pulled him back.”
Li Zian said calmly, “When I did the bone diagnosis for Mr. Du earlier, I also read his bone structure. Your father’s fate isn’t to die yet; he still has a thread of life. After surviving this disaster, he shouldn’t think about future blessings. He should work less and rest more.”
Du Linlin sat down opposite them. “My father fell asleep. When he wakes up, he’ll be very happy to see you, Master. Please use your golden words to persuade him then. He always takes work too seriously.”
Li Zian said, “Miss Du, actually, I have another matter to attend to. I was just waiting to hear about Mr. Du’s condition. Miss Mu and I need to go back now.”
“So soon?” Du Linlin looked disappointed. “I was going to have the cook prepare a meal. I wanted to invite you and Miss Mu to stay for dinner. Can you postpone your matter?”
Li Zian shook his head. “It’s something very important; it can’t be postponed. We can arrange a meal anytime. Let’s do it next time.”
“Then… how should we calculate the divination fee?” Du Linlin asked.
Li Zian stood up. “Well, where is the bathroom? I need to use it.”
Du Linlin also stood up immediately and pointed in a direction. “Over there, the room on the left at the end.”
“Thank you,” Li Zian said politely and walked toward the bathroom.
He hadn’t gone far when he heard Mu Chuntao’s voice behind him.
“Miss Du, money is such a vulgar thing. Our Master doesn’t like to deal with money. You can discuss these mundane matters with me.”
“My apologies, I wasn’t considerate. Then, Miss Mu, what do you think is an appropriate divination fee?” Du Linlin’s voice asked.
“Miss Du, you can give whatever you feel is right.”
“Then, would one million be suitable?” Du Linlin’s voice inquired.
“Our Master cut his palm and bled to save Mr. Du…” Mu Chuntao’s voice trailed off meaningfully.
“Would two million be suitable?”
Li Zian heard only up to this point before entering the bathroom and could hear no more. He felt relieved that he had used the bathroom excuse to leave. If he had been there, and they offered one million, he would have been too embarrassed to ask for more. But Mu Chuntao was different from him. With just a hint, she got them to offer another million.
Was two million a lot?
For ordinary people, it was indeed a huge sum—most couldn’t save that much in a lifetime. But for a wealthy family like the Du Family, it wasn’t much—just a small amount. And he didn’t feel guilty taking the two million. After all, Du Zhishan had one foot in the Gate of the Underworld, and he had dragged him back. Even if he had asked for five million, they would have given it willingly. But then, there would be no friendship left. Keeping a favor owed would make it easier to collect in the future.
A stream of water shot in an almost straight line into the ceramic container, making a splashing sound.
Li Zian’s thoughts were no longer on the divination fee. They had flown away, his mind full of imagination: “Where should I take Chuntao later to show I have taste? How should I phrase going to a hotel to get a room so it sounds smooth and she doesn’t feel awkward?”
It was his first time taking a woman to get a room. He felt both excited and nervous.
After putting things away, Li Zian instinctively went to turn on the faucet to wash his hands, only to remember both hands were bandaged. Still, he rinsed his fingers. These hands would soon be put to use; it wouldn’t do to have them dirty.
After washing his hands, Li Zian left the bathroom and returned to the living room.
Du Linlin had been sitting but stood up from the sofa as soon as she saw Li Zian approaching. She said respectfully, “Master, if it’s convenient, could you leave your phone number? When my father is better, I’d like to invite you to our home for a meal.”
Li Zian nodded. “Sure. If you ever face difficulties or need help solving problems, just contact me. I never care about money; I just enjoy making friends.”
Mu Chuntao promptly took a custom-made business card from her handbag and handed it to Du Linlin with both hands.
Du Linlin accepted the card and said with a smile, “When my father is better, I’ll definitely call you, Master. Please do honor us with your presence then.”
Li Zian smiled. “I’ll certainly come. Chuntao, let’s go.”
“Okay. Goodbye, Miss Du,” Mu Chuntao said politely.
Du Linlin said, “Let me see you out, Master and Miss Mu.”
Li Zian replied, “No need to trouble yourself. Please go check on Mr. Du. We’ll be in touch.”
Du Linlin smiled. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Master, Miss Mu, take care.”
As they stepped outside, a shadow cast by the sunlight lay on the ground—it was shaped like a person.
Li Zian walked a few steps, then glanced back.
A young man stood on the second-floor balcony. He was bald, with triangular eyes and a somewhat fierce appearance. He wore an old-style cloth-buttoned jacket, his arms exposed. The muscles on his arms and neck were well-developed, giving a strong and powerful impression.
Li Zian only took a quick look before turning away.
He guessed he might be Du Zhishan’s disciple or something. After all, the Du Family was considered a “martial arts family,” so taking disciples was normal. The only thing that felt a bit strange was that this young man hadn’t shown up earlier but was now on the balcony watching him and Mu Chuntao.
“Who is that guy?” Mu Chuntao had also seen him and asked quietly.
“I don’t know. He didn’t come out earlier,” Li Zian said.
“Looks so fierce and ugly, coming out to scare people,” Mu Chuntao muttered.
Li Zian: “…”
If everyone were handsome, what market would handsome guys have?
The Ferrari sports car drove out of Bright Moon Manor and headed back toward the city along the same route they came.
“Miss Du gave two million. I transferred all the money to your card,” Mu Chuntao said without waiting for Li Zian to ask.
“Transferred to my card? I didn’t get any SMS,” Li Zian said, taking out his mobile phone and opening the message inbox. He immediately saw a deposit notification for two million. He suddenly remembered—when Mu Chuntao was discussing money with Du Linlin, he was in the bathroom, his mind filled with wild thoughts, and he hadn’t noticed the SMS alert.
“Didn’t it go through?”
“It did. I just didn’t notice it,” Li Zian said with a smile. “You’re really amazing. If it were me, I would have just taken the one million.”
“That’s why I sent you to the bathroom. We’ll handle it this way from now on: you solve problems, and I collect money,” Mu Chuntao said.
Li Zian responded, “Mm.”
He glanced around. Why weren’t there any hotels on the roadside?
“Earlier, I could have asked for more, but I thought asking for too much would leave no room for friendship. Having the Du Family owe us a favor is good too. Some favors can’t be bought with money. After Du Zhishan recovers, if he introduces a couple more friends to us for business, we’d earn back even more,” Mu Chuntao said.
“We really are in sync. I thought the same,” Li Zian said with a smile.
Just then, a small inn appeared by the roadside. His eyes were immediately drawn to it, but he quickly felt the place was too low-class to match Mu Chuntao’s status. In those few seconds of hesitation, the Ferrari left the small inn far behind.
Mu Chuntao saw the small inn in the rearview mirror and glanced sideways at the slightly anxious Li Zian. A smile touched her lips. “What are you looking at?”
“Uh, the scenery. The scenery here is really nice,” Li Zian said, his face feeling a bit warm.
“If you wanted to go to that small inn, I could turn back,” Mu Chuntao said.
“Was there a small inn? I didn’t see it,” Li Zian continued his act.
Mu Chuntao burst out laughing. “You’re blushing.”
Li Zian reached up and touched his cheek; it did feel warm.
Mu Chuntao said with a smile, “You clearly want it, but you pretend to be all proper. Isn’t that awkward?”
Li Zian ignored whether it was awkward or not. After hesitating, he finally said, “Chuntao, I want to… with you…”
“What do you want to do with me?”
She was teasing him on purpose.
“Get… a room.”
As soon as the words “get a room” left his mouth, Li Zian felt as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. He felt much more relaxed.
Mu Chuntao’s face turned red, and her voice softened. “No one is as direct as you. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Li Zian said awkwardly, “I… I don’t know how. It’s my first time.”
“It’s your second time. I’m the one having my first time,” Mu Chuntao said, giving him a playful, charming glare.
Li Zian looked surprised. “You… your first time?”
Mu Chuntao glared at him. “What do you mean by that?”
Li Zian smiled, feeling excited and happy but not knowing how to express it.
“Say something,” Mu Chuntao urged, watching his reaction out of the corner of her eye.
“What should I say?”
“Just say what you’re thinking.”
“Chuntao… um, I want to eat a Taozi.”
He used a more subtle way of saying it.
After all, he was a Master; he needed to be a bit more elegant.
You throw a wooden peach to me; I return it with fine wine.
For scholars, stealing books isn’t considered theft. For a Master, stealing a peach—can that be considered stealing?
Mu Chuntao’s face turned redder. She spat out, “Shameless! The Taozi isn’t ripe yet.”
Li Zian: “…”
No way?