Chapter 16: Change

The little girl, though she did not think much of Shen Qingyi, only knew tricks like catching insects from tree branches to scare her.

After Zhao Ji unintentionally mentioned it to Elder Qi and Elder Qi showed no reaction, Shen Qingyi stopped pretending not to notice.

The colder Shen Qingyi acted, the more Qi Linger refused to give up.

But after Shen Qingyi pretended to be scared and startled, Qi Linger quieted down a lot.

Shen Qingyi used to be the pampered treasure of her family, with parents, grandparents, and an older sister shielding her.

Now, to survive and hold onto hope, Shen Qingyi could bend for a moment. It seemed nothing was impossible.

However, her heart grew even more determined to become strong.

Today, the Academy was closed as usual at the end of the month. Qi Linger had pestered Elder Qi early in the morning to go play in the Market District.

After Shen Qingyi finished cleaning the courtyard, she was wringing out a rag when Zhao Ji squatted down beside her.

Shen Qingyi turned her face slightly.

“Brother Zhao.”

Looking at Shen Qingyi’s somewhat red and swollen hands, Zhao Ji couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Winter had passed, and spring had arrived, but the weather was still quite cold.

He knew that after Shen Qingyi finished all her chores, she stayed up late at night with a lamp.

He had friends nearby. With just a little asking around, he found out what Shen Qingyi had been doing these days.

She copied books for that Fengxiang Bookstore to earn a few Spirit Pearls. The more she copied, the more Spirit Pearls she earned.

This little girl seemed to have an endless supply of energy.

Zhao Ji had thought about helping her, but in the Cultivation World, almost every low-level cultivator had their own difficulties.

His sympathy might save her for a moment, but it couldn’t save her for a lifetime. Besides, if he helped her out of momentary soft-heartedness, his own parents and siblings might face greater hardship.

His income from the Academy was decent, and he sent money home every month.

He could only help this poor little girl within his means…

Zhao Ji took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket.

“The weather hasn’t fully warmed up yet, and the water is still cold. You don’t need to clean so diligently and thoroughly every day. For the master, it’s just a simple dust-cleaning spell anyway.”

He had said this more than once, but although Shen Qingyi agreed verbally, she always cleaned everything spotless.

As expected, the little girl nodded in agreement again this time.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Ji spoke up once more.

“Qingyi, do you resent it?”

Shen Qingyi was slightly taken aback.

“Resent what?”

Resent what?

Zhao Ji was at a loss for words.

Resent her parents who abandoned her? Resent Elder Qi’s differential treatment? Resent him for staying out of it? Resent the world’s indifference? Or resent the unfair world that caused all this?

Zhao Ji tugged at the grass nearby, his voice a bit muffled.

“Never mind.”

Seeming to understand Zhao Ji’s thoughts, Shen Qingyi hung the rag to dry on a nearby railing.

Her voice was calm.

“What is there to resent? I’m alive now, better off than countless others. And I’ve earned my first bucket of gold with my own hands! Things will only get better and better!”

The girl’s eyes sparkled, and her smile was bright.

This made Zhao Ji’s chest feel even tighter.

“Elder Qi… I…”

Not to mention the distant past, he didn’t know Shen Qingyi’s history, but what about now?

Shen Qingyi looked at Zhao Ji and smiled slightly.

“I am very grateful to Elder Qi and Brother Zhao.”

During her most lost and helpless time, they gave her a safe harbor, even if it was only temporary.

Elder Qi owed her, Shen Qingyi, nothing. Neither did Zhao Ji.

But to let her into the Academy when they were strangers—this was a kindness she had received from them.