Chapter 9: Uncle, Goodbye
“Uncle, why aren’t you laughing?” Su Keke stopped laughing and stared straight at him.
Was it really not funny? That was the funniest joke she’d ever heard her master tell.
Her master had said that in their line of work, karma was paramount—any promise made must be fulfilled. Otherwise, one would owe a small karmic debt.
And if you owed too much karma, it would turn into karmic obstacles, which was bad for one’s cultivation.
Qin Mochen fixed her with a dark, unfathomable gaze for a moment, then suddenly sighed.
“Try telling another joke.”
Su Keke really couldn’t think of any more, so she told one that wasn’t particularly funny.
She didn’t have much hope—but who would have thought the man in front of her would actually laugh!
Qin Mochen tried hard to tug the corners of his mouth upward. Because it was so forced, it looked more like a grimace than a smile, and then he let out a few “heh heh heh”s.
Su Keke suddenly understood something.
No wonder Uncle didn’t like to smile—because when he smiled, it looked worse than crying.
“Uncle, does that count as laughing?” Su Keke asked, hiding the pity in her eyes.
After the “heh heh,” Qin Mochen returned to a serious face in the very next second and gave a flat “Mm.”
“Then does that mean I’ve pleased you, Uncle?”
Qin Mochen’s face went blank. “…Mm.”
“Uncle, your phone number. I’ll contact you tomorrow.” Su Keke took out her phone and handed it to him, asking him to enter his number.
Qin Mochen looked at the long-obsolete antique phone and was a little surprised.
A young girl was actually using the oldest kind of phone—not only ugly in style, but with functions limited to making calls and sending text messages. It couldn’t even go online.
“Master’s afraid I’ll lose my will to cultivate if I get distracted by gadgets, so he doesn’t recommend I buy a smartphone,” Su Keke explained.
Qin Mochen nodded, entered his private number, and even saved it with his full name.
Su Keke was so happy that her eyes curved into two little crescent moons.
She took back the phone, glanced at the contact name, and immediately beamed.
“Uncle, just by looking at your name I can tell you’re not lacking anything. ‘Qin’ belongs to fire, ‘Mo’ belongs to water, ‘Chen’ belongs to metal—and metal generates water, water nourishes wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, and earth stores metal. Metal, wood, water, fire, earth—you have all five elements. Some people, if their birth chart lacks something, will choose a name with the corresponding element.”
Su Keke dialed the number once. After it rang twice, she hung up and said with a bright smile,
“Uncle, my name is Su Keke. Remember to save my number. Oh right—Uncle, are you still staying here tomorrow?”
Qin Mochen gave a calm “Mm.”
“Then I’ll go back tonight and get ready. I’ll come find you tomorrow!”
The little girl slung her small bag over her shoulder and waved her tiny paw at him.
“Uncle, goodbye.”
Then she opened the door and left.
Her departing figure was crisp and decisive.
Qin Mochen watched her back, then suddenly called out, “Wait.”
Su Keke turned around, her face full of question marks.
“Uncle, is there something else?”
“It’s already late. I’ll have Assistant Wu take you.”
Su Keke smiled sweetly at him.
“Really no need, Uncle. I can take a taxi by myself. Not to brag, but ordinary people really can’t beat me—I’m pretty amazing.”
After saying that, she pattered away. Whatever was in the little backpack on her shoulder bounced as she ran, clinking with ding-ding-dang-dang sounds.
Qin Mochen stood by the door and watched for a while. Only after the little thing entered the elevator did he withdraw his gaze. He shook his head slightly, as if helpless, yet the corners of his lips lifted faintly.
Heh. Little girl.
After leaving the club, Su Keke ran in one breath to a busy commercial area where it was easier to get a taxi.
She lived in a small town on the outskirts of the capital. If it weren’t for chasing that seductive ghost, she wouldn’t have come this far.
The taxi ride back to Peach Blossom Town cost over a hundred yuan—so painful.
Just after arriving in Peach Blossom Town, Su Keke received a text message.
Qin Mochen: Girl, let Uncle know when you get home safely.
Su Keke’s fingers flew as she typed back: Okay, Uncle.
In the luxurious private room, Qin Mochen saw the message. The corners of his lips lifted slightly—then he composed himself, drawing them back into a straight line, returning to his usual expressionless face.
