Chapter 39: Good Night—Uncle, You Should Go to Bed Early Too
Before dinner, the old butler and the nanny whom Qin Mochen kept at Xiangyuan arrived.
There really was no need to rush them over like this, but the moment Qin Mochen thought of the little girl itching to charge into the kitchen and show off her “skills,” his head started to ache. After hauling her straight out of the culinary danger zone, he immediately made the call.
The old butler’s surname was Zhao, the nanny’s surname Lin—both were longtime staff Qin Mochen had employed for many years.
Seeing the house suddenly filled with all kinds of rabbit decorations, the two—who knew their master well—were inwardly shocked. However, they had long since cultivated the ability to remain unruffled no matter what happened, and neither showed the slightest change in expression.
“Auntie Lin, your cooking is sooo good! You could totally be a head chef at one of those five-star hotels!” Su Keke finished one bowl of rice and went straight for a second, only stopping when her little belly was visibly rounded.
Not a single grain of rice was left in the pretty porcelain bowl—it was so clean it barely even needed washing.
Auntie Lin usually cooked for Fourth Master Qin and had never once received a word of praise from him. Now, being complimented so enthusiastically by the little girl, she was naturally delighted.
When she had first misunderstood the girl’s identity, she hadn’t been very friendly. Fortunately, Assistant Wu had quietly explained things to her, and she realized she’d overthought it. After that, the more she looked at the girl, the more she liked her.
When Auntie Lin was clearing the dishes, the little girl rushed over to help.
Auntie Lin laughed. “Go play. You’re a guest invited by Fourth Master—there’s no need for you to help here. The kitchen has a dishwasher anyway; I’ll be done in no time.”
“Okay then, I’m going! If you get tired, remember to call me—I can be your little helper.”
“Alright, alright.” Auntie Lin watched the girl run off with a smile full of motherly affection.
She had seen all kinds of people and had a sharp eye. Anyone with ulterior motives couldn’t fool her—but these eyes of the girl’s were just too beautiful, clean and pure like a newborn’s. She had liked her from the very first glance.
When Su Keke returned to the living room, Qin Mochen was sitting on the sofa watching the news. His posture was relaxed and languid, yet carried an air of upright restraint; even with his legs crossed, his back was perfectly straight.
Su Keke stared at him for a moment. Her little mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but seeing how focused he was, she didn’t interrupt. Instead, she quietly went upstairs and returned to her room.
The moment the girl closed her door, Qin Mochen—who had appeared fully absorbed in the television—turned his head and glanced at her bedroom door. His gaze flickered, and his brows knit slightly.
Su Keke changed into the suspender-style nightdress Assistant Wu had prepared for her, climbed onto the big bed, rolled around a couple of times, then lay there staring blankly at the ceiling.
Ding.
The sound of a text message made her spring up in a perfect carp flip. She hurriedly grabbed her old-fashioned phone to check it.
She thought it would be a reply from her master—but it was just another spam message.
Disappointment flashed across her face. After thinking for a moment, she sent another message to her master:
Master, why aren’t you replying to my messages? You’re not answering your phone either. You haven’t forgotten about me, have you? I’ve already settled into Uncle Qin’s house. He’s really nice.
After a pause, she sent another:
The bed here is big and soft, and Auntie Lin’s cooking is way better than mine. Uncle even prepared enough clothes for me to wear for a lifetime.
But I still miss the wooden plank bed in our thatched hut—the one that squeaks whenever you roll over—and you sitting there with one leg crossed, gnawing on the corn I steamed.
Her fingers stopped. She quickly deleted that part and replaced it with:
I start school tomorrow. Uncle says I’ll be able to make lots of friends at school. I’m a little excited and a little nervous.
Master, don’t worry. I won’t fall behind on what you taught me. I’ll keep drawing talismans every day.
Finally, she sent one last message:
I hope master returns safely after finding the treasure.
After sending the messages, Su Keke took out a small stack of yellow talisman paper from her bundle, sat at the small table in her bedroom, and began drawing talismans.
The bedroom light was a bit dim, but it was already far better than the bare bulb in the thatched hut. Su Keke was very satisfied.
Holding her brush, she moved swiftly across the yellow paper, every stroke flowing seamlessly.
Blessing talismans for good luck, protective charms, wealth talismans—these sold best, so she drew more of them. Harmony talismans for relationships, popularity charms, peach-blossom romance charms—she added some of those too. Talismans to dispel evil, ward off misfortune, and drive away ghosts were indispensable as well.
Finally—hehe—two guiding talismans. If she happened to run into a ghost car someday, she could save a bit of money.
She was drawing with full concentration when two knocks sounded at the door. Her hand jerked, the spiritual energy gathered at the tip of her brush instantly dispersed, and the half-finished guiding talisman was ruined.
The little girl hurried to open the door and immediately called out when she saw the man outside, “Uncle!”
“What are you doing?” Qin Mochen asked.
His brows were slightly furrowed, but the trace was so faint it was almost imperceptible, giving the impression that this cold, austere air was simply part of his usual demeanor.
Su Keke quickly gathered up the stack of talismans she’d finished and said with a grin, “It was still early, so I drew some talismans. Uncle, look—I’ve already drawn so many!”
Qin Mochen glanced at the talismans. The faint crease between his brows smoothed out, and his expression seemed to soften a little.
“Girl, come with me to the study for a moment,” he said.
Naturally, Su Keke obediently followed behind him.
The desk in the study was very large. Before, there had only been one cushioned chair beside it—but now, there was an extra one.
Su Keke looked at him in confusion.
Qin Mochen said, “You can use my desk in the future too.”
“Really?” Su Keke’s eyes lit up. “Won’t I disturb you, Uncle?”
“…Probably not. If you get too noisy, I’ll take it back then.” Qin Mochen looked at the little girl’s face, now lively and animated again, and his mood inexplicably improved.
Su Keke immediately patted her small chest. “Don’t worry, Uncle! I definitely won’t disturb you!”
Qin Mochen handed her the backpack on the desk. “All the Grade 11 textbooks are inside. It’s too late to jump straight to Grade 12, so you’ll start from Grade 11.”
Su Keke took the backpack and found it bulging and quite heavy.
Qin Mochen looked at her, falling silent for a moment, as if there was nothing more to say.
“Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ll study hard—after all, I promised you,” Su Keke said, looking obedient to the extreme.
Qin Mochen gave a low hum, then suddenly said as he looked at her slightly upturned, pink little face, “Treat this place as your own home. No need to hold back.”
“Okay, Uncle. Then I’ll… go back now?”
“It’s still early. You can go watch some cartoons in the living room.”
Su Keke giggled. “Uncle, do you really think I’m a little kid? Those are for five- or six-year-olds. I’m not watching that.”
She gave a light snort, hugged her backpack, and ran off. After a few steps, she turned back and looked at him.
“Uncle, go to bed early too. Good night!”
Qin Mochen watched her bouncing, almost skipping silhouette as she ran away, and the corner of his lips lifted unconsciously.
He didn’t know how to comfort children. But earlier, when the child had gone upstairs looking dejected, as if something was weighing on her heart, he’d felt a trace of displeasure himself—like he ought to do something.
Now that the child was lively and full of energy again, that last bit of unease in his heart disappeared.
