Chapter 77: Uncle, I Can’t Breathe
Seeing that his fourth uncle had gotten into the car and was about to leave him behind, Qin Junchi’s eyes went wide. He hurried over to the window and called out, “Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle, I’m still here! At least give your eldest nephew a ride!”
Qin Mochen shot him a cold glance. “Who said I’d let you off? We’ll settle today’s account later.”
Qin Junchi shuddered, instantly shut his mouth, and took several steps back.
He watched helplessly as his little fourth uncle drove off.
Standing too close, he even got a mouthful of dust.
Qin Junchi spat twice and rolled his eyes. “So what if I didn’t notice for a moment and let that crazy woman Huang Yuexian splash wine all over Keke? If it’d make you feel better, I’d take ten cups myself.
Hmph, and you still said there’s nothing going on, just that she’s a bodyguard—would you react like this if that were true?”
Suddenly, Qin Junchi recalled what Su Keke had said earlier—
People with thick, dark, upturned brows are usually overly rational, but once they lose their temper, it’s terrifying.
His little fourth uncle just happened to have a pair of sharp, sword-like brows—thick and black.
Damn, that was spot on! His fourth uncle was usually extremely restrained and rarely angry, but once he did get angry… it was genuinely frightening.
No, he couldn’t just sit here waiting for death.
Qin Junchi immediately called the old master at home and wailed, “Grandpa, save me! Your eldest grandson is about to lose half his life…”
—
Stuffed into the car, Su Keke sneakily glanced at her uncle.
Qin Mochen drove in silence, his face taut, looking stern and intimidating.
“Uncle… are you angry? Is it because of me?”
Qin Mochen furrowed his brows but didn’t answer.
Su Keke spoke softly, “Um… actually, I only felt a bit wronged for a second or two. After that, it didn’t really bother me. It was just a little wine splashed on me—I didn’t lose an arm or a leg.
As for other people pointing fingers and gossiping, let them. I don’t even know them. Besides, if they talk too much nonsense, they’ll incur bad karma themselves. There’s no need for me to get angry with them.”
As she spoke, she curved her eyes into a smile at him. “So, Uncle, don’t be angry anymore, okay?”
The little girl secretly reached out and gently poked his arm.
She didn’t dare use much strength—after all, her uncle was still driving.
Qin Mochen’s tightly knitted brows relaxed a little. He said in a low voice, “Sorry. I didn’t keep an eye on you today.”
“Huh?” Su Keke didn’t understand. “Why are you apologizing, Uncle? I’m the one who’s supposed to be your bodyguard. It’s my fault for letting you out of my sight. I was the one who failed my duty.”
Qin Mochen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly freed his right hand and patted her head. “I saw your text. Something came up at the time, so I didn’t reply right away.”
Su Keke shook her head shyly and quickly said, “It’s fine, it’s fine. Thinking back now, I was pretty childish—complaining to you over just a tiny grievance. You’re so busy already; I shouldn’t have bothered you with such trivial things.”
“You can tell me,” Qin Mochen said.
“Huh?” Su Keke stared at him with her round eyes.
“If you’re wronged, say it. Don’t bottle it up. Your master isn’t here—I’m your elder. If you don’t tell me, who will you tell?”
Su Keke froze for a second, then asked hesitantly, “But… wouldn’t that disturb you, Uncle? You’re busy every day and already so tired. On top of that, you’d still have to worry about these small things…”
“You protect me, and you even give me acupressure. You’re doing your job so conscientiously—how could I let you be wronged?” Qin Mochen said. As he spoke, his sword-like brows lifted slightly, and the coldness that had lingered in his eyes gradually melted away.
Su Keke secretly pressed her lips together in a smile.
“I still haven’t pressed today’s acupoints yet. When we get back, I’ll do it for you, Uncle.”
“Let’s put today’s on credit. You should be tired—go back and take a shower first.”
Su Keke touched the hair at her temples, which had already clumped together, and responded with an “Oh.”
She really did need a wash. Although her face was clean after wiping it with wet wipes, her hair was still sticky.
Suddenly thinking of something, Su Keke hurriedly asked, “Uncle, did we just leave Assistant Wu behind like that?”
Qin Mochen paused briefly and replied, “He needed to stay and help me handle some things. I already told him before we left.”
At this moment, Wu Zongbai was still at the banquet, miserably dealing with old foxes who kept coming over to probe for information. Even Fourth Master’s brother and sister-in-law asked about the little cutie.
But after so many years by Qin Mochen’s side, Wu Zongbai had long become a seasoned veteran. To every question, he either deflected skillfully or avoided it outright, while subtly reminding everyone: no matter what identity that bodyguard-looking young lady had, one thing was certain—she was someone Fourth Master protected.
Only when the birthday banquet was nearing its end did Wu Zongbai finally escape the den of foxes.
—
Back home, Su Keke stretched lazily, her face full of relaxation. “It’s still best at Uncle’s place.”
A faint smile flashed across Qin Mochen’s eyes. He took off his coat, changed into slippers, and placed her rabbit-ear slippers in front of her.
“Go shower. Change out of that suit too.”
Su Keke answered with an “Oh,” but didn’t move.
She hadn’t felt it earlier, but now that she’d relaxed, she was really tired—so tired she didn’t want to move at all. Especially her feet. Even though John had changed her into low-heeled leather shoes—soft and with thick heels—standing for so long still made them ache.
“Uncle, can I rest for a bit first?”
Qin Mochen looked at her listless, wilted appearance and sighed helplessly. “Come upstairs with me.”
He led Su Keke into the bathroom.
The master bedroom had its own bathroom, so this shared bathroom mostly held Su Keke’s things—toothbrush, towels, shampoo, body wash. No need to label them; with everything in matching pink, there was no chance of mixing them up.
The little girl pouted at him. “I know how to shower. Can’t you let me rest a bit before washing?”
Qin Mochen looked at her with amusement. “You smell like red wine—aren’t you bothered by it?”
Su Keke nodded. “I am.”
Suddenly, Qin Mochen’s hands gripped her waist, and with a swift, steady motion, he lifted her up.
His movements were fast and controlled. By the time Su Keke’s startled cry escaped her lips, she was already sitting on the sink.
She only felt her waist tighten and then loosen; when she came back to her senses, her feet were already off the ground.
Su Keke stared at Qin Mochen with a face full of question marks.
“Sit still. Don’t move.”
Qin Mochen took her face towel, dampened it with water, wrung it out, and then directly covered her small face with it.
“Mmm—Uncle, I can’t breathe!”
“Use your hands. Wipe it yourself.”
Only then did Su Keke realize he wanted her to wipe her face.
After wiping carelessly, Qin Mochen took the towel from her hands, rinsed it, wrung it half-dry, and this time didn’t let her do anything—he wiped the hair stuck together at her temples himself.
“Uncle, I can do it myself. I’m already eighteen—why are you treating me like a little kid who doesn’t know anything?”
Qin Mochen snorted lightly, his movements becoming a bit rougher. Her head tilted with his motion.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly. “Is that so? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’re only ten.”
“All done.”
Qin Mochen wrapped an arm around her waist and gently lifted her down. The moment her feet touched the ground, he released her. “Now you can change clothes and go lie down on the living room sofa—sit or lie, whatever you want.”
Su Keke chuckled and asked, “Uncle, are you afraid that smelly me would stink up the living room sofa too?”
“Yes, little girl,” Qin Mochen said, placing his large hand on the back of her head and steering her outside.
