It was the sixth day of the New Year Holiday when people would usually pour alcohol on the ground and pay tribute to God on the street, and tens of thousands of families would keep their doors open to send the Poverty God away. On this day, people would pay special attention to chase the Poverty God away, get rid of ragged clothing, and provide pancake offerings to God. However, in the current society where the atmosphere of the Spring Festival became weaker and weaker, people thought that the New Year Holiday celebration meant nothing to them aside from enjoying a few days off. Today was the last day of the Spring Festival. The majority of people were on their way back to work since the new year would officially begin tomorrow.
Qin Sheng did not need to worry that his vacation was going to come to an end. After all, it was not until after the Lantern Festival that he needed to go back to Beijing. At that time, he would stay in the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University for further studies. During the New Year Holiday, he had received wishes from his classmates in the same class for advanced studies. Most of them had sent him the wishes via text, except for Han Xu from Tianjin and Wei Li from Hangzhou, who had called him in person.
Han Xu, who had not given a damn about whether Qin Sheng would like to hear him out or not, had said a lot over the phone. Wei Li, who had been polite, had said a few sentences of wishes simply. After that, he had hung up the phone sensibly. This time, Qin Sheng had not treated Wei Li so coldly. After all, as the saying goes, never slap the smiler. Moreover, he would need help from Wei Li in the future.
After Qin Sheng got up, as usual, he accompanied his grandma taking a walk in Fuxing Park. It was clear that compared with the situation of two days ago, there were more pedestrians and vehicles on the streets outside. Many people had come back to Shanghai in advance. Among them, some might have intended to go back to Shanghai early to avoid the peak passenger flow, and some others might have intended to go back early so that they could pay their New Year’s Calls to their leaders, colleagues, or clients, and so on. After all, the Spring Festival was the most important holiday domestically.
By the time Qin Sheng and the old lady went back to the old-style villa after taking a walk, Qin Ran had finished dressing up and was waiting for them to have breakfast in the dining room. Instead of dressing herself in the casual style of usual days, which she had done during the New Year Holiday, she was dressed in a quite formal business suit. Qin Sheng found it somewhat peculiar.
Qin Sheng asked somewhat confusedly, “Sister, do you have something to attend to since you’re dressed so formally today?”
Qin Ran explained casually, “I need to take care of some things for the company in Shanghai. Consequently, I will go to Lujiazui to attend a meeting later. I probably can’t see you off.”
Qin Sheng said disapprovingly, “I am not a little boy, but a mature man.”
The old lady glared at Qin Sheng as she said, “Sheng’er, your sister is doing so to pamper you. How long will you stay in Ningbo? You should go there early and come back early. I have many words to confess to you.”
Back when Qin Sheng had taken a walk with his grandmother, he had told her that he would go to Ningbo. Otherwise, if he disappeared all of a sudden this time, the old lady would be scared. The old lady had not said anything at all. Instead, she had advised Qin Sheng that he should act discreetly outside, saying that if he met with any mishap, he should call his family members.
Qin Sheng resumed being innocent in a hurry as he said, “Grandma, I know. I will call you every day and come back soon as long as I am done with my obligations there. Before the Lantern Festival comes, I will be always by your side in Shanghai.”
Qin Ran lowered her head, glimpsed at her watch, as she said, “Let’s finish breakfast quickly. Nan Gong is on her way here. After you arrive in Ningbo, you can just directly contact my friend there.” The Blancpain watch on her wrist, which was among the Villeret Collection, was a birthday gift from Qin Chang’an. Most of the time, Qin Ran would only wear this watch on her wrist. Consequently, though she usually accused the old man harshly, she loved him more than anybody else in the world.
Qin Sheng nodded and did not say anything else. Instead, he lowered his head and focused on filling his stomach.
As the old lady drank soybean milk, she stared at her grandson and granddaughter smilingly while squinting her eyes. She thought that If her eldest daughter were still alive, she might be the happiest one. That was because her husband was successful in his career and her daughter and son were both filial. Moreover, with the support of her maternal family, never would she be afraid that others would bully her family members. As the old lady thought of this point, she let out a sigh. “Maybe it is because my daughter had been so greatly blessed that she did not have the chance to enjoy the blessings anymore.”
After they had breakfast, two cars were waiting outside for Qin Ran and Qin Sheng. The bodyguard named Brother Zheng had accomplished his task smoothly. After that, Qin Sheng had ordered him to come back to his sister’s side. After all, he had two high-level masters to protect him, Lao Chang and Nan Gong.
Nan Gong had driven a modified Jeep Wrangler here, who looked pretty overbearing. Moreover, she was dressed in punk-style clothing, looking valiant and heroic. It turned out that this woman was not as sexy and attractive as her appearance. Probably nobody would consider her to be a cold-blooded killer. As for Brother Zheng, he had driven a Mercedes-Benz S-Class here, which belonged to the company in Shanghai. After all, Qin Ran would attend various formal business meetings in the next few days.
Neither of them allowed the old lady to see them off. Qin Sheng went out with one bag, who did not take much luggage with him. When Qin Sheng saw Nan Gong again, he was no longer awkward since he knew how he should get along with her.
Nan Gong greeted Qin Ran and did not even pay attention to Qin Sheng. After all, she had kept what had happened in Yanqi Lake in mind. Qin Sheng braced up his courage as he said, “Sister Nan Gong, won’t you even wish me a Happy New Year during the New Year Holiday?”
Nan Gong was so angry that she wanted to freak out. However, she knew that the reason why Qin Sheng had acted so unscrupulously was that his sister Ran Ran had been on the scene. Consequently, she had no choice but to restrain herself and say stiffly, “Happy New Year.”
Qin Sheng took out a red packet, which had shown up all of a sudden mysteriously, and handed it over to Nan Gong as he said, “Good. Please accept my red packet. As your brother, it’s a little token of my affection.”
Nan Gong gritted her teeth as she accepted Qin Sheng’s red packet. After all, she was not on bad terms with money. However, she did not think Qin Sheng had done so out of good intentions. Instead, he had done so to make fun of her on purpose. Consequently, she snorted out, “Thanks.”