translated_Chapter 52

52: Returning to China

“I have a cake, and I just ask my brother to help me cut it and throw away the trash. I only need to eat it. I even ask my brother to put the leftovers in the refrigerator.”

Qin Yishan’s expression changed: “You’re being very selfish.”

“You’re not selfish when you enjoy the whole cake by yourself?” Qiu Shi rolled her eyes. “Idiot.” As she spoke, she turned and walked away, not letting Qin Yishan follow.

Left aside, Qin Yishan was not very happy. His father originally wanted him to please the child here, but instead, he was disliked, and she even called him an idiot.

Qiu Shi had just reached the kitchen door when Mr. Lewis called her to the study again.

Lewis held a few books: “Little Ai La, I know you won’t be interested in finance right away. It’s okay; my educational principle is that hobbies come first. Here are a few related novels about the past of financial tycoons throughout history. I think you will definitely like them.”

“Okay, Father, I will read them later.”

“You can read them now too.”

“Here?” Qiu Shi asked. Previously, only her older brother could study in the study and receive his father’s teachings.

In such a manor, Mr. Lewis’s affection was the crown of a princess.

“Of course, you can ask me if you don’t understand anything.” Lewis still smiled kindly.

Qiu Shi was thus trapped in the study, reading.

Her mind was gradually drawn to the enticing plots in the stories.

Before long, Qin’s father came in again.

Lewis wanted to talk to him again, and just when Qiu Shi thought she could finally leave,

“Oh, right, Qin, take a look at my daughter. Isn’t she good?”

“I was very impressed just now. She’s a little younger than Little Qin.” Qin’s father greatly admired the child.

“Two years. It seems like there’s a two-year difference.”

…

Qin Yishan toured the entire manor and walked to the utility room.

“Dong—dong—dong—”

Was it haunted?

Qin Yishan bravely walked over.

“Hello.” A somewhat hoarse young voice startled Qin Yishan.

Qiu Ci was also helpless: “Can you help me find someone? Find Miss Ai La.”

Qin Yishan took a few steps back: “Who are you?”

“I’m Alan. Are you new here?” Qiu Ci mistook Qin Yishan for another child Lewis had adopted.

Qin Yishan found the name somewhat familiar: “Are you Ai La’s younger brother?”

“Yes, Ai La seems to have forgotten me here.”

“Ai La locked you up!” Qin Yishan was surprised. Even in the Qin family, none of his older sisters had ever played such a joke: “When did you go in?”

“Probably this morning.”

It was already three in the afternoon: “Wait a moment.” Qin Yishan took out a piece of bread from his pocket. Being at an age where he was growing, he was often hungry, so Qin Yishan carried some food with him. He passed the bread through the gap in the door to Qiu Ci: “Have this first. I’ll go find your sister.”

“Okay.”

Having been in the utility room for a day, Qiu Ci was already starving. There was no water, so he directly ate the piece of bread, which was already dry.

Qin Yishan searched the manor for a while but couldn’t find Ai La, so he could only go to the kitchen to find something else to eat and some grape juice.

Carrying these foods, he came to the utility room again.

“I don’t know where your sister is.”

Qiu Ci sighed: “Maybe she’s busy. It’s okay, she’ll always come before dark.”

“Alright. I got you some food and juice from the kitchen. Use it to pass the time.” Qin Yishan stuffed another bottle and a few pieces of jerky inside.

Qiu Ci took them.

A chat box from his father popped up on Qin Yishan’s phone, telling him it was time to leave.

“I have to go first, goodbye Alan.”

Qiu Ci responded: “Oh, okay, thank you for the food.”

————————

Qiu Shi recalled the words she had said to Lewis that afternoon.

“Ai La, you are more suited for this industry than your brother. Don’t you want to go to China? I have a large branch in the Chinese region.”

“I admire the Qin children; they are very interested in their father’s work.”

“You should get to know them more. When you go to China, you’ll at least have friends.”

…

“Ai La, you are more mature and sensible than your brother.”

Qiu Shi looked at the manuscripts in her bedroom, lost in thought.

Qiu Ci could continue to paint, but she had to do other things.

Did that mean sensible children couldn’t be willful?

The moonlight outside the window scattered loosely into the room.

The crescent moon was bright, but unfortunately, it wasn’t full.

When would the moon be full?

Qiu Ci opened the grape juice and took a sip; he hadn’t had water all day.

They had played like this before, but never had she actually forgotten him here.

It was a little cold at night, so he curled up to sleep.

When Lewis still hadn’t seen Qiu Ci on the third day, he was a little worried. At the dining table, he asked Qiu Shi, “Ai La, is your brother still painting? I haven’t seen him since I came back this time.”

The metal knife and fork “clang—” fell into the plate. Qiu Shi suddenly remembered that Qiu Ci was still in the utility room: “Um… he’s still painting. He should be out soon…”

“Alright.” Lewis continued to eat.

Qiu Shi quickly finished her food and got up to leave.

She ran to the utility room as quickly as possible.

How was Qiu Ci doing?

How could she have forgotten Qiu Ci? Qiu Shi was extremely anxious.

The key hurriedly opened the door.

Qiu Ci was sitting in the corner, his eyes squinting.

“Qiu Ci, Qiu Ci…”

Qiu Shi touched Qiu Ci’s warm body and finally relaxed.

He still had body temperature.

After two consecutive nights, Qiu Ci could no longer distinguish between reality and dreams.

“Qiu… Shi…”

“It’s me, wake up. Good heavens, how could I have forgotten you.”

Qiu Ci propped up his eyelids, got up, and was taken back to her boudoir by Qiu Shi to rest.

First, he drank a large glass of water, and then he had some porridge before finally recovering.

“And you, you didn’t know to call someone over?” Qiu Shi found a reason for herself.

Qiu Ci spooned up the rice porridge: “I thought you would remember.”

“Tsk, you rascal, are you morally blackmailing me?” Qiu Shi pinched Qiu Ci’s arm.

Qiu Ci didn’t resist; he was just obedient.

“Oh, right, we’re going to China.”

Qiu Ci looked up in surprise: “Why?”

“Father thinks it’s safer in China, and it’s more suitable for us. I guess we’re going with the Qin family.”

“The Qin family?”

“Oh, you forgot. You weren’t there at the time. He’s a good friend of Father’s. His son is named Qin Yishan.”

Qiu Ci nodded. Judging from the age and race, he roughly guessed who the person a few days ago was.

Qin Yishan.

Qiu Ci silently remembered the name.

Sixteen-year-old Qiu Ci yawned and got out of bed. Although it was the weekend, the teacher required him to go to the art studio today.

Qiu Ci was preparing to take the art academy’s entrance exam, which was in the winter. He had half a year to prepare.

The teacher said that with his level, it basically wouldn’t be a problem.

The sound of packing his toolbox woke up Qiu Shi: “Tsk, so early?”