Chapter 70: Chapter 69 Little Matchmaker (Part 2)

"So what, at worst, I’ll have a daughter." Seeing Ling Chen’s eyes widen, Tang Yuan quickly added, "Okay, okay, I’ll stop joking. I’ve looked online for houses, but there aren’t any suitable listings at the moment. They’re either too expensive or too cheap, with a bad environment. Let’s make do in a hotel for a few days and see how things go."

Ling Chen didn’t say anything more and collapsed onto the bed.

Remembering his conversation with Tang Shiyun at school, he felt uncomfortable. Since his arrival in East Sea City, Tang Shiyun was the first friend he had made. Although they had only known each other for a few months, he highly valued her. For someone like him, who had lived through gunfire and treachery, he had very few true friends besides his comrades.

Tang Shiyun was probably the first ordinary friend he had made, which was quite special to him. Moreover, Tang Shiyun’s personality also attracted him.

The thought of not being able to meet her again in the future was unsettling.

He closed his eyes, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when a ringtone woke him. He grabbed his phone and pressed the answer button.

"Hello, Ling Chen, where are you?"

Hearing that gentle voice, Ling Chen’s groggy mind immediately cleared, and he sat up abruptly from the bed, "I’m outside. Xiaozhu, did you need something?"

"It’s nothing, Little Hua was fussing about wanting to see you, so I wanted to ask if you’re free to come over to the Martial Arts Academy."

"Okay, I’ll be right there."

After hanging up, Ling Chen glanced at the other bed and noticed the sheets neatly folded; Tang Yuan was gone.

The hotel he was staying at wasn’t too far from the Martial Arts Academy. It took less than half an hour by bus. Once inside the academy, he found it desolate, with all the equipment placed in the corner, and not a single person in sight in the large courtyard.

"Strange, where did everyone go?"

While he was talking to himself, a little girl bounced out of the hall—it was Little Hua.

"Big brother." Little Hua grabbed his large hand, her face beaming with joy.

"Xiaozhu said you wanted to see me?"

"Who wants to see you? You didn’t bring any tasty treats for me." Little Hua pouted, tugging at Ling Chen’s sleeves. Ling Chen got the hint and crouched down to ask, "What’s up?"

Little Hua whispered into his ear, "Big brother, didn’t I say I’d introduce a girlfriend to you last time? Xiaozhu is returning to Beijing tomorrow, so I made up an excuse to have her phone you to come here. I’ve created the opportunity; whether it works out is now up to you."

Ling Chen widened his eyes and looked into Little Hua’s innocent eyes, his mind buzzing. She was a little devil, all right, knowing how to scheme at such a young age. No wonder Zhu Xiaozhu said she was cunning.

He pinched Little Hua’s chubby cheeks with a wry smile, "Is it really okay for you to trick your sister Xiaozhu like this?"

Little Hua had an air of false maturity, "What’s wrong with that? Women have to marry sooner or later. I think you’re pretty good, so it’s decided—it’s you."

Ling Chen was caught between laughter and tears. This was not the demeanor of a seven-year-old girl; she could pass for seventeen with her overly mature thoughts.

"Little Hua, Ling Chen hasn’t arrived yet?"

As she spoke, Zhu Xiaozhu walked gracefully out from inside the hall. A few days apart, Zhu Xiaozhu still had a dignified and amiable appearance, gentle as water, particularly her lively and expressive eyes that made one’s heart skip a beat.

"Xiaozhu." Ling Chen stood up and greeted her with a smile.

Zhu Xiaozhu responded softly, "Come inside and have a seat."

"Sister Xiaozhu, you chat first. I’m going to see Master." Having said that, Little Hua tugged Ling Chen’s trouser leg, reminding him not to forget what she had said before, then hopped towards the room next door.

Zhu Xiaozhu followed a couple of steps, "Wasn’t it you who wanted to see Ling Chen? Why are you avoiding him now that he’s here?"

Little Hua looked back with an innocent smile, "Sister Xiaozhu, haven’t I just met him? The rest of the time I’ll leave to you."

Watching her enter He Ziyun’s room without looking back, Zhu Xiaozhu shook her head helplessly.

"Ling Chen, sorry about Little Hua; she is always so quirky, no one can really figure her out."

"It’s fine, kids are naturally mischievous." As he said this, Ling Chen found it a bit hard to get the words out. That little girl was more than quirky; she was truly crafty.

"Come in. I’ll make you a cup of tea."

While Zhu Xiaozhu was making tea, Little Hua, in the next room, was perched over a chess board. She picked up a chess piece and gently placed it down, muttering, "Hey, old man, do you think big brother has a chance with sister Xiaozhu?"

If outsiders were present, they would be shocked to hear Little Hua refer to her master in such a way. Moreover, He Ziyun’s calm expression seemed to show that he didn’t mind at all.

"How would I know? I am not the god of marriage; I can’t deal with these matters."

"I think big brother is quite nice; anyway, I’ve created the chance for him; whether or not anything happens is up to him. Besides, sister Xiaozhu doesn’t seem to dislike him; I guess they might hit it off."

A smile crept onto He Ziyun’s weathered face, "Are you that concerned about Xiaozhu’s marriage?"

"If I don’t care, then who will? I don’t know how much longer I have to live; if I’m gone, who will look after sister Xiaozhu? We can’t expect an old man like you to do it."

"Don’t worry, even at the cost of my old life, I won’t let those people harm you."

"You know the abilities of those people. If you were so confident, you wouldn’t have transferred all your disciples to Beijing. Old man, whatever the outcome, I’m thankful for your care all these years."

"No need to be polite."

"Hmm, then I won’t be polite. General!"

"How come you’re already done? You must have cheated... this game doesn’t count, let’s start over."

Back in the main hall, Ling Chen held his teacup, looking at the empty house and asked, "Xiaozhu, where is everyone?"

"Mr. He arranged for them to go to Beijing. Mr. Ye has opened a martial arts academy there that needed staff."

"No wonder."

"By the way, shouldn’t you be at work today?"

Ling Chen shrugged, "What’s there to work on? I quit already. Now I’m an unemployed drifter, without even a place to stay."

"You quit? Why?" Zhu Xiaozhu’s gentle face showed surprise, "Is the Nanrong family’s treatment not good?"

"It’s not about the treatment. It’s just… sigh, let’s not talk about it. It’s all in the past." He didn’t feel like mentioning Nanrong Wanqing. Though he had left the Nanrong family, he didn’t know why, every time he thought of that woman as pure as a snow lotus, he couldn’t calm his heart. It was only when he was with Zhu Xiaozhu that he could enjoy the peace within.