Chapter 497: Elder Hong's Respect

Seeing that Qin Tuo didn’t seem to be joking, Ouyang Tianqi thought for a moment before asking another question.

“Mr. Qin, what other matters do you have to attend to?”

Ouyang Tianqi was extremely curious. This was Qin Tuo’s first time in Capital City.

Besides, he was only here for the auction. What else could he have to take care of?

Qin Tuo shook his head, sighed, and said,

“Mr. Ouyang, you may not be aware, but I have to help Pavilion Master Kong with something.”

Ouyang Tianqi’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this, and he didn’t ask any further.

He knew that Kong Lianqing was the Grand Pavilion Master of the Security Pavilion, a man whose status was extremely sensitive.

A matter concerning Kong Lianqing was a matter concerning the Security Pavilion, so it wasn’t his place to ask too many questions.

So, Ouyang Tianqi nodded and said with a smile,

“Rest assured, Mr. Qin. I will definitely get them back to Ming City safely.”

Hearing this, Qin Tuo was also relieved.

At that moment, Kong Lianqing, who had also heard Qin Tuo, showed a look of gratitude.

But Chen Man Ni, who was standing nearby, was suddenly unhappy.

She had clearly heard every word Qin Tuo said.

With a stubborn look on her face, she grabbed Qin Tuo’s hand and insisted,

“No way, Qin Tuo! If you’re not going back, then I’m not going back either! I want to stay with you!”

Qin Tuo shook his head and tried to reason with her, sounding a bit helpless.

“Manni, don’t be like this. I’m going to handle important business. Please, be good and go back first. I’ll be right behind you, okay?”

But Chen Man Ni still wasn’t having it. She pouted and said,

“No! Qin Tuo, I don’t care where you go, I’m going with you! I absolutely refuse to be separated from you!”

This sappy, lovey-dovey display showed no regard for the other people in the room.

Qin Tuo, however, coughed twice, put on a serious expression, and said,

“Manni, stop being difficult. What I have to do is extremely dangerous. It’s not good for you to stay here.”

Seeing this rare, serious expression on Qin Tuo’s face, Chen Man Ni fell silent.

She knew that Qin Tuo was probably about to handle something truly difficult, and that her staying in Capital City might just cause more trouble for him.

So, after a moment of thought, Chen Man Ni nodded obediently.

“Alright then, Qin Tuo. In that case, I’ll go back first. But you have to promise to be careful!”

Qin Tuo smiled and nodded firmly.

“Don’t worry, Manni. You trust me, don’t you?”

But then, as if she had suddenly remembered something, Chen Man Ni pulled on Qin Tuo’s sleeve again and warned him in a serious tone,

“Oh, right! Qin Tuo, when you’re here in Capital City all by yourself without me, you’d better not get any funny ideas!”

At these words, everyone in the room looked at Qin Tuo with knowing smirks.

Qin Tuo, however, feigned confusion and asked,

“Oh, Manni? What kind of funny ideas could I possibly get?”

Chen Man Ni snorted in annoyance and said,

“I’m just worried you’ll be out there chasing skirts with no one to keep an eye on you.”

Qin Tuo just shook his head and smiled, then said with the utmost seriousness and sincerity,

“Manni, don’t worry. There’s only room for you in my heart. Can’t you feel that?”

“You’re so cheesy!”

Chen Man Ni deliberately pulled her hand away from Qin Tuo’s, putting on a look of disgust.

And yet, her bright, expressive eyes couldn’t hide her sweet smile!

The room erupted in laughter. Everyone started teasing them, making Chen Man Ni’s face turn beet red.

Watching the two of them flirt and bicker, Ouyang Feifei, who was standing in the corner, remained silent, but couldn’t help a strange feeling welling up inside her.

‘What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel so uncomfortable seeing them like this…’

Ouyang Feifei was shocked by this realization, and her heart began to pound.

She shook her head violently and told herself,

‘Impossible. Absolutely impossible. How could I have fallen for Qin Tuo… His girlfriend is my best friend!’

Ouyang Feifei’s heart was in turmoil.

As it was getting late, everyone retired to their rooms to rest.

Qin Tuo chatted with Chen Man Ni for a while longer before returning to his own room as well.

…

「Capital City, Liu Family Villa.」

Liu Zhenghai was sitting alone in the middle of the main hall, moodily sipping his tea and looking thoroughly displeased.

The memory of how Qin Tuo had repeatedly targeted him at the auction, humiliating him in front of everyone, was a torment to Liu Zhenghai!

As the second-in-command of the Liu Family, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

As Liu Zhenghai drank his tea, a sinister look filled his eyes. He wished he could slice Qin Tuo into a thousand pieces.

“You damn mutt, just you wait! The Liu Family is not finished with you!”

Liu Zhenghai muttered to himself, gritting his teeth.

Just then, the Liu Family’s old steward rushed in, his face etched with anxiety.

“What is it?”

Seeing the old steward’s expression, Liu Zhenghai frowned and asked coldly.

The old steward took a couple of deep, ragged breaths before speaking urgently.

“Second Master, it’s terrible…”

Liu Zhenghai’s expression darkened, and a wave of irritation washed over him for no reason.

He snapped irritably.

“Spit it out properly! What’s with all this panic? It’s unbecoming!”

The old steward shook his head with a bitter smile and said,

“Second Master, according to our latest reports, that brat Qin Tuo was invited over by Hong Yuanzheng to treat his grandson!”

Hearing this, Liu Zhenghai’s expression immediately became tense and grave.

Everyone in Capital City knew that Hong Yuanzheng’s grandson, Hong Kai, had been sick for a long time, paralyzed and bedridden.

And everyone also understood one simple truth: whoever could cure Hong Kai would undoubtedly earn Hong Yuanzheng’s utmost respect.

So, Liu Zhenghai asked nervously,

“And what happened?”

The old steward’s face was grim as he said in a heavy tone,

“Then, Qin Tuo miraculously managed to cure Elder Hong’s grandson. Elder Hong now holds that Qin Tuo in high esteem. It seems that for now… we’d best not provoke that kid!”

At these words, Liu Zhenghai’s eyes bulged wide.

A heavy snort escaped his nostrils, his face flushed red with rage. He lifted the teacup in his hand and smashed it to smithereens.

CRASH!

Gritting his teeth, Liu Zhenghai said venomously,

“Damn it all! How could that little bastard be so lucky?”