Market
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Brilliant lights decorated every corner of a market in Zhonghai. Shuffling through the crowd, happiness could be seen on the faces of the people there. Occasionally, foreign hawkers who hadnât gone home for the new year could be seen fighting their weariness in hopes of making extra money on New Yearâs Eve.
Shouts and loudspeaker sounds in addition to the fast music playing in the background and the chattering crowd made the entire market an incredibly merry place to be.
Hui Lin didnât expect Yang Chen to bring her to such a place to get fireworks. She thought sheâd be brought to a shop specialized in fireworks instead. However, since she wasnât familiar with stuff like this, she followed Yang Chen wherever he went.
Yang Chen walked in front while Hui Lin followed close behind. The surrounding clamors and noises made her afraid of straying too far from Yang Chen, in fear of getting lost. She had lived on quiet mountains since young after all. Hui Lin felt strange and nervous to see so many people gathered together.
When she saw the new yearâs small ornaments with novel designs, or certain cute little gifts, she couldnât refrain herself from stopping. The slightly childish girl would gaze at the items for a few seconds before reluctantly continuing her journey with Yang Chen.
Yang Chen turned her head back with a smile before saying, âWe will be walking the same road to return to the car. Iâll buy everything you like for you. Donât look at them for now. Weâll come back after getting the fireworks.â
Hui Lin didnât expect her actions to be noticed by Yang Chen. She nodded happily while she blushed when she heard that she could get those things.
Actually, Yang Chen didnât know what type of fireworks to get. Since he lived in a âfemale accommodationâ, he certainly would be the one igniting the fire if he got an overly powerful one, which would be rather boring and meaningless. However, if he bought too unimpressive ones, it wouldnât look beautiful enough.
Yang Chen thought again and again. At last, he settled with buying both large and small-scaled ones.
Bringing Hui Lin to a large store which appeared relatively merry, Yang Chen looked left and right, and chose a huge box of fireworks containing 88 sticks before casually making payment.
The store owner was a kind, fat woman. She asked Yang Chen if he needed help with carrying the box, since it definitely wasnât light, but Yang Chen turned down her offer to help.
Hui Lin walked forward with a naive look. She asked, âBrother Yang, do you want me to carry it? I can do it, so that it frees you up for other things.â
Hui Lin had practised martial arts since young after all. Other ladies may not be able to deal with the weight, but it was a piece of cake for her.
Yang Chen frowned. âWhy should you do this? Go to the store opposite us, and ask your grandpa to send us two guards.â
âGrandpa?â
Hui Lin was shocked. She turned around and noticed Lin Zhiguo in his casual wear with his companion Grey Robe who were indeed standing at the porcelain store, picking products like ordinary customers.
Lin Zhiguo saw Hui Linâs surprised look, and knew that Yang Chen had finally decided to stop ignoring him. Smiling bitterly, he brought Grey Robe and two other guards before approaching the firework store.
In fact, upon stepping into the market, theyâd occasionally appear in Yang Chenâs surroundings. Based on his ability, he had definitely noticed their presence from the start. However, Lin Zhiguo didnât know why Yang Chen intentionally acted unaware.
Lin Zhiguo was an elder after all, and a highly ranked official to boot. He initially hoped for Yang Chen to approach him to talk. However, Yang Chen didnât give a damn about him, and let them wander around for a very long time before deciding to deal with them.
âKid, youâre indeed proud. I thought you were going to bring my granddaughter around and leave without entertaining us,â Lin Zhiguo said helplessly in dissatisfaction.
âGrandpa,â Hui Lin greeted him nervously with her head lowered. Upon knowing what Lin Zhiguo had done back then, she hadnât had the guts to talk to Lin Zhiguo, as she was afraid of angering her grandmother Abbess Yun Miao.
Lin Zhiguo looked at his granddaughter who appeared to be afraid. Lovingly, he asked, âHuiâer, have you gotten used to the living in your elder sisterâs house yet?â
âYeah, Elder Sister treats me very well,â Hui Lin answered softly.
âItâs great then. Donât let your relationship as sisters be ruined because of your grandpa. Oh yeah, does Ruoxi know your identity?â Lin Zhiguo asked out of concern.
Hui Lin hesitated for a bit. âShe seems to know⊠but Iâm not very sure. She shouldâve found out about it alreadyâŠâ
âReallyâŠâ Lin Zhiguo sighed. âRuoxi is able to accept you as her younger sister, but never treats me as her grandpa. I must have caused too much damage to her.â
Indifferent, Yang Chen said, âStop talking about nonsense. Quickly help me carry my fireworks.â
Lin Zhiguo looked annoyed. âIs this how you talk to the elderly? Why should I carry the fireworks you bought for yourself?â
âAsk your guards to help out. I still have to bring your treasured granddaughter around to buy things. Do you want Hui Lin to get sad because of her grandfather whom she rarely meets?â Yang Chen asked in a mischievous manner.
âYouâŠâ
Lin Zhiguo glanced at the pitiful Hui Lin who looked troubled. Sighing, he ordered his guards to carry the fireworks away from Yang Chen.
Yang Chen looked satisfied. Waving his hand, he asked Hui Lin to follow him. Lin Zhiguo frowned and asked, âAre you going to leave just like this? Donât you want to know why I came round looking for you?ââ
Yang Chen shrugged. âI donât need to know if you donât mention it.â
Lin Zhiguo got frustrated. It was evident that Yang Chen wanted to pull his pride down a notch. However, there was nothing he could do as he really needed Yang Chenâs help.
At last, Lin Zhiguo sighed and said, âI came to inform you that they will arrive on the night of the second day of Chinese New Year.â
Yang Chen simply nodded. âAlright. Iâll bring Hui Lin away if thereâs nothing else you want to say.â
âAre you this confident? Donât you want to know how many of them came, who they are, and what preparations you should do?!â Lin Zhiguo asked impatiently.
Yang Chen smiled relaxedly. âThatâs your job. Iâm just going there to scout. Donât confuse my position with yours.â
After he finished speaking, Yang Chen brought Hui Lin out of the firework store without turning his head back, ignoring Lin Zhiguo who was deeply pissed.
Grey Robe advised, âMaster, if Yang Chen wants to find out the situation, heâll certainly get the information from the Sea Eagles. Heâs just avoiding trouble now.â
âHumph. Heâs obviously looking down on me. If he doesnât take action, Iâll see how heâs going to deal with the people of Sandstorm once they have arrived,â Lin Zhiguo said in a serious manner. âAccording to the latest reports, the leader of Sandstorm is involved in this plan as well. The person who single handedly built this team definitely isnât slacking.â
Grey Robe looked troubled as well. âWhile the country has been expanding continuously all these years, at the same time weâre getting more and more enemies. I wonder how much more we at Yellow Flame Iron Brigade can sustain.â
Lin Zhiguo looked distressed while his gaze was strange.
On the other hand, Yang Chen brought Hui Lin to the road they came from. Yang Chen let Hui Lin pick out whatever she wanted. Since she didnât bring any money out, everything was paid for by Yang Chen.
âBrother Yang, Iâll return you the money once I get home,â Hui Lin said seriously as she blushed.
âStop being silly. Although Iâm not as rich as your elder sister, buying small gifts for my younger sister isnât a problem for me,â Yang Chen said with a smile.
Hui Lin pouted. She didnât know why she felt a bit downhearted, but still let out a sweet smile on the outside.
When the two returned to the car park, a tall woman wearing a white down jacket together with a black, tight-fitting pants walked towards their direction. She was holding a shopping bag in hand, while there wasnât any make-up on her face. Her hair was black like ink, while her skin as white as snow. Her face was pinkish as a result of the cold wind. In the crowd, she appeared clear and refined.
Yang Chen was slightly surprised. The woman in front seemed to have noticed something as well. Raising her head, she looked at Yang Chen before smiling in an overjoyed manner.
However, when she saw the woman beside Yang Chen who had a sweet smile, charming look, and curvy body, sorrow could be seen in her eyes.