Old Man Fang saw his sonâs expression and knew he didnât want him to continue. The old man folded his hands behind his back and turned to leave the courtyard.
Gu Qiaoqiao said coolly from behind, "Old Fang, rest assured, they say a fire brings luck. Yubao Square in Jinling City is bound to do better and better. They say âa fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.â You donât need to say it, my uncle will remember it for a lifetime."
Old Man Fang turned to glance at Gu Qiaoqiao, snorted coldly, then looked at the young man beside him, glaring, "What are you still standing around for? Quickly take the things into the house."
The young man smiled honestly, not bothered by Old Man Fangâs attitude. Perhaps the old man was always like this, and he was used to it.
He picked up the bag filled with medicine and other items and headed toward the house where Fang Liang lived.
Old Man Fang, with his hands behind his back, slowly left the courtyard.
Fang Liang breathed a sigh of relief, smiled wryly, and shook his wheelchair as he slowly approached Gu Qiaoqiao and Xiao Wen.
Gu Qiaoqiaoâs eyes darted, and she quickly stepped forward. Before Fang Liang could refuse, Gu Qiaoqiao quietly placed her hand on the wheelchairâs handle, her fingers brushing Fang Liangâs arm inadvertently, and she said with a smile, "Uncle Fang, Sister Xiao Wen has something to talk to you about."
Fang Liang didnât seem to notice Gu Qiaoqiaoâs subtle touch. However, he said, "Qiaoqiao, thank you, but I can manage myself."
His voice was gentle, yet he did not reject Gu Qiaoqiaoâs kindness.
And in that brief touch, Gu Qiaoqiaoâs fingers clenched slightly, then discreetly released as she accompanied Fang Liang to the grapevine trellis.
Xiao Wen had already opened her backpack and took out the pendant, handing it to Fang Liang who was standing in front of her, and said apologetically, "Brother Fang, about yesterday, I hope you donât mind. This belonged to you all along; I shouldnât have taken it back."
Fang Liang smiled slightly, "It was my fault for being rude yesterday. I promised to keep you for lunch, but then..."
He then said sincerely, "Xiao Wen, this really belongs to you. Now itâs simply returning to its owner."
Xiao Wen shook her head and placed the Nirvana Stone on the table. "Brother Fang, this stone indeed belongs to me, but now it no longer recognizes me as its owner. Last night, if it had wings, it probably would have flown back on its own..."
"Oh?" Fang Liang raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Could it really be that this stone is destined for him?
Xiao Wen continued, "Brother Fang, if wearing it still causes pain, just put it back where it was. Now the stone only recognizes you, so take good care of it."
Fang Liang said nothing, instead picking up the red pendant that resembled an agate stone. As he held the small stone, his previously restless heart instantly settled.
All unease and anxiety vanished completely.
For some reason, he even felt that the small stone seemed to be pleased as well.
Fang Liang no longer declined, smiled, and nodded, "Alright, Iâll keep it. Thank you, Xiao Wen."
Then, pointing to a plate of sliced watermelon on the table, he said, "Why donât you have some watermelon? Itâs grown in the countryside, very sweet."
At that moment, the sun outside was bright and intense, yet the midsummer sunlight carried a scorching heat. Gu Qiaoqiao and Xiao Wen did not hesitate to pick up the slices and start eating, surprised at how delicious they were, cool with a sweet taste.
Really refreshing.
The key is that the watermelon was elegantly served in small cubes with toothpicks, avoiding the mess of watermelon juice dripping everywhere.
Fang Liang said somewhat apologetically, "Qiaoqiao, earlier my fatherâs words were a bit rude. I apologize on his behalf."
Gu Qiaoqiao waved her hand, "Uncle Fang, I wonât take what he said to heart."
In her heart, however, she thought that Old Man Fang must have gone crazy, his greedy intentions still alive.
"Qiaoqiao, didnât Ah Ze come with you this time?"
Fang Liang had a very good impression of Qin Yize.
"No, heâs very busy right now."
Fang Liang nodded and said no more.
And after Xiao Wen and Gu Qiaoqiao had no qualms finishing a plate of watermelon, they stood up.
Gu Qiaoqiao didnât understand why, clearly, she disliked Old Man Fang in her heart, but she couldnât bring herself to dislike Fang Liang.
After all, what right did she have to dislike Fang Liang? In the end, it was the Gu Familyâs Gu Zhixing who was at fault.
Moreover, Fang Liang had a particularly strong charm; when he showed kindness to someone, it was hard to refuse.
Just like her, Gu Qiaoqiao, who was visiting the Fang family as a guest for the second time, felt no unfamiliarity at all and ended up eating a full plate of watermelon with Xiao Wen without any reservation.
Gu Qiaoqiao felt a bit embarrassed, but Xiao Wen didnât mind. She picked up the bag from the table and said, "Brother Fang, Qiaoqiao and I have something else to do. Iâll come see you another day."
Fang Liang smiled gently, not asking them to stay and instead advised, "Girls, be careful when you go out."
His voice was like a refreshing spring breeze. Although he hadnât rested well last night and looked haggard, his elegance was still apparent, which made Gu Qiaoqiao sigh with a slight shake of her head.
After leaving the Fang family, Gu Qiaoqiao took Xiao Wenâs hand and murmured, "Sister Xiao Wen, letâs talk over there."
Xiao Wen looked at Gu Qiaoqiao in surprise, unsure what the girl wanted to say, but she followed Gu Qiaoqiao to a nearby small park.
There were many people in the small park, perhaps because it was a holiday, full of children running around. Reaching a corner, Gu Qiaoqiao moved her fingers a few times to set up a barrier talisman before saying, "Sister Xiao Wen, just now when I touched Uncle Fang, I discovered that he has a flow of spiritual energy inside, right at the location of his broken leg."
"Spiritual energy?" Xiao Wen raised her eyebrows in surprise, "How could that be? How can a regular person have spiritual energy? Especially at the broken leg area."
"Thatâs why I find it strange. Do you think this spiritual energy could be from your Nirvana Stone?" Gu Qiaoqiao speculated thoughtfully.
Xiao Wen furrowed her brow, tugging at her hair in frustration, "What should I do? I havenât heard my dad mention this."
She then asked worriedly, "Qiaoqiao, the spiritual energy wonât harm him, will it? Can an ordinary person withstand it for a long time?"
"From what Iâve sensed, itâs beneficial. Even though Uncle Fang is an ordinary person, he can fully withstand it," Gu Qiaoqiao replied confidently.
"With that, Iâm relieved," Xiao Wen pondered for a moment, then suddenly her eyes sparkled as she looked at Gu Qiaoqiao and excitedly asked, "Qiaoqiao, do you think this Nirvana Stone might heal his leg?"