Do not speak recklessly

For three whole days, Wu Qi did not sleep. No one could persuade him to sleep. Lin Kuo was so anxious that he took out paper and pen to write a letter to Qi Kong and Wu Shanyun in Changru Town, hoping that the two of them would return soon and take care of Wu Qi.

"I refuse to believe it!! Xiao Qi, you absolutely have to get some sleep tonight!"

Lin Kuo, furious, picked up a pen and paper, but there was nowhere to put the paper on the table. He bit the pen, casually placed the paper on the ground, and then cleaned up the iron, copper, gears, and blueprints on the table, placing them all on the floor. Only after doing all this did he pick up the paper, take the pen, and begin to write a letter.

Before he could write even two words, Wu Qi snatched the paper away.

"Brother Lian Shi." Wu Qi stared at Lin Kuo with a serious expression, as if he had something of utmost importance to say.

Seeing her expression, Lin Kuo also became serious and asked, "What happened?"

Wu Qi said, "Hungry."

After saying that, she placed the folded frog on the table, pressed down on its tail, and the paper frog jumped up.

Lin Kuo had no idea when she had taken the paper frog. He only saw Wu Qi nod solemnly and announce, "I'm hungry. Let's go eat. You're the guest."

Lin Kuo feigned seriousness: "...Go to sleep after you finish eating."

Wu Qi argued forcefully: "Then I want to eat wontons."

Lin Kuo bargained: "Then you eat two bowls."

Wu Qi clapped his hands together: "Deal."

Having long been unfazed, Yi Shen and Song Yinxing got up, and the four of them left the pavilion together.

Just as they stepped outside, they encountered Zhao Xiwei carrying tea. Lin Kuo didn't have a good impression of her, so he naturally didn't give her a friendly look and said, "No need, we're going out."

Zhao Xiwei didn't say much and turned to leave.

Lin Kuo said, "You've changed rooms several times, how come she's still here?"

The pavilion originally prepared for Wu Qi was blown up by him long ago. Fortunately, Wu Qi ran fast, and fortunately, the walls of the Moonfall Camp were not suitable for being destroyed, so no one was injured.

Now, Wu Qi has destroyed another five, six, seven or eight rooms. Even Zhao Xiwei can calmly pack her things and change rooms with Wu Qi.

Zhao Xiwei had already reached the corner and disappeared. Wu Qi shrugged and said, "It would be strange if the people I placed by my side left so easily."

Lin Kuo said, "Then be careful."

Wu Qi said, "Be careful. If someone is determined to harm me, it's useless even if I live in fear every day."

He'll die eventually.

Of course, Wu Qi didn't say that.

These people couldn't bear to hear the word "death" at that moment.

The past few days had been filled with continuous rain, and the chill in the air, along with the rain, swept through the city and the land. Today, however, the weather was unusually fine, and people on the streets were already bundled up in thick clothes. The cool breeze brushed against Wu Qi's face without any obstruction.

When the light fell straight down, Wu Qi realized that the flowers had already fallen.

The street is lined with trees on both sides. When the flowers bloom, the trees are covered with blossoms, and the sunlight can only filter through the gaps between the flowers and leaves, unlike now when it falls so mercilessly.

She didn't even know when the flowers bloomed before they withered.

Walking further, the lively atmosphere dispelled some of the desolation. The wonton shop had been open for many years, and there were quite a few people inside and out. They sat together in twos and threes, chatting and laughing. Seeing this scene, the desolation and loneliness no longer felt so unbearable.

They found a table outside and sat down. The waiter didn't need to bring any menu; seeing them sit down, he went to the table, glanced at them, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the usual?"

Lin Kuo laughed and said, "Yes, the same as always."

After a short wait, the steaming hot wontons arrived. The waiter, carrying a side dish, asked, "Why didn't Young Master Ning come along?"

Lin Kuo said, "He didn't come because he's not lucky enough to eat these wontons today."

The servant chuckled again, putting down the side dishes in his hand. "In my opinion, Young Master Ning is not an unlucky person. As the youngest son of a noble family, he not only has someone like Lady Ning in charge of the Ning family, but also you older brothers and sisters around him. Although he may not get everything he wants, he is close enough."

Lin Kuo said, "That's true, but Young Master Ning always seeks out what he wants himself and has never asked us, his older brothers and sisters, for anything."

"Is Young Master Ning really that kind of person?"

The servant realized his words were inappropriate as soon as they left his mouth. Although it was true that Young Master Ning lived under his sister's protection, how could he speak ill of Young Master Ning in front of these ladies and gentlemen?

Just as the servant was about to say something to salvage the situation, he heard someone behind him say, "That might not necessarily be the case."

When he turned around, Ning Xunxu's handsome face came into view.

Seeing that face so close up, the servant was stunned for a moment, only to hear Ning Xunxu say, "As for me, I am indeed quite lucky. If I want something, I either ask my own sister or these brothers and sisters."

"There's nothing I can do about it. Not only am I handsome and have the air of someone who is well-dressed and has a lot of older sisters and brothers who dote on me."

Ning Xunxu sat down and said shamelessly, "Tell me, how are others supposed to live?"

Hearing him say this, Lin Kuo applauded him and echoed, "Exactly! Our theory of the 'Han Su Lun' is truly astounding!"

Ning Xunxu said, "Thank you, Brother Lianshi."

Ning Xunxu and Lin Kuo's back-and-forth conversation left everyone at the wonton shop stunned. Their faces turned ashen after they finally realized what was happening. They were all people who had come to eat wontons that day, so how come one of them was incredibly wealthy and famous at a young age, while they themselves had lived a mediocre life?

Ning Xunxu ignored what they thought and picked up his chopsticks to take a bite of food.

Yi Shen said, "When it is time to gather and when it is time to rest, one should not speak recklessly."

Ning Xunxu put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "I'm sorry, Brother Weichong."

Lin Kuo glanced at the crowd whose expressions had improved, knowing that Yi Shen was trying to exonerate him and Ning Xunxu, so he admitted his mistake in a mild way and smiled as he told the servant to serve Ning Xunxu a bowl of wontons as well.

Ning Xunxu ate his wontons and said casually, "Why didn't anyone say I was lucky when my parents died?"

Yi Shendao said, "People in the world often just want fairness."

There are many people in the world who have lost both their parents, and Ning Xunxu is just one of them. Although both parents have passed away, Ning Xunxu has all the advantages of good timing. He is handsome, comes from a wealthy family, and became famous at a young age. He was personally selected by the emperor to be a student of the Ci Zi Pavilion. Not only that, he has an older sister to support him, and a group of scions of noble families to protect him. Even if things don't go well, the heads of the other four major families will protect the son of their former friends.

Looking at it this way, Ning Xunxu's life is incredibly fortunate.

His good fortune makes others feel it's unfair.

Ning Xunxu remained nonchalant, saying, "But where in the world is there any fairness?"

Yi Shen said, "Therefore, the outer skin must not be broken."

Ning Xunxu and Lin Kuo's words just now tore away the veneer of "fairness," which is why everyone was so angry.

Ning Xunxu scoffed, "Then I'll squander all my wealth just for a reputation?"

Lin Kuo said, "That's foolish, Han Su."

Knowing that Ning Xunxu was still angry, Song Yinxing moved the bowl that he had stirred so much that it almost made him dizzy and said softly, "Hansu, reputation cannot be earned. Let them say what they want. As long as you are in your position and have nothing to be ashamed of, that is enough."

After remaining silent for a long time, Wu Qi slapped Ning Xunxu on the shoulder, making Ning Xunxu stagger. She said, "Han Su, Han Su, your life is indeed alright, but whether you can improve it or not isn't entirely up to you. Why say things against your conscience to provoke others and make everyone unhappy?"

Ning Xunxu snorted, "They started it all, they've been talking about me for years. I only said one thing today, and they can't stand it."

“That’s true.” Wu Qi asked, “Then tell me, after my ‘Cannon Scale’ is successfully developed, do you want to operate it on the battlefield?”

Ning Xunxu replied without hesitation, "Yes."

Wu Qi reminded him, "Then you're protecting the very person who's been talking about you for years."

“They only said a few words to me, it’s not like I’ll lose my life,” Ning Xunxu said. “Besides, if the enemy’s iron cavalry were to step into the capital, I would die a thousand times over and still not be able to rest in peace.”

"And my sister is still waiting for me in the capital."

Wu Qi said with satisfaction, "He can be considered a young master from a prominent family."

"Hmph." Ning Xunxu scooped up a wonton with a spoon, and just as he swallowed it, he saw several children not far away staring at them.

It was a genuine scrutiny.

It was as if they were checking if the people at the table were the ones they were looking for.

The children, dressed in coarse linen clothes, with clean faces, stared at the group of people, occasionally whispering to each other.

Do you want to eat wontons?

Ning Xunxu propped his head up and thought, if they really wanted to eat wontons, then he would order five bowls for the five of them. He wondered if that would be enough. Or, he would order two bowls for each of them.

Huh? They're here?

"Brother and sister, are you from a prestigious family?" the tallest person asked from the front.

Ning Xunxu teased him, "More or less."

His answer clearly left the five children somewhat bewildered; the shortest of them didn't even dare to look up at the group at the table.

Ning Xunxu, afraid of making them cry, asked, "What business do you have with the aristocratic families?"

The tallest child said, "Yes."

Ning Xunxu said, "We are practically from a prominent family, so please tell us about your situation."

“Okay, brother,” the child said. “In a few days, it will be Tuo Ziyuan’s celebration day. We would like to invite our older brothers and sisters to come and give Grandpa Sun a surprise.”

Wu Qi asked, "Are you Tuo Ziyuan's children?"

The children nodded.

Ning Xunxu asked, "Why do you want us to go?"

The child replied, "Because you are also Grandpa's students. We thought Grandpa would be happy to see you that day."

Fearing they might disagree, the child added, "Don't worry. Your older brothers and sisters are of noble status, we won't make you do any work. You just need to go to Tuoziyuan to see Grandpa on that day."

“That won’t do,” Lin Kuo said. “You are students of Master Sun, so you can work. We are also students of Master Sun, so naturally we can work too. Don’t underestimate your older brothers and sisters; we can do the work.”

Perhaps because they were speaking to a child, their voices were much softer.

The shortest child looked at Wu Qi, who tilted his head and asked with a smile, "Why have you been peeking at me?"

He quickly lowered his head.

The tallest child answered for him, "Because Xiaoyu really likes Sister Yaoling."

Wu Qi squatted down and teased Xiao Yu, "What's your name? Why do you like me?"

Xiaoyu blushed, and mustered her courage to look at Wu Qi, replying, "My name is Fengyu. I like you because you are amazing, researching things that don't exist in the world."