Chapter 273, Part 273
273:
It was still Old Master Feng who personally came to pick them up.
Ye Qingxi, carrying her small backpack, looked at him with a smile.
Aristotle then nuzzled his large head, trying to burrow into his arms.
Ye Qingxi hugged its head, patted it hard, and then leaned in to kiss its big head.
"It smells so good!"
"The old man knew you were coming, so he specifically asked me to take it for a bath yesterday," said the driver, Xiao Zhuo.
Ye Qingxi was surprised that Grandpa Feng had done all this for him, and felt a warmth in her heart.
He gently rubbed Aristotle's hairy face and whispered, "No wonder you're so fair-skinned today~ So beautiful~"
"Thank you, Great-Grandpa." Ye Qingxi turned to look at Grandpa Feng.
Grandpa Feng smiled and said, "It was about time it took a bath anyway."
Ye Qingxi didn't believe it. Why not wash it earlier or later?
It just so happens to be the day before he arrives; no matter how I look at it, it's all for his sake.
"Great-grandfather, this is a local specialty I brought from home." Ye Qingxi opened her small backpack and took out the food inside.
He asked Aunt Zhang to pack all of these before he left, so that he could give them to Grandpa Feng when he saw him again.
Having eaten so much food from him, Ye Qingxi wanted to reciprocate.
Grandpa Feng was surprised that he was carrying a bag; he just thought that he was really generous to himself.
"That's too much."
"Not much," Ye Qingxi said. "Great-Grandpa, please eat slowly."
After saying that, Ye Qingxi took two more bags and handed them to Xiao Zhuo when the car stopped at a red light.
"Uncle Zhuo, this is for you. Thank you for always picking me up and taking me home."
"I have one too!" Xiao Zhu exclaimed in surprise. "But your great-grandfather instructed me to pick you up and drop you off. He was worried that you would be tired. You should give them all to him."
"Wow!" Ye Qingxi couldn't help but exclaim. "You have such a sweet tongue! No wonder you're Old Master Feng's personal driver!"
They really are always speaking up for him!
Grandpa Feng was clearly satisfied and said, "Since Xiao Xi has given it to you, you should accept it."
Xiao Zhu then took it.
"Thank you," he said to Ye Qingxi. "Xiaoxi, if you ever need a car in the future, just contact me anytime. Even at three in the morning, I'll come pick you up without hesitation."
Grandpa Feng nodded, quite satisfied with his words.
Ye Qingxi didn't want to spoil the atmosphere, so she said, "Okay."
That being said, he definitely wouldn't contact him unless there were special circumstances.
Of course, if it really comes down to a last resort, he certainly won't give up any possible opportunity.
After driving for a while, we arrived at Grandpa Feng's villa.
The butler was already waiting outside the door.
Grandpa Feng led Ye Qingxi out of the car and into the house.
The cook then brought over the snacks and drinks that Ye Qingxi loved, which had been prepared in advance.
After Ye Qingxi finished eating, the main meal began.
Today we had barbecue, Chinese-style barbecue.
Looking at the skewered meat, Ye Qingxi instantly felt hungry.
These past few days, because Mu Shaowu has been sick, he has been eating mostly bland food so as not to tempt his father's appetite during mealtimes.
Seeing these delicious-looking meat skewers, Ye Qingxi felt her stomach rumble with cravings.
The servants took the grill to the grass in the courtyard outside and set it up. Old Master Feng washed his hands and went over.
"Let me let you taste your great-grandfather's cooking." Grandpa Feng smiled as he looked at Ye Qingxi.
Ye Qingxi exclaimed in surprise, "Great-Grandpa, you can even grill meat?"
“Your great-grandfather knows a lot of things,” Grandpa Feng said with a smile. “Next time you come, your great-grandfather will make you fried noodles.”
Ye Qingxi listened with a sense of regret.
"Great-grandfather, this may be the last time I come here."
His voice was soft.
When the wind blew, it dissipated into the air.
Grandpa Feng was stunned for a moment, then looked at him quietly.
Ye Qingxi explained, "My filming is almost finished. Once it's done, I'll have to go back to school."
Grandpa Feng then realized that Ye Qingxi didn't live here. He only came here to film a movie. He wasn't even a professional actor; he was still a child who needed to go to and from school on time.
"It's alright." Grandpa Feng laughed. "When you have a holiday, Grandpa will come to visit you, and then I'll be able to see you again."
Ye Qingxi nodded, "Then I'll be your tour guide."
Grandpa Feng laughed, "You're so young, do you even know what a tour guide is?"
"I know," Ye Qingxi said. "A tour guide is someone who takes you around the area. I'll have Uncle Li drive you, and Great-Grandpa, you can go wherever you want."
"Haha, good," said Grandpa Feng.
He looked at the child in front of him.
I never expected them to get along so well, nor did I expect the separation to come so suddenly.
Once he leaves, who knows when we'll see each other again.
When Ye Qingxi was in the same city as him, he could certainly find an excuse to see her.
But since he and Ye Qingxi were not in the same city, he could not follow in Ye Qingxi's footsteps and go to his city after Ye Qingxi left.
That would be too strange.
That's too attentive.
Ye Qingxi would find it strange.
Mu Shaowu was also worried that Ye Qingxi might have noticed something.
Grandpa Feng isn't the kind of person who doesn't know his limits.
He has his own boundaries, so with Ye Qingxi leaving, they are destined not to see each other again in the near future.
"Let's wait until May Day," Grandpa Feng pondered. "You'll have a holiday on May Day, and the weather will be warmer then, making it convenient for you to travel."
“Okay,” Ye Qingxi said.
It's only February now, and Grandpa Feng said that May would be over, which is still a holiday like May Day, so Ye Qingxi naturally didn't think anything of it.
He looked at Grandpa Feng, thinking that they would see each other again in May, and the sadness brought by their previous separation was somewhat diluted.
"Great-Grandpa, let me help you grill the meat," Ye Qingxi offered.
Grandpa Feng quickly refused, "No, no, no, you should just stand there or go play with Aristotle. Don't come any closer, or you'll get burned."
Ye Qingxi said "Oh," and continued standing and chatting with him.
Grandpa Feng wasn't lying to him; he really did know a lot, and he was very skilled at grilling meat.
Before long, the skewers began to sizzle and release a strong aroma.
Grandpa Feng was worried that he would go hungry, so as soon as the test was done, he served him a plate of food, saying, "Try it."
Ye Qingxi then started eating without any hesitation.
It tasted great. Perhaps because they were considering his young age, they didn't put in too much chili, but it was still very flavorful and fragrant.
"tasty."
Grandpa Feng laughed so hard his beard stood on end, "If you like it, then eat more."
"Um."
Ye Qingxi ate several skewers, and seeing that he was still grilling meat and not eating any herself, she went over and brought the skewers to his mouth, saying, "Great-Grandpa, you should try some too."
This was the first time that Grandpa Feng had been fed by him. Overjoyed, he quickly opened his mouth and, following his posture, bit off a piece of meat.
It's not bad; the craftsmanship hasn't declined.
He looked at Ye Qingxi with a bright smile on his face.
The butler, who was not far away, couldn't help but laugh.
Judging from that heartwarming scene of grandfather and grandson showing affection, anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were grandfather and grandson.
Surprisingly, it's quite heartwarming.
After finishing the barbecue, Ye Qingxi and Aristotle were tired from playing. They sat in the courtyard, one drinking a beverage and the other drinking water. Only then did Grandpa Feng take out the New Year's gift he had prepared for them.
Ye Qingxi was surprised, "For me?"
Grandpa Feng nodded.
Ye Qingxi opened it with a puzzled look and saw a brown leather bracelet inside. In the center of the bracelet was a jade pendant in the shape of a green leaf. The jade pendant was very translucent and the carving was exquisite, making it look just like a real leaf.
Ye Qingxi slowly raised her eyes and looked at Old Master Feng.
"I noticed you were wearing a jade pendant around your neck, so I guessed you don't dislike jade. That's why I had one carved for you too," said Old Master Feng gently.
Ye Qingxi said embarrassedly, "This is too expensive."
Grandpa Feng smiled, raised his hand, and shook the watch on his wrist. "Didn't you think this was expensive when you bought it?"
“That’s nothing compared to how valuable it is,” Ye Qingxi said.
These two are clearly not of the same value.
“I think it’s the same,” said Grandpa Feng. “You give me a gift, and I’ll give you a gift in return.”
“I have already accepted your gift. It would be unfair if you didn’t accept mine.”
Ye Qingxi: ...It would be unfair if he accepted it!
Ye Qingxi's upbringing made it impossible for him to accept this gift with a clear conscience.
He could accept the jade pendant from Mu Zheng because Mu Zheng was his uncle, his family, and his elder.
But Grandpa Feng was just a friend of his. Their relationship wasn't as close as his relationship with Mu Zheng, where they could disregard money.
Seeing that he didn't move, Grandpa Feng raised his hand, took the bracelet from the box, and put it on his small, slender wrist.
“It looks great,” he said.
Ye Qingxi looked quietly and could see the emerald green jade pendant resting on the back of her fair hand, making the pendant appear even more translucent and her hand even more fair and delicate.
"If you think this gift is too expensive, I'm sorry, but you can give me a jade pendant like this when you grow up," Grandpa Feng said kindly.
Looking at the tenderness in his eyes, Ye Qingxi thought to herself: You must hold on, don't wait until I grow up and you're no longer here.
Thinking of this, he softened again.
Grandpa Feng is already this old, and he may not live to see tomorrow, so naturally he should do whatever makes him happy.
He carefully prepared this jade pendant for him, and even carved it into the shape of a leaf, so that it wouldn't be a rejection or a sign of his embarrassment that he accepted it.
Since that's the case, we might as well do as he wishes.
At worst, he can give him a jade pendant of similar value later.
Ye Qingxi made up her mind and smiled again.
“Hmm,” he said. “Then when I grow up, I will also give you a jade pendant, and I will carve it into the shape of a phoenix.”
Grandpa Feng laughed heartily, "A phoenix is bigger than a leaf, so I've made a huge profit."
“Then let’s pinky swear.” Ye Qingxi held out her hand.
Grandpa Feng also reached out his hand, his aged fingers hooking together with his young, tender fingers.
Grandpa Feng felt as if his heart had become intertwined with Ye Qingxi's.
He heard Ye Qingxi say, "Then you must stay healthy until I grow up."
Grandpa Feng looked at him and thought to himself, "This little guy has such thoughts hidden in his mind."
“Okay,” he agreed. “I won’t close my eyes until I get the jade phoenix you gave me.”
"Pah, pah, pah!" Ye Qingxi quickly said, "Who talks like that? Great-Grandpa, please spit it out right now."
Grandpa Feng was surprised that his son, despite his young age, was quite knowledgeable about taboos.
Even more taboo than this old man who is about to die.
He chuckled, lowered his head, and spat three times before looking at Ye Qingxi. "Is that alright now?"
Ye Qingxi was finally satisfied and, holding his little finger, said, "Pinky promise, a hundred years from now, no take-backs."
After he finished speaking, he released Grandpa Feng's fingers.
The emerald green jade pendant was lustrous and beautiful under the moonlight.
Ye Qingxi looked at the jade pendant on her wrist and, for some reason, suddenly remembered the leaf she picked up after leaving home before she died in her previous life.
Those were lives that had already faded away.
And this leaf—the leaf on his wrist—is a vibrant green that will never fade.
Ye Qingxi raised her head and looked at the stars in the sky.
The night is beautiful tonight.
With no wind or clouds, and a clear, bright night, it's a perfect time for outings, groundbreaking ceremonies, planting, and gatherings with family and friends.
I hope that in the future, they can sit together again to watch the stars, eat barbecue, admire the moon, and play with the puppy.
“When you come to visit us, I can show you my kitten,” Ye Qingxi suddenly said.
"It looks really good, like a little bread roll that's been toasted until it's a bit browned, it's super cute."
"Okay," Old Master Feng said with a smile, "I'm looking forward to it."
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