Chapter 17 Old Friends

Boss Tao sighed with regret and placed a silver key onto Ren Ye's palm, "Brat! I have underestimated you greatly."

He furrowed his brows and gave him a rather complicated expression, "One day, we will have a rematch!"

Ren Ye shook his head and returned a half-smile, "I shall be waiting for that day."

'He is an Earth cultivator, try to get on his good side for the time being,' Old Yi gave him a piece of advice.

Ren Ye casually shook his head and replied, 'I doubt with his recent loss, he would be willing to be on good terms with me…'

"Although every now and then, I will come here to see what changes you would bring to my place," Boss Tao lowered his tone, making him sound threatening, "Anyone nasty stain on the wall, you're evicted!"

"…"

Ren Ye didn't have any expression on his face except he nodded his head and spoke in a toneless voice, "Rest assured."

"Brother Ye, you were so amazing!" Wu Qi couldn't help but exclaim with beaming eyes, "How did you beat him? I tried to beat him multiple of times but never managed to do so!"

Being worshipped like this by his friend, Ren Ye dismissed it with a wave of his hand, "Luck."

It wasn't completely false, Ren Ye was an expert at locating weak spots considering murder by knife wasn't the only way to annihilate your enemies.

It was also luck for Ren Ye because had he been a bit late, he would have had his arm broken and turned into broken pieces by Earth pressure; it was a blessing for him to be quick in response.

"Papa is strong!" Ren Jia pulled his sleeves and jumped into his arms adorably, nestling in his arms. Wu Ling beside her walked up to Wu Qi and pulled his pants lightly,

"Papa, why can't you be like Uncle Ye?"

"…"

Wu Qi's mouth curled slightly and his face reddened in shame before he pounded her head gently, "Ling'er, don't make fun of your Papa in front of everyone."

Ren Jia, who was nestled in Ren Ye's arms, shook slightly and her stomach seemed to have rumbled; causing Ren Ye to glance at her in disbelief.

"Are you hungry? You had just eaten before we went on the plane…"

The little girl didn't speak as she lowered her head in shame, Ren Ye snorted and flicked her eyebrows playfully, "I have told you many times, don't be afraid to ask for things."

'I have 10k left, I can spend some of these on my daughter while I save some for other expenses,' Ren Ye began calculating the amount of money he was going to spend this week, 'I can fulfill her dream by taking her to an amusement park…'

"As I have promised you before, I will take you out to have fun," Ren Ye gave the little girl a genuine smile before glancing at Wu Ling who was staring at him with a wistful expression before turning to look at her Papa.

"Papa! Uncle Ye is taking Little Jia to have fun! Can we go too?"

"…"

Wu Qi's features twitched before replying back with a slightly funny tone, "Mama is going to be home soon, remember to ask her first, okay? If she says yes, we can join Little Jia as well!"

Wu Ling nodded her head and gave him a confident grin, "Mama never refuses!"

After they were done, Wu Qi helped Ren Ye carry the bags into the room. Ren Ye was surprised to find out the room was rather spacious, giving him much space to walk around; he had expected a lot smaller room.

Wu Qi mentioned the previous leaseholder was a four-people family, they had moved out less than a week ago.

The apartment had two bedrooms and three bathrooms; each bedroom had its own bathroom and one was located next to the kitchen.

Ren Ye had put all of his belongings into their respective places and arranged the closet; he was only given a closet and one single bed. The other bedroom was left empty with only an opened window.

He didn't mind, he might need the other room for other uses later on.

Wu Ling and Ren Jia were engaged in deep conversation as Wu Ling introduced her to her all-time favorite video game; convincing the confused Ren Jia to give it a try.

After he was done, Wu Qi turned to the door and smiled at Ren Ye.

"Brother Ye, the other room should be left to you and your girlfriend for when the two want to be inti-"

Ren Ye coughed and interrupted, "No need!"

"…"

"If you need any help with other things, I live quite near you," Wu Qi swatted the dirt off his hands as he sighed in satisfaction, "We're happy to welcome you at any time."

"Then we will take our lea-"

"Wait!" Ren Ye cried out and took out something from his pocket, "I haven't thanked you for your help."

"Brother Ye, there isn't any need to," Wu Qi refused without hesitation and continued, "You have helped me out of trouble so many times, this one gesture is nothing compared to what you have done for us."

Ren Ye didn't speak as he crouched down in front of Ren Jia who was glancing at him with her tiny black pupil eyes, he took out two milk candies and placed them on her palm.

"Give them to Wu Ling as a thank you gift," Ren Ye whispered quietly to Ren Jia in a voice only the two of them can hear.

'It would be nice if Ren Jia and Wu Ling could become friends, this way she wouldn't feel lonely…'

As a newly single father, Ren Ye couldn't help but worry about whether his daughter would feel loved and happy living with him. He thought it would be nice if Ren Jia could come out of her cocoon and make friends with toddlers her age.

Upon receiving the candies, Ren Jia nodded her head obediently and gradually approached Wu Ling with an increasingly shy face; Wu Ling was slightly curious as to why the little girl would come and approach her all of a sudden.

Ren Jia extended her porcelain hand and offered the candies to Wu Ling with a lowered face, fidgeting nervously, "A gift from Papa and Ren Jia."

Wu Ling blinked her eyes before glancing at her Papa who had nodded his head with a smile before taking the candies, smiling graciously with her white teeth, "Thank you, Ren Jia!"

Ren Jia pursed her lips and curled them up, nodding her head adorably before running into her Papa's arms again.

Ren Ye sighed in relief and swiped the messy pointy hair off her forehead, and rubbed her head gently; a gentle comforting gesture from him.

-

Ren Ye bought a takeout from a nearby restaurant; a local Beikang delicacy for the both of them to try and seven bags of ice along with salt.

Luckily, there was a tub in the bathroom or else Ren Ye would have to find and go inside an ice cream container for four hours.

"Jia'er, try some of these," Ren Ye cut a bit of the meat off the goose and fed it into the little girl's mouth who hummed in contentment; the meat was juicy and savory.

"Do you like it?"

"Hmm," Ren Jia bobbed her head with a mouthful of food.

-

Paris, France.

Jing Xue had landed and arrived at the hospital her grandfather was staying at safely, with the company of her paternal family and her mother.

She had been sitting in front of the patient's room for a very long time, her beautiful face was shrouded in gloom and her graceful body remained motionless.

Before long, she felt a sudden tap on her shoulder; causing him to slightly jolt up and turned her head to glance at the side. She was greeted with the sight of a young man whose face was refined and clean.

The young man smiled genuinely at him and offered her a cup of coffee, he spoke in French with a deep voice, "Jet lag?"

Jing Xue took the cup of coffee and glanced forward without replying to the man next to her. The young man didn't seem offended as he leaned his tall body against the wall, "I didn't expect you to come here."

"Is this one of those heroic scenes where the hero arrives later than everyone and snatches the grand prize in the end?"

Although he had spoken each word slowly, the malice and disdain in his words were evident. His handsome face remained indifferent as his lips slightly curled up, "I'm afraid you are the winner and we are the one who loses."

"Antoine, don't think too low of me," Jing Xue's eyes grew increasingly cold as she spoke, "I didn't come here to snatch what he has left on his deathbed."

"Oh? If not, what is then?" Antoine's eyes widened playfully; confusion clear in his eyes.

"Grandfather hasn't died yet, stop acting as if he died," Jing Xue lowered her voice, "I came here to meet someone."

"Someone? Your boyfriend?" Antoine made a surprise sound, "Didn't you break up with him a couple of days ago?"

Jing Xue frowned and didn't reply as though she didn't hear what he has asked, instead she glanced toward the room. A middle-aged woman in her 50s whose face resembled Jing Xue very much exited the room and stumbled upon the both of them.

"Mom, how is he?"

"He is doing alright," She let out a sigh of relief before casting her aged eyes on Antoine, who didn't leave and stayed leaning against the wall.

Antoine grimaced inwardly upon seeing her and gave her a pressed smile, "Good evening, Auntie. You look wonderful today."

She nodded her head and returned his smile, "Good evening, Antoine. You don't have class today?"

Although both of them were engaged in normal conversation, the atmosphere in the air remained tight and tense.

Jing Xue subconsciously glanced to the side of the place, her magnificent eyes fell onto a man of slender build, whose head was covered in smooth blonde hair and his piercing blue eyes.

The man was standing at the other side of the hall, his hands behind his back as he glanced at her with knowing eyes, a smirk was plastered onto his face.

"Jing Xue, we have met yet again."