Chapter 340 (2/2)

The first man that she had seen in this world was Ning Que, and she had been living with Ning Que for all these years. Or it could be said, except for Ning Que, no one else existed in her life, so she had become unaccustomed to living with others. However, today she found that she had parents, and based on her knowledge of customs, parents should be the most intimate people in this world, even more intimate than Ning Que. So did that mean that Ning Que had become an outsider?

Logically, she should have been happy to have found her parents, but at the thought that her former lifestyle of living with only Ning Que would be gone forever, she could no longer feel happy.

Instead, she felt unaccustomed, or even conflicted. So, she slightly shook her head.

Mrs. Zeng was slightly startled, and then understood what she had meant. She could hardly believe her eyes. Zeng Jing looked more serious and severe, and could not understand how there could be somebody who dared to refuse to acknowledge her parents.

Judging from his face, Mrs. Zeng knew he was about to burst in anger, so she darted in front of him and softly said to Sangsang with a smile, ”I know this is all too sudden for you to accept it. Or else, you could go to our mansion first. How about just being an adopted daughter of mine? I believe that you will accept me as your mother after living together for a long time.”

Sangsang looked at her and suddenly showed a smile, answering, ”I know that you will treat me well.”

Looking at the sincere smile on her little face, Mrs. Zeng felt that her heart was about to melt. She reached out to take the big rag out of her hand and then held her hand, saying tenderly, ”Don't you want to go with us?”

Sangsang still shook her head.

Mrs. Zeng asked in confusion, ”Why not?”

Sangsang replied, ”Because young master hasn't come back yet. I will ask him what I should do when he returns. If he thinks that you are my parents, I will, of course, accept you, and then I will come to visit you often.”

Mrs. Zeng had sensed something else from her words, thus, repeating her words in shock, ”Visit us often?”

Sangsang said, ”Even if I accept you, I still have to live in the shop.”

Mrs. Zeng asked with surprise, ”Why?”

Sangsang looked at her and earnestly replied, ”Recently, Ning Que has become lazier. He is unwilling to do things and, perhaps, he has forgotten how to do them. So, I have to cook, wash clothes, mop the floor, and wipe the table. Sometimes, I have to drive away those chamberlains who come to steal waste paper. So, I really can't stay in your mansion.”

The couple froze. They could not at all understand how a little maidservant, who worked like a tired-out slave, was actually bent on doing housework for her lazy young master instead of jumping into their arms with bitter cries upon finding out that she was the daughter of the Grand Secretary... What spell had that guy called Ning Que put on her that their daughter should say something like that?

Sangsang continued, ”Moreover, Ning Que sometimes thinks too much, so it's hard for him to have a sound sleep. Only by holding me can he fall asleep. While sometimes, I also like holding him because it's warm. So if we are separated, neither of us are able to sleep well.”

The couple glanced at each other, just to see shock and confusion in the other's eyes. They thought secretly, ”Had she already done that thing with Ning Que as his handmaiden? But Sangsang is still young and it looks impossible.”

The door of the Old Brush Pen Shop was pushed open from outside.

Sangsang knew when Ning Que would be back, so she knew that it was not him.

Chen Pipi strode over the threshold with difficulty and rubbed his exhausted round face. At the sight of the situation in the shop, he instantly cheered up, ”Are you having some trouble again? What a coincidence! I, the genius, was worried that those guys were frightened by me.”

Sangsang explained, ”There's no trouble, it's nothing interesting.”

Chen Pipi said, ”Then let's play chess.”

Sangsang smiled apologetically at Mr. and Mrs. Zeng.

A simple and crude horse carriage entered the east gate of Chang'an City just at the moment the couple was about to leave the Old Brush Pen Shop full of regret. Around the horse carriage was a flouris.h.i.+ng spring scene. It was Ning Que and his party, who had come back ahead of time.

Outside Tuyang City, they met with the disciples of Black Ink Garden and together they went south. Today, these girls from the Great River Kingdom finally saw with their own eyes the highly-reputed magnificent city, so they could not restrain themselves from feeling excited.

A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted up, and Mo Shanshan, wearing a white skirt, narrowed her eyes to appreciate the view and people of Chang'an City. A touch of a smile appeared on her beautiful round face, indicating that she also was happy.

The Eldest Brother kneaded his back, which was in pain because of the jolts along the way, and bitterly smiled at Ning Que, who was filled with excitement, asking, ”Little Younger Brother, why are you so eager to come back to Chang'an?”

Ning Que seriously answered, ”Don't laugh at me if I tell you the truth. Although I'm not picky about where I sleep, I still can't have a good sleep unless I'm at home. So, I'm eager to get back home to have a sound sleep.”

Ning Que was still afraid of being laughed at, even if the other person was his Senior Brother, so what he had said was not true. Only he himself knew why he could not sleep well and was so eager to get back.

Outside of the Old Brush Pen Shop, no one prepared water for him to wash his feet, no one cooked noodles with fried eggs, no one handed him his things for was.h.i.+ng up, and no one accompanied him when he was full of sorrow. So, he could not live without Sangsang.

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