Chapter 42: Master

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

“Daddy, where’s Mommy?”

After school, Xiao Bao skipped into the house. He looked around and did not see Xia Wanyuan.

“Stay here and do your homework. Your mother has sprained her ankle, so she’s resting. Don’t disturb her.”

“Huh? Why did Mommy sprain her ankle? Daddy, didn’t you protect Mommy well?” Hearing that Xia Wanyuan was injured, Xiao Bao was worried and looked at Jun Shiling reproachfully.

“…”

“Do your homework.” Jun Shiling’s expression turned cold.

“Ok.” Xiao Bao sat down reluctantly beside Jun Shiling.

Shen Xiu walked out of the manor. It was only when he returned home and heard his second-year sister muttering to herself that he suddenly recalled seeing a similar picture on her phone.

“Shen Xing, come here.”

“Brother, what are you doing? I’m helping my male god in his ranked competitions.” Shen Xing was in her adolescence and was madly in love with the popular Best Actor, Yan Ci, as she had her posters plastered everywhere in the house.

“Who was the person you told me about that had an affair with your idol last time?”

“There are many people who want to tie up my husband to hype things up. Which one are you talking about?”

Shen Xing chewed on her gum and gave him a contemptuous look. ‘Don’t you know how popular my idol is?’

“Shen Xing, you’re a girl! Let me tell you one more time. If you call another stranger your husband, I’ll cut off your allowance.” Shen Xiu had a headache dealing with his younger sister, who was a fan of celebrities in her adolescence.

“Pft.” Shen Xing was not convinced, but she did not dare to lose her allowance. She quickly made a face at Shen Xiu.

“The last time you threw your phone in anger.” Shen Xiu rubbed his temples.

“Oh, you’re talking about that Xia Wanyuan?” Thinking of Xia Wanyuan, Shen Xing recalled how Xia Wanyuan had hooked her arm around Yan Ci’s arm in front of so many people back then, causing the phrase “Yan Ci Xia Wanyuan” to be trending on Weibo for three days.

As for someone like Xia Wanyuan, who had been notorious for her misdeeds, there were no fans of celebrities in the entertainment industry who wanted their idol to be associated with her.

Yan Ci had many female fans, and this had completely ignited the anger of her fans and became the final blow to Xia Wanyuan’s popularity.

“Show me the photos.”

“Don’t you know how to search on Baidu yourself? I don’t want that woman’s photo to appear on my phone. My memory is all reserved for my hus…” Seeing that Shen Xiu was about to flare up, Shen Xing quickly changed her words.” It’s reserved for the handsome Yan Ci. ”

“Hmph!” Shen Xiu didn’t want to speak to his sister anymore. If he did, he would be angered to death.

Sitting on the other side of the sofa, Shen Xiu searched for the name Xia Wanyuan in the search bar. The first popular post he uploaded was the Weibo post that had boycotted and accused Xia Wanyuan.

Scrolling down further, he saw Xia Wanyuan’s airport photo. Looking at the face he had seen an hour ago, Shen Xiu felt as if he had discovered something incredible.

“Brother, why are you looking at her? Don’t tell me you like this woman?! Let me tell you! If this sister-in-law comes in, you won’t have me as your sister.” Shen Xing leaned over to look at Shen Xiu’s phone and happened to see Xia Wanyuan’s airport photo on the screen.

“…”

Shen Xiu rolled his eyes at Shen Xing. Ignoring the fact that he had no thoughts about it, even if he did, he had to have the courage to do so.

“Go and fight your ranked game. Don’t bother me.”

In the manor, a phone suddenly rang in the quiet hall.

“Daddy, I think it’s Mommy’s phone.” Xiao Bao pointed at Xia Wanyuan’s bag on the sofa. Jun Shiling had carried Xia Wanyuan up to the second floor earlier, so he did not bring her bag up.

The phone rang for a long time before stopping. However, it rang again after three seconds.

Thinking that Xia Wanyuan was probably still asleep, Jun Shiling took her bag and took out her phone.

It was an unknown number. Jun Shiling pressed the answer button.

“Hello, hello. Is this Master Xia?” A hearty voice came from the other end of the line.

…

Jun Shiling was silent for a moment. “Teacher Zhong?”

“Hey, hello. Li Nian has already introduced me to you? That’s good too. May I know when we should meet this weekend?” Zhong Wei was a little confused. Didn’t Li Nian say that the master was a woman? Why was it a man who answered the phone? (italics)

“Teacher Zhong, I’m Jun Shiling.”

Jun Shiling had studied abroad in London eight years ago, when Zhong Wei happened to be in London as a visiting scholar.

Although Zhong Wei was a professor of the finance department, he highly respected traditional Chinese literature and arts. Back then, Jun Shiling had bought a famous painting of mountains and rivers in China at an auction at a high price, which attracted Zhong Wei’s attention.

Later on, when they met in class, Zhong Wei did not have the airs of a teacher. Although he did not teach Jun Shiling directly, he had given him a lot of help and advice. After returning to China, Jun Shiling would send people to send gifts to the old man every year.

“Jun Shiling?!” Elder Zhong did not realize it at first. Now that Jun Shiling had revealed his identity, Zhong Wei finally reacted. “Why did you answer the phone?”

“The owner of the phone is resting, so I helped her answer it. Why are you looking for her?” Jun Shiling was also very puzzled. How did Elder Zhong get involved with Xia Wanyuan? (italics)

Elder Zhong could only tell him the whole story. “So that master was invited by your family. No wonder her standards are so high.” Zhong Wei thought that Master Xia had been recruited by the Jun family. After all, with the wealth and power of the Jun family, it was indeed not difficult to find such a talent.

“I’ll tell her when she wakes up later. Let’s meet again when we have the chance, Elder Zhong.” Jun Shiling’s eyes were dark. ‘Master Xia?’ (italics)

“Okay, thank you.”

After hanging up the phone, Jun Shiling glanced at the second floor. Extremely good at painting? A master of Chinese arts? How much more did she have that I didn’t know? (italics)

“Daddy, I want to go up and visit Mommy.” Xiao Bao had also finished his homework and was looking at Jun Shiling eagerly.

“Mm.”

With Jun Shiling’s permission, Xiao Bao ran upstairs, but when he reached the corridor on the second floor, he slowed down and tried not to make any noise.

He tiptoed to the door and carefully pushed it open.

“Mommy, you’re awake!” Xiao Bao’s eyes lit up when he saw Xia Wanyuan reading on the bed.

“I just woke up. Come here.” There was a smile in Xia Wanyuan’s eyes. She put down the book in her hand and waved at Xiao Bao.

Xiao Bao ran to the bed and gently pulled open the blanket. When he saw her feet that were still swollen after being bandaged with the medicine, his big eyes were filled with heartache.

“Mommy, does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt anymore after applying the medicine.”

“I’ll blow on it for you.” Xiao Bao imitated how Xia Wanyuan usually comforted him and puffed on her feet.

Xia Wanyuan was relieved to see how sensible Xiao Bao was.

On the other side of the ocean, it was the umpteenth time Xuan Sheng had flipped open the video of the beautiful woman weeping under the moonlight. His eyes flickered with passion as he drank a mouthful of strong wine, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Jack, book me a flight back to China tomorrow.”