Chapter 162: Chapter 162 Money 7: Aren’t I just looking?
Just a minor hiccup, Qian Qi quickly put it behind her. After leaving the instance, she went straight to the shopping mall in Sea City center for a stroll and bought some gifts for Xiang Wen Yun and the kids.
She was about to find a hotel to rest for a while when she suddenly got a call from Sikong Wang.
"What’s up?" Qian Qi answered the call and asked.
"I got two new magic plants. I want you to see if they are Magic God Grass." On the other end, Sikong Wang’s voice sounded a bit strained, "Are you at home now?"
"No, I’m in Sea City right now."
"What a coincidence. Where are you? I’ll have someone pick you up." Sikong Wang closed the box in his hand, speaking in a low voice, "I’m in Sea City, just got the samples."
Qian Qi mentioned the name of the mall, and Sikong Wang said, "Okay, please wait a moment."
After waiting for seven or eight minutes, Qian Qi saw a hovercar stop at the entrance of the mall, but the person who got off wasn’t Sikong Wang.
That person compared the photo on the Light Brain and glanced around. When he met Qian Qi’s gaze, he walked over at a measured pace, "Are you Miss Qian Qi?"
It was the first time she was addressed as Miss Qian Qi, and Qian Qi herself felt goosebumps rising, "Yes, I’m Qian Qi."
This butler was not the same as the one she had seen in Lincheng, and his demeanor seemed quite haughty. He looked at Qian Qi with an unapologetically objectifying gaze. After confirming that Qian Qi was indeed the person in the photo, he turned around and said blandly, "Get in the car. Young Master Sikong sent me to pick you up."
Qian Qi let out an "Oh" and picked up the shopping bags on the ground before following suit.
...
Sea City is the base of the Seven Great Families, and their main family locations are also set up here.
The Su Family Manor and Sikong Manor are very close together. Although the other families aren’t neighbors with these two, they also live not far away. This large area occupied by the Seven Great Families is humorously referred to as the "power center" of the nation.
The hovercar landed on the lawn of Sikong Manor, where Sikong Wang was already waiting. Seeing Qian Qi carrying a bunch of gifts and even holding a bouquet, he couldn’t help but joke, "Qiqi, no need to bring gifts when you come."
Qian Qi: "Oh, these aren’t for you."
Sikong Wang: ... cough.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Sikong Wang gave a light cough. He glanced at the butler getting off the car and his amiable expression instantly turned visibly cold, "Butler, put my friend’s things in the guest room."
The butler was a bit stunned, probably never having seen Sikong Wang so stern before. He glanced at Qian Qi and eventually replied, "Yes," taking the various bags from Qian Qi.
"The people of the main family lack manners, sorry for the inconvenience." Sikong Wang returned to his smile and said lightly to Qian Qi, "How long are you planning to stay in Sea City?"
"Two or three days, why?" Qian Qi walked alongside with hands in pockets, raising an eyebrow imperceptibly as she looked at the slightly plumper Sikong Wang.
"Which hotel are you staying at?" Sikong Wang turned his head to look at Qian Qi and met her gaze, "I’ve had a guest room prepared. Feel free to stay here if you don’t mind."
"Didn’t you also have me stay at your place the last time?" Knowing that Qian Qi was a girl and considering concerns, Sikong Wang explained, "There are plenty of guest rooms here; if you don’t mind, just stay."
"Sure." Qian Qi would not refuse, knowing that the guest rooms at Sikong’s were definitely more luxurious and clean than hotels, and more importantly, free.
Besides, she had something she needed to discuss with Sikong Wang.
Sikong Manor was full of traditional Chinese style. As the two walked into the hall, Qian Qi saw the silver box on the redwood table, identical to the one Sikong Wang brought last time for identifying magic plants.
Sikong Wang opened the box and took out the two Defense Bottles inside, "Take a look, are they?"
Qian Qi had only two uses of the Decoding Technique left today and, after analyzing each, as expected, none were Magic God Grass, "No."
Sikong Wang closed the box with disappointment, "Seems like we’ll have to wait a bit longer."
"I went into the Gu Yun Mountain Dungeon today." Qian Qi sat on the redwood chair by the table and propped her cheek with her hand, "Encountered two Awakeners looking for Magic God Grass."
"They should be the ones I hired." Hearing Qian Qi’s words, Sikong Wang was initially stunned but then smiled, "The plants they brought today were from them. I didn’t expect they went into the instance so quickly again; seems like they are quite dedicated."
Qian Qi chuckled, "I don’t think so. I eavesdropped on their conversation, and it was clear they were scamming you."
She recounted the overheard conversation, and Sikong Wang’s expression gradually darkened, looking as though it was shrouded in clouds.
He was usually good-tempered and never scolded anyone. Even when people pointed at his nose and called him a waste and coward of the Sikong family, or cheated him out of money and affection, he wouldn’t get angry.
But when it involved his mother, he absolutely couldn’t tolerate it.
"I understand." Sikong Wang clenched his fist, "I’ll handle this matter."
"Alright, enough about that." Qian Qi pinched the flesh on his arm and complained, "How did you gain weight again? Look at you sweating after just two steps, didn’t you promise me you’d work out?"
"Ah..." Sikong Wang laughed sheepishly, "I’ve been exercising, but I don’t know why. It could be a rebound, so I got even fatter."
Qian Qi had heard that some people who diet and exercise might rebound back if they don’t keep it up consistently, but...
Isn’t this rebound a bit excessive?
Sikong Wang’s height is only about 1.78 meters, but now he looks like he weighs 250 pounds. Whose exercise rebounds this drastically?
"Haven’t you consulted a doctor?" she asked curiously.
Sikong Wang gave a silly smile, "I did, doesn’t help much."
Qian Qi glanced at the system beside her, "Do you know what’s wrong with him?"
It wasn’t that she was meddling, but Sikong Wang still owed her 36 million, and she didn’t want him to kick the bucket from a sudden illness before the Magic God Grass was found.
The system received her gaze: [Why look at me? Whatever he has, you can’t fix it now.]
Qian Qi: ... "Isn’t that what I’m looking at."
System: ???
After discussing the magic plant issue, Sikong Wang invited Qian Qi to tour his main residence and took her to the back garden to say hello to the Ghost Leopard. The Ghost Leopard remembered Qian Qi and circled around her friendly twice, then went off to tease the crows.
Sikong Wang looked up and casually remarked, "Why are there still crows here..."
Qian Qi watched the Moyu teasing the Ghost Leopard, "Eh... who knows."
Sikong Wang didn’t think much of it and led her to the guest room, "Feel free to stay here these days. There’s an electronic bell by the bed to call a servant to clean. If you’re hungry, just call for me; I’ll be home these days."
Having explained everything meticulously, Sikong Wang then hurriedly bid farewell to Qian Qi and went to his bedroom on the second floor, as if he couldn’t hold on any longer.
"What’s with him?" Qian Qi couldn’t help but ask the system, "Is he on steroids?"
[He is naturally prone to gaining weight, with an irregular diet, plus binge eating.]
"Binge eating? Irregular diet?" Qian Qi opened her mouth, "This guy clearly eats so sparingly in front of me. Is he secretly binge eating behind my back?"
Looks like she needs to have a real heart-to-heart with Sikong Wang tonight. Health is the foundation of revolution; how can he let himself go like this? At least give her a 36 million IOU before ruining his health!!!