Qin Ningyi watched the peculiar expression on Granny Yao's face. His intuition told him that this matter was not simple, yet he couldn't fathom how it was so.
Yao Jian was bewildered when Granny Yao stated she would find the Little Medicine King for Qin Ningyi. "Mom, didn't you say this Little Medicine King is arrogant and travels extensively, making him impossible to find?"
He had previously been working on an experiment that involved a research achievement by the Little Medicine King. He had wanted Granny Yao to mediate so he could meet the Little Medicine King for a detailed consultation. However, his mother had replied with an "impossible."
Now, it was suddenly possible?
Upon hearing Yao Jian's question, Granny Yao felt a pang of embarrassment. She shot a look of disdain at her foolish son. Huo Rou, with a knowing glance at Granny Yao, realized this was the excuse Granny Yao had used to ask her for help.
"It's just that..." Granny Yao's voice faltered under Huo Rou's gaze. "...the Little Medicine King is right here, isn't he?"
"Little girl, your man wants the medicinal herbs from your yard. You two can discuss the specifics yourselves," Granny Yao said hastily, before grabbing a stunned Yao Jian and quickly leaving the suffocating atmosphere.
Huo Rou and Qin Ningyi met each other's gaze.
"I never expected..." Qin Ningyi was silent for a moment, then let out a breath. He chuckled, "Ah Rou is the Little Medicine King?"
He had thought Huo Rou being the Ghost Orchid Prince was the peak of her achievements in plant cultivation. He hadn't anticipated an even greater surprise.
"Mmm," Huo Rou didn't know how to respond and merely nodded blankly.
The title felt somewhat awkward coming from Qin Ningyi's lips. While she hadn't felt anything when others called her that, facing Qin Ningyi's teasing gaze, she suddenly felt a hint of shame.
Little Medicine King... it did sound rather chuunibyo.
"Qin Ningyi wouldn't think I arrogantly bestowed this title upon myself, would he??"
"They just call me that... Please don't, don't..."
Don't take it seriously.
Huo Rou's words were swallowed by Qin Ningyi's chest, the soft, fluffy down jacket enveloping her face.
"My Ah Rou, you're truly amazing."
Qin Ningyi's low voice was filled with pride.
The Little Medicine King was someone he had always admired. It was because of the Little Medicine King's accomplishments that he had persuaded everyone at Qin Group to establish a laboratory, attracting many top talents from the country and allowing more people to shine in this field.
And now, the Little Medicine King he so admired was right before him, his Ah Rou!
An An, sandwiched between them, looked up at the two inseparable down jackets, a happy smile on his face.
His mother was so amazing!
The family of three finished tidying up the backyard before heading into the main yard.
"There are many of these medicinal herbs in my yard, and they should all be mature," Huo Rou said, fiddling with the trampled herbs she had picked up from the ground.
An An handed his basket to Shen Feng and reached out to hold Qin Ningyi's large hand, nodding. "They are indeed mature."
He had often gone to the backyard to observe the equipment, so he was familiar with the things Huo Rou often cultivated.
"Dad, are you in a hurry to get them?" An An recalled Qin Ningyi's furrowed brow and deep eyes from earlier. "An An will go back with you to pick them!"
Huo Rou patted his little head. "You mean you want to go to the backyard to pick vegetables, right?"
Lately, An An had developed a fondness for picking vegetables. Every few days, he would take Shen Feng to another greenhouse in the backyard to pick vegetables. When Qiao Yushan was around, he was An An's best partner for picking vegetables, with Shen Feng, who carried the basket, being the next best.
Huo Rou looked down at Shen Feng, who trotted obediently beside An An with the basket in his mouth. Shen Feng, who was so majestic in the military, became a docile and well-behaved little nanny in front of An An.
As if sensing her gaze, Shen Feng looked up and met Huo Rou's eyes. In her extremely gentle gaze, he wagged his tail, showing his good mood.
An An smiled sheepishly when Huo Rou pointed it out. Aunt Luo's cooking was simply too delicious, and he wanted to secretly learn her skills, hence his voluntary help with picking vegetables.
Everything he did was so that his mother could eat delicious food in the future!
An An's sincere gaze towards Qin Ningyi somewhat eased Qin Ningyi's heavy heart.
However, there were some things he had to let her know.
She should make decisions with full knowledge.
This was the respect he owed to the woman he loved.
"Ah Rou, there's something I need to tell you."
Qin Ningyi sent An An away and gently held Huo Rou's hand, his expression turning serious.
"The reason I need this medicinal herb is to..."
"Save my grandfather."