Mo Cheng asked curiously, “Mr Shi, What’s wrong? You’re not making much sense.”

“Nothing. I just wanted to tell you that Ye Chen likes you. I have something to attend to, so I’ll hang up first.”

Shi Yan ended the call. Why did he say that?

Ye Chen had not confessed yet, but he had let the cat out of the bag. He did not know whether it was for better or for worse.

Shi Yan pocketed his phone and walked inside.

Mo Cheng stood there with the phone in her hand for a long time. What did Shi Yan mean by saying these words to her?

Ye Chen liked her?

She was chasing Shi Yan. Ye Chen was the least of her concerns at present.

Thinking over their interactions, Mo Cheng believed there was a distinct possibility of him liking her.

She had not found the right opportunity to express her feelings for him yet.

What was Shi Yan trying to say by telling her that Ye Chen liked her?

…

Qin Shu arrived in the country of Feng Yi 30 hours later. It had taken her twice as long as she thought it would. What exactly had gone wrong?

Qin Shu and Ye Luo got off the plane and were stopped by a customs officer. “Please show me your documents.”

Qin Shu studied the four policemen before her and glanced at the passengers around her. They, too, were being stopped by customs officers, and she was not the only one.

She was not in a hurry to take out her documents, asking, “Could you tell me why you need to check my documents?”

“It is the law. All who seek entry into the country of Feng Yi must undergo an inspection by customs officials before they are allowed to leave the airport,” the customs officer explained.

Qin Shu arched a delicate brow. She now knew why Feng Yi was such a mysterious country. If entering the country was already so difficult, what more those trying to leave it?

Without kicking up a fuss, Qin Shu provided the officer with her travel documents and proof of identity.

The police officer took the ID and carefully checked it.

Ye Luo also took out his ID and asked, “Do pets need IDs?”

The police officer looked at the cat in Ye Luo’s arms. “No, but they need to go through security.”

After the police officer inspected their IDs, he took them to security to have them checked.

Qin Shu thought that there was no need for further security checks upon arrival, so the fact that it did, shocked her.

When she saw that the security staff was a woman, she heaved a sigh of relief. Feng Yi… She wanted to see what kind of country it was.

The security inspection was similar to China, but there was an additional step: they needed a picture of those entering the country.

A photograph was not a big deal in Qin Shu’s mind, so she followed the officer’s instructions and stood in front of the camera, waiting for the flash. The officer waved her through when her photo was taken, saying, “You may leave now.”

Only then did Qin Shu and Ye Luo step out of the airport.

There were many taxis parked at the airport entrance. Qin Shu and Ye Luo got into one and found a hotel closest to the President’s manor.

The nearest hotel was a 40-minute drive to the presidential manor.

Once she arrived at the hotel and checked in at the concierge, Qin Shu gave Fu Tingyu a call.

“Baby Yu, I’ve arrived in Feng Yi and checked in at the hotel. Security is tight. I had to undergo another customs check when I got off the plane. Did you know that you can’t step out of the airport unless you submit yourself to an inspection by the customs officers?” she complained good-naturedly.

Fu Tingyu: “Do you plan to visit Master or find a way to see your mother in secret?”

Fu Tingyu knew her too well. The possibility of the latter was very high.

“I plan to sneak in tonight and get ahold of the situation. If Master knows I’m here, he might hightail with my mother again. I don’t want to risk the possibility. He’s already done it once, and he can do it again,” Qin Shu said.

“Be careful. Master is strong. There will be a lot of Platinum-level martial artists under him,” Fu Tingyu cautioned.

“I will. I need to verify two things when I see him. As for my mother’s memory… I’ll discuss it with him if he gives me a chance.”

“Alright. If there’s anything, remember to call me. Don’t forget to call me before going to bed. Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep.”

“Yes, yes. I will. Love you.”

Qin Shu hung up and went to look for lunch with Ye Luo.

Lunch was not extravagant: three dishes to share, one soup and a fish for President Ba.

Qin Shu ate her food absentmindedly. She did not expect Master to be the President of Feng Yi. That was news to her in more ways than one.

How did Master, the President of a country, have the time to spare to teach a gaggle of kids martial arts on Mount Qi those ten years ago? The thought seemed so surreal, almost alien to her mind.

She was his first disciple. Now, she understood why it was so. Her master wanted to get close to her mother, using his pseudonym, Jin Cheng.

The President of the country of Feng Yi. His full name was Feng Jiuxiao, also known as Ziqing.

It was her first time hearing her master’s full name. It was a strong name, oppressive even. Still, it was nothing unexpected for the President of a country.

She suddenly raised her head and looked at Ye Luo. “After lunch, let’s go for a stroll and experience Feng Yi’s culture for ourselves.” understand the local customs.”

Ye Luo: “Okay.”

…

Feng Jiuxiao took some time off to bring Xiao Jiu and Ling’er to the nearby Camel Mountain to play. It was not something he did often.

There was a temple on Camel Mountain, and many people would go there and offer incense.

Xiao Jiu held Ling’er’s hand, and as they walked, she looked at the people coming and going. “Grandma, there are so many people on this mountain. Are they all here to offer incense?”

Ling’er held Xiao Jiu’s hand. She walked very slowly so Xiao Jiu could keep up with her pace. “I think so. I heard from Ziqing that coming here to make a wish is very effective.”

Xiao Jiu tugged at Feng Jiuxiao’s hand excitedly. “Grandpa, is what Grandma said true?”

Feng Jiuxiao was quite pleased with Xiao Jiu for addressing him as Grandpa and Ling’er as Grandma.

“Mm,” he replied.

Xiao Jiu said: “Then I want to offer incense as well. I want Grandpa and Grandma to live a long and happy life forever. I wish Daddy will always fear his wife and Mommy to love me now and always.”

Ling’er caught Feng Jiuxiao’s eye. She smiled and said: “Xiao Jiu is too likeable.”

Feng Jiuxiao asked: “Would you like to make a wish?”

Ling’er thought for a moment and nodded. “A wish wouldn’t hurt.”

Xiao Jiu sniffed the incense and happily pulled Ling’er along. He skipped into the temple and said, “Grandma, let’s offer our wishes together.”

Ling’er looked down at Xiao Jiu and nodded with a smile, “Okay.”

Feng Jiuxiao’s mood brightened alongside Ling’er’s radiant smile. He held Xiao Jiu’s hand and followed in their footsteps.

The scene of the three of them holding hands was like a family of three in the eyes of passersby. Because Feng Jiuxiao and Ling’er looked very young, nothing looked amiss when they entered the temple with Xiao Jiu holding their hands.

There were a lot of people journeying up the mountain that day. Feng Jiuxiao did not bring his escort with him, and he feared that he would lose sight of Xiao Jiu and Ling’er in the crowd.

He reminded Xiao Jiu, doing his best to squeeze his way through the crowd without drawing too much attention to himself, “Slow down. There are too many people around; you might get lost!”

Feng Jiuxiao’s voice was as cold as snow and as heavy as a mountain. Yet, not even his voice travelled further than a few metres in the noisy sea of bodies on their pilgrimage to the temple. Xiao Jiu’s martial strength was only bronze, and his hearing was not very good, so he did not hear his grandfather’s voice, his petite form squeezing through the gaps between bodies.

Ling’er had been holding Xiao Jiu’s hand. Seeing that he was squeezing into the crowd, she was afraid that he would get lost, so she followed closely behind.

Feng Jiuxiao was hot their heels. Suddenly, a hand grabbed his arm, and a familiar female voice travelled into his ears. “Brother Jiu, are you also coming to Camel Mountain to play?”

Feng Jiuxiao instinctively turned around and saw Situ Qianhui. Seeing the hand on his arm, he softly replied, “Mm,” then he pulled his arm free without batting an eye.

…