QTIMP -Chapter 234 Character Persona – Fool (Part 30)

Elias always handled the arrangements with the feng shui master only when she was asleep, coordinating all the procedures and required items.

That morning, before the dew had even dried, Si Qiu had already changed into a black wide-strap dress, paired with a white silk cardigan, and wore mourning bands on her arms.

Elias and his men arrived as well, also wearing mourning bands. Among those who came to pay their respects were Fang Yimin and several unfamiliar faces.

However, just from their bearing alone, it was clear they were no ordinary people—either wealthy or powerful.

After getting out of their cars, they first bowed at the grave, then approached Si Qiu and Elias to offer a few words of condolence.

Si Qiu’s beauty was striking as always, now tinged with sorrow, making her look delicate and pitiable, stirring deep sympathy in anyone who saw her.

Everyone who looked at her couldn’t help but sigh in pity—but soon, they were overwhelmed by the intimidating aura of the man standing beside her and quickly withdrew their gazes, stepping back into line.

Under the arrangement of the feng shui master, all the prepared items were brought out of the cars and placed according to strict rules.

In a method neither Si Qiu fully understood nor recognized, the feng shui master conducted the memorial ritual. The entire cemetery was bleak and solemn, and the ceremony of burning paper offerings lasted a full hour.

After the ritual ended, they proceeded to arrange the ongoing maintenance of the cemetery.

Just as everyone was preparing to leave, a group of people arrived at the cemetery entrance.

Leading them was an elderly couple holding hands with two children around ten years old. Beside them stood a young man in his twenties.

When Si Qiu looked up and met their gaze, the elderly couple immediately rushed over with the children. Stopping three or four steps away, they suddenly dropped to their knees.

“Jian Qiu, Grandpa and Grandma owe you an apology! Qiuqiu, please let your father go! No matter what, he gave birth to you and raised you—you can’t be so unfilial!”

Si Qiu watched them coldly, expressionless, as if observing a performance.

The young man beside them hesitated for a long moment before stepping forward.

“Qiuqiu…”

She shifted her gaze to him. “You’re here to plead for him too?”

Feng Baolin lowered his head awkwardly, murmuring, “Yes… I’m sorry.”

“I accept your apology,” Si Qiu said flatly, “but I won’t forgive you.”

With that, she turned to leave and walked around them.

Feng Baolin looked uncomfortable, but he did not try to stop her.

However, the Jian family elders were different. They scrambled forward, trying to grab her.

They were immediately blocked by the bodyguards. At first, the couple cried and begged—then it turned into curses and vile shouting.

Elias, worried she would be upset, pulled her tightly into his arms, intending to take her away quickly and prevent these people from disturbing her further.

But Si Qiu suddenly stopped.

Her cold eyes locked onto the elderly couple who were now throwing themselves into a tantrum.

Only then did they realize—this girl was no longer the “fool” they once spoke of so casually and trampled upon.

“I won’t let you go.”

A quiet sentence drifted through the wind into their ears.

Yet it made all of them shiver violently.

They froze in place as the goddess-like girl was escorted away by the crowd.

Si Qiu was half-held in Elias’s arms. Grinding her teeth, she said, “Elias, I want the Jian family to pay.”

“Alright.” He agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Fang Yimin and the officials walking behind exchanged silent glances.

Then they heard the girl add calmly, “I don’t want their lives.”

Elias kissed the top of her head gently. “I know.”

He understood Si Qiu’s concerns, and he also understood that she didn’t want him to fall out with the Chinese government.

His heart felt so full it almost overflowed. At this moment, even if Si Qiu asked him to kill someone, he would not hesitate for a second.

Fang Yimin, who had originally stepped forward to try to persuade them, stopped in his tracks. The others also turned their heads away one by one, pretending they hadn’t heard the conversation at all.

After resting for a day, they flew again the next day to the city where Si Qiu attended school.

Before that, Elias had already instructed Butler Zhou to buy a house near the school to make it convenient for Si Qiu to live there.

By the time they arrived, the house had already been fully arranged. However, at Si Qiu’s request, it was a duplex flat—two floors, 288 square meters per floor—rather than a villa.

The main reason was that the villa area was a bit far from here, and Si Qiu didn’t want to waste too much time commuting.

Of course, whether villa or flat, she wouldn’t be living alone. Butler Zhou and the maids would stay to take care of her.

Bodyguards and drivers would also remain, so even a 500+ square meter home still felt full.

However, these staff members rarely made their presence noticeable in front of Si Qiu.

“I heard the riverside scenery here is nice. Do you want to go take a look? We can take some photos for you.”

Having arrived in a new city, Elias didn’t want Si Qiu to stay immersed in sadness. After the butler prepared a sightseeing plan, he picked out the spots he liked most.

He wanted to take her out and spend some time with her before they left.

Si Qiu still looked a bit listless, but she didn’t refuse. She woke up naturally in the morning and changed into comfortable casual clothes for going out.

Elias and the others drove straight to the riverside. Thanks to recent tourism development, the area had been beautifully renovated.

In the heat of summer, the coolness of the water and the shade of the trees made it very pleasant to walk there.

Willow branches drooped and swayed gently. Elias took many photos of Si Qiu, while Theodore stood nearby handling the lighting, and Karl carried the bags.

With so many people of different appearances and skin tones, they attracted quite a few curious glances.

Si Qiu pulled them toward a less crowded area.

Elias weighed the relatively heavy camera in his hand and followed her into the deeper part of the grove with a smile. His “little autumn” was the kind of person who deserved a carefree, happy life.

“Don’t run off—we still need to change outfits. Didn’t you say you wanted to wear hanfu for photos?”

After a full day of shooting, they were still cheerful and lively. That night, after dinner, when they sat on the sofa selecting photos, the atmosphere changed completely.

Si Qiu, who normally remained unfazed even with a gun pointed at her head, now had beads of sweat covering her forehead and the bridge of her nose.

“How did you even take these photos? Why is my face so dark? Didn’t you use lighting and a reflector?”

Si Qiu’s critical tone made Elias frown. He then looked toward Karl.

“It must be Karl’s fault for not holding the reflector properly.”

Karl stared in disbelief as his boss casually threw him under the bus.

Then came the next photo. Si Qiu pointed at the wide sleeve of her outfit.

“Elias, didn’t you notice when taking the photo that my sleeve got scratched by a branch? Hanfu is supposed to look elegant and flowing. Look at this—you made it look like I was stuck on a tree.”

Elias shifted uncomfortably. “I was adjusting the camera at the time and didn’t see it clearly. It should be Theodore’s fault for not noticing while he was handling the lighting.”