TRWSB – Chapter 48 Kept?

When Qi Shaorong returned to the dormitory, Qi Shaoru immediately stood up, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Fourth Brother, you’re such a busy man. You finally deigned to return, huh? I hear you skip classes every day, and yet you’re nowhere to be found. What exactly are you so busy with? What’s keeping you so occupied?”

Qi Shaorong casually took off his coat and sat down on the sofa without acknowledging her barrage of questions. Calmly, he asked, “Looking for me? Is there something you need?”

Qi Shaoru snapped angrily, “Is there something I need? How dare you even ask!”

Confused, Qi Shaorong replied, “If I don’t ask, how would I know?”

“You harmed a member of the family!”

“Are you talking about that dead pig? He brought it upon himself with his schemes. Who’s to blame for that? The headmaster has already handled the matter. There’s no need for you to interfere, Fifth Sister,” Qi Shaorong said indifferently.

“Qi He is still a part of the Qi family. How could you be so heavy-handed?”

“Fifth Sister, you can’t just spout nonsense because you’re young. That fat idiot brought this on himself. I heard he’s still alive—quite the miracle! After doing something so underhanded, not only does he survive, but he even has someone like you defending him. Fifth Sister, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to that dead pig. Didn’t you fancy Zhuang Hao? Since when did your standards drop so low?” Qi Shaorong remarked, resting his chin in his hand with a puzzled expression.

Qi Shaoru’s face turned red. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You’re this upset and came here to cause trouble—it really seems like you’re standing up for your lover,” Qi Shaorong said, looking innocent.

Fuming, Qi Shaoru glared at Qi Shaorong before turning to Qi Shaofu. “Third Brother, look at him!”

“Alright, you two, that’s enough,” Qi Shaofu interjected.

“Fourth Brother, this house of yours is not bad,” Qi Shaofu remarked, trying to change the subject.

Qi Shaorong waved it off casually. “It’s decent.”

Frowning, Qi Shaofu commented, “The headmaster of Tianlan Academy, Hu Feng, doesn’t do anything without profit. Renting this separate courtyard must cost a fortune.”

“Not much—just ten thousand gold coins a year,” Qi Shaorong replied.

Qi Shaofu’s eyes widened. “What?!”

“That’s so wasteful,” Qi Shaoru couldn’t help but exclaim. Ten thousand gold coins! Her heart clenched at the thought. She had always imagined Qi Shaorong living in poverty, yet he was living so extravagantly. “How can you be so frivolous? Where did you get so much money?”

“I didn’t spend any of the Qi family’s money. Why are you so worked up?” Qi Shaorong said.

Taking out a money card, Qi Shaorong handed it to Qi Shaofu. “Here are twenty thousand gold coins—a little token from me to the Qi family. I heard Father spent three thousand gold coins to get me into the academy. I didn’t realize three thousand gold coins were such a huge sum to the Qi family. Fifth Sister, you’ve been harping on about this like losing those three thousand would bankrupt us.”

Qi Shaofu: “…”

Qi Shaoru: “…”

“Where did you get so much money?” Qi Shaoru asked, staring at Qi Shaorong.

“From the Evil Doctor,” Qi Shaorong replied.

“Why would he give you money?”

“Because I helped him with a few minor tasks,” Qi Shaorong said.

Qi Shaoru’s eyes widened as she pointed at Qi Shaorong. “You… You’ve been kept by the Evil Doctor!”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

This girl sure has a vivid imagination.

Just as Qi Shaorong was about to retort, a familiar figure appeared at the door. Qi Shaorong curled his lips into a smirk. “Fifth Sister, you’re truly insightful. That’s right, I’ve been kept by the Evil Doctor.”

Qi Shaoru: “…”

Zhuang Ling had just reached the door when she overheard Qi Shaorong’s “bold confession.” Her heart clenched.

Before Qi Shaoru could say anything else, Qi Shaorong turned to Zhuang Ling. “Instructor Zhuang Ling, what brings you here?”

Qi Shaoru, seeing Zhuang Ling, clamped her mouth shut. Adhering to the principle of not airing family dirty laundry, she refrained from reprimanding Qi Shaorong in front of the instructor.

Looking at the group, Zhuang Ling took a deep breath. “What are you all up to?”

Qi Shaorong smiled. “Nothing much, just chatting about family matters.”

“Qi Shaorong, I’ve heard you’ve been skipping classes. Can we have a private conversation?” Zhuang Ling asked.

“Of course,” Qi Shaorong replied, following her outside.

After Qi Shaorong left, Qi Shaofu breathed a sigh of relief. He shook his head with a wry smile, thinking to himself how his younger brother’s words and actions always carried an inexplicable pressure.

Qi Shaoru, however, clenched her fists, inwardly lamenting, Qi Shaorong is living it up while I thought he’d be struggling!

Qi Shaorong, oblivious to the conversation that followed his departure, walked silently behind Zhuang Ling.

After a while, Zhuang Ling broke the silence. “Qi Shaorong, do you think ruining your own reputation is wise?”

Unbothered, Qi Shaorong replied, “It doesn’t matter. I don’t have much of a reputation to begin with.”

Zhuang Ling chuckled helplessly. “By tarnishing your own name, you’re dragging the Evil Doctor’s name through the mud as well.”

Qi Shaorong tilted his head. “Instructor Zhuang Ling, are you defending the Evil Doctor?”

“I was just speaking offhand,” Zhuang Ling said with a smile.

“Mentor Zhuang Ling, have you ever heard of the Yinmei Woman?”

Zhuang Ling nodded and said, “I’ve heard of her.”

The Yinmei Woman was a famously powerful saint-level mage in history. She suffered misfortunes as a child — having been gang-raped — and after surviving, her personality became extremely twisted. After rising to fame, she kept a large group of male lovers and insisted on sleeping with several of them every night. Eventually, even men couldn’t satisfy her anymore, and she turned to magical beasts.

“The Yinmei Woman even slept with magical beasts, yet people still admired her. That just goes to show — as long as you have enough power, reputation means nothing.” Qi Shaorong said blandly.

Zhuang Ling glanced at Qi Shaorong, silent for a moment, then said, “Young Master Qi, your mentality is truly something most people can only dream of achieving.”

Qi Shaorong waved his hand nonchalantly and said, “You’re too kind.”

Qi Shaorong followed Zhuang Ling into the office, but even before they entered, he heard a fit of coughing.

“Sister Zhuang Ling, where did you run off to?”

As soon as Zhuang Ling stepped in, a little girl stopped coughing and rushed into her arms. Her face looked pale, but she was very polite. Qi Shaorong noticed that there were traces of blood on the girl’s handkerchief.

The moment he saw the little girl, Qi Shaorong understood Zhuang Ling’s true reason for bringing him here.

Zhuang Ling smiled at Qi Shaorong and said, “Her name is Furong. She’s the daughter of one of our academy’s instructors, Sun Lin. Sun Lin’s husband died in a battle a few years ago. Furong is their only child. Sadly, she was born prematurely and has always had a weak constitution — quite pitiful, really.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

Qi Shaorong reached out and poked the girl’s cheek. She flinched like a frightened little mouse and hid behind Zhuang Ling.

“When she found out that my illness had been cured with the help of the Evil Doctor, Instructor Sun Lin originally wanted to ask for his help as well. But the Evil Doctor disappeared. Since you’re on good terms with him, Qi, would you be able to help us get in touch with him?” Zhuang Ling asked.

Furong blinked her big eyes, looking timidly at Qi Shaorong. The girl was skin and bones, and her appearance stirred sympathy.

Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Ling and said, “Mentor Zhuang Ling, you’re truly kind-hearted.”

“It’s not about kindness. This little girl reminds me of myself when I was young. Director Sun Lin always makes me think of my father. Sun Lin had a deep relationship with her late husband and has always taken great care of this child. It’s a pity…”

Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Ling and said, “Mentor Zhuang Ling, I can’t reach the Evil Doctor right now, but you can write down the child’s symptoms and send them to his residence. Someone there will find a way to contact him. If the price is right, he’ll help.”

Zhuang Ling smiled and said, “Instructor Sun Lin has spent all her money seeking doctors for her daughter. She’s nearly broke. Qi, since you know the Evil Doctor, I hope you can put in a good word for her.”

“I’ll do my best,” Qi Shaorong said.

Zhuang Ling looked at Qi Shaorong and said, “Qi, would you like to check her pulse?”

Qi Shaorong glanced at Zhuang Ling and replied, “No need. I already know.” He could tell at a glance that the girl’s illness was tuberculosis.

Zhuang Ling looked at Qi Shaorong and said, “In that case, I’ll trouble you.”

Qi Shaorong smiled and said, “Miss Zhuang Ling, just don’t forget your promise.”

“You young people should sort out your own matters. I’m just curious to see how far you all can go,” Zhuang Ling said with a hint of mischief.

Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Ling and thought to himself: What she means is, she’s staying out of it — just here to watch the show.