Chapter: 45 Mister
Chapter: 45 Mister
“If I can’t call you Master, what should I call you?”
Facing this question, Chen An thought for a moment and said, “Just call me Mister.”
Mister?
Although Luo Cong’an didn’t quite understand, she obediently responded, “Mister.”
Chen An then smiled.
He scratched his head and looked at the girl, who was covered in dirt. “I’ll go boil some hot water. You sit here for a while, and I’ll call you when it’s ready for you to bathe.”
Upon hearing this, the girl quickly took two steps forward and grabbed the corner of Chen An’s clothes.
“No…”
She looked up and said softly, “Mister is a person of noble status. I should do these things myself.”
Chen An was a bit helpless. “What nonsense are you talking about? I’m just an ordinary person, just like you.”
“No, no, I’m not.”
Luo Cong’an retorted softly, but her tone was weak and lacked conviction.
However, no matter what Chen An said, she stubbornly held onto his clothes, refusing to let go.
Chen An had no choice but to bring her along.
…
It was late at night.
Everything was silent.
Firewood crackled in the stove, sending out sporadic sparks.
Chen An casually added some firewood, clapped his hands, and said to the girl beside him, “There are no other servants at home, so things like lighting the fire and cooking usually have to be done by ourselves. I hope you don’t mind.”
When Luo Cong’an heard this, her little head shook like a rattle. “Everyone says I am born as an omen of misfortune. Mister doesn’t dislike me, which is already the best…”
Chen An looked at her timid appearance and reached out to pat her head. “Don’t be so insecure, Cong’an.”
He suddenly smiled. “Tell me, is there any possibility that in another world, someone with white hair and red eyes like yours would be adored by everyone?”
“Another… world?”
“Yes, another world.”
“Cong’an doesn’t understand.”
“It’s normal not to understand. It’s not important anyway.”
Chen An was unusually talkative tonight.
He had been alone in this world for many years, had done many things, and experienced much. Now, he had come to terms with some things and only wanted to complete the missions given by the system as soon as possible.
“Actually, I’ve been looking for you for a long time. They just told me to wait, but there was no definite news. I just waited. Fortunately, I waited. Perhaps this is fate?”
Mister was strange and always said things she couldn’t understand.
Luo Cong’an looked at him with a confused expression.
The young man sighed.
“Perhaps ‘destiny’ would be a more appropriate word.”
…
…
The next morning, Luo Cong’an woke up early.
She hid in the warm quilt and let out a comfortable hum.
Although she had gone to bed very late last night, it was still the first good night’s sleep she had had in many years.
She wasn’t exposed to the biting cold wind, nor was she lying on hard, damp ground, but on a warm, soft bed.
Everything felt like a dream, as if it could be shattered at any moment.
But Luo Cong’an knew she wasn’t dreaming.
Because outside the door, Mister’s gentle voice could be heard.
“Cong’an, wake up. Let’s go have breakfast.”
Luo Cong’an quickly got out of bed. She even forgot to put on her shoes and tidy her messy clothes. She rushed to the door and pulled it open.
Chen An was slightly stunned when he saw her.
The girl’s washed body no longer emitted an unpleasant odor, and her long hair had finally become snowy white and lustrous again.
Her cute little face was slightly flushed from running.
In the early morning sunlight, she was like a pearl that had been buried in dust for a long time, now washed clean and radiant.
If it weren’t for the lingering minor injuries on her skin that were difficult to heal in a short time, Chen An might have thought she was a two-dimensional anime protagonist who had appeared out of nowhere.
But her disheveled appearance…
Chen An looked straight ahead and cleared his throat twice. He turned his back with his hands behind him.
“Cong’an, even though we’re at home, we should still pay some attention to our appearance…”
From behind, he heard the girl’s shy exclamation and the sound of the door closing.
A moment later, Luo Cong’an tidied her clothes, and the door opened again.
Chen An turned back, a smile on his face.
He noticed that the fair white feet that had been on the ground were gone.
Instead, she was wearing a pair of old, worn-out cloth shoes.
Chen An frowned. “I’ll take you to buy some clothes and shoes later.”
A blush lingered on the girl’s face. Her exposed toes gripped the ground tighter, and she opened her mouth to refuse.
But Chen An saw her intention and added unequivocally, “No refusals.”
Luo Cong’an said “Oh” in a slightly wronged tone.
She thought, “I can’t do this, and I can’t do that. Mister is truly a strange person.”
Chen An held her hand and they stepped out of the courtyard.
This courtyard was a gift from someone. It was a bit old and not very large, but it had everything a small house could have. It was enough for the two of them to live in.
Along the way, people greeted Chen An one after another. When they saw him holding a white-haired girl by the hand, their faces showed surprise.
“Mister Chen, who is this?”
Chen An smiled back but didn’t explain further, merely pulling Luo Cong’an along as they quickened their pace.
Behind them, some people watched their retreating backs and whispered curiously.
“What a handsome little girl.”
“Hiss, white hair… that’s really rare.”
“I think I heard someone say before that there was a family in the west of the city who had a baby with white hair?”
Luo Cong’an slowly understood why Chen An had asked her to call him Mister.
Because in this small Guanping City, Chen An’s identity was that of a teacher.
He wasn’t exactly of noble status, but he could certainly make a decent living.
He worked at the private school set up by the city lord’s mansion, and that old, shabby courtyard was arranged by the city lord’s men.
They arrived at a bustling noodle shop, and Chen An led Luo Cong’an to a seat.
He observed her carefully and found that the little girl’s expression was normal, and she was very quiet.
He smiled. “I thought you would be more afraid of going out on the street.”
Luo Cong’an looked at him, carefully moved her chair closer, and then asked softly, “Afraid of what?”
“Those faint whispers, like just now.”
Luo Cong’an shook her head. “I’m not afraid.”
Rather than not being afraid, she was already used to it.
Her only concern now was whether this would affect others’ perception of Mister.
After all, taking in someone so unusual would surely lead to gossip.
Seeing that the girl was truly fine, Chen An was relieved.
He waved to the shopkeeper. “Two bowls of noodles, please.”
…
…
After helping Luo Cong’an pick out two sets of clothes and shoes for changing, Chen An led her back to the courtyard.
There was an old locust tree in the courtyard with a thick trunk.
Under the tree was a bamboo lounge chair, which was very comfortable to use in the summer.
But now it was the cold winter.
So Chen An carried it inside and placed it by the entrance of the hall.
He spread out thick bedding and then lay down.
His goal was retirement at the age of around twenty.
As for Luo Cong’an, she volunteered to clean.
Chen An tried to dissuade her a couple of times, but knowing her personality, he let her do as she wished.
Snowflakes fluttered outside, and Chen An squinted as he looked into the distance.
He began to say some strange things that Luo Cong’an couldn’t understand.
“How long?”
“Seven years…”
“Damn, so you can cultivate immortality.”
“Can I do that?”
“No? Alright then.”
A sigh.
(End of this chapter)
