Chapter 343: Singing in the Villa

The last time she came here, she and Liu Anran had just sat at the main gate of the courtyard, chatting with the Old Man.

After chatting, she left with Liu Anran, and never once went inside the whole time.

According to Liu Anran, it was to save the old man from having to specially entertain them.

Liu Xie agreed. Though it was perfectly normal for a host to entertain guests, if an elderly man whose age might only be a quarter of one’s own came out to entertain someone like him, then Liu Xie would feel overwhelmed and deeply uneasy.

“What would you two like to drink?”

The Old Man walking ahead suddenly turned back, still looking at the two of them with that kindly smile.

Liu Xie, who had just stepped through the door, immediately turned to look at Liu Anran behind her.

She couldn’t read anything from his expression, so she turned back to the Old Man and said, “No need, no need, don’t trouble yourself.”

“What trouble is there in this?” the Dean said, then countered Liu Xie, “Though it’s true, an old man like me probably doesn’t have anything you youngsters would like, right?”

For a moment, Liu Xie didn’t know what to say.

Then, Liu Xie looked to Liu Anran as if seeking help.

At a time like this, she couldn’t really let the Old Man entertain them.

Today was even the Old Man’s first day out of the hospital.

Making him entertain them now was no different from making your own father wash your feet on Father’s Day.

Liu Anran did respond to Liu Xie’s plea for help. He spoke quite casually, “Brew me a cup of Longjing.”

Liu Xie turned back with a smile on her face. “Alright, then I’ll also have a Long—”

Then her words abruptly froze. She spun around and grabbed Liu Anran by the collar.

“Did driving mess up your brain? The Old Man just got out of the hospital and you’re making him go cook two dishes for you?”

“This is actually what’s good for him.” Liu Anran pressed his palm downward, signaling Liu Xie not to be nervous.

“How could that possibly be…”

Liu Xie started, about to argue further, when the Old Man behind her spoke up first.

“Alright, it’ll be ready in no time. It just so happens I can’t finish all those tea leaves by myself as an old man, and I worry about them getting damp someday sitting there.”

The Old Man left cheerfully.

He was truly happy.

Liu Xie let go of Liu Anran’s collar, then helped smooth out the wrinkles.

If anything, some elderly people need to be given things to do, rather than staying here alone and enjoying being cared for by everyone as if they were disabled.

Of course, Liu Anran hadn’t known this at firstーhe figured it out later.

Because at first, he had been meticulously attentive, which only made the Old Man more listless, and even his physical condition declined somewhat.

So when it comes to caring for people like this old man, there should be limits.

Liu Xie extended a finger and pointed at Liu Anran. “Just you wait, I’ll definitely make sure you don’t get out alive.”

After saying that, she followed behind the Dean into the house.

If the inside was shabby, especially with a roof that couldn’t even keep out rain, then Liu Xie would start lecturing Liu Anran about driving a luxury car and living in a mansion while leaving the Old Man with a leaky roof and no dry place, rain streaming down like tangled hemp without end.

Given Liu Xie’s level of education, coming up with those two lines was already pushing her to her limit.

As Liu Xie pushed open the door within the courtyard, she was momentarily left speechless.

What she saw was neat and tidy—wooden flooring that one glance told her had been newly laid, not so cold in winter.

Above her head was central air conditioning, not yet turned on but obvious at a glance.

Sofa, tables, chairs, color TV—everything one could want, and even a liquor cabinet with two bottles of Feitian Moutai inside.

Truly a different world inside and out.

Liu Xie was filled with admiration.

The Old Man even had a dedicated tea set, placed right on the coffee table.

The TV was on, playing an old Anti-Japanese War Drama at noticeably high volume.

Before she even sat down, Liu Xie could hear the constant roaring of “Fire!” from the TV.

Liu Anran walked over from behind and led Liu Xie to sit across from the coffee table, facing the Old Man.

“Come, brew some tea.”

The Old Man was cheerful, working the full tea set, with even a Tea Pet close at hand.

Before long, two cups of hot tea were set before the two of them.

It was perfect that it was winter; otherwise, who knows how long one would have to wait to drink such hot, strong tea.

“From now on, don’t go working in the Field anymore. If you have nothing to do, go Fishing. If that doesn’t work, sing some songs.” Liu Anran began his nagging.

Beside him, Liu Xie tilted her head.

Fishing she could understand, but singing was…

Then she suddenly felt something poking her. She pulled out a Microphone from beside her bottom.

Yes, a Microphone, the kind with a cord attached.

At that moment, Liu Xie suddenly noticed that this big TV playing the war drama might have other uses.

Such as serving as a big screen for KTV.

She even only noticed now that two Speakers were mounted above the big color TV.

Liu Anran was right. If not fishing, then one really could sing, and there was quite professional equipment for it.

And it was at this moment that Liu Xie suddenly remembered something. After looking at the Microphone, she murmured, “Singing in the Villa…”

Then she looked at the Fish Tank by the window not far away, where various fish swam freely.

“Feeding Arowana in the Pool…”

Finally, she looked at the wall behind the sofa and raised her head slightly.

She saw a Great Ambition handwritten by a master himself.

Honestly, had Liu Anran never thought to ask the Old Man’s opinion when renovating? Decorating it like this was simply absurd.

Surely the Old Man must feel somewhat uncomfortable and out of place living in a place like this.

Liu Xie turned her head and saw the Dean take out a Jade Token and hang it around his neck.

Now she understood why the entire house’s decor style was like this.

“Speaking of which, this Jade Token was one you replaced for me later, Anran.” The Old Man stroked it. “It looks exactly the same, it’s just a pity it’s not the original one.”

Liu Anran knew the original one had been given to a wet nurse as payment for those few months of nursing him when he was still unweaned.

“But even so, being able to have things as they are now, this old man is content.” The kindly smile remained on his face.

He was speaking of the current Jade Token, and also of his current life.

But Liu Xie knew that he couldn’t possibly be satisfied with just thisーwhat he wanted had never been these things.

“I’m going out to take a Phone call.” Liu Anran said, then walked out.

Before leaving, he gave the Old Man a meaningful look.