Shen Buji laughed heartily at her words, slapping his thigh until tears nearly came.
“Qin Dianzhi’s little sister… could it be… there’s something wrong with her brain?”
[Wow wow wow, the little girl can even communicate with me! She knows my secret—remember to probe her.]
Mianmian leaned in, her surprised expression fully captured by the two men’s eyes.
Shen Buji, ever the playful rogue, smirked: “You want to find my secret? Hah, don’t overestimate yourself!”
Mianmian turned back, showing her tiny tiger teeth, smiling brightly: “So you scored ten points!”
Shen Buji froze in his seat. Gu Xu looked puzzled: “Little Mianmian, ten points?”
“She scored ten points on the exam! That means she failed, right? Isn’t it called ‘failing’? Failing with ten points is so embarrassing… I’ve never scored ten points!”
Gu Xu burst out laughing.
He asked Shen Buji: “Really? You scored ten?”
Before Shen Buji could answer, Gu Xu muttered to himself: “Just scribbled something… it shouldn’t even be ten points… Shen Buji, you really are… remarkable.”
Boom!
An invisible arrow struck straight into Shen Buji’s heart.
How did little Qin Mianmian know he had scored ten points?
Besides his teachers and classmates, not even his family knew.
The Qin family really had a knack for uncovering secrets.
Shen Buji, once carefree and unconstrained, now felt utterly embarrassed—he had scored ten in his freshman exam, and a toddler knew about it.
Her laughter sounded piercing to him.
He forced a casual tone: “Who hasn’t scored single digits when young? Ten points, very normal.”
“I haven’t,” Mianmian said firmly.
“Neither have I,” she added sweetly. Shen Buji sneered: “You didn’t even attend kindergarten and already knew you wouldn’t score single digits?”
“I’m a smart kid,” she replied. She had indeed never scored in the single digits.
Although her family had been renowned for beast mastery, they never neglected academic education.
The elders had said that before the family patriarch ascended, he left a message for descendants: Master math and sciences, and you won’t fear the cultivation world; learn politics, history, and geography, and you’ll always have confidence in conversation.
Mianmian didn’t fully understand the meaning, but she studied diligently anyway.
Every family test she took, she got full marks!
Listening to her boast unabashedly, Shen Buji chuckled angrily: “I may have scored ten points, but your third brother, Qin Zichuan, scored eight. At least I’m better than him.”
Mianmian’s smile froze. Eight… points…
Shen Buji, satisfied with her reaction, smirked again: “Bottom of the class.”
Though he was second-to-last, Qin Zichuan was last, so he was pleased.
Mianmian looked at Gu Xu pitifully. He twitched—don’t cry, he can’t soothe kids.
Quickly, Gu Xu diverted the topic with a look.
“Shen Buji… the villa at 201, whose is it?”
“I heard it belongs to a doctor.”
“Who owned it before?”
Shen Buji blinked, fingers stroking his chin thoughtfully. Suddenly, he said: “The An family! When I bought a villa here, I met someone from the An family—they had chosen this villa. But a year ago, for some reason, the villa changed owners. How could a doctor afford it? There’s probably some shady deal involved.”
Mianmian and Gu Xu exchanged glances. A clue was good enough. Shen Buji suddenly stood, squinting: “Gu Ge, you brought her here just for this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
This matter… Gu Xu lowered his head to Mianmian, their secret shared only between them. Could they tell Shen Buji?
The big and the small exchanged glances.
Shen Buji raised an eyebrow.
Mianmian looked at Shen Buji: “Gu Xu and I are looking for a medicine called Nine-Segment Lingzhi.”
“Nine-Segment Lingzhi? That’s a legendary rare herb—can’t be bought with money. Are you sure it really exists, or is it just a rumor?”
“It’s real.”
“….” A child’s words were hard to believe, but with Gu Xu confirming, Shen Buji trusted it.
Gu Xu nodded: “What Mianmian says is true. Shen Buji… while you live here, keep an eye on Dr. Xiong’s activities. If anyone goes to his house, contact us immediately.”
They had a good relationship. Shen Buji agreed readily. Mianmian tilted her head—he wasn’t so bad after all.
She tugged lightly at Shen Buji’s finger:
“Shen Buji… you help Mianmian, she’ll remember your kindness.”
Patting her little chest as a promise, Shen Buji pinched her small hand: “You’re quite loyal.”
“Of course! I’ll give you a super amazing gift later.”
Mianmian gestured with her little hands.
“Alright, I’ll wait for your amazing gift.” Shen Buji hadn’t met such a fun little kid in years.
Before leaving, Shen Buji fetched a small wooden sword and handed it to Mianmian.
“A peachwood charm to ward off evil. Play with it.”
“Thank you, Shen Buji… such a beautiful little sword…” Mianmian held the sword proudly.
Gu Xu recognized it as Shen Buji’s most treasured possession. Today, he had voluntarily given it to Mianmian.
The little girl’s charm was unstoppable!
Gu Xu glanced meaningfully. Shen Buji awkwardly looked elsewhere, calling out: “It’s late—let’s go. Don’t try to mooch dinner here…”
Mianmian waved the little sword as they left: “Shen Buji, see you later!”
Their outing had borne fruit—they now knew Dr. Xiong’s villa belonged to the An family.
The Nine-Segment Lingzhi was likely there!
Mianmian sat in the passenger seat. They discussed the Lingzhi and the An family.
Both agreed: don’t alert anyone.
But how to investigate the An family next? Mianmian sighed. Gu Xu comforted her: “Don’t rush. Now that we know the connection, things are easier. Little Mianmian, remember—don’t act recklessly alone.”
Mianmian nodded.
Gu Xu drove her home.
Mianmian entered the living room alone, waving her little sword with delight.
Inside, she heard laughter.
Qin Tongtong was there.
“Mianmian, you’re back! Look, I got you this dress. Hope you like it.”
Qin Tongtong held out a beautiful dress. “I was wrong before; I shouldn’t have bullied you. Can you forgive me?”
Mianmian didn’t respond. Qin Zichuan stepped forward: “Mianmian, Tongtong is apologizing. Ignoring her is rude.”
“Third brother, don’t blame Mianmian. It was my fault before—of course she was angry. I shouldn’t have bullied her,” Qin Tongtong admitted.
Qin Zichuan’s gaze softened: “Tongtong, you’re a good kid.”
Mianmian ignored them and sat on a chair, her eyes on the sword.
Tongtong smirked, thinking the more Mianmian ignored her, the more Qin Zichuan would worry.
Qin Zichuan’s eyes flashed with anger. He strode toward Mianmian, spotted the sword in her hand, and immediately frowned. He grabbed the sword and inspected it.
“Where did this come from?”
Mianmian pouted, arms crossed, ignoring him.
“Qin Mianmian, where did you get this sword?”
“Hmph, Shen Buji gave it to me!” She snatched the sword back.
Qin Zichuan’s handsome face twisted: “Shen Buji? Brother?”