1058 [Bonus chapter] I’ll Help
“Stay for lunch,” said Xia Zhao. “I’ll treat you to a feast today.”
“There is no need to bribe me,” was Raelle’s response. “Didn’t I say I acknowledge you already?”
“Can you even be bribed with food?” asked Xia Zhao.
“No,” replied Raelle.
“Then?” he raised his brow at her and shook his head. “It’s just that you came to my house for the first time. I don’t want you to leave just like that. Let me cook something for you. Besides, since you acknowledged me, you’re my niece too. I should take care of my niece as the elder here.”
“If you insist,” commented Raelle.
As he went to the kitchen Raelle followed him from behind. He opened the door to the back garden and Raelle found that there was a whole vegetable field there. She looked at the cute tomatoes hanging from the plants. They looked so red and juicy.
“You have strange hobbies,” said Raelle.
Xia Zhao looked up at her, “Is that so?”
.....
“You’re living a retirement life way ahead of time,” said Raelle. “This is why Yanyan says you don’t like putting in effort into life.”
“And what do you think?”
“I think you have no challenge in life,” was Raelle’s honest opinion. “So, instead of making your life complicated, you made it even simpler.”
“I enjoy this life,” was his response. “It’s peaceful.”
“And this peacefulness is only disturbed when Yanyan is around,” said Raelle thoughtfully. “So, she is the color of your life. I understand now.”
Xia Zhao let her think whatever she wanted. Not like she was wrong anyway. He walked into the kitchen with the fresh vegetables and started washing them.
Raelle stood there and asked, “Do you need help?”
“No,” said Xia Zhao. “You sit over there. Don’t come here. What if you get hurt?”
Raelle was left staring at him as she thought how everyone held the same opinion that she was fragile. How could she get hurt in the kitchen when all of them were fine? Did it even make sense? She understood her family, what was wrong with Xia Zhao now? But suddenly thinking that since she acknowledged him as Yanyan’s partner, he was also family now, she let it be.
She couldn’t convince anyone that she’d be useful in the kitchen anyway.
So, she chose to sit aside obediently.
“By the way, I don’t think you came to just talk about Yanzi,” said Xia Zhao while working.
Raelle thought about it before saying, “What if I want your help?”
“Just say a word,” he responded. “You don’t even need Yanzi’s link up to ask for help. Xia and Xiang families go long way back. I’d help just for that relationship. And not only that, you alone are also enough. How can I not help Raelle Xiang?” He looked up at her, “Tell me, what can I do for you?”
“I’m looking for a person,” replied Raelle. “I need your help.”
“To find her?”
Raelle shook her head, “No, she is dead. I want to know how she is associated with me.”
“She is associated with you and you don’t even know about that?” he asked in surprise.
Raelle had to tell him everything she knew. She left out the connection between Chi Xirui and Xiang Weimin though. She didn’t think she needed to mention it. After all, that was Mu Chenyan’s concern. Her only concern was why Chi Xirui was connected to her.
“Can you find out?” she asked. “I couldn’t find anything. Do you think you can?”
“If you’re here, it means you trust in my capability,” said Xia Zhao. “Don’t worry, I can find it out. Even if the person is in hell, I’d still find out something.”
“That sounds like you’re bragging.”
Xia Zhao smiled softly, “Well, couldn’t help it. But I wonder why me? Why didn’t you just ask Yanzi for help? She is quite amazing too.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Okay,” since she didn’t explain. He didn’t ask any further either. It didn’t matter anyway. He just had to do what he was asked.
Raelle pulled out Chi Xirui’s photo that she had and placed it on the counter, “That’s the only photo I have of her.”
Xia Zhao glanced at the photo and nodded his head.
“I’ll get back to you in two days,” he said.
Raelle gave him a look, “Can you really find it out in two days?”
“I promise,” he replied with confidence and Raelle didn’t doubt him either.
“It’s my engagement party in two days. You can tell me then.”
“Alright.”
Raelle looked around at his peaceful house and heard the sound of wind chimes that seemed especially enchanting in this kind of a place. “Uncle Zhao, I wanted to thank you for the pills you gave me.”
“I was just the delivery person,” said Xia Zhao.
“But I can’t find the person who gave the pills, so I can only thank you,” she said.
Xia Zhao thought about something and held up his hand saying, “Just a minute.”
Then she watched him going upstairs in a hurry and within minutes he came back dragging someone with him. Raelle was left looking at that figure dressed in black attire and those signature green eyes.
That person threw Xia Zhao’s hand away saying, “Uncle, don’t drag. You’re ruining my shirt.” Then those green eyes settled on Raelle and a captivating smirk appeared on that handsome face, “Oh, and here I was wondering why were you so impatient. Hi, curious kiddo!”
Xia Zhao walked up to the kitchen counter as he said, “You can say your thanks in person now. There is no need to go through the delivery man like me. I don’t deserve it anyway.” Then he looked at his nephew saying, “Young Master Ru, Raelle is here to say thank you. Behave yourself.”
Young Master Ru looked at his uncle, “This young master’s manners are impeccable. Don’t ever doubt it.” Xia Zhao made a face at him which showed how much he didn’t believe those words.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om