Volume One, Chapter 71: I Want to Live With You

Two of the three Vajra-level experts had their defenses broken, and in the end, they even offended the headmaster of Dragon Tiger Mountain. Now, their path to advancement was completely severed. Likewise, the higher-ups at Institute 509 hauled the trio back overnight. What happened after that was unknown to Jiang Chen, but since it was an internal matter, the municipal leader of the institute had already promised that they would not be let off lightly.

With that assurance, Jiang Chen didn’t press further. After all, national departments had strict discipline, and the way Kong Shan and his companions defied orders would certainly be punished severely—taking them to court was entirely possible.

On the ride home, Li Jing Shou brought back some barbecue spices from Harbin along with local beef and lamb, saying he wanted his father to try them.

As they chatted about Li Jing Shou’s family, the conversation drifted to his father, Li Nian Tong. Before the Ye family fell in Qingcheng, Li Nian Tong was a force equal to the Ye family, and their enterprises operated both abroad and at home, mainly focusing on international business. Thus, economic sanctions never worried them; their funds couldn’t easily be restricted.

Yet Li Jing Shou’s mood was far from cheerful during the drive.

"Jing Shou, how’s your relationship with your father?" Jiang Chen asked, chewing gum and idly gazing out the window.

"It’s... okay, I guess," Li Jing Shou replied, his tone uncertain when father came up.

Jiang Chen said, "If there’s a chance, I’d like to meet your father. I need to let him know you’ve become a cultivator—after all, you know how dangerous this path is."

Li Jing Shou shook his head. "Forget it, bro. It’s not that I refuse, but he’s just too busy. Every phone call with him lasts only a few minutes before he hangs up."

Jiang Chen thought a moment and conceded the point. Not everyone could be as free as himself. Lately, though, he’d become busy too—building his own power, handling company affairs. He’d started as a mere security guard, and now he was the largest shareholder.

Whenever a decision was needed, Su Cheng Long and Ning Rou sent files for him to review. Jiang Chen hated paperwork, the endless words, but that didn’t mean he was clueless about business. On the contrary, he was sharp at spotting future trends, and a few hints from him would let the two visible leaders know exactly what to do.

By the time they returned to Qingcheng, it was already morning. Jiang Chen told Li Jing Shou to catch up on sleep, while he went straight to Su Cheng Long’s house.

Su Yi Ke wasn’t home—she’d been busy with complex cases lately and simply moved into her dorm, absent for a long while. Su Cheng Long was absorbed in his work, having climbed a whole level at once. The only one resting in the courtyard was Senior Sister Chu Xi Xi.

Jiang Chen entered from outside and saw Chu Xi Xi lying asleep on a grand chair in the courtyard. He tiptoed over, knelt softly, and gathered her into his arms.

Chu Xi Xi awoke suddenly, but seeing it was Jiang Chen, she pressed her cheek tightly against his broad chest.

The two held each other close, savoring a rare and beautiful moment.

"Chen... you’ve been busy lately, haven’t you?" Chu Xi Xi’s beautiful eyes sparkled, her delicate hand gliding over Jiang Chen’s arm, making his heart flutter.

Jiang Chen replied leisurely, "Not too bad, but there’s been a lot going on."

Chu Xi Xi pouted, "So busy, yet you still find time to visit me?"

Jiang Chen noticed her jealousy. "Senior Sister, no matter how much I have to do, I’ll always make time for you. Remember, when you were little, you said you wouldn’t marry anyone but me."

Her face flushed with embarrassment; she tried to pinch his waist, but Jiang Chen anticipated her move, his other hand already caressing her softness.

"You!" Chu Xi Xi’s cheeks turned crimson.

Jiang Chen feigned innocence. "My own senior sister said she’d be my wife. After not seeing my wife for so long, I ought to collect a little interest, don’t you think, Senior Sister?"

Chu Xi Xi snorted softly, "Little rascal, you always bully me. How can childhood promises be counted?"

Jiang Chen protested, "No way. What’s said is said. Wife, wife."

Chu Xi Xi caressed his face, and for a moment, the two were silent, lost in each other.

After a while, Chu Xi Xi said, "Your hand..."

"What hand?" Jiang Chen pretended not to understand.

"If you don’t move your hand, you can forget it in the future!" Chu Xi Xi threatened angrily.

"Alright, alright," Jiang Chen withdrew his hand triumphantly.

He recalled his days studying at Dragon Tiger Mountain when he was young and ignorant, scolded by his master and left to cry alone. Each time, the equally small Chu Xi Xi would find him and hold him, telling him not to cry. So, no matter his age, Jiang Chen always stuck close to Chu Xi Xi, and their embrace became a gesture unique to them.

Of course, as Jiang Chen grew older, he became less well-behaved—especially with his hands.

If anyone could claim to be childhood sweethearts, it was him and his senior sister.

Chu Xi Xi seemed to remember something. "I’ll be heading back to Dragon Tiger Mountain soon to prepare for the Celestial Master Conference. Remember to return and attend it—there’s much you need to do as headmaster."

Jiang Chen groaned, "I don’t want to go back. Every time I do, Master nags me. Can’t I skip it?"

Chu Xi Xi pinched his face. "Skip it? If you don’t go back, you might as well never return. Don’t expect to see me again."

Jiang Chen was helpless. He could only tease her with words—if he truly disobeyed, she would ignore him, and it might be for a long time. Jiang Chen wasn’t willing to risk that.

"Where will I stay when I go back?" Jiang Chen rubbed his hands together.

Chu Xi Xi looked puzzled. "Where else? The mountaintop residence for the headmaster is all yours now. Just stay up there. Or do you not want to?"

Jiang Chen shook his head wildly. "Of course not! There’s nothing up there, not even a decent signal. I’m not like Master, able to settle down quietly. If I don’t talk to you all day, I’ll suffocate."

Chu Xi Xi sighed. "Then where do you want to stay?"

"Senior Sister... when I was little, I always stayed with you. Now..."

With that, Jiang Chen’s little scheme was laid bare.

"I think you must be out of your mind, Jiang Chen!"