Chapter 3483: Responsibility

Ning Shu and Mei Ziqing stood outside the window watching Xiao Huo. He seemed immersed in his books and did not notice anyone watching him.

Mei Ziqing suddenly let out a sigh.

Ning Shu looked at her and asked, “What the heck are you so melancholic for?”

“I just feel like I am not doing right by him. He should have his own life, but keeping him locked up here every day is not right either.” Mei Ziqing walked toward the garden. “I cannot bring myself to throw him away, but I cannot bear the responsibility either.”

“It feels like raising a child, and the responsibility is so heavy I do not feel like I can handle it,” Mei Ziqing sighed.

Despite Xiao Huo’s large stature, his way of thinking was extremely simple. If he developed into a poorly-behaving child later on, he would be incredibly difficult to deal with.

Right now, he was a person, not some ordinary, lifeless world origin. If he were just a streak of fire, Mei Ziqing probably would have sold him off without any psychological burden.

Ning Shu felt that Mei Ziqing’s current state was exactly like that of a single mother. She wanted to abandon Xiao Huo but was afraid he would get hurt.

“Then just keep raising him. Anyway, he is not a burden. You do not have to serve him in his daily life. When he wants to leave, he will leave naturally.” Ning Shu could only say this. When a bird was ready to spread its wings and fly, it would naturally leave immediately for the vast world.

“But you and I both have tasks to do. Where is the time to teach him or accompany him?” Mei Ziqing said somewhat helplessly.

Ning Shu immediately replied, “That has nothing to do with me. This is not my kid. This is your responsibility. Since you bought him, you have to be responsible for him.”

Mei Ziqing: …

“I was thinking about putting him into some world. Staying in the task-taker world like this is useless, and he cannot find his place.” Mei Ziqing looked at Ning Shu. “What do you think?”

The sense of a single mother was even stronger now!

“How about you go and ask him what he is thinking?” Ning Shu asked. “If you are so conflicted, why did you buy him in the first place?”

Mei Ziqing squinted at Ning Shu. “You did not see the situation back then, so it is easy for you to say. If you had been there, you would have bought him too. But now things are a bit difficult.”

Ning Shu said bluntly, “I did not see it, so I do not care at all. Wahaha!”

“His pathetic appearance made my heart ache,” Mei Ziqing said with a sigh. “If he had fallen into anyone else’s hands, he would probably be dead by now.

“I am under so much pressure now. I want to treat him like a pet, but since he appears in human form, I cannot do that with a clear conscience. Even a pet needs companionship, and where do I have the time to accompany him?” Mei Ziqing looked at Ning Shu.

Ning Shu also felt stumped. “It is no use looking at me.”

Mei Ziqing: …

“Forget it. Accompany him when you have time, and if you do not, there is nothing you can do. Instead of telling me all this, why don’t you call him over and have a chat?” Ning Shu shouted toward the room, “Little nephew Xiao Huo, come out quickly! Your mom is here!”

Mei Ziqing’s face twitched. “Do not mess around with family seniority. Since when did I become his mom?”

There was a creaking sound as the door opened. Xiao Huo came out of the room, his long hair trailing behind him. When he saw Mei Ziqing, his eyes lit up with a ‘bling-bling’ sparkles.

Xiao Huo had a smile on his face. When he smiled, it felt quite dazzling.

Mei Ziqing also smiled and waved to Xiao Huo. Ning Shu looked at Xiao Huo’s hair dragging on the ground, filled with dust and fallen leaves.

It was so dirty.

“Ziqing,” Xiao Huo called out to Mei Ziqing. The two words were spoken so gently, as if the name had lingered in his mouth.

It made one’s heart flutter.

“How do you feel here?” Mei Ziqing asked Xiao Huo. “Are you getting used to it?”

Xiao Huo glanced at Ning Shu and said, “I am very good. This auntie even taught me how to read.”

“Is there anything Xiao Huo wants to do or any place you want to go? I will take you,” Mei Ziqing asked.

Xiao Huo thought very, very carefully before saying, “I do not have anywhere I want to go. I want to stay here and read books right now.”

“Alright then, we will read books,” Mei Ziqing said with a smile.

Xiao Huo kept clutching a corner of Mei Ziqing’s clothes, just a tiny bit. He looked so pitiful and cute.

“My treat. Let’s go to the restaurant and eat!” Ning Shu said. Eating was the best way to bond.

“Sure! You are a big shot now. We will feast on the big shot and ‘eat the rich,'” Mei Ziqing said with a laugh.

The three left the city lord’s residence and went to the restaurant. They found a seat in the main hall. Ning Shu gave the menu to Xiao Huo. “You can read the words on here, right? If you can, order for yourself.”

“You need to say thank you,” Mei Ziqing said to the boy.

“Thank you, Auntie,” Xiao Huo thanked Ning Shu.

Ning Shu’s face twitched. Being called ‘Auntie’ made her feel a bit complicated.

“Haha, I feel like the two of us are raising a child right now,” Mei Ziqing said.

“I am not raising him, you are,” Ning Shu said bluntly.

Xiao Huo looked at the menu and ordered several dishes with very colorful pictures. It seemed children really liked bright things.

When the waiter brought the food, he gave Ning Shu an extra dish. The waiter said it was on the house.

Ning Shu looked up at Shu Bai on the upper floor and said thank you.

Shu Bai just nodded slightly, appearing reserved and dignified.

“Eat. I still have official business to do later.”

This time, she’d come to clear up the background of the auction house.

Last time she was busy collecting taxes and did not have time to deal with them. This time she had to figure it out and look around to see if she could find a World Origin or some other treasure.

“What is it? Tell me. Maybe I can help,” Mei Ziqing asked.

“It is not a big deal, really. I just want to check out the background of the auction house.” She wanted to know what she was dealing with.

“The auction house? I have heard they have a military background. I heard it from other task-takers. I do not know if it is true or not. Businesses like that definitely look for a backer. Maybe it is just a smoke screen they put out, and it is not true at all,” Mei Ziqing said.

Ning Shu frowned. A military background would be a bit difficult to handle.

Did that mean she could not move against the auction house for the time being?

Ning Shu used a fork to poke at her food, eating slowly and thinking. She would leave the auction house alone for a while. She needed enough capital before confronting them.

She could directly expel the people from the auction house, but what about the aftermath?

She already had Hong Yu coveting her ordinance imprint. She would endure for now.

“The entrance fee for the auction house in the City of Water is higher than in other cities. Other cities are only 300, but they want 500.” Ning Shu frowned. Most importantly, they were also cheating her out of tax revenue.

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