Mu Anxiao didn't think Feng Qishi was lying to her, so she simply nodded and agreed.
Seeing Mu Anxiao agree, Feng Qishi suddenly became serious. "Apologize."
"I..." Mu Anxiao was startled by Feng Qishi's sudden exclamation, then turned to look at Xiao Zeng, who was staring at her, and said, "Sorry."
"You should say 'I'm sorry'," Xiao Zeng corrected.
Mu Anxiao suppressed her irritation. "I'm sorry."
Feng Qishi patted Mu Anxiao's shoulder and looked at Xiao Zeng. "What do you want to eat? We'll buy it for you."
"Didn't you say you would find something different for me to do?" Xiao Zeng said, a hint of expectation in his expression. "Is that family rich or not?"
"From now on, she'll take you," Feng Qishi said, pointing at Mu Anxiao.
However, Xiao Zeng was not satisfied with Feng Qishi's answer. Especially when he recalled being caught by Mu Anxiao in the past, he felt a chill at the thought of the future.
"I don't want to," Xiao Zeng flatly refused.
"Why?" Feng Qishi asked.
Xiao Zeng couldn't answer that question immediately. But seeing the close, brotherly relationship between Feng Qishi and Mu Anxiao, he felt it would be improper not to say something.
"Because... I don't like her."
Mu Anxiao hadn't felt anything at first, but upon hearing Xiao Zeng's words, she became provoked. "Who likes you?"
"Calm down," Feng Qishi glanced at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao frowned and lowered her head.
Xiao Zeng cautiously glanced at Mu Anxiao and said, "I don't want to follow her."
"Then follow me," Feng Qishi said.
Xiao Zeng was a smart child. After these three days, Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi had been inseparable. Now that Feng Qishi wanted him to follow him, what was the difference between that and following Mu Anxiao?
So, for the sake of freedom, he refused again. "I don't."
"Then what do you want?"
"I want to work, I don't want to follow you guys."
"You're still young, you'll definitely be bullied if you go there."
"I've been working on my own for the past year, and many bosses really like me. They've all asked me to work for them, but," Xiao Zeng glanced at Mu Anxiao again and said in a low voice, "I don't want to go."
Throughout the year, although Mu Anxiao hadn't spoken to Xiao Zeng, she had seen what happened to him.
If she remembered correctly, on one occasion, for some reason, he had been targeted by several bosses. It was only because other beggars had come to his aid that those bosses, disgusted by the beggars, had let him go.
Thinking about that incident and now hearing Xiao Zeng's words, Mu Anxiao was sure the child was lying again.
However, just as Mu Anxiao began to doubt Xiao Zeng, Feng Qishi said, "Then you are truly outstanding. In that case, I won't bother with you anymore."
Xiao Zeng: "..."
"What's wrong?" Feng Qishi asked when Xiao Zeng remained silent.
Xiao Zeng licked his lips and said, "I'll follow you then."
"Didn't you say many bosses like you?" Feng Qishi asked deliberately.
Xiao Zeng gave a simple laugh. "I'll go buy you... steamed buns."
"Buy two for her too," Feng Qishi pointed at Mu Anxiao, then glanced at her feet in shoes and said, "And from now on, don't sit here with your shoes on. This quilt was brought back by her."
"Oh," Xiao Zeng obediently agreed, then spread his hands. "I don't have any money."
"What's this?" Feng Qishi pointed at the piece of silver by Xiao Zeng's pillow.
Hearing this, Xiao Zeng slowly looked down, quickly picked up the silver, and pouted. "This is what my mother left me."
"I don't have money," Feng Qishi said.
Xiao Zeng thought Feng Qishi would pity him for this, but Feng Qishi wasn't as easily fooled as he expected.
Helpless, he dared not say anything more, jumped off the bed, and left.
Mu Anxiao's lips curved. "Follow?"
"Can you turn invisible?" Feng Qishi asked.
"Of course."
"Then I won't help you," Feng Qishi said, flicking his arm and becoming invisible.
Mu Anxiao asked, "You hid the portrait properly, right?"
"It's hidden."
"Remember to return it to me."
When Feng Qishi returned yesterday, he had taken his portrait away. There was only one reason: he was afraid Mu Anxiao would get it dirty.
Mu Anxiao agreed as she found it inconvenient to carry it herself, but on the condition that Feng Qishi would return the painting to her in the future.
Not understanding Mu Anxiao's intentions, Feng Qishi readily agreed.
"I know."
"Good that you know," Mu Anxiao nodded.
In the blink of an eye, Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi, both invisible, followed Xiao Zeng.
The market today seemed exceptionally lively. At this time of day, there were usually few people on the street, but now there were surprisingly many. Feng Qishi found this perplexing.
"What's going on?"
"Every month, on this date, there's a morning market, and there are many more stalls. Naturally, there are more people," Mu Anxiao said, as a woman walked directly through her.
Feng Qishi turned to look at the woman and said, "Can you dodge? Doesn't it bother you to have people passing through you like that?"
"What's there to it? They don't touch me."
"That's not acceptable," Feng Qishi said, suddenly grabbing Mu Anxiao's arm. Just before a burly man was about to pass through her, he pulled her away.
Mu Anxiao then bumped into Feng Qishi and asked, "Why did you pull me?" She took two steps back and glanced at the burly man's retreating back.
"If you don't dodge, I'll continue doing this," Feng Qishi said.
"Boring," Mu Anxiao rolled her eyes at Feng Qishi.
"..." Feng Qishi gave a fake smile and turned to look at Xiao Zeng, who was standing by a pancake stall, looking suspicious. "Look."
"Look at what?" Mu Anxiao asked. Following Feng Qishi's gaze towards Xiao Zeng, her eyes widened. "He's going to steal something."
"I can see that," Feng Qishi said, glancing at Xiao Zeng's hand slowly approaching the old woman's money pouch. "This child needs to be taught a lesson."
"What do you plan to do?" Mu Anxiao asked.
"..." Feng Qishi didn't answer. He stepped forward, went behind Xiao Zeng, and then reached out to grab Xiao Zeng's sleeve.
At the same time, Xiao Zeng suddenly felt something was wrong. He cautiously looked to both sides and reached out to touch the old woman's money pouch.
Mu Anxiao frowned, ran forward, and looked down at Feng Qishi's hand gripping Xiao Zeng's sleeve. "Can you affect him?"
"I can affect him if I want to."
"Teach me," Mu Anxiao said excitedly.
"Depends on my mood," Feng Qishi said, grabbing Xiao Zeng's wrist.
Xiao Zeng felt the warmth at his wrist very strongly and his eyes widened. He began to panic.
Feng Qishi calmly watched Xiao Zeng struggle but be unable to break free, a smile playing on his lips.
"What are you going to do?" Mu Anxiao asked, staring at Xiao Zeng's hand, which dared not move much.
"If we can't manage him, let the authorities handle it."