A Sand Sculpture in the Red Dust - Chapter 25

Chapter 25 – Gunfire Scare

　　He said hello politely, but he cursed “MMP” ten times in his heart.

　　Mr. Zhao grinned and asked at the right time: “Mr. Qin, what is this…”

　　”Traffic jam,” Qin Jin didn’t waste time talking to him and went straight to the point: “I just happened to hear someone talking about the relationship between me and the Li family. It’s a courtesy to return the favor, so I thought I should give some feedback.”

　　Mr. Zhao’s smile faded as he heard the incoherent talk, but he did not refute immediately. Qin Jin would not speak without a purpose, and there might be some details that he was not aware of.

　　Li Xiangfu, who was the ‘mobile phone presenter’, finally came in handy and explained in a soft voice: “When I was talking to Mr. Qin, your son was also chatting with his companions.”

　　Mr. Zhao was a smart man, and he figured out what happened immediately. With a sharp glance, he saw his son, who was timidly looking over, and couldn’t help but curse him in his heart.

　　How will a loser who doesn’t even look back before speaking ill of others manage a company in the future?

　　Taking a deep breath to swallow his anger towards his son, Mr. Zhao took the initiative to take the responsibility: “It’s my fault for not educating my son well. I will take him to apologize to both families in person later.”

　　Li Xiangfu blinked when he heard this. This was the reason why he didn’t want to do business. He had to be able to bend and stretch, and sometimes even had to please the younger generation. How depressing.

　　Rather than doing that, he would rather be a spinning top on the stage.

　　”Xiang Fu.”

　　Li Xichun’s voice suddenly came from behind. She walked over here in her high heels and complained, “I’ve been looking for you for a long time. Why are you here?”

　　Li Xichun was not familiar with Mr. Zhao, so she just nodded casually.

　　Li Xiangfu explained: “I just went to eat something.”

　　”I want to…” Li Xichun said a few words before her face turned pale: “Fuck! What the hell is this?”

　　The atmosphere, which had finally eased, fell to the lowest point because of this sentence.

　　It really couldn’t be blamed on Li Xichun for making a fuss. Li Xiangfu was originally leaning sideways, but when he heard her voice, he suddenly turned around, and Qin Jin’s face appeared on the phone screen, imprinted in the other’s eyes.

　　Mr. Zhao couldn’t help but look at Li Xichun with a higher regard. In this situation, she didn’t even have the conditioned reflex to curse her parents. It must be said that Miss Li has extremely high self-cultivation.

　　”It’s Qin Jin.” Along the way, Li Xiangfu no longer knew what embarrassment was, and he calmly poked the screen: “Qin Jin who can breathe.”

　　Alive.

　　“…”

　　It doesn’t matter whether he is alive or dead. Li Xichun just wants to remove the oxygen tube for her brother with her own hands.

　　”Take me back.” Qin Jin said lightly.

　　A horn suddenly sounded from the other side of the video, and it seemed like someone was talking to Qin Jin, and the words “road open” were faintly heard.

　　Li Xiangfu communicated face to face through the phone: “The signal is not good. If there is nothing else, I will hang up first.”

　　Qin Jin nodded slightly.

　　When Li Xiangfu’s finger touched the end key, two signs of varying degrees of clarity came out almost at the same time.

　　Mr. Zhao felt relieved, while Li Xichun opened her beautiful eyes and glared at him: “Come with me.”

　　The two went to the buffet area. There were not many people there and the guests just took their food and left.

　　Not wanting to discuss certain things at the banquet, Li Xichun cut to the chase: “Why are you involved with Qin Jin again?”

　　After returning from the field trip, she thought the two of them could finally be separated for some time.

　　Li Xiangfu remembered that Li Xichun liked to eat strawberries, so he helped her pick up a piece of strawberry-flavored cake and said as he handed it to her, “Qin Jin has been provoking me.”

　　“…”

　　Li Xiangfu continued to calmly state the facts: “Qin Jin’s attitude when talking about Qin Jiayu is also very strange, it doesn’t seem like they are brothers.”

　　”Half mother and half father.” Li Xichun gave a more specific definition.

　　”That’s also a blood relationship,” Li Xiangfu took a cocktail that customers could choose from and shook it. “Let’s not talk about their relationship as brothers. Qin Jin has been too attentive to me.”

　　Li Xichun was also confused about this, but in order to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, she was prepared to clearly warn the other party to have less contact with them.

　　Li Xiangfu said at this time: “The circle is so small, if you look up, you may not see it, but if you look down, you will see it…”

　　”You can’t see it when you look down, but you can see it spinning on TV.” The words he had prepared were blown away by the wind at that moment. A spinning top on the stage suddenly appeared in Li Xichun’s mind, and he took over the conversation unconsciously.

　　“…”

　　Li Xiangfu had a complicated expression: “Sister, you have changed.”

　　Li Xichun: “We have all changed.”

　　The person who was picking up the food at the back only heard the second half of the conversation. As he walked away, he couldn’t help but mutter to himself: “Has she become a psychopath?…”

　　For the first time, Li Xichun hated her excellent hearing. Her chest rose and fell violently several times, as if she took two deep breaths. She was sure that she would never speak like this before.

　　So when did she start speaking without thinking?

　　Thinking back carefully, Li Xichun quickly found the time point, which was when Aunt Zhang was not at home and there were only the three of them at home. After listening to Li Xiangfu playing the guqin and Li Shasha’s fake philosophy every day, she eventually became a black sheep.

　　”Maybe I came back this time because I stayed at home for too long.” Li Xichun’s mouth twitched, and he considered whether to move out again.

　　”Bang!”

　　There was a loud noise coming from the front.

　　The conversation between the two was interrupted. Li Xichun subconsciously wanted to look over there, but was pushed down by Li Xiangfu: “Get down quickly!”

　　The people around them, including the one who had called them crazy, immediately put their heads in their hands and leaned against the wall.

　　”What happened?”

　　”What’s wrong?”

　　Those who were close by looked at each other in bewilderment. After a long while, someone said, “Someone knocked something down over there.”

　　There was a Mediterranean man who was particularly timid. He came out from under the table only after he was sure there was no danger. There was still pastry stuck on his face, and he didn’t even bother to wipe it off before glaring at the culprit viciously.

　　Instantly, several eyes focused on Li Xiangfu, who calmly dusted off his body and explained, “I have encountered gunfights abroad, so it is inevitable that I am a little sensitive.”

　　The people around were stunned. They didn’t expect such a mistake to happen.

　　Li Xichun immediately grabbed his wrist tightly, his lips trembling: “What did you say?”

　　Li Xiangfu avoided looking at him and said, “There is no place that is absolutely safe.”

　　Who knows, there might be an earthquake here at the next moment.

　　The Mediterranean man wiped his face, feeling that he had heard a perfect reason, and walked over to Li Xiangfu and said, “It’s sad to say, I also had such an experience.”

　　Li Xiangfu glanced at him but did not expose him.

　　Li Xichun wanted to say something, but felt his throat was blocked. After a long while, he finally uttered a sentence: “Such a big thing, you should tell us.”

　　Li Xiangfu said “hmm” ambiguously.

　　Many people go abroad to study every year, and what happens to them can only be attributed to bad luck.

　　•|•

　　It was a blessing in disguise that it was a false alarm, at least nothing bad happened.

　　Just the word ‘gunfight’ is enough to make people shudder, so no one blamed Li Xiangfu too much for his behavior just now, and even felt that it was quite miserable.

　　However, the anger was directed at the person who made the noise. Luo An stood in the area where the gifts were stored, his body a little stiff.

　　Just as planned, he took advantage of Bian Shiqin passing by and pretended to accidentally drop something to attract the other party’s attention, but the result was completely different from what he expected.

　　The guests who had just shamefully hidden themselves away now looked at him unkindly.

　　”…” Luo An just wanted to say it was none of his business.

　　Fortunately, the goal was finally achieved. The packaging bag that fell on the ground was made of paper, and the leather bag fell directly out of it.

　　”I’m sorry,” Luo An smiled apologetically, “I accidentally dropped the gift when I was putting it down.”

　　The light shines on the natural checkered pattern, creating a shimmering luster.

　　Bian Shiqin frowned slightly: “Is that made of crocodile leather?”

　　Luo An nodded.

　　After getting the definite answer, Bian Shiqin pursed her lips and said “Oh” and said calmly: “That’s thoughtful.”

　　Anyone could see that she didn’t like the gift very much.

　　The scene became a little stiff for a moment.

　　At this time, the young man who had walked in with Luo An came over to smooth things over and said slowly: “There are very few crocodiles, and the skinning process is unbearable to watch. Miss Bian is kind-hearted, so she must feel sorry for it.”

　　Luo An became even more uneasy: “Sorry, I didn’t think so much.”

　　Bian Shiqin would never embarrass anyone in public and repeatedly said that it was his own problem.

　　Not far behind, Li Xiangfu whispered to Li Xichun: “Who is singing a duet with Luo An?”

　　”Yuan Boyuan, the Yuan family made their fortune in the real estate business.”

　　Li Xiangfu thought the name was familiar, and after recalling, he said, “I remember now. A senior who was two years older than me, because his goddess confessed to me, he picked a fight with me and even brought people to block me on the way home from school.”

　　Li Xichun was surprised to find out that there was such a connection. “A girl actually confessed to you?”

　　She was not trying to belittle anyone, but Li Xiangfu’s appearance in high school was not up to standard, and he couldn’t even compare to the average Shamate style.

　　”A school bully relied on his family background to force that girl to have an early love affair with him, and even forcefully kissed her. I saw it and gave him a good lesson.”

　　Li Xichun: “Well done.”

　　Li Xiangfu coughed and said, “Dad was called to school and said the same thing before he saw the injured.”

　　Li Xichun’s expression changed: “What did you do to him?”

　　After a moment of silence, Li Xiangfu raised his head and said with emotion: “When I lost money, I first realized that dental implants were so expensive.”

　　“…”

　　The past was long gone, and Li Xiangfu changed the subject at the right time: “Let’s go and see what Luo An is going to perform.”

　　Li Xichun remembered that he didn’t like to join in the fun in the past.

　　As if he knew what the other party was thinking, Li Xiangfu put down his glass and raised his eyebrows: “I am sure I have a big role in this play.”

　　Over there, Luo An created an opportunity for Yuan Boyuan to successfully talk to Bian Shiqin. After a few words, he suddenly asked, “Do you like Transformers?”

　　Bian Shiqin was a little embarrassed.

　　Yuan Boyuan: “I don’t know what to give as a gift, so I brought a figurine. If you don’t like it, you can auction it off.”

　　”How can that be possible?”

　　Just as Bian Shiqin opened her mouth to refuse, Yuan Boyuan shook his head and said, “Things you don’t like will just gather dust if you keep them as decorations. This is a rare figurine. You can sell it for a good price if you put it online. Then you can donate the money to a stray animal shelter. It can be considered as a birthday blessing.”

　　Bian Shiqin disagreed: “A gift is a token of your thoughts, how can I just sell it?”

　　Yuan Boyuan pushed up the frame of his glasses and acted politely: “Both parties agree, and it’s meaningful, so why not do it?”

　　They chatted with each other and the atmosphere was very good.

　　Behind him, Li Xiangfu tilted his head and said, “Sister, why is it not my turn yet?”

　　Li Xichun was speechless: “It’s just a normal pursuit, there’s nothing wrong with my brain, why do they have to involve you?”

　　As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Boyuan suddenly raised his eyes, looked over with surprise, and took the initiative to greet him: “Junior, you are here too?”

　　Li Xiangfu smiled slightly, turned his head and mouthed before leaving: “It’s my turn.”

　　“…”

　　The author has something to say:

Li Xiangfu: It’s a pity that there is no appearance fee.

　　Li Xichun: …