I turned her face over to me. “I am right here.”
Mai Qi whistled and gave me a thumbs up. “You managed to get some even when you’re sick?”
I knocked lightly on her head. “What are you talking about?”
Mai Qi was shocked by my voice. “And he was not held back by that voice?!”
“Stop changing the topic! Why are you really here?” I nudged her.
Mai Qi put on a different expression and pleaded pitiably at me. “Nanxing, you are my best friend. When you are not at the dorm, I can’t stay there even a day longer. I miss you so much that I can’t even sleep!”
“Okay, you need to stop!” I rubbed down the goosebumps on my arms. I was not used to the princess acting like this.
“I am homeless now, you need to take me in!” Mai Qi’s face changed back to normal like magic.
“The dorm is getting remodeled? Lu Yan hit you? What do you mean?”
Mai Qi dropped on the couch. “My parents are coming and I don’t want to see them!” She huffed.
So that’s why…
“So, what’s your decision? Are you going to take me in or not?” The princess was back.
I leaned against the rail and looked at her with my arms crossed. “How can I not? It shall be my honor to play host to the princess.”
Mai Qi smiled and hugged me. “Nanxing, you’re my best friend and sister!”
I nudged her back with a smile. “Enough, you’re making it weird again. You can stay here all you want. I won’t charge you any rent. Go and pick a room you like. If you need anything, just talk to Sister Li. As you know, I am sick so I can’t do much for you. But once you’re settled in, you can come to help me instead.”
Back in my room, I immediately called Su Qian, to ask her what was up with Mai Qi. Su Qian told me that Mai Qi’s parents had gone to the dorm to find her many times but Mai Qi refused to see them. Many maids and servants were sent to get Mai Qi but Mai Qi refused to go. So in the end, she chose to escape to my place.
“She sure knows where to find a sanctuary. But I wonder how this will affect me. Have I invited a big trouble in?” I chuckled to myself.
Su Qian smiled. “This is just a little challenge for Sister Xing, I’m sure.” Even she teased me now. Sky City’s Sister Xing was truly unworthy of her reputation.
…
Mai Qi’s arrival made me feel like I was back in the dorm. That reminded me. I asked Mai Qi. “How is Lu Yan?”
Mai Qi shook her head and sighed. “I was shocked when I did some digging! Did you know how she and Ye Qian meet?”
I waited for her to continue.
“It turns out that they grew up in an orphanage together. Ye Qian was the oldest. Ye Qian was adopted and left. I have no idea why but even now Lu Yan is still staying at the orphanage. She is not adopted. There are other four guys whom they’re close to. Two of them are disabled and can’t take care of themselves. Normally the two other boys took care of them. Lu Yan is the one helping them earn the money. She is the most educated and bring the guys a lot of money.”
“Where did she get all those money?” I was surprised.
Mai Qi nodded. “She works three jobs while attending school. Basically she spends her life at work. It’s why we never see her back at the dorm. She uses the bare minimum on herself and then gives the rest of her money to her friends at the orphanage.”
“What about Ye Qian?” I asked.
Mai Qi shrugged, “Of course, she wouldn’t be associated with these people. However, she won’t cut them off either, because that is not her style.”
I had a bad feeling about this.
Ye Qian wouldn’t keep people around unless she had use for them.
I called Su Qian over and asked her to arrange Brother Hu’s group to watch over the people at the orphanage.
Mai Qi was shocked. “Is it really necessary to go that far? Nanxing, you’re being overly worried.”
I said, “Let’s hope you’re right. But in this case, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”