Chapter 241: Freedom
Translator: Lonelytree
He leveled a sharp gaze at me. It made me feel apprehensive. Was I being too bold? Did he expect me just to accept the job like that? Was I being too daring to ask for payment?
His gaze then suddenly softened again. “The payment is Mai Qi’s freedom.”
The words echoed in my ears. My brain repeated his words again and again.
Mai Qi’s freedom!
Mai Qi’s freedom!
Mai Qi’s freedom!
Who is this man?!
Then it finally dawned on me. I quickly stood up. He sat there as steady as a mountain. He raised his head and looked at me with a smile.
“So, Sky City’s Sister Xing, will you work hard to earn Mai Qi’s freedom?” His voice was very gentle.
“I will.” My voice trembled. Mai Qi’s freedom, I knew how much that would mean to Mai Qi. No, the man opposite me knew how much it would mean to Mai Qi too. Mai Qi’s freedom was not something that could be quantified in money.
“But are you serious?” I asked softly. I was afraid that if I raised my voice, he would renege on his words. He nodded.
I had a suspicion about the identity of this man, but I had to be sure, so I asked softly, “And you are…”
He smiled. His smile was generous and benevolent. “Nanxing, with your intelligence, I don’t believe that you still don’t know who I am.”
I was petrified, but my heart was beating wildly. I tried my best to suppress the pounding of my heart. Mai Qi, please give me strength!
I steadied myself and slowly sat back down. “I will take this contract. The payment is Mai Qi’s freedom for the rest of her life. There is no takeback!”
He smiled and handed the document to me. He waved his hand again. The assistant came back with the contract. I looked through it quickly, and when I saw Mai Qi’s freedom on the contract, my heart raced. As if afraid that the contract might run away, I swiftly signed my name. Then I hugged the contract to my heart. I smiled happily. “No takebacks, yea!”
His smile was gentle. “Mai Qi is lucky to have a friend like you.”
My fingers touched the surface of the contract file, and I asked. “But why?”
“Why what?” He asked.
“Why do you use this kind of method to give Mai Qi her freedom?” I asked the question in my mind.
He lowered his eyes and said, “I have never heard an objective evaluation of my daughter from unrelated personnel before.
“Is it lucky or unlucky to be my daughter? As you said, she has everything in her life, and she is fortunate because of that. But at the same time, she is unlucky too because she will never have freedom. She might never hear a word of truth in her life and stay trapped in a false world others have constructed for her.
“But every parent loves their child. But I have to do more than love her. Unfortunately, there is not much I can give her. In fact, what I can give her is more burden and shackles. Therefore, I hope that she can have freedom and live her life for herself. That is the greatest love I can offer her.
“Nanxing, Mai Qi you described is vibrant, lively, and full of character. That is how what I want my daughter to be. It’s terrific, and I hope she will continue to be like that. I want her to enjoy the range of emotions in her life. She shall taste both sorrow and joy. The highs and the lows, the injuries and the aids, I will not deprive her of them. I want her to be a real person, and for that, I need to give her freedom.. I do not want to force her to sacrifice her own happiness and life for her family, for her parents, and for other’s benefits. Can you understand that?”
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