"Young lady, what's your name?"
After being lectured by the old woman, Du Bin finally had time to turn his head and look at the young lady who had saved his life.
"Grandpa Du, my name is Qiu Xi, you can just call me Xiao Xi."
"This is my dad, Qiu Jun, and my brother, Qiu Ge."
After patiently listening, Du Bin smiled and mentioned his intention to visit them another day.
"Alright, thank you so much for today. Leave me your address, and this old man will pay you a special visit some other time."
"Grandpa Du, that's not necessary."
She hadn't even become his disciple yet, and now she was inviting her potential master to her home. Wasn't that inappropriate?
However, the old man was very insistent on going.
"Yes, yes, how can I not?"
"This old man's life is worth something."
"..."
"Dad..."
As a junior, Qiu Xi had tried to persuade him for a long time without success. Finally, she had to look to her father for help.
"Sir, my daughter is right. You're not fully recovered yet. Perhaps you should rest at home?"
Dad Qiu had watched the entire event. To be honest, this was the first time in his forty-odd years that something like this had happened. The anxiety that had been hanging over him for half the day finally subsided.
Although he deeply respected the two elderly people before him, he was now listening to his daughter. So, he joined in the persuasion.
"How can that be? You saved Old Du's life!"
As Dad Qiu chimed in, Li Minglan, sitting beside them, stopped him.
"But this..."
"Enough with the dithering."
"If you really can't make it, then please accept our gratitude. I won't insist on a visit."
Du Bin signaled to his wife with his eyes as he spoke.
After all, she was his companion for more than half of his life. Li Minglan immediately understood and promptly opened her purse.
Seeing this, even someone as clueless as Qiu Xi could understand what the two elders meant.
However, she absolutely could not accept money. So, for the sake of her plan to become a disciple, she had to resort to this stratagem.
"Grandpa Du, how about this?"
"You give me your address, and I'll visit you when you've recovered. I'll personally escort you to your home, is that alright?"
"That's more like it!"
"It just sounds a bit redundant."
Upon hearing that the young lady had changed her mind, Du Bin's stern expression softened.
However, he couldn't quite figure out the young lady's intentions.
A home visit was out, money was refused, yet she insisted on going to his house in such a roundabout way.
"Alright, then it's settled. This matter is concluded."
"Fine!"
"But you can't forget!"
"Don't worry, I won't forget."
I haven't even managed to become your disciple yet.
However, to ensure she would visit, the old man later added Qiu Xi's contact information.
Finally, after learning from the two elders that someone would take care of him and that he would be discharged from the hospital, Dad Qiu took his son and daughter home.
...
Qiu Residence -
"Why did the three of you take so long to come back?"
She had been waiting at home for a long time and now finally saw them returning, which was very unusual.
"Little Ge, you tell Mom."
She had already spoken enough at the hospital and was now hoarse and didn't want to talk.
"Mom, let me tell you..."
Qiu Ge went up and, in a few words, explained the situation to his mother.
"You girl, your courage is growing bolder and bolder. You dare to get involved in anything."
After hearing his son's account, Mom Qiu's reaction was the same as Dad Qiu's earlier.
Qiu Xi listened and then tugged on Mom Qiu's arm to explain, "Mom, I'm fine, aren't I? Besides, if I had stood by and done nothing in that situation, wouldn't your daughter live unhappily for the rest of her life?"
"Don't you think so?"
"You always have a reason for everything, I can't argue with you!"
While her reasoning was sound, parents would inevitably worry about their children.
"Hehehe~"
"Mom, I knew you'd understand me."
Hearing this, Qiu Xi knew her mother wasn't going to pursue it further, so she leaned against Mom Qiu and started acting cute.
"Does that mean Dad doesn't understand?"
"That's impossible, Dad is so understanding~"
"Pfft~"
As soon as Qiu Xi finished speaking, she heard two laughter.
One came from Mom Qiu beside her, and the other was from Qiu Ge, who had been sitting nearby watching the fun.
"Sis, you're really good at this!"
As Qiu Xi looked at him, Qiu Ge didn't notice and even made a gesture.
"Hehe~ Little Ge!"
"I think you haven't seen me for half a year and have forgotten your place."
"Not at all!"
"I have things to pack today. I'm in my third year of high school and have a lot of homework, so I'll be going now!"
As he said this, he was already walking towards the stairs.
"Serves you right for running away so quickly."
"Alright, you haven't eaten yet, have you? There's still some food in the kitchen, you'll have to make do."
Since it was settled, she would now busy herself with her little flowers and plants.
"Okay~"
...
In the following days, besides nurturing her relationship with the two elders, Qiu Xi spent all her time researching how to become a disciple.
After much thought, she chose what she considered the most unconventional, but also the most viable method for her at the moment: accepting favors makes one feel indebted, and eating others' food softens one's heart.
Thus, using her culinary skills, Qiu Xi learned some medicinal cuisine from Xiao Hua. She wasn't an expert, but she had made some progress.
Then, on this day, after chatting with the two elders and confirming they had returned home, Qiu Xi decided to visit them.
When she was preparing the dish, she originally wanted to put in some effort to make something excellent. However, not having any experience with Grandpa Du's condition, she didn't dare to add anything casually.
So, in the end, she made a soup, but she added some pills obtained from the system to help strengthen her body.
"Dad, Mom, I'm leaving now."
"Remember to finish the rest of the soup in the pot."
"Alright, drive carefully on your way!"
"Mm."
As it happened, the two families weren't far from each other; it only took about ten minutes to drive there.
"Grandpa Du, Grandma Li, I'm here."
She sent a message before getting out of the car. When Qiu Xi parked and walked over, she saw Grandma Li standing at the entrance looking for her.
"Grandma Li, why are you standing here? Come inside quickly."
It must be unpleasant to stand at the courtyard entrance in this cold weather.
"It's nothing, I was afraid you wouldn't find your way."
"Alright, let's go inside quickly then."
"Okay."
"Grandpa Du, I've come to see you."
Thanks to their frequent chats and video calls these past few days, Qiu Xi felt no awkwardness upon arriving.
Glancing at the items the young girl was carrying, Du Bin habitually began to speak, "You've come, and you've brought gifts."
"Oh! Grandpa Du, this is just some soup I made myself to help you recover. Nothing else."
From her understanding these past few days, Qiu Xi had a slight grasp of her benefactor's temper.
"Alright, you old man, why the long face? I bet you're secretly very happy."
"Hmph!"
Watching the two of them bicker, Qiu Xi wanted to laugh but dared not. Especially when she saw the old man's stern face suddenly fall.
"Grandma Li, where are the bowls? I'll serve them for you. You and Grandpa Du should drink them while they're hot."
"Come, Xiao Xi, I'll get them for you."
...
"Mmm~ Xiao Xi, your cooking is excellent!"
Li Minglan, after tasting the soup, couldn't help but take another two sips.
She had lived for most of her life, and it was rare to encounter soup of such quality.
Hearing this, Qiu Xi smiled even more happily, "Drink more if you like it, Grandma."
"I like it, I like it..."
"Cough cough!"
Hearing the sound, Qiu Xi suppressed her smile and served another bowl, "Grandpa Du, here, this is for you."
"Still putting on airs!"
Although Qiu Xi was holding back, Li Minglan directly glared at him.
"I... I was..."
"You can't find words, can you? Just eat quickly."
This time, Qiu Xi couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
"Pfft~"
She didn't expect Grandpa Du to be so easily defeated by Grandma Li.
"Hmph~ What are you laughing at! Eat quickly!"
Doesn't this old man have any pride!
"Okay~"
She had to give her cheap master some face, otherwise, he might make things difficult for her in the future.