Chen Baiqing sat on a stone chair, her gaze sweeping over the design drawings before her.
After a moment of careful study, she finally dared to confirm what she was seeing. Was this a design for a roof that could retract into a minimalist, open-air structure, powered by spiritual energy?
What was the point of designing something like this?!
Couldn't you just walk outside if you didn't want a roof?
Chen Baiqing's gaze shifted to San Dong, who sat opposite her in a chair, happily munching on preserved fruits, and to her Fifth Junior Brother, seated nearby, looking as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
The last time they had built their sect in Yuzhou City, Chen Baiqing had mostly been an observer, watching her First Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother handle the work.
This time, she could finally help. Chen Baiqing, of course, was putting her best foot forward, wanting to build this branch of the sect well and give her Master some peace of mind.
This design was undoubtedly the work of the Fifth Junior Brother. With San Dong's way of thinking, it would be a miracle if he could even draw a proper roof, let alone design something so complex.
The design was ingenious, but the materials were rather extravagant. After all, they needed to be able to channel spiritual energy and move around.
If this were Yuzhou City, they naturally wouldn't have been able to build it back when their Master was at his poorest.
But this time, their Master had been incredibly generous, providing a budget far exceeding what was needed.
However, Chen Baiqing wasn't keen on spending it all. She was very meticulous with every coin, knowing how hard her Master had worked to save up these spirit stones and money.
Before her Master started selling elixirs, he would often take her out for a stroll, or just chat with her, asking what Chen Baiqing would like to do.
Later, after her Master started selling elixirs, he often buried himself in the alchemy room.
Chen Baiqing had hinted once that he didn't have to work so hard.
But her Master had said that he was saving spirit stones, so that when Chen Baiqing wanted something expensive, she would dare to ask him.
At that moment, looking at her Master's gentle smile, Chen Baiqing had only thought that he was the best.
So now, Chen Baiqing wanted to reject this useless thing and, while she was at it, give the spendthrift designer, Cui Hao, a piece of her mind.
But in the end, Chen Baiqing let out a soft sigh.
To blame the Fifth Junior Brother for being a spendthrift wasn't really fair.
Cui Hao had arrived not long before her Master started selling elixirs, so he didn't have a very concrete sense of how poor the sect was.
Although the sect didn't have a monthly allowance, if you wanted something, you could just ask their Master. As long as the purpose was legitimate, or even slightly illegitimate, he would approve it and even give extra spirit stones.
If he wasn't available, you could ask the First Senior Sister.
But everyone preferred to ask their Master because he was always so easygoing.
Besides, the spirit stones needed for this sect construction had actually been earned mostly by Cui Hao himself through his own efforts.
Cui Hao was incredibly shrewd when it came to business.
If you really thought about it, the spirit stones he had earned would be more than enough to change all the roofs in the sect to this kind and still have plenty left over.
Chen Baiqing asked in a low voice, "You really want this roof?"
San Dong's eyes lit up with delight as he looked over. "Mhm, but if it's too much trouble, it's fine. A courtyard would also work."
Upon hearing this, Chen Baiqing gave a slight nod. "It's not too much trouble. If you want it, we can do it. After all, the Junior Brother isn't wrong. A house should be a place you want to live in."
Hearing this, San Dong's face broke into a delighted smile as he thanked her, "Thank you, Baiqing. This is such a bother. If there's anything San Dong can help with, you must remember to ask."
Chen Baiqing smiled and nodded, but then she sent a silent message to San Dong, "I have something here that requires the First Senior Sister's help. Can you ask her to come over? This matter is important and needs to be kept secret. Don't let anyone notice."
San Dong was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then his expression grew serious as he nodded. He stood up directly and left without even greeting Cui Hao.
Seeing this, Cui Hao was taken aback, then he realized what was happening. He was about to speak to stop San Dong, but it was too late. His Third Senior Sister's small hand had already arrived. The force was light, but the pressure was immense.
He glanced over to see his Third Senior Sister suddenly revealing the gentle smile she usually only showed their Master, her tone much softer.
"Sit down. Weren't you wanting some tea? Your Third Senior Sister will brew it for you."
Cui Hao's eyes widened. His plan hadn't even been pitched before he was being dealt with on the spot. What was this, a trial without a verdict?!
He blurted out, "Wait! Senior Sister, I haven't done anything yet, right? Drawing a design isn't a capital offense, is it…"
Chen Baiqing said nothing as she withdrew her hand. From her spatial ring, she took out a complete tea set, summoned some water with a wave of her hand, and began to brew the tea.
"Why are you so nervous? I haven't said a thing. Could it be you have something to hide that you haven't told me?"
Cui Hao looked at Chen Baiqing. She was using a spell to control the fire, her movements skillful as she brewed the tea. He forced a smile and said, "Of course not… Everyone knows you're the kindest of the Senior Sisters. I'm not nervous."
Though he said so, looking at the gentle smile on Chen Baiqing's face, his fingers had already curled into his sleeve.
The smiling Third Senior Sister was a different person depending on the situation.
Smiling in front of their Master and the First Senior Sister was the cute version of her, completely harmless.
Smiling in front of everyone else…
Chen Baiqing didn't speak for a moment. Only after she had carefully brewed the tea and handed a cup to Cui Hao did she slowly say, "Although you like to cause strange trouble, I don't dislike you. Perhaps it's because you're my Junior Brother, but more than that, it's because you're willing to admit your mistakes and don't argue back. No one is perfect; we must all be tolerant of each other."
"San Dong is simple by nature. I know you like to tease him because you like him, and joking with him is no great harm, so I've never said anything about it."
"But you had a purpose in asking San Dong to come here first, and I don't like that at all."
"Our Master taught me that if the hearts of the sect's members become scattered, they can never be brought back together."
"We trust each other in the sect because we all believe that no one within will deceive us. Just as I trust that our Master won't deceive me, the First Senior Sister won't deceive me, and the Second Senior Brother won't deceive me."
"Even if you, Fifth Junior Brother, were to tell me that someone has wronged you, I would believe you."
"But once someone sets a bad precedent and no one trusts anyone else, will this sect still be the one you love?"
"San Dong was accepted by our Master; he is a member of our sect. Even if he's just a mascot, you shouldn't do this. What couldn't you have discussed with me? Or with the First Senior Sister?"
"I have made mistakes too, but our Master corrected me. You are older than me and know more, but I am the Third Senior Sister, and you are the Fifth Junior Brother. I think what I'm saying isn't overstepping my bounds."
Hearing this, Cui Hao silently lowered his head.
Chen Baiqing said seriously, "So, what did you originally want me to do?"
Cui Hao took a drawing from his spatial ring and said in a low voice, "I was planning to renovate my house… but the design is a bit… extravagant."
Suddenly, a slender hand reached from behind Cui Hao and snatched the design drawing from his grasp.
Cui Hao quickly turned to see Li Yingling's calm face as she opened the design drawing.
He hastily said, "First Senior Sister… this house… forget it, it's fine. Just pretend I never came…"
Li Yingling glanced at the exquisitely designed yet overly grand house in the drawing—even their Master's house wasn't this magnificent.
She then looked at Cui Hao, tossed the drawing to Chen Baiqing, and turned to leave, dropping a single sentence behind her:
"If you like it, then build it."
Chen Baiqing gave a slight nod to show she understood, then looked at Cui Hao and said, "Do you understand now?"
Cui Hao's expression was hard to read, but he nodded very sincerely.
Chen Baiqing showed a relieved smile, then her gaze drifted to the distance, where the First Senior Sister had turned and was now raising her eyebrow at her in a questioning gesture.
Just one house. If you like it, build it.
But it would be even better if she could also manage this troublesome Fifth Junior Brother.
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