Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 77

 

| PN | On the Agenda | 77

The process of channeling spiritual power is very lengthy.

Qi Chao closed his eyes and guided the green light sphere into the fish tank. After the initial movement, the red crystals remained silent, as if the earlier scene had been an illusion.

However, if there were puppets present, they would have seen that the two red crystals, though outwardly calm, were cautiously absorbing the green light sphere.

They were like timid children who had endured countless torments and were afraid of being rejected if they consumed too much.

In contrast, the grayish dog shaped mother stone nearby appeared quite tranquil, as silent as the serene night sky, without a sound.

Time passed slowly. Qi Chao stopped channeling his spiritual power, estimated the time, and opened his eyes. When his gaze fell on the crystals, the previously dim crystals suddenly pulsed with red light, as if they were nervous.

Qi Chao paused, walked to the fish tank, took out the crystals, and the cold soothing liquid dampened his hands. He didn’t mind and looked down at the two crystals.

Was this real?

Qi Chao clenched the stone slightly and felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

He knew that the red light he had just seen couldn’t be an illusion, so the heart of the Double Mirrors was indeed responding.

Qi Chao’s fingers trembled, and his smile widened significantly.

Initially, he hadn’t held much hope for awakening these two crystals, but now it seemed possible that the Double Mirrors might truly come back to life.

Noticing the man’s affection and anticipation for them, the flowing light on the two red crystals appeared even more pure.

As Qi Chao observed the intense red color on the crystals, which seemed almost ready to overflow, he remembered something and his smile faded somewhat.

The Double Mirrors had endured intense pain from the day they were born due to their bodies being connected, and their lifespan was less than a year from birth to death.

If they really could be revived, Qi Chao could not ignore it and abandon the possibility of their rebirth.

He pondered for a moment, then reached up to scratch his hair, placed the crystals back, and returned to his desk to draw a sketch of the Double Mirrors.

It had been half a year since he last saw the Double Mirrors at the auction, and Qi Chao could no longer clearly remember the appearance of them, only a few scattered impressions.

He did not want to create deformed versions of the Double Mirrors, he began drawing according to his own ideas.

Black hair and black eyes, white hair and white eyes—if the two boys were to change their clothes, they would resemble the Black and White Impermanence when standing together.

Qi Chao was amused by his own thoughts. After finishing the sketch, he put down his pen. The design for the Double Mirrors would take a long time to perfect, so there was no need to rush.

Perhaps because the Double Mirrors, whom he had always felt sorry for, now had a chance of revival, Qi Chao’s mood had lightened considerably.

In Qi Chao’s plan, the next puppet to be made was the celestial dog. He turned to glance at the grayish little dog stone in the fish tank, and his dark brown eyes curved slightly.

For Qi Chao, the joy of being a puppet master was seeing the children he crafted come to life.

He paused slightly while gripping the pen, thinking of Li Bai and Lan Luo. Qi Chao decided against starting on the celestial dog's shell and got up to leave the basement.

In the living room, Li Bai and Lan Luo were still sitting on the sofa, lost in thought due to recent events. 

Qi Chao smiled, rubbed their heads one by one, and said, “Alright, stop daydreaming. It’s time to study.”

Even though they had just returned home, they couldn’t skip learning.

Qi Chao thought that they should at least work hard for a month before discussing weekends with the kids.

Li Bai and Lan Luo seemed noticeably more relaxed and their reactions slower after coming home. 

After having their heads rubbed, the puppets looked at Qi Chao in confusion. Once they understood his words, they nodded heavily and ran into their room.

To anyone watching, they would appear very obedient. Qi Chao knew that the recent events had a significant impact on the two children, and this impact wasn’t necessarily negative. 

In his view, the children were gradually maturing.

He chuckled softly, followed the children upstairs, and, upon opening his book, decided to make a video call to Brother Shen.

This was something he and Brother Shen had agreed upon.

Whenever teaching the children, they would have a video call to study together.

The room quickly projected the scene from the other side. Qi Chao glanced at Li Bai and Lan Luo, who were sitting quietly reading, then smiled at Shen Yuxi. “Brother Shen, are you giving a lecture to the children over there?”

“Mm, just started.”

Shen Yuxi nodded, his lips slightly curved, and his peach blossom eyes radiating a gentle expression. He moved the camera to the side to let Qi Chao see the situation in the room.

In the room, Agu and Chi Yao were sitting and reciting from their books. 

Chi Yao, despite her impatient nature, was focused and serious about her reading. 

On the other hand, Agu seemed to want to bang his head on the table, clearly disliking reading.

Moss, holding a plush doll, stood in front of the two puppets with his dark eyes fixed on them.

Qi Chao observed Shen Yuxi’s warm expression and then looked at Agu and Chi Yao. He guessed that the previously strained relationship between Brother Shen and the puppets had likely improved a lot, which made him feel relieved.

Qi Chao respected Shen Yuxi’s feelings and didn’t intercede on behalf of the children, but seeing that Brother Shen had not spoken to Chi Yao and Agu for nearly a week had made him a bit worried. 

It now seemed that their reconciliation was progressing faster than he had anticipated.

“Mm.” Qi Chao paused, then said, “Let’s give the kids a test this week. We’ve covered so much material and they’ve memorized so many books; it’s time to test their knowledge.”

Shen Yuxi had no objections.

He glanced slightly backward, then nodded gently, his blue eyes curving slightly. “Alright, a test would be good.”

Unlike the serious Chi Yao, Lan Luo, and Li Bai, Agu appeared to be studying on the surface, but he was actually paying full attention to Shen Yuxi and Qi Chao’s conversation.

Agu knew that his father would definitely put on a show of improving relations in front of Qi Chao for the sake of his image.

Little did he know, after Qi Chao left, his father not only continued the cold treatment but also increased the amount of reading far beyond what was required while Qi Chao was not present.

Agu looked at the bamboo stick in Shen Yuxi’s hand with a headache, his green eyes narrowing.

If it were before, Agu would have been more than willing to undermine Shen Yuxi’s pretense. 

But thinking about the recent news of Shen Yuxi’s illness, he lowered his eyelashes. It didn’t matter how his father was managing his relationships anymore.

He never wanted to read again in his life.

Agu felt like he was being ruined.

Qi Chao, unaware of Agu’s struggles, continued to talk to Shen Yuxi about the Double Mirrors.

When Shen Yuxi heard Qi Chao mention the Double Mirrors' two hearts, there was no surprise in his eyes. 

Upon learning that Qi Chao could treat other puppets, Shen Yuxi had already guessed that he would be able to treat the Double Mirrors.

Thinking about Qi Chao’s abilities, Shen Yuxi’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. He hesitated for a moment before speaking softly to him, “Qi Chao, your spiritual power is quite unique. I understand you can’t ignore injured puppets, but to avoid trouble, it’s best not to reveal the specifics of your unusual spiritual power.”

Shen Yuxi knew that if the association found out about Qi Chao, they would definitely take him away, no matter if he was the child of a wealthy family or not.

He was someone Shen Yuxi had personally selected.

The emotions in Shen Yuxi’s eyes were hard to discern. If it weren’t for the need to have Qi Chao willingly come to his side, he might have already kept him close by force.

The thought that Qi Chao might be targeted by pests in places he couldn’t see made Shen Yuxi feel somewhat irritated.

“Of course,” Qi Chao said with a slight smile. He was well aware that sometimes being unique wasn’t always a good thing. “Only you know.”

He paused, his smile growing a bit warmer. “I won’t reveal this to outsiders.”

Outsiders?

Shen Yuxi paused, the intense emotions in his heart calming somewhat. His peach blossom eyes curved in a gentle manner. 

Although he didn’t care about others’ opinions, the feeling of being trusted was novel to him, and for now, he didn’t dislike it.

The two continued chatting for about ten minutes. Perhaps due to Qi Chao’s earlier comment, Shen Yuxi remained in good spirits. 

However, as they finished discussing the day’s assignments and were about to end the video call, Shen Yuxi heard Qi Chao’s deep, magnetic voice: “Brother Shen, let’s move tomorrow afternoon’s video to the evening. I have an appointment with Tu Zhuang; I want to check on San Yue.”

Tu Zhuang?

Shen Yuxi’s previously good mood subtly soured, and his smile dimmed slightly.

He had forgotten that, compared to the association, a delicate and pitiful young man was a greater threat.

“What are you planning to do with him?” Shen Yuxi tilted his head, fully aware that Qi Chao wouldn’t ignore a minor and vulnerable minor at that.

Upon hearing this, Qi Chao ran a hand through his hair, seeming somewhat conflicted.

After a moment, he said, “I plan to support him to go to school. In a place like Blue Star, without sufficient education, the only way to make money is through labor that’s even cheaper than that done by robots.”

When Qi Chao was sixteen or seventeen and dropped out of school to work, a kind-hearted chef taught him how to do food carving. 

Later, Qi Chao changed careers, but without that kind person, he wouldn’t have been able to support his brother’s education.

Because someone held an umbrella for him when it was raining, he wanted to hold an umbrella for others when he saw them in the rain.

However, this was just Qi Chao’s intention, and it didn’t necessarily mean the other person would accept it.

So, will they need to stay together often?

Shen Yuxi’s mood darkened as he thought about this. His smile remained gentle. “You make a good point. If there are any issues, please be sure to let me know. I’ll work with you to find a solution.”

“Okay.” Qi Chao understood Shen Yuxi’s kindness and had no doubt about his words. He nodded and smiled. “Don’t worry. Let’s leave it at that for now and discuss it tomorrow evening.”

Shen Yuxi smiled as he ended the video call. His expression immediately darkened as he turned to hand the bamboo stick to Moss and said softly, “Moss, you supervise them.”

With that, he left the room.

Chi Yao looked up, confused. She pursed her lips, wondering why her father was angry again.

Moss also looked puzzled.

He had listened to the entire conversation, but even so, he didn’t understand why his father had lost his composure.

Agu, who knew everything, leaned back in his chair, his mind full of legal doctrines. He dizzily stared at the ceiling, he understood that his father was essentially a dark and possessive recluse. 

It was already quite calm of him to get angry only after finishing the conversation with Qi Chao.

Perhaps his father was now in the basement, sulking with his pile of gold and jewels, Agu thought. 

How nice, unlike him, who could only hold his head in frustration with these piles of books.

On the other side, after ending the video call, Qi Chao thought for a moment, sent a message to Qi Feng and Qi Ye, and then continued teaching Lan Luo and Li Bai to read.

The next afternoon, Qi Chao rewarded the two kids with animated movies while he himself flew to the abandoned warehouse rented by Tu Zhuang.

In the warehouse, San Yue had been in a dazed state ever since having that dream. He felt something was off, yet he could clearly sense that his body was much improved.

It was as if he was no longer an ordinary A-level puppet.

San Yue recalled the man named Qi Chao. Every time he thought of him, San Yue felt an inexplicable sense of closeness. He lowered his lashes and didn’t dwell on it further.

Since Qi Chao said it was “father” who repaired him, it must be true.

Since San Yue woke up, Tu Zhuang had been staying close to the warehouse, afraid that San Yue might faint again without his knowledge.

His bleeding nails had healed over the past few days. Thinking about today’s recheck, Tu Zhuang tightly gripped the necklace around his neck.

This was his token of gratitude for Qi Chao and the puppet master who had helped with San Yue. The necklace was the only heirloom from his parents and was quite valuable. Even in his most difficult times, Tu Zhuang had never sold it.

If selling this necklace could save San Yue, who was his only companion, Tu Zhuang would have no regrets.

When Qi Chao arrived at the warehouse, he began a brief recheck. Because the primary puppet master was "Shao Qi," in Tu Zhuang's eyes, Qi Chao had always been the assistant.

"The recheck doesn’t require Mr. Shao Qi to be present," Qi Chao said with a smile to the anxious Tu Zhuang. "A simple follow-up will be enough."

"Okay."

Tu Zhuang's anxiety eased significantly. He sat next to San Yue, gripping his hand as if drawing strength from it.

San Yue glanced at Tu Zhuang and similarly gripped his hand tightly. To San Yue, humans were fragile and needed protection.

Seeing this, Qi Chao’s lips curled slightly, but he didn’t say anything. After confirming that San Yue’s health was fine, he informed Tu Zhuang: “From now on, make sure to provide him with energy stones on schedule. There’s nothing else that’s wrong.”

Tu Zhuang’s face brightened as if he had received some monumental news. He took the necklace from around his neck and handed it to Qi Chao, speaking excitedly and incoherently: “Thank you so much. This necklace is my token of gratitude. If it’s not enough, I’ll earn more and pay it back as soon as possible.”

Perhaps due to San Yue's company, Tu Zhuang's face had become a bit rounder over the past few days. Though still thin and emaciated, he appeared much healthier.

Qi Chao rarely bought luxury items, but his discerning eye recognized the necklace's considerable value. 

Given that Tu Zhuang had never sold it even in extreme poverty, it was clear how important this necklace was to him. Especially seeing San Yue's anxious expression, Qi Chao's assumption was further confirmed.

He considered for a moment, then accepted the necklace and said, “The necklace is enough.”

Tu Zhuang’s expression relaxed, but he soon heard, “Do you want to go to school?”

Tu Zhuang looked at Qi Chao. Although Qi Chao hadn’t said much, Tu Zhuang vaguely guessed the intention behind the question.

“You’re still young and need to go to school. If you’re willing, I can sponsor your education. Of course, after you graduate, you would need to work for me for a few years.” Qi Chao paused, as if jokingly, and added, “If you perform well, I might even consider the necklace as a year-end bonus.”

Qi Chao said this considering the pride of the young man. He didn’t realize that for a rich kid who had lived in the slums of Ganfen District, the sense of pride had already diminished significantly. 

However, this didn’t mean Tu Zhuang didn’t understand Qi Chao’s intentions. His eyes reddened slightly, and he almost started biting his nails again to relieve his nervousness.

San Yue, appearing as an adult man with a calm demeanor, seemed more mature than Tu Zhuang, but he was visibly excited, staring intently at Qi Chao.

“If you agree, I’ll draft a contract,” Qi Chao added. “Make sure to review it carefully. If you do agree, you’ll need to work for me for at least three years.”

The chance to work for only three years in exchange for an opportunity to study was a deal that could probably cause a scramble in the slums of Ganfen District. Many people, due to insufficient education, end up stuck in the lower tiers of society for their entire lives.

Tu Zhuang had been to school before, so he knew how rare and lucky this opportunity was. He looked at Qi Chao’s face, his lips trembling as if he were walking on clouds, feeling that it was all unreal. 

After a few seconds, he nodded, “If there’s a real chance to go to school, even if I have to work for you for a lifetime, I would be willing.”

His voice trembled a bit, and although Qi Chao thought it was somewhat exaggerated, he didn’t comment on it.

He smiled and said, “Then it’s settled. My younger brother will come to pick you up later. They have good temperaments, and you can go to school with them.”

Upon learning that Qi Chao wanted to sponsor a young person’s education, Qi Feng and Qi Ye were so excited that they immediately volunteered to help, without needing any prompting from Qi Chao. 

They were two teenagers with a hero complex, eager to assist.

Tu Zhuang didn’t know Qi Chao’s full background, but given the help Qi Chao had provided to San Yue and himself, Tu Zhuang believed that Qi Chao wouldn’t deceive him.

He paused for a moment and once again said earnestly, “Thank you.”

Though the word “thank you” could make someone became numb from constantly saying it, but Tu Zhuang meant it sincerely every time. He vowed that he would repay Qi Chao.

Soon, the two younger brothers came to pick up Tu Zhuang and San Yue, and they went to the villa where the two were staying. 

After helping to settle everything and ensuring all arrangements were in place, Qi Chao returned to his own home.

He had expected that Li Bai and Lan Luo would still be watching cartoons, but upon returning home, he found that both children were diligently studying.

In that moment, Qi Chao felt the joy of being a parent. He didn’t disturb the children’s studies but instead headed to the basement.

He knew that from now on, he needed to get busy. Both the celestial dog and the Double Mirror were already on his agenda.

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