43 GIVE ME ONE RMB

"How old are you? You look so young just like your first name Qing and very bright like the colour blue... Tell me what you like to eat and where you would love to go. I promise to take you anywhere."

They looked like they had known each other forever. Xueyan thought. 

Qingran giggled, and raised her drawing. "Aunty, do you like my drawing?"

"Yes yes... I will buy it, are you willing to sell it out?"

Qingran giggled again, then bit her thumb and nodded. 

"Wow, good good... I will pay for it. How much would it cost?"

Xueyan was speechless, What is going on here? 

If I sell them, I will make money and I will give it to mommy. Yes. I will make money. The little girl thought. 

"Give me one RMB."

The room went silent. Then Jiuwen started laughing. "Only one?" She raised a finger, "Just one? Haha. OK, OK. I will give you a tip."

She put her hand in her pant's pocket and brought out a hundred note. "Drawing cost one RMB, my tip to you is ninety-nine RMB, what do you say?"

By now Mrs Bai had come out and stood at the side watching her granddaughter. 

Qingran giggled and raised the money to the air, "Mommy  I made money. Now I will paint more and make more money." She spinner around with the money still raised in the air. 

Xueyan was flaggerbasted, she never knew her daughter had such thoughts of making money. 

So I can easily make money with my drawings? Yay! Now I will be rich and the same goes for mommy, granny, aunt, uncle and grandpa. Yes! Now they will rest and I will make money. 

Qingran giggled nonstop. 

Mrs Bai teared up, What is this little one thinking? She looks so happy. 

Yuxi heard the excitement and ran out only to see the spinning Qingran, Xueyan sitting with a shocked expression and the lady just now smiling as her eyes twinkled. Even her mother stood by the side, her eyes shiny with tears. 

Qingran had only asked the question to get complimented besides children loved being sweet talked, coaxed and complimented, who would have thought that Feng Jiu would suddenly make such offer and readily agreed too? 

She stopped spinning looked at Yuxi, "Aunt, I made money! Granny, you saw it right?"

"Yes, yes." Mrs Bai answered and went to carry the little girl. Qingran happily hopped into her arms and snuggled up into her neck. 

Feng Jiu stood up instantly and bowed at the woman, Mrs Bai nodded and carried the child away. 

The young woman seemed nice. Xueyan had a friend like her? She was surprised but at the same time happy. 

Yuxi turned around and followed her mother back to the room. 

When Xueyan and Jiu was left alone, Xueyan didn't know what to say or do. Jiu noticed her nervousness and said, "I bought this drawing for one RMB," she pointed at the drawing. "I will keep it with me."

Xueyan was surprised that Jiu didn't ask who her father was. So she smiled back at her, "She's just a little child, why did you offer her money?"

"Offer? I didn't offer it to her. I paid for the drawing." Jiuwen's beautiful brows furrowed. "I really didn't offer it out, see," she raised the drawing to the side of her face. "I paid for this." Xueyan smiled again and looked down at her hand. "About our dinner, can it be some other time? Mei Han hasn't gotten off work." She stated matter-of-factly. 

Jiuwen nodded, "Sure sure." It was this little girl she came to see. She went to the same school as Zhihao... She looked up and beamed at Xueyan. "I know it's not in my place to ask, but, the school..."

"Oh, the hotel had offered that."

I knew it. Wow, Linlin you are making me so proud, to be able to provide hospitability to your employees... You deserve an award. 

"Have you seen Zhaolin?" 

The questioned surprised Xueyan. That man that had suddenly appeared, coming back into her world. Yes she had seen him but he left that day in anger, I thought he would never come looking for me again, but...  She was shocked when she saw Riuwen because she knew him too well. He was Zhaolin's right hand man and was seen together all the time, with the secretary. So she hadn't expected the visit to be ordinary. 

"Yes,"

"Oh wow. When? You two are so matured now... Do you two plan on..."

"Jiuwen," Xueyan called softly, stopping the girl midway through her sentence. 

She knew what Jiuwen would have said next. 

Jiuwen smiled, "Why? You don't wish to? You don't like him anymore? Is that it?"

Xueyan's eyes popped, What nonsense is she saying? And so loud? 

She stood up and strode over immediately. "Jiuwen, please. Don't... Don't say that again."

Jiuwen pretended not to understand, "Don't say what? But you, mhm..." She muffled when Xueyan covered her mouth. 

"Jiuwen," Xueyan glared at her. 

Jiuwen closed her eyes briefly and smiled. Nodding an OK. 

Xueyan saw the sincerity in her eyes and let her go. 

She chuckled. "You look like you have just seen a ghost... Don't tell me the was your reaction when you see your... When you saw him after so long. He would feel terribly bad, if that's what you did."

Xueyan merely glanced at her and turned away. She watched Jiuwen. Feng Jiuwen, the girl that had saved her the second day of school when she encountered Chen Qing and Cui Yao. 

Jiuwen had acted like her guardian angel arriving at the right time whenever Chen Qing or Cui Yao tried to make a joke of her... But, she couldn't be there always, so... 

Feng Jiu folded the paper with tendency and a lingering smile on her beautiful face. 

She stood up, "Give me your phone, so I can add my number."

Hunh? What phone? 

Xueyan went into the room and took out the old button phone and passed it to Jiu. Jiu's brows furrowed immediately. "What's this? Don't tell you use this..." She stared daggers at the phone that had done her nothing. 

Xueyan withdrew her hand, "Yes it's my phone. Any problem?" She enquired. 

Feng Jiu swallowed and shook her head.