Chapter 160: Stop in Front of Villa No. 1
The rideshare driver quickly made a turn, heading west. As he drove, he asked, "Young man, let me know ahead of time when we’re getting close."
Cheng Yuan nodded slightly. "Just keep going straight. We have a ways to go."
We have a ways to go??
The rideshare driver was a little dumbfounded.
The smaller villas were mostly at the foot of the mountain; the farther in one went, the larger the villas became. ’Could this young man’s home actually be one of the large ones?’
After a good ten minutes of driving, they had almost reached the end of the road. The rideshare driver was starting to sweat. "Young man, the only thing up ahead is Villa Number One, and then the road ends! You’re not messing with me, are you?"
Cheng Yuan grinned. "Sir, so you know about Villa Number One?"
"Of course! Villa Number One is the Building King of Long Lake District! Its total property value is over two hundred million! Who doesn’t know that?"
Cheng Yuan said nonchalantly, "Just stop at the gate of Villa Number One."
Huh?
’Stop at the gate of Villa Number One?’
The rideshare driver’s scalp tingled; he was completely shocked.
"Young man, you... your home is Villa Number One?"
"It is."
The rideshare driver was speechless.
SCREECH.
The car stopped, and Cheng Yuan and Shen Youchu got out. The rideshare driver, however, didn’t start the engine. He just couldn’t believe that a young man dressed from head to toe in cheap, street-stall clothes could be the owner of Villa Number One.
BEEP.
Cheng Yuan used his fingerprint to unlock and open the large, iron gate. Now, the rideshare driver had absolutely no doubt left!
Holy shit!
’He’d actually given a ride to the owner of Villa Number One!’
’This is something I can brag about for years!’
The rideshare driver quickly snapped a photo of Cheng Yuan from behind and sent it to his group chat: "Gave a ride to the owner of Villa Number One in Long Lake District today. He’s a really handsome young man!"
...
Cheng Yuan had no idea that he’d just gone viral in a rideshare drivers’ group chat. He led Shen Youchu straight toward the main building.
Sensing Shen Youchu’s nervousness, Cheng Yuan smiled and ruffled her hair. "Youchu, don’t be scared. My mom is much friendlier than any intimidating mother-in-law."
Shen Youchu nodded forcefully, cautiously following behind Cheng Yuan.
"Mom, I’m home!"
At the sound of Cheng Yuan’s voice, two cheers erupted from inside the villa. One was from Wu Xiuli, of course, and the other was from Cheng Qianqian.
A young girl in a school uniform rushed out of Villa Number One, took a running leap, and jumped onto Cheng Yuan, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"Brother! I missed you like crazy!"
Shen Youchu watched Cheng Qianqian clinging to Cheng Yuan like a koala, her gaze full of envy. ’I wish a brother would hold me like that, too,’ she thought.
Cheng Yuan patted Cheng Qianqian’s back with a hint of resignation and said softly, "Qianqian, you’re a high school senior now, a young lady. You have to be mindful of appearances."
Cheng Qianqian playfully stuck out her tongue and hopped down from Cheng Yuan. Only then did she notice Shen Youchu standing beside him.
Cheng Qianqian’s eyes instantly widened, and she cried out in delighted surprise, "Wow! Brother, is this the little sister Youchu you adopted? She’s gorgeous! Oh my gosh, and I’m a girl saying this, but I think I’m falling in love with her!"
As she spoke, Cheng Qianqian grabbed Shen Youchu’s hand, her eyes fixed on that delicate, doll-like face.
Feeling Cheng Qianqian’s enthusiasm, the anxiety in Shen Youchu’s heart finally subsided. She offered a sweet greeting, "Hello, Sister Qianqian. You’re very beautiful, too! You’re just in a plain school uniform, but you look like a movie star."
Cheng Qianqian was bursting with joy from the compliment. "My brother said you were a sweet-talker, Youchu, and I didn’t believe him before, but now I’m a believer! It’s like your words are coated in honey."
"I was just telling the truth."
"Haha, Youchu, let’s stop flattering each other! Since my brother took you in, you’re my real sister from now on. If anyone bullies you, you just tell me!"
As she spoke, Cheng Qianqian brandished a small fist.
From Cheng Yuan and Cheng Qianqian, Shen Youchu felt a familial warmth. She secretly made a resolution. ’From now on, I have to protect this warm family! I’ll do it even if it costs me everything!’
Cheng Qianqian pulled Shen Youchu by the hand into Villa Number One. "Mom, come quick and look! Youchu is so beautiful! She’s just like a doll!"
Cheng Yuan instinctively started to follow the two girls into Villa Number One when a familiar voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "Master, Master, have you forgotten about Xiaozao?"
Cheng Yuan smiled, shaking the bag of medicinal dregs in his hand. ’Xiaozao, how could I forget you? I’ve saved up all the dregs from the past few days right here. This should be enough to help you break through.’
With that, Cheng Yuan found a shovel, dug a small pit, and buried all the dregs next to the Jujube Tree Immortal.
The Jujube Tree Immortal had been waiting for these dregs with desperate longing. Its roots, as if coming to life, shot out and coiled around them, frantically absorbing the energy within!
It had to be said that compared to human Cultivators, Plant Spirits were truly blessed by nature.
What was a pile of worthless waste to Cheng Yuan was like a Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pill to the Jujube Tree Immortal!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Jujube Tree Immortal’s aura surged explosively!
In just ten short minutes, the Jujube Tree Immortal had grown significantly, returning to the size it was before being transplanted. Its power was now more than just a notch higher than it had been back then!
Back then, the Jujube Tree Immortal could, at best, rival an ordinary Grandmaster. But now, it could definitely take down a Quasi-Divine Realm Grandmaster!
The branches of the Jujube Tree Immortal swayed in the wind, as if bowing to Cheng Yuan.
Cheng Yuan patted the trunk of the Jujube Tree Immortal and said with a smile, "This is all for now. The next time I have dregs, I’ll bring them all to you!"
"Thank you for your guidance, Master! Xiaozao swears to protect the two elder masters with its life!"
Cheng Yuan nodded in satisfaction. ’It seems raising Xiaozao wasn’t a waste after all,’ he thought. ’The stronger it gets, the safer Mom and Dad will be.’
"Xiaozao, focus on consolidating your new Cultivation. I’m going inside."
"Yes, Master. Don’t mind me."
When Cheng Yuan entered the villa’s main hall, he found that Shen Youchu had already warmed up to his parents. His maternal grandfather had also heard the news and had come over to see her.
Shen Youchu was a natural entertainer, making his grandfather roar with laughter.
Cheng Yuan greeted the elders and sat down next to Cheng Hongbing, asking casually, "Dad, didn’t you take the cab out today?"
"Qianqian came home, didn’t she? I’m taking the day off."
Cheng Yuan said hesitantly, "Dad, we’re not short on money now. You don’t have to go out and drive the taxi anymore. If you feel up to it, you and Mom could go travel. If not, you could work out together, or even hang out with Grandpa and play chess with the other old-timers."
Cheng Hongbing gave a wry smile. "Xiaoyuan, I know you mean well, but I’ve been a driver for half my life. I’m used to it. I really wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I were idle."
Cheng Yuan frowned. "If you insist on driving, Dad, then let me buy you a new car. You could be a rideshare driver instead! With a taxi, you still have to pay a commission to the company."