Chapter 68: The Stained Glass Patterns Fell on Her Fair Cheek…

In the end, they only bought one portion of soil.

Though Xie Jianxun himself had no idea why he had spent such a large sum of money just to buy some dirt.

Oh, though it wasn’t his money either.

After spending a fortune, the star pirate seemed in an exceptionally good mood, positively radiant, as he led the young master into another shop and signed orders for several tens of millions in medical supplies.

Facing Xie Jianxun’s shocked expression, Huo Jing brushed it off.

“You’ve got so much money in your own Light Brain, Young Master. Why make that face?” Huo Jing laughed. “Shouldn’t you be used to it by now?”

Xie Jianxun sighed. “When have I ever had the chance to spend it? I didn’t even know about it before.”

He changed the subject. “Do you always spend this much money?”

He was referring to how Huo Jing was acting like he wanted to buy out the entire Black Market, like some foolish rich bumpkin who only knew how to throw money around.

The Great Star Pirate leader happily admitted it. “My fleet has a full twenty thousand people.”

“That’s what that means, Young Master. You don’t know, but it means whatever I buy has to be in portions for ten thousand men—the expenses flow out like water, whoosh.”

He spread his fingers, mimicking water bursting forth.

Xie Jianxun imagined it and felt a deep respect.

“You’re amazing,” he said subconsciously. “Is there anything else you need to buy?”

Huo Jing replied, “Yes, this way.”

Xie Jianxun hurried to keep up with his pace as they headed toward the other end of the street. “What are we going to buy?”

Huo Jing thought for a moment. “Pick out a cute little thing for you that’s not hatched from its shell yet?”

Xie Jianxun was firm. “No! Thank you! Not needed!”

After some dragging and pulling, the two finally turned into a prosthetics shop.

“What are we doing here? You don’t have any…”

Xie Jianxun glanced at Huo Jing, puzzled. This man didn’t seem to be missing any limbs. Why look at prosthetics?

Huo Jing, unusually calm, carefully selected a few models of the latest prosthetics based on the boss’s recommendations.

Xie Jianxun followed behind him, sneaking careful glances.

Huo Jing didn’t turn his head but reached back and grabbed him, his voice laced with laughter.

“Why are you staring at me? I’m perfectly fine. These are for the brothers on the ship. Last time we clashed with the ‘Black Shark,’ a few brothers lost some parts, and there’s nowhere to get them new ones.”

The boss chimed in casually. “These are the latest models. The touch sensors feel just like a normal person’s. Once worn, they’re as flexible as before! Trust me, your companions will love the sensation.”

But Huo Jing shook his head and said nothing.

No matter how advanced the touch sensors were, they couldn’t compare to the sharpness a person was born with.

In the corner of the shop sat a figure in white, their back turned.

It seemed to be a young lady, with black hair like a waterfall draped over her shoulders. Her wrists resting on the wheelchair were snow-white, motionless as she stared at the display prosthetics hanging on the wall nearby.

Perhaps Xie Jianxun had stared at her too long, making the star pirate beside him jealous.

Not yet understanding what that inexplicable sourness in his heart was, he acted on instinct and grabbed Xie Jianxun’s wrist, pulling it toward his own face.

“Why stare at her? Is there a flower growing on her back?” he teased.

The young master turned back, horrified. “There’s a flower on your face! …I mean, she looks a bit familiar. Maybe I’ve seen her somewhere before.”

The next second, the young lady turned around, along with her smart wheelchair.

The wheels turned with a faint sound, and soon she wheeled up to Xie Jianxun and Huo Jing, greeting them calmly. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”

Xie Jianxun greeted her stiffly. “Good afternoon, miss.”

Huo Jing glanced at her, then withdrew his gaze, continuing to focus on Xie Jianxun. “Young Master, want to try an exoskeleton? It can boost your strength and speed to a whole new level.”

“Excuse me, but he’s too young to wear an exoskeleton yet.”

The young lady said flatly, but she gave Xie Jianxun a faint smile. “You can try those thrilling things once you’re truly grown up.”

This made the Great Star Pirate finally look at her properly, frowning.

Huo Jing said, “I assume you two know each other.”

The young lady’s smile widened as she nodded slightly to Xie Jianxun. “This esteemed gentleman probably doesn’t remember me, but I will always be grateful. Your family funded my entire education and provided startup capital when I began my business. I owe you so much.”

Xie Jianxun said in surprise, “You are…?”

The young lady seemed to curtsy, lifting her skirt hem slightly in a virtual greeting. “Holianna. Just call me Anna.”

Only then did Xie Jianxun remember. He had indeed met her as a child.

It was one of the rare times Julius had taken him out of the manor to visit his father and brothers regularly.

He was held by family members, kissed back and forth, and even his mother, who was rarely seen, returned on time to plant a cherished kiss on his forehead.

“May you grow up safe, little treasure.”

Then she pushed him back to Julius, earnestly pleading with a soft, sincere tone to take good care of him.

The entire afternoon, his young second brother played with him in the garden.

Julius, dressed in a suit, sat silently in the garden pavilion, watching them.

The little master squatted with his brother in front of a yellow flower, curiously watching a butterfly fluttering its wings.

At that moment, some unfamiliar faces were led past the garden. Little Xie Jianxun’s attention was immediately drawn away.

Or rather, he had never seen so many strangers before.

“Brother, brother.” Who were they? Where were they going?

He tugged at his second brother’s sleeve, looking up with bright big eyes, trying to make him understand without words.

His second brother went, “Ah?” and puzzled for half a minute before his eyes lit up. He scooped him up directly. “You want to go play with them?”

Little Xie Jianxun shut his mouth, organized his words for once, and whispered, “Just to see.”

His second brother carried him near their father’s study, watching the strangers enter one by one and leave happily.

“Father wants to help this batch of talented children escape hardship,”

His second brother sighed softly. “I hope they grow up well and live the lives they want.”

At that, he fell silent for a moment, looked down at the ashen-gray little head in his arms, with its cute cowlick on top.

Then he kissed the cowlick and said sadly, “You too.”

In the group, a girl in white turned back and saw the two of them at the other end of the corridor.

The exact same ashen hair color, brilliant and expensive golden pupils.

The pale hair and eye color marked the lord’s children.

The stained glass patterns fell on her fair cheek, making them look like angels smiling friendly at her.

Her eyes brightened. She knew her fate had changed, so she bit her lip gratefully, curtsied slightly, and bowed solemnly to them.

To the lord, the money and effort were just a tiny part of daily life, but to the children whose lives were changed, it was a beam of light in adversity.

“Later, due to an accident, I lost both legs. But I don’t see it as another nightmare trapping me—just a small setback.”

The young lady smiled, looking Xie Jianxun over. “You look like an angel now too.”

She praised.

“I never imagined Miss Holianna had such a touching backstory,” Huo Jing drawled lazily. “Successful people always have some story behind them, it seems.”

Holianna looked at him. “Not as accomplished as Mr. Huo Jing.”

Leaving the prosthetics shop, Xie Jianxun finally pieced it together.

He asked puzzled, “So you two know each other? Why act like strangers before?”

The Great Star Pirate reverted to his usual lazy demeanor and chuckled. “I know of her, she knows of me, but we haven’t met many times—is that so hard to understand?”

“Holianna is the biggest broker in the Black Market. She always has connections to people in corners others don’t know about, selling off stagnant resources at good prices. She makes a killing—no one here doesn’t know her.”

Huo Jing glanced thoughtfully at the sky. “She takes a hefty commission with every flip. Impressive skills. Your father has good taste.”

The sky had already dimmed slightly. In less than an hour, it would turn into thick night.

Xie Jianxun felt his wrist gripped firmly, his body tilting slightly.

Huo Jing walked ahead and looked back with a raised brow and a smile. “Come on, I’ve booked a spot.”

Xie Jianxun felt like a balloon being tugged along into a jog. “It won’t be some prank show, right?”

“How could it be!” Huo Jing protested. “Young Master, do you think I’m the type who loves pranks?”

Xie Jianxun, who had been pranked multiple times, thought, Isn’t he?

Huo Jing said confidently, “It’s a restaurant. You’ll like it.”

The restaurant was at the top of the tallest and grandest building in Lihou Port, offering a panoramic view of the entire port and the sea that took up most of the area.

The daylight had fallen, and the restaurant was brightly lit. Most people wore formal suits for the banquet.

The elevator opened, revealing Xie Jianxun in a hoodie and Huo Jing in a garish jacket.

A dedicated waiter approached to lead them to their reserved table.

They sat facing each other. Xie Jianxun curiously turned his head and saw that the entire perimeter of the restaurant was transparent glass, without a single wall. Every window seat had an unobstructed view of the sparkling sea.

The restaurant lights shone brightly, with elegant music playing.

Huo Jing interrupted mercilessly. “What are you thinking?”

Xie Jianxun smiled sheepishly. “I was still thinking how Miss Holianna, so delicate, managed to build such a big business alone.”

Huo Jing said offhandedly, “She has the ability and ambition. Of course she can do well.”

Xie Jianxun said, “I remember now—we met once more after that. She was already in a wheelchair then, it seems. She came to ask my father for business advice.”

Huo Jing’s brow twitched slightly. “The lord has time for that?”

Xie Jianxun replied, “In my memory, he’s always cared about young people. Just don’t know why she ended up in this line of work…”

A finger crooked in front of him, tapping the table with a crisp sound.

The voice opposite was low, somewhat displeased. “Young Master, today I spent money to treat you to dinner. At least focus your attention on me.”

Only then did Xie Jianxun notice that Huo Jing had even styled his hair.

No wonder the star pirate looked devastatingly handsome today.

He hadn’t noticed at all earlier. After lunch, Huo Jing had disappeared for about an hour—turns out that was why.

Xie Jianxun realized.

Seeing him snap back, Huo Jing satisfiedly placed the menu in front of him. “Today’s menu. Forgive my presumption—I canceled your aperitif.”

Xie Jianxun looked down and saw the price for this couple’s set meal on the paper: 598.

A bit pricey. The young master’s features slowly scrunched up.

Huo Jing boasted casually, “Of course, this isn’t an ordinary set meal.”

When asked how extraordinary, he just smiled and said nothing.

The waiter brought trays: aperitifs turned into aperitif juices.

Sweet soup, salad—course after course.

After a short wait, the waiter finally arrived with the main course.

The moment the metal cover was lifted from the main dish, the entire restaurant’s lights dimmed. Across the sea, a seed seemed to rise slowly.

Whoosh—bang.

A small firework burst open.

They sat by the best scenic floor-to-ceiling window, closest to the fireworks, with nothing in the way.

One after another, fireworks launched, filling the sky. The sea reflected the sky’s colors, rippling like someone canned in a jar, peeking at the world’s vast lights and colors through a tiny hole.

Xie Jianxun couldn’t help pressing against the window, wanting to get closer to the fireworks.

The man opposite watched him calmly.

Huo Jing said, “It’s inexplicable. Some inspirations hit like arrows from the sky, striking my brain out of nowhere.”

“Mm,” he asked casually, “Does this make you a bit happier?”