I am a dragon

Tao Xiaotao avoided my eyes, but in the end she couldn't escape them. She pouted and said, "Hey, that's not how it works. What do you mean by 'for you'? It's because my grandfather sent word from prison that I was asked to protect you, that's why I joined the community property management."

"I see. So your mother doesn't care about you?"

When I mentioned her mother, Tao Xiaotao's expression darkened, and she said, "I'm an adult now, and my mother usually doesn't care about me."

"What else did my master say to you?" I asked curiously.

"That's all, nothing else." Tao Xiaotao might not have been telling the truth, because I noticed her face flushed, as if she had something she couldn't say.

I sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette, but Tao Xiaotao confiscated it as soon as I lit it.

"Why are you smoking? Don't you know it's bad for your health? And you call yourself a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner?"

Tao Xiaotao looked disgusted.

I didn't get a chance to talk to Tao Xiaotao, and asked in bewilderment, "How did my master know about what I was doing outside?"

"Don't look at me, I don't know about this, but my maternal grandfather is incredibly capable, there's nothing he can't do."

Tao Xiaotao is proud of her maternal grandfather.

"But how do you know Qiao Laoliu? And why would he stand up for me?"

"Qiao Laoliu and my maternal grandfather were friends, but back then Qiao Laoliu owed my maternal grandfather a huge favor. I found out that you were kidnapped by Qiao Laoliu's men."

"Just call Qiao Laoliu. Once Qiao Laoliu hears about your identity, he'll naturally give my grandfather some face. Now you understand?"

As she spoke, Tao Xiaotao took a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to me.

I took it without hesitation and sincerely said, "Thank you."

"It's just a bottle of water, it's not that serious," Tao Xiaotao said nonchalantly.

I took a sip of water and said, "I'm not thanking you for the water, it's these things that saved me."

Tao Xiaotao said smugly, "Good to know. You owe me a huge favor, which you'll have to repay later, understand?"

I gave a wry smile and said, "I don't even have a job right now, how can I pay you back?"

"Don't be discouraged. Even Jing Ke had to dismount and ask about his future. Besides, my grandfather has passed on all his knowledge to you. Why shouldn't you achieve great success?"

Tao Xiaotao knew some historical allusions, but not many. I suppressed a laugh and said, "That was Qin Qiong dismounting to ask about his future. It has absolutely nothing to do with Jing Ke."

Tao Xiaotao blushed and said, "I said Jing Ke is Jing Ke. How do you know he didn't dismount and ask about his future?"

Faced with Tao Xiaotao's unreasonable behavior, I chose to keep quiet.

Tao Xiaotao suddenly chuckled: "You're quite good at handling people."

It's not that I'm good at interpersonal relationships, but as Ghost Hand Li once said, don't try to reason with two kinds of people: alcoholics and women.

Tao Xiaotao asked, "Where did the 500,000 yuan you gave Ning Meng come from?"

"I borrowed it from General Manager Xu," I said truthfully.

I now know that Xu Lanya is Tao Xiaotao's sister-in-law.

Tao Xiaotao scrutinized me: "Tell me honestly, what is your relationship with Xu Lanya? Why would she lend you 500,000 yuan?"

Of course, I couldn't tell Tao Xiaotao about my true relationship with Xu Lanya. I rolled my eyes and said, "President Xu isn't doing this for my sake. She's just acquainted with my sister-in-law, Jiang Ruxue. She's lending me money entirely because of my sister-in-law."

Furthermore, I suspect that the money my sister-in-law used to pay off her debts was borrowed from Xu Lanya.

When Xu Lanya was mentioned, Tao Xiaotao said with disgust, "Xu Lanya is a very cunning woman. You're not at Jinhai Property anymore, so try to avoid dealing with her. As for that 500,000 yuan, I'll help you figure out a way."

Although my mother married my stepfather, and he treats her very well, I still don't want to spend his money, you understand?

I don't understand, but I believe Tao Xiaotao has her reasons.

"We have our own hands and feet, why should we rely on others, right?"

I encouraged Tao Xiaotao, but I had my doubts about her not spending the Su family's money. Putting aside everything else, just take the house in Green Field Garden, it's not something a twenty-year-old girl like her could afford.

Tao Xiaotao seemed to see through my thoughts and explained, "This house was bought for me by my maternal grandfather, not by the Su family."

I was taken aback: "Is my master that rich?"

"It's alright. Many of my grandfather's patients are high-ranking officials and wealthy people; they're all very generous. By the way, I hope my grandfather didn't suffer in prison?"

Tao Xiaotao's eyes light up every time she mentions Ghost Hand Li.

"He has a good relationship with the warden, how could he be suffering? You don't know, he has everything except freedom."

I'm not lying. Ghost Hand Li is highly respected inside and enjoys many special privileges. If one day Ghost Hand Li told me that he had a twilight romance with a female prison guard, I would believe him without a doubt.

"Was your cousin kidnapped, or is he missing?"

Tao Xiaotao changed the subject.

I said dejectedly, "It's all cleared up now. My cousin smuggled himself abroad. Whether he was scammed or was really involved in a project, we don't know. In any case, I've lost all contact with my cousin."

"If it was an illegal border crossing, that would be troublesome; they can't find out your immigration status. Well, what's done is done, worrying won't help. What are your plans for the future?"

"I have nothing, and I'm afraid I can't stay in Miancheng anymore. I'm planning to go back to my hometown to see if there are any opportunities."

Tao Xiaotao sat up abruptly, her expression one of exasperation: "What? You say you want to go home? Have some backbone! With your medical skills, are you afraid you can't soar to great heights?"

Actually, I was just saying that. I left three months ago because I couldn't stay in my hometown anymore. Now I want to go back, but I can't bear the embarrassment.

Tao Xiaotao thought for a moment and said, "Don't you know how to massage? I know someone who runs a massage parlor. Why don't I introduce you to her? You can earn ten or twenty thousand a month, it's like a piece of cake."

"It's just giving massages to customers, you... are you capable of that?"

I joked to myself, "I'm a convict; as long as I have a job, why should I be picky?"

Tao Xiaotao said, "What's wrong with being a labor camp inmate? There are plenty of successful labor camp inmates out there. As long as you agree, I'll take you to see them another day."

"I owe you another favor."

"Good to know. Alright, I won't make you pay it back, is that alright?" Tao Xiaotao patted her flat chest, speaking very righteously.

I was so moved that I didn't know what to say. I stared at Tao Xiaotao and suddenly realized that she was quite pretty, with delicate features.

Tao Xiaotao noticed me looking at her, and she seemed a little embarrassed. Just then, my second aunt called me. When I saw the number flashing on my phone, my heart jumped...