Chapter 177: Chapter 174 Tian Tian’s Unwavering Belief

Tian Tian’s face was full of grievance, her head hanging low in a disheartened manner, “But Grandpa really did tell me that they were Golden Lotus Seeds, capable of blooming into those sparkling golden lotuses that can even glow. He wouldn’t lie to me!”

Tian Yuan smiled and said, “Yes, Grandpa wouldn’t lie to you, but didn’t he also mention that those seeds are decades old, and it’s unknown if any are still alive? You’ve tried yourself, none of these seeds have sprouted, which should clearly indicate what that means.”

“This is a knot in Tian Tian’s heart.” Standing to the side, Qin Shaoyou suddenly leaned in and quietly explained behind Huo Sining.

“Ah?” Huo Sining was completely confused and even more puzzled upon hearing Qin Shaoyou’s explanation.

“Tian Tian’s grandfather loved growing flowers, but he had a unique fondness for lotuses, and in his lifetime, he collected famous lotus species from everywhere.”

Qin Shaoyou sighed, “The year before last, the old man went out alone, accidentally fell into a river, and unfortunately passed away.”

Seeing that Huo Sining didn’t speak, Qin Shaoyou continued, “Although the old man was senile, he truly cared for the Tian siblings, especially cherishing Tian Tian to the bone. Probably it’s because of this reason that Tian Tian has taken her grandfather’s death to heart.”

“Tian Tian had a box of lotus seeds, said to be her grandfather’s pride and joy. He had always treasured it, and even when he went mad, his obsession with that box of seeds never changed; he wouldn’t let anyone else touch them.”

“No one knows if the old man had a premonition that something might happen to him, but on the morning of the day he fell into the water, he actually gave that box of seeds to Tian Tian, asking her to take good care of them.”

“After the old man’s death, Tian Tian transferred her remembrance and guilt for her grandfather onto that box of seeds. However, what nobody understands is why those precious lotus seeds treasured by the old man wouldn’t germinate, and no matter what methods we tried, it was no use.”

“We all said those seeds must be dead. After so many years, even if they were real Golden Lotus Seeds, they couldn’t survive for decades. But Tian Tian wouldn’t believe us. She has some heart issues, so we dare not upset her.”

Huo Sining raised her head in surprise and looked at the young girl, a look of realization appearing in her eyes.

No wonder she felt the girl’s complexion seemed somewhat unhealthy at first glance; it turns out she had a heart condition.

“Tian Tian is a bit obsessive, steadfast in her beliefs, and wouldn’t listen to anyone’s advice. Despite the seeds not sprouting, she insisted on planting them for three years. She stopped planting for half a year, and we thought she had come to terms with it, but instead, she started asking people if they would buy the seeds and would explain her grandfather’s story earnestly. Several of my friends have been talked into it by her, only to find out that the seeds won’t germinate after purchasing them.”

Thinking of his friends’ dismayed expressions, Qin Shaoyou felt both annoyed and amused, yet his gaze towards the young girl unconsciously revealed a hint of worry and tenderness.

With a touch of a smile, Huo Sining admired the girl who was acting spoiled and wilful, “She is very lucky, even though her grandfather is gone, I can tell that both you and her brother care deeply for her.”

Qin Shaoyou was startled, then smiled, “We three grew up together since we were children, Tian Tian is just like my own sister, if I don’t care for her, who will?”

Is that so? But Tian Tian’s feelings for you are probably not as simple as merely brotherly and sisterly love, right? Although Huo Sining had been there for less than an hour, as an observer, she could clearly see that Tian Tian’s concern for Qin Shaoyou certainly went beyond the realm of a sister’s.

Nevertheless, such matters still needed to be understood individually, and Huo Sining would not be nosy. She glanced at Tian Tian, who was sulking beside the flower bed after failing to get her way by acting spoiled and clingy, and felt a wave of tenderness, moved by compassion.

Huo Sining was touched by Tian Tian’s genuine affection for her maternal grandfather and was also curious about the Golden Lotus Seeds mentioned by Qin Shaoyou. Acting on impulse, she approached Tian Tian and said, “Tian Tian, could I take a look at your Golden Lotus Seeds?”

Tian Tian suddenly looked up, her eyes shining as she looked at Huo Sining, “Of course, you can. I’ll tell you, those seeds are really Golden Lotus Seeds. My grandfather wouldn’t lie!”

With that, the girl’s yellow skirt fluttered in the wind as she darted like a butterfly toward a small courtyard on the right. Soon, she emerged, holding a white ceramic jar in her arms.

“They’re all in here, you can choose. I’m showing them to you because I feel like we have a good connection. I would charge anyone else a hundred bucks a seed! But since you’re Brother Shaoyou’s student, I figure you don’t have much money, so I’ll give you five for free,” she offered generously.

The girl could speak so proudly and earnestly, as if she were not joking at all.

A hundred bucks a seed?! Huo Sining was suddenly feeling disheveled by the wind and speechless as she looked toward Qin Shaoyou, who was trying to hold back laughter. No wonder his friends were so frustrated; buying such expensive seeds only to find out they couldn’t germinate at all – wasn’t this just a rip-off?

Tian Tian excitedly placed the wooden box on the ground and then opened the jar, but as soon as she did, a strange smell wafted out.

Tian Tian’s body stiffened and her complexion turned pale, then flushed with anger, before she finally cursed through clenched teeth, “Damn it! A Bao, Heizi, which one of you urinated on my seeds?!”

Huo Sining was stupefied by the words, wondering what in the world was going on.

As soon as Tian Tian saw the yellow liquid in the jar and smelled the pungent odor of urine, she realized the problem and was nearly driven to tears by those two foolish dogs.

Embarrassed in front of Qin Shaoyou’s student, Tian Tian’s face turned beet red with shame and anger, wishing she could just disappear into the ground.

Although Huo Sining appeared to be only a few years older than Tian Tian, she was psychologically a 27-year-old spinster who truly wouldn’t mind such a thing. Seeing the young girl so upset that she was about to cry, Huo Sining quickly consoled her with a gentle voice, “It’s okay, just get a wooden sieve and wash the seeds clean. After they’re dry, they’ll be fine.”

Tian Tian snapped out of it at once, nodded her head, and hurried back to get a wooden sieve. She poured out the seeds from the jar and rinsed them again and again with clear water until she was certain there was no more dog urine smell before she stopped.

Huo Sining thought this would be the end of it, but she had forgotten that Qin Shaoyou had already mentioned to her that Tian Tian was a bit obsessive. Having promised to give Huo Sining five seeds, Tian Tian would definitely not go back on her word.

So Tian Tian pushed a sieve full of the dark and unappealing Golden Lotus Seeds in front of Huo Sining and said earnestly,

“Sister Huo, you pick.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com