It was late at night, and the streets on either side were gradually falling quiet. The young innkeeper sat behind the counter with his cheek propped on one hand, his eyelids drooping again and again.
Every now and then, a rustling sound came from upstairs. The young innkeeper yawned and pulled his clothes closer around himself.
Click—
A door opened softly. Inside the room came the sound of someone breathing deeply in sleep.
A man dressed in black respectfully handed the medicine to the person sitting on the stool.
“Master.”
Fu Xianyan looked at the medicine in his hand and gave a quiet acknowledgment.
The black-clad man’s gaze lingered on the corner of the room. After some hesitation, he said, “Master, should we take care of him now?”
Xu Ancheng was an agent of the imperial court. If he discovered…
“There’s no rush. He’s still useful for now,” Fu Xianyan said indifferently.
The black-clad man glanced at Fu Xianyan’s face and ventured, “Then, Master, should I take care of that Qin Qiwu…”
He made a solemn throat-slitting gesture.
Fu Xianyan began to lose patience. “No.”
The black-clad man fell silent for a moment. His master hadn’t given him anything to do for an entire month. Could it be that he no longer wanted him?
If his master really planned to throw him away, and he couldn’t do anything else, wouldn’t he starve to death in the future?
The black-clad man cleared his throat and said very tactfully, “Master, how about I teach that Ji Zhaoxi a lesson? You’ve really suffered a lot lately!”
That Ji Zhaoxi did nothing but hit or scold their master. Watching from the shadows, he simply couldn’t stand it!
Fu Xianyan let out a quiet laugh.
The black-clad man proudly straightened his back. He had become increasingly perceptive lately.
“Are you very free?”
The black-clad man was silent for a moment before decisively taking his leave. “Master, I’ll be going now.”
The door closed once more, and the room returned to silence. The evening breeze drifted in through the window, carrying a faint chill.
Fu Xianyan looked at the dates left on the table and tasted one. His brows lifted.
Sure enough, not a single one of the dates she had left him was sweet.
In the room next door, Ji Zhaoxi was hugging her quilt and sleeping soundly when her nose suddenly began to itch. She sneezed.
Looking utterly confused, she opened her eyes and stared at Qin Qiwu, who was sleeping on the other bed. Reassured, she went back to sleep.
She had no idea who was cursing her in the middle of the night.
Early the next morning, the inn grew noisy. Some guests were checking out, while others were arriving, and the sounds of footsteps and conversation filled the outside.
The moment Ji Zhaoxi opened her door, she met Fu Xianyan’s gaze across the hall.
Fu Xianyan’s eyes curved slightly. “Miss Ji.”
Ji Zhaoxi pretended not to hear him.
Qin Qiwu looked at him in confusion. “Young Master Fu, is Young Master Xu still not awake?”
Fu Xianyan frowned. “Young Master Xu hasn’t seemed to be in very good spirits since yesterday.”
Qin Qiwu responded hesitantly. They had agreed to go to the casino together today…
“Zhaoxi, are you hungry? Why don’t you go downstairs and get something to eat with Young Master Fu?” Qin Qiwu said to Ji Zhaoxi with a smile.
Fu Xianyan said politely, “Miss Qin, I’ll wait for Young Master Xu with you…”
An alarm immediately went off in Ji Zhaoxi’s mind. She grabbed Fu Xianyan at once, yanking him forward several awkward steps.
Fu Xianyan: “…”
“Young Master Fu, your health is fragile. Let’s go eat first.” Ji Zhaoxi forced a smile. “Miss Qin is waiting for Young Master Xu.”
This was a loving couple enjoying their time together. Why was Fu Xianyan trying to interfere again?
The moment she finished speaking, Ji Zhaoxi dragged the sickly Fu Xianyan downstairs.
The street was filled with the enticing aromas of food. Ji Zhaoxi and Fu Xianyan found a stall close to the inn and sat down.
Still looking a little sleepy, Ji Zhaoxi ate a steamed bun while observing the people around them. The locals were secretly complaining about the authorities again.
Fu Xianyan quietly ate his noodles.
Just then, an older woman squeezed her way up to the stall.
Her eyes met Ji Zhaoxi’s, and both of them became a little awkward.
Fu Xianyan witnessed the entire exchange and silently took a sip of broth.
What exactly were they feeling awkward about…?
The older woman greeted Ji Zhaoxi uneasily. “Here to eat?”
Ji Zhaoxi nodded just as awkwardly.
The woman bought a few steamed buns and left. Before going, she didn’t forget to stuff several dates into Ji Zhaoxi’s hands.
Ji Zhaoxi looked at the dates on the table, feeling rather pleased with herself. “The dates yesterday were from this same auntie.”
A flicker of amusement passed through Fu Xianyan’s eyes. He played along and praised her, “Impressive.”
An elderly man at the next table also spotted Ji Zhaoxi and called out gruffly, “Missy, did you find that person you were looking for?”
Ji Zhaoxi greeted him with practiced ease. “I did, I did.”
The old man munched on his steamed bun and nodded in satisfaction. “Good. As long as you found him.”
Ji Zhaoxi turned to Fu Xianyan. “See? I know more people than you do!”
Fu Xianyan raised his brows, his face filled with helplessness.
No one was competing with her over that.
While eating sweet tofu pudding, Ji Zhaoxi reasoned with Fu Xianyan.
“Look, you can’t beat me in a fight, and you’re not as popular as I am. From now on, you’re not allowed to bother Young Master Xu and Qin Qiwu, and you’re not allowed to disobey me either. Got it?”
Although he couldn’t see what the two things had to do with each other, Fu Xianyan obediently nodded. “Got it.”
Seeing how cooperative Fu Xianyan was being, Ji Zhaoxi was finally satisfied.
After they finished eating, Ji Zhaoxi went to pay. Fu Xianyan followed beside her and took her sword while she counted out the money.
The old man eating steamed buns watched the scene, his brows knitting into a deep frown.
After seeing Ji Zhaoxi pay and happily walk away, the old man couldn’t help complaining to the person beside him.
“A grown man still needs a woman to pay for him? A man like that is no good.”
That girl was truly foolish too.
The person beside him took a large gulp of porridge and belched. “Why do you care? You’re already so old.”
At their age, what they should be worrying about was where they would be buried in the future. Who had the energy to concern themselves with romance?
The old man loudly protested, “Men who rely on women to pay are the most scheming…”
He understood pretty boys like that better than anyone, because he himself had been one in his youth.
As he reminisced about his glorious past, he glanced at the other old men beside him, none of whom were as good-looking as he was. His back straightened a little more.
By the time Ji Zhaoxi and Fu Xianyan returned to the inn, Xu Ancheng was already awake, though his face still looked tired.
Ji Zhaoxi set the breakfast on the table, then sat by the window and earnestly polished her sword.
That was how a professional bodyguard operated—her weapon had to be maintained at all times.
“Miss Qin, I’m very sorry.” Xu Ancheng lowered his head apologetically.
They had said they would go to the casino, but he had been suffering from such a terrible headache that he could barely get up that morning.
Qin Qiwu smiled and shook her head. “Young Master Xu, your health is more important.”
They could always go to the casino a little later.
Xu Ancheng looked at her gratefully. Their eyes met, and both of their faces immediately flushed. They hurriedly lowered their heads and began eating breakfast.
Just then, a muffled laugh suddenly came from beside them.
Xu Ancheng and Qin Qiwu’s faces grew even redder, and they were so nervous that the buns in their hands nearly fell.
