Ji Zhaoxi was just about to argue when Qin Qiwu spoke up from inside the carriage.
“Young Master Xu, Miss Ji was only joking just now. There’s no way she would actually do those things.”
Sitting outside the carriage, Ji Zhaoxi quietly pricked up her ears.
Fu Xianyan drove the carriage, a hint of amusement flashing through his eyes.
Qin Qiwu’s gentle voice drifted out from inside.
“I think that if Miss Ji’s Beggars’ Sect really existed, it would definitely uphold justice, help the weak, rob the rich to aid the poor, punish violence, and champion righteousness.”
Listening to Qin Qiwu’s voice, Ji Zhaoxi said nothing, but the corners of her lips curled up despite herself.
Qin Qiwu continued to press her advantage.
“Miss Ji has done countless good deeds along the way and helped so many people. She even bought pears for that little girl just now. There’s no way she could be such a bad person.”
Ji Zhaoxi gave a light cough.
At last, she spoke righteously. “Of course. I was only joking just now. Young Master Xu, you misunderstood.”
Inside the carriage, Xu Ancheng looked at Qin Qiwu with admiration. Miss Qin was truly impressive. Why hadn’t he thought of that approach?
It really couldn’t be blamed on him for overthinking things. Miss Ji was simply far too easily influenced by her surroundings.
When she was little, the General’s family lived next to a gambling house. Little Miss Ji ran over there to play every day. When the General’s wife found out, she was so shocked that she immediately moved.
Later, they moved next to a restaurant. Little Miss Ji stopped studying altogether and spent every day working as a waiter outside the restaurant. No matter how much the General called for her, he couldn’t get her to come home.
After that, the General’s family moved in between Xu Ancheng’s home and Qin Qiwu’s. From then on, Little Miss Ji began studying alongside Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng.
When they were children, Xu Ancheng and Qin Qiwu were utterly shocked the first time they met Little Ji. In their world, they had never encountered a child so unruly—and so tough.
The sky gradually darkened. After traveling all day, even the horses began to protest.
Ji Zhaoxi and the others found a sheltered spot to rest.
A fire was soon blazing. Sparks swayed in the gentle breeze, while the occasional bark drifted over from the nearby village.
“It’ll be ready soon,” Fu Xianyan said softly as he roasted the fish.
Ji Zhaoxi was tired after a long day. She leaned against the tree trunk, hugging her bundle.
The moment Fu Xianyan picked up the roasted fish, Ji Zhaoxi eagerly reached for it.
Fu Xianyan smiled. “Don’t rush. It’s hot.”
Ji Zhaoxi stared at it with longing. Everyone else was staring at it with equal longing.
Compared to roasted fish, their dry rations seemed rather pitiful.
When Fu Xianyan saw that the fish had cooled enough, he handed it to Ji Zhaoxi. “Try it.”
Ji Zhaoxi took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up. “It’s delicious!”
Fu Xianyan lowered his head and smiled without saying anything.
He then handed fish to Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng.
The two of them looked a little embarrassed. “Sorry to trouble you, Young Master Fu.”
Neither of them knew how to roast fish.
Ji Zhaoxi imitated them and said politely, “Thank you, Young Master Fu.”
When Fu Xianyan ignored her, Ji Zhaoxi frowned and moved closer to him.
“Thank you, Young Master Fu.”
Fu Xianyan lightly flicked her forehead and raised his brows. “I heard you.”
Ji Zhaoxi gave an “oh” and continued eating the fish in her hands.
She looked at Fu Xianyan in confusion. “Aren’t you eating?”
Fu Xianyan lazily leaned against the tree trunk. “I don’t like fish.”
“Then what do you like to eat? I’ll buy it for you in the future,” Ji Zhaoxi offered generously.
Her parents had told her that one should always be generous and straightforward.
Fu Xianyan lightly stroked her forehead. Seeing that it hadn’t turned red, he said softly, “Grass.”
Ji Zhaoxi frowned. “Grass?”
Fu Xianyan gave a low hum. “Mm. All kinds of grass…”
Hidden deep in the mountains, the grass that contained deadly poison was difficult to swallow. But after eating it often enough, one eventually got used to it.
“Will any kind of grass do?” Ji Zhaoxi asked seriously.
“Mm.”
Ji Zhaoxi thought for a moment, then frowned. “That won’t do. What if I buy the wrong kind and you get diarrhea?”
Fu Xianyan froze. He had only said it offhandedly; he hadn’t expected Ji Zhaoxi to start seriously planning things out.
“If there’s a particular kind of grass you like, just tell me. I’ll buy it for you. I can ask at the apothecary, and if they don’t have it, I’ll ask my father to find out.”
Ji Zhaoxi spoke with such solemnity that one would think they were discussing something of great importance.
Qin Qiwu smiled. “I can help ask around too.”
Xu Ancheng hurriedly nodded.
Exactly! It was only grass. Surely they could find some that tasted good.
Fu Xianyan stared silently at the flames, suddenly at a loss for words.
He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t even manage his usual fake smile.
Ji Zhaoxi had no idea what Fu Xianyan was thinking. She had merely heard that he liked eating grass and wanted to help him buy some.
Fu Xianyan lowered his eyes. Her profile looked even softer in the firelight, and he felt as if something had struck him in the chest.
It was a very strange feeling.
“Here.”
Ji Zhaoxi suddenly held something out to him.
Fu Xianyan glanced at it and smiled. “That isn’t grass.”
Ji Zhaoxi declared with complete confidence, “This Sect Leader roasted this sesame cake herself. It’s far more precious than grass.”
Fu Xianyan’s eyes curved slightly, and at last he reached out to take it.
The fire crackled.
Fu Xianyan lowered his head and ate the sesame cake, his heart suddenly softening.
At that moment, the black-clad man tied to a tree watched the scene in despair.
Were these people deaf? Couldn’t they hear that his stomach was rumbling louder than thunder?
Since Zhou Cheng’s offense was relatively minor, he had been given some pastries to eat. They were a little cold, but they were still better than having nothing.
The Black Young Master’s stomach had been growling nonstop. Zhou Cheng glanced at him, then lowered his head and continued eating his pastries.
The Black Young Master glared coldly at the others. He happened to meet Ji Zhaoxi’s gaze across the fire. Before he could say anything, she gave him a smug smile and crunched noisily on her roasted fish.
“So fragrant!”
The Black Young Master: “…”
The Black Young Master turned his attention to Fu Xianyan. Fu Xianyan was busy serving as Ji Zhaoxi’s backrest and didn’t spare him so much as a glance.
Just as Fu Xianyan turned around, the Black Young Master’s eyes lit up. Fu Xianyan had taken out a clean handkerchief and was wiping Ji Zhaoxi’s mouth.
The black-clad man’s breathing grew heavier.
He looked over at Zhou Cheng again. Zhou Cheng was chewing on a pastry and shrugged at him.
This was all the food he had.
The black-clad man closed his eyes. As long as he fell asleep, he wouldn’t feel hungry.
But he hadn’t expected that closing his eyes would make his sense of smell even sharper…
The Black Young Master sighed and opened his eyes again. He looked at Qin Qiwu, trying to attract her attention with his gaze.
But Qin Qiwu’s eyes remained fixed on Xu Ancheng’s face. Her cheeks were flushed, and her entire person seemed to be enveloped in pink bubbles.
As for Xu Ancheng, he poked at the firewood, his ears red to the tips. He was saying something in a low voice that kept making Qin Qiwu laugh. Every time she laughed, Xu Ancheng shyly lowered his head.
“Growl, growl—”
The black-clad man fell into utter despair.
