If not, then not. Yuan Gang didn't insist. He put the teacup back in its place, looked around the room, and said:
"The conditions here are better than mine. Are there any more vacant rooms?"
"No!" Niu You Dao snapped, annoyed.
Yuan Gang turned and left. Walking out, he ignored Hao Qin Qin, who was staring at him, and beckoned Black Peony over.
Black Peony slowly approached and asked:
"What is it?"
"Arrange a room for me!" Yuan Gang said immediately, then left with Wei Duo.
"...Black Peony smiled irritably.
She didn't know who he was, yet he was seeing her for the first time and already ordering her around.
She wanted to ask Niu You Dao about him, so she immediately headed to his room.
Standing by the window, Niu You Dao shook his head helplessly when he heard this, and said:
"Ask if a room can be found at the inn. If not, then he can move in here."
"With you?" Black Peony immediately understood that the stranger's connection with Lord Dao was far from simple, given that he was willing to share a room with him.
She had tried to tempt him countless times, yet he had still not succumbed to her charms. That was why they lived separately.
At this moment, outside, Yuan Gang and Wei Duo approached the staircase, where Hao Qin Qin blocked their path, forcing Yuan Gang to stop.
Hao Qin Qin smiled charmingly:
"My name is Hao Qin Qin, I am a friend of Lord Dao. May I ask your name."
"Buzz off!" Yuan Gang replied curtly.
Hao Qin Qin:
"We'll be friends now, we can get to know each other..."
But at that moment, Yuan Gang simply pushed her aside. After that, he and Wei Duo went downstairs.
Chai Fei flashed to her side and asked:
"Lady, are you alright?"
Hao Qin Qin looked at the retreating figure and shook her head:
"I'm fine."
Chai Fei: "Lady, we don't know who this Huangdi Dao is, so it would be best not to provoke him."
"What if I do provoke him?" She shook her head and pointed at the departing Yuan Gang:
"If I provoked anyone, it was that man."
Chai Fei: "It's the same thing. They're with Huangdi Dao."
"So what?"
"Lady, what do you want?"
Hao Qin Qin leaned on the railing and looked down:
"This man. He looks wild, but he has his own charm. I like him!"
Chai Fei didn't know what to say: "You're not even married yet, aren't you ashamed to express yourself so brazenly?"
"Lady, there's no need to make a fuss."
Hao Qin Qin pouted and replied:
"If I like him, I like him. Is there something wrong with that? If you like someone, you should act in time. Otherwise, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Let's see what he's like."
"...Chai Fei was speechless. How could a girl think and speak so openly?
"Lady, you came out to see the world and broaden your horizons. There's no need to cause trouble, or else Lady Pei won't be pleased. She truly might send you back." After giving his warning, he turned around and returned to his original seat, continuing to watch her.
It wasn't long before Black Peony returned with a staff member, who opened a new room.
There were nine rooms on this floor, and it was entirely vacant. Niu You Dao and his companions occupied four rooms, Lady Pei and others took a couple of rooms. Therefore, finding a room for Yuan Gang was not difficult.
After a while, Yuan Gang returned with Wei Duo. They were holding padded robes, wooden boards, and similar items.
After placing the items in the room, Yuan Gang tossed his room number to the staff member, ordering him to clean his room.
The staff member left, and Hao Qin Qin entered his room. Yuan Gang immediately went out, and Hao Qin Qin followed him.
"Thud!"
Yuan Gang entered Niu You Dao's room and slammed the door shut right in front of Hao Qin Qin's face, so that she nearly hit her nose on it.
Inside the room, Niu You Dao was still standing by the window, looking out. Yuan Gang sat down at the table opposite Niu You Dao:
"Where's the bear?"
"I told him to return to Chao Zong. He should be there by now." Niu You Dao turned and sat opposite him. He picked up a cup and slowly sipped his tea.
"That girl in pink. Something's not right with her."
Niu You Dao leaned back in his chair and asked:
"What? Are there problems?"
"Annoying."
"Annoying?" Niu You Dao was surprised.
Yuan Gang: "Who is she?"
"She must be a high-flying bird...." Niu You Dao had nothing to hide from Yuan Gang. So he told Yuan Gang everything, including the story of how they met the girl.
Yuan Gang: "She must be from the imperial house of the Qi Kingdom?"
"And not just from the imperial house, but most likely, the Emperor's daughter."
"That girl next to you, is she reliable?"
"We met her in Zhaixing City. She's a rogue cultivator..." Niu You Dao recounted everything about Black Peony and the others again. Since Yuan Gang had come, it wouldn't hurt to tell him everything on Niu You Dao's mind. That way, Yuan Gang might notice any dangers.
The two men held no secrets from each other.
Hearing Niu You Dao's account, Yuan Gang fell into contemplation.
Then Niu You Dao asked: "Did Hai Ru Yue let you go?"
Yuan Gang: "I made explosives, blew up the Lusu Courtyard, and escaped."
"Blew up the Lusu Courtyard?" Niu You Dao's expression changed. He was speechless. How many explosives would it take to blow up a courtyard? He imagined the commotion that must have erupted in Qingzhou City.
"It seems the innkeeper will be coming to you tomorrow."
Realizing that Lord Dao had already found a way to resolve his problems, Yuan Gang relaxed.
"It's a two-day affair." Niu You Dao nodded his head.
The two men spoke in hushed tones, and then Yuan Gang exited. Just then, Hao Qin Qin accosted him again.
Seeing this, Black Peony was surprised.
Chai Fei also flashed over. Earlier, Yuan Gang had pushed his lady so unceremoniously, so he was worried Yuan Gang might do something to her.
The tall man and the delicate girl stood facing each other.
Yuan Gang, with a stone-faced expression, looked down at her. Hao Qin Qin looked up at him, yet she met his gaze as if an equal, even proudly.
Yuan Gang: "What do you want?"
Noticing that he finally gave her attention, Hao Qin Qin smiled, clasped her hands, and said:
"Nothing. I just want to be your friend."
Yuan Gang calmly replied: "I never make friends!"
To him, the word *friend* was empty. It was merely an ornament people bestowed upon each other. Empty pretense. And he had no intention of adorning himself with such trifles!
In his past life, he had seen many of Lord Dao's 'friends' who easily deceived each other depending on the situation. That's why he never wanted to make friends, only to later pretend and smile falsely at each other. For him, only brothers existed. It was better for Lord Dao to make friends; it was his style to make friends everywhere.
"And..." Hao Qin Qin seemed disbelieving:
"Can a person really live without friends?"
Yuan Gang pointed backward and said:
"There's a man sitting over there who loves to make friends. Go befriend him."
Black Peony silently agreed with this statement.
Hao Qin Qin: "I've already befriended him, but I still don't know your name."
"Yuan Gang!" Yuan Gang replied loudly, then asked: "Any more questions? If not, step aside."
Facing such a rude man, Hao Qin Qin wasn't annoyed at all. Although he clearly showed he didn't wish to interact with her.
She paused for a moment, then gathered her courage and said:
"Yuan Gang, I love you!"
Although she said it proudly, as soon as the words left her mouth, her cheeks flushed red.
"...Chai Fei was at a loss for words. He simply wanted to scream.
"...Black Peony's eyes also widened.
Yuan Gang: "Really?"
Hao Qin Qin put her hands behind her back. Her chest was thrust out, her head held high. She said proudly:
"What, you don't believe me?"
Yuan Gang: "Perhaps. But how will you prove you love me?"
Hao Qin Qin: "You want me to prove it?"
Yuan Gang: "Come to my room, sleep with me, and then we'll talk."
Hao Qin Qin blushed. Her former bravery had completely vanished, and she was flustered. She hadn't expected him to be more bold than her:
"Isn't that a bit too fast? We don't really know each other yet..."
Before she could finish, Chai Fei had already flashed forward and stood between them. His eyes wide, he angrily shouted at Yuan Gang:
"Impudent!"
As soon as he shouted, everyone on that floor came out of their rooms.
"What's going on?" Niu You Dao opened his door and asked.
"Nothing!" Yuan Gang turned his head and replied calmly, as if no one was behind him.
Then he quickly returned to his room with Wei Duo. Black Peony watched Yuan Gang, her eyes wide with astonishment.
She realized that indeed, birds of a feather flocked together here. Niu You Dao was eccentric, and now another one had appeared.
"What happened?" Lady Pei and the others came out and asked.
Chai Fei pointed at the blushing Hao Qin Qin and said:
"You ask her yourself! Lady Pei, I think we need to return quickly. Otherwise, we won't be able to bear the responsibility." After saying this, he turned and left.
Seeing Chai Fei's reaction, Lady Pei also grew agitated. She grabbed Hao Qin Qin and led her away.
Immediately, Lei Zong Kang and the others surrounded Black Peony, wanting to ask what had happened.
Black Peony smiled and told them everything. Lei Zong Kang and the others exchanged bewildered glances.
"So that's how it is." Niu You Dao gave a wry smile and returned to his room.
He didn't know whether Hao Qin Qin had truly fallen for Yuan Gang or not, but the girl had a straightforward nature. If she liked someone, she immediately showed it. If she didn't, she didn't.
However, he knew very well what kind of person Yuan Gang was.
In his previous life, Yuan Gang had been short and thin. Furthermore, he disliked idle chatter, wasn't one for showing off, and no sweet words ever came from his lips. He always appeared arrogant and aloof. Could any girl have possibly fallen for such a man in his past life?