…Almost enveloping her entirely in his embrace.
Lu Qingtang had been speaking for quite some time, yet Jiang Xunbai remained silent. She couldn’t help but look up again, only to find Jiang Xunbai staring blankly at her face, his cheeks and earlobes flushed crimson as if fully ripened.
She frowned slightly and couldn’t resist asking, “Second Young Master Jiang, have you been listening to me at all?”
Jiang Xunbai snapped back to reality. His gaze briefly swept over Lu Qingtang’s hand gripping his arm. Following his line of sight, Lu Qingtang abruptly released her hold. She touched her nose awkwardly and said, “My apologies.”
Jiang Xunbai turned his face away, fixing his gaze on the two pavilions in the distance, lost in unknown thoughts.
Lu Qingtang hadn’t given up on explaining: “Second Young Master, please listen to me, I’m truly not familiar with them…”
Jiang Xunbai suddenly let out a soft chuckle. Lu Qingtang stared at him with a puzzled expression: “What are you laughing at?”
Jiang Xunbai suppressed his smile and said, “Let’s go take a look.”
“Go where?”
Jiang Xunbai glanced toward the Southern Wind Pavilion and the brothel, his meaning perfectly clear without words.
Lu Qingtang felt nothing but headache. She didn’t know what the original Lu Qingtang from the book had actually done in these unwritten scenes – could she really have come to the Southern Wind Pavilion and brothel to indulge in pleasure?
If that were true, then accompanying Jiang Xunbai inside would be nothing short of seeking her own doom.
Her progress on Mission One was only halfway complete. Jiang Xunbai was the only one in the main party who spoke up for her. If she completely ruined her image in his eyes today and he stopped supporting her, how much confidence could she have in successfully completing Mission One? Not to mention the eight other missions remaining.
Lu Qingtang asked weakly, “Could we… not go?”
Seeing this, Jiang Xunbai’s interest only deepened. He laughed, “So there are things Miss Lu is afraid of after all—in that case, I’m even more determined to see.”
With that, Jiang Xunbai stepped toward the alley. Lu Qingtang instinctively grabbed him: “It’s just a brothel and Southern Wind Pavilion. Jiang Xunbai, don’t tell me you’ve never been to one?”
Her intention was to provoke Jiang Xunbai, making him refuse out of pride. Unexpectedly, her words only deepened the smile on Jiang Xunbai’s face. His tone became unfathomable:
“How coincidental, I truly haven’t been.”
Lu Qingtang: “…”
“Thanks to you, young miss, I’ll broaden my horizons in these pleasure quarters today.”
Lu Qingtang: Are you insane?!
Seeing that she couldn’t change Jiang Xunbai’s mind, Lu Qingtang had no choice but to pull him toward the brothel. The women at the entrance came forward smiling: “Miss Lu, please—”
Lu Qingtang had only taken a few steps when Jiang Xunbai grabbed her sleeve again. Turning back, she saw Jiang Xunbai beaming: “Miss, let’s take a look across the street instead.”
Lu Qingtang widened her eyes: “Jiang Xunbai, you—you—”
Without explanation, Jiang Xunbai pulled her toward the Southern Wind Pavilion.
The man standing at the entrance said cheerfully: “The young master has excellent taste. Miss, please—”
Extremely reluctant, Lu Qingtang entered the Southern Wind Pavilion. Upon entering, she saw a group of men of various appearances and postures engaged in different activities.
The man who brought them in approached Lu Qingtang and asked, “Miss, come this way. I’ll go summon Qingzhu to accompany you.”
Before Lu Qingtang could refuse, Jiang Xunbai seemed to have heard something remarkable. He leaned close and whispered, “Who is Qingzhu?”
Lu Qingtang looked at the man with a pleading gaze. How was she supposed to know who Qingzhu was? Could he be Lu Qingtang’s lover?!
The man ignored her imploring look and led them to a private room upstairs. Lu Qingtang sat as if on pins and needles, constantly glancing around. Jiang Xunbai leisurely poured tea while watching her with great interest.
When footsteps echoed in the corridor, a white-robed man carrying a long zither appeared. Upon seeing Lu Qingtang, he shyly lowered his head, two patches of crimson blooming across his cheeks.
Lu Qingtang: …
“Young miss, what brings you here to see me today?”
The man’s voice was gentle as he approached with the zither, about to sit beside her. Lu Qingtang’s eyes widened in alarm. She immediately recoiled but accidentally bumped into Jiang Xunbai. The teacup slipped from her hands, but a pair of jade-white, slender fingers caught it just before it could stain her skirt.
In the next moment, a dark shadow had positioned itself before Lu Qingtang. Holding her teacup, Jiang Xunbai stared at Qingzhu with a mocking smile, his flirtatious peach-blossom eyes filled with provocation.
Peeking out from behind Jiang Xunbai, Lu Qingtang whispered, “Thank you, Second Young Master.”
Jiang Xunbai didn’t turn around, so Lu Qingtang couldn’t see the expression on his face. She only noticed Qingzhu’s complexion shifting between green and white. When Qingzhu saw her peeking out, he resentfully said, “If you already have a new lover, why come to see me?”
“Are you here to humiliate me with your new flame?”
Jiang Xunbai suddenly let out a cold snort. Anxious, Lu Qingtang rushed out from behind him, waving her hands frantically. “D-don’t talk nonsense!”
“He’s not my new lover!!”
How could he falsely accuse people like that!
However, as soon as these words left her mouth, Jiang Xunbai shot her a glance and laughed in anger. “Right, I’m not.”
Lu Qingtang glanced at Jiang Xunbai. For some reason, she felt he had emphasized his words, but when she looked at him and saw his smiling face, she thought she must have imagined it.
“Really?”
Qingzhu’s eyes sparkled, his face lighting up with joy.
Lu Qingtang gave him a puzzled look, then raised her eyes to meet Jiang Xunbai’s meaningful gaze. Suddenly, she felt a bit guilty.
“No, why do you care so much?!”
As if he were really her former lover?
Lu Qingtang randomly found a seat and sat down. Jiang Xunbai circled around and sat between her and Qingzhu.
After sitting down, he casually remarked, “I heard from the young miss that Qingzhu is highly skilled in music. Might I have the honor of hearing you play a piece?”
Lu Qingtang: Wait, who told you he’s skilled in music??!
Jiang Xunbai and Qingzhu both looked at her—the former raising an eyebrow with a mocking smile, the latter overjoyed and gazing affectionately.
Lu Qingtang had no choice but to nod. Seeing this, Qingzhu delightedly said, “Since the young miss says so, I’ll humbly offer my performance.”
With that, Qingzhu sat down with his zither and began to play.
It had to be said that talent was truly the best enhancement for a man. If Lu Qingtang had previously wondered why her original self would be interested in such a man, watching him play the zither now gave her some understanding.
Qingzhu had delicate features, and his slender fingers glided gently over the strings. The clear, melodious notes flowed like a mountain stream, reminiscent of jade beads clinking together.
Lu Qingtang savored the dishes before her while being enchanted by Qingzhu’s zither music.
Jiang Xunbai leaned slightly to the side, blocking Lu Qingtang’s line of sight. Forced to look up at him, she heard him say, “Miss Lu has good taste.”
Lu Qingtang gazed at Jiang Xunbai in confusion, only for him to add, “The young lady certainly has an eye for recognizing talent.”
Still puzzled, Lu Qingtang noticed his gaze drifting subtly toward Qingzhu and suddenly understood.
Embarrassed, she explained, “To be honest, Second Young Master, there’s absolutely nothing between him and me. I… I…”
Meeting Jiang Xunbai’s meaningful look, she blurted out desperately, “If there were anything between us, my father would break my legs!!”
Pleased with her own fabricated excuse, she continued, “Besides, I’m still engaged to Bai Wujin. No matter what, Bai Wujin is the legitimate son of the Bai family—one of the three great demon-hunting clans. If I were fooling around in secret, the Bai family would have already called off the engagement. Why would I need to run away from home to escape the marriage?!”
Jiang Xunbai chuckled softly at Lu Qingtang’s flustered, indignant expression. She stiffened and asked, “What are you laughing at?”
What’s so funny? What’s so funny? What’s so funny??
This is a serious matter.
Jiang Xunbai murmured languidly, “Why is the young lady in such a hurry to explain?”
Lu Qingtang raised her eyes. “Nonsense! This affects my reputation—of course I’m anxious—”
Her words trailed off abruptly.
Jiang Xunbai suddenly leaned in, his hands gripping the back of her chair, almost encircling her entirely. His peach-blossom eyes shimmered as he gazed at Lu Qingtang, a slight smile curling his lips.
Lu Qingtang froze in place, unable to advance or retreat, simply staring blankly at him.
In a lazy, amused tone, Jiang Xunbai asked:
“You’re so eager to explain yourself to me, as if there were really something between us.”
Something exploded in Lu Qingtang’s mind with a deafening roar, making her heart tremble. But before she could grasp that flicker of unusual emotion, it slipped away.
Bewildered, she asked, “What could there be between you and me?”
Jiang Xunbai’s smile stiffened, his expression shifting dramatically. He withdrew his hands and leaned back, but in the blink of an eye, he shot her another strange glance.
Lu Qingtang blinked innocently at him. “Second Young Master still hasn’t told me—what could there be between you and me?”
Through gritted teeth, Jiang Xunbai replied, “Naturally, there is a chasm separating Miss Lu and me.”
Lu Qingtang glanced down at the distance between them—it could easily be called an aisle—and said understandingly, “So that’s what it is. It certainly is a chasm.”
Jiang Xunbai: “…”Is my target really not a problem?”?!”
The system’s mechanical voice responded as usual: 【Character Lu Qingtang has no issues.】
Remembering that Lu Qingtang’s favorability hadn’t moved in a long time, Jiang Xunbai asked, “Then what’s her current favorability?”
【Congratulations, host. Character Lu Qingtang’s current favorability is 11/100. Please keep up the efforts.】
Jiang Xunbai felt a knot in his chest. He couldn’t tell whether it was Lu Qingtang’s earlier reaction that unsettled him or the system’s robotic responses that irritated him.
He angrily said, “Why didn’t you tell me her favorability points increased? Would you not say anything unless I ask? Is this how you treat us wage workers??!”
System: 【Yes.】
Jiang Xunbai: “…”
Author’s note:
Jiang TangTang: There seems to be something between us (seems a bit ambiguous [shy])
TangTang: Should there be something between us? (Don’t understand but respect [melted])
Jiang TangTang: [clown]