"Thanks, everyone, for your timely help."
Just after Cicada Dust left, Le Yu, hiding behind the screen, knelt by the poolside and said gratefully.
"What does 'old buddies' mean?" The girl lying on the air mattress splashed water playfully and asked curiously.
"It's a hometown saying from where I come from, meaning dear sisters or brothers."
Le Yu stood up and said, "For your kindness and grace, I'll repay in my next life as a cow or horse. I must leave; I can't keep causing you trouble..."
Smack!
A hand suddenly reached out from the pool, grabbing Le Yu's ankle. A long-haired sister like a mermaid emerged, smiling, "You won't be causing us trouble; no need to rush off. Everyone's curious why the Statistical Department is after you... What's your name?"
Le Yu looked helplessly as the long-haired sister laughed warmly, "Oh right, before asking someone's name, it's polite to introduce yourself first. I'm Double Carp; this is my house... Your clothes are torn anyway; why not just swim?"
Le Yu immediately sat up straight, coughed twice, and put on a tender and weak girl's demeanor: "I'm Le Yu, a refugee from Dongyang."
"Why is the Statistical Department after you?" the girl with the star-shaped hair clip playing by the water asked curiously.
"I don't know, maybe because of my hair color." Le Yu sighed, "My hair's been fiery red since childhood. Maybe they're hunting someone whose hair color matches mine, and as a refugee in Yanjing with no relatives, they want to catch me to make a report."
"Really?" Double Carp examined his bare feet, "But your feet look clean, not like a refugee's..."
"It's because I know a bit of Lingxu Battle Technique, and I often wash my feet. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to escape the Statistical Department's clutches." Le Yu maintained a calm expression, "Double Carp sister, could you let go? I'm sensitive there..."
"Really? I don't believe you." Double Carp chuckled, playing with Le Yu's foot in the water, making him shiver, feeling embarrassed: What kind of wicked sorcery have I stumbled into?
Even the Statistical Department inspectors play like cats here, and they have to act cute and coquettish in their presence. Such power made Cicada Dust bow down. Le Yu suspected they must be someone of great importance, either imperial nobles or high-profile celebrities.
Better not cause trouble, if possible... He switched topics, "You all seem rich, having such a big house with a private pool in Yanjing; you must be impressive?"
"Not impressive, just an ordinary family in Yanjing."
The sporty girl who hadn't stopped swimming paused, shook her short, breezy hair, and smiled, "Besides, this house is only Double Carp sister's. We aren't that wealthy. It's all thanks to Double Carp's support that we can manage life."
Double Carp spoke boldly, "When I hit it big, I won't forget my sisters!"
"Oh."
"I believe you."
"Hehe."
Though Le Yu felt something was off among the seven sisters by the pool, it wasn't the time to ponder. Seizing the chance, he pulled his foot away, saying, "I found a way out of Yanjing, need to hurry over, can't stay any longer. Thank you all for your care."
"Why continue running?" The girl playing with water raised an eyebrow, "My family needs a maid. Why not be our maid? We saved your life; you could repay us that way."
"Why repay Cloud Sister? Clearly, I have the biggest favor!" Double Carp leaned on the pool edge, looking up at Le Yu, yet he felt he was being looked down upon: "Escaping the Statistical Department's pursuit shows your competence. Be my guardian maid, and maybe one day work in the inner palace..."
"Double Carp, you don't even know her background, letting her be your guardian maid?" The girl sunbathing on the Bamboo Slave chair lazily said, "Aren't you worried about betrayal or harm?"
"She's so pretty; how could she be bad!"
"Double Carp, you're also pretty." The lazy girl smiled ambiguously, observing Le Yu sideways, "Why's Raccoon Slave after you? Since he let you go easily, won't be a serious crime. But for Raccoon Slave to come himself must mean your background is big... Who are you really?"
Le Yu was silent for a moment, then exhaled deeply, "Do the sisters know about the 'Silver Blood Burning Night' event in Xuanzhu County recently?"
The girls exchanged glances; the lazy girl raised her hand, "I know, but they probably don't. Go ahead."
Le Yu briefly explained the Silver Blood Burning Night event, then spoke gravely, "Actually, I'm President Jing Zhengwei's maid. So I know Jing's plan was to dismantle the Silver Blood Association, solve Xuanzhu County's exploitation, ease social tensions. But that Silver Blood scoundrel, in desperation, incited chaos and suicide, wanting to drag President Jing to hell too, boohoo..."
"That time President Jing led us away from the inner city, fighting against Peak of Perfection killer 'Mr. Iron,' sacrificed himself to let his fiancée and us escape. Yet Mr. Iron smashed the Inner City Sea Cape Gate, separating us from President Jing, boohoo..."
"Without communication from President Jing, I must fulfill his last order: While fleeing, he thought I learned Lingxu Battle Technique best, told me to find someone in Yanjing. That person is his friend's younger sister. Check if she's okay; if not, take her back to Xuanzhu County to rely on his fiancée. If she's fine, don't disturb, boohoo..."
With Le Yu's narrative, Jing Zhengwei emerges as a loyal, brave, wise, devoted hero, captivating everyone.
As Le Yu described Jing waving farewell amidst Sea Cape Gate's fiery ruins, heading for the cruel Mr. Iron, many shed tears.
The 'Ice Blood Physique' lets Le Yu lie without blinking, and his narrative is mostly true, except he's talking primarily in third-person. These naive girls naturally don't notice the discrepancy.
"So Jing Zhengwei died?" The star-hairclip girl couldn't help but ask.
"Unsure. When I left, hadn't found his body." Le Yu spoke sadly, "Hoping he's okay."
"Did you find the friend's sister?"
"Found her; she's doing well, I didn't disturb."
The lazy girl suddenly asked, "If you're so detailed, are you really Jing Zhengwei's maid?"
"Yes, the Statistical Department wants to catch me because- Jing Zhengwei's massive funds got intercepted en route. They might think it's Jing Family infighting, want to torture info out of me, boohoo..."
"Do you know about Jing Zhengwei collaborating with White Night?"
Le Yu feigned confusion convincingly: "White Night? Impossible! We suspect White Night behind the chaos; how could President Jing collaborate..."
"Could be Jing Zhengwei courting disaster..."
"You!"
Le Yu angrily stood, wiping crocodile tears from his eyes, "Sisters, I really can't stay; people in Xuanzhu County await me... With mountains and rivers, we shall meet again!"
"Cloud, how can you speak ill of the dead!" Double Carp angrily grabbed Le Yu's ankle, "Apologize!"
The lazy girl shrugged, "Alright, sorry, I shouldn't have speculated."
Le Yu looked at his re-grabbed foot, forced a smile, "Double Carp sister..."
"Don't worry, I won't stop you. But you can't just leave like this."
Double Carp said, "Your red hair is too noticeable; at least wear a veil? And your clothes are tattered; a girl wearing this on the streets is dangerous— in Yanjing, the more finely dressed you are, the less trouble you'll meet."
Le Yu refused quickly, sensing ominous feelings, "I can protect myself..."
"Ladies shouldn't stand under unsafe walls! I think a white veil is nice."
"With a fluffy white dress?"
"No, a black hat with a white veil and black dress..."
"That's too serious, and white veils are often very thin and can easily show her red hair... Actually, talking so much doesn't help. We might as well check Twin Carp Sister's wardrobe."
"Alright! Let's go!"
...
...
"I'll have a portion of exploder tripe."
Qin Yueshi, carrying a bag of clothes, was eating exploder tripe placed on a lotus leaf on her way home. Exploder tripe is made by washing and cutting fresh beef or lamb tripe into strips, blanching it in boiling water, and eating it with a mix of oil, sesame paste, chili oil, fermented bean curd soup, and minced coriander. The texture is tender, and the taste is aromatic and crispy. These days, on her way home from training at the martial arts club, Qin Yueshi would buy a portion, making it her daily moment of happiness.
Soon, Qin Yueshi was sweating on her forehead, her mouth greasy, unable to resist licking the fragrant oil off her lips. Suddenly, she heard laughter and realized some kids were laughing at her for eating messily. She immediately glared back at them.
She was in a bad mood since she realized she was the weakest member after joining the martial arts club. That feeling of being behind turned into a strong sense of shame.
She increasingly realized how much time she had wasted dating Jing Zhengwu—not that dating was wrong, but her heart was entirely focused on her lover, believing Jing Zhengwu would solve everything, without spending time improving herself.
The shame turned into guilt, and the guilt became a powerful motivator.
Rather than worry about pointless elegance, Qin Yueshi cared more about not wasting time.
These days, her makeup time got shorter, her meals faster, and her steps were no longer gentle like a breeze but brisk and decisive.
As her peers moved ahead, she was determined to spend all her time on learning!
While eating exploder tripe, Qin Yueshi suddenly spotted a slim, elegant beauty walking ahead.
She wore a pure black bow veil, like a black cat's ears; her top was an off-shoulder gray puff-sleeved black short skirt, with two belts accentuating her slim waist, and tight pants and high-heeled long boots that made noise as she walked.
Walking in the sunset glow, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Elegant, mysterious, enchanting, cute.
Opposing adjectives flooded Qin Yueshi's mind. Although she had seen many beautiful girls these days, no one's mere silhouette left such a strong impression—Yanjing indeed was full of talent.
Despite her curiosity, Qin Yueshi didn't rush to see the stranger's face. She admired the charming back silhouette from behind, while chasing away buzzing nuisances following her—there were many trailing her like flies with disgusting gazes.
As they walked, Qin Yueshi noticed the stranger was heading the same way, wondering if she also lived in the bustling alley? Was she a wife or daughter of the nobility?
Soon, they both reached the bustling alley entrance together. At this moment, Qin Yueshi saw her heading towards the Qin mansion.
The two gatekeepers of the Qin mansion first showed a look of amazement, then surprise, and then fearfully opened the door to let the black rose in.
Hmm?
Qin Yueshi quickly followed, watching the black rose perform the Lingxu Step, running like a phantom into the backyard, and she followed.
The backyard was very quiet. Qin Yueshi didn't see the black rose; she only saw her second brother, cultivating his body in the last rays of the sunset.
"Second Brother, did you see..."
"No."
Qin Yueshi looked at Qin Yueyang.
Qin Yueyang looked at Qin Yueshi.
It was the first time she had seen her second brother with such a complex expression.
She returned to her room with a blank expression for a bath,
Ate dinner with a blank expression,
Slept with a blank expression,
Woke up with a blank expression,
Ate breakfast with a blank expression,
Went to the martial arts club with a blank expression,
Began sparring with a blank expression.
Bang!
Her senior sister in the martial arts club knocked Qin Yueshi down with a Desolate Bite move.
Looking at Qin Yueshi lost in thought, the senior sister pulled her up and calmly asked, "Do you have something on your mind?"
Nodded.
"Related to family?"
Nodded.
"Want to talk to someone about it?"
With a complicated expression, Qin Yueshi took the senior sister aside, swallowed a gulp of saliva, and said, "What I'm about to say, you mustn't be surprised."
"I've Seen more than you can imagine, and I've seen everything, so I won't be surprised."
"Well, I have two brothers. I really dislike my eldest brother because he... caused the death of the person I liked. Besides, his combat technique is strong, he's smart, calculating, ruthless, and better than me at everything. I extremely, extremely dislike him."
"Oh."
"Then yesterday, I saw my brother, my elder brother, he, he..."
"What about him?"
"He was wearing stunning clothes, and, and he looked so much better than me... His mere silhouette was already making me feel inferior... Boohoo, I can't even match him in feminine allure..."
"... This I truly haven't seen before."
Saying that, Qin Yueshi suddenly looked up and scrutinized the senior sister's face.
"Sister Qian, he's even better looking than you."
Qian Yuya blinked and tilted her head: "(⊙ˍ⊙)?"