The music mingled with the sea breeze, and the slightly cool night felt just right, warmed by the lively atmosphere and the heat from the alcohol.
“Truly shabby,” Cifu seemed dissatisfied with everything.
She had been complaining since boarding, first about the mask, and now about the banquet not being luxurious enough, falling short of the high-society events she had attended.
If Bai Yuqi heard this, he would feel wronged.
This was a difficult challenge his nemesis had set for him, and it was already impressive that he could organize it to this extent.
Not to mention he was pitiably stuck overseeing the entire event, unable to enjoy it himself.
So wronged.
“If you don’t like it, you can leave,” Nie Qingkong pushed Cifu’s hand away from his arm, his voice carrying a hint of coldness.
“I won’t,” Cifu, unfazed by the distant tone, clung to Nie Qingkong’s arm again and whispered resentfully, “I’m not the one you were supposed to kill… What are you doing…”
“You were the one babbling in front of Father,” Nie Qingkong pushed Cifu’s hand away again, saying coldly, “Cifu, don’t think you can control me. I know you better than you know yourself.”
After so many years together, he understood Cifu far too well.
Cifu had intentionally brought up Er Ya in front of their adoptive father back then. She wanted him to lay hands on Er Ya, to make him kill someone Xia Qingyu cared about, to cause a complete rift between him and Xia Qingyu.
Cifu, having been seen through by Nie Qingkong, didn’t care, merely curling her lips.
So what if it was her intention?
Those people deserved to die anyway!
Their adoptive father had been planning in Country Z for so long, and it was precisely the sudden interference of those people that ruined his adoptive father’s major plans. These people all deserved to die.
Not to mention these people were related to Xia Qingyu, which made their deaths even more deserved.
As for Nie Qingkong.
Didn’t Nie Qingkong himself say before that he and Xia Qingyu were enemies?
Since they were enemies, what was wrong with killing a hidden master of the Tang family?
Were their hands not stained with enough blood already?
Why was it that the people around Xia Qingyu were untouchable?
This hidden master of the Tang family was just the beginning. She would make Nie Qingkong kill more people later. The next one…
Cifu’s gaze landed on Xia Qingtian, who was not far away, wearing a strapless red gown, her figure alluring and her smile bright.
Cifu’s eyes were filled with murderous intent: Next, it’s you!
Last time, she should have killed that bitch herself!
This time, she would start by taking down the slut beside Xia Qingtian.
Cifu shifted her gaze from Xia Qingtian to the person beside her, her brow furrowing slightly.
This is…
Before Cifu could get a clear look, someone walked past, blocking her view.
Just as Cifu was about to turn her head for a closer look, Nie Qingkong stepped directly in front of her, blocking her vision entirely.
“Are you not hearing me when I’m talking to you?” Nie Qingkong deliberately blocked Cifu’s view and questioned her pointedly, “This is your last chance. If you dare try to control me again, I will make you pay.”
Hearing this, Cifu looked up at Nie Qingkong. His somewhat unfamiliar face was half-hidden by a black mask, and the cold anger in his eyes sent a chill through her heart.
She could tell that Nie Qingkong was truly angry.
However, Cifu didn’t know if this anger was because Nie Qingkong was displeased with her attempts to manipulate him, or because she intended to harm the people around Xia Qingyu.
Whichever it was, she didn’t care.
In the end, as long as Nie Qingkong could achieve her goals, that was enough.
Raising her hands, Cifu held her palms towards Nie Qingkong, making a perfunctory gesture of surrender. “Then I won’t disturb you. Wishing you victory tonight.”
As she spoke, Cifu glanced towards Xia Qingtian again. Seeing that the person beside Xia Qingtian had disappeared, a cold glint flashed in Cifu’s eyes.
Perhaps she had seen wrong.
She had investigated specifically before. Xia Qingtian cared deeply about Xia Qingyu and did not allow Xia Qingyu to board the ship, even arranging for the Wen family to provide extra protection.
That person just now must have been the hidden master of the Tang family.
It was a fleeting glance; she was likely mistaken due to her intense focus.
After all, girls of that age generally had similar builds.
Now, all she had to do was wait for Nie Qingkong to complete his mission, and then she could proceed with her next plan.
After Cifu left, Nie Qingkong breathed a sigh of relief. He turned back and realized that the person who had been accompanying Xia Qingtian was no longer there.
His gaze swept around, his brow furrowed.
If Cifu were to see Xia Qingyu, it would be troublesome.
Cifu had already seemed suspicious just now, and he needed to find a way to get Xia Qingyu away. He didn't want Xia Qingyu to appear here and interfere with the mission his father had assigned him.
“Young Master Bai, this banquet is quite nice tonight,” Xia Qingtian said, chatting with Bai Yuqi. “The替身 (tìshēn - body double) you found for Qingyu is also good; I almost didn’t recognize her at first glance.”
“Of course. Not only Qingyu’s, but Er Ya’s and Miao Tong’s替身 (tìshēn - body double) were also personally interviewed and carefully selected by me,” Bai Yuqi chuckled, “Don’t worry, there won’t be any mistakes.”
“Thank you for your trouble,” Xia Qingtian said, her gaze drifting to a girl in a staff uniform weaving through the banquet on the other side.
The girl had her long hair tied back in a low ponytail. She wore a staff uniform, intentionally a bit too large, with padding inside to make her appear fuller than usual. The half-face white mask she wore was a distinctive mark, permitted for staff members and differentiating them from the honored guests.
Initially, she had wanted Xia Qingyu to enjoy the banquet as a guest.
However, Lu Yaoyang felt it wasn't safe, especially with Xiang Xueyuan still missing.
They wanted to fish, to trap potential dangers, not to be fished by others.
Thus, Bai Yuqi’s previous preparations could be put to use.
She hadn’t expected that Bai Yuqi, who usually seemed frivolous and unserious, would be so thoughtful and actually find some reliable替身 (tìshēn - body double)s.
Er Ya’s and Miao Tong’s替身 (tìshēn - body double)s were also diligently enjoying the banquet, either sampling the food or mingling around.
As for the real Er Ya, she was currently being confined to a room by Di San, who was forcing her to memorize texts.
Thinking of Er Ya’s wronged expression when Di San took her away earlier, Xia Qingtian couldn’t help but want to laugh.
Sorry, it wasn’t that she was disloyal; it was just a bit…
Heh heh.
“Here,” Bai Yuqi raised his hand and tapped the information receiver on Er Ya’s end, signaling with his eyes, “The bait has been approached.”
Xia Qingtian followed Bai Yuqi’s gaze and saw a voluptuous woman circling around [Miao Tong], subtly releasing information, and playing with her beautiful long hair as if to suggest they move to a different spot to chat.
Meanwhile, Nie Qingkong, unable to find Xia Qingyu, was feeling somewhat agitated. He picked up a drink from beside him and took a sip, only to notice a staff member wearing a white half-face mask walking past him.