Song Qingchao forgot how she got back to her room.
She pushed the door open and saw Bai Youan leaning against her window, drinking wine.
“Why are you here?”
Song Qingchao raised her eyebrows and asked in confusion.
Bai Youan lifted his eyelids and glanced at her, “Why can’t I be here?”
He suddenly gulped the wine in his hand, “You’re about to sell me, and you won’t let me come and demand an explanation?”
Song Qingchao couldn’t help but find it amusing.
She walked up to Bai Youan, reached out, and pulled the fan from his waist, then lifted his chin, “How much are you worth?”
Bai Youan glanced at her and raised his hand to knock away the fan touching his chin, “I’m very expensive!”
He took another swig of wine, “Seriously, what are you planning to do?”
Seeing that she couldn’t persuade him, Song Qingchao simply sat down, “Whatever. They won’t do anything to Mumu, not if they still want you to go.”
“See? I told you I was valuable.”
“Yes, you are indeed valuable.” Song Qingchao immediately felt that sitting down was a foolish decision.
No sooner had she settled than she stood up, grabbed Bai Youan by the collar of his clothes, and dragged him out.
Bai Youan was dazed, with a blush in his eyes.
It was probably because he had just bathed. Although he still smelled of wine, it didn’t bother her.
“Why are you kicking me out?”
“Because I want to sleep now, and this is my room!”
Song Qingchao ruthlessly threw him to the young medicinal boy waiting outside.
Bai Youan slumped against the boy, his handsome face smiling faintly, his clothes half-open from the struggle, revealing a firm and powerful chest at the collar.
“Young Master Bai, you’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk.” Bai Youan’s expression was a mix of playfulness and coldness.
He turned and directly pulled away the hand of the young medicinal boy who was supporting him, then reached out to push Song Qingchao’s door. Finding it locked, he went around to the windowsill.
He didn’t climb in but chose to lean against the wall, then propped his face with one hand to look at Song Qingchao.
“Sell me, I agree!”
His voice was exceptionally languid, and the moonlight that fell on him softened.
Song Qingchao, who had just gotten into bed inside, found it amusing.
She shook her head and simply snuggled into her quilt.
It felt so good to sleep in bed!
Song Qingchao slept soundly for once.
Although she woke up early the next day, she still took her time getting ready before leaving.
There was no sign of the drunken man at the door, but his alluring, captivating presence seemed to linger.
Song Qingchao couldn’t help but curve her lips.
She stretched lazily and walked out, strolling around the courtyard for a few rounds, and finally made her way to Xiang Yunling’s courtyard.
Xiang Yunling glanced at her arrival and said softly, “Sit.”
Song Qingchao sat down with grace and then proceeded to eat without hesitation.
“You’re truly not being polite.”
“Why should I be polite with Young Master Xiang?” Song Qingchao was completely unreserved, even picking out the meat to eat.
“Here, these are the medicinal ingredients I need.”
Song Qingchao took them, scanned them quickly, and then tucked them into her embrace, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get them for you.”
Xiang Yunling expressed disbelief, “You got medicine from me back then too.”
Song Qingchao shook her finger, “This is different. Back then, it was fastest for me to get medicine from you. Now, large quantities of medicinal ingredients are needed, so I must go and procure them.”
“Procure from the Lin Estate?”
Song Qingchao smiled mysteriously, “Eat up!”
After breakfast, she waited in the courtyard for a while, but Bai Youan still hadn’t woken up.
How much had he drunk?
Finally, she emulated him from the night before and climbed in through the windowsill.
However, she was not as gentlemanly, striding directly to where his clothes were hanging.
After sifting through them, she still managed to snatch his fan.
This item had the longest efficacy.
Then, she left a letter and departed.
She had to go pick up her younger brother and Zhe’er.
Song Qingchao went empty-handed.
She didn’t wear the dress Xiang Yunling had prepared for her, nor the custom-tailored dresses from her old wardrobe.
Just a simple coarse linen dress, her face bare of any makeup, wearing a white veil.
She didn’t need any clothing or jewelry to bolster her presence.
She possessed absolute confidence.
The Lin Estate was very easy to find. Even without anyone to guide her, in a city where half of it was ruins, the still-standing old mansion was quite eye-catching.
Song Qingchao followed the roof tiles to find her way.
When she stood before the gate, she couldn’t help but look up at the plaque that read “Lin Estate” in large characters.
She finally understood what it meant to be a local bully.
This plaque, this grand gate, were all inlaid with gold edges, and the wood used was rosewood.
There was only one word: “Opulent.” Two words: “Rich.”
They truly flaunted their wealth.
Song Qingchao even suspected if thieves would come in the middle of the night to pry off a few gold pieces from this gate.
After appreciating it for a moment, Song Qingchao lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped forward.
The guards at the entrance immediately stopped her, “Who! How dare you intrude upon the Lin Estate!”
Song Qingchao glanced at the two of them and didn’t bother to argue with them.
It was meaningless to deal with domestic servants who were just dependents.
She took two steps back, “I am Song Qingchao, and my younger brother and sister are currently within the estate. Master Lin should know someone would be coming today. Please announce me.”
The guards looked her up and down with suspicion, “I heard Master found someone named Bai Youan, a physician, and most importantly, a man. What is a young lady like you doing here?”
“Me?” Song Qingchao smiled, then met their scrutinizing gazes frankly, “I’m here to tell Master Lin that I will not hand over Bai Youan.”
“Bold!” One of the guards suddenly shrieked, pointing his finger at Song Qingchao’s nose, “You have no respect! My master invited Mr. Bai as a guest, and there’s no reason for you to come!”
The other chimed in, “Ignorant fool!”
Then, he raised his club, intending to drive Song Qingchao away.
Song Qingchao only pivoted her toes a few times before nimbly dodging the attack from the two guards, even toying with them until their own momentum caused them to fall to the ground.
“Look, wasn’t it better to announce me honestly as I said?”
Song Qingchao stood elegantly to the side, untouched.
The two guards, disheveled, helped each other up and glared at Song Qingchao, “You wretched woman! You just wait!”
Song Qingchao didn’t react much, only nodding, “Mm, you go ahead, I’ll wait.”
With that, the two guards limped into the imposing mansion.
Indeed, Song Qingchao didn’t have to wait long. Soon after, a group of servants armed with sticks emerged from the estate.
“Oh, going to be beaten again?”
Song Qingchao was not flustered at all, even provoking them.
The guard at the head pointed at Song Qingchao, “Brothers! Get her!”
And so, the group surged forward.
“This is quite a situation. Let me say first, I didn’t start this!”