Zhou Xing Shen was not as simple as he appeared. Besides his porcelain business, his family seemed to have other sources of income. It remained unknown whether his grandfather, who had retired from public service, was aware of this.
What did "casually accepting things from others" mean? It made her sound so easygoing.
"Fine, then buy it for me!"
After thinking it over for the past few days, she felt he had tricked her. He had been a close confidant to her imperial brother for three years; how could he possibly have no savings? While she hadn't seen him with many clothes, his study was filled with good brushes and inkstones.
A single outfit wasn't that expensive. She had been deceived.
Casually picking up a string of peach pit bracelets she had been eyeing on the stall, she put it on her wrist. "Pay up!"
Having said that, she walked away without looking back.
Liu Dong Huai's expression was complex, his brow furrowed deeply.
"Sir, this pair of peach pit bracelets is sold as a set, not individually. It's 100 wen in total, you see..."
The stall vendor handed over a bracelet with slightly larger beads.
Liu Dong Huai's brow furrowed even tighter.
That night, under the candlelight, Liu Dong Huai irritably closed his book. He opened a drawer, and at the very back lay the string of peach pit bracelets. Two of the beads were polished smooth, inscribed with the characters "Bai Shou" (white head, referring to growing old together). What about the other string? What might be carved on it?
Had she noticed?
"Bai Shou Xie Lao" (grow old together)? "Bai Shou Qi Mei" (heads white, eyebrows together, a metaphor for a long and happy marriage)? "Bai Shou Tong Xin" (hearts united until old age)? "Bai"...
No!
What was he thinking?
What was that faint joy he felt just now?
She knew nothing, yet he harbored such shameful thoughts.
"I still have to tell her."
He grabbed the bracelet and stood up, not allowing himself a moment's hesitation. He hurried through a dark, empty room towards the other end.
Before he could reach it, he saw the light in that room extinguish.
Asleep?
In the dim night, a dark figure shot up into the sky, leaping over the wall like a giant black kite.
"Ling Xi!"
Liu Dong Huai cried out in alarm. He rushed over and burst through the door, finding no response inside. The bed was empty.
At this moment, Ling Xi was being carried across rooftops, flying so fast she felt like she would vomit.
"Third Brother, can you fly slower?"
"Yes."
A cold response came from above.
As for why she was being carried by her Third Brother in the middle of the night, it was because someone had paid to have her kidnapped. Her Third Brother, wanting to try his hand at martial arts before venturing into the jianghu, had been chosen for the job due to his exceptional skills.
How fortunate she was! The payment was quite substantial.
Third Brother's intention was that the jianghu had its own rules; if you took the money, you had to do the job.
After completing the task, the transaction would be considered finished, and he would then rescue her.
He earned money, and she remained unharmed.
Very clever, wasn't it?
A truly profitable venture.
Third Brother did indeed slow down. Ling Xi saw that they were already far from the county office. Her Third Brother flew incredibly fast.
Finally, they reached a small alley, and Third Brother stopped.
"We're here."
Ling Xi felt utterly miserable. She hadn't spoken much with Third Brother. Apart from his interactions with her sister's family, he seemed unapproachable to everyone else, which was quite intimidating.
Still, if he had to kidnap her, couldn't he have been gentler? Just holding her by the collar of her back, she felt like she would either suffocate or be shaken to death.
"Third Brother, do Sister and Brother-in-law know about this business of yours?"
"......Don't tell your sister."
It took Third Brother a while to utter that sentence.
Ling Xi understood.
Third Brother was very afraid of her sister. Ha! She had caught him.
Ling Xi was taken into a small courtyard. Inside a room in the courtyard, a man was drinking wine.
Ling Xi recognized him; he was one of the group she had encountered outside the restaurant that day. Honestly, what kind of classmates did Liu Dong Huai have? They looked respectable, but they only engaged in petty, dishonorable acts.
Upon seeing Ling Xi, the man's eyes lit up. He got up and moved towards her.
"She truly is a beauty. Liu Dong Huai, that country bumpkin, has quite the good fortune!"
Third Brother's sword flashed, blocking him.
His face was masked, revealing only his sharp, piercing eyes. His voice was so cold it sent shivers down one's spine, as if facing an iceberg.
"The money!"
The man couldn't help but shiver, thinking: This person's aura is so strong, and his efficiency is so high. Although he seems a bit dangerous, he only seems to care about money, which is for the best. He had plenty of money and could cooperate with him long-term.
He generously tossed out a bag of silver.
"Here's an extra 50 taels. Where can I find you if I need something else in the future?"
"If you send out a hiring message, I will contact you."
Third Brother said coldly, then vanished in a flash.
Such swift martial arts!
Ling Xi stared at the empty doorway. Goodness, Third Brother, that conversation just now sounded like a seasoned jianghu veteran.
Had he been doing this kind of business behind her sister's back many times already?
Looking at the bulging bag of silver, it must have been two to three hundred taels. Money was so easy to earn.
"Heh heh, beauty, if you follow me from now on, I'll feed you well, which is better than that poor scholar Liu Dong Huai. To tell you the truth, he won't last long in that magistrate position, so you can rest assured in...... uh......"
Before the man could finish speaking, he was knocked unconscious by a palm strike from Third Brother, who had reappeared behind him.
Ling Xi knew Third Brother would come back to save her. She had expected to have to deal with this fellow for a while longer, perhaps with Third Brother disguising himself before reappearing.
She hadn't expected this...
Third Brother was truly audacious.
"Third Brother, can I have a bit of this money too? I went through all this trouble in the middle of the night, consider it for my hardship, okay? Not too much, just that extra 50 taels?"
"Slap!"
Without a word, Third Brother placed 50 taels into Ling Xi's hand.
"Don't tell your sister."
"I know, Third Brother! I definitely won't tell." Ling Xi was overjoyed. How many books would she have to copy to earn this much!
"Third Brother, keep an eye out for me in the future. If someone kidnaps me again, don't let anyone else get the opportunity."
Otherwise, she would be doomed.
Third Brother frowned. He had only intended to test the waters. Such dealings were not as satisfying as acting righteously.
However, this girl was also Ah Yin's only remaining relative.
He would watch for a few more days then.
Ling Xi was sent back to the county office by Third Brother again. Exhausted from the night, she fell asleep immediately, completely unaware that a frantic search had been underway for her outside.
It wasn't until dawn that she was woken up.
Liu Dong Huai's eyes were bloodshot. His usually gentle brows were tinged with a hint of ferocity, his attire disheveled, and his composure completely gone.
"Liu Dong Huai, why are you entering my room?"
Ling Xi, now fully awake, realized his gaze was as sharp as a blade. He was gritting his teeth, his delicate face as pale as a ghost.
What was wrong?
She hadn't provoked him, had she?
"Where were you last night?"
He stared fixedly at Ling Xi, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
Ling Xi swallowed, finding him a little frightening.
"How did you get back? Who was that person? Did they..."
He suddenly grabbed her wrists, his grip a little too strong, his gaze sweeping over her collar.
He was incredibly aggressive now, nothing like his usual self. Ling Xi felt a little panicked.
"I... I was kidnapped to a small courtyard. It was your classmate. I... I escaped back by myself."