After understanding the meaning behind Situ Nanzhao's words, Yan Xiao asked directly:

"Mr. Qian, do you mean this can also be considered a business opportunity?"

“That is exactly what I meant.” Situ Nanzhao nodded directly.

"OK."

Yanxiao never turned down money, so she readily agreed. The two continued chatting about the topic for a long time, and by the time they had finalized the details, it was almost midnight.

Yan Xiao yawned, glanced at Mu Yunniang who had been sitting to the side pouring tea and keeping them company, and smiled:

"We got so caught up in talking that we forgot about the time. It's getting late, so I won't disturb your rest any longer."

Situ Nanzhao naturally had no objections. He got up and, together with Mu Yunniang, escorted Yanxiao to the door, signaling the servants to escort Yanxiao to the newly arranged room for her.

After Yanxiao left, the two went straight to their bedroom.

After entering the room, Mu Yunniang skillfully helped Situ Nanzhao undress. After the servants brought water into the room, she sat down by the bathtub and rubbed Situ Nanzhao's back and shoulders.

Situ Nanzhao was used to Mu Yunniang's service. He squinted his eyes, feeling relaxed all over, and was enjoying himself when he heard Mu Yunniang suddenly say:

"Young master, do you remember how old Yunniang is this year?"

Situ Nanzhao was exhausted from the long journey. After arriving in Jiangbei City, he tidied up a bit and went to see Yan Xiao. At this moment, he was sitting in the bathtub, feeling drowsy.

Upon hearing this, he didn't think twice, nor did he notice anything amiss with Mu Yunniang's form of address. He simply replied vaguely:

"I know your 25th birthday is coming soon, I've remembered it all. No matter how busy I am, I'll make sure to come back, and I'll make sure you get a gift too."

Upon hearing this, Mu Yunniang's eyes darkened, and a hint of hesitation flashed across her face. However, remembering what Yan Xiao had told her and her current predicament, she hesitated for only a moment before gritting her teeth and continuing:

"Yes, my twenty-fifth birthday is coming soon. Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, I'm almost thirty, and I've been by your side for almost twenty years."

Hearing the melancholy in her voice, Situ Nanzhao couldn't help but turn his head to glance at her.

"What's wrong with Yunniang today? Are you afraid of getting old and losing your youth? I'm actually two years older than you, are you going to think I'm too old?"

That's not what I meant.

Mu Yunniang pursed her lips, a resolute glint in her eyes, and gritted her teeth as she said:

"I've recently figured some things out, and I want to change my way of life."

Upon hearing this, Situ Nanzhao was instantly wide awake. She looked Mu Yunniang up and down, and when she saw that Mu Yunniang was deliberately avoiding her gaze, her eyes darkened.

What does Yunniang mean by that?

Mu Yunniang dared not look Situ Nanzhao in the eye, and only buried her head to continue massaging Situ Nanzhao's arm. Only after being asked did she reply softly:

“I will grow old and lose my beauty eventually. I can’t be a parasitic vine that uses its beauty to serve others for the rest of my life. I know that you have done me a great service, but I have also accompanied you all these years, which is my way of repaying you.”

Situ Nanzhao remained silent upon hearing this, making the atmosphere in the room somewhat tense.

Just as Mu Yunniang felt like she was about to suffocate, Situ Nanzhao suddenly chuckled softly.

A faint smile slowly crept onto his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Hearing his laughter, Mu Yunniang lowered her head even further, but Situ Nanzhao reached out and lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. She heard him say, half-teasingly, half-seriously:

"I originally thought that Yunniang had been bullied by someone. I thought that even if you really became an old maid, you were still an old maid that I raised with my own hands. I couldn't let others bully you. But it turns out that she had a grudge against me."

"Ha~, using your looks to please men? Yunniang, you're not just belittling yourself, you're insulting me!"

Mu Yunniang wanted to refute these words, but when the words reached her lips, she realized that all explanations seemed so pale and powerless at this moment.

Situ Nanzhao didn't give her a chance to speak, immediately withdrawing his hand, closing his eyes to conceal his emotions, and speaking calmly:

“When you first came to me, I told you that I don’t like to force things. If you wanted to be with me, you could, and if you didn’t, I wouldn’t force you. That still holds true today.”

"We've been lovers for a time. If you meet your ideal husband someday, I will still prepare a generous dowry for you."

Although Mu Yunniang had always been clear about her position in Situ Nanzhao's heart, hearing his words of no attempt to stop her made her heart sink deeper and deeper, until it plummeted into an icy abyss.

She thought she would be sad and cry, but when she blinked, she realized that her eyes were dry and there were no tears at all.

She took a deep breath, slowly withdrew her hand, stood up, and gave Situ Nanzhao a servant's salute, her demeanor even calmer than Situ Nanzhao's.

"Young master has done nothing to wrong Yunniang. Yunniang chose her own path in the past. She may have felt resentful, but she has no grudges."

The path ahead is Yunniang's own choice. Whether it's sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, or salty, it's all Yunniang's to bear, and it's not worth the young master's concern.

Yunniang bids farewell to the young master here today.

A gentle breeze and a bright moon; a perfect time for humankind.

May you, sir, enjoy much joy, peace, and tranquility, and be free from worries throughout the years.

After Mu Yunniang finished speaking, she looked up at Situ Nanzhao one last time. Seeing that he still had his eyes closed as if he were asleep, a look of loneliness flashed across her eyes. Then she got up and left without looking back.

The maid who was keeping watch outside saw her come out and asked with some confusion:

"Shopkeeper, what's going on?"

Although Mu Yunniang was saddened when she stepped outside, she could clearly feel that she felt much lighter.

She composed herself and said to the maid who had asked the question:

"From now on, I will no longer be the manager of Duobaoge."

As she spoke, ignoring the maid's wide, shocked eyes, she glanced into the room before continuing in a low voice:

"Young master is taking a bath inside. The water is a bit cold. Please add some hot water."

After she finished speaking, she nodded slightly to the two of them, turned around and left, disappearing into the dark corridor in no time.

The two maids on night watch took a while to react. They looked at each other, not knowing what was going on.

They stood guard at the door, but they didn't hear any arguing. How did Manager Mu suddenly fall out of favor?

So, do they have a chance?

Thinking of this, their eyes lit up, and they quickly ran to prepare hot water, afraid of being a step behind each other.

Situ Nanzhao, who was inside the house, heard the conversation outside clearly. His fist, which was submerged in the water, was clenched tightly, but he couldn't help but slam it heavily onto the bathtub.

With a loud "bang," he smashed a hole in the bathtub, and the water inside spilled all over the floor.

When the two maids brought in hot water, all they saw was a bathtub with a hole in it and water all over the floor. Situ Nanzhao was no longer in the room.