Bai Muqiu saw Xu Mao suddenly freeze like a wooden statue while he was speaking, and look at him with a look of fear.

He blinked, as if he had just understood.

"Because the door of my Dream Interpretation Pavilion is only open to those who are destined to receive it. Scholar, do you have any doubts or questions, or is there a dream that is bothering you?"

I am a dream interpreter and can answer your questions about dreams. If you don't like being troubled by dreams, I also have things that can calm your mind and help you overcome them.

Or, if you desire a fleeting dream, I can weave the dream you desire.

Xu Mao was somewhat surprised to hear this. Although it was different from what he had imagined, it sounded very fantastical. Fortunately, it wasn't some kind of bizarre encounter.

Xu Mao saw Bai Muqiu's shadow reflected in the candlelight, and he also saw that Bai Muqiu had just pulled his wrist, and although there was clothing between them, the wrist was warmer than his own, so she must be a living person.

Thinking of this, Xu Mao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"What Boss Bai said sounds like something out of a storybook. I don't have any confusion or doubt about dreaming, nor do I crave any fleeting dream."

Dreams are all false, and falsehoods have no meaning.

Bai Muqiu was stunned, feeling a bit strange. He thought his formations and spells had failed, since everyone who could enter should have a dream.

"Oh, alright then, maybe I made a mistake. It's alright, meeting is fate. The rain will stop in about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. Let's wait here until then."

"Yes, thank you very much for your kind invitation today, Mr. Bai. I will never forget this favor."

Bai Muqiu waved her hand dismissively, "It's nothing, it's nothing. Give me back the clothes, they're new. I bought too many, I can't wear them all."

Xu Mao was somewhat surprised to hear Bai Muqiu say this. He was about to decline when Bai Muqiu interrupted him.

"I've only had two people here since I opened, and you're the second. It's rare to have someone to talk to. If you feel bad about it, you can come over here when you have some free time, have some tea and chat, as a way of thanking me."

"Well... alright, I understand. Mr. Bai has already said so much, it would be inappropriate for me to refuse any longer. It would be my honor to be friends with Mr. Bai."

"Hahaha, how could that be? I am a businessman, while a scholar has a bright future in officialdom. We are all social classes, and I am the one who is above my station."

Xu Mao shook his head, disagreeing with this.

"Mr. Bai, you flatter me. Although I am a scholar, I do not consider myself superior. Different classes and different identities are all indispensable parts of a country."

“That’s interesting. I have a brother in my family who is also a scholar. He also went through a career in officialdom, but later he got tired of the intrigue and backstabbing in the officialdom and went into seclusion to focus on creating collections of essays and paintings.”

Bai Muqiu felt it was a great pity that Bai Yu had gone back to the Mountain and Sea Realm to study extensively, otherwise, if he had met Xu Mao, the two of them would definitely have been able to have a good chat.

Bai Muqiu wasn't really cut out for reading. He could read some interesting stories and poetry collections, but those academic books gave him a headache.

"Oh? So he's in this city now?"

Xu Mao became interested; being a fellow scholar, he naturally wanted to make friends with him.

"No, he went back to his hometown, saying he wanted to shut himself in and read ten thousand books before going out to travel ten thousand miles."

After his initial surprise, Xu Mao felt genuine admiration.

"This gentleman has great ambitions!"

Bai Muqiu nodded. Indeed, let alone finishing reading them, just thinking about ten thousand books made him feel sleepy.

Xu Mao was moved and began to talk to Bai Muqiu about some books and knowledge.

He had just heard Bai Muqiu mention his clan and assumed it was a prominent and aristocratic family. He also assumed that his brothers in the clan were very knowledgeable, and that he, being in such an environment, must also be very learned.

Bai Muqiu had no idea what Xu Mao was thinking. He didn't like reading, but he was Bai Ze, and he could answer the questions Xu Mao had about his reading.

Xu Mao went from being tentative at first to being completely convinced. Even after the rain stopped, he didn't rush to leave, as if he had met a good teacher and friend, which ignited his thirst for knowledge.

Bai Muqiu also felt the pressure after initially being nonchalant in her cultivation, and even while drinking tea, she felt her mouth was dry from talking.

The rain started in the latter half of the afternoon, and the two had already talked past curfew.

During the curfew, shops are not allowed to open for business except for clinics, and people are not allowed to travel at night unless there are special circumstances.

Bai Muqiu's shop is special, so there's nothing to worry about, but Xu Mao can't go back tonight.

Fortunately, Bai Muqiu's shop was large, with three rooms in the backyard, so Xu Mao could sleep in the guest room.

After seeing the still-unsatisfied Xu Mao to his guest room, Bai Muqiu breathed a sigh of relief.

He was indeed incredibly bored. This was the first guest since the little girl left, and he just wanted to chat more to see if his magic had failed or if Xu Mao was simply being reluctant to talk about his illness.

Unexpectedly, this person turned out to be an idiot.

Bai Muqiu closed the shop door with a sense of melancholy, extinguished the candles in the guest room, and went back to his room to ponder the matter of magic. He was torn between whether or not to ask Bai Hao for advice.

I spent a sleepless night.

The next day, although Xu Mao was tired, he got up early and read with great enthusiasm, swaying his head and reciting aloud.

Bai Muqiu spent the whole night searching for the problem, and finally, in a fit of headache, she sent a message to Bai Hao for help.

Bai Hao was doing something and didn't reply for a moment.

Since Bai Muqiu couldn't cook, he would go out through the back door and buy food from the snack shops in the market.

Xu Maoxi was surprisingly good at cooking, but Bai Muqiu's kitchen contained only firewood and water; there wasn't a single grain of rice, flour, or oil.

After all, he...blew up the kitchen, so all the preparations were for nothing.

Therefore, Xu Mao said goodbye early in the morning and went home, saying that he would have dinner, catch up on some sleep, and then continue reading.

After seeing him off listlessly, Bai Muqiu yawned and went to buy food.

After eating, Bai Muqiu went back to the shop and slept soundly, so much so that she missed Bai Hao's reply.

When he woke up again, Bai Hao was already sitting in his shop, drinking tea face to face with Xu Mao.

Bai Hao remained silent with a cold expression, but he brewed tea to serve Xu Mao, who sat on pins and needles, holding the tea with both hands as he drank.

Bai Hao's aura was so cold, and he kept glancing at him, making him feel like he had thorns in his back.

In comparison, he genuinely preferred Bai Muqiu; she was approachable and easy to get along with.

"Hey? Brother Hao, Scholar? You've had your tea."

After washing up, Bai Muqiu came to the guest room and was quite surprised to see the two people sitting face to face drinking tea.

"Hmm, there's roast chicken and pork knuckle. Are you hungry?"

Bai Hao looked up and pointed to the small table next to him. Bai Muqiu's eyes lit up as he looked at the food box on the table. He had said he could smell the aroma.

Bai Muqiu opened the food box, and the fragrant food came into view.

He rolled up his sleeves, tore off a chicken leg, and took a big bite.

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, it's so fragrant and juicy.

Bai Muqiu took several big bites, her cheeks bulging out from eating.

Suddenly he remembered that Xu Mao was still there, and turned to look at him.

"Scholar, want to ride a horse? (Scholar, would you like to eat?)"

Xu Mao didn't understand what he said, but he understood what he meant, and waved his hand.

"No, no, I've already eaten. Mr. Bai, please have some."

Bai Muqiu glanced at Xu Mao's thin appearance, then carried the food box on her wrist to the low table in the teahouse.

"Chop! (Eat!)"