"Brother Shen."

"Brother Zhao, thank you for your hard work."

"Not at all, I only did something insignificant. It's all thanks to your resourcefulness."

"Brother Zhao is too modest. Let me introduce you. This is Brother He Qixie, the young master of Changfeng Escort Agency." Qiao Qiu stepped forward to present He Qixie.

He Qixie clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, a traditional greeting from the martial arts world.

Brother Zhao chuckled and said, "I've long heard of the young master's superb martial arts skills. Seeing you today, I never imagined you would be so dignified and upright."

"You flatter me."

Qiao Qiu continued, "This is Brother Zhao Xiang, the head of the Ruyi Opera Troupe."

He Qi Xie smiled and said, "So it's the Ruyi Opera Troupe. My father loves watching operas and has praised the Ruyi Opera Troupe in front of his juniors. I never imagined that Brother Zhao is the troupe leader. I've heard so much about you."

Qiao Qiu looked around the mansion, sighed, and said to Zhao Xiang, "Brother Zhao, I'm leaving tomorrow. How about staying for a drink today?"

"Alright, consider it a farewell gift for you." Prime Minister Zhao was quite straightforward.

Only He Qixie was stunned when he heard that she was leaving tomorrow.

That evening, Qiao Qiu personally cooked a feast to entertain Zhao Xiang and the people from his opera troupe who came to help. The feast lasted until the second watch of the night.

He Qixie did not go back; instead, he sat on the rooftop with Qiao Qiu and drank together.

In fact, He Qixie had many questions about Qiao Qiu, but felt he had nowhere to ask, so he could only remain silent.

Qiao Qiu had drunk a lot of wine, but her eyes were still bright. She turned to look at He Qixie and asked, "Brother He, you are not married yet. Do you have a woman you like?"

He Qixie, who also had a good tolerance for alcohol, wasn't too tipsy yet. He laughed and said, "So you're already concerned about your brother's marriage? Don't tell me you're trying to introduce him to a girl, are you?"

"I'm all alone myself, how can I introduce you to a girl? What I meant was, if you have a girl you like, let me know when you get married, so I can come back for a wedding feast." Qiao Qiu rubbed the wine glass with her fingertips, the lamplight reflecting off her dark eyes.

"I'll let you know when the time comes." He Qi Xie lay down, looking at the boy's stunning profile. Although he had more of a masculine air than his daughter, he was still several times more handsome than the average man.

"What kind of girl does Brother He like?"

"Someone like you."

Qiao Qiu looked at him, "I'm a man."

“You were born the wrong gender, otherwise my heart would have already fallen for you.”

He Qi Xie spoke frankly, and Qiao Qiu laughed, "She has to be good-looking, able to cook, and able to earn money to support the family. Brother He, are you sure you really want a woman?"

"In your mind, you only have these few good points, but in my eyes, you have far more merits."

"What are my weaknesses?"

"When you find someone pleasing to the eye, all their flaws turn into virtues." He Qixie squinted at him, feeling a strange sense of urgency.

Qiao Qiu tilted her head back and finished the last drop of wine. Moonlight poured down on her forehead, eyes, nose, and neck, giving her a dreamlike appearance.

He Qixie's restless desire seemed even more obvious now.

Qiao Qiu tossed aside her wine glass, leaned closer to him, breathed into his ear, and said with a wicked smile, "So, am I perfect in your eyes? He Qixie, do you like me?"

Do you... like it...?

He Qixie's heart was pounding from her teasing, and when he heard those words, his mind went blank.

"Hehehe..."

Hearing her cheerful laughter, He Qixie felt a little dizzy and pushed her away, saying, "Bullshit, I like women, not men."

"He Qixie!" Qiao Qiu exclaimed in surprise, as he pushed her so hard she lost her balance and tumbled down.

"Jun Bai!" He Qi Xie was startled. He leaped down, grabbed Qiao Qiu, hugged her waist, and somersaulted to the ground.

Qiao Qiu frowned as He Qixie carried her in a princess carry, trying to get out of his arms.

"Don't move."

"Huh?" Qiao Qiu looked up at him, and He Qixie's eyes were very bright. "I was just teasing you, there was no need to push me down from up there, was there?"

He Qixie's heart was pounding. Shen Junbai was lying in his arms, his arm around his neck. This was the first time he had ever seen Shen Junbai like this. The aloof Shen Junbai of the past seemed to have disappeared, and he had suddenly become lively. His slightly angry expression was so cute.

Qiao Qiu smiled and said, "If you keep doing this, I might actually think you like me."

Upon hearing this, He Qixie immediately let go of the object as if it were a hot potato.

Qiao Qiu had anticipated this; as soon as he let go, she jumped down and landed steadily. With her left hand behind her back, she turned around and said, "Let's stop drinking here tonight and go to sleep early."

He Qi Xie didn't reply, watching her back as she left. He returned to his room in a daze, then lay on the bed in a daze. He closed his eyes in a daze, and before falling asleep, he vaguely thought: it seems there's something I haven't asked him.

In the east wing, Qiao Qiu stood by the window, her fingers pressing hard on the windowsill until the tips turned white. In her past life, she had observed that person closely; no matter how long he drank, he was fine, but if she provoked him, he would become completely drunk.

Doesn't He Qixie's appearance prove anything?

But now she is... a man.

He Qixie only wanted to find a wife and live a peaceful life; he never thought about having anything happen with a man. He might have feelings for her, but judging from his reaction today, he definitely wouldn't accept her.

Could she really watch him get married and have children?

Damn it, how did she end up inside a man's body?!

Qiao Qiu's eyes flashed with a sharp glint as she glanced at the ring on her finger. She couldn't let her know it was the ring causing the trouble, otherwise…

It seems this matter needs further consideration. If He Qixie dares to betray her, she will no longer care about him.

...

The next day, He Qixie woke up with a headache, clutching his head which felt like it was about to explode, his brows furrowed deeply. He looked outside; it was already broad daylight.

He paused for a moment, and was about to get up when there was a sudden knocking sound at the door.

Who is it?

"I."

Upon hearing Shen Junbai's voice, He Qixie got up and opened the door.

Qiao Qiu glanced at his slightly disheveled clothes and guessed that he had slept fully clothed last night.

"What is it?" When He Qixie saw her, the scene from last night suddenly flashed into his mind, and he felt a little embarrassed.

Qiao Qiu handed him the bowl and said, "This is hangover soup. Drink it while it's hot."

"Thank you." He Qi Xie took the bowl, tilted his head back and gulped it down, then handed the bowl back to her.

"No need." Qiao Qiu took the bowl, turned around and left.

He Qixie wanted to call out to her, but as soon as he reached out his hand, he didn't know what to say.

Zhao Xiang and the others bid farewell and left the Shen family in the morning. Qiao Qiu hired some people to carry all the boxes she had sorted out onto the carriage.

He Qi Xie went back to the escort agency and told Chief He about Shen Junbai's departure.