Chapter 86

West Street was quite a distance from here, as Luntai was a rather large city. As the mule cart headed towards West Street, the horse-drawn carriage followed behind Ye Jia's mule cart. She followed wherever Ye Jia went, and when Ye Jia's cart stopped, she would also stop and wait, her intentions clearly visible and unconcealed.

Xilai lifted the curtain and looked back at the carriage several times, frowning: "Boss, what does this man mean?"

"Don't worry about them. If they don't interfere with anything, just pretend you didn't see them."

Ye Jia was getting a little annoyed by being followed around. She had important matters to attend to and had no time to bother with a delicate young lady. She looked at three shops with the agent before finally settling on one in the middle of West Street. It was the right size and location, but the price was a bit high. "I'll leave this shop for two days. I'll think about it and give you an answer in two days."

Ordinary people would spend at least three or four days looking at shops, and after that they would have to compare and contrast, so most people would not make a decision that quickly. The broker, accustomed to this, nodded and said, "Then, Madam, go back and think about it for a couple of days. When you've made up your mind, come find me at the brokerage shop."

Ye Jia nodded and parted ways with the broker in front of the shop. Just as he was about to go back, the maid who had blocked his way just now stood in front of Ye Jia again.

It wasn't just the maidservants who were there. The driver, fearing Ye Jia wouldn't make it, also got out of the carriage and stood in front of him. Before Ye Jia could even move, two people appeared in front of him. Zhan Lin and Si Nan stepped forward, their unforgiving aura making the maidservants' faces turn pale. The driver, though skilled in martial arts, was clearly overwhelmed by the aura of Si Nan and Zhan Lin and silently took a step back.

Gu Mingxi, who had been sitting in the carriage, finally couldn't sit still anymore. After a while, a maid held her arm and helped her out of the carriage.

Gu Mingxi wore a straight-hem gown the color of Xiangfei, her face covered by a veil, revealing her eyes. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail bun, and a three-petal lotus flower was placed between her eyebrows. Holding the hand of her maid, she swayed gently as she approached Ye Jia. She was slightly taller than Ye Jia, and even her eyes could glimpse the beauty hidden beneath the veil.

"I'm Gu Jia Mingxi," the girl said slowly after she stood still, her words slow and steady, the unhurried pace typical of a noble lady from an aristocratic family. "I believe Brother Yun'an has mentioned me to you. I'm Brother Yun'an's childhood sweetheart and fiancée."

Ye Jia: “…” She actually guessed it right.

The two stood face to face like this. Fortunately, the shop was closed. Otherwise, they would have been bad at doing business if they had blocked the door.

As the afternoon wore on, the sun grew stronger. The scorching sun scorched the earth, sending a wave of heat rising from the sky. Gu Mingxi fell silent after she finished her words, quietly waiting for Ye Jia to speak. But she waited for a long time, and Ye Jia just stared at her quietly, showing no intention of opening his mouth to talk to her. Gu Mingxi's brows furrowed, and her expression seemed less calm.

The maidservant beside Gu Mingxi sensed her master's displeasure and immediately scolded her, "...How can you, a country woman, be so rude? Didn't you hear what our young lady was saying to you?"

Ye Jia raised his eyebrows. Before he could say anything, Xilai sneered, "That's funny. Who is your daughter? Why should my wife answer just because your daughter asks questions? You act like that and you still have the nerve to call others rude? I think you have no manners!"

Xilai was a quiet person, spending her days at the Zhou household working and eating, giving off a rather naive air. Ye Jia had initially assumed Qiuyue was the most articulate of the three girls, but she hadn't expected Xilai to be quite feisty. Her words immediately caused the maid to blush. She pointed at Xilai's nose, uttering "you" for a long time, but Gu Mingxi glared at her, causing her expression to change slightly, and she blushed and shut up.

Gu Mingxi had probably figured out that Ye Jia wasn't the type to be frightened by a single threat. Pursing her lips, she stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Sister, I have no ill intentions in coming here. I just wanted to know if Brother Yun'an was alright here."

Ye Jia stared at her for a long time, tilted his head and sighed bluntly.

Honestly, Ye Jia wasn't very good at dealing with women like Gu Mingxi. Just like the original owner's mother, Ye Su, who would tear up at the mere mention of a harsh word, she'd generally avoid them. But this girl was incredibly persistent, and even with Ye Jia clearly showing repulsion, she still went ahead and bumped into him.

"Very good." Ye Jia spoke. Even in her coarse linen clothes, her captivating beauty was enough to draw people away. Ye Jia looked at her coldly, his voice as clear as the sound of spring water: "I'm telling you now. Once you understand, leave."

Gu Mingxi and Ye Jia met, and the glance she gave her made her face burn even though it was hidden beneath her veil. Seeing her stunned, Ye Jia ignored her, not having the patience to continue pestering her. She walked around the master and servant and headed for the mule cart behind them.

Gu Mingxi was stunned for a long time. She quickly stepped forward and tried to stop Ye Jia: "You, what do you mean?"

Xilai quickly blocked the way, and Ye Jia's men had already boarded the mule cart. She turned her head from the cart and saw that Gu Mingxi's eyes were indeed slightly red. She stared at Ye Jia with tearful eyes and a slightly accusing tone: "Sister, I wonder if I could come to your house and sit for a while? I see that you look so kind today, and I'd like to have a long chat with you. Is that convenient for you?"

"It's not convenient." Ye Jia tilted his head and looked at her. "Besides, I'm not familiar with you. I don't deserve to be called sister. Although I have sisters, they are all country girls born and raised in Beiting. I don't have the blessing to call Miss Gu sister."

"You!" The maid of the Gu family pointed at Ye Jia.

Xilai came over and slapped the man, injuring him. She got on the car and closed the door.

Si Nan and Zhan Lin didn't even glance at the four masters and servants still standing outside the shop. With a crack of their whips, they sped the mule cart away. Ye Jia frowned as she watched the figures recede into the distance, feeling a vague sense of unease. It was like a fly suddenly flying over a glass of sugar water in her hand. Even though it didn't land, the mere sight of the fly flitting around was enough to make her feel uneasy.

Ye Jia's face looked unhappy since she woke up. Xilai looked at her expression and silently softened his breathing.

Her cautiousness left Ye Jia feeling a bit amused. Zhou Jingchen had mentioned Gu Mingxi before they got married, and although they hadn't known each other long, she still knew Zhou Jingchen's temperament. He was inherently proud and wouldn't lie about this. Since he had already made his stance clear, there was no need for her to dwell on it.

"Don't worry about them." Ye Jia wasn't the type to dwell on the past. Business was more important. "Let's go to the Su family workshop."

Since he was already out here, he might as well finish what he needed to do. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could return. Although someone was watching over Dongxiang Town, Ye Jia was used to being in charge, and he always felt uneasy when he was away for too long.

Si Nan turned the mule cart around, changed direction at the junction of West Street and East Street, and drove towards the southern suburbs.

The carriage following behind saw the mule carriage turn around and quickly followed suit. Zhan Lin glanced back at the carriage following not too far away and whispered to Ye Jia. Ye Jia leaned against the carriage and closed her eyes to rest: "Don't worry about her, just follow her if she wants to."

A quarter of an hour later, the mule cart stopped in front of the Su family workshop. Si Nan jumped down and knocked on the door. A moment later, a young man came to open it. Seeing that Si Nan didn't know who they were, he quickly and politely ushered them into the house after hearing that they were from the Zhou family of Dongxiang Town. The Gu family members following behind watched Ye Jia and his group enter the courtyard. The carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley. The maid named Xianglan frowned and looked around for a long time. Feeling that this place didn't look like a residence, she sent the driver to knock on the door and ask questions.

After finding out that it was a workshop, Gu Mingxi's face darkened again.

"Is this village girl doing this on purpose?!" Xianglan looked down on Ye Jia, who was wearing no makeup and didn't know how to clean herself up. She was so slovenly that people looked down on her. "She's afraid our daughter will meet the prince, so she's deliberately hiding our daughter away?"

"Xianglan!" Another maid glared at her. "My lady, why don't you go and settle down with the Fifth Young Master first? The grievances of the Crown Prince and his entire family have not been cleared, and they will be stranded here for a long time. If you want to see the Crown Prince, there are plenty of times, so there's no need to rush. Besides, you don't know how the Crown Prince is doing now, and you might not be well-received if you go. Why don't you go and settle down first and listen to what the Fifth Young Master has to say? The Fifth Young Master came here first, so he must have seen the Crown Prince long ago and knows a lot about his current situation. Wouldn't it be better to meet him after everything is settled?"

Gu Mingxi took these words to heart. He looked up at the closed door of the workshop, hesitated for a moment, and nodded: "Forget it, let's go."

Ye Jia didn't really care whether they left or not. After entering the Su residence, the young man immediately led them to meet Su Lun. Ye Jia was planning to move into the high-end soap category and would discuss future orders with him.

Su Lun naturally agreed without hesitation. He could make more money if he imported better goods. How could he refuse such a good thing that was delivered to his door?

"But Mr. Su, are these the only scents of these precious bath beans?"

Ye Jia was sending it to the Western Regions, but think about it from another perspective. Every place has a phenomenon where things are valuable because they are rare. The more scarce something is in the Western Regions, the more valuable it becomes. The scented soap she was supplying with Western-style aromas might not be as popular as the traditional Dayan precious spices. Since she was already prepared to make a big profit, Ye Jia didn't mind preparing a few more options. "Do you have any high-end bath beans made with traditional Dayan spices?"

"...If Boss Ye wants it, we can also customize it."

The spices Su Lun used were his own, and they were quite special. If Ye Jia wanted a different scent, he could substitute it according to the recipe. "But if it's custom made, the price might vary. The prices of precious spices in the Central Plains vary. For example, agarwood, sandalwood, musk, camphor, etc., are more expensive."

Ye Jia naturally knew that some spices were very expensive and could understand: "Of course, the Su family only controls it."

With Ye Jia's words, Su Lun had no choice but to agree. Ye Jia then carefully discussed with him the weight of each spice bath bean, and confirmed that after the first month's trial production was successful, they would sign a long-term cooperation agreement and leave it at that.

After finishing the work, Ye Jia prepared to go back.

The Su family wanted to invite Ye Jia to a large restaurant in Luntai for dinner, but Ye Jia smiled and declined. "Don't bother with the dinner. Someone's waiting at home, and I'm anxious to get back. Let's make another appointment next time when business is good."

Both of them were straightforward people. Since Ye Jia said so, Su Lun did not keep anyone.

It was past 3 p.m. when Ye Jia returned to the courtyard, and she was already starving. Si Nan had ordered a table of food from a restaurant, and Ye Jia ate a few before returning to her room and falling asleep. Zhou Jingchen wasn't in the courtyard, so he must have been out on some important business.

He slept soundly until dusk, and then he felt someone poking his cheek. Ye Jia slowly opened his eyes that were glued together.

The lights were already on in the room. Zhou Jingchen, drenched in sweat and with damp hair, sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at her. The light made his eyes half-bright, half-dark. The ends of his dark hair, cascading down his back, dripped water. The water dripped onto Ye Jia's face, sending a chill that jolted her awake.

"Jia Niang, how's your shop search going? Do you need my help?"

Ye Jia wiped the water off her face and looked at him speechlessly: "...and you didn't dry your hair, aren't you afraid of getting a migraine when you get old?"

Zhou Jingchen couldn't help laughing when he heard her say that: "Then Jia Niang, help me wipe it."

Ye Jia: “…”

Grabbing the cloth from his hand and covering his head, Ye Jia wiped his hair expressionlessly. Zhou Jingchen then asked about Ye Jia's daytime activities, briefly explaining that he could arrange anything he needed for the shop. He could also arrange for staff and a shopkeeper.

He wrapped a red cloth around his wet hair and squeezed the water out. This red cloth was different from the one Ye Jia had seen that morning. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, this guy had actually changed his personal belongings to red. Ye Jia had a strange feeling in her heart, as if her words to Zhou Jingchen would always be responded to, no matter how unintentional they were.

"I've found a shop I'm interested in, but the price is a bit high, so I haven't decided yet." Ye Jia suppressed his emotions, "But we haven't found anyone for the shopkeeper or the clerk yet. If you can find someone, I'll save myself the trouble of looking for them. Oh, and I met a strange person today."

"Hmm?" Ye Jia rarely spoke, so Zhou Jingchen naturally looked for someone. However, he was more concerned about Ye Jia's last sentence, "Strange person?"

"Um."

Ye Jia then told Gu Mingxi directly about her encounter. No need to exaggerate, just tell it straight. After she finished speaking, she glanced at Zhou Jingchen and smiled, "Are you happy that an old friend has come all the way to visit you, my husband?"

"Happy?" Zhou Jingchen frowned.

Ye Jia blinked.

Zhou Jingchen didn't say anything, his eyelashes drooped, covering half of his eyes, and there was no surprise on his face.

Ye Jia had anticipated Zhou Jingchen's likely reaction; whether it was nostalgia or melancholy, it was perfectly normal. After all, they were childhood sweethearts and had been engaged. She hadn't expected him to look like this upon hearing Gu Mingxi was coming.

"...Nothing." Zhou Jingchen curled his right index finger and rubbed his lower lip, "It's a little weird."

Ye Jia's heart skipped a beat. Blinking, her sanity gradually returned. She recalled everything that had happened since Gu Mingxi appeared, and suddenly realized how slow she had been.

Gu Mingxi wasn't the well-informed leader of the Gu family, but a delicate young woman. How did she know all the cities and towns in the Beiting Protectorate? Ye Jia had previously found it strange that she had directed Zhong Qing to go to Dongxiang Town to find Zhou Jingchen, but due to some subtle emotions, her attention was diverted.

The two looked at each other, and Zhou Jingchen knew that Ye Jia also understood.

In reality, he had anticipated even more. Besides Zhong Qing's presence at Gu Mingxi's behest, Gu Mingyi's presence here accompanied by imperial officials was also highly illogical. The Gu family wasn't the pure, neutral people they appeared to be. Gu Mingyi appeared to be a carefree, laid-back young man, but the patriarch of the Gu family was actually quite fond of Gu Mingyi. His intentions in seeking him out and pretending to be friendly with him were truly fraught with suspicion.

Furthermore, Gu Mingyi's clear willingness to do his utmost to help him was inconsistent with the Gu family's previous attempt to distance themselves from the matter. Zhou Jingchen felt uneasy.

"Jia Niang, the original plan to leave for Jizhou in ten days has been brought forward." Zhou Jingchen pondered for a moment and said, "I will leave the day after tomorrow."

Ye Jia was stunned and subconsciously grabbed his wrist which was resting on the bed: "Why did you leave early?"

"The team escorting Selik was attacked in Jizhou. Selik almost escaped, and although he was recaptured in Yumen, many were killed and wounded. If Selik had escaped, the Turks would have had an excuse to attack. Now we have to bring him back as soon as possible to avoid any more trouble." Zhou Jingchen explained the matter concisely. "I have to leave the day after tomorrow morning and can't delay. But I'm always uneasy about you being alone here. How many days do you need to stay in Luntai? If it's nothing urgent, how about Si Nan Zhanlin take you back to Dongxiang Town first?"

If it were Dongxiang Town, Zhou Jingchen wouldn't have worried about Ye Jia's safety. After all, Dongxiang Town and even Kashgar County were under his control. But Luntai was different. It was a mixed bag, and the situation was unclear. Zhou Jingchen couldn't let go of Ye Jia once he left.

"Leaving the day after tomorrow? Why are you in such a hurry?" Why does the situation change day by day?

"The escorting officers and soldiers suffered heavy losses in the last attack and are now stranded in Yumen City. If those people come back, I'm afraid it won't be so easy to capture them." Zhou Jingchen sighed, "I'll go over to provide support. The sooner the better."

"Is that so..." Ye Jia paused while wiping his hand, lowered his head and thought for a moment, and couldn't help but weigh the pros and cons in his heart.

In fact, she came to Luntai for two reasons. One was to open a shop, and the other was to buy bath beans. Opening a shop was not just about renting a storefront and selecting capable shopkeepers and clerks. Before opening the shop for business, Ye Jia still planned to make some gimmicks to expand the market. However, the pear blossom cream was still in production, so there was no rush for this matter: "Well, the shop is settled, the people are selected, and the rest of the things can be dealt with later. As for you, if you leave the day after tomorrow, do you have to make some preparations?"

"I know this, you don't have to worry." Zhou Jingchen felt relieved after hearing what Ye Jia said.

In his previous life, Zhou Jingchen had never known the feeling of worry. Even for his own mother and niece, he could focus on his own affairs without being distracted. But in this life, with Ye Jia, he always worried that she would be reckless and encounter something bad or be unable to protect herself. Although he knew that Ye Jia was no ordinary woman and was also very cautious, he just couldn't let go of this worry.

As they talked, Ye Jia also wiped Zhou Jingchen's hair dry. After taking the towel away, Ye Jia also got up from the bed.

She came back in the afternoon and went to sleep immediately, without actually washing up. Ye Jia, a mysophobe, always felt something was wrong if she didn't wash up at night. Zhou Jingchen guessed she was going to wash up when he saw her movements, so he stood up and pulled her: "Jia Niang, please sit down, I'll go to the kitchen to get you some water."

The master bedroom in this small courtyard was partitioned. In addition to the inner and outer rooms, there was also a bathroom at the back. There was a bathtub inside, and Zhou Jingchen had been washing up every night during his stay in Luntai. However, he didn't use the bathtub, as this one was specially prepared for Ye Jia. The cloth towels for wiping were also neatly arranged, and they were Zhou Jingchen's own. "You'll use mine for now."

Since he wanted to do it, Ye Jia certainly wouldn't refuse.

She simply sat down on the bed and began to think about the shop. If she was in a hurry to decide, there was no need to look at two more. But how to run the pear blossom cream business later on would require further consideration. While she was lost in thought, Zhou Jingchen came in and out and had already prepared the water.

Someone returned to the room and called Ye Jia, who went into the bathroom with a frown on her face. She was lost in thought and didn't notice Zhou Jingchen asking her to go in and wash up. She just sat there waiting. When Ye Jia felt the candlelight in the bathroom was too dim, she came out in half-dressed clothes and saw him sitting at the desk by the window. She was startled: "Husband, I need to wash up."

"Yeah." Zhou Jingchen was drinking from a bowl of something while holding a book in one hand and the other. He raised his eyes from the bowl and asked, "What's wrong?"

The air was filled with a bitter smell of medicine, so pungent and familiar.

Ye Jia, whose tailbone was beginning to numb, was speechless: "In such a critical moment, can't you think of something else? Like making some useful preparations?"

Zhou Jingchen: "...Isn't this just a warm meal before leaving?"

Ye Jia: “…”

Ye Jia glanced at the book in his hand. Wow, it was the "Vimalakirti Sutra".

Thinking of the Avatamsaka Sutra at home, she rolled up her undergarment into a ball and threw it at the man. The clothes clattered onto the table, and Ye Jia strode over to Zhou Jingchen, looking down at him. He had finished drinking the medicine in his bowl, leaving only a few dregs. Ye Jia grabbed the book he was holding and said, "Let me see what Buddhist scripture you're reading again..."

Turning the page, Ye Jia found another book. He looked down and saw that it was The Six Strategies of Taigong.

Ye Jia: “…”

"What's wrong?" Zhou Jingchen saw her suddenly rushing towards him with a fierce look, flipping through his book twice and then getting discouraged halfway through. A faint smile appeared in his eyes again, "What's wrong with my book?"

Ye Jia: "...You're just reading Taigong Liutao and you're carrying around a Buddhist scripture bag?"

"Is it not possible?" Zhou Jingchen smiled politely, "This is my habit. I have been doing this since I was a child and I can't change it."

"..." Ye Jia was so pissed off at him. Was this guy doing this on purpose? He probably knew she'd come after him after she'd flipped through the book at home, so he did this on purpose. Was Zhou Jingchen doing this on purpose? He absolutely did it on purpose, right?

Seeing her cheeks flushed with anger, Zhou Jingchen's smile immediately filled his entire face: "Jia Niang seems very angry?"

"No," Ye Jia silently returned the book to him, took his hand and placed it in his palm, "I just found that you don't seem to be so rigid."

Zhou Jingchen sat upright in his chair, still looking like a gentleman, but the smile on his face gradually became more sinister. He slowly closed the book and placed it neatly on the table, tilting his head and looking at Ye Jia: "I'm not rigid, but most of the time I'm too lazy to entertain people."

Ye Jia looked at him with dead eyes: "...So I have to be lucky again?"

Zhou Jingchen couldn't help but chuckle, "No, it's my great honor."

It's undeniable that meeting Gu Mingxi today cast a shadow over Ye Jia's mood. Although this person wasn't anything special, his presence was more annoying than she'd imagined. When she came to her senses, Zhou Jingchen had already stood up. He lowered his head and gently brushed the strands of hair from her forehead, leaning over to press his lips to her forehead. Zhou Jingchen's smile was light and shallow, and his words were somewhat helpless: "I have to make an effort to make Jia Niang feel more of me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Jia's face turned red.

"Jia Niang," Zhou Jingchen hugged her and said seriously, "No matter what the Gu family's intention is in suddenly looking for me, it's definitely not a good thing. If the Gu family can't find me and comes looking for you, remember to ignore them."

Ye Jia immediately understood his solemn words and said, "I saved it."

Nodding, Ye Jia glanced at him sideways: "By the way, I need to wash up, aren't you going out?"

"What are you going out for?" Zhou Jingchen drank the last bit of soup at the bottom of the bowl, "I'll wait for you on the couch."

…

Naturally, it was another short separation that made the relationship better than a new one. He kept on trying until midnight but still refused to let go.

This man seemed pure and unselfish, but once he got into bed, he became extremely greedy. He had never met anyone so greedy. Of course, Ye Jia was the only one who was like this, and she didn't know if other men were like this. Every time, Ye Jia worried that he would suddenly die if he kept making such a fuss all night.

Diandian was scratching at the door, having locked the doors and windows at night. Diandian had been out during the day and returned late at night, circling the house and unable to find the entrance. He pawed at the door, unable to get in, and cried anxiously outside. Zhou Jingchen, who was busy, yelled at him, and he finally stopped crying. He curled up by the door, whimpering, and fell asleep.

The next morning, Xilai blushed as she passed the master bedroom, always walking sideways. She heated water in the stove several times but never saw the master bedroom door open.

The sun was already high in the sky, and by the time Ye Jia emerged from the house, it was almost time for lunch. Originally, they had agreed to reserve the shop in two days, and Ye Jia planned to go pay for the deed this afternoon. Renting the shop proved too restrictive, so Ye Jia thought for a moment and decided to buy it.

After hastily eating something, Ye Jia was about to leave when Zhou Jingchen came out of the study and called him, "I'll go with you."

Ye Jia felt furious when she saw him looking refreshed with rosy lips and white teeth. Every time they did that, she always had the feeling that Zhou Jingchen was sucking her energy to nourish himself.

"Aren't you busy today?" Ye Jia cursed him inwardly.

"We're leaving tomorrow, so naturally we should get ready at home today." Zhou Jingchen changed his clothes and followed, and the two of them got on the mule cart.

The two went directly to the broker and asked someone about the broker from yesterday.

Zhou Jingchen simply walked over to the counter, knocked on the table, and took out a seal, placing it on the cabinet. The broker, who was sitting below, had been frowning, unsure of who was coming, but his expression immediately changed when he saw the seal. He immediately put down his abacus and account book and came over to serve them personally. He ordered the servants to serve tea and specifically inquired about the two men's business.

He had heard about the shop being sold and had already found someone to look for it. The manager immediately sent a waiter to find someone, and soon the broker was called over. When the broker came over, the broker negotiated with him for a moment and deliberately negotiated the lowest price.

Ye Jia glanced at the seal and didn't say anything pretentiously about paying whatever the market price was. He readily paid the lowest price and received the land deed in less than an hour. He then went to the government office to file the case.

Even at the lowest price, that shop, which was less than 150 square meters, was worth over 300 taels. However, this price was much cheaper than the shops on East Street, which were asking exorbitant prices.

"It's finally done." Ye Jia stuffed the deed into her arms and muttered to Zhou Jingchen, "It only took a day or two to get done, but I always feel a little uneasy. Husband, do you think I made a hasty decision? I should have compared more places."

"As long as the shop is in a good location, it's fine," Zhou Jingchen laughed. "Besides, the payment has been made, so there's no going back on your word."

Ye Jia: "...Okay."

The two were muttering to themselves and were about to go back when a group of people came in from the door of the brokerage shop.

The two leaders immediately spotted Zhou Jingchen, who stood out from the crowd. Gu Mingxi, one of them, was stunned for a long moment before suddenly throwing off the servant's support and rushing over to the two. Zhou Jingchen, fearing the man from outside might bump into Ye Jia, instinctively extended his hand to block him. Turning sideways, his crow-like lashes drooped over his eyes, his brow furrowed.

Their eyes met, and Gu Mingxi's eyes quickly filled with tears.

She pursed her lips, looking somewhat bewildered and aggrieved, not daring to approach. After a pause, she called out affectionately, "Brother Yun'an."

Zhou Jingchen looked at her, his eyelashes drooping, the relaxed smile on his lips gradually fading. He only nodded faintly at the sound, showing neither surprise nor astonishment at the person who suddenly rushed in front of him. He just responded calmly, "Yeah."

The words that Gu Mingxi and his group were about to say were choked in their throats, and the surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Ye Jia: “…”