The waiter was very efficient. Not long after, he returned to the store carrying a basket full of various delicious snacks.

Xu Ning had just finished taking a shower and was leisurely drying his wet hair.

She had already eaten and drunk enough, but when her eyes fell on the fragrant, colorful and delicious snacks in front of her, her appetite was whetted again.

And the fact was just as the waiter said, every dish was delicious. Xu Ning asked the waiter for the address of these snacks and planned to stock up some later.

The waiter told Xu Ning everything he knew and even taught him how to bargain. Xu Ning, who was very satisfied, then gave him a tip.

Xu Ning ate and drank his fill again, then had a good nap. When he woke up, he felt refreshed and full of energy, and walked out of the inn happily.

The street stalls lining the street were still bustling with activity. Xu Ning was enthusiastically selecting her favorite snacks, so absorbed in stocking up that she didn't notice a familiar figure suddenly appear not far away.

"Miss Xu!" Xu Ning seemed to hear a familiar voice calling out. Puzzled, he subconsciously turned his head and saw Qi Songbo in casual clothes.

"Lord Qi? Why are you in Xuancheng?" Xu Ning asked in surprise.

"I should be the one asking Miss Xu this question." Qi Songbo raised the corners of his mouth slightly and responded softly.

"Hahaha, it's okay, I just came out to play." Xu Ning said with a forced smile, but she felt a little uneasy in her heart. She was not sure whether Qi Songbo knew that she had "run away from home", so she couldn't help showing a little embarrassment on her face.

"Miss Xu, I came here just to buy some rice paper." His tone was calm and steady, and he seemed to know nothing about Xu Ning's situation.

Hearing Qi Songbo's words, Xu Ning relaxed a little. He pointed to a small stall not far away and invited him warmly, "Oh, Master Qi, the pancakes over there are very delicious. Would you like to try some?"

Qi Songbo just shook his head slightly, declining politely: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Xu, but I come here often and am already familiar with it. You should enjoy it yourself."

Xu Ning and Qi Songbo continued walking forward without speaking, and the atmosphere seemed a little dull.

After a moment's silence, Qi Songbo suddenly spoke to break the deadlock: "Miss Xu, I have heard a little about your situation. But please rest assured, I will never say anything too much and cause you any trouble. Young Master Jiang also said that you have the right to decide your own lifestyle."

Xu Ning's heart suddenly trembled, and he asked in astonishment, "Did Jiang Yan say that?"

Qi Songbo nodded slightly and answered affirmatively, "That's right. And I'm sure you've noticed that no one has been following you from the beginning to the end. If I didn't happen to come to Xuancheng frequently for business, I'm afraid I wouldn't have run into you here by chance."

At this moment, Xu Ning's heart was like an overturned pot of mixed emotions, with all kinds of emotions intertwined together, appearing quite complicated.

In fact, the main reason that prompted her to run out desperately was that she wanted to avoid Jiang Yan.

However, what Xu Ning did not expect was that Jiang Yan would actually stand up and speak for her. This made Xu Ning feel an indescribable strange feeling in his heart, as if he had committed some unforgivable mistake.

At this moment, Qi Songbo suddenly spoke again: "You look a lot like Jiaojiao."

Xu Ning couldn't help but be slightly stunned, with a puzzled look on his face.

Qi Songbo then continued, "Actually, you don't need to feel any pressure, because liking someone is entirely a matter of that person's own emotions."

Hearing Qi Songbo's emotional expression, Xu Ning became more curious and couldn't help asking, "But Sister Pei has been deliberately avoiding you. Don't you feel sad?"

Qi Songbo smiled slightly upon hearing this, and replied calmly and firmly, "If Jiaojiao can live a happy life, then I will naturally not feel sad. Just as Young Master Jiang said, he believes that you have the right to choose your own lifestyle. For me, the same is true for Jiaojiao."

Hearing this, Xu Ning muttered to himself, "Isn't this a typical case of falling in love?"

Fortunately, as a man, Qi Songbo did not have to resort to digging wild vegetables.

As Xu Ning was thinking about this, for some reason, the dull and oppressive feeling in his chest disappeared in an instant.

It really proves the saying that human joy, anger, sorrow and happiness are often reflected through comparison with each other.

Since Sister Pei can treat matters of the heart as passing clouds and not care about them at all, she can do the same.

Thinking of this, Xu Ning suddenly felt enlightened, and his mood became relaxed and happy.

"Then I won't disturb Lord Qi from purchasing things. I'll continue to buy my food. Goodbye. Bye~" Xu Ning waved happily to Qi Songbo, and soon disappeared into the crowd.

The servants around Qi Songbo were a little anxious, "Sir, won't you tell Young Master Jiang about this?"

"No need, he knew it a long time ago." Qi Songbo looked at the figures in the crowd and thought that Jiang Yan had known the news as early as when Xu Ning entered the city.

The haunted incident in Hucheng was such a big deal, how could Jiang Yan not have guessed that Xu Ning was behind it?

Even he had guessed on his way to Xuancheng that he might meet Xu Ning here, not to mention Young Master Jiang, who had been very clever and cunning since childhood.

Xu Ning, ah Xu Ning, I'm afraid you have really met your match.

Qi Songbo turned back to his own courtyard, intending to write a letter to Pei Jiao. Pei Jiao usually didn't like to pay attention to him, but once he wrote about Xu Ning, she was always very active.

Alas... She is not interested in herself after all.

But what can I do? It's my fault that I only like her.

Qi Songbo couldn't help but recall the scene when he was five or six years old. At that time, he was laughed at by others as a nerd, and he was teased by those who laughed at him every day after school. That time, he was pushed into the lotus pond. He was afraid of getting stuck in the mud and couldn't stand up for a long time, and choked on a belly full of water.

Just when he thought he was going to die, Pei Jiao suddenly fell from the sky, kicked away the people surrounding the lotus pond, and pulled him up.

Pei Jiao didn't mind that he was wet and covered in smelly mud, and took his hand and sent him home.

From that moment on, he decided to only love this girl in his life and only hold her hand for the rest of his life.

On the other side, Xu Ning bought some snacks and took a detour back to the inn.

Before she even entered the room, she suddenly heard the shopkeeper and the waiter talking, "Waiter, is that girl suspicious? Your Excellency has said, don't let her see it."

"Boss, don't worry. If that girl got suspicious, why would she leave as I asked..."

"Bang..." The door of the inn was pushed hard. The waiter stopped talking and stared at Xu Ning in a daze together with the shopkeeper.