Chapter 144: Keeping the Appointment Again
Dr. Shu comes once a day, staying for about fifteen minutes each time. From the first time he met Xie Huailing, their auras didn't quite mesh. It wasn't that he disliked Xie Huailing, but any doctor facing such a picky patient would inevitably have their blood pressure rise.
Fortunately, Doctor Shu could appreciate young people and accept the eccentricities of talented individuals in the martial arts world. He didn't have any particular opinion about Xie Huailing; in fact, he quite liked Xie Huailing's unexpected humor. Therefore, after they became familiar with each other, he would occasionally—well, every time—tell Xie Huailing that the debts one incurred in their youth must be repaid in old age.
At times like this, Xie Huailing would pretend to be very busy, either looking at things that weren't there, chatting with her maid, or changing the subject. Seeing her like this, Doctor Shu wouldn't say much, just watched her finish her medicine, left a couple of medical instructions, and then left.
This was her eighth day of rest. Her health had improved considerably, and the restrictions on leaving her room were lifted. However, Dr. Shu still advised her to rest for a while longer, at least a full two weeks. Su Mengzhen naturally supported this suggestion. At his level of illness, the doctor's advice was practically a rule for survival.
As a result, Xie Huailing has seven days left before he can return to his post.
To say she was happy to have some free time wouldn't be accurate. She would still listen to Shaman talk about things inside and outside the building every day. Even if Lin Shiyin heard her say that she didn't think about anything during her rest, Lin Shiyin wouldn't believe her.
After Doctor Shu left, the door closed and a few breaths later, Shaman arrived, empty-handed this time, probably with less to say than in the previous days.
But her expression told a different story. Her strikingly beautiful face, with its aloof and mysterious aura, was now caught in a dilemma, unable to make a decision. She lowered her eyebrows, then realized that it was not something she could decide, and that it was not her place to worry about it. So she decided to wash her hands of the matter and put on her icy expression.
Shaman never greeted her. At first, she was respectful when she came to her side, but now that she had seen through Xie Huailing's true nature and they were so familiar with each other, she was already being lenient by calling her "Miss": "I have brought some things with me, Miss."
"Some," Xie Huailing noticed the quantifier, and with a quick movement of her legs, she sat up from the soft couch, rubbing against the back of the couch, and said only one word: "You say so."
She took a few steps forward, stopping beside her ear. Shaman was always cautious, and the previous two encounters had truly tested her: "It's about the situation in the building yesterday, Vice-Lord Bai's arrangements for the Six and a Half Hall's recent counterattack, the movements of several betting odds, and—"
The previous few incidents could be described in brief, but Shaman's main event was clearly yet to come. She paused for a moment and continued, "When I was sent to the entrance of Shuixie Lane this morning to handle some matters, I obtained a message from the captured petty thugs, which I need to pass on to you."
"Me?" Xie Huailing asked.
Shaman bowed her head. Her hesitation stemmed from this. She was well aware of Xie Huailing's physical condition, and everyone in the building knew Su Mengzhen's attitude. Yet, she still hesitated, which meant that the message was of great importance: "It's a message from Liufenbantang. To be more precise, it's a message from Di Feijing. He had someone pass it on to me, and asked me to pass it on to you first, Miss. He said that he would like to meet you at our usual place this evening to discuss the meeting a few days ago and the events of the past few days. He believes that there must be many things between you and him to discuss."
Di Fei was startled.
Xie Huailing tapped her hand lightly on the couch. She didn't really remember the young man who had kept his head down all night during the storm; she had barely looked at him that night. But in the past few days, whenever she tried to recall him, she couldn't get past his name.
There was no change on her face; Xie Huailing simply asked, "Only me?"
Shaman bowed again and replied, "Only you, Miss."
"That's easy for you to say, as if I can still work like this." After muttering this, Xie Huailing twitched the corner of her mouth. There was no need for her to think about it anymore. Shaman would definitely inform Su Mengzhen about this matter immediately. And now she still had to drink five bowls of medicine a day. Not to mention that with this "as long as" there, Di Feijing had a general idea of what was going on in his mind.
She knew perfectly well that Su Mengzhen would never agree; even if she weren't sick, he would still strongly disapprove.
But Xie Huailing tapped the window again and looked out. It was still afternoon; the sun was high in the sky, but not too far from setting. Whether it was a golden glow or not, it would be considered dusk in another hour.
Shaman looked at her and, seeing that she didn't speak, asked, "The Master isn't in the building right now. Should we go and tell Vice Master Bai and Steward Yang first, or wait for the Master? The Master should be back in about half an hour."
"No need," Xie Huailing said. "I'll make the decision."
Shaman was about to speak when Su Mengzhen's instructions still echoed in her ears. She had a bad feeling and hesitated before Xie Huailing stopped her.
Xie Huailing only said, "When the Master is not around, seeing me is as if seeing the Master himself; there is such a saying."
Yes, in the end, the token is still in her hands. If we really compare superiors and subordinates, she is above Bai Feifei and Yang Wuxie. It's just that she doesn't mention this matter on a daily basis, and she never uses it.
Shaman had nothing more to say and focused on listening to Xie Huailing's instructions, thinking that what she was going to do should not be too difficult, which was understandable, but then she saw her get up.
The bad premonition had reached its peak.
She thought to herself, "Oh no, my livelihood is in danger."
.
As dusk began to fall, the sky began to unfold.
Su Mengzhen returned at this time. He had to do so many things, and each one was extremely important. His time was completely filled with various tasks. Today, when he returned, he was covered in blood, and the blood on his sleeves hinted at his impending death. The red sleeve blade was the most eerie thing he could imagine.
But that wasn't his blood. There weren't many people left in Bianjing who could harm him.
Yang Wuxie and the others were in the study. There was still news from Grand Tutor Li that needed to be relayed to him. He also needed to ask Xie Huailing about the pressing matter with Cai Jing that evening, and he needed to reply to Grand Tutor Li again at midnight. There were many other things to attend to. So Su Mengzhen changed her clothes to wash away the dust of her journey. Without even taking a break, she coughed a few times and went into the brothel.
Not many people could enter his study; those who couldn't could only wait outside. As he stepped into the corridor, he immediately saw Xie Huailing's maid.
Su Mengzhen remembered every face that had served Xie Huailing, and upon closer inspection, it was indeed her. However, Xie Huailing hadn't sent a maid to deliver messages for far too long. She was used to using Shaman, and today she especially liked to torment Bai Feifei, so whenever there was something to do, she would have the dignified deputy master of the building run the errand for her.
He saw the answer on the maid's face: upon seeing him, the maid did not show the relief she had finally received, but instead swallowed hard. Her well-trained manner prevented her from revealing her unease, though her underlying despair was almost nakedly displayed in Su Mengzhen's eyes. She had to painstakingly gather the courage to greet him: "Greetings, Master. I've come to convey Miss's message; Miss has something to tell you."
Su Mengzhen stopped in her tracks, realizing something was amiss. Had Xie Huailing angered Shaman again, causing Shaman to go on strike, or had she done something else? She needed to find out: "Tell me."
The maid then pressed on, saying, "Miss asked me to tell you in order. She said that today, Miss Shaman captured a minor leader of the Six and a Half Hall near the entrance of the Water Pavilion Alley. The minor leader himself delivered himself, on the orders of Di Feijing, to deliver a message that Di Feijing wanted Miss Shaman to tell Miss that he wanted to meet with her this evening to discuss the meeting a few days ago and other recent events. Miss specifically instructed me to tell you this."
Su Mengzhen knew something was wrong as soon as he heard Di Feijing's name. In the past, he disapproved of Di Feijing's feelings and always had more reservations about them; but now his state of mind had changed, and hearing it made him feel a strange blockage in his heart. No, it wasn't just strange, he was stuck in a rut, and his emotions began to churn.
But Xie Huailing's opinion is more important than any of that. He will make the decision for her, but he will not overstep her bounds: "What does she think?"
The maid avoided his gaze and replied, "Uh, Miss has already gone out."
Not daring to look at Su Mengzhen's expression, the maid knew the doctor's orders, but based on this incident, she also felt that it was inappropriate. But could she go against Xie Huailing? Miss Shaman could only obey: "By the way, Miss has one more thing to say before she leaves."
She hesitated, but thinking that Su Mengzhen was not the type to hold a grudge, she finally spoke up: "She said she would only accept Vice Master Bai picking her up tonight."
Su Mengzhen: "..."
Unable to discern her expression, Su Mengzhen said calmly, "She seems to know everything."
.
The sunset is infinitely beautiful, yet it brings only loneliness at dusk. Leaning against the railing alone, even from a high floor, he finds nowhere to look. All he sees is the long daylight burning into the ashes, and only when he blinks does he see the setting sun spreading across the Bian River. It is a river of rosy clouds, a chill in the air for half a day, with lingering heat that will intensify as summer deepens. But in any case, it is a season that suits him well.
In this season, his slender figure doesn't appear too thin. But it's not exactly the season that suits him best either; he's more sensitive to heat and cold, but he's as clear-headed as a mirror, so there's no need to remind him repeatedly.
The golden light rippled further, and by this time, in the springtime, the sky had transformed into a canvas of night. He didn't move an inch, continuing to wait.
He knew he would wait, and he wasn't prepared for the person he was waiting for not to come. All he wanted was to see her, and he had to see her.
Di Fei remained motionless until the sunlight was at its brightest and also at its weakest.
He finally sensed her approach with a few footsteps. Xie Huailing was walking up the stairs, holding onto the handrail. Her face was paler than a few days ago, and she seemed, no, indeed, thinner. Di Fei stared at her in surprise, but her fair complexion remained unchanged. She strolled leisurely, and from a few steps away, she looked much like someone in a stormy night.
He prepared some words, and he prepared an opening. He knew she wouldn't be the one to say anything to him first.
However, she was wrong. Xie Huailing seemed to be there just for fun. She looked around and then asked rather rudely, "Where's my cat?"
Di Feijing was slightly taken aback, then calmly lowered her eyes, her dark jade pupils glancing gently to the side. Most of the time, she resembled a girl, a shy one at that. Under her gaze, at a neatly arranged patch of flowers and plants, the grass rustled, and the cat she hadn't seen for many days, the one she had been longing for day and night, proudly raised half its head and peeked out.
It still looked so cute, just like her own kitten. That damned cat trafficker! Xie Huailing bent down, clapped her hands at the old cat, and tried to hug it. The old cat had probably become a bit smarter from being raised, and understood a little, so it officially emerged from the flower bushes.
It's out.
Xie Huailing's eyes had never been so wide in her life. She thought she was hallucinating, but after confirming it was real, she looked at Di Feijing, ignoring the struggle, grabbed his collar, and, with Di Feijing's obedience, dragged him to the little cat. She hurled insults at him, demanding an explanation. She was going to make a scene, she really was going to make a scene: "Is this a pig?"
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