Chapter 29
The bastard acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. A few days later, Ning Qingxi found out what this person was really thinking.
Huo Yanci's birthday is approaching, and he has been so busy these past few days that he has been nowhere to be seen. It is said that on his birthday, there will be a banquet with hundreds of tables, and all kinds of friends and old flames will give him face.
Ning Qingxi was busy as a spinning top and had no time to listen to gossip, but there were wealthy idle people who liked to listen and would even stir up trouble after listening.
Early that morning, Zhuo Miao sneaked over and asked, "Miss Ning, what gift have you prepared for Prince Jing's birthday?"
Ning Qingxi prepared a set of horse tack.
After much thought, she decided that the gift should be tailored to the recipient's taste. Huo Yanci loved to play, so she would give him something to play with, especially since this set was quite expensive.
Ning Qingxi was quite satisfied: "I prepared one... no, what's it to you? If you don't get back to work, you won't get your wages."
Zhuo Miao had long been prepared for her temper and didn't take it seriously, especially since there was something amusing to see today. He said, "Don't be like that, Miss Ning. I've come with a message. It's Prince Jing's birthday. You can just bring a slap with you."
Ning Qingxi: "?"
"It is said that he has been going in and out of the Dongyang Street area these past few days. You know Dongyang Street, right? These days, the capital is buzzing with rumors that Prince Jing is very lucky with women."
As he spoke, he looked at Ning Qingxi with a mocking expression. Ning Qingxi glared back at him: "Are you so bored you're about to fart? If you really have nothing better to do, then go and scoop out the manure from the latrine!"
After stirring things up, Zhuo Miao turned and went back, satisfied.
Ning Qingxi was left completely bewildered. After thinking for a while, she finally decided to ask, "Um... what happened to Dongyang Street?"
Zhuo Miao stumbled: "You don't know Dongyang Street?"
Ning Qingxi shook her head honestly.
Zhuo Miao: "That's the liveliest place, with people drinking tea, singing songs, and enjoying local customs and culture. You know what I mean, Ning Xiaoniangzi."
Ning Qingxi: "..."
She believed Huo Yanci went to listen to music, and she also believed Huo Yanci went out to play with her friends, but she didn't quite believe that Huo Yanci would support the sex industry.
She was completely relieved, said "Oh," and lowered her head to draw. Zhuo Miao's attempt to sow discord failed, so she didn't say anything more.
That evening, Huo Yanci returned from outside. As soon as he entered the house, Ning Qingxi's thoughts were instantly disrupted. She frowned and looked up at him: "What have you been doing? You smell terrible."
Huo Yanci raised her sleeve and sniffed: "Does it smell? I can't smell it myself."
“Yes,” Ning Qingxi said, “it smells quite nice. Where did you go to get all this covered in dirt?”
Huo Yanci chuckled and said, "I went to listen to music with some friends this afternoon. Maybe it smelled too good there, because it got all over me."
If it were just one kind of spice, it would probably smell quite nice, but Huo Yanci was covered in all sorts of spices, which was a disaster.
Ning Qingxi urged, "Go wash up quickly."
Huo Yanci said, "No rush. Tomorrow is my birthday, you have to show your face. I have something to show you, let's go there, and come back directly after dinner tomorrow."
Ning Qingxi: "...Did you ask for my opinion when you made the arrangements?"
Obviously not. Huo Yanci kept it a secret, only telling her that it was something she would like, and insisted that she see it in person at the destination, claiming that it would be more formal that way.
Ning Qingxi was confused, but followed him into the city. After turning left and right a few times, they entered Dongyang Street.
Turning the corner, the view suddenly opened up, a completely different style from the street outside. Both sides were lined with taverns and teahouses, with very luxurious facades. Some of the second-floor windows even had brightly colored women's undergarments hanging on them. At night, this area alone was a haven of debauchery, and for a time, women's laughter and various kinds of music filled the air.
Ning Qingxi: "..."
Huo Yanci was completely unaware of anything amiss and led her directly to a shop on the street. The shop had no signboard or anything like that, but it was also devoid of any ostentatious style. This pragmatic style was quite out of place here.
Ning Qingxi seemed to sense something and turned to look at Huo Yanci, who happened to be looking over as well, her eyes smiling: "Shall we go in and take a look?"
Ning Qingxi pushed open the door, and inside, people were busy coming and going, not finding it strange at all that there were two more living people at the door.
Huo Yanci said leisurely from behind, "You have too many things to do by yourself right now. It won't work if you don't delegate some of them. Didn't you say yourself that you can't lead a team? You'll have to work yourself to death. From now on, you can delegate any tasks and just supervise them yourself."
Looking at the various well-organized departments, Ning Qingxi felt a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a feeling of mixed emotions, including admiration and reflection).
Huo Yan, a complete novice, actually managed to support a whole group of craftsmen. Is she just burning money?
Ning Qingxi pointed to the room and said, "I'm still a little curious, why do we have to support all the craftsmen? Wouldn't it be better to just find a team?"
"Isn't it more reassuring to use something that's family? It'll also make it easier for you to settle accounts later if any problems arise." Huo Yanci was exceptionally considerate. "Once you hand over the stuff to them, you can just quit your job at the construction site and free up your energy to do other things."
Ning Qingxi was a little touched: "You've been doing this for the past few days?"
Huo Yanci glanced at her: "Look at this huge place, do you think it can be finished in a few days? I've already been hiring people and renting shops."
The shop has two floors. The first floor contains some unimportant items, such as tables, chairs, benches, flowers, and plants. The second floor is much more formal, with rooms for the landscape architect to store blueprints and drawings, rooms for the accountant to keep accounts, and rooms for discussing business.
Huo Yanci led Ning Qingxi on a tour: "I've also found a few garden designers. You're new to this industry and don't have much of a reputation yet, so I'm bringing in a few old-timers as a brand name. We can see what's lacking later and fill in the gaps gradually."
Ning Qingxi looked at his expression that said, "Okay, you can start praising me now." She said, "I haven't even decided yet, and you've already arranged everything for me. If I mess it up, I'll lose everything."
She wasn't being modest; she genuinely had no confidence.
Ning Qingxi knew perfectly well that she had gotten to where she was today entirely by sheer luck. To put it nicely, it was Huo Yanci's appreciation of her; otherwise, she would have been defeated long ago.
A faint sense of guilt also arose in my heart.
What she could give back was nothing compared to what Huo Yanci gave her. The longer they spent together, the more convenient things Huo Yanci did for her under various pretexts became a burden. In the past, she could bring back a roast chicken and make Ning Qingyuan and Ning Qingshan happy for a long time.
But Huo Yanci is different.
This person was not related to her at all, and everything he gave her was without any legitimate reason. Ning Qingxi was like someone who was trying hard to chase after Huo Yanci. Every time she felt that she was getting closer to him, Huo Yanci would always remind her in his own way that the distance between them was always there, and her efforts were just a drop in the ocean.
Huo Yanci didn't have such sentimental feelings. She bent down and looked at Ning Qingxi: "What's wrong? Too moved to speak? It's okay. If you really want to thank me, then get married sooner or later. It just so happens that I've also come of age. It's a double celebration."
Ning Qingxi: "...You say it eight hundred times, but in reality there is no betrothal letter, no betrothal gift, and no matchmaker."
Ning Qingxi sighed deeply as she went downstairs: "Men..."
Huo Yanci thought for a moment, then turned to look at Ning Qingxi's slowly walking figure: "I'm ready, is that alright?"
Ning Qingxi waved her hand: "You haven't even given it to me yet, and you're already asking me?"
Any delicate girlish thoughts wouldn't last long with Huo Yanci.
Perhaps Huo Yanci's words really had some effect, because Ning Qingxi slept well for the first time that night, and in her dreams, she didn't dream of blueprints, but of Huo Yanci.
The next day, Ning Qingxi was woken up by firecrackers. Early in the morning, for some unknown reason, Ning Qingxi felt that the sound of firecrackers was coming from all directions, making it impossible to guard against. Helpless, she had no choice but to get up.
She washed and changed her clothes with a blank expression, then pushed open the door and went out. Someone was already waiting at the door and led her to the front yard.
Huo Yanci's aesthetic sense was quite astounding. For his once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremony, he covered his entire house with red silk. Wherever Ning Qingxi went, she had the illusion that this person was not celebrating a birthday, but getting married.
Ning Qingxi's lips twitched: "Is this how your prince always celebrates his birthday?"
The girl leading the way shook her head: "It's just that today's event is so grand; it's never been like this in previous years."
When Ning Qingxi arrived, everyone present was already seated, and servants at the door were registering gifts one by one and welcoming guests with great courtesy.
Ning Qingxi turned her head and asked, "Where am I?"
The seating arrangements at the event were carefully planned, and when Ning Qingxi stood there, she didn't seem to fit in very well.
The maid pointed to a table at the edge: "The prince said that no one is toasting us here, so you can eat first, Miss, without waiting for him."
Ning Qingxi nodded, sat down, and realized that she had really come to the right place.
Although no one came to toast her, everyone at her table went to toast others, leaving her alone at the table. She felt too embarrassed to let anyone eat her leftovers, so she went hungry along with them.
While waiting, she looked around for Huo Yanci.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and lively conversation, Huo Yanci was naturally at the center of the gathering. Although he was quite incompetent, he had a lot of tricks up his sleeve, and one never knew when he might need them. Therefore, it was still quite necessary for him to show his face at this moment.
Although Huo Yanci couldn't remember people, she still maintained proper etiquette.
He kept chugging down cup after cup, making Ning Qingxi grimace and feel a stomachache for him. By the time they finally finished their pleasantries, it was already noon, and the sun was blazing. After telling everyone to make themselves at home, Huo Yanci went back inside.
Ning Qingxi had no appetite, so she sneaked out and told someone to ask the kitchen to make some plum juice. Then she walked towards the back of the house.
As Ning Qingxi approached Huo Yanci's bedroom courtyard, she paused, then entered with the resolute determination of a warrior cutting off his own arm.
"Huo Yanci, where are you?"
Ning Qingxi wasn't completely resolute; she stood at the door and called for help.
"You've already come all this way with me, where else can I go?" Huo Yanci's voice was a little lazy. "What are you doing standing outside? Aren't you coming in?"
Ning Qingxi: "No, what if I see something I shouldn't and get killed?"
Then there was no more movement. Just as Ning Qingxi was wondering if the person had fallen asleep and should go in to take a look, she looked up and saw someone standing at the door, which startled her.
"Why are you walking so quietly? You scared me to death."
"Weren't you just daydreaming?" Huo Yanci's dark eyes reflected Ning Qingxi's image. He leaned against the doorway calmly, looking at Ning Qingxi, seemingly quite surprised that she had followed him. His eyes clearly conveyed a certain meaning.
He was very interested in Ning Qingxi's next move.
Although he found this quite novel, Ning Qingxi couldn't laugh. Her unconscious half-step back caught Huo Yanci's eye, and Huo Yanci clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
Ning Qingxi: "Are you still conscious?"
Huo Yanci retorted, "Extremely clear-headed. I remember you didn't give me a gift today. You didn't forget to prepare one for me, did you?"
"I left the construction site yesterday in a hurry and forgot to bring it with me."
"Oh," Huo Yanci asked, "what have you prepared?"
"It's not as expensive as what you collected today." Ning Qingxi, distracted by his question, forgot why she had come. "How much did you collect today?"
"I don't know, I haven't checked yet, it's just been put into the warehouse." Huo Yanci yawned. "Aren't you going to eat?"
His reminder made Ning Qingxi remember why she had come: "Come later, I've asked the kitchen to make you some plum juice to help you sober up..."
Ning Qingxi tilted her head and observed him for a moment: "Do you need it?"
In her opinion, Huo Yanci didn't seem to be too drunk. At this moment, she was clear-headed and spoke in a well-organized manner, which would not be a problem for her to confuse a few people.
He doesn't seem like he's drunk at all.
Huo Yanci said, "I'll need it. I'm going to sleep later; my head hurts when I wake up."
Ning Qingxi was speechless for a moment. After making two "uh-huh" sounds, she said sincerely, "Then you go to sleep, I won't disturb you."
Just as they were about to leave, they suddenly heard a "Ouch!" behind them. It was Huo Yanci who suddenly squatted down, clutching her head.
Ning Qingxi: "..."
What's going on here?
Huo Yanci said, "My head hurts so much, and my stomach is upset too."
Ning Qingxi: "Your problem came on rather suddenly?"
Huo Yanci said frankly, "There's nothing I can do. Are you going to eat? Just go out and call someone in. Go ahead and eat."
Ning Qingxi looked at him like this and couldn't help but laugh.
This guy's acting is really bad, but Ning Qingxi still enjoys it.
As I helped this person back into the house, I realized something with immense sorrow.
Beauty can be a curse; she's probably really in trouble.
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