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The waiter was quick-witted; he ordered all the remaining dishes in one go, as if afraid that Qin Sang might ask for something else that wasn't available.
He announced the dishes, then cautiously added, "Oh, young master, why did you go to that table? Should we order these dishes separately, or...?"
Qin Sang said, "Let's order it as you suggested, no need to order separately, so as not to waste your table." She looked around and saw that the room was almost full of customers, and asked with a smile, "Is your business this good every day?"
"No, that's not it," the waiter shook his head. "It's just that the Willow Shooting Festival is in two days. Every year at this time, Quzhou Prefecture holds a Cuju (ancient Chinese football) competition, and Cuju teams from various county magistrates come to compete. That's why there are so many customers these two days. If there is any neglect, I'm truly sorry."
"A Cuju (ancient Chinese football) tournament?" Qin Sang remembered. "I have indeed heard of it."
The waiter was busy attending to customers and didn't have time to explain in detail; he was quickly summoned away.
Qin Sang turned around to ask Xie Sui'an if he knew how to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football), but saw that the man was sitting far away from her, waving a jade-inlaid folding fan that exuded an aura of "keep away." Qin Sang couldn't understand why he was so angry, and didn't want to provoke him while he was in a bad mood. She picked up a cup of tea, and with nothing else to do, continued to listen to the gossip.
The two girls at the next table were clearly women dressed as men, who must have sneaked out from somewhere. They were whispering about what they had seen and heard at Cuiyun Tower that day.
One of them said, "Actually, Yao Sisi isn't as pretty as the rumors say. But dressed up like that, even the unattractive ones look good. It's not like she made two men fight like crazy over her. Did you see that? Young Master Wang even got a nosebleed!"
Another, gentler voice said, "It's beautiful too, but you and I certainly can't compare."
"What am I comparing myself to her? She's a woman of low social status, living hand to mouth. When her youth fades and she grows old, who knows how miserable her future will be?"
"That's not necessarily true. I think that young master Wang treats her quite differently. He might be able to redeem her and take her home as a concubine. That would be a good way out."
The one who had spoken earlier gently tapped the other person's head with her chopsticks: "Are you stupid? You think being a lowly concubine is a good way out?"
The girl who was hit seemed to be kind-hearted. She covered her forehead and said, "Life is unpredictable. Who can guarantee that their life will be smooth sailing without any unexpected events? My father said that dark clouds are gathering over Kyoto, and who knows when the world might descend into chaos..."
Before she could finish speaking, another girl reached out and pretended to hit her again: "Quickly say 'Pah, pah, pah,' what unlucky words! Our parents are both healthy. As long as we don't get involved in messy politics, we can live a peaceful and smooth life!"
The gentler girl stuck out her tongue and smiled.
Qin Sang was both happy and worried. Everyone knows that staying away from politics ensures safety, but she came here to set things right and clear up the mess. It was dangerous and tiring. Why did she come here?
However, Wang Shizhen got a nosebleed from being hit?
Good thing.
She decided that the sooner the better, as the effect would be diminished once the resentment between the two sides subsided. So she looked at Xie Sui'an again and decided to give the boy a way out. After all, she was a dignified immortal, and it wouldn't be appropriate for her to throw a tantrum at a naive child who hadn't yet experienced the hardships of the mortal world. Well, she would just have to be more magnanimous.
But as she tapped her fingers on the table, she didn't know how to straighten the steps so that both parties could maintain a dignified appearance.
Just then, the waiter came over again, bowing low: "Miss, the customer who ordered the fish just now said that since you're eating alone anyway, why not sit down and share with him?"
Qin Sang was taken aback. She wanted to refuse outright, but when the waiter pointed to a corner on the third floor and a white-clad figure flashed past the railing, she suddenly said, "Is that the white-clad gentleman at the corner on the third floor?"
The waiter nodded hurriedly: "That's right."
Qin Sang didn't consider herself a lecherous person, but everyone has a love for beauty. Since others didn't mind, it was good to make more friends and have more options.
She then got up and left.
She took small, delicate steps with the air of a well-bred young lady. Dressed simply, her movements exuded a refined elegance that drew frequent glances from those around her.
Upon reaching the corner on the third floor, small dining tables had already been set up, with two long tables placed facing each other.
My side is empty, while opposite me there is a master and a servant, one sitting and one standing.
The young man in white, though lean and wiry, still stood tall and straight. Although his eyes were slightly lowered, his features were still sharp and his skin was as white as snow. When the other man saw her, he nodded slightly and said, "I apologize for my rudeness, young lady."
Although he still didn't smile, and his whole being exuded a faint chill like a snowman, his amber eyes, which were now looking at Qin Sang, softened, becoming gentle and unfathomable.
Qin Sang smiled and said, "I was being presumptuous, young master, and I stole your fish."
The young man in white asked, "May I ask your name, young lady?"
For some reason, this person had a natural air of superiority when he asked the question. Although he was sitting, Qin Sang had the illusion that he was looking down on her.
Qin Sang said, "My surname is Qin and my given name is Sang."
The young man in white said again, "Miss Qin Sang, you may call me Bai Si. Please sit down."
Qin Sang then sat down, and heard the Fourth Young Master Bai say in a gentle tone, "Anyway, you're all alone, so half a fish for each person is just fine."
Qin Sang thought to herself that he had mistaken her for a person and probably hadn't seen Young Master Lu, who was throwing a tantrum at another table. But she didn't argue at the moment; for some reason, she had a strange interest in this man.
Perhaps it's because that guy "Lu Yao" is just too noisy, so having dinner with such a refined and elegant gentleman is a real treat.
The waiter brought out the pre-portioned fish, one portion for each person, which looked fresh, fragrant, and delicious. Qin Sang thanked him and picked up her chopsticks to eat.
She was already hungry and should be enjoying her meal, but she felt that if she wasn't polite, she would be ruining the peaceful atmosphere. So she ate slowly and carefully, her movements small but not slow. She finished her bowl of white rice quickly and gently asked Ying'er to serve her another bowl.
Young Master Bai didn't seem very hungry. He ate very slowly, taking small bites at a time, even more leisurely than a lady from a prominent family.
"Where does Miss Qin Sang come from?" he asked suddenly, his eyes lowered as he carefully peeled the fish.
Qin Sang swallowed the fish and said, "Lixian County is not far from Quzhou. Where is Mr. Bai?"
Although this young master Bai looks very young, his composure and calmness inexplicably make people want to call him "sir".
"Lixian? I haven't been there yet. Miss, is there something important that brings you to Quzhou?" Young Master Bai did not answer Qin Sang's question, but instead threw the topic back to Qin Sang.
Judging from his demeanor, Qin Sang figured he must have some secret identity, so she didn't ask any more questions and simply replied, "I'm here to handle some trivial matters, nothing to mention."
"Oh, I saw you at Cuiyun Tower earlier. You're quite bold, with your stunning beauty, yet you dared to go to such a place to join in the fun."
Qin Sang paused, picking up food with her chopsticks, and looked up: "Oh? Young Master is here too?"
If he were also there, wouldn't he have seen Lu Yao sitting next to him the whole time?
Bai Si carefully placed the fish he had picked out into his mouth, swallowed slowly, took a sip of tea, and then said, "I was there. I also saw a handsome young man sitting next to you. Why isn't he here with you? Could it be that he's so captivated by the enchanting scenery of Cuiyun Tower that he's even neglecting a beauty as stunning as you?" He smiled very lightly, "It's a good thing for me."
It might seem frivolous for a stranger to comment on a woman's beauty upon first meeting her, but when these words came from the icy and aloof woman opposite her, there was absolutely no hint of frivolous teasing; it was as if she were simply stating a fact calmly.
Qin Sang didn't understand what he meant by those words, so she just smiled faintly and didn't reply.
After finishing his fish, Bai Si wiped his lips with a handkerchief and said, "Miss, you used your divisive tactics very skillfully today. I wonder which of those two young masters offended you. I'm afraid they still don't understand how this farce started."
"What do you mean by that, young master?" Although Qin Sang was surprised that this person had seen through her thoughts, she would not admit it since her actions today were so subtle and had nothing to do with this person. She continued to play dumb: "Could it be that I was wrong to fight for Miss Sisi today? Are women just objects to be picked over by others? I cannot agree with that."
She spoke with such righteous indignation, as if she were merely a woman who felt injustice and was standing up for another woman. As for the disputes that arose, what did they have to do with her? They were nothing more than the result of those narrow-minded men losing face and behaving recklessly.
The young master Bai, completely oblivious to anything amiss, readily agreed, saying, "Young lady, you are kind-hearted and chivalrous. It is only right that you do this when you see injustice."
“Yes, right,” Qin Sang agreed wholeheartedly. “I think so too, it should be so. Thank you for your hospitality, young master. I’ve finished eating the fish, so I’ll take my leave now. If we are destined to meet again, young master, I will treat you to a fish stew.”
Young Master Bai glanced up at Qin Sang, who had already stood up, his expression indifferent, yet his gaze remained gentle. He smiled slightly and said, "Alright."
After coming down from the third floor, Qin Sang couldn't find Xie Sui'an.
She grabbed the waiter and asked, "Where did the young master who was sitting over there go?"
The waiter was momentarily stunned, then slapped his forehead and remembered: "Oh, you mean that very handsome young man? He's gone out."
"Going out?"
The waiter chuckled, a hint of embarrassment and gossip suddenly appearing on his face: "That young master came upstairs looking for you just now, but for some reason, he suddenly turned around and stormed off. I called him, but he didn't respond..."
Qin Sang finally realized she had gone too far. How could she abandon her companions for pleasure just because of a beautiful woman? But then again, if Lu Yao happened to meet someone he liked in this inn and wanted to have dinner with her, she would have absolutely no objection, and she certainly wouldn't inexplicably storm out. After all, they hadn't had dinner yet, weren't they? Weren't they hungry?
She sighed, "Fine, I'll go find him." Anyway, she could go for a walk after dinner and buy some paper and pens while she was at it.
Since descending to the mortal realm seven years ago, Qin Sang has never left Li County. However, just because she never left while she was a human doesn't mean she never sneaked off to the mortal world to stroll around while she was a deity. Different mortal realms have different rules, and mortal realms at different stages of development have their own unique pleasures. Qin Sang has seen a lot, but she has also forgotten a lot. Otherwise, she would have been exhausted by these trivial matters long ago on her long journey to immortality.
It was mid-spring, the night breeze was warm, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and flowers, as well as the aroma of various snacks from the night market. After trying a few, Qin Sang couldn't eat anymore, so she stuffed them all into Ying'er's hands: "When you see Young Master Lu later, just say that this was specially bought for him by the young lady, understand?"
Ying'er nodded, holding a pile of brown paper.
However, after the two of them had walked the entire street, they still couldn't find Xie Sui'an and Jinyun. She couldn't help but mutter, "Could it be that I really angered him and he just left? Judging from his appearance, he doesn't seem like such a petty person..."
"Sister," at this moment, a little child tugged at Qin Sang's skirt, pointed to the corner of the long street, and said in a childish voice, "Brother told you to go over there to find him."
Qin Sang breathed a sigh of relief, patted the child's head, picked a candied hawthorn from Ying'er's arms and gave it to him, then went in the direction he pointed.
"This street is quieter than the one we just passed. How did we end up here?" Qin Sang stopped after taking a few steps and suddenly heard a woman struggling and crying from a dimly lit alley, along with the sound of tearing cloth.
She frowned slightly and did not go in immediately.
Instead of going in, she was ready to run away... but it was too late. A black cloth was draped over her head, carrying a strong, fishy smell. She instinctively tried to remove the hood, but her hands wouldn't obey her commands.
Before she collapsed unconscious, all she could think was: In this day and age, there are such potent sleeping pills, I'm amazed...
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