Chapter 77 I Have a Better Idea
Lin Shiyuan's final leap landed on the high glazed tile roof.
Yao Qingling's feet were on the roof tiles, but her body still felt like it was floating in the air, and she was swaying. Ling Shiyuan had to hold her tightly to help her adjust.
But she is so small.
It made him wonder where she got so much courage from that tiny body.
He unconsciously tightened his grip, as if measuring the extent of her courage.
After a few breaths, Qingling calmed down, but felt a tightness in her waist and abdomen. She gently pushed the man, her lowered face hiding her shyness.
Apart from Zhan Xingzhuo, she had never been this intimate with any other man.
They were even strangers.
Lin Shiyuan snapped out of his daze, but only withdrew one hand, his other arm still wrapped around her: "Sorry... but this place isn't very stable, if you could—"
"Shh—" Qingling didn't have time to hear what he was saying. She nervously raised a finger and stared down below.
This large mansion looks like the private villa of a powerful and wealthy person; the house is quiet, exudes elegance, and is guarded by guards.
At this moment, a group of guards, carrying lanterns, patrolled the area and then headed towards another courtyard.
From mid-air, it looks like a giant centipede that has come to life.
Yao Qingling breathed a slight sigh of relief and asked in a whisper, "Zhou Zhining is hiding here?"
She was so down on her luck, everyone hated her, how could she still hide in such a nice place?
Just as she squinted, searching for Zhou Zhining's figure, the sound of a piano rang out.
Like moonlight flowing on water, clear and continuous; like the wind chasing butterflies, lingering and tender.
The atmosphere in the air changed, as if the flowers in the garden had transformed into fairies, dancing gracefully.
The fairy flew higher and higher, all the way to the moon palace...
Yao Qingling crouched on the roof and, following the sound of the piano, finally found Zhou Zhining.
She was sitting in the pavilion, wearing a green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), over which she wore a white gauze robe embroidered with pink butterflies, which made her look beautiful and lively, with a hint of sorrow in her expression; her slender white fingers flew across the strings of the zither, so skillfully that one could not see the changes in her fingers.
No wonder she's considered a talented woman; her musical skills are truly exceptional.
Yao Qingling recalled some past events.
When Zhou Zhining was in the new mansion, she also enjoyed playing the zither and appreciating the moon. Zhan Xingzhuo once used half a year's salary to buy a paulownia wood zither made by Master Yu, just to cheer her up.
Qingling felt that Zhan Xingzhuo was wasting Zhou Zhining's time, as Zhou Zhining had come to the manor to recuperate. She said a few words, and Zhan Xingzhuo was very unhappy, saying that she was petty, lacked elegance, and was ignorant.
He took his zither to Zhou Zhining's courtyard; every day after that, he could hear the sound of the zither coming from the west courtyard.
Many servants stopped what they were doing when they heard her playing the zither, causing many things to be delayed.
Zhan Xingzhuo said that it was a rare privilege for such uncouth servants to hear such beautiful celestial music, and that they should be rewarded.
He and she, one playing the flute, the other the piano, their music in perfect harmony; and they had an audience who appreciated their symphony.
From that time on, Yao Qingling never liked listening to the zither again; she didn't even like the zither anymore.
Later, Zhou Zhining took the zither back to the Wang family; when she came to the new mansion to recuperate again, she said that Wang Xuan had smashed the zither.
She was crying and said she would take the zither home so that she could play it when she was sad and that thinking of happy things would ease her sorrow. Zhan Xingzhuo felt extremely sorry for her and immediately said he would buy her another one.
Qingling, however, was thinking that the pile of gleaming silver would be enough to cover the household's expenses for a long time...
Lin Shiyuan lowered his eyes, looking at the woman's quiet demeanor.
She didn't seem to be appreciating the music; her brow was slightly furrowed, her face was cold, and her lips were tightly pressed together.
Lin Shiyuan thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I have inquired, but I have not been able to find out who owns this villa. However, judging from the layout of this villa, it should belong to someone of high status and power."
Yao Qingling said calmly, "I don't know whose it is."
She assumed that without Zhan Xingzhuo, Zhou Zhining would live like a rat in the street. She might hide in some remote, dilapidated temple, scavenging offerings from passersby; she might hide among beggars, extremely destitute and afraid of being recognized, forced to smear her face with ash; or she might hide in some shady workshop washing dishes—
However, Zhou Zhining is indeed Zhou Zhining; she will never give up her life of luxury and privilege.
Yao Qingling was curious: at this critical juncture, who was so bold as to harbor her?
Even Wang Xuan divorced her, eager to sever ties with her.
Yao Qingling glanced at Lin Shiyuan.
No wonder he invited her over.
This villa is clearly the property of the wealthy and powerful. If I were to report it rashly, I might offend the people behind it.
Lin Shiyuan no longer holds an official position; he is now just an ordinary commoner...
Seeing her expression, Lin Shiyuan curled his lips, his eyes showing a hint of disdain and arrogance. He said, "Even for princes and nobles, harboring criminals wanted by the court is a serious crime. What's so scary about that?"
"I brought you here to ask if you want to go downstairs."
Qingling was taken aback, her eyes widening slightly, looking somewhat bewildered.
Lin Shiyuan then said, "Go to her. She's definitely afraid of you."
A person with a guilty conscience is most afraid of seeing the object of their evil deeds.
But for Zhou Zhining, no matter how carefree and comfortable she is at the moment, the person she hates the most is in front of her and is constantly threatening her safety. How can she not be afraid?
Lin Shiyuan wanted her to go down there so that she would see the enemy tremble, panic, kneel down and beg for mercy in front of the person she hated most, unable to eat or sleep, and never have peace day or night.
Yao Qingling listened to the music in silence.
But she wasn't immersed in the beautiful music; instead, she was imagining Zhou Zhining seeing her fearful and terrified; or perhaps she was arrogant and disdainful, relying on her new backer, saying, "What can you do to me?"
After a while, Yao Qingling spoke up, saying very calmly, "No need."
Lin Shiyuan raised one eyebrow, thinking that she was either too kind or cowardly.
Perhaps she was bullied so badly by this woman before that she didn't know how to teach her a lesson.
He said, "If I stay with you, she won't dare to do anything to you."
Seeing his serious expression, Yao Qingling roughly guessed what he was thinking and smiled: "I'm not afraid of her."
She paused for a moment, then said, "I have a better idea."
“Go back,” she said.
Lin Shiyuan looked at her with a puzzled expression, but still did as she said and took her away.
Just like when we arrived, I put my arm around her waist.
This time, they landed at the entrance of the villa.
Two large red lanterns hung quietly under the eaves, swaying gently in the breeze.
The sound of the zither was carried by the wind, and because of the distance, it sounded somewhat ethereal.
Passersby assumed that some gentleman was having fun with a beautiful woman.
Yao Qingling stared at the tightly closed red-lacquered door, her expression turning ruthless.
She asked Lin Shiyuan to bring a bucket of black lacquer and wrote several large characters on the two doors: "Zhou Zhining, I know you are here, open the door!"
After finishing writing, she threw down the huge brush and clapped her hands.
He glanced at Lin Shiyuan, who was staring at the gate, and said, "Let's go."
The man turned around, but she had already strode forward.
Lin Shiyuan followed and glanced at her.
She seems to be in a good mood right now.
He asked, "Why do this?"
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