Chapter 16
A few lines of messages popped up on the flickering mobile phone screen, and Jian Xinyi was awakened by the light.
At 7 o'clock in the morning, her mother sent several messages about her blind date.
"Stop playing those meaningless games and reading those romance novels all day long. You're old enough, it's time to find someone suitable."
She designed the game, and she actually knew clearly that the men in the game did not exist in reality.
But if even the creator of the game doesn't believe all this, who else would believe it?
She rejected her mother's request and received an hour-long voice call.
Now everything seemed different. She stood in front of the prince, and he asked her why she distanced herself from him.
Jian Xinyi looked at Qian Yuan. Her years of work experience made her understand clearly that this person did not have any ambiguous feelings towards him, but just wanted to find an answer.
But there were some things she just couldn't say.
For example, she is just an invader in this world, and as an invader, she only needs to abide by the rules of the game.
As for things that go against the laws of this world, she shouldn't do them.
Just like, the orphan girl and the prince.
"Your Highness, do you like me?"
Jian Xinyi's words were like a bolt from the blue. Qian Yuan's face turned red and white, and he stammered, "Why... are you asking this?"
"That means I don't like you." Jian Xinyi smiled slightly. "It's actually very simple. Your Highness is Your Highness. If you like a woman, you just need to take her into your harem. You don't need to ask her if she is willing. But I don't like this feeling."
She looked at Qian Yuan's confused eyes, as cold as the snow outside the window, and said, "I hope that our relationship is at least equal."
"I don't understand." Qian Yuan held her hand stubbornly, his hand was as hot as his heart.
He may have experienced hardships, but his hardships were what many people longed for. Being a Jinwu Guard, no matter how hard and tiring it was, was a good job in the capital.
But she is different. The sufferings that have long been forgotten by time have already taken root in her heart. Maybe it was just a joke, or maybe it was an unintentional action.
What's more, Lin Zhuiyu's suffering was still in her mind.
Cheng Baisang only said one thing right: he understood nothing.
"It's snowing outside. Do you like snow?" Jian Xinyi walked outside and stretched out her hand, and the snow quickly melted away.
Qian Yuan didn't understand what Jian Xinyi was thinking. He just stood behind her silently and answered her question, "I like it. The snow scene in the palace is beautiful."
"I don't like it. When it snows, there's not even any charcoal in the house. It's very cold." Jian Xinyi withdrew her bony hands. After just a moment, she felt her hands were red and swollen. "When the snow stops, the mud on the ground will wet my shoes. You don't know this."
She looked at her hands that were almost frozen. The person who had done that also died in the winter of that year.
He looked at Jian Xinyi's face. She was so young, but why did she always look so sad every time he saw her? She was like a piece of ice, hard to shake. The words on his lips became more urgent. "But friends are meant to get to know all kinds of people in this world. I admit that there is a difference in status between you and me, but this does not affect our relationship, right?"
She fiercely shook off Qian Yuan's hand and squandered his feelings wantonly. Only then did Jian Xinyi realize her selfishness, but so what.
She had written too many plots, and she knew very well how likely those plots would be played out in reality, in this ancient place. "Every time they get along, those minor differences will be magnified tens of thousands of times. How can two people who don't get along become friends?"
"Your Highness should go find those young men from wealthy families and make friends with them." Jian Xinyi emphasized the word "friend" as if to remind him, and also as a reminder to herself.
Some things, once started, will be out of control.
"well."
Seeing her firm attitude, Qian Yuan couldn't help feeling angry, and even his words were unconsciously filled with anger.
The snow outside was getting heavier. She didn't look at Qian Yuan's departing back. She was only worried about how to get back.
The charcoal fire in the house was burning brightly and the green plum blossoms were in bloom. Jian Xinyi no longer hesitated and turned to go out.
"Wait, take this with you."
It was Qian Yuan's voice again. Jian Xinyi didn't want to stay any longer, but her steps stopped subconsciously. In the wind and snow, he was holding a small and exquisite hand warmer in his arms and handed it to her.
"Take good care of yourself. We will meet again if we have the chance." Qian Yuan's eyes were clear and bright. Only then did Jian Xinyi realize how she had let down the young man's pure heart.
But she is not Lin Zhuiyu. The hazy and lingering girlish thoughts have long been lost in the yellowed pages, scattered into the words of every work, and gradually turned into nothingness as she grew older.
"Thank you very much."
She took on the heavy burden of the young man's thoughts and turned to leave the cage.
The magnificent palace should be his home, not her shackles or her cage.
Jian Xinyi ignored the hustle and bustle on the road. She didn't bring any money and went straight to the bookstore. Her father must be waiting anxiously.
When she came back, she saw Liu Qin having a happy conversation with him.
"You silly girl, where did you go to eat? You're back so late, and you're still holding a stove?" Old Lin scolded her with a smile, then turned to apologize to Miss Liuqin, "Look at me, child. I said I was going to eat on the street, and now I'm back."
"Miss Liuqin." Jian Xinyi put the hand warmer away and greeted her. "Why are you here at this hour?"
"Your book is selling so well, so I'm here to share the profits with you. I'll also ask Boss Lin to print some more." Liu Qin smiled and looked at the hand warmer on the table. "It's new, so the pattern should be quite new. The workmanship..."
Liu Qin seemed to understand something, but she didn't say anything else. She turned to ask Old Lin, "Boss Lin, can you print ten more copies of this book?"
"I'll go print it right away." Old Lin went out quickly to print the book, leaving only Liu Qin and Jian Xinyi.
"Did he give you this hand warmer?" Liu Qin seemed to be asking a question, but also seemed to be confirming.
"I can't hide it from you. I met him by chance, and he gave it to her." Jian Xinyi made her a cup of tea. "Try it. This is the only tea in our house."
Liu Qin took the teacup and took a sip calmly. "Although what I said may sound alarmist, he is not someone you can truly associate with."
Before Jian Xinyi could ask, Liu Qin stood up and began to talk to herself, "There are many women in Xianxian Tower, but few are truly famous and have a happy ending. Some of them were blinded by power, money, and love, and they didn't know their place. They were obsessed with climbing up the social ladder, and in the end they were taught a lesson by the eldest wife and were left with no dignity. Some of them seduced their own masters and were sent here by the stewards. I think you sympathize with them."
Jian Xinyi nodded, seeming to understand. "I sympathize, but the price can't be any lower. It really is just three cents. I'll take half of your money, and we'll split the profit 70:30."
"As long as you understand what I mean," Liu Qin shook her head helplessly and looked at her with a smile. Jian Xinyi didn't get angry either and sat down towards her. "My small business still depends on our Xianxianlou's signature sister Liu Qin."
"Don't flatter me. Whether Xianxianlou opens or not is another matter. Now everyone relies on your books to make a living. You should update faster and don't delay everyone's expectations." Liu Qin tried to push Jian Xinyi away, but found that this person was skinny but strong. She poked her face helplessly.
"I know, I will try my best to update." Jian Xinyi changed the subject and watched Liu Qin's expression gradually relax before she breathed a sigh of relief.
How could Liu Qin know so much, warn her so much, and make her understand the truth of living two lives, but what kind of suffering did she herself suffer in it?
She didn't dare ask.
The scary thing is that she didn't even dare to ask.
Jian Xinyi's eyes dropped, but Liu Qin easily noticed it and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Before Jian Xinyi could answer, Lao Lin walked in from outside and said, "The book is printed, Miss Liu Qin."
Old Lin was holding a pile of books and saw this scene. He didn't know what to say. He put the books on the table and took the copper coins from Liu Qin's hand. "Wow, so many."
"There will be more in a few days. This is the money given by the girls who have seen it. I let them look at it first and pay after they find it interesting. There are few people in the building who know each other and won't refuse to pay, so I sell more." Liu Qin stood up, took Jian Xinyi's hand, and told the story.
Jian Xinyi patted her hands and said, "Happy cooperation."
Liu Qin nodded and returned to Xianxian Tower.
Jian Xinyi stopped watching and was about to walk in when Lao Lin stopped her. "Why are you coming back so late? It's almost dark."
"Oh, I got lost. The streets are full of people, they all look the same, and I forgot the way home." Jian Xinyi spoke without thinking. People who can make up stories are also the best at lying.
"I got lost, and I found a hand warmer?" Old Lin grabbed the hand warmer and looked closely at the patterns on it. The white porcelain base was painted with ink landscapes, which didn't look like something a woman could use. He became increasingly confused, "What's going on?"
"I met Qian Yuan on the road, and he gave it to me." Jian Xinyi omitted the beginning and the end, concealing part of the story, but Lao Lin still caught the key point. "Doesn't that mean I have to pay him back?"
Yes, she still owes Qian Yuan one or two taels of silver.
If this were a game, she would definitely block Qian Yuan and reduce his favorability to negative.
"Come back and return the one or two taels of silver together." Jian Xinyi quickly took the hand warmer and tiptoed to the back room to draw a new plot.
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