When Qinghe still hadn't seen Qirong by dinner time, he started to feel something was off. When the last dish of food was served, Qinghe called out to the servant, "Where is your young master?"
The young servant scratched his head, looking somewhat bewildered. "I haven't seen him. He's probably in the side room."
Qinghe thought for a moment, then stood up: "Take me to his room."
The servant hesitated for a moment: "This isn't appropriate, young master doesn't like people entering his room."
Qinghe: "Just take me there. If he gets angry at you, just hide behind me. Don't worry, I'll protect you."
After hesitating for a long time, the servant said, "Alright then, come with me."
Following the servant, they turned and twisted until they arrived at a secluded courtyard. Qinghe looked around at the remote and desolate courtyard and asked in surprise, "He lives here?"
The servant boy, carrying a lantern, explained earnestly on his youthful face, "That's right, the young master likes quiet places. This villa was specially designed and built by the young master himself. It's warm in winter and cool in summer, making it the perfect place to live."
Qinghe nodded, signaling him to continue forward, but the servant stood still and said to Qinghe, "You should go in by yourself. If the young master finds out that I brought you here, he will definitely punish me by making me write the family precepts and rules eight hundred times."
"Family rules and regulations?" Qinghe's lips curled up. "Your young master's way of punishing people is quite unique."
Seeing her smile, the servant was not infected at all, and said with a bitter face, "Yes, since I came here, I have written it almost a thousand times. I used to be illiterate, but now I am almost a calligrapher."
As he said this, he shuddered violently, turned around with the lantern, and ran faster than a rabbit.
Qinghe ignored him and stepped into the courtyard.
The villa was indeed as the servant had described, cool and pleasant, with a gentle breeze ruffling Qinghe's hair, creating a slight arc.
The courtyard was planted with many hard-leaved orchids, their deep red stamens resembling the elegant and refined beauty of a gentleman, swaying in the night breeze.
Candles were lit in the room, but no one was inside. Qing called Qi Rong's name twice, but there was no response for a long time.
A cup of tea sat on the table, now completely cold. Qinghe sat down, resting his chin on his hand, pondering where Qirong had gone.
At this moment, Qi Rong was meditating on a jade bed in the secret room. Her slender hands were circulating spiritual energy back and forth, and it slowly subsided after about two small cycles.
The jade bed beneath him emitted a thick mist that enveloped Qi Rong completely, maximizing the therapeutic effect.
If Qinghe were present, he would recognize that this jade bed was made of top-grade cold jade, and it was several times larger and of better quality than the one auctioned at the charity auction.
After a long while, Qi Rong opened her eyes slowly, her hands outstretched and facing down, calming her spiritual energy. Her red pupils, shrouded in mist, were deep and bright, appearing even more hazy through the mist.
In the underground space, at a critical moment, he helped Qinghe dissipate more than half of the divine pearl's impact on his body through the jade pendant space, thus ensuring Qinghe's safety. Otherwise, with the power of the divine pearl, forcibly devouring it would only lead to self-destruction.
However, doing so resulted in the recurrence of old injuries.
The pain from the day had subsided. Qi Rong closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again. She got out of bed, walked to the wall, and took out a mahogany box from the wooden shelf. Inside were two dark brown pills.
"Two more..." Qi Rong murmured to himself, looking thoughtful. He stared at the pills for a long time, then sighed and put them into his pocket.
Emerging from the secret room, Qi Rong keenly sensed Qing He's presence, only to find her slumped over the table, seemingly asleep. He couldn't help but chuckle helplessly.
He walked over, picked up a blanket, and draped it over her. But as soon as he touched her, the person who had fallen asleep suddenly stood up, staring straight at Qi Rong, her face showing no sign of sleepiness.
Qinghe: "I didn't see you at dinner, so I came out to look for you. I didn't expect to find your hideout so easily."
Qi Rong put down the blanket and looked at her with amusement, clearly not believing that someone with such a terrible sense of direction could actually find the right place.
Qinghe sat down again and said, "Wouldn't it be impolite of me to ask you where you just went?"
Qi Rong, understanding and considerate, said, "No, it's just an audit."
It's not surprising that Qinghe would personally check the accounts, considering his wealth, which is comparable to that of the richest man in the country.
Without further ado, Qinghe stood up and walked out, saying as he went, "Dinner has been served for a while now, or those starving ghosts will have snatched it all up."
Qi Rong chuckled. In her memory, Li Jiang and the others were all polite and proper people. How come they were like starving ghosts in her eyes? But she didn't say anything more and got up to go to the front hall with her.
It wasn't until I saw it with my own eyes that I believed Qinghe was right. Although the table wasn't a complete mess, every dish of food had been eaten clean, with not a single piece left, and even the soup broth had been drunk clean.
Li Jiang was still elegantly wiping her mouth when she saw Qing and Qi Rong come in. She gave them an appreciative look, meaning that the food tasted good.
Mu Dong picked up the last bit of food from the plate with her chopsticks. When she saw the two of them arrive, her movements instantly became elegant. With the soup still on the corner of her mouth, she smiled broadly and said, "The food is really good, and the plate is delicious too."
Qinghe's lips twitched violently, and his eyes were almost overflowing with disgust.
She glanced at Qi Rong, as if to say: See, I told you so, a bunch of starving ghosts.
Qi Rong shook her head helplessly.
The most normal one was Shen Xun. Not only did he not overeat, but he also risked his life to protect the last bit of food and was eating slowly and methodically.
Qinghe glanced at the small bowl of soup in front of him, her eyes filled with pity, and sighed inwardly, "Poor kid, it's not your fault that your arms are short."
Shen Xun looked up at her and gave her a sharp look. "I've done my best."
Qing nodded solemnly, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "You don't need to say anything, I understand."
Shen Xun: "..." The soup in front of him suddenly didn't smell good anymore.
After enjoying their dinner, Li Jiang and Mu Dong left early to return to the inn, leaving only Qing, Qi Rong, and Shen Xun, who had no food left.
Qi Rong: "I'll have the kitchen make some more."
Qinghe: "Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
Qi Rong smiled and said, "No, it's still early; they won't rest so early."
Qinghe: "Alright then."
The bowls and plates that had been cleared from the table were removed and replaced with exquisite dishes. Just as Qinghe was about to start eating, Qirong stopped her.
"This is yours."
With a push of her slender fingers, Qinghe's attention shifted from her beautiful hands to a plate of food that offered no appetite whatsoever, and she immediately frowned.
"This again?"
Qi Rong nodded. "I told you, you can only eat this for the next three days." Her attitude was very firm.
Helpless, Qinghe picked up her chopsticks and began to eat the vegetable porridge with difficulty.
Actually, the kitchen staff are quite skilled; they can make even the simplest and most plain dishes delicious. It's just that Qinghe can't live without meat, and even the best vegetables taste bland without meat.
Looking at Shen Xun, who was happily eating beside her, Qinghe asked enviously, "Is it delicious?"
Shen Xun nodded: "You want to eat?"
Qing nodded hurriedly.
Shen Xun: "Maybe in the next life."
Qinghe: "..."
Naked revenge.
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