Chapter 73 Missing

Two maids were sweeping up the fallen leaves, and when they saw that no one was around, they started chatting in low voices.

"Miss A-li is really clever and skillful."

"Yes, that plum blossom pastry tastes really good..." As she said this, she swallowed her saliva as if she was savoring the taste.

Another maid seemed to want to laugh at her when she saw her ugly look, but she didn't dare to make too much noise, so she could only poke her cheek with her finger.

Perhaps because of the young lady's disappearance, the whole house was silent and depressing. No one dared to say much for fear of saying something wrong. However, most people like to be lively, as it is their nature. In this place where no one passes by, the two maids talked in low voices and shared a secret.

As for the plum blossom pastry, it has to start with Shen Yuqing's dream. No one knows what was going on in his mind, but he actually had a nightmare about being chased by a huge plum blossom pastry all night. After waking up and accidentally complaining, the sign-in rewards for the day turned into various types of pastries, among which plum blossom pastries accounted for several times more than other pastries. The size of the pastries was the same as ordinary pastries, not as big as the behemoth in the dream, but several guests in the inn with large quantities did not finish eating, so these vests became the best candidates for consuming pastries.

Ali, who was "beautiful, kind-hearted, and clever", had applied the ointment diligently these past few days, and the red marks on her face finally disappeared. So she stopped covering her face with a red veil, and looking at the endless cakes, she asked her maid about the location of the kitchen.

Ah Li was a guest, so everyone in the mansion naturally treated her with courtesy. After hearing that she wanted to cook for Ji Shaoxia herself, they took her to a private kitchen and prepared the necessary ingredients.

She put the ingredients into her backpack and took out the pastries. The carefully prepared pastries were born perfectly. The only problem was that she had to pretend to stay in the kitchen for a while longer and accidentally messed up the kitchen.

In addition to the cakes in the food box, she also gave some cakes to the maid who led the way. Looking at A-li's face, the maid took the cakes and her face turned red with shyness.

The night is dark with few stars and the shadows of the trees are swaying. It is a good time to send warmth.

Ah Li knocked on Ji Xianyi's door with a lunch box in his hand.

"Master Ji, it's me...Ali..."

The door was soon opened. When Ji Xian saw Qiu Muli without a veil, he was startled at first, but soon he said in surprise: "Miss A Li, your face is healed!"

Qiu Muli smiled shyly, looking at the other person with sparkling eyes: "Thanks to Ji Shaoxia for the ointment."

Facing A-li's slightly admiring gaze, Ji Xianyi was naturally even happier, and said slowly: "Miss A-li, there is no need to be so reserved, just call me by my name from now on."

Ah Li did not agree nor refuse, but looked embarrassed: "But... I'm afraid Miss Li will misunderstand..."

When Ji Xian heard this, he thought of his junior sister's temper and sighed quietly, but when he mentioned her, he was doting: "Junior sister has been spoiled since she was a child. She has a straightforward personality. Miss A-li, please don't take it to heart."

Ah Li was still as gentle as ever, but she held the food box more tightly. Seeing Ji Xianyi's embarrassment, she expressed her understanding in a gentle voice, and then said, "If you think the current address is too unfamiliar, then I will call you Brother Ji in the future, okay?"

Ji Xianyi naturally nodded in agreement. After noticing the night wind blowing and Ah Li's shivering body, he said apologetically, "It's my fault for talking too much. Come in quickly. It's cold at night. Be careful not to catch a cold."

After entering the house, Ah Li put the food box on the table. After opening the lid, Ji Xianyi was a little surprised by the delicate and small appearance of the pastries.

"Brother Ji and Miss Li have worked hard on the case these days. This is the cake I made myself. I hope Brother Ji won't mind."

A-li divided the pastries into two boxes, and one of them was probably going to be given to Li Qingruo. Such a thoughtful gesture made Ji Xianyi even more satisfied.

Ji Xianyi picked up a piece of plum blossom pastry. The plum blossom shape was very realistic, the skin was crispy and the filling was sweet. As soon as Ji Xian took a bite, he couldn't help but praise it.

With this cake, the relationship between the two became closer. Under the candlelight, Ji Xianyi seemed to be saying something. Although the voice was inaudible, looking at the smile on A-li's face, it should be some compliments.

Ji Xianyi whispered: "We visited several families today, one of them was a woman named Xia Lian..."

Ah Li lowered her head. After the other party finished speaking, she smiled shyly and said, "Thank you, Brother Ji. If you like it, eat one more piece."

Ji Xian laughed when he heard that, his lips slightly raised, and he obediently picked up another piece of cake. Although the two of them were talking to their own things, there was nothing unusual on their faces.

On the other side, Li Qingruo looked at the green snake spitting out its tongue at her, and immediately stood up and followed. It was finally her turn.

The green snake brought Li Qingru to Ji Xianyi's door, and then drilled into the fake stone on the side to cover its tracks.

Seeing that there was still light and shadow in the room, Li Qingruo knocked on the door: "Brother! It's me!"

After waiting for a long time without any response, Li Qing frowned and tried to push the door. The moment the door opened, the scene in the room made her stand there in shock. She blurted out and shouted loudly: "What are you doing?"

Inside the house, Ah-Li was almost completely embraced in Ji Xian's arms. The action was too intimate. Ah-Li lowered her head as if shy and leaned against the other's chest. It was not until she heard Li Qingruo's voice that the two of them quickly separated as if they were electrocuted.

Seeing Li Qingruo's angry look, Ah Li quickly explained: "I almost fell down accidentally just now, and Brother Ji helped me up out of kindness. Miss Li, please don't misunderstand me."

There were some water stains on the floor, probably because some tea was accidentally spilled, and it was because Ali stepped on the water stains that he almost slipped.

Li Qingruo looked at the other party's seductive look and became even more furious. She sneered and said, "I almost tripped a few days ago, and today I accidentally fell down again. As expected of a singer who performs on stage, she has many tricks to seduce people."

Ah Li's face turned pale instantly, and he covered his chest as if he would collapse in the next second, but he still pretended to be strong and said, "When I was young, I was homeless on the street. A kind-hearted woman gave me a bite of food. She taught me to play the guqin, and I worked hard to learn it. What's wrong with singing? Miss Li, do you know the feeling of being hungry? You saved me from the bandits, and you did me a favor, but why do you insult me ​​like this!"

Ah-li had tears in her eyes. Her voice was soft but loud. Compared with the unruly Li Qingruo, it was obvious that Ah-li made Ji Xianyi feel more distressed at this moment.

Although Li Qingruo felt a little guilty at first, she was furious when she saw the other party trying to seduce her again. However, this time, Ji Xian interrupted her before she could say anything.

"That's enough! Where have your usual manners gone? Ah Li is a woman like you, how can you say such things? She even made cakes for you because of your hard work in investigating the case these days. You really disappoint me."

Ji Xianyi's voice was full of suppressed anger. Looking at his stern expression and the disappointment in his eyes, Li Qingruo, who was quite angry just now, was stunned for a moment. In her memory, her senior brother rarely got angry, let alone spoke to her like this. At this moment, she stood there at a loss, a feeling of grievance surged in her heart, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

Ji Xian, who had originally had a cold expression on his face, was a little surprised and confused when he saw Li Qingruo crying. He was used to her stubbornness and willfulness, but suddenly he was at a loss when he saw her crying. He wanted to comfort her, but when he saw A'li trembling with anger beside him, he really couldn't say a word.

Li Qingruo realized belatedly that she had actually cried. She wiped away her tears in panic, and seemed to feel that she had lost face. She glared at A Li and ran out without looking back.

The habit of the past few years made Ji Xianyi unable to help but chase after her, but he stopped abruptly because of A-li beside him.

"Miss A'li, don't take to heart what Junior Sister said. I will persuade her well." Ji Xian said seriously.

Although the words sounded nice, there was no mention of asking Li Qingruo to apologize. Seeing the person in front of him in a dilemma, Ah Li suppressed the sourness in his heart and said generously: "I know Miss Li didn't mean it, but it's already very late, I don't know where she would run off to."

When Ji Xianyi heard this, he showed some worry. After all, the missing case had caused panic among the people. What if that villain targeted his junior sister... Thinking of this, Ji Xianyi couldn't stay any longer.

Ah Li couldn't tell what the other person was thinking. She picked up the food box on the table and said, "Brother Ji, go and take a look. The cakes are sweet and can make Miss Li feel better."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xian took the food box, his eyes softened a lot: "Miss A-li is the most thoughtful. I was wrong today, and I will make it up to you in the future." After saying this, he couldn't wait to go out.

Ah Li nodded and smiled as he watched the other person's back as she left. Men can be very thoughtful sometimes but they can be too simple-minded. Without even thinking twice, they gave the cakes made by another woman to another woman.

The green snake stared at the person who was hiding in the dark like himself, his little head shook in confusion, and then he looked at the other person who suddenly came out and pointed in the direction of Ji Xian in the night.

"I just saw Miss Li running back to her room in a hurry. I don't know what happened."

"Thank you." Ji Xian didn't think much about it and went straight to Li Qingruo's room with the food box.

"Junior sister! Junior sister!"

Ji Xianyi shouted a few times outside the door. Seeing no response for a long time, he pushed the door open and saw Li Qingruo sitting at the table, looking angry.

Li Qingruo's eyes were still red. When she saw Ji Xian coming in, she turned her head to the other side angrily.

Ji Xianyi said quickly: "Junior sister, don't be angry. I said something a little harsh. I just don't want you to misunderstand. This is a pastry made by Miss A-li. Try it. It tastes delicious."

Li Qingruo's anger had subsided by half as she listened, but when she heard the other party praising the cakes made by A-li, she became angry again and directly smashed the cake in front of her, almost dropping it on the ground.

Ji Xianyi frowned unconsciously, "Junior sister!"

Seeing Ji Xianyi's fierce look, Li Qingruo's tears that she had finally stopped flowed again. Seeing that the other party was crying more and more fiercely, Ji Xianyi said in a conciliatory way: "Okay, okay, don't cry, don't eat if you don't want to, don't cry, it's all my fault."

Seeing that her senior brother was so humble, Li Qingruo knew when to stop. She said with a tearful tone, "I just cared too much about my senior brother, so I lost my mind at that time. I didn't mean it."

Listening to Junior Sister's explanation, Ji Xianyi nodded and chose to believe: "Of course I know Junior Sister didn't mean it. I was a little harsh at the time because I didn't want Junior Sister to misunderstand me. Don't you believe me, Junior Sister?"

Li Qingruo shook her head immediately after hearing this, but she also expressed her thoughts: "Of course I believe in Brother, but Master sent a message not long ago asking us to go back as soon as possible, but Brother said he would help people to the end and wanted to send Ah Li to a safe place. But now that we are here, Brother has started to investigate the missing case again. Sometimes I feel that Brother is unwilling to go back with me."

Hearing the other party's somewhat resentful tone, Ji Xian's eyes darkened slightly, hiding the emotions in his eyes, and then said solemnly: "It's all my fault, Senior Brother, I made you worry, but Master has always taught us to help the weak and restore justice. Once the missing case is solved, I will go back with you immediately, okay?"

After getting Ji Xianyi's answer, Li Qingru nodded and finally burst into laughter.

Ji Xianyi on the side also breathed a sigh of relief.