They approached the City Lord’s mansion, and the guards standing at the entrance eyed the two of them with a hostile gaze.
“Who are you?” one of the guards asked. Qin Jiujiu looked at the guard and said, “May I ask who resides in the City Lord’s mansion now?”
The man let out a dry chuckle. Xie Jing had already positioned himself behind Qin Jiujiu, and the man’s expression changed instantly upon seeing Xie Jing.
“You must be from out of town. Naturally, the City Lord’s mansion belongs to the current City Lord!”
Qin Jiujiu paused and then said, “We are new to the city and are unfamiliar with the current situation in Xiliu City, so we don’t know who the new City Lord is?”
The guard then put on a scowl. However, upon catching sight of Xie Jing behind her, his expression drastically changed.
“The new City Lord is naturally the great general of our Manluo Kingdom…”
Confirming that the City Lord’s mansion had been occupied by the Manluo Kingdom, Qin Jiujiu understood that the current state of Xiliu City was a result of war, and it was likely that the common folk dared not open their shops.
“Xie Jing, let’s go to the inn,” Qin Jiujiu said, turning to face the young man.
He nodded slightly in agreement.
Only after the figures of the two of them had disappeared did the guards at the entrance relax their vigilance.
Beyond Heaven Restaurant.
Standing at the grand entrance of Beyond Heaven Restaurant, Qin Jiujiu saw that the establishment was tightly shut. She looked at Xie Jing, intending to ask for his opinion, but Xie Jing, understanding her thoughts, spoke before she could voice them, “Knock on the door.”
Qin Jiujiu naturally stepped forward and gave two gentle knocks, then leaned by the door and called out, “Is Jiang Yan in?”
After a long wait with no sound from inside, Xie Jing seemed to grow impatient. He had been standing some distance away, but when Qin Jiujiu looked up from the door, he was already behind her.
“It seems no one is inside…”
Xie Jing suddenly raised his hand and knocked twice forcefully on the door. Qin Jiujiu looked at him in shock, yet his face bore a calm and indifferent expression, as if he hadn’t just performed such an action.
Qin Jiujiu couldn’t help but say, “What if this attracts bad people?”
The system, however, prompted, “The person in front of you is the main villain of this book!”
Qin Jiujiu was speechless, unsure how to retort to the system. Xie Jing, however, showed no intention of replying. He took a slight step back, crossed his arms, and appeared to be waiting.
Soon, there was indeed a sound from within, like footsteps approaching the door.
The footsteps soon stopped.
They likely stopped right behind the door.
“Is Jiang Yan in?”
She called out, but there was no answer from inside. Qin Jiujiu continued, “Qin Jiujiu is looking for Jiang Yan…”
Before she could finish, the door opened from the inside. She had been leaning on it, and at the moment the door swung open, she nearly fell onto the person. It was thanks to Xie Jing pulling her back from behind that such an awkward situation was avoided.
No wonder Xie Jing had stepped back earlier; he must have heard the footsteps and knew someone was coming to open the door.
Qin Jiujiu quickly said, “I’m looking for Jiang Yan.”
Standing at the doorway was a young attendant, no older than twenty, with fair skin. He wore a white robe, much like Jiang Yan.
Qin Jiujiu remembered that there had been no such attendant when they had visited before. He must be new to Beyond Heaven Restaurant.
“Miss?”
The young man suddenly spoke. Qin Jiujiu, upon hearing this address, blinked in surprise. Then she said, “Who are you? Where is Jiang Yan?”
Seeing that Qin Jiujiu did not recognize him, the young man said, “Miss, Master is not at the restaurant right now…”
Upon hearing this, Qin Jiujiu said, “We are old acquaintances of your master and have something important to discuss with him. Could you allow us to come in and wait?”
Xie Jing’s cold eyes narrowed, his dark gaze fixed intently on the young man before him.
He appeared very displeased.
Sensing Xie Jing’s killing intent, the young man addressed Qin Jiujiu, “Miss, please come in!”
Qin Jiujiu was somewhat puzzled as to why the young man was being so polite to her.
He was letting them in merely based on her word that she was a friend of Jiang Yan, which was rather strange.
“Aren’t you going to ask who we are?”
The young man led them into the restaurant. The establishment was empty and very quiet. The young man led them directly into a room that looked like a bedroom.
Hearing Qin Jiujiu’s question, the young man shook his head and said, “If Miss is here, I won’t be mistaken…”
Xie Jing’s expression had turned terrifyingly dark. Qin Jiujiu, startled, looked at the seemingly innocent young man and suddenly said, “You know me?”
The young man nodded again, his every move exuding pure sincerity.
Qin Jiujiu desperately tried to recall if she had ever met the young man before, but in the end, it was in vain.
Xie Jing, who had been walking at the rear, had moved behind Qin Jiujiu at some point, listening to their conversation. He warily eyed the man before them.
This man was about the same age as him and reasonably good-looking. However, Xie Jing felt a surge of displeasure; this man was too attentive to Qin Jiujiu…
Neither of them seemed to notice Xie Jing’s actions. Even when Xie Jing took Qin Jiujiu’s hand, she merely glanced at him before turning her attention back to the young man in white.
Xie Jing’s face darkened further.
“Miss might not remember me. I am Qin Qing, the son of the Qin family’s steward. I visited your estate once…”
Upon hearing this, Qin Jiujiu understood.
This was such a minor matter that she hadn’t even retrieved it from the original owner’s memories. It seemed this young attendant had only met her once.
After all, Qin Jiujiu’s name was known throughout Shangyang Town.
“So that’s how it is. How did you end up here?”
The young man smiled and said, “Because Master once went to Shangyang Town to treat the eldest young madam. I was fortunate enough to meet him and become his disciple…”
So, Jiang Yan’s trip to Shangyang Town had led to this connection. Qin Jiujiu nodded.
The young man suddenly seemed to realize something, his face showing remorse. He scratched his head and said, “Look at me, I forgot Miss and Young Master have traveled such a long way. You must be hungry and thirsty… I’ll go prepare some tea and food right away!”
Qin Jiujiu naturally agreed.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Xie Jing’s gaze lowered. Qin Jiujiu followed his gaze and saw their hands clasped tightly together.
Their fingers were intertwined.
Only now did Qin Jiujiu feel that her palm was sweating from Xie Jing’s grip.
“Why are you holding me?”
She asked directly, no longer exhibiting her former timidness.
Xie Jing remained silent, but his displeasure was evident. Qin Jiujiu, unaware of the reason for his behavior, did not press further.
If this man wanted to hold her hand, so be it. It wouldn’t hurt her.
“Ow…” Qin Jiujiu gasped, a sudden pain shooting through her hand.
At that moment, Qin Qing entered with food and drinks. Upon hearing Qin Jiujiu’s cry of pain, he rushed to her side.