"Were you alone just now?"
Qin Jiujiu nodded quickly, afraid Liu Jin wouldn't believe her, and added, "I was taking a bath, so of course, I was alone…"
But as soon as she met Liu Jin's furrowed brow and inquisitive gaze, she felt a little guilty and decided to change the subject to cover it up.
"Sister Ajin, what did you need me for?" Qin Jiujiu asked with a smile. Liu Jin remembered the important matter and replied, "You left in a hurry today and came back late, so your father's letter didn't reach you in time!"
"This is what the maids at the manor received today." Liu Jin took a letter from her sleeve. Before Qin Jiujiu had even taken the letter, she already guessed it was from Master Qin.
As expected, her guess was correct.
The letter stated that as soon as her father saw her letter, he investigated Liu Qi and was very satisfied with him. Therefore, he agreed to her staying there temporarily. However, he was worried she wouldn't be well-fed or warm, so he sent a large shipment of supplies, which was on its way and would arrive soon. The steward of the manor would also arrive shortly.
The steward of the Qin Manor was a trusted confidant of Master Qin. Now that he had sent Steward Qin over, based on her understanding of Master Qin, it was highly likely he was sent to assess Liu Qi.
Although Steward Qin's matter was a bit troublesome, it was good that her task of staying close to the protagonist group was completed. She breathed a sigh of relief.
When she looked up, she met Liu Jin's gaze. Under the expectant eyes of the other party, Qin Jiujiu said with a straight face, "I told my father I'm staying here because of your brother, and my father agreed…"
Before she could finish speaking, Liu Jin's expression was one of disbelief. She eagerly asked, "You want to be my sister-in-law?"
So direct?
Qin Jiujiu was startled, but with Liu Jin, it made sense.
However, the more it was like this, the more she felt sorry for Liu Qi.
"Jiujiu, do you have feelings for my fourth brother?" Although it was a short time, Qin Jiujiu had mentioned to her in her free time that love doesn't distinguish between who comes first or last, that love can be like a steady stream, or it can be passionate and overwhelming…
She hadn't quite understood it before, but it seemed appropriate to explain this matter now.
Could it be that Jiujiu had developed a passionate love for her fourth brother?
Was it love at first sight, as she called it?
Liu Jin successfully convinced herself. At this moment, her mind had already determined that Jiujiu had strong feelings for her brother, and this matter had even been communicated to the parents!
She made up her mind to properly enlighten her own brother's dense head, so that Jiujiu wouldn't be wronged!
Qin Jiujiu: …
Qin Jiujiu was unaware of the brainstorming session Liu Jin had gone through in such a short period. If she knew, she would have to praise her leap-of-faith thinking and immense imagination.
Liu Jin's disbelieving gaze suddenly changed. Qin Jiujiu inexplicably saw understanding in her eyes, and finally, a resolute expression.
What happened?
No one answered.
Liu Jin suddenly broke the silence and said out of the blue, "I will help you!"
Qin Jiujiu: ???
"Help me? Did you misunderstand something…"
Liu Jin moved closer and untied her belt, tying a knot for her.
It looked much more comfortable now. Although Qin Jiujiu didn't understand the reason for Liu Jin's series of actions, she had to admit that the knot she tied was much better looking.
The knot Xie Jing tied was similar to hers! Just as hasty!
"I won't misunderstand! Jiujiu, I'm really looking forward to the days to come!"
Liu Jin's eyes were practically overflowing with light. Qin Jiujiu looked at her star-bright eyes and thought to herself: No! You've completely misunderstood!
But what she didn't expect was how extreme the results of Liu Jin's misunderstanding would be.
They had been staying at the General's manor these past few days. Xie Yun had to stay there to wait for the next reopening of the Ghost Market. The whereabouts of the Xie family's heirloom had gone cold, and the only possibility lay with the old woman at the grocery store.
It was said that the clue they had relied on to successfully rescue her last time came from that old woman.
Although it was magical, even absurd, that one person could foresee the future, thinking about it being in a novel made everything understandable.
She hadn't been fully conscious that day due to the medicine, only knowing that she saw Xie Jing that day. Everything else was narrated by those around her.
According to Liu Jin and Bai Qianluo, when they found the address given by the old woman, she had already been rescued by Xie Jing and Liu Qi. Most of the people in the 'Hong Xiu Hui' were killed, but the killer was unknown.
The Ghost Market was not under the jurisdiction of the authorities, so this case could not be investigated by anyone.
Qin Jiujiu, however, had a guess. Those people were likely killed by Xie Jing, because she remembered that Xie Jing had almost turned dark at that time, and the original plot was set up that way. Once targeted by the villain, there would be no survivors.
Looking at it now, she considered herself the luckiest. The villain had spared her life until now.
The next morning, Qin Jiujiu was sound asleep in her bed when the deafening sound of knocking on her door invaded her ears.
She turned over and covered her head with the quilt, but the noise outside did not stop.
Liu Jin shouted from outside the door, "Jiujiu, wake up!"
The scene was at a standstill for a long time. Finally, even Bai Qianluo was woken up. Qin Jiujiu tossed and turned several times, and finally got up and opened the door amidst the conversation between Bai Qianluo and Liu Jin.
The two outside were in white and red. Bai Qianluo always wore neutral clothing, while Liu Jin usually wore the attire of a county princess, occasionally tying up her hair and changing into riding clothes. At such times, it was either for practicing martial arts or for riding.
In any case, it was something that Qin Jiujiu, a physically weak person, would not like.
She was groggy, a stark contrast to the two outside. Her sleepiness had not yet completely dissipated, and Qin Jiujiu yawned. Bai Qianluo smiled, "Jiujiu, are you not awake yet?"
She didn't look like she was awake at all! Bai Qianluo merely found her appearance a little cute.
Qin Jiujiu nodded, then asked Liu Jin, "Sister Ajin, what's the matter?"
You better have an urgent matter! Otherwise… After thinking for a long time, she couldn't come up with the latter part of the sentence. She couldn't beat them, nor was her status as noble as theirs. What could she compare with them?
So, after some thought, she decided against it.
Liu Jin seemed to not notice her sleepy appearance and said directly, "Of course, there's something important! A very important matter!"
A lifelong event could be considered a big matter, right?
Finally, the three parted ways. Bai Qianluo went to practice with her Qingjue Sword, while Liu Jin forcibly dragged Qin Jiujiu out of the room.
Until Qin Jiujiu saw the three golden characters 'Training Ground' on the plaque in front of her and heard the cheers of men from inside, Qin Jiujiu still didn't understand what Liu Jin's "important matter" was.
However, there should be many people inside, and judging by the sound, they should all be men!
System: The training ground isn't for men, is it for women?
But it had a hunch that its host was thinking of something with yellow undertones, and it inexplicably felt excited.
The sleepiness had completely disappeared from Qin Jiujiu's face. Her almond-shaped eyes were now shining brightly, and her gaze was fixed on the door.