Feng Qishi, seeing Mu Anxiao’s contemplative expression, couldn't help but ask, "What’s wrong?"
Mu Anxiao replied while eating, "The inns on this list are all very expensive." She then looked up at Feng Qishi and Zhao Xiang, "Do you think that guy would be so generous?" she asked, putting down the paper and fixing her gaze on Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi felt a bit awkward under Mu Anxiao’s sudden stare, "...".
Zhao Xiang, hearing a glimmer of hope, said, "My father likes top-quality tea. These inns all use top-quality tea. Before this, we searched almost all the inns but found nothing, so I thought my picky father must be staying in an inn that serves good tea."
"Good tea, expensive inns," Mu Anxiao repeated, unable to help but smile. "Do you know what you have here?" she asked, glancing at them before looking down at the paper again.
Feng Qishi dared not speak.
Zhao Xiang, however, foolishly asked, "What do we have here?"
"You're lazy," Mu Anxiao said, looking up at them. "Also, this list of inns isn't complete." As she spoke, she stepped forward and slapped the papers onto Feng Qishi’s chest.
Feng Qishi quickly took the papers, looked down at Mu Anxiao, and said, "My friend's family sells tea, and I only asked him to list inns that served good tea, so it's naturally incomplete. You..."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
"Then what are you talking about?" Feng Qishi felt slightly annoyed that Mu Anxiao seemed to be dismissing their efforts.
Mu Anxiao said, "I'm saying that the names of good inns are incomplete."
"What do you mean?" Feng Qishi was surprised.
"I mean your friend tricked you. As far as I know, there are three hundred inns in Jin City..."
"Three hundred?" Zhao Xiang interrupted, genuinely startled by Mu Anxiao's answer.
Mu Anxiao enjoyed seeing Zhao Xiang's surprised expression and deliberately straightened her back, adopting a condescending posture. "That's right, three hundred. Fifty are super-grade, one hundred and fifty are regular, and one hundred are standard. Look," she tilted her head up to look at Feng Qishi, "How many top-grade ones are on your list?"
"This..." Feng Qishi was taken aback. He casually picked up the papers and counted, frowning. "Only twenty."
"Then it's right. If I'm not mistaken," Mu Anxiao took another plum from the paper bag and popped it into her mouth, "you found less than thirty in total, didn't you?" After speaking, her face suddenly contorted.
Seeing Mu Anxiao’s reaction, Feng Qishi said helplessly, "If you can't eat them, don't."
"I like them," Mu Anxiao hunched her shoulders and recovered. "In any case, let's keep searching."
"Let's search," Zhao Xiang perked up again.
Unexpectedly, Feng Qishi became dejected. "This is a bit unrealistic, isn't it?" he said, looking at Zhao Xiang.
Mu Anxiao calmly watched Feng Qishi being crushed by reality and chuckled, "You're quite a capable person, yet you give up so easily. That's a lack of perseverance."
"I don't even know where these three hundred inns are. How do we find them?" Feng Qishi was troubled. "And if we search everywhere, our whereabouts will be exposed. If Ouyang Ye finds out, his parents' lives could be in danger." He then looked at Zhao Xiang with his concerns.
Zhao Xiang felt Feng Qishi's words were reasonable and became dejected again. "Mo Yun, what should we do? I'm afraid Ouyang Ye will harm my parents." He sighed.
Feng Qishi shook his head, unsure of what to do either.
Mu Anxiao calmly watched Zhao Xiang and Feng Qishi, who were preoccupied with worries, and said helplessly, "If you both continue like this, no one will achieve anything significant. Besides," she said, looking at Zhao Xiang, "isn't your father's hobby good tea? Then stick to the original plan. Go to the good inns first. If you're afraid of being discovered, change your disguise. It's simple."
"You make it sound so easy," Feng Qishi said helplessly.
Immediately, Mu Anxiao glared at Feng Qishi, thought for a moment, and said, "I have an idea." As she spoke, the plum in her mouth made her wince from the sourness again.
"What idea?"
"If not during the day, then at night," Mu Anxiao said confidently, looking at Feng Qishi. "You can just sneak into the inns then, right?" she added, lifting her chin.
Feng Qishi was speechless.
Zhao Xiang became dejected yet again.
Similarly, Mu Anxiao fell silent seeing their states.
Thus, after the three of them exchanged glances, Mu Anxiao said, "You mean this is a difficult task, right?" She looked at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi replied, "It's mainly a matter of time. Also, my residence is already full of Ouyang Ye's men. I fear there are also some outside." He glanced to his sides.
Zhao Xiang felt Feng Qishi's words were reasonable and enthusiastically agreed, "I think Mo Yun has a point."
"You do have a point," Mu Anxiao said, looking down to think for a moment. "It seems I have to rely on myself."
"What are you going to do?" Feng Qishi became anxious.
Mu Anxiao said, "Searching inns one by one is impossible. It looks like I'll have to ask Fairy Sister." As she spoke, her gaze fixed on the paper bag.
Feng Qishi followed Mu Anxiao's gaze to the bag and asked in confusion, "Who exactly is your Fairy Sister?" His thoughts had been thoroughly jumbled by Mu Anxiao.
"Who else could it be? Gu Yan," Mu Anxiao said, looking at Zhao Xiang. "Don't worry, I'll help you find out where your parents are."
"She's very tight-lipped," Zhao Xiang stated, indicating he knew Gu Yan well.
Mu Anxiao's lips curved into a smile. "I have my ways. You two should go back quickly. I feel," she said, looking up at the sky, "Ouyang Ye will be back soon."
"How do you know?"
"Fairy Sister informed me," Mu Anxiao replied, walking past them and taking the lead.
Immediately, Feng Qishi and Zhao Xiang exchanged glances. Feng Qishi said, "Come with me to the teahouse."
"Why are you going there?" Zhao Xiang asked, confused.
Feng Qishi glanced back at Mu Anxiao's retreating figure and said faintly, "To get some snacks." He then walked away.
Hearing Feng Qishi mention snacks, Zhao Xiang recalled the snacks Feng Qishi had left at the teahouse and quickly called out, "Wait for me!" and hurried to catch up.
Mu Anxiao heard the sounds behind her, stopped, and muttered, "The mission... Gu Yan should know about it, right?" She then looked uncertainly at the food in her arms and continued to walk.