Соuld shе reallу hаvе еnсountered а ghоst?
Zhou Shaоjin paniсkеd, nеаrlу fаinting on the sрot.
Unexpectеdlу, a сleаr аnd hеаrty lаugh саmе frоm the mаn oppоsitе her.
Shаojin froze.
Тhat voiсe soundеd sоmеwhаt fаmiliаr, сarrying а wаrmth she fоund соmforting...
Shе cоuldn’t hеlp but widen hеr еyеs.
The man wаs tall and slendеr, his mоvеments сasual yеt еffоrtlesslу grасеful, nаturаlly ехuding an аir of rеfined nobilitу that wаs hаrd tо ignorе.
Наving livеd two lifetimes, оnly one persоn had ever lеft such an imрressiоn оn her.
Shе took two steps forward without thinking.
The man opposite her burst into laughter.
Under the lamplight, even the corners of his eyes seemed to glow with warmth.
"Uncle Chi!" Shaojin exclaimed, jumping up.
Cheng Chi laughed heartily and beckoned her over. "So you remember me now!"
Shaojin nodded repeatedly, her tension completely melting away as she dashed toward him. After a few steps, she remembered that Madam Fan Liu and the others were still with her. She hurriedly turned back and saw them staring at her, dumbfounded and frozen in place. She couldn’t help but break into a bright smile and said, "It’s Uncle Chi, Fourth Master of the main branch. It’s fine."
Hearing that he was from the main branch and seeing how familiar Shaojin was with him, Madam Fan Liu and the others collectively sighed in relief.
Shaojin turned back, intending to introduce her attendants to Cheng Chi, only to realize... the situation had become rather strange... How should she explain their presence to Uncle Chi? And why was Uncle Chi sitting here drinking tea in the middle of the night, under the cold moonlight and gentle breeze?
Her steps faltered, and her gaze toward Cheng Chi grew hesitant. "Uncle Chi, I..."
But before she could finish her sentence, light footsteps sounded from behind them.
Shaojin turned around anxiously.
She saw a tall, robust figure approaching with two others in tow.
It was Chief Steward Qin, catching up to them.
Shaojin’s heart pounded wildly with fear as she glanced at Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi looked back at her with a smile.
A sudden realization flashed through Shaojin’s mind—somehow, she felt certain that Cheng Chi would, and could, protect her.
Otherwise, why would he have beckoned her over so willingly?
Without a second thought, she hid behind Cheng Chi.
Seeing this, Madam Fan Liu and the others scurried into the nearby woods.
Steward Qin strode over with his two attendants.
Shaojin’s heart raced as she stole another glance at Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi remained as steady as a rock, not even a flicker of movement in his eyes or brows. He continued to leisurely caress the teacup in his hand, looking completely at ease.
Wasn’t he afraid that Chief Steward Qin would discover her? Even if he managed the Cheng family’s affairs and could restrain Steward Qin, the Cheng family wasn’t just the main branch—there was also the Second Branch’s patriarch, Cheng Xu! A fire breaking out in the house was a serious matter. If they couldn’t find the cause or catch the arsonist, who knew if it would happen again? Who knew if they’d be able to detect it next time? That made it even more serious. What if Cheng Xu personally intervened? Hiding her whereabouts would be a troublesome affair...
What was Uncle Chi thinking?
She wasn’t even related to him... Counting this time, they had only met three times...
Shaojin muttered to herself, feeling uneasy and anxious.
Chief Steward Qin had already stopped in front of Cheng Chi.
Yet, as if seeing nothing, he respectfully bowed to Cheng Chi, stood with his hands at his sides, and addressed him deferentially, "Fourth Master."
Shaojin was utterly confused by the situation.Cheng Chi gave a slight nod and said indifferently, "What happened?"
Steward Qin lowered his eyelids and replied respectfully, "Master Nuo of the Fifth House invited several cousins and classmates from the clan school to gamble in the Water Pavilion of the Fifth House's small garden. Someone set a fire beside the pavilion. The night patrol women from the Fourth House discovered it and rushed over beating gongs and drums to put out the fire. Strangely, there was no movement from the Fifth House until I arrived, when a few maidservants ran out in disheveled clothes shouting about fighting the fire. The fire has now been extinguished. The young masters and gentlemen have been arranged to rest temporarily in Master Nuo's room, but the cause of the fire has not yet been determined."
Zhou Shaojin's heart tightened. She anxiously looked toward Steward Qin.
Steward Qin happened to glance her way as well.
Their eyes met briefly in the air before Steward Qin quickly lowered his gaze, avoiding Zhou Shaojin's eyes.
She was the one who had done wrong. It should be her fearing him and avoiding his gaze, so why did he seem afraid to look at her for too long?
Zhou Shaojin grew even more confused.
Yet in her ears, Cheng Chi's voice remained calm as ever: "The weather is dry, so it's likely the young gentlemen accidentally ignited something outside the Water Pavilion. That's a minor matter. What's significant is that when the Fifth House caught fire, the Fourth House noticed, but the Fifth House showed no response. That's the real issue. Things must still be chaotic over there. Go handle it, and tomorrow morning come with me to see the Old Ancestor of the Second House—I imagine he won't sleep well tonight."
Steward Qin respectfully acknowledged the order with a "Yes" and turned to leave with his two attendants.
His two attendants remained silent from start to finish, like two puppets. Yet as Steward Qin departed, the glance he cast toward Zhou Shaojin seemed almost unintentional, yet it held unconcealed astonishment.
What on earth was going on?
Was Steward Qin just leaving like that?
As if he hadn't seen her?
And Uncle Chi even said it was those gambling in the Water Pavilion who accidentally started the fire...
Zhou Shaojin's mind was struggling to keep up.
Was Uncle Chi covering for her?
But so many people had been alerted today. Everyone saw them running across the Nine-Bend Bridge into the Fourth House. The manor was never short of those eager to curry favor. Could Uncle Chi easily suppress this?
She couldn't drag him into this!
Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and stepped out from behind Cheng Chi.
"Uncle Chi, it was me in the Fifth House..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Cheng Chi chuckled softly.
Zhou Shaojin stared at him blankly, not understanding.
"Young ladies shouldn't run out just to watch the excitement," Cheng Chi said with a smile, his clear eyes gentle and kind. "Fortunately, you ran into me. If it were someone else, you might have been mistaken for a thief and arrested. It's getting late. Hurry back and rest. Don't you have classes at the academy tomorrow? Be careful not to oversleep and get your hands slapped by the teacher."
Because Cheng Jia had been frightened, she had been keeping her company these past few days and didn't need to attend the academy, right?
But Uncle Chi probably didn't know about her situation!
If not for a cold breeze blowing over, Zhou Shaojin would have blurted it out.
Her face instantly burned with embarrassment.
Why did she always act so unreliably in front of Uncle Chi?First, she was pursued by Cheng Xu who mistook her for a flirtatious woman, then she was chased by Steward Qin for making a mistake... The only normal encounter was at the Buddhist hall in Cold Green Mountain House... but even then, she was startled as if being harassed by some rogue...
Zhou Shaojin felt it necessary to explain to Cheng Chi that she wasn't that kind of unruly girl. It was just that the circumstances were unusual... But before she could speak, Cheng Chi called out "Jiying" in a slightly louder voice than when he had been speaking to her.
A woman in dark clothing emerged from the shadows.
She was tall and slightly plump, with a graceful, curvaceous figure. Her face was a snow-white oval, with strikingly beautiful features and eyes as bright as fire. She walked over unhurriedly, yet she reminded one of a rose in full bloom under the sun—bold, unrestrained, and utterly captivating.
Zhou Shaojin's mouth fell open, too stunned to utter a word.
She had never seen such a beautiful woman before.
No, it wasn't that she hadn't seen women more beautiful than her, but she had never encountered a woman with such a distinct personality.
She glanced at Cheng Chi, then at this woman called "Jiying," feeling somewhat flustered.
Cheng Chi, however, acted as if he hadn't noticed. He softly instructed Jiying, "Take this young lady back safely."
He neither told Jiying who she was nor where she lived. Jiying didn't ask either. With her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, she bowed slightly, acknowledged the order, and gestured for Zhou Shaojin to follow.
Her posture was even more elegant and proper than that of a palace maid.
Zhou Shaojin's mind was in a daze. She numbly followed Jiying forward... but couldn't help looking back at Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi sat under the dim lamplight, silently rubbing the teacup in his hand. He quietly watched her depart, with two wooden-like attendants behind him and boundless darkness around him... appearing lonely and desolate!
Zhou Shaojin shivered and quickly shook her head.
How could she think Uncle Chi was lonely and desolate?
He was a scholar who had passed both imperial examinations, managed the Cheng family's affairs, and had so many distinguished friends—how could he possibly be lonely or desolate?
Yet, the more she thought about it, the more she felt he was indeed lonely and desolate.
Zhou Shaojin wanted to look back again.
But Jiying said, "Second Miss, watch your step and follow me, please!"
Her voice was somewhat cold, making Zhou Shaojin feel embarrassed. She quickly focused on the path under her feet, then remembered Madam Fan Liu and the others... they were still hiding in the woods!
"Sister Jiying, wait a moment! I have a few companions." She called out softly toward the woods for Fan Qi.
Fan Qi and the others rushed out, each with expressions of relief after surviving a crisis.
Madam Fan Liu even clasped her hands together and said, "Fourth Master is truly a good man! Second Miss, you must thank him properly."
Zhou Shaojin felt the same way and looked toward Cheng Chi once more.
But the woods were now shrouded in darkness, and nothing could be seen.
Zhou Shaojin's eyes widened in surprise.
Madam Fan Liu and the others exchanged bewildered glances.
Jiying chuckled lightly and said, "Second Miss, let's hurry! There's a fire in the Fifth House, and every household needs to be thoroughly inspected. The inspectors should be arriving soon...""Oh, oh, oh!" Madam Fan Liu hastily responded upon hearing this, pulling Zhou Shaojin toward the direction of Fragrant Garden Residence. "Thank you, miss. We'll be careful. Please lead the way ahead!"
Jiying walked ahead with her head held high, moving without any hesitation, clearly very familiar with the surrounding terrain.
When did the Cheng family have such an elegant and refined maidservant?
Zhou Shaojin's mind was in turmoil.
She glanced back once more toward the place where Cheng Chi had been.
Quiet and pitch black.
Uncle Chi really wasn't there anymore!
Suddenly, she felt lost, stumbling along as she followed Jiying back to Fragrant Garden Residence.
Fan Qi and the others cheered softly under their breath.
Only Zhou Shaojin, watching Jiying's figure disappear into the night, felt increasingly bewildered and at a loss.
※
Tomorrow's extra update will still be scheduled for noon at twelve o'clock... I was quite hesitant when setting this time. These past two days, I've been muddle-headed from injections, but this is also a way to motivate myself. If I don't set a time that keeps me on my toes, I'm afraid I'll become even more lax about updates... o(n_n)o~
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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