Qiao Chu

What?

Chu Zhao frowned. Liang Qiang had suddenly appeared and spoken such words, which seemed rather baffling at first, but she quickly understood.

She glanced at Xie Yanlai.

Xie Yanlai looked back at her, his phoenix eyes lifting slightly as he grinned, revealing neat white teeth.

"I told you, you brought this upon yourself," he said in a low voice. "Who told you to cling to me?"

Chu Zhao shot him a glare before turning back to Liang Qiang. Her expression showed no panic or unease, instead carrying a sharp edge. "Young Master Liang, you've got it backward. It's precisely because of the rumors your Liang family spread about me that I ended up standing here speaking with Young Master Xie."

Xie Yanlai chuckled. He knew this girl was fierce—tsk tsk, look at how she's turning the tables.

Liang Qiang watched the Xie scion's smile, finding it utterly irritating no matter how he looked at it—

"Miss Chu," he also smiled, "you and this Young Master Xie don't seem like you've just met. Saying it's because of our family's rumors sounds less convincing than claiming you saw him being beaten on the street, took pity, stepped in to protect him, and only then became acquainted. That would be more plausible."

Xie Yanlai laughed even more heartily, leaning closer to whisper to Chu Zhao, "This kid's sharp. You didn't fool him."

He looked as if he was itching to clap and cheer. Chu Zhao took a step forward, facing Liang Qiang without a trace of the panic of being exposed.

"Young Master Liang, things have already reached this point. Whatever I say now won't change your family's situation or dispel your suspicions," she said.

Her words were so blunt, essentially meaning, "I can't be bothered to explain, so just leave." Liang Qiang stared at the girl before him, his chest tight with pain. She wouldn't even bother to make up an excuse or lie to brush him off—

He fixed his gaze on Chu Zhao, his eyes bitter.

"Miss Azhao, were all your previous praises of my bravery false then?"

Praise his bravery? Chu Zhao was taken aback. In her ear, Xie Yanlai leaned in again with a suppressed chuckle—tsk tsk tsk—

"Young Master Liang, let's not talk about the past," Chu Zhao said, looking at the young man. "Even now, and in the future, you will remain brave and valiant. You know what kind of person you are—how could that be false?"

The girl's expression was frank, her eyes bright, her voice unwavering. She was speaking the truth. Liang Qiang's expression turned somewhat helpless, as if he had thrown a punch into empty air.

"If you know me and praise me, then why—" he gritted his teeth, his face angry, "why do you treat me like this?"

This puzzled Chu Zhao. "How have I treated you?" she asked.

She had been polite enough to Liang Qiang—she hadn't kicked him like she had Liang Qin, nor had she publicly insulted him. Moreover, when Minister Liang faced trouble this time, she hadn't taken advantage of his misfortune.

She had been almost mercifully kind to the Liang family.

Liang Qiang looked at the girl's furrowed brow and the confusion in her eyes—it felt so alien. Nothing like the liveliness, ease, naturalness, and joy she showed when facing this Xie scion.

He glanced at the Xie scion once more.

The Xie scion gave him a provocative smile.

How could the Liang family compare to the Xie family? The Liang family was declining like the setting sun, while the Xie family was rising like the dawn. And how could he compare to this Xie scion? This Xie scion could commit murder and arson yet still swagger about, with the Xie family even gaining prestige from it. As for him? Just one uncle's official crime had implicated the entire clan, forcing them into prison garb to trek a thousand miles to the Border Commandery for labor—

Liang Qiang looked at Chu Zhao, enunciating each word clearly: "Miss Chu has treated me very well. I will remember Miss Chu and look forward to our next meeting!"

With that, he turned and strode away.

A Le pointed at Liang Qiang's retreating back: "Miss, he's threatening you."Chu Zhao naturally caught the implication as well. Though Liang Qiang was acting rather peculiar, it wasn’t entirely surprising. Her relationship with the Liang family had always been strained, and they had long been sworn enemies for life.

"What kind of sworn enemies?" Xie Yanlai laughed. "Chu Zhao, stop playing dumb. That fellow clearly turned from love to hatred toward you."

What "love to hatred"? Chu Zhao shot him a glance. "Where did love between him and me ever come from—"

"How should I know?" Xie Yanlai replied with a mocking smile. "You must have used him as a shield again, spouting nonsense about sticking together through life and death."

"Absolutely not," Chu Zhao retorted disdainfully, watching as Xie Yanlai smirked again. "Not just anyone can be my shield."

Hah, looking at this girl’s attitude, that Liang boy must have been bewitched to take a liking to her. Xie Yanlai sneered, "What’s there to be proud of, gaining another enemy?"

An enemy? Chu Zhao smiled faintly and glanced toward the alley. Liang Qiang had already disappeared from sight. Although she knew how valiant he had been in that other lifetime, she had no intention of currying favor with the Liang family.

If the Liang family became her enemy, she would gladly settle both past and present grudges together.

"I have plenty of enemies," Chu Zhao said. "Losing one is nothing to boast about, and gaining one more makes no difference."

Xie Yanlai nodded. "True. Ever since I met you, you’ve been offending people and making enemies left and right." With that, he turned to leave. "Farewell, Enemy Star."

Chu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. There were calamity stars and disaster stars—what in the world was an "Enemy Star"?

Watching the young man stride swiftly in the opposite direction, she hurriedly called out, "Hey, slow down! I’m not following you."

The boy neither slowed his pace nor looked back. From behind him, he heard the girl shout again, "I’ll bring you medicine in a few days!"

Was it really necessary to go this far, just for delivering a message to her father?

Xie Yanlai quickened his steps, the pain in his back keeping him alert.

She was baiting him, knowing he lacked nothing and wanted nothing—except—

In this world, perhaps only one person would ever ask him:

"Does it hurt?"

That person was gone.

……

……

"Hey!"

Before Chu Zhao could chase after him, she was immediately surrounded by Qi Leyun and the other two.

"You—you two—"

Qi Leyun looked at her, then at the young man’s retreating figure. He was walking so fast, he vanished in the blink of an eye.

Chu Zhao cut her off. "What about us? I’ve already been to the Xie residence and met Xie Yanfang. Of course, I’m familiar with his younger brother too."

Qi Leyun let out an "oh," as if that made sense, but— "He—"

Chu Zhao pressed her hand down. "Enough about 'him.' We’re going to Spring Gazing Garden tomorrow. Worry about yourself first. Is your outfit ready? Don’t end up wearing the same thing as someone else."

That was underestimating her. Qi Leyun glared. "My family may not be extravagantly wealthy, but we have our own resources, including private seamstresses."

Chu Zhao pushed them along. "Then hurry back and try on your clothes."

With her strength, she managed to shove all three of them forward. Without waiting for further chatter, she tossed out, "I need to prepare my outfit too," and dashed off.

Qi Leyun, standing by the carriage, snapped back to reality and fumed, "There’s definitely something going on between Chu Zhao and Xie Yanlai!"

The girl beside her, however, wasn’t upset. Instead, she mused about the young man they had just seen. "So that’s what Xie Yanlai looks like. If that’s the case, it’s not entirely unreasonable for Chu Zhao to fancy Xie Yanlai and give up on Xie Yanfang."

After a brief internal struggle, Qi Leyun finally waved a hand dismissively. "Young Master Xie the Third is still better. This Xie Yanlai seems far too fierce."Though strikingly handsome, his appearance was somehow intimidating—one glance felt piercing, his fierce gaze too sharp to behold.

Yet Chu Zhao could actually smile at him like that.

But this wasn’t surprising either.

"Chu Zhao is quite fierce herself."

……

……

Chu Zhao paid no mind to the girls’ speculations, nor did she bother to explain. With the capital about to face turmoil, such trivial matters were inconsequential.

At daybreak, Chu Tang had the carriage ready. Chu Lan and Jiang Shi also came out to see them off—primarily to deliver reprimands.

"Remember, you do not act for yourself alone. Any trouble you cause will implicate the entire family," Chu Lan said sternly.

Chu Zhao smiled. "I remember. But Uncle should also remember the importance of familial loyalty. Don’t repeat what you did to my father—hiding when trouble arose. If even you, as an elder, won’t stand by me, how can others believe I’ve done no wrong?"

Chu Lan’s face turned livid with rage. Who was lecturing whom? He had only spoken one sentence!

"Let’s hurry and go. Others might afford to be late, but we cannot," Chu Tang interjected timidly.

Ah, yes. Chu Zhao was already deeply despised by the Third Prince. Poor Chu Tang, having to accompany her, would surely be implicated. Jiang Shi quickly pulled Chu Lan back. "Enough, enough. Say no more. You two should leave now."

Chu Tang flashed Chu Zhao a discreet smile, gesturing for her to board the carriage.

Not wanting to make things difficult for her, Chu Zhao complied and stepped inside.

Watching the carriage depart, Chu Lan sighed heavily, gazing skyward and wondering what fate awaited the Chu family.

What a cursed entanglement.