Chapter 7: Indeed, Quite Beautiful
1030 Words
Qiao Yin was led by Xie Yuean to a private room on the second floor of Xingxing Tower.
"So you're the owner of Xingxing Tower? Then you must be quite wealthy. How come there's no gatekeeper at your residence? No one answered when I knocked."
Xie Yuean, seeing her genuine expression, couldn't help but smile wryly. It seemed she really didn't know him.
"There will be one tomorrow."
"What?"
"A gatekeeper."
Qiao Yin paused, then her smile widened significantly.
Wow, who's pursuing whom here?
Xie Yuean was still so easy to talk to today, it seemed last night's incident hadn't affected him.
Encouraged by the favorable situation, Qiao Yin pushed her luck, "Does this mean you're inviting me to visit you anytime?"
She knew girls should be reserved, but time waits for no one. She needed to secure Xie Yuean quickly.
Xie Yuean didn't deny it, "It wouldn't be proper for Miss Qiao to always have to climb over the wall. That's not the Xie family's way of hosting."
Seizing the moment, Qiao Yin asked, "What else is included in the Xie family's way of hosting?"
Xie Yuean smiled slightly, "Another rule is, 'Pastries bought by a lady at the cost of dirtying her embroidered shoes must be eaten immediately.'"
Qiao Yin's smile grew even broader, feeling acknowledged and satisfied. It was one of the few pleasant experiences she'd had since coming to this world.
Quickly, she opened the package of pastries she had bought and laid them on the table.
Xie Yuean also ordered a variety of dishes from the kitchen, inviting Qiao Yin to dine.
Seeing all her favorite dishes, Qiao Yin was delighted, "No wonder Xingxing Tower is the best in the capital. The service is so precise, even remembering a regular customer's preferences!"
In the past, she couldn't join the gatherings here, but to please Lu Jinzhi, she'd accompany him from the shadows, ready to serve his needs.
So, she was technically a regular here.
Xie Yuean, without lifting his gaze, responded indifferently, "Well, if you like it, eat more. Consider it repayment for your pastry money."
Qiao Yin sensed Xie Yuean's noticeably cooler tone and quickly adjusted her behavior.
Realizing her mistake, Qiao Yin fell silent, eating politely while stealing glances at Xie Yuean across the table.
He began to eat the pastries she'd bought, and seeing him savor them made her feel appreciated. Maybe she had misinterpreted his earlier coldness. After all, Xie Yuean seemed mature and composed, unlikely to be upset over a minor issue.
After finishing their meal, Qiao Yin boldly inquired, "General Xie, does our agreement still stand?"
Xie Yuean finished his tea before answering, "What agreement?"
"The one where I said I'd pursue you, and you nodded in agreement."
Considering for a moment, Xie Yuean asked, "If I say it doesn't count, would you give up?"
Qiao Yin shook her head, determined, "Then you don't know me well. Resilience is one of my shining qualities, alongside my beauty."
Xie Yuean nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on her, "I see, quite beautiful indeed."
He chose not to commend her for her 'resilience', hoping it didn't exist at all.
Blushing, Qiao Yin's smile reached her eyes, a stark contrast to her attempts at winning over Lu Jinzhi. With Xie Yuean, she found herself being flirted with instead.
"So, when can I visit you without disturbing your work?"
"Anytime."
'Ready anytime'? That's usually what she'd say. To hear it from Xie Yuean was unexpected.
Xie Yuean explained, "I've finished my duties for now, and the court hasn't assigned me new tasks. I'm taking a break this month, so Miss Qiao can visit me whenever."
Excited, Qiao Yin proposed, "I've heard the osmanthus at Xiangguo Temple outside the city is blooming. I haven't been there since arriving in the capital. Could you accompany me tomorrow?"
Xie Yuean, now accustomed to her eagerness, agreed, "Sure, tomorrow at the hour of Chen at the East City Gate. Don't be late."
Could it really be this easy?
Qiao Yin was in disbelief, but her expression soon turned eager.
"Too early? Can't wake up? How about a quarter past the hour of Chen then?"
"Yep, that works," she hurriedly agreed, not wanting to miss this opportunity.
After setting the time, Qiao Yin wanted to learn more about Xie Yuean's preferences, but they were interrupted by a young guard who whispered something to Xie Yuean.
After the guard left, Xie Yuean turned to Qiao Yin, "Have you eaten enough? Is there anything else you'd like?"
Though his tone was steady, Qiao Yin sensed it was time to leave, "You have things to do, go ahead. I should also head back."
"Indeed, I've been summoned by the Crown Prince," Xie Yuean admitted, standing to leave but not before taking the pastries Qiao Yin bought.
As she watched him leave, Qiao Yin's heart raced. Once she realized he was gone, she hurried out of Xingxing Tower, finding her carriage and Bi Zhu waiting outside.
"Bi Zhu, to the Yunyi Workshop. I'm accompanying Xie Yuean to Xiangguo Temple tomorrow to admire the flowers. I want to dress beautifully."
Bi Zhu pouted, "Miss, you still owe me three silverfish."
"Ah, ah, I'll pay you back with next month's allowance."
Bi Zhu looked at Qiao Yin innocently, "Miss, you've already spent your allowance for the next three years."
Qiao Yin's excitement plummeted.
It was all Lu Jinzhi's fault, wasting so much of her money!
No, it was that damned system's fault!
【System, come out! Because of your mistake, I've wasted three years and eleven months of my life and so much money. You owe me compensation. If you don't pay, I'm filing a complaint right now!】
Apparently, the system came from a place called the Time-Space Management Bureau, which, like any worker, had its KPIs and dreaded the word 'complaint.'
If she exposed the system's mistake, it would surely be in trouble.
Threatened, the system panicked, 【Host, please calm down. I'll repay you right away.】
Just then, the carriage halted abruptly, and a voice outside said, "Miss Qiao, our young master ordered us to return all these items to you."
- Writer
