Cheng Xiran watched his tall and slender figure gradually being swallowed by the thickening night. For some reason, a sudden sense of melancholy flashed through her heart.
After a simple dinner, Cheng Xiran went to the backyard to change her outfit. Looking at her valiant self in the bronze mirror, she couldn't help but marvel at her own beauty. She looked like a delicate young man, quite the part.
She originally intended to tuck the jade pendant given by Helian Duo into her belt, but then thought it was too conspicuous. It would be troublesome if others recognized it, so she put it aside. After tying up her black hair with a jade hairpin, she specifically drew a heroic pair of eyebrows for herself. Then she went to the desk beside, picked up a writing brush, dipped it in black ink, and gently dotted a mole on the right side of her eye.
She hardly looked like herself anymore.
Xue Lianyu stared at her for quite a while before he could believe he hadn't misrecognized her.
"However, aren't your eyebrows a bit too long? I think your original willow-leaf eyebrows were more beautiful," Xue Lianyu joked with her. Cheng Xiran ignored him. She told the innkeeper to wait for her return, then took the lead and walked out of the newspaper office. She deliberately lowered her voice, clasped her fists at Xue Lianyu, and said, "Brother Xue."
Xue Lianyu found it quite amusing and imitated her, saying, "Brother Cheng."
The two then set off for Huayan Pavilion together. Without exception, they were mercilessly stopped by the madam at the door.
"I've already made an agreement with Miss Ruoyue. Don't stop me," Xue Lianyu said as he stuffed a few silver ingots into the madam's bosom. Only then did she smile and step aside.
After that, she took a few deep looks at Cheng Xiran but didn't recognize her identity. She only praised her for being good-looking.
Cheng Xiran heaved a sigh of relief and closely followed Xue Lianyu inside. Compared with the colorful interior here, the dim moonlight outside seemed too dull. No wonder there were always men constantly coming in and out of this place, simply seeking a moment of pleasure and novelty.
She was still muttering to herself when she suddenly found that Xue Lianyu beside her had disappeared. Just as she was about to look for him, someone suddenly grabbed her hand and said coquettishly, "Oh, this guest looks quite unfamiliar. Is this your first time here?"
Goosebumps immediately rose on Cheng Xiran's body. She quickly shook off the woman's hand. Seeing the heavily made-up woman chattering non-stop, she simply took out a few taels of silver from her belt and threw it into her hand, whispering, "Don't follow me. I'm here to find someone."
Before she could finish her words, the girl had already run away with the money.
After searching for a long time, she still couldn't find Xue Lianyu's figure. With so many people around, she was unconsciously squeezed into a corner. Just as she was thinking whether to go directly to Ruoyue, a cold gust of wind blew by her side, followed by a cold snort.
"Cheng Xiran, why are you here?"
Cheng Xiran was so startled that she jumped. She turned her head and subconsciously wanted to run, but was still grabbed by Helian Duo by her slender shoulder. "Is this the place you and Xue Lianyu were talking about before?"
"Sir, you've got the wrong person..." Cheng Xiran turned her head away and refused to look at him. She broke free and continued, "I'm not the Cheng Xiran you're talking about."
After saying that, she rushed out without caring whether he was following or not.
After she got out, she let out a long sigh of relief. The madam recognized her and walked up to her. "Weren't you with Young Master Xue just now? Why did you come out so soon? Didn't you find a girl you like inside?"