The shopkeeper walked out hesitantly. But before taking even half a step, he came to his senses, turned around, and followed Cheng Xiran to the backyard. Although he looked anxious, he was still rational at least. "Miss, I'm afraid this won't do. We don't know the origins of those people yet. If we act rashly and get recognized, you might be in danger."
Now Cheng Xiran couldn't care less. After all, it was impossible to find out anything in such a short time, even though she knew deep in her heart that this matter was definitely related to Gu Yuanqing.
For this reason, she put on the same makeup as the night she went to Huayan Pavilion. She even darkened her complexion on purpose and picked out a shabby coarse - cloth shirt that a servant would wear. Looking at the ugly face in the bronze mirror that even made herself stunned, Cheng Xiran was finally satisfied.
She slipped out through the back door of the newspaper office without being noticed. Then she began to make inquiries everywhere. She started by asking an old street vendor, then a village woman doing laundry by the riverbank, followed by some teenagers, and finally the beggars who had been wandering around the capital for years.
She did manage to find out quite a bit of information. However, due to the large area and large population here, she really couldn't figure out the root cause. Moreover, everyone seemed to be just watching the show and not paying too much attention to this matter. So she still went to the West Street on a trial basis.
Seeing a crowd gathered in front of a newly - opened newspaper office on the West Street, she picked up a newspaper from the ground with her bare hands, then walked towards them pretending to be reading. At the same time, she lowered her voice and loudly complained, "What the hell is this? It's getting worse and worse. It just makes me angry!"
After saying that, she started tearing up the newspaper, which finally caught their attention.
She took the initiative to move closer. After taking a look at this newspaper office without even a proper facade, she turned her anger into joy and took the initiative to strike up a conversation, "Brother, do you think 'Capital Gossips' is going to collapse? It's getting more and more rubbish."
She looked at the hideous - faced middle - aged man sitting in the middle. From the aura he exuded, she could tell that he should be the leader here, and that was indeed the case, because he was the only one dressed decently.
"What, have you suffered a lot from it?"
Although this middle - aged man was not good - looking, there was still a scholarly air in his speech, but his behavior was a bit frivolous. He even reached out and patted Cheng Xiran on the shoulder twice.
Although Cheng Xiran felt disgusted inside, she still put on a smile on her face and nodded emphatically, "Yes, I used to love reading it, but the rumors spread outside today are really abominable!"
She looked indignant, but the man just laughed when he saw her.
She thought that was just his personality, so she asked timidly without changing her expression, "Brother, are the rumors spread outside all true?"
"Can they be false...?" The man gave Cheng Xiran a long look, then gently let go of her. After sitting down beside her, he still stared at her and deliberately slowed down his tone. Then he continued, "Those people only have money in their eyes all day long. They never care about what we common people think. Now they've gone too far. They even spread all kinds of rumors wantonly without caring about others' dignity. Don't you think they're ungrateful?"
A brute could actually say such things... Cheng Xiran didn't dare to look at him, but she vaguely felt a hint of killing intent in the air. She couldn't help clenching her hands tightly.