The continuous hype in recent days had made everyone in Qinzhou City aware that a renowned pipa player from the capital had come to the Drunken Immortal Tower.
Not only was she highly skilled in playing the pipa, but she was also extremely beautiful.
On the day when the Drunken Immortal Tower reopened, many people flocked there to join the fun.
They all wanted to catch a glimpse of the pipa player's beauty.
However, the VIP room on this day was reserved for Ruan Jiu.
Ruan Jiu was carefully savoring the elegant sound of the pipa played by the pipa player.
As expected, someone from the capital was truly extraordinary.
However, Xie Jingchu, sitting beside her, wasn't paying attention to either the sound of the pipa or the pipa player.
He propped his head up, his eyes gentle and filled with nothing but Ruan Jiu.
Just then, the door of the room was suddenly pushed open, and the sound of the pipa abruptly stopped.
Looking over, Lin Bao'er was standing at the door.
The servant behind her had an apologetic look on his face. He stepped forward and said, "This young lady insisted on barging in. I really couldn't stop her!"
Ruan Jiu waved her hand and said, "It's okay."
But her mood had been interrupted, and her eyebrows remained tightly furrowed.
"Fourth Lord, I have something to say to you!" Lin Bao'er said.
Ruan Jiu understood immediately and stood up with the pipa player, intending to leave.
Suddenly, Xie Jingchu reached out and grabbed Ruan Jiu, saying softly, "You don't have to leave."
Ruan Jiu froze in place.
This didn't seem right.
Then she tentatively glanced at Lin Bao'er.
Lin Bao'er immediately said, "Let her go out. I want to talk to you alone."
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu immediately pretended to be ready to leave.
But Xie Jingchu refused to let go. He said softly, "Be good and listen to me."
Ruan Jiu was suddenly shocked and immediately sat down.
She was afraid that if she was too slow, Xie Jingchu might say something even more shocking.
Xie Jingchu raised his eyes and looked at Lin Bao'er. His eyes were filled with impatience. "If someone should go out, it should be you," he said.
His voice was as cold as ice.
There was not a trace of the gentleness he had when talking to Ruan Jiu just now.
Lin Bao'er glared angrily at the head - bowed Ruan Jiu.
Then she looked at Xie Jingchu lovingly and said, "Fourth Lord, you know I like you so much. Why won't you marry me?"
Lin Bao'er felt aggrieved in her heart. She had already lowered her pride.
On the day of the birthday banquet, she had become the laughingstock of the whole Qinzhou City.
But she didn't care!
All she wanted was for Xie Jingchu to marry her!
Xie Jingchu snorted. "Who do you think you are? Just because you like me, I have to marry you?"
Lin Bao'er's eyes showed surprise. "But you like me too!"
As soon as she said this, Ruan Jiu suddenly raised her head. Her eyes were slightly squinted as she looked at Xie Jingchu meaningfully.
Xie Jingchu immediately shook his head at Ruan Jiu.
Then he shouted at Lin Bao'er, "Are you crazy? When did I ever like you?"
Lin Bao'er was frightened by Xie Jingchu's scolding. Her eyes quickly filled with tears.
She looked at Xie Jingchu in disbelief and said, "If you don't like me, why did you risk your life to save me?"
Ruan Jiu's expression when looking at Xie Jingchu became even more complicated.
Her eyes seemed to be saying, So there's a story of a hero saving a beauty between you two?
Xie Jingchu looked utterly confused. "When did I risk my life to save you?!"
Lin Bao'er sniffled and then said, "Two years ago, on the seventh day of the fifth lunar month, by the moat, I accidentally fell into the water. It was you who jumped into the river without hesitation and saved me!"
Xie Jingchu recalled the scene from two years ago.
Two years ago, the seventh day of the fifth lunar month was his birthday, and it was also Ruan Jiu's birthday.
Why was it Ruan Jiu's birthday?
Ruan Jiu was found in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city by an old beggar when she was still a baby in swaddling clothes.
So, Ruan Jiu only knew her age but not her birthday.
On the day of Xie Qinghuan's coming - of - age ceremony, although Ruan Jiu didn't say anything, her eyes were full of envy.
Ruan Jiu also wanted to have a coming - of - age ceremony of her own.
However, Ruan Jiu's background was unknown, and even her birthday was a mystery.
After the coming - of - age ceremony, Xie Jingchu noticed the disappointment in Ruan Jiu's eyes.
So, he secretly made a decision.
On his birthday, he said to Ruan Jiu, "From today on, the seventh day of the fifth lunar month will be your birthday."
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu immediately jumped up happily.
She grabbed him and spun around while excitedly saying, "I have a birthday now. I can have a coming - of - age ceremony!"
Seeing Ruan Jiu so happy, he decided to make her even happier.
So, he took Ruan Jiu out to play on the street.
As soon as they left the mansion, this little girl was like a wild horse running freely on the street.
Everything was going well at first. Ruan Jiu was buying things in front, and he was following behind to pay.
But unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, Ruan Jiu disappeared.
He was so anxious that he searched everywhere.
Just then, he suddenly heard someone say that a little girl had fallen into the moat.
After hearing this news, he immediately rushed to the moat.
Seeing the little girl struggling in the river wearing the same color clothes as Ruan Jiu, his mind went blank. He didn't care about anything and immediately jumped in.
When he finally rescued the girl, he found that it wasn't Ruan Jiu.
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice in the crowd.
"Fourth Lord?"
He looked up and saw Ruan Jiu tilting her head and looking at him with a confused expression.
She was still holding two bunches of candied haws in her hand.
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
But as long as Ruan Jiu was okay, that was all that mattered.
Xie Jingchu pulled himself out of his memories.
He looked coldly at Lin Bao'er and said indifferently, "I don't like you, and I'm not a kind - hearted person. I saved you because I mistook you for someone else. So, get rid of your thoughts of marrying me."
"Wh... what?" Lin Bao'er couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Her legs went weak, and she almost fell.
The man she had liked for two years, her savior, turned out to be just her one - sided infatuation.
She didn't believe it!
Lin Bao'er shook her head, and big tears rolled down her eyes. "It's not like this! It can't be like this!"
"Moreover, I already have someone I like in my heart. There's absolutely no possibility between you and me," Xie Jingchu's cold voice sounded again.
Suddenly, an image of Xie Jingchu being gentle and kind to Ruan Jiu flashed through Lin Bao'er's mind.
She immediately understood.
Her voice trembled as she pointed at Ruan Jiu and asked, "Is it her?"
Xie Jingchu's eyes narrowed. "What does it matter to you?"
Seeing that Xie Jingchu didn't deny it, Lin Bao'er was even more convinced of what she thought.
She immediately exclaimed, "This is incest!"
Hearing this, the anger around Xie Jingchu instantly flared up. He shouted, "If you don't know how to use your mouth, do you believe I'll tear it off?"
Lin Bao'er was frightened and gasped.
However, she wasn't going to give up so easily. She continued, "If you really like her, I don't mind letting her enter the mansion as a concubine."
"Get out!" Xie Jingchu clenched his fists so tightly that his fingertips turned white.
But Lin Bao'er still talked to herself, "After all, I'm the daughter of the prefect. Allowing her to be a concubine is already a great favor to her."
"I'll say it one last time. Get out," Xie Jingchu said in a low voice.
Obviously, he was trying his best to suppress his anger.
Lin Bao'er still pushed the limits of Xie Jingchu's patience.
"Xie Jingchu, do you think you're still Lord Xie the Fourth? Do you believe I'll tell my father?"
As soon as Lin Bao'er finished speaking.
Xie Jingchu suddenly stood up. His beautiful eyes were filled with a terrifying killing intent.
He raised his hand and threw the teacup on the table directly at Lin Bao'er's feet.