Seeing the two about to leave, Dongfang Qinlan felt uneasy. She forcefully squeezed herself between them and shouted, "I'm going too! Sister, take me with you!"
Dongfang Huaizhu helplessly ruffled Dongfang Qinlan's hair, her eyes full of indulgence.
Dongfang Huaizhu shook her head. Her younger sister was just fond of fun. She had no choice but to reluctantly agree.
In the city at night, the streets were bustling with noise. People were coming and going in front of the street stalls. The moon was shining brightly. Occasionally, a few kids with their hair in tufts ran past the three of them. A strong - built boy bumped into Dongfang Huaizhu. She lost her balance and fell into Wangquan Baye's arms.
Wangquan Baye supported her gently. His heart skipped a beat. When he lowered his head, he saw Dongfang Huaizhu's blushing ears. He couldn't help but feel a rush of heat in his heart.
Dongfang Qinlan noticed that the atmosphere between the two had become a bit strange. She felt even more anxious.
"Sister, I want to eat the egg - yolk pastries from Uncle Song's shop, the one we always go to. Please go and buy some for me, okay?" Dongfang Qinlan tugged at Dongfang Huaizhu's sleeve, just pulling her out of Wangquan Baye's arms. She even made a face at him, leaving him standing there in a daze, staring blankly at the empty space in his arms.
"Okay, sister will go right away." Dongfang Huaizhu was still a bit dazed. Her face was still hot. She stamped her feet and ran away with her skirt in hand, leaving Wangquan Baye and Dongfang Qinlan looking at each other.
"Don't have too many illusions about my sister," Dongfang Qinlan suddenly said, which really confused Wangquan Baye.
"My sister can't have room for two people in her heart. I advise you to give up your feelings for her as soon as possible."
No matter how slow - witted Wangquan Baye was, he could sense the hidden meaning in her words.
"What did you say? Miss Huaizhu... does she have a sweetheart?" God knows how uncomfortable and heart - broken Wangquan Baye felt when he said this.
Just thinking that Dongfang Huaizhu might have fallen in love with another man, he couldn't help feeling jealous and sad. There was also a hint of desolation on his face.
"Of course. My sister's ideal husband is ten thousand times more heroic and handsome than you, a young lad. Your mediocre skills are nothing in front of him. Moreover, it is said that my sister has already made a private pledge of marriage with him. It's none of your business."
Dongfang Qinlan looked up at him, frowning slightly, with a haughty look. Every word was like a heavy rock hitting Wangquan Baye's heart.
"Miss Dongfang, may I know which hero has won Miss Huaizhu's favor?" Wangquan Baye lowered his eyes. His long eyelashes cast a shadow on his eyelids, making his expression even more desolate.
"Humph, it doesn't matter if I tell you. Listen carefully. That hero is the masked knight who saved my sister at the Huishui Bamboo Pavilion. He is so heroic and unparalleled. He is the number - one young swordsman! How can you compare with him?"
Dongfang Qinlan pointed her delicate finger right at his nose. But she saw Wangquan Baye's face change from utter despair to utter confusion and then to a mixture of surprise and helplessness.
Wangquan Baye smiled bitterly to himself. He never thought that he had become his own imaginary rival.
"What's wrong?" Dongfang Huaizhu came back with the pastries and noticed that the atmosphere between the two was not right.
"Nothing, sister. You've bought them!" Dongfang Qinlan didn't care about anything when she saw Dongfang Huaizhu coming back with the pastries. She took one and stuffed it into her mouth.
Seeing Dongfang Huaizhu coming back with an oil - paper bag, Wangquan Baye adjusted his expression. The three of them continued walking on the street, chatting and laughing, each with their own secrets in mind. Little did they know that a pair of eyes in the dark was closely watching them.
"What, do you want to eat candied haws?" Wangquan Baye noticed that Dongfang Huaizhu had been staring at the candied - haw stall next to the rouge stall.
"No, I just thought it looked quite nice..." Dongfang Huaizhu said with an embarrassed smile.
Wangquan Baye smiled. He bought two strings of round candied haws covered in sugar coating from the stall owner. He wrapped the sticks with paper to make sure the melted sugar wouldn't drip onto their hands, and then stuffed them into the girls' hands. Sure enough, he got two happy expressions from them.
"Thank you, sir," Dongfang Huaizhu adjusted her expression and thanked him.
The atmosphere became even more ambiguous. Dongfang Qinlan was extremely anxious, but since her mouth was full of a whole candied haw, her cheeks were puffed out, and she couldn't say a word.
Suddenly, a carriage came dashing straight towards the three of them from the side alley.
In a hurry, Wangquan Baye pushed Dongfang Qinlan away, bent down to hug Dongfang Huaizhu and jumped to the side. After settling Dongfang Huaizhu down, he ran forward in a few steps and grabbed the reins, actually stopping the horse.
"Miss Huaizhu, are you frightened?" Wangquan Baye asked anxiously.
"No. But are you hurt?" Dongfang Huaizhu patted her sleeves.
"It's okay. Fortunately, the horse didn't hit any passing kids."
"Sorry! Three of you! We scared you!" A young man dressed as a servant trotted over and apologized to the three of them. He also praised Wangquan Baye for his great skills.
"Help! Is there anyone! Save me!" In the distance, there seemed to be a woman's voice calling for help.
"It seems someone is calling for help?" Dongfang Qinlan was the first to hear the woman's cry. She leaned forward to take a look.
"Don't act rashly. I'll go," Wangquan Baye leaped forward. He saw several big men harassing a delicate young woman.
"Stop!" Wangquan Baye stepped in and quickly defeated the attackers, saving the woman.
...
At this time, there were numerous shops on both sides of the street. The bustling crowd walked on the street. But the teahouse standing in the busy market seemed particularly quiet.
A loud laugh came from upstairs, breaking the silence. The waiter carried the tea steadily up to the second floor without looking sideways.
"You're a smart man. You understand women's hearts better than I do," Jin Renfeng raised his slanting eyebrows and looked at the man in front of him.
The man in front of him wore a green fanged mask that covered most of his face, only showing a wide mouth. He was thin. "You're overpraising me, sir. Since I've chosen to follow you, I will spare no effort to serve you with all my talents."
Jin Renfeng tapped his thumb on the table and slowly said, "The world knows of Wu Yan's charm. There are few men who can resist such allure. Although I don't understand women's hearts, I can understand men's hearts."
The man brewed a cup of tea for Jin Renfeng and handed it to him, nodding repeatedly and saying, "You're absolutely right, sir. She has a deep - seated mind and will surely drive the two of them apart silently."
Jin Renfeng took a sip of tea and put the cup down heavily on the table. The tea splashed out and wet a small area around the cup. His eyes were gloomy. "Wangquan Baye still dares to compete with me for a woman. I won't let you have an easy time. Dongfang Huaizhu, I'm determined to have you!"
On the other side, in the alley, Lan Ling suddenly knelt on the ground with a thud, which almost made Dongfang Qinlan jump.
"What are you doing?" Dongfang Huaizhu sensed something was wrong.
The woman on the ground was thin and trembling slightly, as if enduring great pain. "Benefactor, miss! Lan Ling was already a dying person. My family declined. I've been wandering until now. My parents and brothers all died tragically under the blades of the bandits. I've been living on in vain until now. I didn't have any hope at all. But unexpectedly, the benefactor suddenly appeared. I... I just beg the benefactor to take me in as a maid in your mansion."