"This fragrance—am I the only one who has it, or did you give it to others too? I don’t like using the same things as everyone else."

Bai Qingqing hurried to explain, "I haven’t given it to anyone else."

"So it was made just for me?"

It was a perfectly normal question, but coming from Ning Yan, it somehow felt loaded with something unspoken. Bai Qingqing nodded, a little flustered, taking it as silent confirmation.

Ning Yan’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. "That’s more like it. The scent’s not bad."

So he did like it. Bai Qingqing made a mental note of that. Then, realizing she'd accomplished what she came here for, she quickly took a step back, ready to leave.

She was just trying to figure out a graceful way to say goodbye when Ning Yan beat her to it. "You came all this way. Stay and enjoy yourself a while."

There was a rare urgency on his face—he was clearly in a hurry.

Which Bai Qingqing found hard to understand. He came and went in such a rush just to make sure she delivered it personally? Was he really that particular?

"Qiyue’s in the building. You could go talk to her."

"Really?"

Ning Yan caught the way her eyes lit up instantly. His gaze narrowed. "That happy? Happier to see her than to see me?"

Bai Qingqing, wisely, didn’t answer—but her face said everything. Ning Yan read the words plain as day: How could you possibly compare to Qiyue?

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A strange discomfort suddenly stirred in him. Grinding his molars, he reached out and pinched her cheek. "Ungrateful little thing."

Bai Qingqing covered her face and darted away. How was she ungrateful? Qiyue was beautiful and gentle—how could he compete with that?

…

On her way to find Qiyue, Bai Qingqing heard a burst of commotion ahead. She stopped in her tracks, listening.

Ahead, someone had been stopped. Judging by the back, it was a man, gesturing urgently as he spoke, but the person blocking him remained unmoved.

As Bai Qingqing drew closer, the man happened to fling out his arm, nearly hitting her. Startled, she quickly stepped aside.

When the man turned around, Bai Qingqing blinked in surprise—it was Fu Xiao? The elder, illegitimate brother of Fu Yi. What was he doing here?

Fu Xiao glanced at her but paid her no mind, turning back to plead with the guard. “I only want to see Qiyue, just speak a few words with her. I don’t believe she won’t meet me—please, just deliver my message one more time.”

Bai Qingqing’s eyes widened, her mind racing as her gaze sharpened in shock. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Don’t tell me the courtesan who’s bewitched you so completely is Qiyue?”

Fu Xiao had been ignoring her, but her words made him spin around, face dark with fury. “Qiyue is no courtesan! You don’t even know her—what right do you have to speak like that?”

Startled by the force of his anger, Bai Qingqing fell silent. Just then, Die’er, one of Qiyue’s attendants, came downstairs. Fu Xiao caught her movement out of the corner of his eye and rushed over. “Die’er, is she—has Qiyue agreed to see me?”

But Die’er brushed past him and approached Bai Qingqing, giving a polite curtsy. “Miss, please come upstairs. Sister Qiyue has been waiting for you a long time.”

Fu Xiao stood there, dumbfounded, watching Bai Qingqing be welcomed inside, chatting and smiling with Die’er as they walked away. He stood frozen, unable to comprehend—Qiyue was willing to see her? She knew Qiyue?

Bai Qingqing had indeed visited Qiyue many times before. The moment Qiyue heard she was at Yanlai Pavilion, she’d begun waiting for her, even preparing her favorite tea and snacks.

“There you are. Has the gentleman left already? He’s been so busy lately—I figured he wouldn’t stay long, so I waited for you all morning.”