Chapter 109: Chi Shao yuan

Upon hearing this, Ru Lan's expression shifted slightly. She turned to the maid behind her and said, "Go out and tell them that I am unwell today and will not be receiving any more guests."

The maid, hearing this, said nothing and obediently went out.

"Is the young master now willing to speak?"

Chi Nan Yi smiled and said, "Is the young lady not afraid that I deliberately used this method to catch your attention?"

Ru Lan's lips curved up slightly: "A kindred spirit is hard to find. What if it's true? It's only a few tunes and a little silver. If it can win me a Bole, it's worth it. If the young master is deceiving Ru Lan, Ru Lan has other methods too."

No need to think about it—those other methods were certainly nothing good.

"Zhu Jun Ci is a farewell piece that Master Nan Yin wrote for a friend. A tune of high mountains and flowing water, wishing you a lifetime of peace and smooth sailing—it should have been an open and bright-spirited melody. The tune under the young lady's hands is also a farewell, but it seems to bid farewell not to a friend, but to a lover. The melody is melodious, yet every word weeps blood—reluctant to part yet having no choice but to part. I imagine that in the young lady's heart, there is a lover she loves but cannot have." Chi Nan Yi slowly raised her eyes, meeting Ru Lan's shocked gaze that had not yet been withdrawn. She gave a light laugh: "These are merely my conjectures. If there is anything amiss, I ask the young lady's forgiveness."

Ru Lan looked at Chi Nan Yi and suddenly laughed out loud. She removed the veil from her face, revealing a beautiful countenance. Chi Nan Yi's eyes couldn't help but light up.

As expected of the courtesan of the Qianxi Pavilion—this beauty truly could be called one that topples cities and states.

Ru Lan rose and walked to Chi Nan Yi's side, saying softly, "I never expected that there would actually be someone in this world who could understand my thoughts. Fine horses are common, but a Bole is hard to find. Ru Lan can consider herself to have found a kindred spirit today. May I know the young master's esteemed name?"

"Nan Yi."

"Nan Yi." Ru Lan repeated softly. Chi Nan Yi looked at her and couldn't help but think to herself: As expected of a beauty—even such a simple name she had casually chosen sounded incomparably pleasant coming from her mouth. No wonder some would lavish a thousand gold just to win a smile from a beauty.

"It is Ru Lan's honor to make the young master's acquaintance today. I imagine the young master is also one well-versed in music. Would the young master be willing to have a thorough discussion with Ru Lan?"

Chi Nan Yi smiled and said, "Discussing music—let us save that for next time. I have other matters to attend to today." Chi Nan Yi took out some silver notes from her robe and placed them on the table: "I ruined the young lady's business earlier, so I make up for it here. If there is a chance, I will certainly have a proper chat with the young lady."

Seeing this, the smile on Ru Lan's face stiffened.

Chi Nan Yi cupped her hands in greeting, rose, and left.

Yun Shan closely followed behind.

Chi Nan Yi led Yun Shan out of the Qianxi Pavilion, their figures disappearing into the night.

From the upper floor of the Qianxi Pavilion, Ru Lan stood by the window, her gaze cold as she watched the gradually vanishing figure. The tenderness that had just been in her eyes was gone.

"Pavilion Master." The maid attending beside her spoke very softly, yet revealed a trace of killing intent: "She has glimpsed the Pavilion Master's thoughts. This subordinate offers to kill her for you."

"Kill her? With you?" Ru Lan gave a cold laugh. "You'd probably be killed by the guard behind her before you even figured out her ways."

The maid, hearing this, hurriedly lowered her head: "This servant is short-sighted."

"This person is by no means an ordinary sort." She touched her own face. It wasn't blind confidence—she had seen so many men, and never had anyone shown no infatuation with her face. Even that person was no exception.

From the moment she lifted her veil, she had been observing the person before her. She found that in those eyes, apart from initial amazement and appreciation, there was no other emotion.

This alone was enough to make her curious about this person's identity.

"Pavilion Master, do you think she was playing hard to get?"

"Playing hard to get? Right now it is clearly this Pavilion Master who is more interested in her. What would she be playing hard to get about?" One who could understand her zither music—this was the first.

Chi Nan Yi arrived outside an inn, still dressed in male attire.

That stunning face in women's clothing was a beauty that could topple cities and states. Now dressed as a young man, every woman who passed by her couldn't help but show a shy and charming expression.

Yun Shan, following behind her, couldn't stop his eyelids from twitching.

If his master truly had intentions toward the Chi young lady, he'd better hurry. This Chi young lady was simply irresistible to both men and women!

"Young master, looking to stay at the inn?"

"That's right." Chi Nan Yi nodded. "Two premium rooms."

"Right away! Guest, please come inside!"

Before returning to their rooms, Chi Nan Yi and Yun Shan ordered some food downstairs. They were only halfway through eating when a white-robed man sat down across from her.

Yun Shan instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. When he saw who it was, he couldn't help but pause, then slowly released his grip.

The Chi Family's second young master?

Chi...

Also surnamed Chi!

Chi Nan Yi looked up, her gaze falling on Chi Shao yuan.

"There are no empty tables. May I sit here?"

Chi Nan Yi nodded. This person's appearance wasn't off-putting; having him sit across was tolerable.

After a day of travel, with her spatial storage to sustain her, she didn't feel hungry. But she couldn't resist—the flavor of these noodles was truly exceptional, so she ate in earnest.

Yun Shan, however, found it somewhat hard to swallow.

His gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them. Perhaps because they both shared the surname Chi, he actually felt that these two had some similarities.

Their features weren't extremely alike, but it was hard to say—some indescribable trait just made them feel inexplicably similar.

Chi Shao yuan ordered the same noodles as Chi Nan Yi and sat across from her, eating in an unhurried manner.

Yun Shan noticed that Chi Shao yuan, just like Chi Nan Yi, subconsciously twirled his chopsticks when picking up the noodles.

Wrapping the noodles around the chopsticks before putting them into his mouth—this discovery made Yun Shan feel utterly unwell.

This... was this really just similarity?

How could even their habits be the same?

This, this... how was this possible?

Chi Nan Yi kept her head down the whole time and hadn't noticed. Just then, a low chuckle came from above her head.

Hearing the laughter, Chi Nan Yi instinctively looked up, only to see the white-robed man across from her looking at her with a face full of smiles.

Chi Nan Yi touched her own face: "Are you laughing at me, sir?"

"Yes and no."

"Hmm?"

Chi Shao yuan twirled his chopsticks around the noodles. Only then did Chi Nan Yi realize what he was laughing about.

"I suppose this could be considered a kind of fate."

Chi Nan Yi nodded: "Indeed."

I am Chi Shao yuan; I don't know how to address you, little brother.

"Nan Yi." Chi Nan Yi gazed at the man before him, who also bore the surname Chi—what a coincidence.

Your accent doesn't sound like someone from around here; it sounds more like someone from Jingcheng.

I once lived in Jingcheng for a period of time.

"I see." Chi Shao yuan's eyes flickered as he continued asking, "May I ask if you have any siblings?"

Hearing him say that, Chi Nan Yi frowned slightly; this person, upon meeting, asks such a question—doesn't he find it a bit rude?