Chapter 328: New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve, the reunion dinner.

In the streets and alleys of Lin'an City, there were sounds of festive firecrackers and children playing everywhere.

In the Bai Mansion, the family gathered together to eat.

Luo Zijun took the opportunity to say that he would be setting off on the second day of the New Year to search for Bai Daxiaojie, and might need to be away for a period of time.

Upon hearing this, everyone asked him questions one after another.

Luo Zijun casually brushed them off with the excuse that "the Queen has also entrusted me with some tasks that must be kept secret."

Seeing this, it was naturally inconvenient for everyone to ask more.

After dinner.

Bai Qingtong followed him as he left, and when they reached the backyard, she pleaded with him: "Brother-in-law, take me with you to find Sister."

Luo Zijun refused: "I still have tasks to attend to."

Bai Qingtong huffed: "It's fine if you lie to them, but do you think you can lie to me? The Queen didn't give you any tasks at all. You just want to go out alone so you can flirt and dally with women everywhere, right?"

"What are you saying? Is your brother-in-law that kind of person?"

"Yes!"

Luo Zijun ignored her and waved his hand, saying: "Alright, you go back, I still have to go out for a trip."

"Go where?"

Bai Qingtong immediately became alert.

Luo Zijun did not hide it and said: "First to Bao'an Hall, then to Chujian Bookstore, and then..."

"And then to Daguanyuan, right?"

Bai Qingtong sneered and said: "Brother-in-law is truly busy. On New Year's Eve, running around everywhere to have reunions and accompany other women."

Luo Zijun explained: "I am just telling them that I am leaving."

"Then I'm going with you, Brother-in-law!"

Bai Qingtong clung to him.

Luo Zijun looked at her and said: "The Bai Third Miss of the past was broad-minded, carefree, and straightforward, and never used sarcasm. When did you become like this?"

Bai Qingtong gave a cold huff and said: "Ever since Brother-in-law started lying!"

"When did I lie?"

Luo Zijun asked in surprise.

Bai Qingtong huffed: "Brother-in-law lies all the time. You pretend to be studying hard at home, but actually, you often sneak out to dally with other women."

Luo Zijun was speechless: "Where did I run off to dally with other women?"

Bai Qingtong counted on her fingers: "Bao'an Hall, Chujian Bookstore, Daguanyuan, the Outer City, and also... Cangyun Mountain!"

"Cangyun Mountain?"

Luo Zijun was stunned.

Bai Qingtong huffed: "That's right, Cangyun Mountain. Doesn't Brother-in-law often sneak off there? You even saved me there once, didn't you?"

Luo Zijun asked in astonishment: "When did you find out?"

Bai Qingtong glanced at him and said: "I knew the moment I found out you were a martial artist."

Luo Zijun shrugged and admitted: "Fine, I did often go to Cangyun Mountain before, but that was just to hunt and hone my combat skills there. What does that have to do with women?"

A hint of mockery appeared in Bai Qingtong's eyes: "Of course it has to do with them. Aren't the targets you hunt and hone your combat skills against there those pretty and charming female martial artists?"

"Huh?"

What was this all about? Luo Zijun felt it was inexplicable.

Bai Qingtong suddenly sneered: "Is Brother-in-law going to keep playing dumb? A while ago, that girl named Xu Ziyin came to the mansion to look for you. She said she owed you a lot of money and wanted to come to our Bai Mansion to work as a guard to pay off the debt, and she specifically pointed out that she wanted to be your personal guard."

Luo Zijun: "..."

Bai Qingtong said: "But I refused. She also said that Brother-in-law often tears her clothes, likes to tie her up, likes to touch her, and has already touched her all over."

"She's lying!"

Luo Zijun immediately denied it.

"Brother-in-law is the one lying!"

Bai Qingtong looked at him coldly and said: "She stated it very clearly. Brother-in-law often likes to tie her up, then take off her shoes and socks, and touch her feet. She said Brother-in-law likes her feet the most. If she were lying, how would she know about this fetish of yours?"

"Perhaps she heard it from someone else? After all, good news doesn't leave the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles."

Luo Zijun naturally could not admit it.

Bai Qingtong said: "Is Brother-in-law still going to quibble? Do you want me to bring her here to confront you face-to-face? She also has an older brother named Xu Xian. You were very close to him at West Lake Academy, weren't you?"

Luo Zijun: "... Qingtong, you were secretly investigating me?"

Bai Qingtong huffed: "I'm not that bored. I just happened to be visiting that Sun Guniang when her friend Huang Zhaodi told me herself. That Huang girl also said that you said it yourself at the Academy, that you liked Xu Xian's sister, which is why you got close to that guy named Xu Xian."

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he said: "What else did Huang Zhaodi say?"

Bai Qingtong said: "She said a lot. She also said you kissed her and that Sun Guniang, and that you often slapped them very brutally."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Is Brother-in-law going to keep quibbling?"

Bai Qingtong sneered.

"Well, I have things to do, let's talk next time."

Luo Zijun did not linger and left immediately.

Bai Qingtong prepared to follow him, but saw him turn his head and whisper: "It's the middle of the night, we are a lone man and woman, we can't go out together. It won't look good if people see us. That... you go back to your room and wait for me."

"..."

Bai Qingtong was momentarily taken aback.

It was only after Luo Zijun had been gone for quite a while that she finally reacted.

Hua'er and Chen'er, who were holding lanterns in front, looked at each other; Hua'er could not help but ask in a low voice, "Young Miss, the Master told us to go back to the room and wait, but does he mean our own room, or... the Master's room?"

Chen'er blinked her eyes and said, "Hua'er, the Master said to let Young Miss go back to the room alone to wait; did he say anything about us? Are you being overly sentimental?"

Hua'er's cheeks turned red instantly, and she pinched her, saying both shyly and anxiously, "Young Miss, this servant didn't mean that, this servant... this servant..."

Chen'er laughed while dodging, saying, "Young Miss, this little girl Hua'er is lovesick."

The two little maidservants frolicked for a bit, only to see their Young Miss standing dazed in place, her brows slightly furrowed, looking somewhat lost and hesitant, as if she were truly considering which room she should go to.

The moon tonight was very round.

A night market had opened on the street, with all kinds of small stalls displaying a dazzling array of goods; in the open spaces, there were monkey performers and street artists, children playing and running about, and adults chatting and laughing—it was bustling, festive, and lively.

Luo Zijun walked along, looking as he went, and soon arrived at Bao'an Hall.

At this time, Bao'an Hall had not yet closed its doors.

The lights were on inside the room, but it was cold and desolate, lacking even a trace of the lively atmosphere of a reunion night found in other households.

Qingwen was pounding medicine in the corner, while the Senior Sister was checking the medicinal herbs in each drawer behind the counter.

The Master did not know where he had gone.

After entering the shop, Luo Zijun directly lit a string of firecrackers he had just bought from the street.

The crackling sound suddenly rang out in the shop, scaring Qingwen into letting out a scream, her face turning pale with fright, her pair of pitiful, moving eyes filled with terror.

Firecracker debris flew everywhere, and smoke curled up.