Chapter 139: Archenemy

Inside Zhenxiu Restaurant.

Watching the scholar who had just walked in, the manager felt utterly numb. There was no joy in welcoming a customer—only a sense of doom.

He was just a restaurant manager. Not wealthy or powerful, but he lived a comfortable life, never short on food or clothes.

Not long ago, a young master from Jingcheng¹ had arrived. Though born of a concubine, he was still favored in his family. The manager had thought this was his chance to lead Zhenxiu Restaurant to new heights.

He had even dared to dream that when the young master returned to Jingcheng, he might take him along. He could see the splendor of the capital, maybe even carve out a future for himself there if luck was on his side.

But now?

The young master had died here. Zhenxiu Restaurant had become a place reviled by all, cursed as a heartless den of greed.

Forget profits. Shiwei Restaurant next door had already crushed them in every way.

But now, with Kang An dead, once the news reached Jingcheng, what kind of trouble would fall on his head?

The manager no longer wanted to open the doors. All he wanted was to shut them tight and hide away in silence.

“We’re closed today, sir, please—”

Before he could finish, a slender, razor-sharp dagger pressed against his throat.

The young man dressed as a scholar wore a gentle smile, soft as water, but the words that came from his mouth sent a chill straight down the manager’s spine.

He said, “How did Kang An die?”

“I—I—I don’t know…”

The manager felt a cold sweat break out on his back, followed by another wave of cold, and then another.

He regretted it. He never should have taken the job at Zhenxiu Restaurant just to prove he was better than Shopkeeper Liang next door.

“Take me to Kang An’s quarters.”

The dagger slid past his ear, leaving a thin red line.

“Be obedient, and you won’t suffer. Disobey, and there are plenty of ways for you to die.”

The man put away his dagger, his face still cultured and refined. But in the manager’s eyes, he looked like a demon come to claim his life.

All he could do was nod in silent agreement.

They had barely stepped out the door when someone called out.

“Well, Manager Cao, closing up shop already? Heading home?”

The familiar voice made Manager Cao look up. It was his longtime nemesis, Shopkeeper Liang from next door.

Their eyes met.

Shopkeeper Liang frowned slightly. Something seemed off about old Cao.

The sharp tip of the dagger pressed into Manager Cao’s waist again, sending another jolt of fear through him. He snapped at Shopkeeper Liang, “What’s it to you?!”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Shopkeeper Liang stood there, watching Manager Cao’s retreating back, feeling something wasn’t right.

They had been rivals for years. From childhood spats in the village to adulthood battles in business—when he became the manager of Shiwei Restaurant, Cao had fought tooth and nail to become the manager of Zhenxiu Restaurant.

It was normal for them to be at odds, but they knew each other well.

Just now, old Cao had seemed… panicked?

His gaze shifted to the young scholar who had brushed past Manager Cao moments ago.

The two of them…

They didn’t seem to know each other. They hadn’t spoken, nor did they appear to be walking together.

But if they were strangers, something still felt off.

Shopkeeper Liang couldn’t shake the feeling. He was just about to follow them to see what was going on when a voice called out from behind him.

“Shopkeeper! Someone’s causing trouble in the restaurant!”

He glanced once more in the direction Manager Cao had gone.

And here he thought something was really wrong.

If someone was stirring up trouble at his place, who else could it be but someone from Zhenxiu Restaurant?

No wonder old Cao had looked so nervous—he must’ve sent someone to make trouble and was feeling guilty!

And here he was, thinking it was something serious!

“Let’s go! Back inside!”

Shopkeeper Liang turned and hurried after the staffer, heading back into Shiwei Restaurant.

Translator’s Notes