Chapter 13

Xi Mi mimicked Ying Quhe’s tone to snap at Ye Doudou. But small as she was, her presence was weak and her voice came out soft and powerless. Fortunately, the words themselves hit hard, striking Ye Doudou in the forehead like a sudden, crashing wave.

By the time the show finished recording, it was already nine in the evening. There were few cars on the ancient town’s streets, so she had no choice but to walk back to the inn.

Xi Mi left through the back door, but Ying Quhe’s car was waiting for her at the front entrance. After waiting an hour without seeing her come out, Ying Quhe sent his assistant back to check on the situation.

A few minutes later, the assistant returned to tell him that Xi Mi had already left. Ying Quhe wanted to call Xi Mi, only to realize he didn’t have her phone number, or even her WeChat.

Sitting in the passenger seat, his assistant, Zhou Ming, buckled his seatbelt and remarked, “Boss, Miss Xi today really has incredible explosive power. To reach that level of skill at only twenty-five is really something. Big President Ying has a great eye for talent, managing to dig up such a good prospect on Weibo.”

The “Big President Ying” Zhou Ming referred to was Ying Shengnan. No sooner had he spoken than a phone call from Ying Shengnan came in.

On the other end of the line, Ying Shengnan was out of breath. “Second Brother! Jianjian is missing! Hurry and get some people to search around the ancient town. Don’t let Tian Hao get to her first!”

“Missing?” Ying Quhe frowned. “You and Tian Hao are in the ancient town?”

Ying Shengnan was frantic. “That little brat Tian Hao found out Jianjian was in the ancient town and flew over immediately. Jianjian called me once, but her phone’s been turned off ever since, and Tian Hao is searching for her too. I don’t have enough manpower, so get some people to help right away!”

Tian Jian’s mind worked differently from ordinary people. She was a genius with an extraordinary memory, but she was also a silly girl who was easily tricked. Ying Quhe wasn’t worried about her getting lost; he was worried about someone with bad intentions deceiving her.

*

The night streets of the ancient town were quiet and peaceful.

Dim light filtered through hanging lanterns, barely illuminating the bluestone path under Xi Mi’s feet. As she turned the corner of a deep alleyway, a charming little bar caught her eye. In front of the entrance was a small koi pond with a bubbling mini fountain at its center, beautifully designed.

The bar’s wooden lattice windows were open, spilling a quiet blue glow into the night, accompanied by the gentle sound of a guitar playing alongside a folk song.

Fresh off her first victory in the competition, Xi Mi was thrilled deep down. But when excitement and joy could be shared with no one, it turned into stifling frustration, even feeling a bit suffocating.

Having no one to share the thrill of victory with, such loneliness was truly terrible.

She used to vent her feelings on Weibo, but her follower count had surged past one hundred thousand in the blink of an eye, making her too hesitant to post freely anymore.

She stepped inside the bar and scanned the room.

Artistic young travelers from all over sat opposite one another. In a corner, a figure in white sprawled over a table, dead drunk. Slumping upright in her drunkenness, she repeatedly slammed both hands against the table, slurring, “Old Ying, Old Ying, I want beer shrimp! Beer shrimp, beer shrimp!!”

Tian Jian?

Xi Mi walked over and confirmed it was indeed her, with no one around to keep her company. The moment Tian Jian spotted her, she threw herself into her arms without hesitation. “Mimi, Mimi… How did you become two… three… ten… urgh…”

Tian Jian collapsed limply against Xi Mi, reeking of alcohol.

Mumbling in her arms, Tian Jian soon dissolved into quiet sobs. “I love Brother, and I love Old Ying… I don’t want them to fight, I don’t… If they fight, Brother wants to hit people, and Old Ying always gets bullied by Brother… Sobbing… Mimi, I’m so sad, so sad… I don’t want to go home, I don’t want to go home…”

Listening to Tian Jian’s tearful complaints, Xi Mi pieced together the situation bit by bit.

Tian Jian had married Ying Shengnan without her brother, Tian Hao, knowing at all. Since their marriage, they hadn’t held a wedding, and their union had no support from her family.

Xi Mi had no idea how to comfort her. Holding her head, she patted her gently. “How about… you talk to your brother again?”

Tian Jian hiccuped and sobbed so hard she could barely catch her breath.

Aside from patting her back to help her breathe, there was nothing Xi Mi could do.

Just as she managed to form a couple of words to comfort Tian Jian, her wrist was suddenly seized by a hand out of nowhere. She was yanked up and thrown aside, sending her falling sharply into a firm embrace.

Steadying her with an arm, the man asked in a low voice, “Are you alright?”

Against the noisy backdrop of the bar, his deep voice sounded exceptionally clear.

Xi Mi looked up, and the moment she saw Ying Quhe’s face, her heart settled. Turning around, she looked at the man who had acted so roughly just now.

The man rested his chin on top of Tian Jian’s head, holding her tightly in his arms before lowering his head to whisper into her ear with gentle affection, making it hard to associate him with the word “rough.” His shirt was soaked with sweat, and beneath the dim, cool lighting, his sharp features bore a striking resemblance to Ying Quhe.

Xi Mi felt he looked very familiar. Had she met him before?

She stared for a long while before realizing she had definitely seen him.

A year ago, he had stubble and was a handsome middle-aged guy. Although the stubble around his mouth was cleanly shaved now, making him look quite a bit younger, his handsome facial features hadn’t changed.

Filled with doubt, Xi Mi called out, “Uncle…?”

Ying Shengnan turned his head and, seeing it was Xi Mi, showed little surprise on his face. Holding Tian Jian, he walked over and said to her, “We finally meet again. It’s too noisy in here, let’s step outside to talk.”

Xi Mi was completely shocked.

A year ago, when she traveled to Tangxi Ancient Town, she met a group of people at the landlady’s inn, and Ying Shengnan was one of them. She couldn’t remember his name, only that she used to call him Uncle. Xi Mi had a fairly deep impression of him; he was a guy who was great at cooking and was always hollering about introducing her to his second brother as a wife.

Xi Mi stole a glance at Ying Quhe, suddenly feeling how miraculous fate could be.

Once inside the car, she stared at the two brothers from the Ying Family and exclaimed, “What a coincidence! Uncle, you’re Ying Shengnan, Mr. Ying’s older brother! And Jianjian’s husband!”

Ying Shengnan looked down into his arms, his eyes full of doting affection. He stroked Tian Jian’s burning-hot cheek, but held back from telling Xi Mi the full truth out of consideration for Ying Quhe.

The reason Ying Quhe knew about Xi Mi’s Weibo was because of his introduction. The reason Ying Quhe stayed at the landlady’s inn was also due to his recommendation.

Xi Mi meeting Ying Quhe online was partly thanks to him. Xi Mi bumping into Ying Quhe at the inn was also, objectively, because of him.

Reminiscing about that trip a year ago, Xi Mi felt a sudden wave of emotion. “A year ago, there was you, your third brother, a matchmaker sister, a little girl, a professor named Xiao, and an elderly couple… Those days were really so happy. How are your third brother and that matchmaker sister doing now? Has that little girl grown up a lot?”

Ying Shengnan said, “Yeah, my third younger brother Zuo Yi married Qiao Shan. As for little girl Wenwen, she had leukemia… and passed away.”

Although she had already forgotten the little girl’s name, Xi Mi still remembered those big, dark eyes of hers. To think the little girl had already…

Xi Mi realized the car wasn’t heading toward the inn, but driving out of the ancient town toward the county seat.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ying Quhe said, “Tian Jian’s older brother is at the inn, so our car can’t go back. We will arrive at a hotel in the county seat soon. Stay at the hotel with us tonight, and you can head back tomorrow morning.”

When they reached the hotel, the assistant handled the check-in procedures for them. Ying Quhe personally led Xi Mi to her room. Hers was the very last room down the hallway, Room 666.

Ying Quhe used the keycard to unlock the door for Xi Mi, only to notice the girl standing frozen, staring pale-faced at the room number. He asked in a low voice, “Is there something wrong with the room number?”

The real reason was hard for Xi Mi to say out loud, so she shook her head.

Ying Quhe extended a long arm and pushed the door open for her.

Xi Mi braced herself and went inside.

Ying Quhe bade her good night, then gently pulled the door shut.

With the door closed behind her, Xi Mi instantly felt an oppressive weight, as if countless pairs of eyes inside the room were staring at her.

Frequent hotel guests often said that the last room down a hallway^[1] was “unclean,” and that room number 666 was a conduit to the underworld.

A sudden chill swept over Xi Mi. She kicked off her shoes and burrowed straight into the bedsheets.

Perhaps because she was so exhausted from the day and her nerves were stretched tight, she drifted into a hazy sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Moments later, she suffered sleep paralysis, commonly known as being pinned down by a ghost. By the time she woke up, all sleepiness was completely gone, replaced by a surge of horror.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Xi Mi panicked completely. She didn’t even bother putting on shoes as she rushed out of the room.

Ying Quhe was coming upstairs carrying a food tray. Just as he stepped out of the elevator, he saw the little girl running out of her room in a panic.

“What’s wrong?” Ying Quhe’s gaze landed on her bare feet.

Xi Mi curled her toes in embarrassment. “M-Mice…”

“Come with me first. Have a bite to eat, and we’ll switch your room in a moment.” Ying Quhe turned and led her toward his own room.

Xi Mi followed Ying Quhe into his room barefoot. At the entryway, Ying Quhe picked up a pair of slippers and set them out for her. Xi Mi slipped them on and took a few steps, marveling at how a man’s slippers were as big as boats, meaning his feet were as big as boats too.

Ying Quhe set the tray down on the dining table, handing her a glass of milk and a milkshake sandwich. “The competition was hard work. Have something to eat.”

“What about you if I eat it?” Xi Mi was indeed hungry.

Ying Quhe removed his suit jacket right in front of her and draped it over a coat rack. His white shirt was neatly tucked into his suit trousers, highlighting his sturdy chest and narrow waist.

“I already ate. I made this for you.”

“…??” Xi Mi seemed to catch the main point.

Mr. Ying… made it for her?

Author’s Note: Ying Shengnan already met Xi Mi in The Inability to Love Syndrome. I’m just mentioning it here; if you haven’t read it, it won’t affect your reading of this story. Mwah!

Yesterday in the comments, I saw a little skit that I thought was pretty fun: personifying two dishes! By @QiuBuNue:

Seeing what Lao Qu said, I couldn’t help but brainstorm this scene 🙂

Wild Mushrooms in Golden Broth: Are you so eager to stay far away from Us? Are We some kind of ferocious beast?

Squirrel Yellow Croaker: No, no, of course not! This humble commoner only fears that remaining here would spoil Your Majesty’s mood.

Wild Mushrooms in Golden Broth: No matter. We specially grant you permission to stay.

Squirrel Yellow Croaker: Thanking Your Majesty for your grace! (QAQ Someone take me away, quick…)

Wild Mushrooms in Golden Broth: (Only by having you stay here can you highlight Our noble and extraordinary presence. How could We let you leave? :))】