Chapter 4: Chasing Customers

"Oh, speaking of which, you may not know, but Youxi is different from us outsiders. She is the ninth miss of the Ye family, a true lady from a prominent family!" Chen Luo seized the opportunity to bring up old stories, speaking with great enthusiasm. "It's a pity though, she was raised outside the mansion since she was young. When her mother passed away, she should have been brought back. But who would have thought she was sent to us instead? If it weren't for Reverend Ji Yun's compassion for her difficult background, she wouldn't have been kept here."

Bai Wu looked surprised on the surface, but he understood in his heart.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingxi, having heard enough, couldn't help but grit her teeth and threw the scripture she was holding into the quilt, showing a clear unwillingness to listen further.

Seeing this, Chen Luo couldn't help but show a smug expression. He was about to say more, but noticed that Bai Wu's expression was uncertain. He immediately regretted his actions, realizing that reprimanding Youxi was one thing, but doing so in front of outsiders would damage the dignity of Yuqing An. However, the words had already been spoken, and he couldn't take them back.

With this realization, Chen Luo's sense of pride dissipated somewhat.

Bai Wu shook his head, deciding to stay out of it. He glanced around the room once more, but still couldn't figure out what was wrong. Ye Qingxi remained buried in the quilt, unwilling to come out.

Sighing inwardly, Bai Wu said, "Let's call it a day," and led the others out. Chen Luo followed, feeling a mix of worry and joy.

Once the commotion outside gradually subsided, Ye Qingxi finally peeked out from under the quilt and then returned to the bed to lift the covers. "Alright, come out quickly. While they haven't left yet, you should slip away. I can tell the leader isn't someone to be trifled with."

In fact, she just wanted to quickly get Song Ning out.

There was movement under the bedding, and a person sat up, scattering several books of scripture. It was indeed Song Ning.

Song Ning had also heard the conversation between the two earlier. Although he had been paying attention to the movements of the intruders, for some reason, part of his attention had inexplicably shifted to Ye Qingxi, who had been crying softly under the covers. He was about to speak a few comforting words, but when he looked up, he saw Ye Qingxi blinking her bright eyes at him, with no trace of sadness.

Suddenly, Song Ning felt a bit bewildered. He didn't know if it was because he had been lying there, feeling a bit suffocated by Ye Qingxi, or because of the lingering sound of her low sobbing. He hesitated and asked in a low voice, "Are you okay?"

"Me? What could be wrong with me?" Ye Qingxi replied with a smile as she tidied up the books of scripture. It turned out that after she had asked Song Ning to lie down, she had started arranging the books around him. She continued until the height of the books matched Song Ning's body, then neatly laid out a row of books on top, covering him completely. After that, she laid out the bedding and quilt, and then lay down on the bed, using Song Ning as a cushion.

To prevent others from discovering any clues, Ye Qingxi deliberately showed disrespect towards Chen Luo, which successfully provoked his retaliation and attracted the attention of the search party. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to pass so easily.

Indeed, some things are won by taking the unexpected route.

Song Ning jumped off the bed and stood quietly on the side, watching Ye Qingxi pack up without saying anything further.

When Ye Qingxi turned around with a stack of books in her arms and saw Song Ning, she was somewhat surprised. "Why haven't you left yet?"

Upon hearing this, Song Ning felt a bit strange. Someone dared to give him such a direct eviction notice!

Although he understood the situation, the Jin Yiwei henchmen might choose to seal off Yuqing Temple if they couldn't find anything. If he left before they made a move, he could leave smoothly. But if he happened to run into them, all his previous efforts would be in vain.

Although he understood this principle, there was still something he wanted to ask. He hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Is your father Mr. Ye from Huai Shu Hutong?"

Ye Qingxi wanted to answer that it wasn't true, that her father was a famous lawyer. But in the current situation, she had crossed over to this unfamiliar world and inexplicably became a discarded illegitimate daughter. Even though this was the truth, she didn't want to dwell on it. She just nodded perfunctorily and urged, "Now is not the time for idle talk. You should leave here as soon as possible. Don't jeopardize yourself and drag me down."

"Do you want to go back to the Ye family?" Song Ning persisted with the question, his gaze once again sweeping over the furnishings in the room.

Ye Qingxi slumped her shoulders weakly. Did this young master want to repay her by bringing her back to the Ye family? Unfortunately, Ye Qingxi had no such intention, not in the past, not now, and probably not in the future. "Young Master, please don't worry about it. We are not from the same world. Our encounter this time is just a coincidence. Please forget about me as soon as possible, or just pretend I don't exist. Please don't bring it up again."

Song Ning's lips twitched slightly, his good intentions were unexpectedly pushed away by the other party like this, which made a strange feeling rise in his heart, inexplicable but made him feel quite uncomfortable. How could the prestigious Prince of Chang'an take his own hot face to stick it to someone else's cold butt?

He nodded immediately, about to take his leave, but suddenly heard a commotion outside again, with someone shouting loudly, "The thief is hiding here, everyone come and catch the thief!"

Song Ning and Ye Qingxi exchanged a glance, then hurriedly put down the scripture and ran to the window. When they came back, their faces looked very unpleasant.

Song Ning raised an eyebrow, "What's happening outside?"

"Never mind about these matters, Your Highness. You should leave here as soon as possible, take advantage of this opportunity," Ye Qingxi looked very troubled and didn't want to mention it further, "I need to go out and see, I hope Your Highness can return safely to the Chang'an Marquis's Mansion. Farewell for now!"

After saying this, Ye Qingxi directly put on his coat and went out, leaving Song Ning standing somewhat dazed in place.

The commotion came from the opposite compartment, where a senior sister with a good relationship with Ye Qingxi lived, named Youye, thirteen years old, and was a disciple of Abbess Chenhui.