Chapter 030
Chapter 30: Why Are You Ignoring Me?
With Xing Lan’s departure, the cold, heavy atmosphere in the room gradually began to thaw.
Chu Zhi Rou reached out, intending to help Xu Zhou Ye, but how could Xu Zhou Ye bear to let his delicate junior sister exert herself? He stood up on his own, smiling gently at her to reassure her that there was no need to worry.
Ye He Qi, unwilling to torture his eyes further with such a scene, turned toward Shi Zi Chu. His voice, soft and mild like springtime, asked warmly, “Going back now?”
Shi Zi Chu turned her gaze in the direction of the voice and saw Ye He Qi looking at her. She raised a finger toward herself and asked, “Are you asking me?”
Ye He Qi chuckled lightly, responding with another question, “Who else could it be?”
Shi Zi Chu blinked, her bright, water-clear eyes sparkling with curiosity, and asked, “Is Supreme Virtue City lively at night?”
Ye He Qi replied gently, discussing with Shi Zi Chu, “Tonight is too late; how about we go tomorrow?”
Once Jiang Wan Sheng had gone to the Ye Clan, Shi Zi Chu would be free to go wherever she pleased.
“Alright.”
Ye He Qi turned toward Jiang Wan Sheng beside him and said courteously, “A guest room has already been prepared. Would Young Master Jiang grace us with your presence?”
Jiang Wan Sheng nodded slightly.
Having achieved his goal, Ye He Qi’s smile became even more genuine.
Wan Yan Qian then spoke first to Shi Zi Chu, “You’re staying at the Ye Clan, right? I’ll come find you tomorrow—I know the best places to visit in Supreme Virtue City.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded in agreement.
Having made arrangements with Shi Zi Chu, Wan Yan Qian gave the others a polite nod, then turned and left with her maid guard.
“As Clan Chief Ye said, the night grows late,” Jun Yue Hua interjected, “Tomorrow, the Auction House will come to the Ye Clan to discuss details concerning the manor with Daoist Shi. That manor was recently built; if Daoist Shi finds anything unsatisfactory, please don’t hesitate to speak up.”
Shi Zi Chu gently nodded, the tassels on her hairpin swaying lightly with the motion.
After Jun Yue Hua left, only Yan Zhou Bai and the cute, round-faced girl remained.
Yan Zhou Bai exchanged a glance with his junior sister before addressing Shi Zi Chu, “Daoist Shi, I have something that might trouble you, but it’s quite late now. Would Daoist Shi have time at noon the day after tomorrow?”
Seeing Yan Zhou Bai’s careful thoughtfulness, the smile on Shi Zi Chu’s face warmed slightly as she replied, “Of course.”
“Then it’s settled. Drunken Encounter Residence, at the hour of Si, the day after tomorrow.”
After setting the time and place, Yan Zhou Bai left with the young lady.
On the way back, Shi Zi Chu leaned against the carriage wall, half-closing her eyes as she reviewed the splendid events of the auction.
Borrowing Ye He Qi’s hand to find Jiang Wan Sheng, obtaining Liang Wei Sheng, snatching the spirit beast egg, and even indirectly causing Chu Zhi Rou to lose the drifting flower!
Tonight’s victory was so perfect, Shi Zi Chu felt like drinking a toast to herself.
[You really snatched away every single opportunity meant for the heroine at the auction?! You truly are an evil supporting character! But it’s okay, the heroine has a protagonist’s halo after all!]
Xue Gu’s sharp cat claws left several deep scratches on the small dog’s body.
The system’s miserable cries echoed endlessly in the spatial storage ring.
“Little puppy, it’s just fair trade; whoever offers the higher price wins. How can that be called snatching? If she had enough money, she could’ve won,” Shi Zi Chu replied teasingly to the system, “My purple card had nearly one hundred million spirit stones. It’s not my fault she wastes her money frivolously, is it~?”
Thinking about the purple card, Shi Zi Chu opened her eyes and glanced at Ye He Qi, who sat gracefully beside her.
Ye He Qi lifted his gaze slightly, silently questioning Shi Zi Chu with his eyes.
“Clan Chief Ye, would you spend tens of millions of spirit stones on your sixth junior sister?” Her gentle, melodious voice held a blatant, threatening note, as if she might kill him right away if he dared to answer yes.
Ye He Qi avoided the question, instead replying, “I’m rather curious about how she managed to swindle the purple card from you.”
Considering Shi Zi Chu’s meticulous nature, he truly wondered how Chu Zhi Rou had managed to take it from her.
Shi Zi Chu got her answer from Ye He Qi’s attitude, “It seems you wouldn’t.”
Ye He Qi gave a soft hum of agreement.
Though he wouldn’t think much of tens of millions of spirit stones, he would certainly never waste them foolishly.
Another question surfaced in Shi Zi Chu’s mind. She looked curiously at Ye He Qi and asked, “Does the Old Madam actually not have tens of millions of spirit stones?”
Liu Cui Yu had abruptly stopped bidding halfway through the auction; the only explanation was that she was short on funds.
It appeared the relationship between Liu Cui Yu and Ye He Qi was even worse than she imagined.
Looking at the deeply irritating Shi Zi Chu, Ye He Qi responded coolly, “Was the auction not enough fun for you? Now you’re entertaining yourself with me?”
“Apologies,” Shi Zi Chu casually tossed out a thoroughly insincere apology, swiftly changing the topic, “Does Clan Chief Ye truly care about such things?”
Ye He Qi gave her a cold glance filled with disdain and displeasure.
Cruel, poisonous, cunning, and infuriating. Sometimes he truly wished he could kill her.
At the Ye Clan’s gates, Ye He Qi stepped down from the carriage and strode swiftly inside.
Left behind, Shi Zi Chu leisurely lifted her skirt and walked toward the south courtyard where she stayed.
Pushing open the door, a familiar fragrance greeted her first. Shi Zi Chu curled her lips slightly, stepping gracefully over the threshold into the dark room.
Jiang Wan Sheng hadn’t returned with them. Calculating the time, he should have arrived a bit earlier.
“Qing Qing.” A cold, low voice drifted from the darkness, sounding right behind her one moment and far away the next, eerie and unsettling.
Shi Zi Chu calmly moved toward the candle stand, but before she could take more than a step, she was caught in an embrace.
Watching this wicked woman who had dared ignore him, Jiang Wan Sheng nearly gave in to the urge to pounce and bite her fiercely, making sure she knew his displeasure.
The arm around Shi Zi Chu’s waist gripped her tightly like vines, squeezing hard enough to cause a hint of pain.
Shi Zi Chu lightly tapped the arm around her waist, “Loosen up a bit.”
“Why are you ignoring me?” His ghostly whisper brushed chillingly against her ear, the beautiful face hidden within shadows covered with gloomy anger.
Shi Zi Chu flicked out a bit of spiritual power, lighting the candles instantly. Then, without much effort, she pulled the restraining arm from her waist.
She turned to face the man who stood tall and elegant behind her.
Jiang Wan Sheng’s tall, powerful form cast a shadow that completely enveloped Shi Zi Chu, his handsome features dangerously cold, clearly upset.
But Shi Zi Chu felt no fear. Meeting his sinister, intense gaze, she smiled softly and said, “I wasn’t ignoring you.”
Her gentle voice, soothing as water, acted like a chain binding the madness within him.
Jiang Wan Sheng blinked, his expression unchanged, yet the dangerous aura around him eased somewhat.
“Clan Chief Ye needs a Gu master. Given his status and resources, he might easily find either you or Aunt Lin,” Shi Zi Chu explained, gently caressing the dangerous yet beautiful face with her palm in a comforting manner.
The intimate gesture was like stroking an angry animal’s fur.
Her words, along with her comforting touch, improved Jiang Wan Sheng’s mood significantly.
At least she’d thought to rely on him—she had a little conscience, but only a bit.
“Besides, don’t you desire the Silver Rose Cluster Bell in Clan Chief Ye’s possession?” Shi Zi Chu’s eyes curved gently, her warm gaze devotedly fixed on Jiang Wan Sheng.
Even knowing Shi Zi Chu’s true nature, Jiang Wan Sheng drowned willingly in those tender eyes.
He lowered his head, nuzzling his cheek affectionately into Shi Zi Chu’s cool, soft palm, “Then I’ll forgive Qing Qing for pretending not to know me.”
Seeing Jiang Wan Sheng as easily pacified as ever, Shi Zi Chu’s eyes sparkled with genuine amusement, and she teased softly, “Little ugly freak.”
This special nickname only the two shared filled Jiang Wan Sheng with delight.
Looking into those teasing eyes, Jiang Wan Sheng lightly complained, “I’m not ugly anymore. Don’t call me little ugly freak again.”
His vivid expression softened his usual gloom, making him appear gentle and harmless.