Pei Lingshu lifted the teacup, took a sip, and praised, “This really is good tea. Every time I come here, there's a sense of ease and comfort. That incense you picked out for me last time suited me perfectly.”
“As long as you like it, Brother Pei.”
Bai Qingqing still felt uneasy, worried that Ning Yan wouldn’t believe her. Her gaze kept drifting toward him.
Ning Yan noticed but remained composed, his movements even more refined than usual. “Is that so? Then I should try the tea as well.”
He took a sip, though he couldn’t really taste anything special. “It’s alright. I still have some decent tea leaves at home. If I let them sit any longer, the flavor might turn. I’ll bring them along for the road.”
Pei Lingshu paused, eyes narrowing. “You’re not talking about the imperial tea I’ve asked you for several times—the one you always pretend to forget?”
“Huh? You asked me for it? I don’t remember that at all.”
Ning Yan’s innocent expression made Pei Lingshu want to trip him on the spot out of spite. But after a moment’s thought, he decided to let it go. The journey to the southwest was full of danger—he’d settle the score when Ning Yan came back safe and sound.
Off to the side, Bai Qingqing looked lost and out of place, still caught in her earlier anxiety. Ning Yan glanced at her. “Forget it. Even if Fu Yi finds out, it doesn’t matter. At most, it’ll tear the facade apart. If they want to frame the Bai family, they’ll need real evidence. That said, you’d better explain everything clearly to your father.”
Stolen story; please report.
Bai Qingqing nodded obediently. “I will.”
Her wide eyes shimmered with a timid unease. “You’re… not mad anymore? I didn’t do this on a whim, I—thought it through before I made my decision. I…”
“You’re still afraid I’m angry?”
“Of course! I told you, you’re the greatest benefactor of my life—I’d never want to upset you, no matter what.”
Her earnestness softened the corners of Ning Yan’s mouth, and he couldn’t help teasing her again.
But off to the side, Pei Lingshu’s expression stiffened at Bai Qingqing’s words. Seeing Ning Yan looking entirely unbothered, even back to his usual sharp-tongued self, made Pei Lingshu’s heart sink further.
Bai Qingqing’s feelings for Ning Yan were laid bare, sincere and unguarded. And yet, from the looks of it, it was all gratitude—she regarded him as a savior. When she said Ning Yan’s life mattered more to her than her own, Pei Lingshu believed she meant it.
But the problem was, Ning Yan’s kindness to the Bai family wasn’t without strings.
He was using the Bai family as bait, trying to draw out the real culprits behind the scenes. Knowing his temperament, he wouldn’t lose sleep over it. He had his own duty, his own standpoint. But from Bai Qingqing’s perspective—what if one day she found out?
A faint sense of unease stirred in Pei Lingshu’s chest.
“By the way, if you have time, go see Qiyue. She’s got some stuff ready for you—might be useful, though if you ask me, it’s unnecessary.”
Ning Yan ran a hand through his hair, then tilted Bai Qingqing’s chin up to inspect her face from side to side. She didn’t resist, just sat there in a daze, letting him look.
“You’ll be traveling with us, and it’s best not to draw too much attention. You’ll probably need a new identity.”
Bai Qingqing had already thought of that, her eyes lighting up. “I know! I read about that in storybooks—it’s about disguises, right? I’ve already asked Sister Qiyue to keep an eye out for anything magical like that!”
Ning Yan curled his lip. “Didn’t I tell you? Storybooks aren’t reliable. I’m saying just keep a low profile, that’s all.”
“Then… what if I disguised myself as your servant?”
She ventured the suggestion, watching his reaction. “Honestly, I am a little scared. Father always said it’s dangerous for women to travel alone. I thought… if I dressed like a man, maybe it’d be easier?”