Bai Zhujing seemed completely unsurprised by my arrival. He sat behind his desk, a book in his right hand, while his left idly played with two walnuts.
"Mr. Bai, I trust you are well," I greeted him with a smile.
He gave a slight smile. "Young Brother Xiang, have you come to see me for something?"
I glanced at Bai Hanyan. Seeing her make a face at me, she stood by the desk without saying a word.
From the current situation, I knew that Bai Zhujing must have already known about Bai Hanyan going to help.
Since he knew, yet didn't stop Bai Hanyan, I couldn't figure out what he truly intended.
After some thought, I said, "There is a matter that requires Mr. Bai's assistance..."
Bai Zhujing's smile remained unchanged. "Did Wu Tingxiu send you to find me, or did you come on your own accord?"
I looked at him, somewhat puzzled. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Bai?"
He put down the book in his hand. "If Wu Tingxiu sent you to find me, then I can only apologize. But if you need my help yourself, perhaps I will consider it."
"What's the difference?" I asked instinctively.
Bai Hanyan gave me a knowing glance, as if to say I was being slow.
"Of course there's a difference. If Wu Tingxiu wanted my help, she could have come herself. As for the outcome..."
Bai Zhujing paused here. "It's been many years since I've personally handled feng shui matters. Other than occasionally helping friends, all such affairs are handled by Hanyan."
When did my own favor outweigh Wu Tingxiu's?
I looked at Bai Zhujing thoughtfully, then slowly sat down. "Mr. Bai, there's something I need your help with, I wonder..."
Before I could finish, he said, "No problem, I can help you."
His agreement was so prompt that it surprised me, and at the same time, it further solidified my suspicion that Bai Zhujing had ulterior motives.
He wouldn't help me so easily; he probably needed me to do something for him.
As expected, while I was still contemplating, he spoke. "However, there is also something I need young Brother Xiang's help with."
"Whatever I can do to serve you, Mr. Bai, please don't hesitate to ask," I replied.
Bai Zhujing pondered for a moment. "Young Brother Xiang, why are you doing things for Wu Tingxiu?"
I smiled. "Naturally, it's for the money."
"Money?" Bai Zhujing chuckled disbelievingly. "Judging by your appearance, young Brother Xiang, you don't seem like someone who would go to such lengths for wealth."
"If not for money, then what do you think I'm doing it for, Mr. Bai?"
Although I asked this question casually, my heart was a little uneasy.
My true objective was known only to myself, and I hadn't told anyone. How could Bai Zhujing have seen through me and suspected I had other plans?
Or was he just trying to bluff me?
"When Wu Tingxiu gave you that transfer contract last time, I noticed you didn't seem to pay much attention when you signed..." Bai Zhujing paused here. "There's a saying in the antique trade: to appraise treasures, one must first appraise people. I've met quite a few people over the years, and I can generally tell who values what."
Hearing him say that, I recalled my actions during the time I was working for Wu Tingxiu, and I realized I had indeed appeared indifferent to money.
Thinking about it, I had risked my life to go to Bianhai, yet upon my return, I hadn't sought any reward from Wu Tingxiu.
The more I thought about it, the more a sense of unease crept into my heart...
"While I don't know the exact reason you're helping Wu Tingxiu, young Brother Xiang, you certainly have your purpose... I won't pry," Bai Zhujing said with a smile.
I didn't want to dwell on the topic any longer. "Mr. Bai, just tell me what you need me to do. Even if this wasn't the case, I wouldn't refuse out of respect for Miss Bai."
I said this intending to use Bai Hanyan as a pretext.
But as soon as I finished speaking, Bai Hanyan glanced at me with a smile.
"I don't care about what happens between you and Hanyan, nor do I want to," Bai Zhujing said with a smile. "She's an adult now, and how she acts and what she chooses are her own affairs. This matter, however, is between you and me."
"Mr. Bai, what exactly do you want me to do?"
Bai Zhujing stared at me for a few seconds, saying nothing.
I had asked this question several times, but he still hadn't answered directly, which was rather intriguing.
For a moment, the room fell silent, with only the sound of the two walnuts rubbing together in Bai Zhujing's left hand.
After about a minute, he said, "I want you to help me investigate something."
"What is it?"
"How exactly did Wu Cheng die all those years ago... and did he leave anything behind for his wife after his death."
"Who is Wu Cheng?" I couldn't help but ask.
Bai Hanyan interjected, "Wu Cheng is Wu Tingxiu's biological father."
I frowned. "Why would Mr. Bai have me investigate him?"
Bai Zhujing smiled and didn't answer my question, instead asking, "Do you think young Brother Xiang can help me with this favor?"
"Why me?"
Bai Zhujing remained silent, but Bai Hanyan spoke up. "You're so close to Wu Tingxiu, and she trusts you with everything, letting you handle all her affairs..."
Hearing this, I was amused and exasperated. If I didn't agree to Bai Zhujing, I wouldn't be able to open the Five Elements Twin Dragon Box today. But if I agreed, and Wu Tingxiu found out later, our relationship would likely be strained.
Bai Hanyan was right; Wu Tingxiu did trust me greatly at the moment.
Her trust was a good thing for me; only then could I leverage her influence to continue investigating the Suihou Pearl.
But if one day she lost her trust in me, it would be much harder for me to find clues about the Suihou Pearl.
By the way, why did Bai Zhujing want to investigate Wu Tingxiu's father? Could his death be related to the death of Bai Hanyan's grandfather?
Or perhaps, Wu Tingxiu's father knew some unspeakable secret?
I couldn't figure it out.
Honestly, I didn't want to get involved in these family feuds at all.
It's just that in the Jianghu, one cannot control oneself. Even if I didn't want to participate, I had no choice.
"I can't guarantee I'll find anything, but I promise to do my best," I said. "And I have a condition: I don't want anyone else to know about this."
Bai Zhujing smiled. "Naturally. Young Brother Xiang, rest assured, apart from the three of us, no one will know what we've discussed today."
"Alright then," I pursed my lips. "Then I'll trouble you to come with me."
Bai Zhujing gave a wry smile. "I won't be going..."
Hearing this, I was startled, not quite comprehending.
I had agreed to his condition, so why was he still...