Although Xie Yun did not allow Bai Qianluo to participate in this operation, she could not stay idle. Besides, she had seen that Nine-Tailed Fox last time, and if the Nine-Tailed Fox appeared here, she would be able to recognize it.
When Wen Zhanxin was seriously injured last time, they announced to the public that he was critically ill and had died. In reality, he was hidden in Tianwaitian Restaurant and looked after by Jiang Yan.
The play arranged this time still featured "Farewell My Concubine."
As for this Jifutang, it was also a troupe secretly invited by the City Lord from a neighboring city. In the past few days, there had been a stir in Xingliu City.
The mastermind behind this was also the City Lord, Liu Yu.
According to Xingliu City's customs, at an engagement ceremony, the betrothed couple must toast to all the elders. Qin Jiujiu stood by and observed. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt that this engagement ceremony was too realistic.
Everything was too complete, even the etiquette was perfect. If it was just to lure the murderer to commit the crime, then Jifutang should have been the focus, and the engagement ceremony could have been simplified. As it was, it truly felt like the City Lord was marrying off her daughter!
Bai Qianluo perhaps also felt it was too realistic. Rationally, she understood that it was all fake, but she still felt a strange discomfort in her heart. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
She decided not to stand by and watch anymore. She went to some secluded parts of the mansion to check the situation, and only felt calmer when the clamor was further away from her.
She didn't encounter the Nine-Tailed Fox or the murderer, but by chance, she entered the City Lord's mansion's small garden and met Jiang Yan.
Qin Jiujiu couldn't find Bai Qianluo, and by a strange coincidence, she ran into Xie Jing.
"Who's there?"
It was a dark and windy night, the best time for murder.
Qin Jiujiu suddenly regretted following Bai Qianluo's retreating figure alone. She had been observing the ceremony when she saw Bai Qianluo leave alone in a moment of distraction.
Feeling her back seemed a little lonely, she followed her alone. Little did she know, Bai Qianluo had disappeared, and she had gotten lost herself.
Having watched too many ghost movies in the past, the after-effect was that on such dark nights, any rustle would make her suspect it was a ghost.
Bad luck would come when you feared it most.
A gust of cold wind blew, and goosebumps rose all over her body. She didn't know if it was the sound of the wind rustling the flowers and grass, but it felt like the scene in ghost movies when a female ghost appears. Qin Jiujiu instantly conjured a scene of a female ghost manifesting in her mind, successfully scaring herself into stopping in her tracks.
"System, are there female ghosts in this world?"
"Host, this world is rich and colorful. Anything is possible!"
Qin Jiujiu listened to the system's voice, her eyes darting around. Looking at the dark curtain not far away, she felt as if a ghost was standing there, watching her.
Just as she thought this, a voice truly emerged from the dark curtain, and it was getting closer to her.
Was the female ghost approaching her?
Thinking of this, Qin Jiujiu was too scared to move. She stood rooted to the spot, her heart trembling.
"Who is there?"
No one answered. She shouted again, "There's a ghost! Don't come near me, I haven't done anything wrong, I'm not afraid of you!"
The only reply was the sound of the wind. Qin Jiujiu continued, "I don't taste good, go find someone else!"
Just as she thought she was about to see a pale white-clothed female ghost with bleeding orifices, messy hair, and a ferocious expression, Xie Jing appeared.
Although this person was no less terrifying than a female ghost!
"Second Young Master Xie?"
Qin Jiujiu's surprised look fell into Xie Jing's eyes, and he couldn't help but laugh.
This woman actually thought he was a ghost! And she was so scared!
Xie Jing approached Qin Jiujiu, and she could see his expression clearly.
"Are you laughing at me?"
Even Qin Jiujiu herself didn't realize her tone was a little wronged. She had been startled by Xie Jing for no reason and was now being mocked by him, making her feel uncomfortable, her nose even stinging.
She didn't notice that, from some point on, she had started to display girlish emotions in front of Xie Jing.
Xie Jing looked at the girl in front of him, her nose tip red, and even her eyes a little red. His cold demeanor immediately softened.
His tone of voice became much gentler. He looked at the girl with her head bowed and said, "What's wrong?"
He stood there dazed, like a big boy.
Xie Jing had never seen Qin Jiujiu like this before, and he was a little flustered.
"Something is wrong!"
If it were the Qin Jiujiu of the past, when he asked that question, she would have smiled and said, "Nothing's wrong!"
But now, she looked up, staring into his eyes, and said this with utmost seriousness.
"Then what will make you feel alright?"
A straightforward, male-answer, worthy of Xie Jing! Qin Jiujiu thought to herself.
However, her anger inexplicably dissipated. Girlish emotions came and went quickly. She didn't know why, but she found the current Xie Jing somewhat easy to bully, and she again had the thought of plucking hairs from a tiger's head.
"Then don't like Sister Bai anymore, okay?"
She didn't know why, but she impulsively said this in a fit of pique.
As soon as the words left her mouth, the surrounding environment seemed to freeze. She realized what she had just said and immediately lowered her head, not daring to look at Xie Jing's expression.
"Then play stone skipping with me again... I have to win this time."
Her voice became softer and softer, until it was too low for Xie Jing to hear. His head gradually lowered along with her voice.
"Okay!"
A crisp voice sounded in her ear. Qin Jiujiu was startled and suddenly looked up.
His lowered head met her raised head in mid-air. Her lips brushed past his nose, and although they didn't end up with a bloody nose, the sensation was enough to be heart-stopping.
Qin Jiujiu instinctively touched her lips. She found the feeling strange, tingly, and it made her heart flutter with an itch.
Xie Jing immediately looked up. He had intended to lean closer to examine her face, but he didn't expect to be kissed by her.
However, the feeling wasn't bad.
"Is Sister Bai over there? I'm going to find Sister Bai first!"
Qin Jiujiu pointed ahead. But when Xie Jing looked in the direction she pointed, there was clearly nothing there!
He watched Qin Jiujiu's retreating figure, a smile curving his lips.
If not for the cold aura emanating from him, he would have been a sun-kissed young man, with no trace of a villain about him!
"Who is it?"
Xie Jing suddenly turned his head, the smile instantly vanishing. The coldness emanating from him was even more intense than before.
A gust of cold wind blew, only the sound of flowers and grass being stirred by the wind. His words quickly faded into the night, with no one answering.
Qin Jiujiu had indeed not seen Bai Qianluo. She had run so desperately just now because she suddenly felt afraid to face Xie Jing.
When she reached a deserted place, the scene from just now began to replay in her mind. Her fingers unconsciously touched her lips, then touched them again, feeling a slight itch.
Perhaps it was due to running too fast, but she felt a bit breathless, her heart pounding. Her body temperature seemed to rise, and a light sweat broke out, making her feel hot.
She couldn't understand why she had these strange feelings. She ignored them and turned towards the front hall.
It was safer to be in a crowd!
However, before she could reach the front hall, an accident occurred.