‘What the heck? So he was just lost—I was scared half to death for nothing.’
Lin Huanhuan let out a breath of relief, then remembered that Bai Lingfeng was a total directionless fool, often getting lost in the most miraculous ways. Honestly, it was a miracle he’d managed to find this place at all.
“The address for White Tiger Hall is over there, right over there. Just follow that way, go along there, and you’ll reach it soon enough.”
Worried that Bai Lingfeng might get lost again and come back to scare her a second time, Lin Huanhuan gave the directions with extreme detail.
‘Good thing I’d already investigated White Tiger Hall’s base ahead of time, knowing I’d have to deal with them eventually.’
“Oh, so it’s over there.” Bai Lingfeng cupped his hands in thanks. “Thank you, Miss Lin. I’ll set off now and try to return early.”
Watching Bai Lingfeng’s gradually receding figure, Lin Huanhuan sighed. “As expected of the male lead, so arrogant. But why does he fall for things so easily? He really does seem pretty gullible.”
“What do you mean the male lead’s easy to trick?” Ye Jinxiu stepped forward and asked.
“Nothing, nothing at all.”
Lin Huanhuan brushed her off, muttering to herself: ‘How is Ye Jinxiu so easygoing? Has she forgotten how I treated her before?’
After that scare, she didn’t have the heart to mess with Ye Jinxiu anymore. If Bai Lingfeng made a surprise return, it’d be game over.
Lin Huanhuan snapped open her folding fan and fanned her small face a few times. “Anyway, let’s find somewhere to sit down. I’ve had enough of this dump. There’s even a nasty stench lingering around.”
“It’s the middle of the night. Teahouses won’t be open—where can we go?” Ye Jinxiu frowned lightly.
“If it’s closed, just break in. Why overthink it?” Lin Huanhuan declared, following her villainous instincts.
“You can’t do that! People are sleeping. It’s far too rude.”
“You’re always meddling. Clearly, I should just gag you—using your own undergarments, maybe!”
“No, don’t! You can’t do such a terrible thing!”
Amidst their bickering, neither of them noticed that Dong Yuner, standing quietly in the back, had lost all expression on her face.
‘Miss is actually chatting away so happily with her, she’s already forgotten about me. Heh.’
‘She just popped up out of nowhere recently and has already forced her way in front of Miss, acting all arrogant. Does this mean I’ll be kicked out—driven away from Miss’s side for good?’
‘If only that woman didn’t exist. If she was gone, Miss would need me, always need me.’
Her eyes were as deep and bottomless as a black hole, and her lips curled up in a chilling smile beneath the night.
“Hey, Yuner, why are you still standing there? Come help me look for an inn or something similar.”
At that moment, Lin Huanhuan’s voice rang out. Dong Yuner’s face instantly froze as she looked up.
Not far away, Lin Huanhuan was staring at her in exasperation, as if to say, “What took you so long? I’m about to get angry.”
‘Miss…’
Dong Yuner’s expression changed instantly, the darkness vanishing as she hurried over. “Coming, coming! I was just thinking about something.”
“What were you thinking about that took so long? Seriously.”
A bright silver moon hung in the sky, its frosty light falling like snow from the heavens, bathing the street in a silver glow.
Normally, Dong Yuner handled almost everything for Lin Huanhuan, who could honestly be called hopelessly helpless. Even just finding a place to sit had to be left to Dong Yuner.
Under Dong Yuner’s guidance, they quickly found an inn that looked decent and, without the slightest courtesy, knocked loudly on the door.
A sleep-rumpled staff member opened it. “Honored guests, we’re closed at this hour. If you want a meal, please come back in the morning.”
“Well, that’s perfect. We’re not here to eat—just to sit for a while.” Lin Huanhuan crossed her arms and spoke with utter nonchalance.
“Honored guests, please don’t make trouble.”
From the staff member’s red, angry face, it was clear that if Lin Huanhuan and the others hadn’t looked so distinguished, he’d have started cursing already.
“Our young lady is just like this—please forgive us.”
Dong Yuner put on a polite yet awkward smile, pulling out a spirit stone and handing it over. “Consider it as us renting the whole place. Anything extra is a tip. Please accept it.”
?
The instant the spirit stone appeared, the staff member’s attitude did a complete one-eighty, turning instantly fawning. “Honored guests, please come in, please go up to the private rooms on the second floor! I’ll wake everyone at once to serve you!”
Lin Huanhuan muttered, “Haughty first, groveling later—how ridiculous.”
The staff member pretended not to hear, grabbed a towel, slung it over his shoulder, and bowed. “Please, this way.”
Inside a private room that looked quite nice, they sat down.
Outside, chaos immediately erupted—shouting, banging, people woken up cursing, shrieks of surprise, but most of all, the clatter of cooks hurriedly preparing dishes.
The serving staff talked nonstop, and in no time, their tables were piled high with every kind of dish, each vibrant in color and aroma.
‘What a lavish, extravagant cultivator’s life—such wastefulness. But honestly, it feels pretty good.’
After picking at the food a bit, Lin Huanhuan set her chopsticks down and turned to Ye Jinxiu. “By the way, I forgot to ask—how did Bai Lingfeng get the message?”
‘This is different from the original story. Where did it go wrong? I have to figure it out.’
Ye Jinxiu, busy eating, set her chopsticks down at the question. “Wasn’t it you who helped me from the shadows? Did you forget?”
“What do you mean I helped you?” Lin Huanhuan was even more confused.
Ye Jinxiu: “You purposely loosened my ropes a bit, so I could use the transmission stone to message Bai Lingfeng.”
Ye Jinxiu grinned. “Thanks to you! If you hadn’t done that, we probably wouldn’t have made it out alive.”
“Huh?” Lin Huanhuan was dumbfounded.
‘So it was my own doing after all? What does this count as—the butterfly effect?’
‘Wait, does this count as changing the original story? Maybe not. The plot twisted a little, but Ye Jinxiu was always going to be rescued… it should be fine… right?’
Lin Huanhuan tried to reassure herself, but then another problem popped into her head.
‘No matter how I try to fool myself, Ye Jinxiu clearly sees me differently now—she doesn’t even consider me an enemy anymore! How is that okay?’
‘I was just wondering why she seemed so naive, but after her explanation… she misunderstood me! Dammit, if I’d known, I wouldn’t have loosened her ropes. Now look at this mess.’
‘No way. I have to at least try to set things straight.’
With that thought, Lin Huanhuan forced herself to put on a cold sneer. “So that’s what you thought? How wonderful.”
“If you want to see me as a good person, that’s fine. Next time I come after you, you’ll fall for it so easily. I can’t wait to see your face then—it’ll be so full of despair, keh keh keh keh!”
Lin Huanhuan let out a string of cold, villainous laughs. Ye Jinxiu frowned, just as she’d expected.
‘Hmm. Lin Huanhuan sounds like she has a point. But would someone really announce their evil plans out loud before actually doing them?’