Chapter 74: Meeting

Jing Xi: “……”

Long Yuezhi narrowed his eyes. “How do you know he committed murder?”

Jing Xi blinked, suddenly realizing that her ability to lie was absolutely terrible.

She had just blurted it out casually, hoping to brush past the topic. She hadn’t expected Long Yuezhi to know so many details.

It seemed like this man was well-informed in private matters.

But she still didn’t understand—why was Long Yuezhi so interested in her?

Just because she resembled that Miss Xu?

“Go ahead, explain properly. Fourth Master is listening,” Long Yuezhi said.

As his words fell, Ah Xiu walked in from outside the courtyard, carrying a plate of fresh fruit.

A small dish with a fork was placed on the side.

Jing Xi looked at Long Yuezhi and said, “I can’t explain it… just assume I walked over there, alright? As for why I went? I don’t know either.”

Long Yuezhi studied her half-hearted response, clearly unsatisfied with the answer.

Jing Xi was also getting annoyed and added, “I only agreed to be a temporary accountant for you guys in Fucha Village. Whatever I do in my personal time has nothing to do with you. Don’t you think you’re being a little nosy?”

Long Yuezhi was displeased but still smiled.

He was the nosy type.

“Fine, you don’t have to say anything. I like women who have secrets.”

Jing Xi rolled her eyes. “Don’t get obsessed with me. I’m just a legend.”

“……”

Why did that sound so familiar?

Long Yuezhi pushed the fruit plate toward her. “Eat. And while you do, think carefully about what to do with your house when you get back to the village. Think about where you’ll live in the future and how you’ll handle your work.”

Jing Xi speared a slice of apple with her fork and popped it into her mouth. The sweetness was crisp and refreshing.

“Is Fourth Master Long too bored in his free time? Is that why he’s so interested in an ordinary citizen like me? Just for some post-meal entertainment?”

Long Yuezhi didn’t reply.

Jing Xi continued, “Or maybe I have some kind of secret that you’re trying to uncover, which is why you’ve arranged for so many people to approach me?”

Long Yuezhi’s gaze flickered slightly, but Jing Xi didn’t notice.

When he lifted his head again, his expression was once again composed, with a particularly charming smile.

“You’re right. I am just bored, so…”

Jing Xi took another bite of her apple. “Being too idle just means you’ve been eating too much. Maybe if you eat less and go hungry, you won’t have the energy to think about unnecessary things.”

When people were well-fed, they not only thought about lust but also about all sorts of other nonsense.

Long Yuezhi almost choked on his tea.

He chuckled. “Do you think I eat a lot?”

Jing Xi thought about it.

The first time they ate together, he only had a bowl of wontons and one donkey meat sandwich. During the late-night meal, he only drank water and didn’t touch any of the food.

He actually ate less than she did.

“You don’t eat much.”

Long Yuezhi glanced at her delicate little face and suddenly recalled what Ah Xiu had told him—that this young lady had devoured an entire lamb shank, plus a full bowl of lamb Paomo, without leaving even a drop of soup behind.

Just imagining it, he could tell she had enjoyed the meal immensely.

Watching her eat, it did seem like she had a strong appetite.

For someone who had just arrived in an unfamiliar place, yet on her first night at his home had confidently asked for what she wanted to eat—it showed that this girl had absolutely no guard against him.

Jing Xi noticed Long Yuezhi staring absentmindedly at the fruit plate and casually speared another apple slice.

“Oh, right, Mr. Long, I haven’t properly thanked you for last time!”

Long Yuezhi asked, “What thing?”

“Ha, rich people really do have short memories! The case of my neighbor’s missing daughter.”

“Oh, that? It was nothing. Just serving the people.”

Jing Xi didn’t believe for a second that he was the kind of person who enjoyed serving the people.

He just happened to be doing a good deed along the way.

Most likely, taking down Hong Qifu would bring him significant benefits.

“Why are you giving me all the credit? I didn’t really do anything.”

Long Yue Zhi met her inquisitive gaze and explained, “Someone has to take the credit, and you’re the best candidate. I have no interest in things like taking credit or seeking recognition.”

Great.

Another wave of that “lordly” demeanor.

As they talked, Jing Xi managed to finish off an entire plate of fruit.

She had to admit, Shaanxi apples were really delicious.

She couldn’t stop eating piece after piece.

Long Yue Zhi watched her enjoying the food and didn’t interrupt, waiting until she was done.

“If there’s nothing else, just let me go back. There’s still a ton of mess to deal with in the village.”

In other words—did he call her here just to waste her time?

Long Yue Zhi nodded. “Alright. When do you want to leave?”

Jing Xi was speechless. Was he seriously just messing with her because he had nothing better to do?

“Now.”

She stood up, already prepared to leave.

Since she had no luggage, she could leave at a moment’s notice.

As soon as she got up, she saw a graceful figure in white walking in from the outer courtyard.

The woman was about the same height as Jing Xi, dressed in a white qipao with a gray shawl draped over her shoulders. Her long hair was styled into an elegant bun, and her features were strikingly seductive.

She looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, clearly a wealthy heiress.

Jing Xi took another look at her face and was stunned—she looked way too similar to herself.

At first glance, they had at least a 60-70% resemblance, but upon closer inspection, the differences became more apparent.

Still, the woman carried herself with an air of elegance far beyond Jing Xi’s.

Her attire alone screamed money.

The moment Chen Gang and Chen Zhi saw the woman enter, they immediately stepped forward to block her path.

“Miss Xu, Fourth Master is in the middle of a discussion. This isn’t a good time.”

Xu Jin shot a cold glance into the courtyard. “A discussion? Looks more like a chat with a woman to me. Move aside!”

Without hesitation, she pushed past Chen Gang and walked straight up to Long Yue Zhi.

When she caught sight of Jing Xi standing beside him, she was visibly startled.

This face—she looked way too similar to her.

She sized Jing Xi up from head to toe. “Well, well. Since when did you start liking this type? What is this? The countryside, pure and innocent type?”

Xu Jin looked rather smug. Long Yue Zhi had found someone who looked so much like her—could it be…?

Jing Xi raised an eyebrow. Xu Jin had deliberately spoken in standard Mandarin. Was she afraid Jing Xi wouldn’t understand?

Long Yue Zhi, however, remained unfazed. “Why do you care what type I like? It’s definitely not your type, that’s for sure.”

Xu Jin sat down, glancing at the empty fruit plate with distaste. She ignored Jing Xi entirely and spoke in dialect.

“A married woman like me—why would I care about your preferences? I’m here today to ask you about the two shops on West Street. What’s going on with them?”

“What do you mean?”

Xu Jin’s expression darkened. “Don’t play dumb with me! Those shops are empty! What am I supposed to do with an empty shop? I want what was inside!”

Long Yue Zhi shrugged. “Why are you asking me? Those shops don’t belong to me.”

Xu Jin scoffed. “Stop pretending! Long Yue Zhi, are you going against me on purpose just because I didn’t marry you back then?”

Long Yue Zhi, who had remained expressionless up until now, suddenly let out a small chuckle.

“Sis, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Xu Jin was convinced that he was jealous.

She gave Jing Xi a sideways glance.

“So, you found someone who looks just like me as a substitute? She may resemble me, but her demeanor is nowhere near mine. She’ll need some serious training. Want me to help teach her a thing or two?”

Long Yue Zhi readily agreed. “Sure, take her with you.”

Jing Xi: ???

What am I, an object?

Jing Xi dusted off her clothes, deliberately making some noise.

When she felt all eyes shift to her, she spoke slowly.

“Miss, you see a man and a woman in the same courtyard, and your mind immediately jumps to romance? Are your heart and eyes both filthy?”

Xu Jin let out a dry laugh, her gaze filled with disdain. “Oh, feisty, aren’t you? Definitely needs some training.”

Jing Xi smirked. “Sounds like you’ve been ‘trained’ a lot yourself. Guess you’ve had plenty of practice, huh? I always thought women from prestigious families were well-mannered and spoke with dignity. Looks like I was wrong. Turns out, in a big forest, you really do find all kinds of birds. And every now and then, a dumb one pops up to show off its intelligence.”