In the afternoon, just as she woke up, Qiuqiu came over to report the latest situation next door.

A few guests had checked in next door, and from their appearance, they looked a bit fierce and intimidating. Lin Ping, who wasn’t too comfortable with the situation, came over to report. Both inns were owned by Zhou Zuizui, and although they had hosted all kinds of strange guests before, Lin Ping would still come to report if something seemed suspicious.

Lin Ping worked at the inn next door.

“Sis, do you think they might be bad people?”

Even though this ancient town near the border had seen all kinds of people and encountered all sorts of situations, Qiuqiu was still a bit scared.

Zhou Zuizui propped her head up and pondered for a moment before turning to Qiuqiu. “Did you see those people?”

“No, Lin Ping told me not to go over. He said they look fierce and a bit scary, and after they finished eating, they all went back to their rooms to rest and haven’t come out since.” She relayed everything Lin Ping had said.

Zhou Zuizui nodded and reassured Qiuqiu, “Alright, then don’t go over there today.” After thinking for a moment, she looked down at the messages on her phone and continued to ask, “How long did they book the rooms for?”

“Three days.”

“Alright, just treat them like normal guests for the next few days. Don’t get too tense. They might just look unusual; it shouldn’t be a big deal.” Despite saying this, Zhou Zuizui felt a vague sense of unease.

Ever since she bumped into Shen Nan, she had a feeling something might happen in this ancient town.

But she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it might be.

Qiuqiu readily agreed, “Okay.”

Just as they finished speaking, their group chat received a new message.

Lin Ping: Two more guests just arrived. These two also look tall and strong, and they walk with a lot of energy.

Zhou Zuizui looked at the message and asked, “Send me the names of the people who checked in.”

Lin Ping: Okay. Also, Zuizui, don’t come to the inn today.

Young and beautiful people always attract attention.

Zhou Zuizui: Got it. What are the names of the two who just checked in?

Lin Ping was in the middle of registering the new guests as he replied to Zhou Zuizui’s message. He glanced up at the two men in front of him, then down at the IDs he was holding. Just as he was about to reply to her, the guests who had checked in earlier in the morning came out from the back yard and looked at Lin Ping.

“Waiter.”

Lin Ping quickly responded, “Hello, is there anything I can help you with?”

Qiangzi, a thin man who was standing beside the leader, said, “The wine we had at lunch, where’s it from? Our boss wants to try it again; it was good.”

Lin Ping exchanged a glance with Xiao Ren, who had come running over, and quickly asked, “Really? Well, why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll go get it for you.”

“No need,” the man called Leopard Brother waved him off casually. “Just tell us where you got it from, and we’ll go ourselves.”

Given the situation, Lin Ping had no choice but to tell them it was from the tavern next door.

After getting the answer, they headed straight out the door. As they left, Lin Ping quickly sent a message to Zhou Zuizui: Boss, those guests are heading over to the tavern. They said they want to drink. You and Qiuqiu shouldn’t appear; let Lin Mu handle it.

Zhou Zuizui didn’t immediately see Lin Ping’s message because she was replying to someone else. By the time she saw it, the guests were already inside the tavern.

She paused for a moment, then looked up at the men who had walked in, her expression calm.

The man leading the group glanced at Zhou Zuizui before finding a seat.

“Waiter, bring us some bottles of wine.”

“Right away.”

Another staff member responded, a young man named Lin Mu.

Lin Mu caught Zhou Zuizui’s gaze and handed over the order with a slightly ingratiating smile. “What would you like to drink, brothers?”

Qiangzi glanced at the list and pointed, “Is all the wine from next door?”

“Yes.”

Qiangzi nodded slightly and looked at the man sitting in the main seat, “Leopard Brother, what would you like to drink?”

The man called Leopard Brother paused, glanced back at Zhou Zuizui, and squinted slightly. “Anything will do. We’ve got business to take care of later.”

“Yes, yes.”

After Zhou Zuizui instructed Lin Mu and Qiuqiu to serve the wine, she got up to head over to the inn next door. But before she could leave, someone called out to her.

“Hey, beautiful, hold on a moment.”

Leopard Brother turned to look at Zhou Zuizui, scanning her up and down before chuckling. “Have we met somewhere before, beautiful?”

Zhou Zuizui paused, turned back to look at the men, and smiled faintly. “Sir, that’s a bit of a cliché pickup line, don’t you think?” She raised an eyebrow, showing no fear, her demeanor bold.

Leopard Brother snorted and stared at her for a moment, then slowly said, “This morning, you were with a very tall man.”

He stopped there.

Hearing this, Zhou Zuizui opened her mouth, pretending to be bashful, and smiled, “So that’s what you’re talking about, sir.” She played with her hair, smiling as she looked at the men in front of her. “That was indeed me. Is there a problem?”

Leopard Brother squinted at her, sizing her up and down. “What’s your relationship with that man?”

“He’s my husband,” Zhou Zuizui replied without hesitation, speaking with great affection. “Why? Is there a problem?”

Leopard Brother sneered and pressed, “Are you sure?”

“Of course.” Just as Zhou Zuizui was about to say more, a lazy, husky male voice came from the stairs. “Wife, what are you busy with? Why aren’t you back in bed yet?”