A Shocking Dream

Chapter 213

Gritting his teeth, the boss reached out and clenched the gold ingot, forcing a smile uglier than tears. "Sir, you're joking. How could we not appreciate your kindness? Don't worry, the backyard will be cleared immediately, and no one will be allowed to approach. If you have any instructions, please call me at any time."

Qin Rongchen then nodded slightly, his expression slightly relaxed: "It's better to do so. If you dare to make the slightest mistake, you can no longer open this inn." After that, he stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and strode towards the backyard. His figure disappeared into the shadow of the corridor, leaving the boss sighing in the back hall, and the waiters hurriedly began to move the guests out and clear the place.

Lin Wunian stood aside, watching Qin Rongchen's extravagant spending. She rolled her eyes silently in her heart, complaining: "What a psycho! He thinks being rich is such a big deal!" When she first arrived at the inn, she also lived in the upper room in the front yard. Every day, she made a living accompanied by the hustle and bustle of merchants. Although it was a bit noisy, she also felt that the atmosphere was full of fireworks.

Later, when Xie Yuan came to visit and brought a lot of trouble, she was forced to move to the backyard. She also gritted her teeth and spent a lot of money to rent a medicine furnace room just to make it convenient for her to boil medicine. She never thought of clearing out the backyard in such a lavish way?

After the boss, bent over and smiling, left to make arrangements, Lin Wunian quickly walked up to Qin Rongchen and said unhappily, "Mr. Qin, your extravagance is really scary! We're here to do business, not to show off."

Qin Rongchen glanced at her, his lips curled slightly, as if smiling, "Miss Lin, you don't understand. The situation is so treacherous right now, it's better to avoid trouble than to worry about it. There are so many people coming and going in the front yard, and we never know who might be the spy. If they ruin our plan, this ingot of gold will be worth it. But you, you are so careless, wandering around the front yard without any precautions."

Lin Wunian silently rolled her eyes, her speechless heart transforming into hurried steps as she walked towards her room. Her figure was filled with a hint of annoyance, as if she had been greatly annoyed by Qin Rongchen's series of actions. Qin Rongchen was startled at first as she hurried away, then the corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably, and he finally laughed out loud.

This smile was like a spring breeze blowing across the surface of a lake, rippling the water and instantly softening his cold face. He raised his hand and gently stroked his chin, his gaze still following the door that Lin Wunian had slammed shut, his thoughts drifting away.

In my memory, she was also so straightforward, but her eyes were full of shyness and ignorance. Now, after years of tempering, her temperament has become more free and easy and open, like a sword drawn from its sheath, sharp but graceful.

In the past, even if it was just a light touch of her fingertips, her ears would instantly turn red, and she would drop her eyes in panic, her heart beating like a deer.

But now, the look she gave him was direct and pure, her joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness all exposed, as if the frost and snow from the previous year had been quietly melted away by the warm sun. Take that blunt roll of the eyes just now, for example. In the past, she would have been suffocated in her heart, never daring to be so reckless.

Qin Rongchen strolled over to the stone table in the courtyard and leisurely sat down. He poured himself a cup of cold tea and took a sip, a sweet feeling welling up in his heart. Her frankness towards him meant that, publicly, they were no longer secretive, and exploring secrets together would surely be more effective. Privately, those feelings that had once been buried deep in his heart, unspoken, now seemed to have room to grow freely.

In the past, he was always cautious, fearing to offend the beauty, but now he is secretly looking forward to it. After this matter is over, he will be able to embrace her honestly and continue the love that has been delayed by time.

Qin Rongchen stood there, his gaze fixed on Lin Wunian, who had just turned and entered the house, his heart filled with surging suspicion. Though her appearance had lost its youthful innocence and tenderness, a hint of familiarity still lingered between her features, as if the years had passed, yet her inner spirit remained unchanged. Seeing her lustrous black hair gleaming like satin in the sunlight, Qin Rongchen couldn't help but feel a jolt, the shock he'd felt at first glance returning to him.

In Linzhou's memory, her hair was as white as snow. But when they met again, it stood before him unscathed, even its color restored. If he said there was no trickery, no one would be convinced. Qin Rongchen pondered to himself that with her intelligence and tenacity, she could have found a way to heal her body, repair her facial damage, and even use herbs to dye her hair black. It wasn't impossible. However, this medical skill, like a miraculous flower that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blossomed beside her, completely surpassing Qin Rongchen's expectations.

During their months together, he knew she knew battle formations, but he had never heard her mention a word about pharmacology or medical prescriptions. Could it be that during these five years of disappearance, the hardships of life had honed her, and along with them, she had accumulated this wealth of medical knowledge? Qin Rongchen frowned, trying to pry out any clues from his scattered memories, but he found nothing.

News of Xie Yuan, the Marquis of Pingding, arriving was like a gust of wind. As soon as Zhou Junze heard it, he immediately made arrangements, quickly dispatching several clever servants to wait quietly behind the gate, their expressions unable to conceal their nervousness and vigilance. These servants had all been carefully trained by him, accustomed to reading people's expressions and as nimble as swallows flying under the eaves, able to quickly pass on the slightest movement.

The housekeeper of the Zhou residence had received instructions long ago and had been waiting at the door early. When he saw Xie Yuan's sedan chair land from afar, he hurriedly bent over to greet him, his face full of flattering smiles. The smile was layered with wrinkles almost making flowers appear on his face: "My Lord Xie, please come in. My master is waiting in the main hall." His voice was shrill and he dragged out a long, flattering tone.

Xie Yuan's face was stern, as if carrying a frosty chill. He nodded slightly, said nothing, and strode across the vermilion threshold. His sleeves fluttered, bringing with them a hint of cold wind, as if enveloping the solemn and murderous aura outside into the courtyard.

In the main hall, Zhou Junze appeared calm and composed, yet his nerves were tense. He stood with his hands behind his back, feigning complete concentration on the ancient painting on the wall. The landscape, depicted in its brushstrokes, seemed to hold secrets, offering protection from the impending undercurrent.

Hearing the steady footsteps approaching, he slowly turned around, bowed and said with a smile: "My Lord, your visit is an honor to my humble home." The smile was just right, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of imperceptible worry that flashed by.

Xie Yuan didn't exchange pleasantries. He walked straight to the chair next to the main seat, waved his sleeves and sat down, and went straight to the point: "Brother Zhou, let's not beat around the bush. I received news that Brother Zhou has sent people to keep an eye on Doctor Lin Wunian of Yuelai Inn. I wonder what Brother Zhou's intentions are?" After saying that, he leaned back slightly, put his hands on the armrests, but his eyes were fixed on Zhou Junze like cold stars, not missing a single change in the other's expression.

Zhou Junze's heart sank, but he maintained a carefree smile, as if the question he was asking was nothing more than a trivial matter. He slowly picked up the teacup on the table, blew away the heat, took a sip, and then raised his eyes and replied, "My Lord is well-informed, but this matter is just a misunderstanding."