Here He Comes . . .
Cha Eun Xiao remained resolute in his decision, unwavering and resolute. He would not yield, showing no signs of weakness.
He was acutely aware of the perilous situation Bing-Er would face if she were to venture out with her extraordinarily beautiful visage. Cha Eun Xiao comprehended the dangers that lurked, dangers that perhaps Bing-Er failed to fully grasp. In part, his determination stemmed from a touch of selfishness. "Bing-Er's beauty should only be shown to me alone... Such a waste to let others see her!" he mused, harboring a strong male chauvinistic inclination.
In this regard, Cha Eun Xiao was unyielding, willing to let Bing-Er masquerade as an unremarkable village girl. To him, it was preferable that any man who saw her would spend three years ruing their misfortune, unaware that she was, in fact, the world's number one beauty.
Upon his return home, Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback to find Zuo Wuji waiting outside his residence, calmly seated with a book in hand. Zuo Wuji's demeanor exuded an air of patience and composure that struck Cha Eun Xiao as quite remarkable.
In the past, few individuals enjoyed the privilege of waiting just outside his room, but Zuo Wuji was one of them, a courtesy extended by the previous Cha Eun Xiao, Song Jue. However, the sudden presence of Zuo Wuji signaled that something was amiss.
As Cha Eun Xiao and Bing-Er approached, Zuo Wuji raised his head, revealing a brief moment of astonishment before swiftly regaining his composure. Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but admire Zuo Wuji's self-control, a rare trait considering how most men would be entranced by Bing-Er's beauty. However, he also recalled, "Oh, right... He is afflicted by a disability in that regard..."
Filled with empathy, Cha Eun Xiao contemplated helping Zuo Wuji with his condition. He resolved to address the issue later.
"Xiao Xiao, you are back. Finally. And this lady is...?" Zuo Wuji inquired nonchalantly.
With a hint of smugness, Cha Eun Xiao replied, "My concubine," making a clear statement of possession.
Zuo Wuji responded with indifference, which slightly irked Cha Eun Xiao. He was embracing the protective instincts of a man deeply in love and couldn't help feeling a touch of smugness about having such a beautiful companion. It was natural for someone in his position.
Though they were of similar age, their experiences had shaped their responses differently. Cha Eun Xiao, having lived two lives, was relatively inexperienced in matters of romance, feeling a profound sense of protectiveness over Bing-Er. He was, in a sense, akin to a teenager in the throes of his first love. On the other hand, Zuo Wuji exhibited a much older and composed disposition, giving him the air of a seasoned individual, far removed from youthful infatuations.
Politely, Zuo Wuji voiced his intent. "Xiao Xiao, we need to talk."
"Of course," Cha Eun Xiao agreed, leading the way to his study. Bing-Er, after serving them tea and hot water, discreetly withdrew, recognizing the sanctity of the men's discussion. The room now belonged solely to them, and not even Bing-Er would dare to interrupt their exchange. In silence, they sat, Zuo Wuji deep in contemplation, holding a cup, before uttering a word.
Cha Eun Xiao exhibited patience and composure, not rushing Zuo Wuji in the slightest. He calmly sipped his tea, fully aware that Zuo Wuji had come for a significant reason. Cha Eun Xiao was content to let Zuo Wuji disclose his purpose at his own pace, harboring the thought, "You must have come for something important. You don't say it, I won't ask."
After a period of contemplation, Zuo Wuji lowered his gaze to the tea within his cup, finally breaking the silence. He declared, "I am here for one thing. I have a question for Feng Monarch."
Though Cha Eun Xiao maintained an outward appearance of composure, internally, a trace of impatience began to take root. With Zuo Wuji's revelation, Cha Eun Xiao responded swiftly, eager to learn more. "What is it? Go ahead," he encouraged.
Yet, as Zuo Wuji's words sank in, a moment of bewilderment washed over Cha Eun Xiao. [What did he just say?]
[Feng Monarch?]
"What Feng Monarch? You have a question for Feng Zhiling, then why are you here?" Cha Eun Xiao quickly interjected, his thoughts in disarray. [Zuo Wuji, you cunning fellow. Why bring this up so abruptly? I'm not prepared for this...]
[How on earth did he piece this together?]
[He's actually connecting the dots between the extravagant young lord Ye Xiao and Feng Monarch?]
"Denying it won't be interesting," Zuo Wuji remarked with a furrowed brow. "Honestly, I couldn't fathom that the world's wealthiest man and the best alchemist on the planet are actually one of the 'three lords in town' and my closest friend. The truth is the only convincing factor."
Cha Eun Xiao met Zuo Wuji's gaze in silence.
"I said it's the truth. Do you think I'm lying!?" Zuo Wuji challenged. "Unless I tell you how I found out, you'll keep denying it, won't you? Very well, it's inevitable. Let me show you the evidence I have." Zuo Wuji huffed in frustration. "I know your true nature. You won't give in until the end."
Cha Eun Xiao raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and shrugged. "I don't mind if you want to clarify things, but I genuinely didn't grasp your meaning earlier."
In this manner, Cha Eun Xiao maintained his denial skillfully.
"Humph. I know you won't readily admit it. You're skilled at playing tricks. How infuriating!" Zuo Wuji muttered with disdain. "First, when I proposed a strategy and expressed concern for Ling-Bao Hall, you consistently advocated for Feng Monarch... Ling-Bao Hall was on the brink of collapse, and we were brainstorming ways to rescue it. All those plans I suggested were merely theoretical musings. No matter how brilliant they were, they were never meant to be executed by Ling-Bao Hall. However, that night, Ling-Bao Hall implemented precisely what I had recommended... Every single aspect of my proposals..."
"My home was reduced to ashes because of it!" Zuo Wuji's eyes smoldered with anger as he glared at Cha Eun Xiao. "No compensation, no reparation of any kind!"
Cha Eun Xiao scratched his head and cleared his throat. "Well, that isn't a concrete piece of evidence..."
"What more evidence do you require? You and I were the only ones privy to the conversation we had that night. I never leaked it to anyone. So, who delivered those ideas to Ling-Bao Hall? Huh?" Zuo Wuji spoke, his anger palpable.