After touring around with Xu Linghe, Feng Qingyi agreed on a time for their next meeting before they parted ways.
When Feng Qingyi returned to the Tea House, she found Qian Jue sitting inside, slowly drinking from a bottle of wine he had procured from somewhere.
"How did you get in?" she asked, remembering that she had just unlocked the door, which had been locked.
Qian Jue took a sip of wine, "Well, this used to be my Tea House. It's not difficult for me to enter!"
"Fine! But what are you doing here?" Feng Qingyi inquired.
Qian Jue replied, "You have good taste. The things you've chosen suit this place well. But remember not to put anything too avant-garde here. It could be disadvantageous for you."
"I understand, thank you," Feng Qingyi responded.
Qian Jue continued, "You saw that young master Shangguan on the street earlier, didn't you?"
"...How did you know?" Feng Qingyi asked.
Qian Jue smiled, "How could I not know about my own doings?"
"What did he do to offend you that made you beat him up like that?" Feng Qingyi asked, puzzled.
Qian Jue looked at Feng Qingyi with disdain, "He was planning to harm you. I overheard it by chance, so I gave you a hand. If it weren't for me, you would have been the one beaten up."
"...But I didn't do anything to offend him. Why would he want to harm me?"
Qian Jue continued drinking, "How would I know? Girl, stay away from him in the future. Avoid him if you see him. I can't always be there to help you out of trouble."
Feng Qingyi pressed, "Be honest with me. First, you give me jade, then a Tea House, and now you've beaten up Shangguan Yi. What are you after?"
Qian Jue replied, "I told you last time, we're both strangers here. What's wrong with looking out for each other?"
"Do you think I believe that? Tell me the truth, what are you really after?"
Feng Qingyi disliked feeling kept in the dark and didn't want to accept kindness without reason, fearing she might not be able to repay it in the future.
Seeing Feng Qingyi's expression, Qian Jue said, "Actually, there's no harm in telling you. Guang'an sent me to protect you."
"Guang'an? The one from Guanyuan Temple?" She had heard this name more than once. Who exactly was he?
Qian Jue: "Who else but him? I happened to be bored these days, so I agreed to his request."
"Do you know why he wants you to protect me?" Feng Qingyi continued to ask.
Qian Jue shook his head, "I'm not sure about that. He's always so mysterious. Who knows what he means?"
"Can you take me to see him?"
Qian Jue put down the wine bottle, "He travels all over the place. Who knows where he is now? According to him, when it's time to meet, you'll meet. Don't put me in a difficult position."
"You can rest assured. As a Buddhist, he won't make you do anything unethical."
"Thank you," Feng Qingyi didn't ask further. Let things take their natural course!
Qian Jue: "No need to thank me. Next time you come, remember to bring some food. I'm not picky, anything will do."
Feng Qingyi resigned, "Alright, I got it. I'll be leaving now. Goodbye!"
At the General's Mansion.
As soon as Bai Wei returned to the mansion, she told Xuanyuan Xi about her encounter with Feng Qingyi.
Xuanyuan Xi: "She's opening a Tea House?"
Bai Wei nodded, "That's what Miss Qingyi said. I heard it's in the east of the city. It's still in the preparation stage. Today, she went with the young lady from the Xu family to order a signboard."
"The young lady from the Xu family?"
Bai Wei explained, "It's Miss Xu Linghe from the Grand Preceptor's Manor, the one who's always liked playing with swords and spears since childhood."
"I wonder how Miss Qingyi became friends with her. They seemed very close."
"I heard that the Tea House is a joint venture between Miss Qingyi and her. I think it's called Peng Lai Residence or something."
Xuanyuan Xi: "Miss Xu, you don't like her?"
Bai Wei shook her head, "It's not that. It's just that Miss Xu doesn't have a good reputation in Shengjing."
Xuanyuan Xi: "Who Qingyi chooses to be friends with is her own business. This reputation stuff is probably just rumors spread by people who don't understand her. Don't jump to conclusions."
Bai Wei nodded, "I understand. But it seems Miss Qingyi doesn't want us to help her."
Xuanyuan Xi: "If she doesn't want it, then we'll just go and support her business when her Tea House opens."
"I feel like Miss Qingyi is deliberately keeping her distance from us," Bai Wei mumbled softly.
Xuanyuan Xi: "She's just being tactful. After all, Yuchuan hasn't married her yet."
"I also heard people on the street saying that the General has won a victory on the frontlines. They say he might return soon," Bai Wei quickly relayed the news she had heard to Xuanyuan Xi.
Xuanyuan Xi sighed, "It's best not to listen too much to street gossip. In his last letter, he said he wouldn't be back for a year or two. We can only hope that everything goes smoothly for him on the frontlines."
...
In the quiet of the night, Feng Qingyi received a video call from Qin Yuchuan.
"Qingqing, what did you do today?"
Feng Qingyi lay on the bed holding her phone, "I just went to clean up the Tea House and did some decorating. I'm planning to open for business next weekend."
"Mm, Qingqing is so capable and amazing!"
Feng Qingyi smiled, "So, do you have anything to show for it?"
"Oh, what do you want?" Qin Yuchuan asked.
Feng Qingyi pouted, "Don't you have anything you want to give me? You're actually asking me?"
Qin Yuchuan looked around. There didn't seem to be anything here he could give her.
Feng Qingyi looked into his eyes, "You couldn't find anything to give me, could you?"
"Indeed, I couldn't."
Just as Qin Yuchuan finished speaking, he noticed an item waiting to be received on his phone.
He tapped on it, and a pink pillow appeared.
"Qingqing, what's this about?"
Feng Qingyi said, "Since you don't have anything to give me, I'll have to give you something instead."
Qin Yuchuan chuckled, "Sending me a pillow... do you want me to fall asleep every night with your scent?"
Feng Qingyi turned to smell her own pillow, "This just smells like laundry detergent. It doesn't have my scent at all."
Qin Yuchuan placed the pillow at the head of his bed. Although the soft pink color clashed with his bedding, he liked it very much.
Through the screen, Feng Qingyi saw Qin Yuchuan's bed. She had slept on it before; it was hard as a rock.
"Your bed isn't comfortable at all. Should I send you a couple of quilts?"
Qin Yuchuan refused, "No need. We're all treated equally in the military. No exceptions."
Feng Qingyi whispered, "Can't you just use them secretly?"
"...No, I can't."
Feng Qingyi pursed her lips, "If you insist on being treated equally, then give me back the pillow!"
"...Now that it's been given to me, it's mine. How can there be any reason to take it back?" Qin Yuchuan said.
Feng Qingyi laughed, "Then what happened to being treated equally?"
"This is different," Qin Yuchuan said softly.
