"Can't you think something good about me? Couldn't it be that I'm too popular and got surrounded by fans?" said Qian Jue.
Feng Qingyi rolled her eyes, "Do you think you're a celebrity? Getting surrounded by fans!"
"I'm quite famous in Shengjing, you just don't know the situation. Anyway, let's part ways here."
As soon as Qian Jue finished speaking, he quickly vanished from Feng Qingyi's sight.
Feng Qingyi looked around, saw no one, and returned to the villa.
In her bedroom, Feng Qingyi counted the gold she earned today and happily stored it in her wardrobe.
After changing into loungewear, Feng Qingyi went downstairs.
In the living room, Feng Qingci and Lou Xi were sitting together. They both looked at her when she came down.
Feng Qingyi asked puzzled, "What's wrong with you two?"
"Where did you go just now?" Feng Qingci asked.
Feng Qingyi pointed upstairs, "I've been upstairs the whole time. Where else could I go?"
"We just went up to look, and couldn't even find a trace of you," Feng Qingci said.
Feng Qingyi: "You're overthinking. I can't teleport. If I wasn't upstairs, where did I come from?"
"But we searched the bedroom, study, art room, and even the bathroom. We couldn't find you anywhere, and your phone was out of service," Lou Xi said.
Feng Qingyi explained, "I just went to the rooftop for some fresh air. My phone died, so it was off."
Feng Qingci was half-convinced, "Really?"
"What else could it be? Do you think I can disappear and reappear out of thin air?" Feng Qingyi said, "Why were you looking for me?"
Feng Qingci said, "Nothing important. Lou Xi wanted to borrow a hanfu from you. She's attending an event tomorrow."
Feng Qingyi nodded, "Alright, come upstairs with me and take a look."
Lou Xi: "Okay, thank you."
Feng Qingci followed them upstairs. Feng Qingyi opened her wardrobe.
"Lou Xi, you can choose any of these. Pick whatever you like."
Lou Xi looked at the clothes first, but suddenly her attention was drawn to a box in the wardrobe.
"Qingyi, why do you have a box here? What's inside?"
Feng Qingyi suddenly remembered she had put that box of gold in the wardrobe. "...Nothing much."
Feng Qingci, who was standing nearby, took out the box directly. "It's so heavy. What did you put in here?"
"Don't mess with my things. Put it back right now." Feng Qingyi immediately tried to grab it back.
But Feng Qingci had already opened the box. "Feng Qingyi, did you rob a bank or something? So much gold!"
Lou Xi was also dazzled by the box full of gold, almost forgetting she was there to choose clothes.
Feng Qingyi felt a headache coming on. If only she had put it somewhere else.
Feng Qingci: "Aren't you going to explain where all this gold came from?"
"...Qin Yuchuan gave it to me." At this point, she could only let him take the blame. She couldn't think of any other explanation.
Feng Qingci looked at the box full of gold, "Do people still give gold as gifts these days?"
"Don't you think gold feels substantial and weighty?" Feng Qingyi said.
Feng Qingci: "..." He didn't know about the weight, but he knew it was valuable.
"Lou Xi, feel free to choose from these clothes. These few are more suitable for wearing now." Feng Qingyi took out several outfits from the wardrobe and handed them to Lou Xi.
Lou Xi chose a cyan-colored dress, "I'll take this one!"
"Let me find you matching shoes and accessories. Wait here for a moment." Feng Qingyi went to the shoe cabinet nearby to look for shoes.
While Feng Qingyi wasn't paying attention, Feng Qingci secretly pocketed two gold ingots.
Lou Xi glanced at him, but he pretended nothing had happened. "Take your time choosing. I'll wait for you downstairs."
After Feng Qingyi found the shoes and accessories, she put them in a bag and handed it to Lou Xi.
Lou Xi took it, "I'll return everything tomorrow after I'm done."
Feng Qingyi: "No rush, take your time."
Lou Xi looked at the box on the table nearby, "He took some of your gold."
Feng Qingyi glanced at the box, "Let him. Here, take two for yourself."
Lou Xi looked at the gold ingots in her hand, "What are these for?"
"You can exchange them for cash or keep them as collectibles," Feng Qingyi said.
Lou Xi: "Does your boyfriend like to give you gold and jewelry often?"
"...Not really, just occasionally!"
Lou Xi stood there, holding the bag in one hand and two gold ingots in the other, still a bit dazed.
Feng Qingyi found a new place to store the remaining gold, "Alright, let's go downstairs."
Lou Xi nodded, "Mm, let's go."
Feng Qingyi and Lou Xi walked to the living room, where Feng Qingci was playing with his phone.
Feng Qingyi glanced at him, "I seem to be missing two gold ingots. Did you take them?"
"...It wasn't me. I need to take Lou Xi home now, so I'm leaving." Feng Qingci pulled Lou Xi along.
Feng Qingyi called out, "Come on, it could only have been you. I'm not asking you to return them."
"Well, I'm off then. You're on your own for dinner tonight," Feng Qingci said.
...
Tianqi Military Camp.
After concluding discussions about the upcoming battle with his generals, Qin Yuchuan stood alone on a small sand dune not far from the camp, gazing into the distance.
Their current encampment was on a desert plain within the southern border. After capturing Nanwu City, they had set up camp here.
Summer was approaching, but the southern border was still buffeted by rolling sandstorms and harsh weather. The soldiers had yet to shed their cotton uniforms.
In the past few days, there had been no news of Rong Sheng from Nanwu City behind them, nor any word from the surrounding mountains.
Although he had only engaged in battle with this military strategist of the southern border for a short time, he could tell that Rong Sheng was a man of ideas.
Facing him, Qin Yuchuan wasn't intimidated, but he knew he would need to put in some effort to deal with him.
With no news of him anywhere, there were only two possibilities: either he was still within Tianqi's borders, or he had already returned to the southern border.
Given the current situation, Qin Yuchuan leaned towards the latter.
After pondering the war with the southern border, Qin Yuchuan's thoughts turned to Feng Qingyi.
He pulled out his phone from his wide sleeve and dialed a video call.
The call connected quickly, and the girl in the video stared at him intently.
"Where are you?"
Qin Yuchuan replied, "Outside the military camp."
"Oh, you seem to be in a bad mood today?" Feng Qingyi asked.
Qin Yuchuan shook his head, "Not really, just thinking about some things."
"I attended a poetry meeting today and won two first prizes," Feng Qingyi happily shared.
Qin Yuchuan smiled, "Qingqing is so talented!"
"It's nothing special, but I'll keep working hard," Feng Qingyi said with a soft laugh.
Qin Yuchuan: "Good."
"Are you busy today? Do you want to come see me?" Feng Qingyi asked.
