Meanwhile, over there, Pang Yanyan, who had been looking outside all the while, inadvertently saw Long Aixi. She recognized him and immediately greeted, “Young Master Long?”
Long Aixi looked across and nodded to Pang Yanyan.
Xia Dabao, not wanting Tian Xiaobei to recognize him, pulled out a handkerchief, hung it on his ear, and covered his face with it before glancing across.
Since Pang Yanyan had encountered an acquaintance, it was only natural for her to e over and say hello, which she did promptly, with Tian Xiaobei following.
“Young Master Long, what a coincidence that you are also watching the play,” Pang Yanyan said enthusiastically.
“It is quite a coincidence,” Long Aixi replied with a faint smile, not bothering to stand up.
“Why did you leave so suddenly yesterday? It was our first meeting, and I wanted to get to know you better,” Pang Yanyan laughed before asking, “And who is this person next to you?”
“He’s my friend,” Long Aixi said.
Xia Dabao also didn’t stand up, just looking up and smiling at them.
But Tian Xiaobei suddenly became surprised, “This lady…”
Xia Dabao turned his face away, pretending to be engrossed in the play.
“Xiaobei, what’s wrong? Do you know this lady?” Pang Yanyan asked curiously, noting that the lady’s attire and demeanour suggested she was a young lady from Capital City with a special status, not suitable for public appearances.
It was precisely because of this outfit that Tian Xiaobei felt it couldn’t possibly be Xia Dabao.
Xia Dabao wouldn’t look like this, even though the eyebrows and eyes were similar, she… should be in Peach Blossom Village, not possibly in Capital City, and certainly not with someone like Long Aixi, a General’s descendant.
Seeing that Long Aixi and Xia Dabao seemed to have no intention of inviting them to sit and chat, Pang Yanyan also tactfully took her leave, “You two enjoy the play. If there’s anything, you can find us across there. We can also have lunch together.”
Long Aixi politely declined, “Don’t bother, we have to go back for lunch.”
“Well… okay then, let’s plan to meet another day when we have time.”
…
After Pang Yanyan and Tian Xiaobei left, Xia Dabao took another look across.
Tian Xiaobei and Pang Yanyan were still chatting happily, with Tian Xiaobei thoughtfully pouring her another cup of tea after she finished the previous one.
At this point, Xia Dabao truly lost interest in the play. She looked at Long Aixi, “Xiao’ai, if you’re not going back, then I am leaving. It’s not that I can’t let go, I just feel disgusted.”
After speaking, Xia Dabao walked away.
Long Aixi quickly followed.
Tian Xiaobei was also listening to the play but, for some reason, he suddenly thought of that pair of eyes across the way.
Those eyes, that gaze, they were unmistakably Xia Dabao’s.
He turned his head again to glance across, only to see the table already empty. He glanced downstairs just in time to see Long Aixi and pany stepping down the stairs.
And the person next to Long Aixi… although dressed finely, had a build extremely similar to Xia Dabao’s, especially the way of walking; Xia Dabao always walked with her back very straight, a very dashing manner, and the one below did likewise.
“Dabao?” Tian Xiaobei murmured, instinctively starting to give chase.
Pang Yanyan, not knowing what had happened, also hurriedly went after him.
However, by the time Tian Xiaobei reached the entrance of the Tea House, Long Aixi and the person who might be Xia Dabao were nowhere to be seen outside.
Could it have been a mistake?
“Xiaobei, what’s the matter with you? Why do you look so out of sorts?” Pang Yanyan asked.
“The lady just now…”
“Lady? Do you know her?” Pang Yanyan asked, puzzled.
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