The festive atmosphere at Huayuan’s central plaza was filled with hustling and bustling energy. Fireworks crackled in the sky and lanterns glistened every nook and corner of the alleys.
Xie Zi Han lit up a cigarette and placed the edge of it in between his lips. He puffed out a ring of smoke, his gaze casually studying the zeal of the festival.
Ah...why do I always get such cumberso tasks?
His fingers rapidly typed a ssage.
’You are sure that this friend of your friend is going to be at Huayuan tonight, right?’
’Yes Boss!’ ca his informant’s reply.
Tsk, he clicked his tongue.
’Be ready to serve your head if he doesn’t. My dearest daughter wanted to cook a lovely dinner for but I cancelled it because of your information. If it turns out that he won’t be coming tonight then...’
The unsaid threat was clearly understood.
’He will definitely be there! My friend is sure!’
He let out a sigh and put his phone back in his pocket. He looked up and froze. Amidst the rush of the crowd, Xie Zi Han caught the sight of two very familiar figures.
Song Jia and Yang Mingshen? What are they-
He rembered his informant’s report about Jia frequently visiting Huayuan to find Yong.
Guess today is that day?
But wait a minute, how did she get an entry? These people already know that she is a cop, right?
He touched his chin thoughtfully.
Did Mingshen pull so strings? But Huayuan’s leader doesn’t even yield to the Mafia...Huh. It’s truly a mystery.
Ah shit!
Mingshen’s gaze was narrowly about to fall on him, but Xie Zi Han swiftly pulled his cap down and left his spot, rging with the crowd.
Ah damn, I have to be careful...especially from that Yang brat. He would totally get a wrong idea about if he sees here.
He paused and looked back from his cap.
Will he really beco my future son-in-law? He grimaced, randomly going into his father mode.
"Why is Mulan so interested in him?" He muttered under his breath in complaint. "There are many more appealing guys-*achoo!*
He rubbed the tip of his nose.
Did Boss just curse at ? She definitely cursed , right?
His phone buzzed with a ssage from this supposed ’Boss.’
’Why did I feel that you just dissed at my family?’
"..."
She always complains about her son but cannot bear it if others complain about him.
It was never a wise choice to ss with the tigress, so he let it be.
’Is your doctor husband beside you? Because you are definitely hallucinating.’
’He is in his study reading books.’ Yang Bingqing replied, ending her ssage with a pout face emoji.
He gritted his teeth.
Throwing dog food again...
’Talk to you later. I am on a mission.’
’Oh yes, yes~ Be sure to get all the answers, okay? If he doesn’t cooperate, then bring him to . I am itching for so action these days.’
He rolled his eyes. ’Bye.’
He put his phone back in his pocket before entertaining more of her ssages.
Back to work- Ah shit!!
Xie Zi Han took a sharp one-eighty degree turn, almost bumping head on into Bojing. He placed his trembling hand on his chest and waited for Bojing to pass by from behind him. He saw him accompanying a little girl who was happily talking to him.
Ah co on! Did that brat bring his whole lab here!? He cursed inwardly.
Xie Zi Han lacked tears to shed.
Let us be more careful from now on, he walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
—
"What’s wrong?" Jia asked, noticing Mingshen watching straight ahead with a puzzled expression.
He tilted his head. "I thought I saw a familiar face."
"Really?"
He frowned. "I don’t know."
Were my eyes playing tricks on ?
He let it go and glanced at the crowd forming at the center of the plaza. Everybody’s cheers and roars loudly resonated with vigor. The boutique owner, who showed them the way to the plaza brightened with the display of the festivities.
Jia asked, "What exactly is a martial arts festival?"
She answered, slowly sobering up with the music. "It’s the most fun festival in Huayuan! People participate in various kinds of competitions to display their strength. Even custors coming from outside can join~"
Mingshen’s eyes twinkled. "Looks fun."
"It is fun," she laughed. "Especially the competitions with the i Hua house."
"i Hua?"
"Yes!" Her eyes sparkled. "Oh, I suppose you don’t know. We have three main houses in Huayuan. i Hua, Ian Hua and Lian Hua. The houses were mainly created based on the broad personalities that us sex workers fall in.
i Hua is the feisty type where the courtesans with more bold personality join. The kind to take charge and also who want to be physically strong.
The courtesans working in the Ian Hua house aren’t involved in sex. They entertain custors in the more traditional forms like art, music, dance and tea-making.
Lastly, the Lian Hua house offers heaven for gay and bisexual n~ We don’t discriminate here with preferences."
"Ah," Jia got the gist.
Mingshen said, "So when you say competitions are fun with i Hua house, it is because they are physically more capable."
"Many custors have lost before them. It’s almost impossible to defeat them, hoho. Oh, oh! It’s starting! Co, co!"
The woman rrily dragged them towards the stage set at the plaza where it looked like a dance performance was about to begin.
Jia wanted to explain that she had other things on her agenda, but the boutique owner didn’t give her any chance.
Mingshen said, "Just go with the flow, Spicy~ Don’t you feel like having so fun in this festival too~?"
"I would have if I didn’t have a mission to complete," Jia pursed her lips. "For now, we need to get going."
"Are you sure you want to break the kind, elderly woman’s heart who picked the best Hanfu for you?" He innocently blinked.
Ugh...
Guilt pierced her heart.
"Plus, instead of blindly searching for that girl in this mad crowd, it’s better to stay still for soti. Maybe we will get clues," he smiled.
He has a point...Jia sighed.
The plaza lights dimd the next mont with focus of the lights falling upon the center stage. A lone woman stood there, wearing a sort of an Arabic outfit and a transparent mask made of the sa fabric covering her face from nose down. She lifted her gaze and stared at the crowd before her, cheering for her with laughter and excitent.
Jia stared hard at the woman until her eyes naturally blinked. She slowly turned towards Mingshen and whispered,
"Tell if I am hallucinating but that is Yong on the stage, right?"
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