The vintage car was hidden among the bushes nearby. Soso placed Shi Gaofei in the car, then got in herself. They sped off towards the sea at the foot of the mountain.
“So it was you.” Sitting in the car, Shi Gaofei looked at Suo Suo.
“There’s nothing strange about it,” Soso said coldly. “I was originally Lord Lei Hu’s subordinate.”
Shi Gaofei nodded and said nothing more.
The beach was very quiet at night. When they arrived at the beach, Suo Suo jumped out of the car.
Hidden there was a small yacht, covered with a huge tarpaulin, making it look like a rock. Soso struggled to push the small boat into the sea, then carried Skofei aboard.
“Lord Lei Hu’s orders are that you cannot sail this ship alone without changing your actions, so I must leave with you.” Soso quickly started the yacht, turned to look at Shi Gaofei, her expression somewhat complicated: “In other words, Mr. Shi Gaofei, from today onwards, I, like you, will officially become a defector of the service agency! Our names will be published on the list of traitors!”
As she spoke, she turned her head away, but Shi Gaofei caught a hint of desolation in her eyes.
On the left side of the mountaintop, on a protruding flat area, a pavilion was built. Looking out, a corner of the pavilion could be seen peeking out from among the cherry blossoms, creating a beautiful scene.
The young man next to Chen Xiao made a "please" gesture, smiled and stood aside, showing no intention of going with Chen Xiao.
Without giving it much thought, Chen Xiao slowly stepped into the cherry blossom grove.
Upon arriving at the pavilion, I couldn't help but pause in surprise.
The pavilion looks very ancient, seemingly not newly built, but a genuine historical site. The pavilion is only a few meters square, and it sits on the edge of the hillside, offering a panoramic view of the scenery below.
On the ground inside the pavilion, a green reed mat was laid out, and a slender figure knelt in one corner, facing Chen Xiao sideways.
She wore a long, pinkish-white robe, and her long, cloud-like hair cascaded down like a waterfall. From Chen Xiao's angle, he could only see the woman's graceful profile. Her profile was soft, her skin was as white as snow, and there was a corner of her cherry-red lips. Her straight nose gave her a touch of classical beauty.
No matter how you looked at it, this girl couldn't be older than twenty, yet there was a chessboard in front of her, with crisscrossing lines and black and white pieces scattered about. It turned out she was quietly studying a chess game by herself.
Chen Xiao took a deep breath, feeling that the scene before him was captivating. The breeze carried an ancient fragrance, and he felt the impurities on his body being gradually cleansed.
This scene is truly delightful.
She took a few steps slowly, without looking up. Hearing Chen Xiao's footsteps, she still stretched out her slender, jade-like fingers, picked up a chess piece, and gently placed it on the chessboard with a soft snap. She smiled softly and uttered a voice as melodious as a nightingale: "Honored guest, please have a seat."
Chen Xiao hesitated for a moment, then walked over without ceremony, took off his shoes, stepped onto the reed mat, and knelt down opposite the chessboard, just like the young girl.
The girl seemed to raise her head then, her bright eyes sweeping across Chen Xiao's face, but only for a fleeting glance before she lowered her head again, gazing at the chessboard, and asked with a smile, "Guest, do you know how to play chess?"
Chen Xiao does know how to play Go, but he shook his head and said, "No."
He paused, somewhat disapproving of the girl's behavior, and with a hint of sarcasm, smiled and said, "Such a beautiful place would be even better if we could also prepare a pot of sake and two cups of fragrant tea."
The girl smiled slightly, still not looking up, and said softly, "The wine is too strong, the tea too bitter, both are good in themselves. However, if you try too hard, it will inevitably leave traces and become less beautiful. Isn't it better for us to sit here, with the wind as tea and the scenery as wine?"
After saying that, she finally raised her head and looked directly at Chen Xiao's face, her eyes filled with a smile: "Do you think what I said is right, Chen Xiao?"
Chapter 184 of the main text: [The Young "Daizong Family"]
His eyes sparkled, and his smile held a deeper meaning.
This young woman was beautiful, but in terms of appearance, she was slightly less striking than beauties of the caliber of Phoenix or Xiao Qing. Yet, dressed in a long pink and white robe, with her long, flowing hair cascading down her back, she knelt in this antique setting, a reed mat beside an ancient chessboard, exuding an indescribable classical elegance.
Especially her face, without a trace of makeup, yet possessing the charm of a classical beauty, with picturesque features, exuding a captivating allure.
This woman, sitting here, possesses a perfect balance of stillness and movement, exuding an extremely unique charm.
Chen Xiao frowned slightly: "You know me?"
The woman then gently put down the chess piece in her hand, raised her hands, gathered her flowing sleeves in front of her, and gave a graceful bow. Her voice was melodious: "Chen Xiaojun was brave and courageous at sea. His Highness the Prince was able to escape danger thanks to your assistance. Tang Ying, in particular, received a lot of care from Chen Xiaojun. My entire Takeuchi family is deeply grateful."
Her words, accompanied by a gentle smile, were like a spring breeze to anyone who heard them. But Chen Xiao frowned even more deeply: "Who exactly are you? Since you recognize me, why didn't you explain when you caused a misunderstanding downstairs?"
The woman sighed softly, "Chen Xiaojun, are you blaming me?"
As she spoke, she looked up at the cherry blossom grove below the mountain, a hint of indescribable loneliness in her eyes. Then, her gaze quietly fell on Chen Xiao's face: "Chen Xiao, it's not that I deliberately didn't say it earlier, but I have my own unspeakable difficulties... You may not believe it, but in my entire life, up to the age of nineteen, I have never stepped outside the gates of Xinjianzhai! I am unable to leave the house. Unable to go down the mountain, I could only sit here anxiously just now."
Nineteen years old?
Have they not even stepped down the mountain?
Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
This girl, so beautiful as to be a painting, never once stepped off this mountain in her entire life?!
Thinking of this, Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for the girl in front of him.
No wonder she looks so young, yet her demeanor lacks the youthful vitality of other girls her age. Instead, she possesses a refined and unassuming air.
Chen Xiao opened his mouth, but couldn't utter any words of blame.
The girl smiled gently, her expression serene and calm. With a flick of her long sleeve, as fluid as flowing water, she covered the chessboard. Raising her hand, she picked up another chess piece and gently placed it on the corner of the board with a soft "snap." She continued softly, "I cannot descend the mountain, so I have taken the liberty of inviting you up. I am extremely rude; please do not take offense."
As she spoke, she seemed to have guessed Chen Xiao's doubts and continued in a gentle voice, "My surname is Takeuchi, and Takeuchi Fumio, the current head of the Shangchen family, is my grandfather. Speaking of which, Yako and Miki are my cousins. Like Miki, I also have a Chinese name. Chen Xiao, you can just call me Tang Xin."
Tang Xin? That's quite a charming name.
"Please invite Chen Xiaojun up. Naturally, I have something to ask of you." As Tang Xin said this, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of worry appeared in her eyes. However, for such a charming woman, this demeanor only made her seem more pitiful.
"Beg me? What do you need from me?"
Chen Xiao raised an eyebrow.
Tang Xin did not answer immediately, but stared intently at the chessboard, pondered for a moment, and sighed softly. Suddenly, she stretched out her sleeve and gently gathered it, instantly disrupting the chessboard. Her smile carried a hint of desolation: "Alas, I have played this ancient game countless times, but I can never escape the moves of my predecessors. It seems that breaking through the wisdom of our predecessors is not so easy."
After she finished speaking, she raised her head and looked at Chen Xiao with a very serious expression: "I beg you, Mr. Chen Xiao, to stay here for two days!"