Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 136

Zi Jin leaned maliciously against Bao Xian's chest, listening to his increasingly rapid heartbeat: "Since you know, then you did it on purpose, young master."

The man casually toyed with the jade pendant at his waist: "So what if it is?"

Zi Jin glanced sideways at the jade pendant at the man's waist and began unbuttoning Bao Xian's clothes one by one: "Young master's jade pendant is much prettier than you."

The man suddenly stood up, stared at Zi Jin's smiling face, and pulled Bao Xian out of Zi Jin's arms. His amber eyes were full of anger: "If Miss Yu likes it, you may give it to her. However, Miss Yu must agree to my unreasonable request."

Bao Xian fell to the side, then quickly got up, trembling as she fastened the buttons on her clothes that Zi Jin had undone, her panic evident in her eyes.

Zi Jin deliberately ignored Bao Xian's fear and unease, and glanced at the jade pendant at the man's waist: "Young master, tell me about it."

"In exchange for this jade pendant, Miss, you may stay at my residence for a while." The voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Zi Jin glanced at those fox-like eyes and smiled lightly: "Very well. With such sincerity from you, young master, it's hard to refuse your kindness."

"Master, you mustn't!" Bao Xian was trembling violently, and he couldn't fasten his clothes properly several times. But he couldn't care less about that now and hurriedly stopped him.

The man scrutinized Bao Xian's face closely, a shadow of gloom flashing in his eyes. Before anyone could react, he raised his hand and slapped Bao Xian across the face. As he swung his hand back to strike again, Bao Xian swiftly dodged and blocked with his backhand, then raised his palm to strike, but the man easily dodged it and cleanly struck him in the chest.

Bao Xian took a few steps back, knelt down, feeling unwilling. He tried to get up but was already trampled underfoot.

The man's eyes were full of disdain: "Go back and tell your wife that I've taken Miss Yu away."

Bao Xian tried to get up several times, but was pinned down by that person.

“Young Master, don’t go too far. He is, after all, a member of the Yu family. Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner, shouldn’t one?” Zi Jin said coldly, a hint of displeasure flashing across her face.

The man snorted coldly, grabbed Zi Jin's wrist with his other hand, and said in a low voice, "Since Miss has already agreed and has been staying here for more than a month, is she still unwilling to leave?" His tone was full of dissatisfaction.

Zi Jin smiled gently and skillfully broke free from the man's hand: "I'll go with you."

A hint of joy flashed in the man's amber eyes, but he then feigned disdain and swiftly lifted his foot to release Bao Xian.

Bao Xian quickly got up, knelt on the spot, lowered his head, and coughed muffledly while clutching his chest: "Master..."

Zi Jin stood up and stepped forward, stopping beside Bao Xian and kneeling down, a hint of tenderness in her eyes. She reached out and carefully buttoned up Bao Xian's disheveled clothes, tidying them up meticulously: "It's so cold, and you're dressed so thinly, why did you block the window for me?"

Bao Xian looked up, staring blankly at Zi Jin, unsure of what to say. Such tender words were more painful than sharp sarcasm, leaving him at a loss for words.

Zi Jin tied the fur cloak beside her to Bao Xian, stood up, turned around and smiled, "It's getting late, we should head back to the manor soon. It's freezing cold, be careful on the road... go back and check on your injuries."

Bao Xian stared blankly at Zi Jin's receding footsteps, wanting several times to step forward and stop her from leaving, but in the end, she lowered her head and slowly lowered her eyes. After an unknown amount of time, Bao Xian suddenly stood up and walked quickly to the window, staring blankly as Zi Jin approached the carriage step by step.

Zi Jin stood in front of the carriage, seemingly waiting for something. After a long while, she looked up at the only open window on the fourth floor. The person in the window looked at her silently, but refused to speak. Zi Jin smiled calmly, stepped over the carriage bench, and jumped into the carriage.

Bao Xian gripped the window tightly, staring at the slowly departing carriage disappearing into the night. A gust of cold wind blew by, and he clutched his fur cloak tightly, staggering step by step towards the door, his eyes dull and lifeless, his pale hands trembling uncontrollably.

Zi Jin sat quietly in the car, her dark eyes unable to conceal her gloom. Her hands clenched tighter and tighter, her long nails digging deep into her palms.

A hand suddenly grabbed Zi Jin's wrist and slowly pried her fingers apart: "Are you still blaming me?" A hint of panic flashed in her amber eyes.

Zi Jin closed her eyes and remained silent, her head drooping lower and lower.

A vibrant, almost faded, gold-blue peach blossom, at its most beautiful moment, was perfectly captured in the corner of his eye. His fox-like eyes were filled with fear as he tightly gripped Zi Jin's cold hand: "Please don't blame me, okay? I know I shouldn't have treated you like that... Tell me, just tell me... I'll agree to anything you ask, okay?"

Zi Jin opened her eyes expressionlessly and stared at the person in front of her.

Sweat slowly seeped from the man's palms, and he remained silent, his panic deepening in his eyes: "I...I..."

Zi Jin suddenly tilted her head and smiled sweetly, her eyes full of mockery: "Na Ming Lou, which encompasses heaven and earth, sun and moon, and all human affairs... What is Young Master Jin Yang afraid of?"

Dugu Xihui stared blankly at Zi Jin: "You...you don't blame me anymore?"

"What's so strange about it? Young Master Jinyang didn't really want to hurt me back then; he just wanted to get back the person he desired," Zi Jin said with a smile.

“You knew perfectly well… that I had fallen for Sikou Xunle’s trick and mistook that person for you. Not only did you help him cover it up, but you were also determined to go with him. You…” Dugu Xihui was embarrassed and didn’t know how to explain herself.

"Alright, alright, it's all my fault. Young Master Jinyang did nothing wrong, but he didn't tell me who I was looking for, so of course I didn't know. This isn't my fault..."

"It's not my fault, it's all my fault. I didn't recognize you back then, and I didn't treat you well." Dugu Xihui suddenly hugged Zi Jin tightly in his arms, his eyes slightly red.

Zi Jin's body stiffened slightly, a glint of light flashing in her eyes. She raised her hand and gently patted Dugu Xihui's back: "Young Master, don't blame yourself. You are not to blame for what happened back then."

"Hui'er." Dugu Xihui's voice was slightly hoarse.

"Young Master..."

"Call her Hui'er." Dugu Xihui slowly released Zi Jin, looked into her eyes and said softly.

Zi Jin slowly turned her eyes open: "...Where are we going?"

"Back to the post station," Dugu Xihui whispered in Zi Jin's ear as she leaned against him.

Zi Jin lowered her eyes and asked, "When did you arrive in the mountain town?"

"When I received your message, I was in Huaiyin City, traveling day and night. I arrived more than ten days ago and have been investigating your whereabouts ever since I came to Shanzhong Town. I knew that you were hidden by the Yu family, but I searched the entire Yu family manor and villa without finding you. Today, I finally found you after following the Yu family's steward. While I was running around looking for you, you were having a good time at that 'pleasure house'." Dugu Xihui said with a pursed lip, seemingly unwilling.

Zi Jin turned her head to look into Dugu Xihui's eyes and asked softly, "Why are we going back to the post station? Aren't you taking me with you?"

A glint of light flashed in Dugu Xihui's eyes as he avoided Zi Jin's gaze: "The Yu family has a large number of experts lying in ambush outside the city, so we can't leave for the time being. I'll have a face-to-face meeting with the old lady of the Yu family and see how she will let you go. You can stay at the post station with me; it's much more reassuring than staying at that 'pleasure house'."

"Oh." Zi Jin glanced at Dugu Xi Hui thoughtfully.

Bao Xian stood in front of the Yu Mansion, pacing back and forth. He slowly gathered up his cloak, folded it carefully, and then went inside.

Madam Yu, holding Buddhist prayer beads, sat upright in the main hall and glanced at Bao Xian, who was standing in the corner clutching his cloak: "Everyone is here."

"Um."