La ciudad solitaria cerró

Capítulo 32

"No!" Shen Jie snapped out of her reverie and smiled at Xiao Min, who was already incredibly annoyed. "Oh, right, where's A Xiang? Wasn't he supposed to help us move our things?" Shen Jie asked, looking at the tables and chairs outside. She couldn't stand these wealthy families; these tables and chairs were just a little worn out, and they were going to throw them away—what a waste!

“Brother Xiang has been summoned by the head steward!” Xiaomin replied. “Because the second young lady is getting married, there have been quite a few things to do lately.”

"Oh!" Shen Jie responded softly, hoping that the boy wasn't just making excuses.

"Sister Lian'er, look, Brother Axiang is here!" Xiaomin excitedly tugged at Shen Jie's arm and called out as she saw Axiang walking towards them from afar.

"Really?" Shen Jie glanced over there with little interest. So what if they're here? Did they have to act like this?

"Brother Xiang, you're finally here! We've been waiting for you for so long."

"Uh? I'm so sorry!" A-Xiang scratched his head sheepishly. "Lian'er, Xiao-Min, I came here specifically to tell you that the head steward wants me to make a trip to Yu-Chun Pavilion, so... I'm sorry!"

"If you don't want to help us, just say so. Why beat around the bush?" Shen Jie cursed inwardly. "And what did he just say about going to Yuchun Pavilion... Uh? What did he just say? Yuchun Pavilion?" "Ah Xiang... Brother, you just said you were going to Yuchun Pavilion?" That seems to be the restaurant that Tian Yu owns, if she remembers correctly!

“Yes.” Ah Xiang nodded, not understanding why.

"Then... could you take me with you?" Shen Jie had made up her mind. Although she knew that the chances of Ouyang Tianyu being in the store were slim, she still wanted to try.

"Ah? Oh... No, no, you're a girl, how can you go out with me?" A-Xiang refused in great fear. Men and women shouldn't touch each other. If the steward found out, he would be expelled from Lei Family Fort.

"Brother Xiang, please have mercy! I just want to go out and see things, I won't do anything reckless!" Shen Jie tugged at Xiang's sleeve and "acted coquettishly," which was the most effective tactic on a man, especially a fool like him.

"But..." Ah Xiang was also in a dilemma.

"Brother Xiang—if you don't want to go out with a woman, I can change into men's clothes. Please, take me with you." Seeing that Xiang was somewhat relenting, Shen Jie immediately became even more attentive.

"Alright then." Her expression made it hard to refuse.

Haha! The fish has taken the bait! "Wait a minute, I'll go change my clothes and come right back." Shen Jie gave A Xiang a big smile, which made the idiot look infatuated, almost drooling.

Soon after, Shen Jie changed her clothes and left Lei Family Fort with A Xiang...

"Hey! Ouyang, can you please stop hanging around in front of me?"

Leng Yixuan watched Ouyang Tianyu walk back and forth, and couldn't help but exclaim, "My God, he's been walking for over an hour! He's practically worn a hole out of the floorboards!" "Shen Jie is so clever, she'll be fine."

“I know Shen Jie is clever, but it’s been over twenty days and I still haven’t heard from her. How can I not worry about her?” The usually very rational Ouyang Tianyu was now like a cat on a hot tin roof, completely losing his usual composure. “Besides, she doesn’t know martial arts. What if something happens to her…”

"Bro! You haven't fallen for her, have you?" Leng Yixuan suddenly blurted out, otherwise why would he be so anxious?

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Tianyu stiffened and stopped in his tracks. He liked Shen Jie? Was that it? Ever since she entered Lei Family Fortress, he had been constantly thinking about her, worried that something might happen to her, and even regretted letting her go undercover. He thought about her frantically every day… Could this be love? “I… I’m not sure.”

"Unsure?" Leng Yixuan scoffed irritably. "For the past twenty-odd days, you haven't been eating or drinking, and your face is always full of worry. Anyone can see that you've fallen in love with her." If his parents saw him like this, they would really doubt whether he was their son. He's completely changed! Leng Yixuan thought to himself with amusement.

"Really?" Only after his friend said that did he realize he had fallen in love with Shen Jie. He didn't know when his love had begun. Was it the moment she threw herself into his arms and called him "husband"? Or was it when she exposed his well-hidden true nature, when she was still in someone else's body? Every time he talked to her, he saw not her beautiful appearance, but her inner self—a spiritual connection…

"Ouyang! What are you daydreaming about?" Leng Yixuan nudged Ouyang Tianyu's shoulder. This guy was daydreaming again. He clearly loved her, but he just wouldn't admit it.

"Oh. It's nothing!" Ouyang Tianyu snapped out of his reverie, glanced at his friend, and walked towards the door. "I'll go take another look around Lei Family Fort."

"Sigh! She's hopeless!" Leng Yixuan sighed, watching Ouyang Tianyu's departing figure. Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman. It's always been this way.

Shen Jie followed A Xiang to Yuchun Tower.

"Lian'er, wait for me here, I'll be right back!" They entered Yuchun Pavilion, and A Xiang pulled Shen Jie aside. "Don't run around, understand?"

Shen Jie nodded obediently. But in her heart, she was screaming: Get out! Get out! If you leave, I can get on with my business. If I obediently stay here, what am I doing here with you?

Seeing her obediently nod, A Xiang went to do his business with peace of mind. Shen Jie made a face at A Xiang's back, turned around and ran to the second floor. She ran into Leng Yixuan, who had just come out of the house, in the corridor.

"Yixuan!" Shen Jie ran over happily. She was so glad her trip hadn't been in vain!

"Who are you?" Leng Yixuan didn't recognize Shen Jie, who was dressed as a man, and looked at her in confusion.

"I am Shen Jie." She introduced herself. She had looked in the mirror before coming out, and she didn't look much different. How could he not recognize her?

"Shen Jie?" Leng Yixuan sized up the "man" in front of him... finally noticing her, he looked her over and pulled her into the room, closing the door behind him. "You've finally arrived! Our Third Young Master has been going crazy!"

"Where is he?" Shen Jie asked, naturally knowing who he was referring to as the "Third Young Master".

"He went out to find out about you. You don't know..."

“He’s not here, it’s the same as talking to you.” Shen Jie interrupted Leng Yixuan, she didn’t have time to chat with him. “As far as I know, the matter of the official silver is related to the Demon Palace, and should have nothing to do with Lei Family Fort. However, you’d better send someone to keep an eye on it, so as not to miss anything.”

"Huh? You mean the disappearance of the official silver has nothing to do with Lei Family Fortress?" What's going on? Leng Yixuan frowned and asked, "Are you sure?"

"I'm not sure. At least I don't have any evidence to show that the 'missing government silver case' is related to Lei Family Fort. Further investigation is needed. As for the claim that it's related to the Demon Palace, I only learned about it by overhearing a conversation between Lei Batian and his adopted son. They said the Demon Palace colluded with the government to frame Lei Family Fort. As for whether that's true, I dare not make a definitive judgment. Therefore, you need to keep a close eye on things." A case is about evidence, something even a first-grader knows. How could Shen Jie, a policewoman for so many years, not know this?

"The Demon Palace is colluding with the government?" Is it that serious?

"That's what Lei Batian and his son said." If she wanted to know the details of the case, she should go to the Demon Palace to investigate. How would she know? Shen Jie muttered to herself, "Oh, right, there's one more thing. I heard that Lei Shuangxue wasn't chosen by Ouyang Tianyun because she looks like Su Yuyin, but for another purpose. Lei Batian wants to become the leader of the martial arts alliance and sent Lei Shuangxue to steal something from Green Jade Manor. I think Lei Family Fortress planned this all along..."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. Therefore, they will definitely make some moves after they arrive at Green Jade Manor, so I've decided to go as part of my dowry to see if I can change anything!" She knew that with the wedding date approaching, it was impossible to get Ouyang Tianyun to back out of the engagement. If the two families were to fight, it would probably cause chaos. "Tell Tianyu that he must return home before the wedding and continue being his playboy, the more shameless the better, because Lei Batian has also sent Lei Jun to secretly assist Lei Shuangxue. I'm afraid he'll be secretly monitoring the entire manor, so..."

"Lian'er..." came A Xiang's voice from afar.

"I sneaked out, I have to go back now. Remember to tell Tianyu, don't forget." Shen Jie quickly walked to the door, opened it, and left.

"Don't worry, I won't forget," Leng Yixuan assured him. Surely he wouldn't be so useless as to not be able to handle something this simple?

"Then I'm leaving."

"Be careful," Leng Yixuan cautioned. She was indeed a formidable woman; he couldn't underestimate her at all. "We'll meet again!"

"Until we meet again!" Shen Jie said, cupping her fists in greeting to Leng Yixuan, before hurrying away.