Chapter 186: She’s My Woman!
***
“Young Master Xiao, you’re here again? I wonder who you’re looking for this time…”
A woman dressed in brocade, still possessing a mature charm, smiled as she approached Xiao Huo.
“Ah, I’m here to see Miss Youxiao.”
Xiao Huo raised his eyes and replied in a flat tone, though his gaze unconsciously swept toward the inner hall.
“Youxiao?”
Yunduo, who was observing from the side, raised her eyebrows and lowered her voice, her tone full of interest.
“His lover?”
Xuanxuan beside her gently shook her head.
“I’m not too sure either. I’ve only heard that Young Master Xiao has been coming here frequently lately.”
She paused, a trace of complexity flashing in her eyes.
“But ever since I got engaged to Young Master Li, I haven’t paid much attention to his affairs.”
However, now that Xiao Huo dared to publicly come and disrupt the wedding, Xuanxuan couldn’t help but feel somewhat expectant.
Was he doing this for her sake? Or for her family’s influence?
“I apologize, Young Master Xiao.”
The woman’s smile remained unchanged, though her tone carried a hint of regret.
“Youxiao is our top courtesan tonight. If you wish to meet with her privately, I’m afraid you’ll need to meet certain conditions.”
“Is that so?”
Xiao Huo raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone revealing no emotion.
“It’s just a matter of money, isn’t it? How much? Just name your price.”
“Young Master Xiao misunderstands, it’s not just about money.”
The woman hastily waved her hands in explanation, afraid he’d gotten the wrong idea.
“Youxiao still has a performance on stage tonight. If you wish to see her, you’ll have to wait until after her performance.”
“Fine.”
Xiao Huo responded, his tone carrying a hint of faint regret, though his gaze still remained fixed on the inner hall entrance, as if pondering something.
“Seems like this Young Master Xiao isn’t being honest~”
Yunduo propped her chin on her hand, a smile playing at her lips, but her gaze suddenly turned toward Lin Muyu beside her.
Lin Muyu felt puzzled by her stare and asked with a frown, “He’s not being honest, so why are you staring at me?”
“It’s nothing.”
Yunduo said with a smile.
“He just looked this way, but it’s not because you’re pretty that he looked at you~”
“…Are you saying I’m not pretty?”
Lin Muyu’s expression instantly changed. Since Yunduo was currently playing the role of a henpecked wife, she didn’t need to hold back, this was the perfect chance to get back at her for the teasing.
As soon as she finished speaking, she reached her hand to Yunduo’s waist and began tickling her with her fingertips.
“Hahahaha! Stop it, stop it! I was wrong, I was wrong! You’re the prettiest!”
Yunduo immediately begged for mercy.
Lin Muyu hadn’t expected her to be so ticklish. Seeing her apologize, she reluctantly let go, though she felt it was a bit of a shame.
Not far away, Xiao Huo frowned deeply, looking around.
For some reason, he felt several faint gazes fixed tightly on him, making him extremely uncomfortable.
Could it be the Li family’s people?
He speculated silently.
But he was now someone close to the City Lord, even if the Li family was dissatisfied, they should think twice before acting.
He hadn’t come here for pleasure this time, but on serious business. He needed to root out whoever was watching him.
“You two have such a good relationship.”
Xuanxuan watched Lin Muyu and Yunduo’s playful banter, her eyes full of envy as she murmured softly.
“I really hope I could also have someone I could be so comfortable with, someone to be happy with together.”
“Her and me? Good relationship? We only just met yesterday…”
Lin Muyu was stunned when she heard this, then suddenly realized.
She and Yunduo had known each other for less than a day, how had they become so familiar already?
“Just one day and you’re already this close?”
Xuanxuan was also confused, her eyes shifting between the two.
“But the way you were just now, you clearly looked like old friends who’ve known each other for years…”
“That’s natural!”
Yunduo proudly lifted her chin, her tone carrying a hint of pride.
“If you want to be friends with me, Yunduo, as long as your heart is pure, getting along naturally becomes easy.”
She was someone who possessed the ability to discern good from evil.
And Lin Muyu was the first person she felt incredibly comfortable being around.
I really want to keep her by my side forever~
“I didn’t expect you to actually compliment people?”
Lin Muyu was somewhat surprised, not expecting Yunduo to praise her like this, and her mood couldn’t help but lighten.
“Stop praising me, or I’ll get too full of myself.”
“Full of what?”
Yunduo immediately threw cold water on her, blinking mischievously.
“I’m saying you’re silly~”
“…Heh, looks like you haven’t had enough tickling earlier?”
Lin Muyu flexed her fingers, looking at Yunduo with a threatening gaze.
Yunduo instantly cowered, hurriedly waving her hands in surrender, making even Xuanxuan laugh out loud.
Little did she know, Yunduo had already made a mental note of these little grievances. If Lin Muyu dared to tickle her, she’d definitely tickle back.
As for where? Yunduo’s fingers twitched slightly. Hehe~
……
Inside the dressing room in the inner hall, a beautiful woman sat before a bronze mirror, carefully applying rouge to her face.
Her fingertips moved gently, each stroke perfectly placed, making her already exquisite features appear even more radiant.
“Xiao Xia, has Young Master Xiao arrived?”
The woman didn’t turn her head, her voice clear and smooth, carrying a hint of cool detachment.
“Yes, Miss Youxiao. Young Master Xiao has arrived and is currently waiting outside.”
The girl named Xiao Xia stood to the side and replied respectfully.
“So he’s here…”
Youxiao responded softly, a smile playing at her lips.
“Seems like he still can’t forget about that power~”
As soon as she finished speaking, her fingertips moved slightly, and several wisps of pale blue spiritual energy quietly floated out, slowly drawing a lifelike azure dragon in the air.
But as soon as the dragon took shape, it transformed into specks of light and dissipated into the air, as if it had never existed…
After a while, Youxiao finally finished her makeup.
She stood up and smoothed her skirt, lifting the hem as she slowly walked behind a screen. Through the thin veil, in the sight of everyone outside, she traced out a slender, graceful silhouette that stirred the imagination.
“It’s Miss Youxiao!”
“Miss Youxiao has come out!”
“Miss Youxiao! I’m your 🐶…”
“Mommy…”
……
The crowd outside instantly erupted in enthusiastic cheers, mixed with a few rather jarring shouts that pushed the atmosphere to its peak.
“This person is actually this popular?”
Yunduo looked at the suddenly boiling crowd, raising her eyebrows in surprise, and turned to ask Xuanxuan beside her.
“Miss Youxiao is the famous top courtesan in this area.”
Xuanxuan explained softly, her tone carrying a hint of admiration.
“She’s best at singing. Many people come specifically to hear her sing.”
As for Lin Muyu, her gaze had long since fixed on the faint figure behind the screen, her eyes carrying a hint of curiosity.
In both her past and present life, she had never set foot in such a pleasure district. Watching the scene before her, she found it unexpectedly fresh and was watching with great interest.
The air was filled with a faint fragrance, mixed with a barely perceptible sweet scent that quietly stirred the deepest desires hidden in one’s heart.
What a shame… Lin Muyu let out a soft sigh, a trace of melancholy passing through her eyes.
She had long since lost the ability to pursue those desires. Now she could only look at the scene before her and fantasize.
“Miss, may I ask if you’re here alone?”
Just as Lin Muyu was watching intently, a voice carrying a hint of amusement suddenly sounded by her ear.
She turned her head and saw that Xiao Huo had somehow approached her, his eyes showing obvious interest as he stared at her.
“Hey hey! What are you doing!”
Seeing this, Yunduo suddenly stood up from her chair, waving her fist protectively as she blocked Lin Muyu.
“She’s my woman, don’t you dare get any ideas about her!”
“…Right, I’m with her.”