Chapter 4: Handsome Guy, Let's Elope

Feng Jinmo had been paying close attention to her expression, but aside from calmness, he could discern nothing.

Heh, was she truly ignorant, or was she merely feigning ignorance? A flicker of curiosity flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"Thank you for your hospitality today, Young Master. Xiao Bai, Xiao Ling, shouldn't you hurry and thank this generous gentleman? It is getting late; we should head back to wash up and sleep." Shangguan Ruoyu pursed her lips in a smile and rose from her chair with a flick of her sleeve.

Shangguan Bai nodded elegantly toward Feng Jinmo, but Shangguan Ling, on the other hand, looked utterly unwilling. She wrapped her small hands around Feng Jinmo's arm. "No, no! I just finished eating!"

"Come home with me, hmm?" The corners of Shangguan Ruoyu's mouth curled upward.

"I won't!" Shangguan Ling was dead set on not leaving. Even if she had to go, she at least wanted to build some rapport and feast her eyes a little longer.

Shangguan Bai frowned in displeasure. With a flash of movement, he appeared behind Shangguan Ling at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint. His arm suddenly rose and came down in a swift, decisive chop.

"Ugh..." Shangguan Ling's eyes rolled back as she completely lost consciousness. Her soft body slumped backward, only to be caught by Shangguan Bai, who hoisted her onto his shoulder.

"Apologies for letting you witness such a spectacle. Thank you for the meeting gift. Goodbye." She had absolutely no desire to get involved with trouble. Extending her arm, she slung the bundle containing the spoils behind her back and left the private booth with her son in a poised and dignified manner.

Her movements were as smooth as flowing water, carrying an indescribable sense of freedom and decisiveness that left Feng Jinmo staring in a daze.

It wasn't until the sound of footsteps descending the stairs outside gradually faded that he snapped back to his senses. He rubbed his forehead weakly with his thumb. "Does this count as burning bridges after crossing the river?" Regardless, it was just a trivial matter. He wasn't short on that much money.

...

Upon returning to the residence, Shangguan Ruoyu gave instructions to Shangguan Bai, waved her hand, and turned to leave. She had to prepare to head back to work for that meager salary from the yamen.

Dammit! There was still an unexamined corpse waiting for her there, okay? Even though the monthly pay was only three taels of silver, even a mosquito's worth of meat is still meat!

After dragging Shangguan Ling back to her room, Shangguan Bai turned into the adjacent room. After carefully checking the doors and windows, he took out the high-quality tea from the bundle and wrapped them neatly in yellow paper. Looking at the orderly items on the table, a faint smile broke across his cold, stern face.

...

As the night grew cool, Shangguan Ruoyu, who had been busy all day with a case involving people falling into the water, returned home amidst the city's lights. The moment she stepped through the door, the relaxed smile on her face instantly sank. Her phoenix eyes became as sharp as blades, quickly scanning the surroundings.

"Xiao Bai? Xiao Ling?" She called out softly twice, but received no response. The rooms around her were pitch black. Shangguan Ruoyu strode toward the siblings' living quarters. Before even entering the room, she caught sight of the unconscious Shangguan Bai outside Shangguan Ling's boudoir, along with a wooden stick lying not far away.

There were no adult footprints on the ground, and the courtyard gate did not look as though it had been forcibly broken open from the outside. She crouched down and felt through Shangguan Bai's slightly dark hair; as expected, she felt a swollen lump.

She first carried her son back to his room and then retraced her steps. Her expression was as dark and terrifying as the boundless night sky above.

She pushed the door open with force and stepped inside. There was no trace of anyone else's presence in the entire room.

After her sharp gaze swept across the surroundings, it finally stopped on a white slip of paper held down by a teacup on the table. Shangguan Ruoyu pulled out the slip and looked closely. Instantly, her face turned from black to green, and from green to purple.

"Holy shit! Shangguan Ling, you actually dared to elope?!"