Chapter 3: The Handsome Man Watching the Excitement

Chapter 3: The Handsome Man Watching the Fun

The man was stunned. Could she not be one of Mu Yelei’s family members? If not, why had no one stopped her from wandering into the Imperial Garden all by herself? Thinking of this, a hint of wariness entered his eyes. Mu Yelei had been assassinated several times recently; although he had escaped unscathed each time, he could not afford to be anything but cautious.

"I certainly know where Mu Yelei is, but why are you looking for him?" the man said with a smile. The more gentle his smile, the more dangerous he was. It would be such a disappointment if such a beautiful woman turned out to be an assassin.

"I have my reasons for finding him. Please, just tell me where he is, and I will go find him myself." Hua Ling suddenly felt that this man was dangerous. His smile, as bright as a spring breeze, made her feel very uneasy, and she decided to stay away from him. Even though he was a peerless beauty, it wouldn't be worth losing her life over.

The man was naturally unsatisfied with such a vague answer, but he didn't show it, continuing to smile as he said, "I happen to have business with him as well. Let’s go together; I’ll lead the way." With that, he took the lead, giving Hua Ling no chance to object.

Hua Ling followed helplessly behind him. This man was as cunning as a ghost, and she couldn't help but mentally greet his ancestors. "I am Jin Junxi. May I ask for the young lady's name?"

Hua Ling had to admit that his voice was truly pleasant; she was spineless enough that she couldn't refuse such a gentle, jade-like tone. She replied sullenly, "Hua Ling."

"Miss Hua," Jin Junxi said politely.

Hua Ling froze. *Miss Hua?* Being called that immediately reminded her of how the Japanese invaders used to refer to Chinese women as "Miss Hua" during the war. How wretched! She couldn't help but get a little angry, and she snapped, "Don't call me that. I hate that form of address."

Jin Junxi hadn't expected such a normal form of address to provoke such a fierce reaction. He stood there for a moment and asked, "Why? I don't see anything wrong with that address."

*What a stuffy man.* Hua Ling said irritably, "I said I don't like it, so I don't like it. There’s no 'why' to it." Was she supposed to explain the history of the Japanese invaders to him? He would probably think she was a lunatic.

Jin Junxi had never met someone so emotionally volatile. He sighed helplessly, "Then how should I address you?"

"We don't seem to be that familiar, so there's no need to be so intimate. Hey, we should get going. If you don't move, I'm going to find him myself." Hua Ling suddenly felt that while this man was handsome, he wasn't to her taste at all. Why was he such a busybody? Asking about everything—it was so annoying.

Jin Junxi was actually a bit interested in her now. A woman who wasn't swayed by his appearance—this was interesting. He turned and walked forward again. After turning a corner, they passed by the Yinlü Pavilion. Hua Ling glanced inside; it was still cold and desolate. She wondered where that little maid had run off to.

Hua Ling followed closely behind Jin Junxi as he stepped onto the path to the left. After walking for a while and turning another corner, he stood before a dark red door and said, "We're here. He's inside."

"Thanks." Hua Ling offered a perfunctory, insincere word of thanks. Just as she was about to push the door open and enter, Jin Junxi’s voice came again: "Aren't you going to knock? That’s very impolite."

"He doesn't deserve it," Hua Ling said flatly. She shoved the door open hard and strode inside.

Jin Junxi watched her back, thinking to himself that she didn't seem like an assassin. If that was the case, there would be a good show to watch. He wondered how that big block of ice, Mu Yelei, had offended this thorny beauty. Thinking of this, he followed her in. Such a lively scene—he couldn't afford to miss it!