Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Goodwill

Xia Wenjin handed over the steamed bun, saying irritably, “Starting a fight without even looking to see who it is! See, we had both meat and vegetables, and now there’s only this left.”

Huangfu Jingchen silently took the bun and said in a low voice, “Thanks!” He then brought it to his mouth and took a quiet bite.

As he tasted it, he was momentarily stunned.

Just now, he ate what Xia Wenjin gave him without a hint of suspicion?

He usually acted very cautiously and wouldn’t eat things of unknown origin easily.

He clearly disliked this kid with the Long Yang disposition, yet just now he didn’t feel any dislike?

But despite the turmoil in his heart, his actions didn’t change, and he took another bite of the bun.

Huangfu Jingchen, who was raised in luxury, found the cold bun surprisingly delicious for the first time.

He was simply too hungry!

Or perhaps, it was because of this bun.

Xia Wenjin ventured out alone to find food, which was as daring as stealing from a tiger’s mouth in the tightly guarded Governor Mansion. Yet, she still remembered to bring him some.

The strange feeling rising in his heart must be warmth, right?

Goodwill coming from a somewhat unfamiliar young man from outside Yunzhou!

This feeling seems… quite nice!

Xia Wenjin watched him slowly and methodically eat the bun; despite it being just a cold bun, he ate it with elegance and composure. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see his features clearly. This kid wasn’t bad-looking, even eating a bun, he looked better than others.

Seizing the moment while he ate the bun, Xia Wenjin said, “Why give up your freedom outside to come here, pretending to be sick and hungry? What’s the point?”

Huangfu Jingchen shot her a glance, though he couldn’t see her clearly, he could still sense that this kid was surely rolling his eyes.

He said, “My business!”

Just three words, but the meaning was clear, followed by: None of your concern!

Xia Wenjin was exasperated, wanting to annoy him further, but since they were both pretending to be sick, she could empathize with the unbearable hunger. Considering it was the only bun, if he threw it up, there would be nothing left to eat.

Forget it, consider it an act of kindness. What’s the point of quarreling with an aloof and awkward young kid? In her previous life she lived to twenty-three, and this Huang Zheng was just a kid in his teens.

Huangfu Jingchen felt a disdainful gaze on him as he ate the bun.

Aside from Xia Wenjin, there was no one else here. A fourteen or fifteen-year-old kid, exuding an air of precociousness, looking at him with a disdainful gaze as if they were the wise elder?

But what could he do? He could only pretend not to feel it!

Xia Wenjin snorted, “Deal with the stuff on the floor, I’m going back to sleep!”

Huangfu Jingchen said, “Not seeing you off!”

Xia Wenjin: “…”

Taking advantage of Huangfu Jingchen’s inability to see her clearly, she bit her lip, wrinkled her nose, and made a face, snorting, who needs you to see them off?

Facing him, and with Huangfu Jingchen turned away, at this moment, the clouds had just thinned and the crescent moon was doing its best to shine. Xia Wenjin didn’t know, but her little expression was betrayed by the moonlight.

Huangfu Jingchen’s lips curved slightly.

Xia Wenjin had already swiftly turned and left.

Watching her nimble figure flit through the tree shadows like a swallow and disappear into the night, he suddenly came to his senses. He had just found Xia Wenjin’s face-making… cute?

That was a Long Yang…

Huangfu Jingchen’s smile froze on his lips.

The following night, after Wang Wan’er had vigilantly kept watch for a day and a night, the urge to feast her eyes had diminished considerably. After staying for a while in Huangfu Jingchen’s room and seeing him still lying there motionless, she left with Qiao Xi and the others.

Qiao Xi lingered at the end, looking back several times, reluctant to go.

But somehow, after seeming to eat something bad last night, her stomach wasn’t well throughout the day, leaving her without the energy to act on any intentions.

Hearing the sounds from outside gradually fading, estimating that the master and servants had left the courtyard, Huangfu Jingchen turned over and got up.

Inside the room, Xia Wenjin was leisurely gnawing on a pig’s trotter when the window suddenly moved, and a figure appeared in front of her.

Xia Wenjin bit hard on the bone, hitting her teeth, and nearly dropped the pig’s trotter in fright, quickly cupping it with both hands. Then she waved at Huangfu Jingchen, “You’re here early, what do you want to eat today? It’s on me!”

With an air of leisure and ease, her delicate little face had eyes bright as black pearls and slightly upturned lips, smiling as if the recent fluster wasn’t her.

On the table were wrapped oil papers, opened with delicious scents wafting out, displaying marinated pig’s trotters, marinated beef, along with a whole fish, and several buns.

Huangfu Jingchen: “…”

Quite a feast!

Did she clear out all the leftover food from the kitchen?

He specifically came over not for the food.

The boy’s relaxed ease before him gave him the illusion that Xia Wenjin was here on a holiday. But he wasn’t, he had come with a plan.

He said, “Where’s the account book you got from Hua Cheng Villa?”

“Threw it away!” Xia Wenjin replied nonchalantly.

Huangfu Jingchen frowned, “Give it to me!”

“Why should I?” Xia Wenjin glanced at him, “I found it. Besides, didn’t you understand? I really threw it away! Just think, if I carried something like that, wouldn’t my cover be blown pretending to be sick? If found, wouldn’t I lose my life? Besides, what do I need that thing for? Can’t eat it or drink it!”

Of course, Huangfu Jingchen didn’t believe it. When she forced the old accountant to bring out the real account book, it was clear she understood. Saying she threw it away, who would believe that? But Xia Wenjin wouldn’t yield, and he was also helpless. He sneered, “You wouldn’t tell me you threw those silver notes away too, would you?”

Xia Wenjin flashed a big smile, giving him a thumbs-up, “Smart!” She said with a smile, “Of course they had to be thrown away. Not to mention so many silver notes, even just one would arouse suspicion. Coming to this Governor Mansion is no different than entering a lion’s den. Can’t leave any dangerous items behind!”

Huangfu Jingchen was exasperated, “Those important things, you…”

“What’s so important about an account book? Even silver notes aren’t that crucial! If I can throw away silver notes, would I keep an account book for New Year?” Xia Wenjin replied indifferently, wiping her hands with a clean cloth, yawning, “Are you eating or not? If you are, take it, I’m going to sleep!”

Huangfu Jingchen watched her walking towards the bed, she really… was going to sleep? He slowly retracted his gaze, pursed his thin lips.

Was he very upset? Not really.

Xia Wenjin was right; it was something she found, and it was her decision how to deal with it.

Though that account book was important, there should be more crucial things in the Governor Mansion.

Yes, the reason he came to the Governor Mansion was to gather evidence.

Huangfu Jingchen’s intent was to find evidence of Governor Wang’s local tyranny, his absolute rule and numerous misdeeds, and once in hand, he would proceed with the next step.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep