Chapter 10
Shen Yao Xing vaguely knew who the young master they were talking about was, and without much hesitation, she followed them.
It wasn't her first time entering the Four Directions Association. She knew from that night how vast it was inside, but now she found it even more exaggeratedly large. With winding paths both big and small, she hadn't eaten much early in the morning, and all this walking made her hungry.
"Hey," Shen Yao Xing patted her stomach and called out to the person leading the way in front, "Does your young master provide meals?"
The woman leading the way turned back in confusion and asked, "What does 'provide meals' mean?"
Forgetting that ancient people hadn't heard this term, Shen Yao Xing didn't know how to explain it to her for a moment. After thinking, she simply asked directly, "Did your young master call me over to treat me to a meal?"
"...You'll know when you get there, miss."
She thought they would take her to the main hall or a dining area, but who knew they would wind around and bring her to a garden. At first glance, this garden was extraordinary. Shen Yao Xing had been to the imperial palace a few times and seen the imperial garden, but compared to this, it seemed slightly inferior.
Shen Yao Xing couldn't help but sigh, thinking this was really just for show, all flowery and fancy.
The person who invited her was currently in a pavilion in the garden, playing chess. Shen Yao Xing stood far away, watching the woman who led her go to the pavilion to report. She saw the figure in the pavilion move slightly, and a young woman walked out. Wearing a light-colored long robe that looked casual, she walked towards Shen Yao Xing with arms slightly open.
"You're here!"
That familiar call, that enthusiastic smile, if one didn't know better, they might think the two were long-lost sisters.
"..." Wait, who are you, big sister?
"Come, please sit over here." The young woman smiled and made a welcoming gesture.
Shen Yao Xing didn't move, standing there scratching her face, not in the mood to beat around the bush with her: "May I ask... young master, why did you summon me?" After thinking for a moment, not knowing what to call her, she could only follow what the others called her.
Shen Yao Xing was feeling quite hungry now. If she had known it wasn't for a meal, she would have eaten first before coming.
Ye Xi Feng lightly flicked her sleeve, put one hand behind her back, and said with a smile, "Miss, there's no need to be so formal. My surname is Ye, given name Xi Feng. You can just call me by my name."
Seeing that the other person had already introduced herself, Shen Yao Xing also understood the courtesy of reciprocation. She cupped her hands in a formal manner and said, "My surname is Shen, given name Xing Xing. Those with an ordinary relationship call me Miss Shen, those with an extraordinary relationship call me Xing Xing. Feel free to choose."
This was the nickname she used outside, and no one except Meng Xin Yi knew her full name.
Ye Xi Feng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Miss Shen is truly an interesting person. I want to be friends with you even more now."
Friends?
Shen Yao Xing glanced over suspiciously, wondering if she had been called over specifically for this so-called friendship.
Ye Xi Feng invited her to sit in the pavilion again. This time, Shen Yao Xing didn't refuse. One shouldn't refuse a smiling face, especially on someone else's turf. Better to get it over with quickly so she could go out to eat.
Shen Yao Xing thought this way, but as she approached the pavilion, she regretted it. From her previous angle, the tree leaves had perfectly obscured the inner part of the pavilion. She knew Ye Xi Feng was playing chess but couldn't see clearly who she was playing with.
Now, the unhealed wound gave a slight burning sensation.
Jiang Ming Yue's indifferent gaze moved from the chessboard, looking straight at her. That casual look seemed to be appraising, his eyes deep and dark. The summer breeze gently brushed a few strands of dark hair falling by the side of his face as his thin lips moved slightly: "Miss Shen?"
"..."
Shen Yao Xing was two hundred percent certain that this guy definitely recognized her.
Ye Xi Feng's gaze swept between the two of them, asking puzzledly, "Do you know each other?"
Neither of them spoke. Shen Yao Xing's gaze fell on his fair and handsome face, her fingers at her side lightly rubbing against each other, wishing she could go up and slash his face right now.
The pavilion was silent for a good while before the young man broke the impasse. His voice was like the first thaw of snow, cold yet exceptionally pleasing to the ear: "I have indeed met Miss Shen once before."
His words carried a deeper meaning.
Shen Yao Xing wasn't sure which "meeting" he was referring to, since they had also met once at the inn, but he had only glanced at her casually then, probably not noticing her. She could only assume he meant the time when he was bathing.
Thinking of that time made her think of her disfigurement.
Read ahead full this novel and more female-dominant novels at yuushil<.>com