Chapter 193: Have You Ever Longed for Someone?
The next morning, Sang Zhe stubbornly got up with his slightly sore legs to manage the moving plans.
Only the two girls were left sleeping peacefully on the messy bed.
Yawning as he stepped out of the door, he noticed Master Yu Xia had prepared breakfast for him, so he sat down and took a few bites.
However, while eating, he felt as if someone was secretly watching him.
“……What are you doing? Aren’t you coming out for breakfast?”
Si Jingzhu, startled like a little rabbit, abruptly closed the door again and shrank back inside.
Seeing her face as red as blood, Sang Zhe quickly pieced it together.
That girl probably recalled her ridiculous comments from the night before in front of everyone.
Knowing Si Jingzhu as he did, she’d likely avoid people for the next few days out of embarrassment.
Well, that’s what happens when one drinks too much.
If he had known he’d blabber when drunk, he should’ve just drunk less to begin with.
Not long after, Yan Rouwan and Shi Qingyan also woke up.
Yan Rouwan seemed to have a slight hangover, her pale face resting on the table.
Meanwhile, Shi Qingyan sat calmly sipping tea as if nothing was wrong.
“Senior Sister Shi, you drink so well?”
“I grew up smelling this aroma.” Shi Qingyan replied blandly, “Although I don’t like the scent, I’ve long since built resistance to getting drunk.”
Sang Zhe thought it might be better to let Shi Qingyan have juice next time.
After finishing breakfast, Sang Zhe was about to take Master Yu Xia to find people in the market to help with the move when suddenly, the communication device went off again.
It was Hua Jianglian asking him to come to her office.
……More overtime? With a helpless sigh, Sang Zhe sent Master Yu Xia ahead to find help.
He then turned to head back up the mountain.
——
——
In Hua Jianglian’s office.
At this moment, Hua Jianglian was sitting in a chair bigger than herself, curled up, reading manga.
When Sang Zhe walked in, she lazily raised her head:
“Ah, you’re here.”
“The documents on the desk, take them with you when you leave. They’re needed at the branch office.”
“So many?” Sang Zhe observed the huge stack of paperwork, his face showing signs of headache.
“No way around it. The branch office is desperate for manpower right now, and you’ll see what I mean after you go there.”
While casually flipping through the manga pages, she quietly added, “Once you’re there, you and Yan Rouwan should help Yu Bing a bit. The branch office is just getting started, so I worry Yu Bing might be overwhelmed.”
“Be diligent with work, even if I can’t supervise you, I expect you to show up on time every day. No leaving early or arriving late, or else Yu Bing will dock your pay.”
“Decide on small matters yourself, but consult with Yu Bing on the big ones…”
Sang Zhe found it odd.
It was the first time he had seen the Sect Leader so loquacious about work-related matters.
From his perspective, Hua Jianglian would rather avoid any work if possible.
“And…”
After a long list of instructions, Hua Jianglian suddenly paused.
From behind the manga, a pair of big eyes peeked at Sang Zhe before she quickly looked away.
“When you have time… come back to keep me company.”
“The Fusa Pavilion is releasing new manga soon. Don’t forget to watch it with me.” Her tone was soft and almost like she was talking to herself.
Sang Zhe froze for a moment.
Then, he couldn’t help but chuckle: “Got it.”
“For work, come report once a week, how about it?”
Hua Jianglian’s eyes brightened slightly.
But in the next moment, she couldn’t help but huff: “Just don’t use reporting as an excuse to skip work.”
“Don’t worry.”
Sang Zhe thumped his chest confidently: “I promise I’ll get the branch office thriving within a year, Sect Leader!”
“Then I’ll take my leave now.”
After speaking, Sang Zhe picked up that hefty stack of documents and left the office.
Once he was gone, Hua Jianglian peeked out from behind the manga, staring at the door, and suddenly sighed wistfully.
“Why… does it feel so empty inside?”
“What’s wrong?” Just then, Tang Yubbing entered, catching her sigh.
“Nothing. Just thinking about how no one will be here to keep me company after you leave.” Hua Jianglian pouted, looking downcast.
But Tang Yubbing suddenly smiled mysteriously, stepping closer to her and whispering in her ear:
“I think, Sect Leader isn’t feeling lonely because I’m leaving.”
“——But rather because of Sang Zhe, right?”
Hua Jianglian didn’t know why she suddenly felt a bit tense.
She instinctively flushed, stubbornly retorting: “Him? He’s just a janitor. What’s there to feel lonely about? At worst, I can just hire another maid.”
“Really?”
“Really, really…”
Tang Yubbing chose not to tease Hua Jianglian further, instead casually sitting on the desk and saying:
“However, you’re still young, so no rush is fine.”
“Sooner or later, you’ll figure it out yourself.”
Hua Jianglian didn’t understand what Tang Yubbing meant by her cryptic words.
She just felt a sudden annoyance and buried herself back into the manga.
But something that she usually found captivating felt dull now, and she couldn’t focus on it at all.
In the manga, the heroine awoke from a spring dream at midnight, reminiscing about her moments with the male lead, gradually blushing and longing.
Normally, she loved reading such youthful romantic stories.
But for some reason today, her mind kept wandering elsewhere.
After a while, feeling frustrated, she snapped the manga shut: “I’m bored to death, I’m going out for a walk.”
Tang Yubbing chimed in from behind, teasing: “You could stroll down to the town below the mountain. Who knows, you might run into Sang Zhe.”
“Shut up!”
With a loud bang, amidst Tang Yubbing’s chuckles, Hua Jianglian stormed out.
——
——
In the end, she unknowingly found herself in the town at the foot of the mountain.
Hua Jianglian hadn’t intended to come here.
It felt like she was just wandering aimlessly, yet somehow ended up here.
It was the busiest time at the market, and Hua Jianglian pulled her cloak tighter around her, her petite figure weaving through the crowd.
She didn’t even realize if she was intentionally searching for someone’s silhouette.
After meandering for quite some time without a goal, her anticipated figure never showed up, leaving her feeling inexplicably dejected. Moments later, she scoffed at herself for feeling that way.
It was just a casual outing after all. There was no obligation to run into anyone.
“Eh? You’re…”
Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind her.
As Hua Jianglian turned, she came face to face with a stunning woman dressed in white, with delicate features, and rosy lips.
She looked slightly surprised as her beautiful eyes blinked at Hua Jianglian, the tone laced with hesitation.
“Flower Sect Leader?”
Hua Jianglian remembered her.
The Master of the Sword Flower Palace, Gu Yingmian.
(Tomorrow, if I have time, there will be more.)
