Chapter 131 (1/2)

Chapter 131 Cascades: Heartbreak

Xue Yiqi was beaming as he stepped into an area of a teahouse part.i.tioned by a screen, ill.u.s.trated with watercolour paintings of flowers and majestic landscapes. Inside, already waiting for him, was Qi Jianqiu, dressed in the clothes of a man.

“Jianqiu, you're finally free today!” Xue Yiqi sat down happily, taking over the cup of hot tea handed to him by Qi Jianqiu. He took a sip, looking at Qi Jianqiu intently, joy and excitement apparent in his big eyes.

Qi Jianqiu laughed sheepishly. “I'm pretty free these days; it's mostly you who's busy, now that you've gotten promoted again.”

Xue Yiqi smiled foolishly, scratching his head. “I'm indeed a little busier than before. I'm a little dense, and there's a lot of things I have to learn about. But if you were to invite me, I'll definitely be here! You can find me anytime you're bored.”

Qi Jianqiu dare not look at Xue Yiqi's eyes any longer. The better Xue Yiqi was to her, the more guilty she felt.

“Inspector, I believe that if the records are kept by two separate people, we can minimise the chances of such embezzlement happening again.” An official suggested to Gan Qingjia.

Another official chuckled. “We were only supposed to have fun today, but yet we're bothering the Inspector with such matters again.”

The official looked at Gan Qingjia guiltily and was about to apologise when he say Gan Qingjia looking at a part.i.tion on the second floor of the teahouse. Following his gaze, the officials could only make out two silhouettes behind the part.i.tion from their angle on the stairs, unable to clearly identify the patrons behind the part.i.tion.

“Inspector?” An official asked gingerly, noticing that the smile had drained from Gan Qingjia's face.

Gan Qingjia returned to his senses and, not speaking a word, gestured for the group to leave the teahouse. As soon as they were outside, the officials quickly took their leave, knowing that the gathering was not going to proceed with Gan Qingjia's apparent foul mood. His face cold and emotionless, Gan Qingjia headed to Moonglade across the street.

Behind the part.i.tion, Qi Jianqiu made small talk as Xue Yiqi finished his cup of tea. Naturally, Xue Yiqi was beyond delighted to be able to spend time with Qi Jianqiu in such a manner. Finally, she worked up the courage to broach the subject. She met Xue Yiqi's eyes, innocent and full of unmasked delight. She swallowed audibly.

“Yiqi, there's something I want to talk to you about.”

Xue Yiqi tensed up. He recalled the incident where he'd proposed to QI Jianqiu again just a few days back, and his hands balled into fists below the table.

“What…what is it?”

Qi Jianqiu paused for a while. “Can we just be friends?”

Xue Yiqi felt as if a pail of freezing cold water was doused onto his heart. “Why?” His voice was hoa.r.s.e. “Am I not good enough for you?”

“No,” Qi Jianqiu said, shaking her head vehemently, “you're brilliant, Yiqi. I don't know how to put this…but matters of the heart are unpredictable and abstruse; its not a matter of how good you are.”

Qi Jianqiu's thoughts were a mess, but she continued. “I really do see you as a good friend Yiqi, and I love to hang out with you, having a good time wherever we are. But such feelings I have for you will not develop into the feelings of the other kind, you know?” Xue Yiqi had been silent all the while, and she did not know what to expect. She was afraid that she'll lose the good friend she'd had in him, but she could not deceive him any longer.

“Is it because of Third Brother?” Xue Yiqi suddenly asked, looking straight into her eyes.

Qi Jianqiu froze, a red flush creeping up her face all the way to the tips of her ears. She quickly looked away and kept mum, not wanting to lie to him.

Xue Yiqi saw her reaction and the light in his eyes died. His face fell, disappointment written all across his expression. His voice was hoa.r.s.e and painful to listen to. “I understand. Your heart is already taken, and I apologise for having put you in a difficult spot.”

Xue Yiqi stood up and left. He'd came with joy and a lightness in his heart, but left with a broken heart weighing his steps down.

QI Jianqiu set behind the part.i.tion, overwhelmed by guilt, but a little relieved at the same time. Her heart was heavy, for she hated to break the heart of Xue Yiqi, but there was nothing she could do. It was only when the other part.i.tions have cleared out did she finally stand up and left the teahouse.

“Where should I go at such a time?” Qi Jianqiu stood on the street, momentarily lost. Her eyes fell on Moonglade that sat across the street and lit up. “Let's go to Moonglade! It'll probably be the last chance I get to enjoy myself before I tell that fellow what I just did.”

She strode across the street to the zither parlour and was quickly recognised by the owner, who led her to a private room. QI Jianqiu turned to the owner. “I'm sure Miss Linglong is free today; I want her to play a song for me.”

The owner panicked. “Linglong is with other guests at the moment; can we let Songzhi accompany you instead? She's almost as good as Linglong on the zither.”

Qi Jianqiu was about to agree, but she remembered that it was rare for Linglong to entertain guests alone. “Who is she with? It might be someone I know, and then it'll be good if we get to sit together.”

The owner let the cat out of the bag. “It's Master Gan, the Inspector of the Imperial Granaries.”

“What did you say?” Qi Jianqiu slammed her hand onto the table, her eyes blazing with anger. “Him?”

The owner mistook the reason for her anger as a feud between the two of them and quickly tried to calm her down. “Shall we get Songzhi instead?”

Qi Jianqiu puffed her cheeks. “No. I want you to go to Linglong and tell her about my request for her in my room. Let's see who she decides to accompany.” The owner had no choice but to comply with her wishes.

It wasn't long before a knock sounded on the door of the room.

Qi Jianqiu said lazily, “Enter.” She sighed inwardly. Just as she raised her head, about to praise Linglong for recognising her importance, her eyes met with Gan Qingjia, who was leaning against the frame of the door, a wide grin on his face.

“Hmph!” Qi Jianqiu turned away. “Liar!”