Chapter 173 - Id Rather Believe He is Dead (1/2)

Xiao Baozhu had taken on a brand-new look from head to toe. She was dressed in silk, wearing all kinds of ornate jewelry for a rich mistress. Even more striking was the change in her disposition. Showing no hint of her once modest shyness, she was dignified and stubborn with indifferent eyes. In short, she was no longer her old self. Besides, she was attended to by a compliant maid holding various gifts, including clothes and meat.

Seeing her transformation, Li Hongmei was so excited and stunned that she failed to utter a word.

Xiao Baozhu said softly, “Mom, don’t you remember me? I’m your daughter.”

“Oh, it’s so hard to believe what I see!” Tears suddenly rolled down Li Hongmei’s face.

As she strode up to hold Xiao Baozhu’s hands in hers, she noticed that her skin had become much more delicate. She wore a jade bracelet, which was a sign of a rich and carefree life.

Li Hongmei wept as she said, “You’re finally living a good life. I don’t expect w.a.n.g Jiaxiu to be devoted to you. I just hope that you can get better treatment and will never be hurt in his family.”

Xiao Baozhu gave a rea.s.suring smile. “I’m fine. Look, I’m well treated.” She then asked her maid to give the gifts to Li Hongmei, Xiao Baofeng and Ye Xiaoxian.

Ye Xiaoxian thanked her dryly as she took the gift. The gift for her was a roll of cloth, but she wasn’t in the mood to doll herself up now.

When they sat down, Xiao Baozhu said apologetically, “Mom, Sister Ye, I know what you’ve been through, although I didn’t come back. I’m sorry that I didn’t stand by your side when you needed help.”

Ye Xiaoxian smiled warmly. “Baozhu, it’s not your fault. You were also busy at that time. Besides, everything is all right now. Both Mom and I are fine.”

“But my brother…”

The smile suddenly froze on Ye Xiaoxian’s lips. “I’d rather believe he is dead.”

Silence suddenly fell over them after Ye Xiaoxian had said that.

At the same time, the men on the roof were also stunned. Yes, at this moment, two men were lying on the roof. They hid well, even in broad daylight, showing their excellence in martial arts.

After a long silence, Xiao Baozhu showed an embarra.s.sed smile and said, “Sister Ye, my brother did fail you, but I don’t think he meant it. After all, you have spent some happy times together, which makes me envious. He loves you. But no one’s loved me, not even for a single day.”

As the heart-to-heart talk continued, the three women gradually became sentimental. Xiao Baozhu left after chatting a while longer.

There was silence again. After a moment, Ye Xiaoxian heaved a deep sigh and said, “Mom, I have to prepare tomorrow’s snacks now.”

Li Hongmei replied, “I can help you.”

The two men on the roof remained there until it became dark. Then, they jumped down into the lane beside the yard. One of them was strikingly handsome, aged around 18. His black robe was made of the finest cloth, displaying his distinguished ident.i.ty. In contrast, his tone and expression were not that steady and he seemed to have a short fuse. His gracefully arched eyebrows furrowed as if someone owed him a large sum of money.

He said arrogantly, “No wonder those fatheads couldn’t find Xiao Baoshan. Even his wife treats him like he were dead and doesn’t expect him to return.”

Beside him was a 16-year-old boy who appeared to be a footman or bodyguard. He looked more stable than his master.

“Young Master, do we still need to question this woman?” asked the footman, called Fengsheng.

The ill-tempered man was named Li Chengru. Li Chengru snorted and said, “No. We need to wait patiently. Those people failed just because they exposed their aim so easily. We can’t act as rashly as they did. The top priority is to get those women sussed.”

“Shall we take a rest at an inn? It’s dark now,” Fengsheng warned cautiously.

“Of course!” replied Li Chengru impatiently as he frowned. In Li Chengru’s view, the county was small and remote. He felt disgusted, thinking that there wouldn’t be a decent inn around here.

…

Li Chengru and Fengsheng soon arrived at Jun Lai Inn, the best of its kind in the county. But Li Chengru still frowned with dissatisfaction.

This is the best inn?