Luo Xian'er didn't stay long.
After a hurried farewell, she returned to the Luo Residence alone.
"—It's rare for Miss to lose her composure like that."
Tanxiang slowly poured tea nearby, glancing sideways. "Was it that man? Did he disappoint you, Miss?"
"…I didn't expect his power to have increased again." Luo Xian'er took a delicate sip of her tea, her expression softening slightly. "I made a bit of a fool of myself."
A trace of surprise appeared on Tanxiang's face.
She leaned forward slightly and said, "Should we thoroughly investigate that man's background?"
"No need."
Luo Xian'er's eyelashes drooped slightly as she gazed at the wavering reflection in her cup. "Although he's pedantic at every turn, feigning composure, he's ultimately just an inexperienced young man."
Tanxiang was taken aback. "Is that a compliment, Miss?"
"To possess such a temperament while living in this world is, in itself, a treasure."
Luo Xian'er gently stroked her shoulder, as if a lingering warmth remained. "He's just a little mischievous."
Tanxiang: "…"
Luo Xian'er gathered her thoughts, picked up a secret letter from the table, and said softly, "The people from Bing Tan are coming to East City?"
"…Yes." Tanxiang lowered her head. "They will arrive in less than twenty days."
"I hope they'll be sensible."
Luo Xian'er pondered for a moment, then said, "Make a trip to the yamen tomorrow morning. I have matters to convey."
"Understood."
In the adjacent residence.
Yang Shifei practiced his fist techniques two more times, then clenched his fists, a little surprised.
It seemed that because the cold energy had been replenished again, his physique had improved considerably compared to before.
If not for that, the little accident earlier wouldn't have happened…
But thinking of this, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"This Eldest Miss looks so icy, but it turns out she has a bit of a temper too."
As his thoughts wandered, the image of her curvaceous figure surfaced in his mind again.
Even though she wore modest and dignified dresses that didn't reveal even a sliver of skin, the sheer scale of her chest, bound by layers of silk, was still so eye-catching.
So big… Ahem!
Yang Shifei forcefully rapped his forehead.
When a man had too much idle time, his thoughts indeed tended to wander.
But Luo Xian'er's almost petulant little glare at that moment was truly enough to make one's whole body tingle.
"If she weren't a female ghost…"
Yang Shifei was stunned for a moment, then quickly cast aside such distracting thoughts.
It's fine, female ghosts are pretty good too.
He quickly returned to the main hall and picked up the ledger, flipping through it.
It recorded Clear Moon Pavilion's various expenditures and earnings from the previous period, far more detailed than before, with many special annotations.
"This certainly lessens my workload considerably."
Half an hour later, in the study.
Yang Shifei put down his brush, checked the accounts one last time by candlelight, and then nodded with satisfaction.
The first day of his accounting job was successfully completed.
If he could maintain this, he would have a respectable and stable livelihood in this world.
However—
"Miss Yue Rui."
Yang Shifei carefully put away the ledger, looking at the pretty young girl sitting opposite him at the desk. "When did you arrive?"
"Just now."
Yue Rui sat in the chair with her knees hugged to her chest, her already petite body almost curled into a ball, looking utterly endearing.
She blinked her gem-like beautiful eyes. "Finished your work?"
"Yes." Yang Shifei said with a laugh, "Seeing you like this, do you need something from me?"
"Sucky-sucky."
Yue Rui extended a jade-like hand with a grin, her five fingers even wiggling playfully.
Yang Shifei smiled helplessly. "I already said, it's 'cultivation practice'."
He stood up, took the girl's small hand, and focused his intent as before.
"Hiss—"
Yang Shifei quickly drew a breath and pulled his hand back, shaking it.
A thought flickered through his mind, and he realized the cold energy surging into his body had become somewhat thinner.
Was his body unable to bear more, or had this girl been drained dry?
"You look a bit 'full'."
Yue Rui suddenly spoke, her bright eyes shimmering. "So, I gave you a little less."
Yang Shifei was startled upon hearing this, then quickly smiled. "You're quite considerate."
He casually picked up the candlestick beside him. "I'll go back and rest first. What are you planning to do next…"
"Don't go."
But Yue Rui puffed up her little cheeks and patted her knees with a thump, thump. "Stay with me."
Yang Shifei paused. "Now?"
Looking at the sky outside, it should be past the hour of Hai (9-11 PM); the entirety of East City was dark.
"You're not sleeping?"
"Slept enough."
Yue Rui leaped up, hands on her hips, chest puffed out, her little face full of pride. "Right now, I'm full of energy!"
Yang Shifei: "…"
So, she was a genuine night owl.
A short while later, on the roof of the residence.
Yang Shifei carefully climbed up, looked at the overlapping tiles around him, then towards the young girl not far away who was smiling and patting the 'seat' beside her.
"…Have you sat here before?"
Yang Shifei's expression was slightly peculiar as he walked over to Yue Rui's side and bent down to sit.
She called herself a night owl, but he hadn't expected her to actually climb onto rooftops.
"This is a place I often come to."
"Do you know the Niu family?"
"Don't know them."
Yue Rui raised her hand and pointed to the moon in the sky. "It's just that the scenery here is very good."
Only then did Yang Shifei nod in understanding.
But looking at the bright crescent moon in the sky, he felt a sense of novelty.
This little girl looked so innocent and harmless; did she really have the leisure and refined taste to sit alone and admire the moon?
But Yang Shifei then realized he knew almost nothing about Yue Rui.
"Why tonight…"
Yang Shifei softened his tone. "…did you specifically seek me out to admire the moon together?"
Yue Rui gazed at the star-filled sky and said without hesitation, "You're the same as me."
"Uh, how are we the same?"
"Alone."
"…Damn."
Yang Shifei's eyes went lifeless for a moment; he almost thought this little girl was teasing him.
But on second thought, he looked at the young girl thoughtfully. "You also have no relatives or friends in East City?"
"Yup."
Yue Rui propped her elbows on her knees, cupping her face with her hands. "I've lived in an abandoned mountain temple deep in the mountains outside the city since I was little. No one would disturb me. Only when I got a bit older did I come to East City to wander around, and I usually only go out late at night."
"…It hasn't been easy for you either."
Yang Shifei could understand the deeper meaning in her words.
He figured this girl had likely been without parents since childhood, somehow managing to grow up in the mountain forests.
"So, I can tell."
Yue Rui turned her head to look at him, a slight smile on her face. "We're the same kind."
Yang Shifei was speechless.
Thinking about it carefully, this girl wasn't wrong.
Having transmigrated, he was forced to completely sever ties with his past. Arriving alone in East City, wasn't he just another 'Yue Rui'?
"The way you say it, you're about to make me homesick."
Yang Shifei sighed. "Are you perhaps hoping to see me cry my eyes out tonight?"
"Nope."
Yue Rui tilted her head. "It's just that when two people admire the moon together, it's more relaxing."
Yang Shifei's eyebrows rose slightly; he had indeed misunderstood.
This girl, perhaps she was quite warm-hearted.
But he quickly became curious. "There should be others in East City with miserable backgrounds. Haven't you tried to make friends with them?"
"Don't want to."
But Yue Rui's answer was somewhat unexpected. "They have nothing to do with me."
Yang Shifei was taken aback. "Then why did you specifically seek me out?"
Yue Rui glanced at him, the corners of her mouth curving into a beautiful arc.
"Because you 'sucked' me~"
"???"
Wait, what are you talking about?
Yang Shifei's mouth twitched. Just as he was about to correct her, he saw Yue Rui waggle a slender finger and say with a grin, "We've already dual cultivated, of course I have to be with you."
"Huh? This counts as dual cultivation?!"
Yang Shifei was greatly alarmed.
He subconsciously glanced at Yue Rui's petite body… Would he be arrested by the authorities?
Wait, the age of marriage for women in this world didn't seem to be very old…
"Hmph hmph, your mind is wandering again~"
Yue Rui tilted her little head and giggled. "Seeing you always acting so prim and proper before, you're much more interesting now."
Yang Shifei was startled by her words, a warmth spreading in his heart.
He let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping, and smiled somewhat lazily. "I'd love to joke around too, but being alone in a foreign place, I'm really not my own master. Not only do I have to speak formally, but I also have to bow and cup my fists whenever I meet someone. It's exhausting. I've long wanted to just drop everything and not care."
"Then don't care anymore~"
Yang Shifei looked up and saw Yue Rui's face beaming with an adorable smile. She made a small fist and waved it gently. "I don't like all that formality. From now on, you can say whatever you want~"
"…"
With that, Yue Rui stretched out her body without any defenses and lay down on the roof with carefree abandon.
"No more talking, look at the moon~"
"…Alright!"
Yang Shifei followed her example and lay down as well.
Although Yue Rui was still shrouded in many mysteries, there was plenty of time ahead, and there would be more opportunities to get to know each other.
It wasn't for the 'golden finger,' but rather because he felt this little girl…
Was quite interesting.
He pillowed his hands behind his head and silently watched the bright moon in the sky.
Separated by such a distance, he wondered if he and his parents, relatives, and friends were still looking at the same moon.
The next morning.
As sunlight scattered and fell on his face, Yang Shifei slowly woke up to the warmth.
He had just sat up straight when he nearly slipped, only then realizing his hands were propped on roof tiles.
Damn.
Had he fallen asleep on the roof?
Yang Shifei quickly looked around and saw Yue Rui also lying nearby, sleeping soundly with an adorable expression, drool even trickling from the corner of her mouth.
"…Just how long does this girl sleep each day?"
Yang Shifei was a bit dumbfounded.
He gently pushed Yue Rui's shoulder. "Girl, wake up, quickly."
But the little girl just rolled over, clearly wanting to sleep for another half a day.
Yang Shifei sighed helplessly. After a moment of internal debate, he carefully picked her up.
He couldn't just leave this girl on the roof, could he?
Perhaps because of their moon-viewing session last night, Yang Shifei felt they had grown somewhat closer.
However, once the young girl's soft body was in his arms, he felt a bit awkward.
He hadn't expected this little girl, who looked so petite and delicate, to have quite some substance beneath her modest clothes. As his palm brushed past her thigh, his fingers seemed to sink in.
Fragrant, and soft.
Yang Shifei could only grit his teeth and extinguish the trace of wicked thought.
It wasn't that he wanted to pretend to be some righteous gentleman, but she had just become his confidante last night, and to start taking advantage of her right away…
That would be a bit heartless.
After finally managing to jump down from the roof, he quickly carried Yue Rui back to her bed, laid her down, stood there scratching his head, then went ahead and took off her shoes and socks, covered her with a thin blanket, and seeing nothing else he could help with, he tiptoed out of the room.
"…"
As the boudoir gradually quieted, Yue Rui, who should have been fast asleep, quietly opened her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Yang… Shifei."
She rolled around on the bed a couple of times, tangling the blanket into a ball, then muffled her head and giggled softly.
"This person… is quite interesting~"