“Young Master Xie!”
The girls who had been standing in the back instantly rushed forward, knocking her aside. Qi Leyun, running the fastest, even stepped on her foot.
This damned girl! Chu Zhao bent her knee and lifted her foot. A’Le hurriedly supported her. Looking forward again, that handsome gentleman descending the stairs was even more engulfed, and she couldn’t see anything anymore—only a crowd of people all squeezed on the stairway.
What was going on! Chu Zhao rubbed her foot, set it down, and stood steady. With so many people, be careful the stairs don’t collapse!
She took A’Le and walked inward a bit, circling around the stairway area to walk back to her own seat.
The seat was empty. Deng Yi had already disappeared.
The food and drink on the plates had been half-eaten, and two wine pots were set out.
“Miss Chu.” A shop attendant was standing to the side. Seeing her return, he greeted her with a beaming smile. “Congratulations on your victorious return.”
His attitude was much more enthusiastic than before. He even remembered her surname and could offer congratulations. Chu Zhao smiled slightly.
“Lord Deng has already eaten and said he had business and left first,” the shop attendant said, then asked tentatively, “Miss Chu, see if there’s anything else you’d like to add? Lord Deng has quite an appetite—he ate quite a lot.”
Chu Zhao understood his meaning. This was hinting that the meal hadn’t been paid for yet.
Deng Yi had indeed left without paying the bill. However, this was fine. Deng Yi owing her a meal was much more advantageous than her owing Deng Yi a meal.
“Bring me a pot of wine too,” she said. She was happy today, but—there wasn’t really much to be happy about either.
The shop attendant saw the smiling girl’s face become veiled with a layer of melancholy and hurriedly answered and left, lest she start crying and refuse to pay—
Chu Zhao leaned against the backrest and let out a soft breath.
“Miss, you’re so amazing,” A’Le looked at Chu Zhao, her face full of admiration.
Chu Zhao shook her head: “Not amazing. If I were truly amazing, I wouldn’t need to do this.”
She wouldn’t have had to die, wouldn’t have been reborn, wouldn’t have to compete with Chu Ke here.
What was there to be proud and pleased about in this? Alas.
She looked across the way. Chu Ke was surrounded by his companions, no longer showing his earlier smugness but dejected and dispirited.
With this lesson, Chu Ke would be too ashamed to go out, which would also spare him from having his legs broken. Be content with that.
Her gaze shifted downward and she saw Qi Leyun’s group of girls had already followed that gentleman to the first floor. The hall on the first floor had become even more crowded, with everyone surrounding that man.
Who was this person to be so sought after? How did she not know? What had Qi Leyun shouted earlier? Xie, Third Young Master Xie—
Xie!
Young Master Xie!
The thought flashed through her mind. Chu Zhao sprang up from her seat and threw herself against the railing to look at the first floor, half her body leaning out.