Finally breaking through the most crowded area, Nanyi looked up at the layered neighborhood buildings. Considering that there were colorful silk flower lanterns blocking the view everywhere, she might as well go directly over the rooftops—it might be faster.
Just as she was about to leap onto the rooftops, someone grasped her wrist. With skillful force, that person effortlessly pulled her over.
Nanyi didn’t even need to look up—from the way he gripped her wrist and the temperature of his palm, she knew who it was.
“Where are you going?” He skipped all pleasantries.
“Just… wandering around casually. How did you recognize me?”
When Nanyi looked up, she was still startled. On this festive Lantern Festival, this person was wearing a White Impermanence mask—a living person deliberately associating himself with the underworld.
He let out a scoffing laugh: “What decent person goes wandering on rooftops?”
Fortunately, the mask concealed Nanyi’s speechless expression—she couldn’t come up with a retort.
His words seemed to contain a low chuckle, his entire demeanor quite relaxed. “I’m also wandering around. Let’s go together.”
Though clearly an invitation, it carried his usual unquestionable tone. Xie Queshan didn’t release his grip, directly pulling her back into the bustling crowd.
Nanyi had no room for refusal, and her heart was already stamping with anxiety.
“What, not happy about it?” Seeming to sense her hesitation, he turned back to look at her.
“How would I dare be unhappy…” Nanyi muttered.
“Whatever catches your eye, I’ll buy it all for you.” His tone softened.
Though she couldn’t see his expression, Nanyi felt he was in a good mood. He probably didn’t know about the Candle Bureau’s operation today, right? Otherwise, how could he be so leisurely strolling around?
The young master being in too good a mood was also troublesome—if he wandered around endlessly, how would she escape?
Beneath his wide robes, he still gripped her wrist. Nanyi assumed he was just afraid she’d run away, not daring to think too much about it, following along beside him step by step.
Wearing masks, no one could recognize them. Walking on the street, they were just ordinary people.
In no time, her hair was adorned with the most fashionable magnolia hairpins, crystal gems dangled from her ears, and around her neck hung a gold-pendant agate necklace. He tirelessly dressed her up—this was beautiful, that was also beautiful—spending money on her like flowing water.
The more he did this, the less Nanyi could fathom his behavior. Not daring to make a sound, her heart was as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
What if she missed getting Sister Qiu and Third Aunt to the Yongguiqiao ferry dock…
At this thought, steeling her heart, she reached back and grasped Xie Queshan’s hand.
That soft, cool hand unexpectedly slipped into his palm, like a sailing boat suddenly striking a reef—the reef’s edge hitting the soft heart, forcibly creating a wound.
It didn’t hurt, but his whole body tingled with numbness.
Seeing he had no reaction, her fingertips tentatively traced across his palm, signaling him to return to his senses.
His palm itched, and instinctively he tightened his grip on her hand, not allowing her to move anymore. His steps finally stopped as he looked at her through his mask.
“Young master, I’m tired. Let’s go back.” She feigned pitiful helplessness, speaking with grievance. Her soft, gentle voice was quite pleasing to the ear.
Behind the mask, his face had already broken into a smile, but his voice remained calm: “There’s a resting place ahead.”
He was still in high spirits with no intention of returning, simply taking the opportunity to pull her forward by the hand.
Palm pressed against palm, they quickly became burning hot, even developing sweat, yet even so, he didn’t let go.
Nanyi was somewhat dazed. She had never even held hands with Zhang Yuehui!
Wasn’t this a bit too intimate?
As soon as this thought flashed through her mind, Nanyi jolted awake.
Intimate? Her and Xie Queshan? This had to be some kind of ghost story.
Xie Queshan forcibly pulled Nanyi to a small stall—one that provided various materials for customers to handcraft flower lanterns.
With great interest, he pulled her to sit down, wanting to make an octagonal flower lantern together with her.
Nanyi realized this wasn’t resting at all—this was clearly stalling for time!
Did Xie Queshan know something? Was he trying to detain her here to obstruct her mission? What a sinister heart this man had!
Various thoughts churned in Nanyi’s mind.
Seeing she had no reaction, he reached out and snapped his fingers in front of her to bring her back to attention.
“Don’t want to try?”
Her voice was as forced as a dry, withered leaf: “Want… of course I want to…”
“Don’t lie to me.”
He spoke these seemingly joking words, yet they made Nanyi’s heart jump. Just as she wanted to ponder this more carefully, he had already lowered his head to seriously select lantern materials.
“Young master—” Nanyi was ready to surrender.
“Paste.” He was focused on making the flower lantern, extending his hand for Nanyi to pass him the paste.
Nanyi steeled her heart and simply stood up directly, leaning close to his ear to speak.
The sky nearing nightfall had begun to stir with wisps of cool wind, freezing her ears stiff. But when she leaned over to speak, her warm breath sprayed against his ear, and her soft voice unexpectedly drilled into his head.
“Young master, tonight Xiaoliu needs to send Third Uncle away. I have to escort Sister Qiu and Aunt there.”
After speaking, Nanyi immediately regretted it. What if he wanted to sabotage the operation? Wouldn’t she become the great sinner who harmed Third Uncle?