Yu Jin listened carefully, his expression changing slightly. He pulled Jiang Si behind a row of bookshelves.
The bookshelf was very tall, with books filling its various compartments, looking more impressive than the studies of many scholars.
It was said to be a common practice among merchant families to have a large study filled with books and paintings, even if they didn’t read much themselves.
Confused by Yu Jin’s sudden action, Jiang Si removed her veiled hat and silently asked, “What’s wrong?”
Yu Jin took Jiang Si’s hand and wrote two characters on her palm: Not asleep.
Jiang Si peered through the gaps between the books.
Soon, the person on the couch turned over and suddenly sat up.
Having adjusted to the darkness, Jiang Si could vaguely make out the person’s appearance.
It was a middle-aged man in his forties, somewhat overweight. His originally kind-looking face now appeared dejected and haggard, clearly suffering from distress.
The middle-aged man shuffled to the desk in his slippers. Without lighting a lamp, he just sat there. After a long while, he let out a long sigh, “Jiao Jiao, where are you? Father is so worried about you…”
Perhaps because it was late at night and no one was around, this man, tormented by his daughter’s disappearance, had been suppressing his emotions for too long. He began to weep.
Muffled sobs echoed in the quiet, dark study.
Jiang Si and Yu Jin exchanged a glance.
Yu Jin quickly wrote on her palm, “Proceed?”
Jiang Si didn’t answer. Instead, she quietly opened her hand at her side, and a faint glow flew along the ground toward Master Chi.
Only then did she nod slightly.
“Wait here,” Yu Jin quickly wrote on her palm before silently moving towards the windowsill.
There was a candlestick on the windowsill with a half-burned candle, its base covered in wax drippings.
Master Chi sat with his back to the window, momentarily unaware of anything unusual despite being affected by the phantom firefly.
Suddenly, the room brightened.
Master Chi, lost in his grief, took a moment to react. He turned around abruptly.
There was no one behind him, only the candle flickering in its holder.
The dim candlelight illuminated Master Chi’s surprised expression.
The door creaked open, the sound piercing in the silent night, grating on Master Chi’s ears.
“Who’s out there?” Master Chi strode to the door and looked out.
Outside was empty, with banana leaves swaying gently in the night breeze.
Further away, moving lights could be seen – Master Chi knew it was the servants carrying lanterns to catch thieves.
He felt safe here, with night patrol servants and several watchdogs. Those petty thieves risking everything for a hundred taels of silver were no match for his security.
“How was that?” Yu Jin, who had gone out through the door and quickly re-entered through the window after lighting the lamp, sought praise from Jiang Si.
Jiang Si pressed her lips together, unwilling to flatter dishonestly but afraid of dampening the spirits of the man before her who seemed to be wagging an imaginary tail. She hastily wrote two characters on his palm: “Passable.”
Master Chi, having found nothing, turned to go back inside but suddenly froze.
There, sitting at the desk where he had just been, was a young woman with her back to him. The candlelight cast her slender silhouette.