Zhao Qi felt guilty and dared not look directly at Cheng Bai, raising his hands in surrender and saying, "Alright, alright, my fault, my fault..."
"I had no idea a beastman could be as moody as a ger, one moment utterly disgusted and the next completely infatuated." Zhao Qi muttered under his breath.
Cheng Bai glared at him. Zhao Qi waved his hand, pulling his lapel free from Cheng Bai's grip, and said, "Fine, we'll figure it out together, we'll figure out a way together to help you win back the young master's heart, alright?"
"..." Only then did Cheng Bai retract his hand.
Zhao Qi said, "My round, grubby little brother Zhao Xiang seems to get along quite well with that young master. I'll have him put in a good word for you later, the young master listens to him the most."
"..." Upon hearing this, Cheng Bai's eye twitched. "And you have the nerve to mention your brother? Haven't you heard the rumors outside or the news from the city lord this morning?"
"?" Zhao Qi wore a look of confusion.
Seeing his clueless expression, Cheng Bai sighed deeply and asked, "Then what exactly have you been doing since returning to Ning'an City?"
"My father sent me to guard the city. I've been patrolling the outer perimeter and didn't even get to attend the night banquet," Zhao Qi said.
Cheng Bai facepalmed, paused for a moment, and then spoke: "The word outside is that your dear brother has been bullying Xi Yao all along, embezzling money from the pavilion, and not long ago, he even went directly to Xi Yao's home and killed all his servants."
"!" Zhao Qi looked shocked. "That grubby, round little brother is so bold and ruthless?"
"..." Cheng Bai scoffed and said, "Exactly. Your brother is a real troublemaker. But he should have learned his lesson this time. The city lord was furious, used an excuse, and confiscated all of Zhao Xiang's personal money."
"...The city lord indeed acts decisively." Zhao Qi wore a look of admiration.
Cheng Bai watched him, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes. "He's your brother."
"Yeah." Zhao Qi nodded. Seeing Cheng Bai's confusion, he explained, "Although he's my brother, we aren't that close. I'm often sent away by my father, basically doing the work of the martial hall master. You know, I'm frequently outside with you and your brother. I've spent more time with the two of you than with my own family."
"...He's still blood kin after all." Cheng Bai muttered quietly. Hearing this, a shadow of gloom briefly passed through Zhao Qi's eyes, but it was quickly concealed.
"Never mind about me. Since that brother is no good, we need to think of another way." Zhao Qi stepped forward and slung an arm over Cheng Bai's shoulder.
"What way is there?" Cheng Bai brushed off his hand. "The little delicate one won't even accept my gifts now."
Cheng Bai looked at the chests of gifts, his eyes dim.
The little delicate one clearly liked these things so much when he saw them... and yet...
The beastman before him sighed dejectedly, his long eyelashes drooping low like the listless wings of a butterfly resting on a leaf...
This beastman was usually so triumphant and successful in Ning'an City, when had he ever been so defeated and low before?
Zhao Qi quietly shuffled closer and asked in a low voice, "You... you really like that young master that much?"
"Could it be fake?" Cheng Bai pressed his lips together.
"Then why did you before..." Cheng Bai glared at Zhao Qi, who didn't finish his sentence.
"Well, when it comes to pursuing a ger here in Ning'an City, it's nothing more than giving jewelry, clothes, food, then asking them out for street strolls, boat rides, and fun outings everywhere... finally proposing marriage."
"You..." Zhao Qi glanced at the chests in the courtyard. "You've sent practically everything you can... Asking him out now that he dislikes you so much probably won't work either, so this..."
"And whose fault is it that he dislikes me so much?" Cheng Bai shot Zhao Qi a look. Zhao Qi smacked his lips bitterly and said, "Well, you were in the wrong first too."
Cheng Bai didn't reply. He stared blankly at the items in the courtyard and said softly, "The little delicate one clearly liked these things very much, but he won't accept them because they're from me."
"..." Zhao Qi sighed.
Cheng Bai looked at the chests in the courtyard for a long while, then a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes. He stood up and said, "Here's what I'll do. I'll find someone to give gifts to the little delicate one, but not in my name."
"But he's already seen these things of yours, he'll definitely know it's you. And besides, if it's not in your name, what's the point? No matter how much you send, he won't know it's from you," Zhao Qi asked.
"Even if he doesn't know now, he will eventually. Where sincerity reaches, even metal and stone can be split open." As Cheng Bai spoke, he glanced at the chests and said, "But you're right about one thing. I can't send the things in these chests. First, he's seen them and would know. Second, these things aren't good enough for him anyway. My little delicate one deserves to use and eat things I've made for him with my own hands."
"With your own hands?!" Zhao Qi was astonished. "You mean you'll make these yourself? Including the food, jewelry, clothes, all of it? Even if you're capable, you're the young master Cheng everyone in Ning'an City praises, but do you even know how to do these things?"
"I can learn," Cheng Bai said, completely unconcerned.
"..." Zhao Qi was convinced now of this person's sincerity...
"Now the problem is, who can I find to deliver the things to the little delicate one, someone from whom he would actually accept them."
"It has to be a ger. It's easier for gifts to pass between ger." As Zhao Qi spoke, a person came to mind. He patted Cheng Bai and said, "Besides Zhao Xiang, isn't there another ger the young master is close with?"
"?" Cheng Bai was puzzled.
Zhao Qi said, "Shi Yu. He's just returned, I saw him entering the city today."
"..." Cheng Bai took a sharp breath and turned his face away. "That person and I are naturally incompatible. He's always trying to break me and the little delicate one up. There's no way he'd help me."
Zhao Qi, recalling the past, said, "Right, he truly never approved of you and the young master being together."
"..." Cheng Bai sighed.
Zhao Qi thought for a moment, and another person came to mind. "There's another ger in the city, about the same age as the young master, who can also get a word in with him."
"?" Cheng Bai looked at Zhao Qi inquiringly. Zhao Qi leaned in mysteriously and whispered, "Pan Shulin."
"!"
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