BXBX NOVEL Chapter 61 A Night Journey 1
In the study room, Prince Li used a short time to recheck their preparation for their secret operation which will be done tonight. The operation is connecting with the return of the Crown Prince. They had been watching the Crown Prince for a long time, now that he has returned. They need to act in this opportunity before too late, but they also need to be careful.
While in TanTan’s room. TanTan is also cleaning up herself by taking a bath, helped with XiaoRue and accompanied by QingQing. TanTan purposely asked QingQing accompanies her so they have time to discuss furthermore their plan to sneak out tonight, to the black market. TanTan’s simple plan is to ask XiaoRue disguises as her and pretending to sleep in the room while she and QingQing sneak out but as they ever fooled ManQi before, she is not sure ManQi will be fooled for the second time. So before she does that, she might have to behave well, not suspected at when they eat dinner later.
When dinner time comes, Every Li Family members gathers in the dining room. QingQing as the guest actually is invited to eat together but she prefers to eat with ManQi in the other room. TanTan actually wants to ask XiaoRue to find out what ManQi will do tonight so they can plan the night escape more detail, but QingQing offers her help right away for that task. It’s clearly unpleased XiaoRue so she also accepts the task although she still didn’t admit that she wants to do it because of jealousy. She quibbles,
"I am XiaoJie’s faithful servant...how can I bother QingQing XiaoJie to do my job?!"
QingQing smiles, she didn’t prevent XiaoRue to do it, in fact, she encourages XiaoRue,
"Sure...we can work together..."
And with that reason, she still chooses to eat in the same room with XiaoRue and ManQi.
So in the servant’s dining room, there is a rare view. ManQi is eating in the middle, while XiaoRue is at his right and QingQing is at his left. Other servants even gossiping them secretly at their back.
ManQi tries to ignore them although he is quite glad able to eat with XiaoRue.
But QingQing on the other side keeps throwing questions about what food he likes, what color he likes, what kind of girl he likes... it’s quite annoying for ManQi who used to eat alone, and also he felt uncomfortable being seen by XiaoRue in that condition.
"Miss QingQing, I hope you don’t mind I like to eat in peace..."
"Alright...you may eat, I won’t ask again..." QingQing smiles
"Thank you"
And then although she doesn’t talk ManQi still feels annoying because QingQing doesn’t stop staring on him. He tries to ignore it by turning to another side, but then he faces XiaoRue who is so quiet since the beginning. She looks not having the appetite to eat her meal. It worries ManQi,
"XiaoRue....are you okay?"
XiaoRue startled a little, she is nervous about how to find out ManQi’s activity tonight. If she asks it plainly, he might be suspicious but seeing QingQing is giving gesture encouraging her. She tries to be bold,
"I need to talk to you..."
ManQi widens his eyes, he is not expecting that comes,
"Okay,...what is it?"
"...not now, TONIGHT!! Do you...have any plan?"
"Tonight?" ManQi is still surprised and nervous suddenly.
Asking for a meeting with a man at night? He doesn’t see that XiaoRue can be so bold.
Seeing the changing expression of ManQi, XiaoRue sudden feels shy too, she is guessing that ManQi gets the wrong impression,
"Don’t get it wrong...I...just want to talk... but if you don’t want, it’s okay..."
"Oh...no...I love too. It just I have a work to do tonight...how ’bout tomorrow morning? I still have time if you like...before I go to the delivery job..."
ManQi truly feels regret to turn XiaoRue down.
But XiaoRue instantly responds and diverts the topic,
"Ah... it’s fine...so you have things to do tonight, with Prince Li, all night?"
"Yes, it might take all night to be done..."
"I see..."
QingQing who keeps observing both of them can’t resist asking,
"What work will you do tonight...that will consume all night to do? A night investigation...?"
"Well, its confidential, Ms. QingQing..."
"Hm..more secret,...aah, XiaoRue, don’t you think a man full of secrets is very attractive?" teased QingQing.
XiaoRue doesn’t know how to reply that kind of question for her face has turned red.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ms. QingQing! I...think I am done here..." She took her food and left.
"XiaoRue..?!" ManQi surprised, he calls her, hoping she can stay.
"She never can be honest, huh!" QingQing smirks while she keeps eating her food. ManQi only can give her a sharp gaze, showing that he feels irritated by QingQing for causing XiaoRue walks away. He then also stands,
"Wait, where are you going, ManQi? You haven’t finished your food!" QingQing touches his sleeve, but ManQi politely move away from her,
"I am not hungry anymore, Ms. QingQing...excuse me..." And then ManQi walks out from the room, leaving QingQing enjoying the food alone. She is a little bit disappointing,
"Ah...those both...Now...the food is not delicious anymore..."
In other dining room, TianTian is quietly eating and aware with the staring from Prince Li,
’He observes me all the time, did he suspect anything?’
TianTian also wants to check Prince Li’s schedule for that night, she just doesn’t know how to start. ’I can’t ask are you busy tonight right? It’s too suspicious...’ Aunt Ma comes and serves the rest of rice ball soup which TanTan made with FangFang.
FangFang excitedly asks Prince Li when he eats the soup,
"Is it delicious right, YiFu? Is it? Is it?" Her eyes are wide like a little puppy. Either TanTan or Prince Li can’t hold smiling.
"It’s delicious..." Prince Li pauses, seeing TanTan, "I never know that you can cook, HuaMuTan..." There is a suspicious tone in his voice.
TanTan just startled, looks back to Prince Li, ’HuaMuTan never cook?! Am I being seen through coz of this?!’. She must answer it normally.
"Actually...I don’t like cooking too often, it’s tiring but...today is special, I did it only for FangFang"
Prince Li smiles, ’The more I see this woman, the more I sure she is not HuaMuTan...’ and this though pleases him, he talks softly to FangFang,
"Then FangFang...you should thank your YangMu for today",
"Yes, YiFu...." FangFang stands and bows politely, "Thank you, YangMu".
TanTan feels strange, somehow she can see something different with the way Prince Li talks to her and the way he sees her, its softer than usual.
Then when FangFang finishes her meal, she sudden asks TanTan,
"YangMu, I want to sleep with you tonight!"
TanTan doesn’t expect it, she startled,
"...to...tonight?!" and Prince Li catches her raising the tone, he stares sharply to TanTan.
FangFang nods, and TanTan calms herself, she realizes FangFang doesn’t want to be alone coz this night is also the night when she lost her parents. She couldn’t dare to reject her but she glances to Prince Li, hoping this time Prince Li can forbid FangFang,
"Well...if Your YiFu gives permission...?"
Prince Li smirks and teases her,
"Since when you need my permission?"
TanTan only can respond it slowly,
"...You are the master of this mansion. How could I dare without your permission...?"
"oh...really?" Prince Li replies.
"Can I, YiFu?" begged FangFang again.
Prince Li smiles although he still glances to FangFang,
"Sure, FangEr....you may sleep with your YangMu..." Prince Li smiles.
"No...!" It’s spontaneously coming out from TanTan so it surprised FangFang and Prince Li, FangFang sees her oddly and sad,
"You don’t want to sleep with me, YangMu?"
’Usually, he dislikes FangFang to be close with me, why is different now?!’
TanTan feels in a difficult place to speak, she thinks quickly,
"No...not like that, FangFang...It just...*Ugh...ugh ( She pretends to cough) YangMu just not feel well, maybe I am catching a cold...and I don’t want to spread it to you, sweetheart...so it might not the good time to sleep in my room..." She hopes her act can fool FangFang and Prince Li for a while.
"YangMu sick?" FangFang worries, but
Prince Li seems amused with TanTan’s pretending as he wonders the reason TanTan tries to reject FangFang’s request. ’She doesn’t want FangFang to sleep tonight, is that mean she has something else to do at night, huh?’
Prince Li stands, he moves closer to TanTan.
’What?...what is he doing?’ TanTan becomes very nervous when Prince Li finally stands in front of her.
Prince Li touches TanTan’s forehead, and when TanTan looks at him, he smirks. TanTan doesn’t expect Prince Li would boldly checking her right away.
’He knows...ah, stupid...stupid TanTan...I should know it can’t work...’
FangFang is curious,
"YiFu...is YangMu okay?"
Prince Li turns to FangFang,
"Don’t worry FangFang...your YangMu just tired...."
FangFang asks again sadly,
"So...I can’t sleep with YangMu tonight?"
Prince Li smiles but he keeps looking at TanTan,
"On the contrary, you have to sleep with your YangMu. YiFu has a job to do tonight so you can help me to take care of your YangMu...make sure she sleep well tonight...Can you do it?"
FangFang feels proud to get that kind of task, with energetically she replies,
"Yes, YiFu...I will take care of YangMu..."
FangFang smiles to TanTan, and TanTan forces her to smile back, but she troubled in her mind,
’No,..if FangFang sleeps in my room, it would be hard to sneaking out...ugh, what should I do...?’
In another side, Prince Li pleases with what he sees. Unfortunately he has something to do tonight, otherwise he would glad to take care of this HuaMuTan by himself.