Chapter 84 The Plot Still Moves Forward

Chapter 84: The Plot Continues to Advance

After numerous experiments with the pastry chef, they finally gradually mastered the technique and produced delicious, melt-in-your-mouth bread.

The pastry chef could hardly believe his eyes—that such delightful pastries were made by his own hands.

Xi Qianyue doubled his wages.

The bread wasn't cheap—a plain one cost thirty wen, and with added ingredients, it cost even more. Fifty to sixty wen was the going rate.

The capital was full of wealthy people, and what they craved most was something new to eat.

Especially the ladies and young misses in the big estates—if they wanted desserts, buying a loaf of bread and some other pastries—spending a hundred or two hundred wen—what was that to them?

The bread was delicious, but it was also limited in time and quantity. Often, crowds would miss out before the shop sold out.

Xi Qianyue was in a good mood. She sent plenty of bread and new pastries to Zeng Shi to give away as gifts.

Half a month later, Xi Qianyue went to Guangju Tower, where it was time to settle up her "wages" again.

Qi Chengyun had been waiting there since early morning, and even the shopkeeper was puzzled.

"Young master, you are busy. When Miss Xi arrives, this old servant will hurry to fetch you—there'll still be time."

Qi Chengyun didn't mind the shopkeeper's chatter; instead, he smiled and said, "What's the harm in waiting for her?"

He copied how Xi Qianyue had stood by the window last time, opening it and looking down.

Only when he saw the Xi carriage, saw Xi Qianyue hop down lightly in a willow-yellow gown and walk briskly into the shop, did he look away.

Miss Xi seemed completely unaffected by the divorce.

Good.

Xi Qianyue greeted him cheerfully: "Sixth Young Master Qi, you were actually waiting for me! You haven't been waiting long, have you? If I'd known, I'd have come half an hour earlier."

"Not long at all—don't worry about it."

The shopkeeper brought out the accounts, and Xi Qianyue said casually, "No need to look. I trust you in all things, work and character."

The shopkeeper also smiled, handing her a five-hundred-tael banknote and a few dozen taels of loose silver.

Xi Qianyue beamed: "Great! Thanks to you, I can earn money lying down—making money while flat on my back."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized it might sound inappropriate and quickly corrected herself: "This is truly my sleep income—earning money in my sleep."

Qing Rong and Qing Bi both blushed, and Xi Qianyue nearly bit her tongue.

Such words were totally normal in the modern world, but here, they were so easily misunderstood!

She gave a dry laugh: "Anyway, you all understand what I mean—no need to dwell on my choice of words."

Qi Chengyun also smiled, then turned serious: "Talking like that in front of us is fine; we get it. But with outsiders, you can't be so casual."

"Of course, I know the difference."

Given an out, Xi Qianyue quickly took it.

"There's something I should tell you—Bai Zhining escaped from my estate."

Qi Chengyun carefully watched Xi Qianyue's expression and indeed saw her surprise.

"How did Bai Zhining end up at your estate? Oh, right, you said you bought her... I thought you bought her as a concubine."

Qi Chengyun's expression was stern: "Not at all. How could I take her as a concubine? It wouldn't be right, and I have no interest in her whatsoever."

"Why do you have no interest in her? She's beautiful, delicate as a willow in the breeze, and plays the pipa beautifully. Besides, she was the one who made the first move on you."

Seeing Xi Qianyue speak so naturally, Qi Chengyun was a bit puzzled.

At the hot spring on the estate, he'd clearly heard her happily say "mission accomplished," so why was she now acting like she had nothing to do with Bai Zhining?

"There's something I'd like you to clarify. I should investigate it myself, but I'd rather hear your side."

Xi Qianyue saw Qi Chengyun suddenly turn serious, and she did too: "What is it?"

"What is your relationship with Bai Zhining?"

Hearing this, Xi Qianyue was taken aback, and Qi Chengyun continued: "Don't tell me it's because Yang Xingxian liked her—after all, that was everyone's first meeting, right? Besides, you had no feelings for Yang Xingxian... It's not like you'd be jealous of him, right?"

Toward the end, a hint of tension crept into Qi Chengyun's voice that he didn't notice himself.

Xi Qianyue was stunned.

She had to admit that, having transmigrated from a book, she'd always looked down on the characters in it.

Only now did she realize that every character had their own plot and circumstances. Whether she cared or not, they had their own set paths.

Take Bai Zhining, for example—Xi Qianyue discovered that after changing Bai Zhining and Yang Xingxian's fates, she still couldn't smoothly return to real life.

So she'd stopped paying much attention.

But their plots were still moving forward, not stuck.

And they'd even caught the attention of this Sixth Young Master Qi!

Xi Qianyue put on a casual air: "I have no connection with her. I just thought she was pretty, and Yang Xingxian liked her."

"Then why did you want me to take her into my household? Does it matter to you?"

Qi Chengyun's question carried a hint of bitterness. He was convinced she wanted to stop Yang Xingxian from pining over Bai Zhining, and so had found him as a scapegoat to take the blame.

"You're overthinking it. Honestly, I don't care what happens to her. Maybe she's already at the Yang residence now."

Seeing her joke so casually, his heart lightened too.

"Would you be upset if she's at the Yang residence? If so, I can drag her out. After all, I bought her—she's my runaway slave."

Xi Qianyue burst into laughter: "You really have no compassion for the fairer sex! Such a beauty, and you call her your runaway slave—that sounds pretty pitiful. That said, if she really is at the Yang residence, let her stay. If she ever clashes with me in the future, I'll call in this favor. After all, I'm your business partner."

"Then she's yours to deal with as you see fit." Qi Chengyun was in a good mood too. "Even if you weren't my partner, what's such a small matter?"

Xi Qianyue then had Qing Rong bring over a basket of bread: "Take a look at my shop's new product—it's called bread. I don't know which flavor you like, so I brought a mix. If you want to heat it up, don't let it touch steam. I thought of a trick—heat it on the pot lid, and it'll keep its original flavor."

Seeing Xi Qianyue chatter on, Qi Chengyun showed no impatience—in fact, he found it quite pleasant.

"There's so much—you can divide it up, pick your favorites, and use the rest for tipping."

"How could that be? I'll like them all."

What Xi Qianyue didn't know was that Qi Chengyun had long since sent people to buy bread from her shop multiple times. He especially liked the red bean and peanut flavors.

"I'll develop some new flavors in the future, and I'll invite you to try them."