Xia Hongyu, however, paid no heed to these things. There was always a vague sense of unease in her heart, but the passersby on the road, especially the women, gave her some comfort.
Wen’Er was right: she was indeed a bit too sensitive.
Although Changping Square had many brothels, the Four Seasons Garden was not a mere brothel. It had everything, and the Xia Garden was renowned in the capital city for its banquets.
Many dignitaries often brought their families here for meals, so women coming and going was not unusual.
Xia Hongyu secretly mocked herself as she followed Cheng Wen’Er into the Xia Garden.
Here, the flowers were everywhere, the green trees offered shade, and remarkably, it was like this all year round. Even in the depths of winter, when snow was falling outside, inside, it remained a scene of summer.
This showed just how luxurious the Four Seasons Garden was.
"Miss Wen’Er, Miss Hongyu, over here!"
A cheerful voice came from the front, and then a man in a moon-white long robe walked quickly to meet them.
The man was fairly handsome, though rather short, but his outfit was undeniably luxurious, indicating an impressive family background.
"Young Master Dong!" Cheng Wen’Er smiled and greeted with a bow.
Dong Yiping nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Xia Hongyu standing behind, his eyes flashing with a hint of admiration.
Dong Yiping considered himself not unfamiliar with beauties, but beauty as natural and pure as Xia Hongyu’s, without any adornment, still gave him quite a shock.
Xia Hongyu’s expression changed.
She had thought the friend Cheng Wen’Er mentioned would be a woman.
Unexpectedly, it was a man.
So she pulled Cheng Wen’Er aside, asking quietly, "Wen’Er, what’s going on?"
"Oh, Young Master Dong heard we were going out and specially reserved a table at the Four Seasons Garden. I thought since we are all friends, there was no need to mention it to you."
Upon hearing this, Xia Hongyu’s face turned sullen at once; she really wanted to turn and leave.
Although she had met Dong Yiping once, it was merely a brief meeting, and they were far from familiar.
But Cheng Wen’Er clung tightly to her arm, persistently speaking in a soothing voice.
Helplessly, Xia Hongyu nodded reluctantly and then whispered to Cheng Wen’Er.
"Let’s just sit briefly, then we’ll leave immediately, alright?"
"Yes, yes, don’t worry!"
After agreeing wholeheartedly, Cheng Wen’Er shouted to Dong Yiping, "Young Master Dong, let’s go."
"Alright, please follow me!"
Dong Yiping exchanged a furtive glance with Cheng Wen’Er.
Cheng Wen’Er’s smile was suggestive, and she nodded slightly.
Dong Yiping’s spirits lifted, and he quickly led the two of them towards the reserved private room.
Along the way, Xia Hongyu was somewhat distracted, constantly glancing around to observe the surroundings.
She had already decided that she would stay briefly and then leave.
If Cheng Wen’Er refused to go, she would leave alone.
So she silently memorized the path they walked.
Just then, in her peripheral vision, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.
This figure shook Xia Hongyu to her core, and she immediately turned to look.
However, by this time, the figure was nowhere to be seen, as if it had vanished.
"Hongyu, what’s wrong?"
Cheng Wen’Er asked, seeing Xia Hongyu’s sudden change in expression.
"It’s nothing."
Xia Hongyu murmured, before withdrawing her gaze and continuing to walk forward.
Cheng Wen’Er looked at Xia Hongyu, whose mood had noticeably become a bit downcast, puzzled at what had happened.
Xia Hongyu, however, smiled self-deprecatingly to herself.
It seemed she really was seeing things. He should currently be in Yunxiao County; how could he appear here in the capital city, thousands of miles away?
But that figure... was really so familiar!
In an instant, Xia Hongyu’s heart was in turmoil, and she had no idea how she entered the private room or how the wine and dishes were served.
It wasn’t until Dong Yiping raised his cup, smiling broadly at her and saying, "Miss Hongyu, although this isn’t our first meeting, it’s the first time we’re having a meal together. Would you do me the honor and share a drink with me?"
Only then did Xia Hongyu snap out of her reverie, looking up at Dong Yiping.
She had to admit, Dong Yiping was somewhat handsome, especially after some careful dressing, he just barely managed to live up to the description "tall and graceful".
Yet for some reason, seeing the smile on his face gave Xia Hongyu no joy at all; instead, she felt a twinge of annoyance.
She shook her head lightly, "I’m sorry, I never drink alcohol."
Dong Yiping’s smile froze, and he cast a glance at Cheng Wen’Er.
Cheng Wen’Er quickly chimed in, "Oh Hongyu, this isn’t strong liquor; it’s fruit wine prepared especially for women, sweet and sour with no kick at all."
"Even fruit wine is out of the question." Xia Hongyu insisted firmly.
Dong Yiping’s expression gradually turned cold. Seeing this, Cheng Wen’Er felt uneasy and quickly forced a smile.
"Hongyu, Young Master Dong is not an outsider. He’s already raised his glass, can’t you at least take a sip just to be polite?"
But on this point, Xia Hongyu was uncompromising.
"I’m sorry, I said I don’t drink, especially not from strange men."
Upon hearing this, Dong Yiping’s eyelids began to twitch as he stared intently at Cheng Wen’Er.
Cheng Wen’Er hadn’t expected Xia Hongyu to be so stubborn.
In her mind, as long as they entered Xia Garden, a few drinks down and wouldn’t everything go as planned?
So she dared to confidently take Dong Yiping’s money and set up this arrangement.
Yet Xia Hongyu immediately posed a problem for him.
"Hongyu, what are you saying? How can Young Master Dong be a stranger? We’re all friends here! And it’s just a drink, why be so stubborn?" Cheng Wen’Er persistently urged.
But Xia Hongyu was somewhat annoyed.
She glanced at Cheng Wen’Er and slowly said, "I said I’m not drinking. If you want to drink, you can accompany this Young Master Dong."
Cheng Wen’Er was taken aback.
At this moment, Xia Hongyu stood up and said, "I’m sorry, I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t be staying."
Even the most naive girl would sense that something was amiss.
Especially Xia Hongyu, who once narrowly escaped harm.
On the way, Cheng Wen’Er had assured her that they were meeting a friend for a meal, but upon arrival, this so-called friend turned out to be a man.
And upon entering the private room, this man insisted on offering her a drink.
There was clearly something suspicious here.
Seeing her about to leave, Cheng Wen’Er panicked.
She had already received Dong Yiping’s money and spent it, and now the fish was about to slip off the hook.
How could she let this happen?
So she stood up and grabbed Xia Hongyu.
"Hongyu, let me explain, I was wrong for not telling you about inviting Young Master Dong, but I had your best interests in mind. After all, at your age, you should have been engaged already."
"To be honest, from the first time he saw you, Young Master Dong took a liking to you. As long as you’re willing, he wants to make you his concubine right away. Joining the Dong family, you’ll eat well and live well, wouldn’t that be better than how you’re living now?" To keep Xia Hongyu, Cheng Wen’Er even brought out this argument.
But to her surprise, Xia Hongyu was even more embarrassed and angry upon hearing it.
"If it’s so great, then why don’t you marry him and become his concubine?"
"I would if Young Master Dong would have me!" Cheng Wen’Er said.
"Get out of my way. I must have been blind before to make a friend like you. From now on, we are completely done."
Xia Hongyu was genuinely furious, shook off Cheng Wen’Er’s hand, and was about to walk out.
At that moment, Dong Yiping stepped forward and blocked her path.
"Move!" Xia Hongyu said coldly.
Dong Yiping chuckled, "Miss Hongyu, what if I don’t move?"
As he said this, he reached out to touch Xia Hongyu’s face.
"Such a pretty little face, really..."
Before he could finish, Dong Yiping suddenly cried out in pain and clutched his bleeding arm, looking at Xia Hongyu with disbelief.
There stood Xia Hongyu with a dagger in hand, slightly flustered but looking at him with firm resolve.
"Touch me again, and I’ll take your life."
"You bitch, how dare you hurt me!"
Dong Yiping was outraged.
His family was well-off, his father ran a business, so he learned martial arts from a young age. He wasn’t highly skilled, but he was at least at the Second Realm.
Who would have thought that in a moment of carelessness, he’d be wounded by a woman? If this got out, wouldn’t people laugh at him?
In a fit of rage, he reached out to grab Xia Hongyu.
Xia Hongyu tried to dodge, but as a weak woman, how could she compete with a Second Realm martial artist?
So Dong Yiping caught her arm.
"Aren’t you so pure and virtuous? Today I’ll have you right here, let’s see what else you have to say," Dong Yiping angrily said, just about to act.
But at that moment, the hand he reached out with was suddenly grabbed from behind.
Then a calm voice came.
"Bullying a weak woman, you certainly have a lot of nerve."