Chapter 139 -

Chapter 139: Chapter

After finishing breakfast, Yimei set down her teacup, pulled out the shop deed, and showed it to Ah Cheng. "Do you know where this address is?"

Ah Cheng looked at the paper and smiled. "Of course! It’s right near the main market square. I can take you there right now."

"Good," Yimei said.

"I’ll go grab my things from my room and meet you outside," Ah Cheng said, stepping out of the hall.

Yimei turned to Zhengyu, who sat beside her quietly drinking his hot congee.

"Stay here with Grandmaster Zhang and Madame Zhang for a while," Yimei said smoothly. "I will quickly go check on the shop and come back."

Zhengyu froze, his spoon stopping mid-air right above his bowl. He let out a sharp scoff, set his spoon down, and turned his face away toward the wall.

[System Note: Favorability points remain unchanged at +30.]

Ah Cheng walked back into the hall with his small bag. Yimei stood up, looking over at her maid. "Qinqin, stay here and take good care of your Young Master."

"Yes, Young Madame!" Qinqin replied instantly.

Yimei walked toward the main doors with Ah Cheng. Mid-way across the room, she stopped and turned back to look at Zhengyu. He remained sitting in his wheelchair, staring bitterly at the blank wall with his bowl of congee forgotten on the table.

[Nine: Host, your husband is sulking like an abandoned puppy! Are you really going to leave him behind looking that pitiful?]

Yimei stared at him for a quiet second before calling out, "Zhengyu."

Zhengyu didn’t turn his head. "What?"

"Is there anything specific you want from the market?" Yimei asked. "I can buy it for you, or cook it when I get back."

Zhengyu’s jaw tightened, but he kept looking at the wall. "I don’t need anything. Just don’t take forever."

A tiny smile touched Yimei’s lips. "I won’t."

Yimei and Ah Cheng stepped out into the crisp morning air, closing the heavy gate behind them as they set off toward the village market.

Back inside the hall, Liu Feng was sitting at the wooden table, finishing up his own breakfast. The moment the main gate clicked shut, the sulking look melted off Zhengyu’s face, replaced by a cold, sharp seriousness.

He set his spoon down and turned his head toward his guard.

"Liu Feng," Zhengyu said, his voice low and firm. "Go keep an eye on her."

Liu Feng paused, his spoon mid-air as he looked up. "Young Master... my duty is to stay here and protect you."

"This village is different," Zhengyu said, his dark eyes fixing onto him. "The people here don’t know who we are, and no one knows what they might do. I want you following her."

Liu Feng hesitated for a second, glancing at Qinqin, who was nearby taking care of the dishes. Seeing that his young master wasn’t alone, Liu Feng quickly wiped his mouth, stood up, and bowed. "Understood, Young Master."

With quick, quiet steps, Liu Feng headed out the front door to follow after Yimei and Ah Cheng.

A few moments later, Madame Zhang walked into the hall carrying a fresh pot of hot tea. She set a steaming cup down beside Zhengyu’s bowl, a gentle, knowing smile softening her face as she watched him look toward the door.

"It seems you and Yimei are doing quite well as a couple," Madame Zhang said warmly, pulling out a stool to sit across from him.

Zhengyu looked surprised, his hand stopping right as he reached for his tea.

A faint reddish glow reached the back of his neck, but he quickly cleared his throat and tried to look as calm as usual.

"We are just doing what married people should do," Zhengyu said, looking down at his hot tea. "She is taking care of my legs, so I am just making sure she stays safe."

Madame Zhang laughed softly and shook her head. "Is that so? I have seen many married couples over the years, son. A man who is only doing what he should doesn’t stare at the door like that the second his wife steps outside."

Zhengyu’s fingers tightened around his teacup. He tried to argue back, but he didn’t know what to say.

Madame Zhang’s smile became gentle and kind. "When Yimei first came here with you, she looked like she carried too many problems. But now? Her eyes look soft whenever she looks at you. A lot have really changed between both of two within the time you both left huh. You give her peace, Zhengyu. Don’t fight it."

Zhengyu stayed quiet for a moment, thinking about her words.

"She is... not like anyone else I know," Zhengyu said softly.

Madame Zhang smiled brightly and patted his arm. "She really isn’t. Now drink your tea before it gets cold."

Meanwhile, Yimei and Ah Cheng walked down the busy market road.

"Sister Yimei," Ah Cheng said, looking over at her. "The shop location used to belong to an old spice seller years ago. Nobody has opened it since he left, but the house itself is very strong."

"That is good," Yimei said calmly, looking at the shops and people around them.

A few steps behind them, Liu Feng walked quietly through the crowd. His eyes moved everywhere to make sure no one tried to hurt Yimei.

Soon, Ah Cheng stopped in front of a big two-story wooden house right near the busy market. The front door had a big rusty lock on it, and the windows were covered in dust.

Ah Cheng pointed at the building. "We are here, Sister Yimei. This is the shop."

Yimei looked up at the building. It was small compared to the shops in the East Market, but it was a solid two-story structure. The black wood on the outside looked worn and old, clearly in need of a good polish and some cleaning.

She turned to Ah Cheng with a nod. "Thank you for showing me the way."

Ah Cheng looked at the dusty front door and hesitated. "I can go inside with you if you don’t want to go in alone."

Yimei shook her head smoothly. "I’m not technically alone. Someone is following me."

She turned toward a nearby wooden pillar in the crowd and said in a calm voice, "Liu Feng, stop hiding."

Ah Cheng turned around and looked around in confusion, seeing no one at first. But a second later, Liu Feng stepped out from behind the pillar, looking embarrassed. He had tried his absolute best to follow them without being seen, but his Young Madame was simply too sharp.

Seeing that she had a capable guard with her, Ah Cheng nodded in relief. "Alright then, Sister Yimei. Take care!"

"Go ahead," Yimei said as Ah Cheng waved and walked off toward his friend’s place.