Cang Lan Dao - Chapter 28.2

Chapter 28.2
Xiniang seems like to have —

Luo Wanqing was much relieved when she heard this. She raised her hand and handed the herbs to Cui Heng.

Cui Heng was puzzled, “En?”

“I give this herb to you. If you go to a pharmacy or pawn store, you can sell it for at least two hundred taels. Lend me some money and sell the herbs later to make up for it. Is it possible?”

Luo Wanqing asked seriously, causing the youth in front of her to shock, and said, “You can do this to make money?”

“It’s the Inspection Department’s money,” Luo Wanqing said softly, “I just came, and it’s not good to do this kind of thing, so don’t let people know.”

Cui Heng looked at her helplessly. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but blush, subconsciously taking back the herbs, “Or I’ll just sell …… them myself.”

“You can’t sell these herbs for much money.” Cui Heng sighed, took a bag of gold beads from his waist, and handed it to Luo Wanqing, “You’re an Agent. If you want money, I’ll report the accounts for you.”

Luo Wanqing looked at the gold beads, and her eyes widened. She asked surprisedly, “You can report accounts without doing the task?”

“Yes.” Cui Heng nodded his head.

Luo Wanqing was stumped. Was the Inspection Department so rich?

She repeatedly confirmed, “A bag of gold beads is also possible?”

“Yes.” Cui Heng continued to nod.

“But Ambassador Zhu Que said that my monthly salary is only twenty taels.” Luo Wanqing’s gaze fell to the gold beads, frowning, “My monthly salary is so low. Can I use so much money?”

“It’s all the Inspection Department’s money,” Cui Heng said what Luo Wanqing had just said, placing the gold beads in her palm and saying carelessly, “There’s always some way.”

Luo Wanqing came to a realization. Every Agent couldn’t receive a bag of gold beads. There are no government offices that have so much money. But Cui Heng looks like a superior who stayed in the Inspection Department for a long time and had an extraordinary status, so he should know some ways. It was the back door that Cui Heng had opened for her. She was ashamed, but now she was indeed short of money. Thus, without pretending, she took the gold beads and herbs and earnestly said, “I’ll sell the herbs to pay you back.”

Cui Heng paused, seemingly wanting to say something, but Luo Wanqing didn’t wait for him to speak. She grabbed the bag of gold beads, and with a point of her toes, she went back upstairs. She took a handful of gold beads and stuffed them into her money bag before handing the bag of gold beads to Qin Jue, saying solemnly, “Take these. You don’t have to pay them back.”

Qin Jue took the money bag, bowed, and answered, “I’ll return it another day.”

With that, Qin Jue turned around with the bag of money.

Luo Wanqing escorted Qin Jue down and saw Cui Heng at the door. Seeing Qin Jue come out, Cui Heng wanted to greet him, but when he opened his mouth to say, ‘Qin –,’ his voice ended abruptly.

Luo Wanqing followed his gaze and saw that he was staring at the bag of gold beads in Qin Jue’s hand.

Luo Wanqing inexplicably felt guilty and didn’t dare to make a sound.

Cui Heng stared meaningfully at the money bag in Qin Jue’s hand.

Qin Jue was preoccupied with Zhang Jiuran, so he didn’t notice. He hurriedly bowed, then turned to leave.

After Qin Jue walked away, Cui Heng looked towards Luo Wanqing. One couldn’t see whether he was happy or angry. He smiled and said, “Is it for Mr. Qin?”

“He has some things.” Luo Wanqing told the truth, hesitating, “It’s what I borrowed from him.”

“Agent Liu’s chivalry and righteousness, I respect it.” Cui Heng nodded his head, seemingly praising.

Luo Wanqing felt guilty. She remembered the conversation that had been interrupted just now. After hesitating, she softly said, “Let’s go upstairs first.”

Cui Heng nodded in response and followed her upstairs.

Luo Wanqing walked on one side, thinking about the mask on Cui Heng’s face. Her eyes slightly lowered, having a rare intention in her life.

Cui Heng’s jaw —
She frowned slightly, oblivious to the gaze of the person behind her.

Cui Heng followed her while smiling and spoke, “Agent Liu didn’t turn back to look when she was walking. Aren’t you worried about behind you?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t reply to him, so the two of them went up the stairs one after the other. Cui Heng was holding the food box in one hand and closing the door with the other hand. Precisely, at this moment, Luo Wanqing suddenly struck out!

Luo Wanqing moved very fast, surprising Cui Heng. But he immediately reacted. His one hand protects the food box while the other blocks Luo Wanqing’s hand.

In a short time, they made rapid movements with their wrist pressed against each other.

Luo Wanqing’s complexion was stern, shoving Cui Heng’s hand and slamming him hard towards the door. Her hand then squeezed Cui Heng’s neck, forcing his body against the door.

They confronted each other, and Luo Wanqing stared at his face.

Cui Heng noticed her gaze and chuckled, “What are you doing?” Saying this, he softened his voice, seemingly discussing, “There’s porridge in the food box. It would be bad if it spilled.”

“Don’t pretend. Qin Jue said it all to me. I know it was you who accompanied me to Dongdu.”

Luo Wanqing spoke while rubbing Cui Heng’s jaw, wanting to confirm that he hadn’t used a human skin mask.

Cui Heng knew her intention. He slightly tilted his head and gently ‘tsk,’ exposing more of his neck, letting her touch his neck, from his jaw to his face.

The skin on her hands was very tender. During these days, she has grown some thin calluses. When touching the human body, it will bring a tingling sensation.

Cui Heng paused. With deep eyes, he looked down at her. His eyes fell on Luo Wanqing’s hideous face and felt strange. It turns out that sometimes, some things are not all about appearance. He quietly sized up Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing was oblivious to his line of sight, carefully rubbing his jawline, pretending to scold him: ”We’re colleagues. Why are you still wearing a mask? Do you have something to hide, or are you unwilling to see me?” As she spoke, she felt guilty, and her heart beat faster, so she said what she wanted to say, “You wear a mask, and your name is fake. Your name is too conspicuous in this Inspection Department. Cui is the Xie Master’s mother’s surname. Heng is the Xie Master’s name. You take a similar name, and you have this jaw –“

When Luo Wanqing said this, she stopped her hand at the mask button, and with just a light press, she could undo this shiny mask. However, she suddenly realized something and raised her head. When she looked up, she saw deep eyes with a smile looking at her suspiciously, only asking, “What’s wrong with my jaw?”

He was born extremely tall, a whole head taller than her, and at the moment, he was slightly tilting his head like a white crane gracefully slanting its neck.

Luo Wanqing looked at the uncovered half-face and did not make a sound. Underneath the mask were the thin cherry-like lips, jade-like skin color, and almost perfect jawline. He was very similar to the Xie Heng she had seen last night.

But then what? Who was the person before her, why was he masked, and what was his relationship with Xie Heng?

What was she suspecting?
Does she suspect that the person in front of her was Xie Heng?
But why would Xie Heng do this?
She had already entered the Inspection Department. If Xie Heng suspected her, he would directly arrest and interrogate her. Why would he lie to her like this?

Even if there is any reason, Xie Heng’s temperament is cold, but the person before her is as bright as the sun. How can a person’s temperament be so different? Moreover, if he is Xie Heng, isn’t he too arrogant using the name of Cui Heng?

Luo Wanqing’s movement stops and quietly ponders, but the other party seems to understand her intentions. He leaned closer to her and softly said, “Do you want to see?”

Luo Wanqing raised her eyes to look at him and saw that the other party was wearing a smile on his face, which seemed to be a seduction: “Xiniang wants to see?”

Hearing the word ‘Xiniang,’ Luo Wanqing suddenly came to her senses. She remembered that she didn’t seem to be qualified to ask. After all, she was hiding something from him, so why must she pursue the underlying issues with someone else? Whether he used a genuine or fake face, a real or an alias, it didn’t matter. She previously said, ‘I don’t ask you, you don’t ask me.’ Between them, it didn’t matter what their status was. Thinking of this, Luo Wanqing’s hand relaxed slightly, and she whispered, “I’m sorry. It was me who was rude.”

Cui Heng smiled as he watched her withdraw her hand. He raised his hand and straightened his clothes, carrying the food box to the table, and took out the plates from the food box. Seeing the intact congee, he was happy and sighed, “Fortunately, the congee is still there.”

Cui Heng placed the congee on the table. He turned back to look at the woman standing at the side, somewhat puzzled: “Why do you suddenly want to look at my face?”

Luo Wanqing froze. She didn’t seem to have much interest before. During the journey, they seemed to have a tacit understanding of not asking too many questions. Why did she want to see it?

Luo Wanqing pondered before hesitantly saying, “Perhaps …… it is because it is difficult for me to find you?”

Cui Heng didn’t understand. Luo Wanqing raised her eyes to look at him and said solemnly, “I never see your face, and I don’t know your real name, so if you don’t come to me, I won’t be able to find you. To be honest –” Luo Wanqing embarrassedly said, “Last night I wanted to meet you.”

Hearing these words, Cui Heng paused. It was as if something had gently teased the tip of his heart, tickling it somewhat adorably. He chuckled, somewhat understanding, and nodded, “It was my fault.”

“Actually –“

“But it won’t be so in the future.” Cui Heng said, stood up, and walked to Luo Wanqing. He handed over a unique flute from his sleeve.

Luo Wanqing was confused, “What is this?”

“I am your Shadow. Before we have a shift of person, we should be inseparable – -you and I.”

Cui Heng raised his eyes to look at her and said, “The sound of this flute is unique. The sound can reach fifteen miles. Ordinary people cannot hear it, but I can. In the case of accidental separation, call me. I will come.”

Luo Wanqing’s eyes fell on the flute, raising her hand to take it.

Cui Heng watched her take the flute. His gaze moved slightly, and he continued, “Other than that, anyone within the Inspection Department will help you find me if you ask about Cui Guanlan. But if you can’t find me, the others probably won’t be able to either.”

“I understand.” Luo Wanqing laughed lightly and looked up, “Then it doesn’t matter what you look like or what your name is.”

Cui Heng didn’t say anything. He pondered before softly saying, “Cui is the surname of the traitor, and Guanlan is my name.”

Luo Wanqing got confused, and Cui Heng calmly said, “The name Cui Guanlan is true.”

The surname of the traitor —
Cui was Xie Heng’s mother’s clan.

Luo Wanqing vaguely understood that perhaps this person in front of her was a member of the Cui clan. Then, his identity was sensitive, and he should have his reasons for covering his face. Moreover, as a cousin, it was normal to be similar to Xie Heng. She nodded, asking no more.

Seeing her relax, Cui Heng handed the chopsticks and said gently, “Agent, let’s eat.”

Luo Wanqing answered and walked over to sit down. Looking at the Jiangnan breakfast on the table, she was not surprised. Cui Heng offered her the dishes and poured the tea.

Luo Wanqing accepted the chopsticks gracefully, smoothly accepting all his services.

Cui Heng observed her, and while rebrewing tea for her, he laughed and said, “It seems like Xiniang is used to this kind of life?”

Luo Wanqing did not understand and raised her eyes in confusion.

Cui Heng pondered, “Usually, people need to get used to having a Shadow for the first time, but you seem that you used to have someone who follows you around like a shadow?”

Luo Wanqing paused as a person’s image stuck into her mind like a needle. She suddenly realized that everything Cui Heng did at the moment was something that person had done a thousand times before.

Cui Heng stared at her and laughed. His voice was very soft and keen, “Is it true?”

Luo Wanqing held her chopsticks. She couldn’t eat and looked at the breakfast in front of her. When she looked at the chopsticks she was holding, she reacted. The chopsticks wouldn’t come to her hands by themselves. The dishes wouldn’t turn by themselves into her favorite dishes. She sat in place, and after hesitating for a long time, she softly said, “An old friend.”