Chapter 39: Gathering at the Restaurant

Si Qingyu specifically booked the best room for him at the restaurant. Although not as good as the Luo Mansion, it was clean and tidy. She was just afraid he would make a fuss again and find an excuse to run to her place.

After helping him settle things, Si Qingyu felt a bit tired, but she still had to go back to the clinic to take care of some trivial matters from the past two days. She had Zhao Sixi record the accounts and the people who came for treatment these past two days, and she would look at them when she returned.

Zhao Sixi was leaning on the medicine cabinet, watching Si Qingyu busying herself. She held back for a while but couldn’t resist opening her mouth, “Doctor Si…”

“Hmm?” Si Qingyu turned a page in the book.

“Umm… Did you go to the capital just to find Young Master Luo?” What about Young Master Li?

“Mm.”

“So is Doctor Si going to marry Young Master Luo or Young Master Li?” Or perhaps, “Or both of them?” This would indeed kill two birds with one stone, but when she thought of the two big demons and little demon living together, it would simply be a living hell!

Si Qingyu’s hand stiffened while flipping the book. Why did she always bring up such things? She didn’t want to marry anyone. She just wanted to live by herself, “I won’t marry anyone.”

“Huh? Why?” Zhao Sixi walked up to Si Qingyu, looking perplexed, “My mother told me that all women should marry a husband and have children.”

Si Qingyu was not very concerned, “Mm, your mother is not wrong. So you should marry a good husband.”

How did it turn to her? Zhao Sixi rested her chin on the table, looking up at Si Qingyu from below, “Doctor Si, I’m talking about you.”

Already quite exhausted, having to answer her nonsensical questions made Si Qingyu’s head ache even more. She rubbed her temples. Right now, she wanted to drink a bowl of medicinal congee to clear the fire in her body, “You don’t need to be so curious about my affairs. Go do your work.”

Seeing Si Qingyu’s poor complexion, she didn’t dare ask that question again. She looked at her cautiously, “Doctor Si, your complexion looks really bad… Why don’t you go back and rest first?”

Si Qingyu nodded. She indeed should go back and rest for a bit. She closed the account book, got up to put it in the medicine cabinet, turned around and said to Zhao Sixi, “I’ll go back first. I’ll look at the account book and medicine book next time.”

Zhao Sixi nodded repeatedly, “Mm!”

Si Qingyu took her bundle. She glanced at the ornament Li Tianyang gave her on the table. After hesitating for a moment, she casually put it in her bundle. Before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to say to Zhao Sixi, “I’m going to have tea with Official Luo at the restaurant tomorrow, so I’ll be a bit late.” After saying that, she looked at the sky outside. The sun was about to set, “You should go back early later too.”

“Mm! I got it, Doctor Si.”

Si Qingyu nodded to her and walked out of the clinic. It was dinnertime now, so there were fewer people on the streets. For some reason, she always felt a bit uncomfortable, like the feeling of being watched.

She stopped and looked behind her. Apart from some hurrying pedestrians, there was nothing suspicious. She turned her head back indifferently and continued walking. Perhaps she was being oversensitive.

When she returned to the bamboo house, the first thing Si Qingyu did was boil a bowl of congee with the dried herbs.

The sun had completely set now, but it was still a bit bright. She placed the bowl of medicinal congee on the stone table in the courtyard. She didn’t rush to drink it, but sat in the courtyard, feeling the gentle breeze from the forest. The agitation in her heart suddenly calmed down.

She stared at the stone table in a daze. Suddenly, she took out that shellfish ornament from her bosom and placed it in the middle of the stone table, examining it carefully. She chuckled, “It’s quite a match.”

Si Qingyu finished the medicinal congee on the table and tidied up the bowl, leaving only that white jade-like ornament on the stone table.

……

The next morning, Si Qingyu tidied up in the bedroom, preparing to go to the restaurant for the appointment. She thought for a moment that Official Luo had sent her some gifts yesterday, so she should bring something in return.

She walked around the bedroom. If it was about valuable items, she really didn’t have any here. Should she go buy something later? But… would it make people wait too long?

Si Qingyu sighed. She seemed to have nothing much here, just more medicinal ingredients. Otherwise, should she give her some medicine? But… that didn’t sound too good.

She thought for a while and took out the box where she always placed medicine bottles. She rummaged through it for a while and took out an exquisite little jade bottle. Mm, she would give this.

She put the jade bottle in her bosom, smoothed her clothes, and walked out of the courtyard.

As soon as she arrived at the restaurant, a waiter walked up, “Doctor Si, a lady upstairs has already booked a seat and is waiting for you. Please follow me.” He led Si Qingyu to a private room on the second floor.

Luo Jinhua inside had already drunk several cups of tea. Seeing Si Qingyu finally arrive, she quickly stood up and gestured to the seat opposite her, “Doctor Si, you’re here. Please sit.”

Si Qingyu nodded to her and sat opposite her.

Luo Jinhua poured her a cup of tea and glanced at the door. After making sure no one was there, she hesitantly asked, “Doctor Si, that gentleman… didn’t come with you?”

Si Qingyu raised her eyes and looked at her indifferently, “He might still be resting. Besides, isn’t Official Luo here to meet with me?” She put down the teacup.

“Of course, of course…” Luo Jinhua smiled embarrassedly.

Si Qingyu took out that jade bottle from her bosom and sent it to Luo Jinhua, “Official Luo sent such precious gifts yesterday. This is my return gift.”

Looking at the jade bottle that seemed to be of the same origin as Si Qingyu’s slender hand, Luo Jinhua reached out to take it and examined it carefully, “Doctor Si, what is this?”

“This contains some jade cream, which has a miraculous effect on scars and removing marks, and can refresh the mind. Official Luo is busy with public affairs and may feel tired. You can directly smell it, but don’t become too dependent on it.”

Luo Jinhua responded delightedly, “Thank you, Doctor Si!” This would be very useful for her.

Si Qingyu nodded to her and took a sip of tea, “I suppose there haven’t been any major incidents in Qianluo Town?”

She was afraid the person who poisoned before might not give up.

Luo Jinhua carefully put the jade bottle in her bosom and waved her hand at Si Qingyu with a smile, “Nothing happened. No strange incidents occurred again. I think the person who poisoned last time should be an outsider and has run off to who knows where.”

“That’s good then.”

“But Doctor Si, the residents of our town miss you, so I came to see you on their behalf.”

Miss her? Miss her for what? Si Qingyu was a bit speechless.

Just as she was about to say something to Luo Jinhua opposite her, she saw her holding the tea and staring blankly behind her.

Si Qingyu turned her head along her gaze and saw Luo Shaoxuan standing at the door in light purple clothes. A glimmer flashed in his narrow phoenix eyes, and the corners of his lips curled into a smile as he quietly gazed at her.

“Why are you here?”

Luo Shaoxuan brushed the green silk in front of him to the back, his red lips slightly parted, “I heard you were here, so I came.”

At this moment, Luo Jinhua beside them finally reacted. She abruptly stood up and walked towards Luo Shaoxuan, her face slightly flushed, “This gentleman is here too. Then please come in and sit!”

Luo Shaoxuan smiled faintly at her and nodded.

Luo Jinhua, feeling a bit dazed, invited him to sit in the position beside her. When she came to her senses, she felt it was inappropriate. It seemed a bit too close this way.

But unexpectedly, Luo Shaoxuan sat elegantly and naturally in the position beside her as she wished. The seating at the table formed Luo Jinhua and Luo Shaoxuan facing Si Qingyu opposite them.

Si Qingyu lowered her eyes, the teacup in her hand tightening slightly, while Luo Shaoxuan opposite her still focused on her without any change in expression. Luo Jinhua was the happiest at the table. She didn’t expect this gentleman to not refuse.

Luo Jinhua’s face turned even redder. She poured a cup of tea for Luo Shaoxuan ingratiatingly, “I was just mentioning you to Doctor Si.”

“Oh? Mentioning me for what?” Luo Shaoxuan asked as if puzzled.

“I said why Doctor Si didn’t bring you along. Doctor Si said you were still resting.”

Luo Shaoxuan chuckled softly, “How could I not be up at such a late hour?”

“That’s true.” Luo Jinhua laughed beside him. She looked at Si Qingyu, who was silent on the side, “Doctor Si, why aren’t you talking?”

Luo Shaoxuan also turned his gaze to her, his eyes gleaming.

Si Qingyu smiled faintly and introduced him as she wished, “This is Young Master Luo.” Then she looked at Luo Shaoxuan and introduced to him indifferently, “This is Official Luo, the town official of Qianluo Town.”

After saying that, she drank her tea as if nothing had happened, not noticing Luo Shaoxuan’s slightly dark eyes opposite her.

Luo Jinhua enthusiastically said to Luo Shaoxuan, “Young Master Luo, what would you like to eat? Tell me, and I’ll order it for you.”

“No need, this is enough.” Luo Shaoxuan’s smile faded a little.

“Hehe, don’t be polite. You can have whatever you want to eat.” Luo Jinhua said, her face slightly flushed as she looked at his profile, “May I ask if Young Master Luo is married?”

The question could be said to be very bold, considering they had only met twice.

“Not yet.” …

The two seemed to have forgotten about Si Qingyu beside them and were chatting happily. Si Qingyu looked at Luo Shaoxuan opposite her. Although he didn’t show much delight, it was the first time she saw him answer a woman’s questions without refusing.

That agitated feeling rose in Si Qingyu’s heart again, making her a bit restless. She abruptly stood up, interrupting their conversation. The two opposite her looked at her in unison.

Si Qingyu took a deep breath and glanced at them indifferently, “I still have some matters to attend to at the clinic, so I’ll head back first.”

“Huh? But Doctor Si, we haven’t even chatted much yet. Stay a bit longer.”

“No need. If there’s a chance, let’s gather another time.” After saying that, she left the private room without paying attention to them.

Luo Jinhua inside looked puzzled, “What happened to Doctor Si? She was fine just now.”

Ever since Si Qingyu left, Luo Shaoxuan had been staring at the seat she had sat in, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening. Finally, unable to hold back, he covered his mouth and chuckled, his eyes full of delight after succeeding.

Luo Jinhua looked at him in a daze, “What is Young Master Luo laughing at?” Was he so happy that Doctor Si left?

Luo Shaoxuan shook his head lightly and stood up, putting away his smile. He saluted Luo Jinhua, “Since Doctor Si has left, it’s not convenient for me to stay long. I’ll take my leave first.” With that, he turned around and was about to leave.

“Ah! Young Master Luo…” Luo Jinhua wanted to make him stay and express her intentions, but she saw Luo Shaoxuan turn his head, his eyes cold, “Official Luo, don’t waste your time on me. I already have someone in my heart.” After saying that, he left without paying attention to the stunned Luo Jinhua.

Luo Jinhua stood there blankly, her heart filled with unceasing disappointment. She sighed and turned to look at the table full of untouched food and drinks.

Alas, there wasn’t even a chance to express her feelings.