Xia Zhaoyi didn't say another word to Bai Qingyuan.
She said, Shen Lie, let's go.
The two people left.
Bai Qingyuan slumped on the chair, watching them open the umbrellas in their hands and step down the verandah, their straight backs leaving in the wind and snow.
Bai Qingyuan's long and slender fingers gripped the armrests of the wooden chair.
The girl didn't say anything, not even punishment. If she had, she would at least have a bottom line, but now...
what to do.
A maid anxiously sent Xia Zhaoyi and Shen Lie to the door, asking them to walk slowly. After closing the door, she let out a long sigh.
This young man and woman together are not even forty years old. This invisible aura is really scary.
No one was clearing the snow outside the house, and it was several inches thicker than before. After walking in silence for a long time, Shen Lie lowered his head and looked at the girl: "Miss Huang, do you have other family members?"
"No," Xia Zhaoyi shook his head, and his voice lost its calmness and became heavier, "It is said that her mother has never treated her badly, and the only one who depends on her for life is her sister."
Shen Lie frowned slightly and said seriously: "Ah Li, I don't like my father and have always hated him. He regards me as a thorn in his flesh and wishes I would disappear from this world. But if he commits a crime, I will definitely do it. Be affected by it."
Xia Zhaoyi's steps slowed down slightly and she looked up at him: "Shen Lie..."
"So since I was a child, I have believed that involvement is the most stupid and absurd crime in the world. When you protected Chen Yongming's mother and daughter, you did not know what would happen next. As for what you did at that time, you were not wrong. So," Shen Lie's eyes darkened, "Ah Li, you can feel sorry for Miss Huang's death, but you don't need to blame yourself for it."
Xia Zhaoyi looked at him, paused, and looked back at the road ahead.
The snow became heavier and heavier, and the wind passed by them. After a long silence, Xia Zhaoyi whispered: "Shen Lie, thank you."
Shen Lie looked sideways at her and smiled lightly.
The girl's eyes were always looking at the snow in front of her, the open spaces and alleys covered with vegetation, the wells turning white, the firewood and bamboo benches leaning in the corners covered with white frost, everything was quiet, pure and white.
"Thank you..." Xia Zhaoyi said again.
She knew how much Shen Lie disliked his childhood, and she was sure that Shen Lie never mentioned it to anyone in these years, but now, he was willing to open up his memory and talk about the word "father" to her.
"Between you and me, there is no need to say thank you." Shen Lie said.
Xia Zhaoyi smiled and looked up at him: "Yeah."
ยท
Xia Zhaoyi had no intention of staying long when he entered the city this time. Kang Jian went to look for the workers this morning. He drank a few pots of hot wine on the snowy night and everyone slept well. When Xia Zhaoyi and Shen Lie returned to Tai'an Restaurant, These workers are getting ready to leave.
Just like entering the city, you cannot come in one go. Now you need to work in separate groups, take the food and clothing you bought yesterday, and leave the city in batches.
When Xia Zhaoyi came back, the workers all stood up to say hello and called "Miss Ah Li" one after another.
"I may have to go back later, in the afternoon or tomorrow morning," Xia Zhaoyi said, "You go back first and be careful when leaving the city. If you encounter anything, don't be reckless. If you are taken away, take it away. I will take care of everything."
"It's okay, Miss Ali, we all have Congxin accents!"
"Yes, don't worry, Miss Ali!"
"Well," Xia Zhaoyi nodded, "I have something to do, so I'll go upstairs first."
Ji Xiahe and Xu Li were sitting at the end of the lobby, with drawings spread out in front of them. They looked up at Xia Zhaoyi as he went upstairs. They all turned to look at Shen Lie.
Shen Lie was talking to Wei Dongyou and didn't know what to give him.
Wei Dongyou nodded, turned around and ran outside.
"Brother Shen!" Ji Xiahe raised his hand and motioned for Shen Lie to come over.
Shen Lie lowered his eyes and looked at the pile of drawings in front of them. They were really in a mess.
After knowing the reason why Xia Zhaoyi could not live on the third floor last night, Shen Lie told him before going out this morning that the entire building would be demolished and rebuilt.
"This is just a preliminary draft," Ji Xiahe himself also realized that it was not going to work, so he put away the drawings and said, "Don't worry, I will make your restaurant look brand new, and I guarantee that you won't see the slightest trace of the previous one! "
"Did you ask me to come over?" Shen Lie said.
"If a road is built outside the city, do we have to follow it?"
"You don't have to go, Xu Li and I will go," Shen Lie said.
"Is it far?"
"Including the snow now, the hike may take four hours."
"So far!" Ji Xiahe said regretfully, "I still want to see your girl Ali scolding Fang Qiu and taking charge of the overall situation."
"Don't talk nonsense." Shen Lie said solemnly.
"Okay, okay," Ji Xiahe said, "But Brother Shen, please come up with a name for this inn. I'll find someone to make a plaque later."
Shen Lie looked towards the window next to them.
Because too much smokeless charcoal was burning in the house, it was too hot, so the window sash was open, and because it was a side-opening window, one could vaguely see the river.
Several boats were moored, the snow reflected on the water, and the river wind whistled between the water and the sky, blowing towards the distant horizon.
Shen Lie suddenly felt his heartstrings being touched and said, "Let's call it Tianxue Tower."
"So casual?" Ji Xiahe said.
"That's called Xia Helou." Shen Lie looked at him.
"Stop making trouble, Brother Shen, why are you taking my name?"
"I've always thought your name is quite good," Shen Lie said, suddenly smiling brightly, "How about you change your last name and replace Ji with Yuan."
"What a mess!" Ji Xiahe frowned.
Shen Lie's smile became bright and he turned around and went upstairs.
"What's wrong with your young master?" Ji Xiahe looked at Wei Dongyou.
"Hahahaha..." Wei Dongyou laughed.
The workers in the lobby left every half an hour, with about six or seven people leaving each time.
Xia Zhaoyi has been drawing pictures in the house.
Shen Lie stood at the stairs on the fourth floor and looked at her door for a while, but finally did not knock and went back to the bedroom on the third floor.
At the same time, Chen Yunqi knocked on the door of Tai Mansion in the heavy snow.
The maid who opened the door saw her. She remembered what happened this morning and didn't want her to come in. But she couldn't bear it and said, "It's cold outside. Miss Chen comes in first."
Let Chen Yunqi wait under the corridor in the courtyard while the servant girl goes to find Bai Qingyuan.
Since Xia Zhaoyi and Shen Lie left, Bai Qingyuan has been sitting there without moving.
When she heard that Chen Yunqi was coming, she slowly raised her eyes: "...she is coming to me at this time?"
"Well, she was wearing thin clothes and her lips were purple from the cold." The servant woman said with pity.
Bai Qingyuan also felt pity when she heard this, and said calmly: "Let her come in."
The charcoal in the room was still very hot. Chen Yunqi stepped over the threshold and came in. He looked at the two tea cups that had not been put away, and then looked at Bai Qingyuan.
"Aunt, is there a distinguished guest in the house?" Chen Yunqi asked in a low voice.
"Um."
"Aunt... seems to be in a bad mood?" Chen Yunqi looked at her expression.
Bai Qingyuan cheered up and smiled at her: "No, it's nothing. You came to me because..."
